A few remarks:
Then in the worst case, nothing is saved at first... is that bad? I don't think so.
No, but it’s annoying when the vacuum cleaner, washing machine, and car/bike all break down at the same time*
Our gardening will be limited to mowing the lawn and cutting the hedge :) There’s none of that with lots of different flowers that you have to care for etc.
You should change that – have you ever heard of bees?
But big leaps are no longer possible, the vacation in Bali won’t happen anymore... The question is rather whether you want that and are willing to possibly give up quite a lot.
I must have missed the time jump where people think that after building a house they can continue to spend their money just like before. I have been on this forum for 10 years now and have never read anything like that: no builder or buyer expects to be able to fly to Bali afterwards. Everyone is probably willing to pay attention to money and expenses for a corresponding period of time, and if necessary tighten their belt.
But I (41) do most things in and on the house myself and am already an oddball. Also among the neighbors in their mid-thirties ;) most of them prefer to hire service providers.
I missed this time jump too. More or less every homeowner around here maintains their garden and stretch of street themselves because they want to, and because services cost money. Only 1-2 justified exceptions.
I started working in 2005. I still clearly remember unemployment rates of over 10%. Highly qualified fathers sat at home and didn’t understand the world anymore. Job offers did exist sometimes: for a fraction of the previously earned salary. Everything long ago and different circumstances.
Yes, there was early retirement and you could stay home at 58. Now we have to work until 67, and who knows: maybe even until 70/72?!
If costs rise like that but the salary stays the same, yes then we’ll notice... how do we notice that?
You notice when you haven’t thought about what you bought beforehand and now after two shopping trips that feel like they cost twice as much as usual, you first look at the price and put the goods back on the shelf.
(Our Edeka was relatively empty yesterday afternoon (Friday)…)
… or you actually look at the flyers for the next week on Saturday.
But with that, you can push down your costs. As you say: then you no longer eat pizza out or have it delivered, but take frozen pizza instead.
*Personally, over the course of my working life (since ’92) I have found that over the years my savings always sufficed for a newly purchased car at a medium level. That no longer works now because salary and consumption costs (car) are no longer in proportion, and I didn’t imagine it that way.
You don’t have to talk yourself down about your situation! It fits because enough screws could be turned if things don’t go as planned.
It’s not only the rate that triggers me there, but also the salary. That is comparatively good.
