5 August, 2024
Because we want to provide you with plenty of saving inspiration, we will spotlight a saver each month to discover together why and for what people actually save. Whether it’s to build an emergency fund, save for a dream holiday, or realise a long-held wish, each story is unique and inspiring!
By gaining insight into the motivations and strategies of different savers, we hope to help you reach your own financial goals and come up with new ideas. Let yourself be inspired by the diverse stories of people like you and me, who understand the value of saving and want to share their experiences.
Today, Derk shares about saving for his dream weekend away to Terschelling!
Let’s introduce, Derk, who are you?
Hello, I am Derk, 34 years old and working as a sales manager. My job keeps me quite busy, but as soon as I’m free, I love to seek adventure. It’s sometimes difficult to really allow myself free time, I have always been a busy bee.
What are you saving for?
My girlfriend and I have saved together for an epic weekend to Terschelling.
We decided it was time to escape the daily grind and experience an unforgettable adventure together. Since we knew it was necessary to save together to realise this weekend, otherwise we would simply continue getting caught up in our busy schedules, we decided to create a pot. This pot also served as a kind of motivator.
How did this saving goal or dream come about?
‘On a cold winter evening in February, while we were dreaming of summer adventures, we decided that we really needed a break. Why think so far when the Netherlands has islands right at our doorstep?! We wanted to explore the island on a tandem, dine under the stars, and watch the sunset from the beach. It had to be a weekend we would never forget. 'One for the books.’
What saving agreements have you and your girlfriend made to achieve this goal?
We created a magical savings pot in the app. Every month we would automatically receive a notification to pay. Enter the PIN code and done. This way, a fixed amount flowed into the pot automatically, without us noticing.
How do you like saving together?
It actually went perfectly. Because we set up a savings plan once and then didn't have to do anything else, we didn't feel the pain of saving really. We didn’t have any conflicts over it, because we both knew why we were doing it. It felt like we had a secret mission and every month we were getting a step closer to our goal.
How do you manage to save a fixed amount together each month?
The automatic notifications were our salvation. We had agreed in advance how much we would save each month, and the app took care of the rest. It was as if we were gathering hidden treasure, without realising it.
Do you use any applications to save or to keep your finances under control?
Yes, we use Potje as a fantastic savings app. This app is really handy because it puts money into a separate pot that you cannot easily access. It really helps to save without being tempted to spend the money. It felt like an invisible safe where our adventure was stored. Additionally, we both have an N26 account where we can easily see what we spend monthly, as it’s categorised. Very convenient!
Do you make any sacrifices to save more?
Not really, because we started saving early and the amount was not too high. But if you want to look at it that way, we have spent a few Friday nights on the couch instead of at the pub. But that only heightened the anticipation. Every little sacrifice felt like an investment in our dream weekend.
Do you have a unique saving tip for our readers?
Use a savings app that sets the money aside and where you cannot easily access it. This makes saving really easy and effective. Because of this, we were able to save unnoticed, and by the time July came, we were completely ready without really realising it. It’s super nice that the money isn’t in your bank account, which makes saving go so well. We have already created a new pot for our next adventure.
Have you already created a new pot? If so, for what?
Absolutely! After the wonderful weekend in Terschelling, we are now saving for a city trip to Barcelona. We want to wander through the winding streets, admire the Sagrada Familia, and eat tapas in hidden squares. We’ve caught the travel bug and can’t wait for our next adventure! Additionally, we are saving together for a camper so we can always seek adventure whenever we want!
What goal are you going to save for?!
Thank you, Derk, for your enthusiasm! And how fantastic to see that Potje is helping you realise your saving dreams!
Would you also like to appear in this column and inspire others to save?
Then send an email to info@potje.tech and we’ll see you here!
