Construction costs are currently skyrocketing

If that isn’t wealth, then I don’t know...

Do you have children? Then costs increase. But not only costs. Usually, one of the parents does not work at all or only part-time in the first years. Then tens of thousands of euros per year quickly “disappear” - is a child a luxury? Maybe. But it really shouldn’t be. Is it a luxury that both partners don’t have to work full-time? Maybe. But it really shouldn’t be.

Let’s come to your example: 6800 net is a nice amount of money, but both partners have to earn that in the regions of tenured teachers (to stick with the example). Health insurance may also be deducted.

If there are children and one of them only works part-time (let’s say 50% and as a teacher you only have one guaranteed day off), then easily 1500 euros or more are gone again. Well, that may still be manageable. With a home loan, retirement provisions, 2 cars (due to poor public transport), increased energy costs, and other expenses, it gets tight.

Now one might say, “Then both should just work full-time” - but if there is no daycare place, that looks bad. (and that is not even that rare despite the legal entitlement from age 2)

So you rely on the parents to possibly cover an hour here or there when you can’t organize care. If you then move somewhere far away from the parents (to save on housing costs as you say) you have another problem here.

So you can go on like this.

Due to increased construction costs, living expenses, with children and no care options, this then becomes, let’s say with 5000 euros net as an example, no longer that easy. Feasible? Certainly? Wealthy? Certainly not.

To those who are disturbed by the somewhat digressive discussion here, I would like to apologize. But this also somehow belongs to the topic - good / decent salaries nowadays often hardly allow you to build anymore. You really have to earn very well to be able to carry out such a project nowadays. And it is likely to get worse in the near future.

Do you have children? Then costs go up. But not just the costs. Usually, one of the parents does not work or only works part-time in the first years. Then tens of thousands of euros per year are quickly "gone" – is a child luxury? Maybe. But it really shouldn’t be. Is it luxury that both partners then don’t have to work full-time? Maybe. But it really shouldn’t be.

Let’s come to your example: 6800 net is a nice amount of money, but both partners have to earn that in regions where teachers are civil servants (to stick with the example). Health insurance may also be deducted.

If there are children and one of the two only works part-time (let’s say 50% and as a teacher you only have one guaranteed day off), then easily another 1500 euros or more are gone. Well, that might still be manageable. But with a home loan, retirement provision, 2 cars (due to poor public transport), increased energy costs and other expenses etc., it’s already tight.

Now one might say "then both should just work full-time" – but if the daycare spot is missing, it looks bad. (and that is not uncommon despite the legal entitlement from age 2)

So you depend on the parents that maybe take over the one or other hour where no childcare can be arranged. If you then move somewhere far away from the parents (to save on housing costs, as you say), you have another problem.

And so one can continue.

Due to rising construction costs, living costs, with children and no childcare options, things become, say with 5000 euros net as an example, no longer so simple. Feasible? Certainly. Rich? Certainly not.

To those who feel disturbed by my somewhat diverging discussion here I want to apologize. But this also somehow belongs to the topic – good/decent salaries currently often hardly allow building. You really have to earn very well nowadays to be able to carry out such a project. And it is likely to get worse soon.

You quote me, but then you should quote the whole text. A house is not wealth to me, but luxury. Children are not luxury, but wealth (not from a financial perspective).

When you buy a house you are not rich. You were rich beforehand, because you can afford a house. Wealth starts much earlier. But somehow that has not sunk in with people. When my wife and I moved in together about 10 years ago in Berlin-Buckow, I only had a job where I earned about 2,000 € net. Around 850 € went for rent. Don’t ask me how, but back then we could still save about 400-500 € monthly. We initially slept on the floor (blankets). Then on a mattress, until our 600 € bedroom arrived. The car was only bought after the birth of our daughter (after 12 months). And by that time we were already rich. We had a beautiful apartment, could go out to eat and enjoy life. Back then our goal was that our household income would rise to 4,000 € net over the next years. That was our dream. Now we are at 6,800 €. We have more than we need and can therefore afford a house and support our parents. And still, there is at least 1,500 € monthly savings rate.

Here in the forum people complain that they cannot build a house with 5,000 € net income. You should first be happy that you even have 5,000 € household income and not have to worry. Yes, we are in a house building forum, but a little humility would be appropriate.

Well, these annoy me too

wow! Five minutes ago I actually wanted to read about what’s new regarding exploding construction costs, but now I’m almost an expert on the topic of teacher exchange. Apparently I ended up in the wrong forum...

Yes, it’s starting to annoy me too. Every time I have to skim through a few pages to see if there’s anything about construction costs. If it continues like this here, I won’t follow the thread anymore :/

You quote me, but then you should quote the whole text. For me, a house is not wealth, but luxury. Children are not a luxury, but wealth (not from a financial perspective).

When you buy a house, you are not rich. You are rich before that, because you can afford a house. Wealth starts much earlier. But somehow that hasn’t sunk in with people. When my wife and I moved in together about 10 years ago in Berlin-Buckow, I only had a job where I earned about 2,000 € net. About 850 € of that went to rent. Don’t ask me how, but back then we were still able to save about 400-500 € monthly. We did sleep on the floor (blankets) for the first few days. Then on a mattress until our 600 € bedroom arrived. We only bought a car after our daughter was born (after 12 months). And at that point, we were already rich. We had a beautiful apartment, could go out to eat, and enjoy life. Back then our goal was for our household income to rise to 4,000 € net in the coming years. That was our dream. Now we are at 6,800 €. We have more than we need and can therefore afford a house and support our parents. And there still remains at least 1,500 € savings rate monthly.

Here in the forum, people complain that with 5,000 € net income they can’t build a house. First, people should be happy that they even have 5,000 € household income and don’t have to worry. Yes, we are on a house-building forum, but a bit of humility would be appropriate.

Now please just let it be! By now even the last person here has understood how great your situation is and how great you are and what great views you have.

Please just let it go now! By now even the last person here has understood how great your situation is and how great you are and what great views you have.

Well, if you have understood it too, then I'm happy. I didn't expect any other comment either. Back to the topic :cool:

Then I want to bring this thread back to the origin:
Yesterday ordered angle supports, shuttering blocks, drainage pipes, and the corresponding accessories. Prices are daily prices, but the supplier says that it is currently stagnating, at least apparently. The angle supports, for example, are about 5% cheaper than in the previous month.
All "liquid" building materials continue to rise, however. (Mortar, coatings, screed...)
He also has the occasional builder who cancels his order due to failed financing.
I think this year will be very exciting to see where the journey goes.