Super saverSome people are very good with money. Whether they have a lot or a little, they are creative and with results. How do they do that? Every week we let a super saver speak here. This week it is entrepreneur Maureen Veurman (43).
Why are you saving so much?
Maureen: ,,I am an entrepreneur, so I only accrue pension by investing. And I want to pay off my house quickly by depositing larger amounts every now and then. In addition, a buffer is important to me. Things are going well now but you never know what it will be like in a while.”
The doctors told me that I might be in a wheelchair by 30. A regular life would be best for me. So we did
However, at some point your buffer ran out. How did that happen?
“My ex and I have been together since we were 19. At that time I also heard that I had fibromyalgia, a form of rheumatism. The doctors told me that I might be in a wheelchair by 30. A regular life would be best for me. So we did. We both had good jobs, we lumped our money together and had two sons.
When my wheelchair wasn’t there when I was 30, a colleague asked me: ‘What are you going to make of your life now?’ Suddenly I saw a future. I wanted to do fun things, went to college, decided I wanted to be an entrepreneur and quit my well-paid job. I went everywhere at 200 kilometers per hour while not taking my ex in that. He also liked that quiet life. We got divorced.”
Income per month: 5000 euros
Lives with: two sons half of the week, 18 and 14 years old
Lives in: Enkhuizen
Expenses per month:
Living: 1900 euros
Insurance: 250 euros
Groceries: 450 euros
Sports: 75 euros
Clothing: 150 euros
Transport: 150 euros
Catering: 225 euros
Saving: 1500 euros
Invest: 300 euros
Was it the divorce that made it financially difficult for you?
,,I was tight because I had just quit my job when we broke up. I had been given an amount, but I was still in the phase of figuring out what kind of business I wanted, how I could recruit customers. If you have no income, a buffer is quickly used up.
How did your life change?
“I went from a beautiful house to a ruin. There was mold everywhere, it leaked terribly. Sometimes I had to ask my parents 50 euros for groceries. That was the most painful for me, that’s not how I was raised. But I knew: if I ask friends, my parents will say: what are you doing? In retrospect I think I ‘rock bottom’ had to go to get to where I am now.”
How did your sons experience that financially difficult period?
,,These are super sweet children who especially realized that mom was doing her very best. I thought it was the worst for them and they for me. Fortunately, they were never short of anything.”
I have 5 bank accounts: one for all bills, one for groceries, one for leisure, one for contingencies and a savings account
How did you work out financially?
“By working very hard. And if you can’t make ends meet, you start looking for what you can do about it. That’s how I came across theprofit’ way: a method where you have several bank accounts. I have 5 private and 5 business: one for all bills, one for groceries, one for leisure, one for contingencies and a savings account.”
But a bank account also costs money, right?
,,The two euros per month is nothing compared to what you save in this way because you have an overview. I also have an Excel sheet with expenses and income that I keep track of. I converted quarterly and annual expenses into monthly expenses.”
I learned that they really don’t care if your house looks picobello or not
You are in much better shape now. How has this experience changed you?
“I work in crisis communication. Because of this experience, I know better than anyone that there is always a chance, no matter how bad the situation may seem. I can now pass that on to others. And I don’t mean to be selfish but what I have now is all mine and my boys’. I like that.”
I am also much more satisfied with what I have. With my ex I lived the perfect picture: nice house, nice couple, lovely children, expensive stuff. When I first got divorced, I didn’t even dare invite friends. But I learned that they really don’t care if your house looks picobello or not. They find it enough if a bottle of wine is opened and a pot of food is on the table. Eating together and having fun.”
What are you proud of?
“After five years in that ruin, I was able to have my house renovated. I have a nice savings account and I employ two people for business. But of course I am most proud of my sons who grow up to be beautiful, independent men.”
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