Financing single-family house - How much can we afford?

I have noticed that the money left at the end of the month is somehow independent of income. Meanwhile, the demands subtly increase the more you earn. That’s why I never trust that anything will be left at the end, but instead set aside everything that should be saved at the beginning of the month. You just have to manage with the rest. It actually always works.

I have noticed that the money left at the end of the month is somehow independent of the income.

Hmm, I don’t think that is the case. However, it may be that, just as an example, a high earner simply puts a small three-digit amount into retirement savings (it feels like there is nothing left at the end) while at the same time an average earner also has nothing left, but does not or cannot contribute to retirement savings. I still save "freely" every month (otherwise this forum wouldn’t be of interest to me), which I can only do because my gross income is comparatively high (compared to the average, if you trust common statistics).

You just have to manage with the rest. It actually always works.

If it always works, you should increase the savings rate .

I would rather say, there are people who can save a lot and others less. It does not matter how much you earn, you just spend it anyway. Of course, we are still talking about "normal" salaries. That is why I fully agree with Elina. We are also a family of 5, pay more rent than [Passivhaus], we don’t even have as much money for one month as [Passivhaus] spends, and yet saving and building a house is possible.

The keyword "setting priorities" comes to mind - sure, you can go to the cinema even with a home financing, but it doesn't have to be three festivals a year spread all over Europe?!

On the topic of the past: not everyone in the family had their own phone contract back then. The expenses are higher today because the expectations are higher.

Hello, we don't actually live extravagantly. On the contrary, Romanian cheap car, no smartphones, no restaurant visits, vacation once every 15 years by car, etc. But of course BU (155€), Riester (55€), supplementary pension insurance (36€), bus passes (80€), kindergarten (almost 200€!), children always get new shoes from the medical supply store,...