‘I admit it: I’m going through financially when it comes to December’

Jorien (36) is married to Jan-Dirk (38) and mother of Kate (9) and Siem (11).

“In the weeks after Christmas I make my first strike. Then I buy Christmas napkins and tablecloths and balls for the following year. Many shops are discounting all their Christmas stuff after December 26, which is simply wonderful. I store those things in the attic, behind the special Christmas partition. Mommy’s treasure trove and a no-go for the kids, because of all the gifts piled up. Because I also prefer to buy them throughout the year when I see an offer or something nice on Marktplaats. Because I put a lot of Christmas gifts under the tree, it’s nice if I can spread the purchases. Although I do end up spending the biggest Christmas expenses, because that’s when garden centers have their special Christmas sections and I visit, if I can, at least two German markets, where I fill my baskets drooling.

carefree

My husband Jan-Dirk and I have quite a generous income. For twenty years we have lumped our salaries together. Dirk works full-time as a chef in a company restaurant and earns 2400 euros, I work 24 hours as a management assistant at the municipality and earn 1250 euros. Our housing costs are quite low at 575 euros, because we saved and repaid a lot in our childless years.

We lead an easy life. Not lavish or overly luxurious, but carefree. We spend about 250 euros a week on food. I usually do the shopping, without a budget. When I don’t feel like cooking, we order something delicious or we go to our favorite pizzeria and every Saturday I get good Limburg flan.

Good for the wallet

In terms of gadgets and clothing, I am more sober. I don’t have a dryer, our TV is a few years old and I spend a maximum of 50 euros a month on clothes for myself. I don’t attach much value to brands: pants should mainly look nice and sit comfortably. Nor do I succumb to the children’s arguments that the whole class is wearing so-and-so shoes. They can indicate which model they like best, but I decide.

I don’t even think about paying 200 euros for shoes for children’s feet that are still growing. On average, I spend 350 euros per child per year on clothing, which I pay entirely from the child benefit. There are outliers when it comes to a new winter coat of 100 euros or shoes of 60 euros, but I also buy second-hand. And I also put their still good-looking clothes for sale on Marktplaats. Not only good for the environment, but also for my wallet.

Save

Even now that we have children, Dirk-Jan and I save quite a lot. Both for the short term – holidays, outings, birthdays – and for the future – study of the children and our old age. The latter is a fixed amount. Every month 600 euros automatically flows into the blocked savings account, which already has 86,000 euros in it. A small fortune, but studying is not cheap and we want to give the children their driver’s license later on.

In addition to our fixed savings target, we deposit the balance that we have left in our private account after deduction of household money and fixed costs, plus extras such as holiday pay and bonuses. We do this on a regular savings account, which we can access in an instant. Now there is 1790 euros on it, but some months add more than others. For example, these past few months we have barely saved anything, but that has been my fault.

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Christmas fanatic

I’ll admit it: I’m going crazy when it comes to December. For me really the most wonderful time of the year. That dates back to my childhood. My parents used to be very generous with gifts too and I can still remember that magical feeling very well. The decorated fir tree, all the lights in the garden and waking up in the morning to see all those beautifully wrapped packages and looking forward to the unpacking party. I give the same to my own children and I create that by using two amazing Christmas trees, meters long outdoor lighting cords and an lavish mountain of gifts.

Not that my kids are any Christmas fanatics, mind you. Kate likes to go to the garden centers, but drops out when the tree has to be rigged. She also finds the red-green flickering Santa Claus in front of the door funny during the day, but at night she complains that it shines too much in her room. And Siem grumbles that his football table is moving to the garage because there has to be a Christmas tree. But all in all, they love the coziness in the house and the many gifts are of course very popular.

Expensive and time-consuming hobby

Well, as long as we also save and normally live fairly frugal, I think it should be possible. Dirk-Jan runs fast, which costs a pair of new running shoes of 200 euros per year. He also has a season ticket from a football club. I don’t do all that. I ‘Christmas’. I see it as an expensive and time-consuming hobby.

Besides the money I spend on it, it also takes a lot of time. In any case, on the purchases themselves, but also on the packing, which I am busy every evening for a week. After that it takes me many hours to arrange the presents under the tree. On Christmas Eve itself, unpacking also takes a few hours. Then I’m smiling with joy. I enjoy the delighted faces of the children and gloat about the enthusiastic reactions of my family to what I have found for them. And yes, that’s a lot. A lot. From watches and espresso cups to barbie houses and half the assortment of the perfume shop.

Economical again in January

For this interview I calculated what I spent last year on Christmas decorations and gifts. I was shocked, because I estimated it at least a third less. Normally I never keep track of it exactly, but now I came to the bizarre amount of more than 3000 euros.

Jan-Dirk called me completely insane when I confessed that. Luckily we don’t really argue about it. He sees it as an outrageous splurge on my part, but it sometimes annoys him. Jan-Dirk has the banking app for our joint account on his phone and literally sees every debit. As soon as he sees the name of a toy store or garden center in the description, I invariably get a ‘do you have to do that?’ heard, followed by a deep sigh.

He has stopped calculating how much fun we could have had on winter sports for that amount. After a relationship of twenty years, he is now used to something. He knows that in January I will be myself again and that I will save and live frugally. Until I come across the first advantage that I absolutely cannot miss. For Christmas next year.”

This article was previously published in Kek Mama.

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