So that you can keep track of your own finances, consumer advocates recommend the very simple method.
Where else can you save?
The budget planner will tell you.
The increased prices are causing problems for many consumers in Germany.
Many are wondering whether the money will be enough in the future.
Because often your own wages have not increased, but the costs have in the meantime.
It is now all the more important to get an overview of all current and possibly additional expenses, as well as the income - and to offset them at the end.
Consumer advocates recommend one of the simplest methods of saving in everyday life - namely, by keeping a household book.
Money running out?
Why, according to experts, you should now keep a household book
If you do it right, you can quickly find out in this way whether you are financially in the green - or if not, which cost screw you should turn so that you don't end up with one or the other angry at the end of the month experienced surprise.
"Whether you buy a household book, create an Excel table, use a piece of paper or install an app is up to you.
The main thing is that you do it!” says a contribution from the consumer advice center on their website.
According to the experts, before you start, you should have bank statements, earnings statements, insurance documents and other contractual obligations ready.
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Where do you have to put the red pencil?
With the help of a household book, potential savings can be identified more easily.
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Keep a household book - step number one: Write down regular income
When keeping a household book, you should first record the income in writing that is “really always” available, advises the consumer advice center in the article – this includes, for example, wages, child benefit or unemployment benefit.
"Birthday gifts or Christmas bonuses should not be taken into account here," the consumer advocates said.
Practical: You only take this step once and can then simply transfer the respective amounts to the following months in your budget book - unless, of course, something changes on the input or expenditure side.
Keep a household book - step number two: Collect all fixed expenses
Fixed expenses are those costs that “occur regularly and cannot be changed at short notice” – such as rent, energy costs, telephone or membership fees.
"Expenses that only occur once or twice a year (e.g. insurance or vehicle taxes) should be converted to a month," according to
Verbraucherzentrale.de.
Once you have determined all those fixed expenses, enter them in the budget book and set the amount aside "as a reserve".
Here, too, you can enter the respective amounts in the following months of your household book, provided that nothing changes in the fixed expenses, without having to determine them again each time.
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Keep a household book - step number three: determine the budget for the variable expenses
Now comes the next step, which the consumer advice center describes as follows: "Income - fixed expenses = available budget for variable expenses or 'the money to live'".
Her tip: "divide this amount by four and you will know how much money you can spend per week in order not to end up in the red."
Keep a household book - step number four: determine the amount for food, leisure time and the like
Then it's the turn of the variable expenses.
The consumer advice center advises dividing the expenditure into categories such as “food and drink” or “clothing” for a better overview.
She also recommends collecting purchase receipts and not forgetting smaller amounts.
“Write down small amounts for which you do not receive a receipt on a piece of paper.
Purchases that are paid for by card and are eventually debited from the account also belong in the budget planner.
Otherwise the accounting will not be correct in the end,” the article continues.
Another specific tip is to collect receipts and notes in a box and enter the corresponding amounts in the household book once a week.
Keep a household book – step number five: Take stock once a month
The consumer advice center advises you to take stock every month by adding up the variable expenses and deducting the total from the available budget, citing the following example:
1875 euros available budget
- 1720 euros variable expenses
= 155 euros for reserves
If the result of this calculation is positive, the goal has been reached and you can set aside the sum “for purchases, the nest egg or provision”, so the conclusion.
If the result is negative, you should go through the items listed in the budget book on the expenditure side step by step.
If you have always listed everything properly, you should be able to use this method to quickly see which items are particularly expensive and where you can or must save.
You can also find out here how you can save 1,378 euros in one year with a comparatively simple savings method, the so-called 52-week challenge.
Potential savings: Check contracts and compare when shopping
Cost traps often lurk in insurance contracts, for example, which you may need to review and adapt to your new life situation.
When it comes to groceries, in some cases you can save at least a little money by going for the house brand or the product on offer - and overall when shopping by constantly comparing.
It is quite clear that, despite the rise in the cost of living, in many cases wages have not risen accordingly.
If there is an opportunity to talk to the employer about a salary increase, you should definitely use this opportunity.
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