No Guilt for the Stingy

The view through the rain from the outside ofRotterdam Central Station

Nobody wants to be cheap, but we all love a good discount. I feel a certain pride when I get something for half the price. Don't get me wrong; I do not go around hunting for sales like a super crazy super spender, but if I see something I know I want and it's on sale, I don't think twice.

There are basic ways to save money like getting vouchers for your movie tickets or even using your reward vouchers for shopping trips, most times I felt really shy when using these added bonus points but I did not know how to be frugal until I moved to the Netherlands properly.

Moving abroad is usually synonymous with glamour, higher salaries and excessive spending but what awaited me was the complete opposite.

In the Netherlands, the spending culture differs significantly from South Africa, people buy only what they need and I mean this literally. I have learned that every cent counts, and I think it has less to do with the denomination of currency and more to do with conscious spending. You see people walk around with clothes that have a hole in it. You see shoes that have been worn and not washed. Honestly, most people do not even take the time to notice.

This level of savings is in everything, people shower less which is more about saving than about laziness. They use whichever means to allow them to live their best life.

After all this time, I still stare at people who walk to the store and purchase a single banana. Our favourite household pass time is discussing how many items people purchase and still refused to believe they needed to purchase a plastic grocery bag. This initially bothered me, but after a few months, I stopped buying three carry bags, when everything could fit into two, much to the dismay of my husband who has to carry the bags home.

To ask people why they opt to live this way is not something you should do, but if you are used to shoving your foot in your mouth as I usually do you could learn something new. I went on a rampage complaining about people not buying bags in the store when they knew they needed it, to a Dutch friend the response I got was blunt and to the point.

The Dutch have a saying "wie het kleine niet eert, is het grote niet weerd". Translated this means those who do not honour the small, are not worthy of the great. It means that the little things add up, no matter how insignificant it seems. It might explain why each year the Netherlands breaks records in personal savings accounts.

While I now shove all my groceries proudly in my handbag. The lesson I think extends to far more than our spending, it has great meaning for life moments as well.

Until next time. ♥️