12 practical tips that offer support in case of money concerns

Tip 1: Let's talk about money!

Talking about money can be tricky but it is a good thing to do! Especially with family and friends. Talking about your worries often offers relieve and can give you more insight. You can learn from the mistakes and successes of others. Even in the case of financial setbacks, talking about money can be a first step towards a solution. But how do you engage in such a conversation? Read the tips below and be inspired.

1. Provide a pleasant and safe environment
Choose a situation in which you and the other person feel comfortable. Go for a walk together. Do it in person, not by phone or app. In this way you can see each other's faces and emotions.

2. Make sure you know what you want to ask
Would you like to hear how others do it? Then talk to someone who has his or her act together. And ask for practical tips.
For example, ask:

• How do you make sure you save some money each month?
• Would you like to stop working earlier, and are you setting aside money to do so?
• Do you make financial arrangements with your partner about what you spend money on?

3. It is important to just listen
Discussing your money problems openly can be quite scary. Here's a tip for when a friend starts a conversation about the subject. For many people openly admitting having money problems or have made financial mistakes, feels like a failure. When, in fact, that's not necessary at all. The most important thing is to listen and offer someone the opportunity to tell his or her story without asking too much questions. This means: listen first, show understanding and don't judge. Don't ask if you can help before you know the whole story. And think about what the first step should be together. Find all advice and tips, check out this website.

Tip 2: Get insight into your financial health on Geldfit.nl!

Do you have questions about money or trouble making ends meet? Brainport for each other together with Geldfit helps you get your finances in order and prevent you from having money worries.

Everone can have money concerns. You are not alone.

Take the anonymous test and discover what you can do within 2 minutes. Do you prefer personal advice? Call 0800-8115 for free.
This is how you get control over your money.

Tip 3: Explore how your financial situation changes as a consequence of major life events!

On www.wijzeringeldzaken.nl you can find all kinds of practical tips and information, for example checklists what to arrange when you have a child or when your child starts school, as well as information on the financial aspects of divorce or death.

Tip 4: Check if you are entitled to benefits (toeslagen) or can use other regulations or arrangements!

Go to https://www.datgeldtvoormij.nl/. This website has information on benefits and regulations, among other things. Or visit: https://potjescheck.geldfit.nl/ .

Tip 5: Get an overview of your finances by, for example, using an account book!

Make a record of your income and expenses. You can do this in several ways:

• Visit: https://www.wijzeringeldzaken.nl/huishoudboekjes or https://www.nibud.nl/tools/stappenplan-kasboek-maken for practical tips and helpful apps; 
• If you are under 35 then maybe 'Sofie' is for you: https://mijnsofie.nl

Tip 6: Keep up with your your administration every week!

1. Open your mail and put it neatly into folders (in a binder or digital folder)
2. See what actions you need to perform and write them in a to-do list;

For practical tips, check out https://www.nibud.nl/tools/stappenplan-administratie-opzetten-en-bijhouden 

Tip 7: See what you can save money on!

• Using less energy
  • Perhaps switching energy suppliers or signing an annual contract is more advantageous, but over the past year we have learned, above all, that saving on consumption pays off the most. There are many smart and easy solutions to do this, such as putting radiator foil behind the heating. Check out https://www.milieucentraal.nl/energie-besparen/snelle-bespaartips/ or https://www.consumentenbond.nl/energie-vergelijken/energie-besparen-in-huis.
  • Also check with your municipality to see if they offer help with this. In some municipalities, for example, you can get an Energy Box for free.
• Smarter grocery shopping
  • Make a list in advance of what you will buy & never go shopping while you are hungry!
  • Carefully look at what the best offers are and make your weekly menu based on these offers - do shopping once a week instead of every day;
  • Buy suprmarket brands instead of premium brands;
  • Don't forget to include cost of gasoline if you decide to go to multiple stores because of an offer
  • Take advantage of deals against waste: at many supermarkets you can buy things at a discount at the end of the day or use apps such as https://www.toogoodtogo.com/en.
• Spend less money on clothing
  • It is very easy to spend a lot of money on clothes, often too much. There are many useful websites that can help you to purchase clothes in a smart manner. For example, check out: https://porterenee.nl/minder-uitgeven-aan-kleding-zo-doe-je-dat/
  • Furthermore, you can also purchase 2nd hand clothes for your children or yourself through Marketplace and Facebook groups, as well as all kinds of apps.
• Change your insurance providers
  • Take a good look at your insurance policies. You may have be paying too much or you may be underinsured. Take a look at https://www.wijzeringeldzaken.nl/verzekering/ For all kinds of practical tips!
• Phone
  • A smartphone seems indispensable these days, but often we pay too much for our subscription or the phone itself!
  • Did you know that a phone subscription with a smartphone that costs over €250 is BKR registered?
  • Check out https://www.nibud.nl/onderwerpen/uitgaven/abonnementen for more control over your subscriptions.
• Stop your subscriptions
  • Most people have many subscriptions: https://www.nibud.nl/nieuws/nibud-abonnementen-blinde-vlek-voor-huishoudens/. The top 6 according to Nibud:
    • Combination package internet-tv-phone (85%)
    • Cell phone with internet (76%)
    • Streaming services (47%)
    • Lotteries (45%)
    • Magazines/TV guide (paper & digital) (41%)
    • Roadside Assistance (41%)
  • Often we don't have a clear picture of the total cost per month of all our subscriptions. Make a list of all the subscriptions you have and stop some of them:
    • Do you have multiple steaming services? For example AND Netflix AND Videoland? Stop the one you watch the least!
    • Do you automatically play in lotteries? Stop it and only buy a single ticket if you really want to play!
• Make sure your holiday isn't too expensive
  • Often we spend quite a lot of money during our holidays while the holiday feeling is immediately gone when we arrive home. On https://www.wijzeringeldzaken.nl/geldzaken-door-het-jaar-heen/checklist-wijzer-in-geldzaken-op-vakantie/ you can find smart tips so you can have a super fun vacation without getting a fat bill afterwards!
• Use comparison sites
  • You can often find a better subscription, insurance or rate through comparison sites. Some examples: https://halloroos.nl/, https://www.independer.nl/ and https://www.gaslicht.com/.
  • Always check with a comparison site that you don't have to pay for their services yourself and that they honestly state their revenue model on the website!

Tip 8: Create a sufficient financial buffer!

From time to time everyone faces unexpected expenses. Think of your car breaking down, your bike getting stolen, etc. It is therefore important to create a sufficient financial buffer.

It is also helpful to have savings goals, such as for a vacation or an item of clothing that you would really like to have. In this way you can make saving really fun for yourself, too! Check out https://www.wijzeringeldzaken.nl/sparen/checklist-sparen to see what is the best way to start saving money!

Tip 9: Think about your retirement early!

Visit https://www.mijnpensioenoverzicht.nl to check what your current pension entitlements are and what the expected pension amount will be if you continue like this, but also get tips and tools to get started on your retirement and information on how a life event affects your retirement!

You can also visit https://www.wijzeringeldzaken.nl/rekenhulpen/zelf-sparen-voor-je-pensioen for practical tips on how to save for your retirement yourself.

Tip 10: Don't buy on credit!

While it's sometimes nice or convenient to still be able to buy something you don't have the money for immediately, it's very easy to lose an overview of your finances when you buy on credit. It can lead to late payments if you end up not being able to afford the amount you owe.

For more information, visit: https://www.nibud.nl/nieuws/nibud-terechte-zorg-afm-om-ontbreken-regelgeving-achteraf-betalen en https://nos.nl/artikel/2317577-kopen-op-afbetaling-het-was-het-enige-dat-mij-gelukkig-maakte.

Tip 11: Withdraw your pocket money in cash!

Instead of settling everything digitally, you can keep a great grip on money by paying in cash. After all, you can't spend more than you have on you! For example, pay in cash when you go out, do your shopping with cash money or give your child cash pocket money. You'll learn to manage your money better and you won't be able to spend too much!

See among others: https://www.nibud.nl/nieuws/help-ik-mis-contant-betalen and The role of cash for more information.

Tip 12: File your Tax Return in time, often you still get a refund!

If you are not familiar with tax returns, get help from a local help agency. Check out https://www.wijzeringeldzaken.nl/geldzaken-door-het-jaar-heen/belastingaangifte-doen, among others, if you find it difficult to fil in a tax return yourself.