Money LappersEveryone makes a mistake that has small or sometimes large financial consequences. In this series tell people about their monetary misstep. This week Xaviera van der Kolk (42), who is in financial trouble because she got a burnout.
How did it start?
Xaviera: ,,I dropped out in 2018. I worked in IT as a usability expert.”
What is that?
Then you are the voice of the customer. I made sure that the client was involved in the development of an idea from the start, something that happens too little in this industry, which leads to misunderstandings. This could save companies millions, but it is still relatively unknown as a specialism in the Netherlands.”
What were your working days like?
,,On paper I worked 36 hours, but it came down to work from seven in the morning until eleven at night. And I had to deal with roosters who knew better and a manager who let it down. At one point my life was laptop open, laptop closed, sleep, laptop open.”
I went to bed that night and woke up the next day: it was gone. I didn’t even know where I was anymore
How did that burnout work?
,,The days before I felt that my muscles were very tense. I still thought I had been sitting behind my desk wrong, but it got worse and worse until at one point I thought I was going to have a stroke. I went to bed that night and woke up the next day: it was gone. I didn’t even know where I was anymore.”
Burnout has a huge impact on your health and career. How do you deal with that? Iintermediate tells in this article what you can do if you have a burnout.
What did the period after that look like?
“I didn’t know what happened to me. Dead and tired, while I slept eighteen hours a day. When I wasn’t sleeping I would be staring straight ahead like a dead bird. I used to think that people acted if they got burned out, until I was confronted with it myself.”
Why did this cost you so much money?
“Because I didn’t have any additional disability insurance myself, and neither did my employer for me. A while before I became overwrought, I had my insurance checked by an adviser and he said I didn’t need to take additional insurance because I was still young. How stupid that is, I have found out.”
Have you also committed a money launderer? A miss with small or sometimes large financial consequences and do you want to protect others from that with your story? Mail to [email protected].
Because your salary stopped?
,,The first two months I still got 100 percent, then 70 percent and all bonuses fell away. After two years I still hadn’t recovered. Then my mother passed away in April of 2019, she lived with me and I shared the fixed expenses with her. When that part also fell away, it became very tight financially. Since last year I only receive benefits. I have an appointment with the council tomorrow to discuss this.”
And how is your health now?
,,That goes much better. But I won’t be able to work more than 24 hours.”
What did you learn from this?
,,That you should never think: I am young, nothing will happen to me. This can happen to anyone. Especially in this society, as it is now. Many young people I speak to indicate that an enormous amount is demanded of them in the workplace, especially due to the current staff shortage. Before you know it, they will also kill themselves. So I hope that they consider additional disability insurance or that it is arranged through their employer. If I had, I wouldn’t be in this tricky package right now.”
Do you want to stay informed about useful tips to manage your money and get inspired how others manage their finances? Then follow us on Facebook and Twitter!
Free unlimited access to Showbytes? Which can!
Log in or create an account and don’t miss out on any of the stars.
#Xaviera #young #happen