100% financing - I understand that!

Who willingly forgoes a nice vacation? Or gives up a car leased for 400€ and switches to a Skoda for 4000€?

Only in my personal opinion or according to my perception is something like that actually still possible, because these are rather big decisions that are not everyday things, unlike buying a house. Much more difficult are restrictions in everyday shopping. For example, if you have always shopped at the organic market or at Edeka and Rewe, you don’t suddenly switch to the discount store. If you were used to nibbling on salmon and caviar for breakfast, it won’t suddenly be crispbread with margarine. And if you’re used to champagne and Remy XXO, you don’t suddenly go for Perleberger and Rotkäppchen. You can go on like this forever and in less exaggerated terms. It’s enough if someone is not willing to switch from a brand to a “no name” product because they are convinced it’s not as good. That easily makes up to 50% of the food and household budget. Best regards Tolentino

I never quite understand the trump argument some make about future children. Of course the mother will stay at home and then not earn anything from the second year onwards. However, nowadays it is very uncommon for mothers (even if they could afford it financially) to stay at home with the children for more than 3 years. This time is very short in relation to the entire financing period. Of course, you have to make compromises during this time and also have money saved up for this period, but it is still manageable. The big problem, in my opinion, is the societal pressure and social media. It always has to be the newest phone, new brand clothes every year, and of course multiple vacations per year.

Who would willingly give up a nice vacation? Or give up the car leased for 400€ and then get into a Skoda for 4000€?

Me! Vacation is stressful, but the family insists. And yes, I actually drive a Skoda.

I! Vacation is stressful, but the family insists. And yes, I actually drive a Skoda.

Yes, by now I would also rather sit in a deck chair in the garden than go on vacation with the family. Fortunately, my family mostly feels the same way now. I also think Skoda is great! But by now it is almost too expensive for me.

Please

Me! Vacation is stressful, but the family insists. And yes, I actually drive a Skoda.

Please don't believe that I wanted to attack anyone because of my examples. I just wanted to show that it will surely be problematic for many to move from a 5-series BMW (or comparable) to a 12-year-old used car in the lower price category.
By the way, vacation is not stressful for me. You just have to choose the vacation properly. Car packed and off to the sea to the holiday home. Goes quickly, hardly any planning needed and if the location is chosen properly, the children are also occupied.

Much more difficult are restrictions in everyday shopping.

It should be noted that some of those who present their financing here in the forum, whose money is not so plentiful, do not need to cut back at all in managing their household because they are already managing well.

People like to transfer their own standard of living to others and therefore see some budgets as very tight. However, not everyone pays 400 € per month for their car or 200 € weekly for groceries at Edeka/organic markets and the like.

Thus, some questioners in the forum are somewhat surprised at how much some people have to put aside monthly in order to finance their leisure time.

As an example, I live frugally and wonder how much some of my friends spend on food, car, leisure, and so on. And I don't feel like I'm missing out, and I also like to treat myself – but in moderation.

Some do not understand that this does not mean self-torture, but that one simply lives as one was taught by their parents and actually feels very comfortable with it.