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 motives and strategies of different savers, we hope to help you achieve 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, Guusje shares about saving for her parents' anniversary! 

Let me introduce myself, Guusje, who are you? 

I am Guusje, and I am 27 years old. I live in the Netherlands (for now) and absolutely love to travel and broaden my horizon. I previously travelled for an extended period through Mexico, Australia, and Portugal. It’s my big dream to buy my own camper and travel through Europe with it. 

But that's not what you have saved for right now, is it?! What have you saved for this time with Potje? 

Yes, that’s correct! Besides the savings for buying my camper, I have saved for my parents' anniversary this time. I saved to surprise my parents with a festive dinner on Vuurtoreneiland in Amsterdam. This is a beautiful location with a great view and delightful culinary experiences, making it perfect for such a special occasion! 

How did this savings goal come about? 

This savings dream arose from my wish to do something special for my parents to celebrate their silver wedding anniversary. They have been married for 25 years! My parents have always been a great example of love and commitment, and I wanted to give something back. The dream is to give them an unforgettable evening on Vuurtoreneiland, complete with a delicious dinner and a wonderful atmosphere.

What saving agreements have you and your saving partner(s) made to achieve this goal?

I set up a pot together with friends and family of my parents where everyone contributed. We set aside a fixed amount every month for my parents' anniversary. We used Potje as a joint savings account and the Potje app to keep track of progress. 

How is it going, saving together? Or are there sometimes a few hurdles to overcome?

Saving together is actually going very well. It’s nice to see how everyone enthusiastically contributes to this gift. Of course, there are sometimes small challenges, such as ensuring that everyone contributes on time, but overall the process runs smoothly.

How do you manage to save a fixed amount together every month?

We’ve made clear agreements and use Potje to stay organised. This app helps us keep track of progress and ensures that everyone can easily see how much has already been saved and what is still needed. This keeps everyone motivated. Also, reminders are sent out to contribute on time, which is very convenient. 

Do you make any certain sacrifices to save more?

Yes, we all made small sacrifices to make this anniversary possible for my parents. For example, we dined out a bit less and tried to spend less money on non-essential items. It’s often the little things that together make a big difference! 

Do you have a unique saving tip for our readers?

Definitely! One tip I like to share is to make your savings goals concrete and visual. For instance, we hung up a photo of Vuurtoreneiland as a reminder of our savings goal. This motivated us every day to keep saving.

Have you created a new Potje, Guusje? 

After achieving this savings goal, we want to focus on a new dream: going to our house in Spain with the whole family as a sort of family anniversary! We think it would be fantastic to plan a holiday with the whole family and make beautiful memories there. That will be our next big adventure.

Of course, I’m still saving hard for my own camper!

What goal are you going to save for?! 

Thank you Guusje for your enthusiasm! And how wonderful to see that Potje has contributed to making your dreams come true!

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! 

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