35% of readers regularly worry about making ends meet

Image: Getty Images

Everything from energy to diapers has become more expensive. Is that cause for concern? Is the hand on the purse strings or do we stay big spenders? Read it in Kek Mama’s Big Money Survey.

There’s no getting around it: we’re in the middle of a recession and we’re bombarded with depressing news stories every day. And otherwise you will notice it in the supermarket: everything is getting more expensive. Those who now do the same shopping as a year ago often spend ten percent more. You even pay double for a cucumber. But we also pay much more at the pump and, of course, on gas and electricity than we did three years ago.

In Kek Mama’s Big Money Survey – in which 1000 mothers with children up to 12 years old participated – we asked whether they are concerned about this economic downturn. “Yes, but it will be fine”, almost half of all respondents (49%) say optimistically. A third is still fine and ‘only’ 17 percent are really awake.

“17% are awakened by the current price increases”

On our statement: I regularly worry whether I have enough money to get by for the whole month, the responses were therefore quite divided: more than a third (35%) agrees with this, but this is not the case for two thirds. What helps is a good insight into one’s own financial household. Half of the parents even say they know exactly where every dime is spent. More than a quarter (28%) have an ‘old-fashioned’ cash book in which the accounts are kept.

Hand on the snap

Almost all respondents (91%) admit to having saved to a greater or lesser extent on several things in the past year. Most are moderated with regard to gas and electricity; 66 percent turn down the heater or take shorter showers. Not surprising, because 63 percent saw their energy bill rise sharply: 10 percent saw an increase of more than 300 euros per month. For half (53%), an increase of between 100 and 300 euros per month applied. What else do we save on? We go out less and eat out (56%), half of the respondents cut back on groceries, buy less clothes (48%) and 31 percent opt ​​for cheaper holidays.

“Almost 50% know exactly what every dime is spent on”

It is striking that only 18 percent indicate that they spend less money on the children. It is even the very last thing that is skimped on, according to the answers. Mitra (38), mother of Evan (12), Milan (10) and Kate (2) recognizes herself in that image. “I’d rather cut back on myself than have to deny the kids something. My own mother can get pretty angry about it sometimes. If we go outlet shopping for a day, I come back with three full bags for the children. ‘Buy yourself something,’ she urges me every time. But I find that difficult. In the end, after such a shopping day, I manage to score just one new bra, but I’m just too stingy to get a matching pair of bottoms.”

Read also – ‘Halfway through the month, the money in the joint account is already gone’ >

Save, save, save

By living frugally I prepare for the future, think 22 percent of all respondents. They do this by budgeting on the one hand, but above all by saving, saving, saving. They deposit their perks in a bank account (88%), invest (14%), buy shares (9%), trade in bitcoins (8%), rent houses (3%) or save in some other way (11 %). We put most of the money aside for the children: 81 percent save a fixed amount per month for them. For the majority (46%), this is between 10 and 50 euros per month, followed by 50-100 euros (29%). Approximately 11 percent put aside more than 100 euros for school, driving lessons or a down payment on their own home.

Talk about money

We also think it is very important to talk to the children about money. No less than seven out of ten women claim to discuss this subject with their children.

Lonneke (39): “Especially times like now, with enormous inflation and almost daily noises about price increases, are a good reason to explain what everything costs and that you have to work hard. Even though my son is only ten, it creates a certain awareness. We may be better off at home than other families, but he still needs to learn the value of money. We teach him how to handle his own pocket money: he can spend half on himself, the other half he has to save. As a result, he now understands that a pack of Pokémon pictures is not ‘just’ seven euros, but ‘a lot of pennies’ and that we can also buy a whole meal for that.”

“I tell my children: money is easy to spend, but hard to earn”

Anke (34): “I honestly say that everything has become more expensive and that we have to pay attention. That everything costs money, even water from the shower, and that is why Mees and Sofie can no longer get everything – such as an ice cream on a Saturday in the city, or a sandwich and Fristi after sports. That prevents nagging parties and explanations at annoying moments.”

Niama (33): “I say that mom and dad work hard and everything costs money and that the forest/beach/dune is just as much fun as an indoor playground.”

Cindy (34): “Even though they are only five and seven, I explain to my children that once their pocket money is spent, they have to think wisely before buying anything. And that money is easy to spend, but hard to earn.”

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Quarrels over money

The Nibud (National Institute for Budget Information) once investigated how important money is in a relationship and discovered that a quarter of Dutch couples argue over money. Financial disputes most often lead to divorce, the American Sonya Britt, professor of Personal Financial Planning, discovered after researching 4500 couples.

“21% sometimes argue about money”

Then things are still reasonably good for the women who completed our survey; only two in ten women said they sometimes had problems with their finances. This often concerns expenses that she or her partner makes that the other person does not agree with. A selection of his annoyances about her spending pattern: clothing and stuff for the children (mentioned with a dot on one), toys, but also clothing, make-up, jewelery and shoes. The other way around are her abominations: his spending on all kinds of gadgets, car decorations, unnecessary stuff in the house, junk food, crypto, expensive designer clothes and books.

“More than 16% do not always agree with their partner’s expenses”

Miloe (31), mother of Julia (7) and Sam (6) recognizes hassles about money: “My husband’s refusal to bring lunch to work is a daily point of contention. I think it’s nonsense to pay 5 to 6 euros every day for a salad, ball sandwich and croissant outside the door, while I have all nice fillings at home and get really good bread from the bakery. But he refuses, as he says himself, ‘to go to the office with a dull lunchbox under his arm’. He doesn’t even have to make it himself, I’m already busy with the kids’ lunch packages, so spread it all in one go. He’s not for talking, but I think it’s childish and expensive. For the money he spends per month in his work cafeteria, we could eat delicious sushi with the whole family.”

Hold up your own pants

All in all, we seem to have our financial affairs in order. According to our Big Money Survey, the economic independence of the Kek Mama readers also seems perfectly fine. For years we have been reading about the large part-time culture among mothers with children and great concerns are expressed when the same women are left alone after a divorce: they would not be able to stand on their own two feet. Yet more than half (56%) of respondents claim to be financially independent should their relationship end. Another 22 percent have no idea if they could, but don’t say no either. The other 22 percent indicate that they absolutely cannot do without their partner’s salary.

“56% claim to be financially independent should their relationship end”

Lobke (29), mother of Jaxx and Jezz (3): “The most frequently asked question to me after having the twins was whether I should stop working now. No one asked my friend. It was automatically assumed that I would stay at home. But no, I have a lot of fun in my work. I did work one day less and one day at home, which was easy to arrange. But so did my friend. As a result, the children only go to daycare for three days and we can arrange everything fairly smoothly. I think it’s super important to be able to keep my own pants on financially. And to put it bluntly: I didn’t study for six years to only worry about wet diapers, bouncers and Duplo.”

Average income

Striking: a third of all respondents call themselves the main breadwinner at home. By studying, finding a good job, working full time, but also saving and investing and not getting into debt, the women managed to support themselves and the family.

The question is whether the optimism about the income after a possible divorce is justified, because about half of the women (51%) earn below average, 30 percent earn exactly average (38,000 gross per year) and 19 percent earn above average. Together with her partner’s salary, just over half (54%) of the readers are above average and 24% on an average income. Are we satisfied with our income? Yes, actually they do: 84 percent think they receive a good salary at the end of the month, although half of them would like it to be ‘quite a bit more’.

Results

Are you concerned about the current price increases?

49% Yes, but it will be fine

17% No, we’re fine

17% Yes, it really wakes me up

20% Not really, but maybe you should

What is your income – without any partner?

51% Below average

30% Modal

19% above average

I regularly worry if I have enough money to get by for the whole month.

65% Disagree

35% Agree

I live by the day and never worry about my financial independence.

70% Disagree

30% Agree

Do you ever argue about money with your partner?

80% No

20% Yes

Curious what other moms say about money or what their best tips are for cutting back? You can read a selection of the answers to the Kek Mama’s Big Money Survey here.

You can find more stories about money (such as Petra living with her family on donations) and a candid interview with Roos Reedijk from Buying without Watching in Kek Mama 01-2023. Available in stores from January 3.