We joke about it, but it really turns out to be true: the Dutch love to keep an eye on their money. This is evident from research by Simyo. Curious about what we are cutting back on the most? Read with me.
From the bag of tricks
The Dutch are sometimes described abroad as a thrifty people – they like to use the expression going Dutch in English-speaking countries to express that the bill must be split – but we prefer to see ourselves as a thrifty people. Why make it expensive?
Simyo’s annual Why-Do-It-Expensive survey of the same name shows that we like to use various tricks to make saving on things as easy as possible. And we do this without shame. The research shows that only 3 percent of Dutch people are not proud when they manage to benefit from something. The other 97 percent have no problem with this. In fact, we like to express it. Did we manage to get something cheap? Then 54 percent say this when they receive a compliment about it. “These shoes expensive? No, they were only 20 euros!”
The top 10
If you are curious about what we are currently saving the most on (and where you might be able to draw inspiration from), then you are not the only one. Simyo also wondered about it and put together a top 10 based on the Why-do-it-expensive-survey. We will save the most on the following things this year:
- To go out for dinner
- Subscriptions to newspapers, magazines, etc.
- Holidays
- Online streaming services
- Other outings
- Subscriptions to the gym/sports club
- Shopping (for clothes, gadgets, etc.)
- Purchase/maintenance of electronics
- Heating and electricity use
- Daily groceries
Looking for fun weekend tips? Click here.
Saving tips
Are you curious about how Dutch people save on some of the above matters? Say no more, because Simyo also delved into that. Because saving on groceries, eating out and shopping is quite difficult. So what do most people do?
Save on daily groceries
In the supermarket we pay attention to the little ones (at number 10 in the savings top 10). And that’s no surprise. To Simyo, 84 percent of respondents to the Why Expensive survey indicated that they find daily shopping expensive. That is why 77 percent at least occasionally make a shopping list based on the best offers – which is also useful to prevent impulse purchases.
We are also no longer so loyal to brands. The research showed that 87 percent of people sometimes buy a different brand of, for example, detergent or food when it is on sale. Oh, and is it on sale? Then 90 percent buy the extra large.
Save on shopping
Every now and then nothing is better than a retail therapy session. Yet we try to save on this in the Netherlands (at number 7 in the savings top 10). So what to do when you really want a new piece of clothing? Well, let’s look for it second hand, right? For example, 55 percent of Dutch people first check whether a product is also available second hand before they dig deep into their pockets for a new product.
Want to purchase a new item for full price? We try to prevent that. 24 percent of respondents to the Simyo survey indicated that they have created a new e-mail address in order to repeatedly use an offer, and 50 percent have sometimes registered for a newsletter in order to receive a discount code (long-term registration). we didn’t stay, because the unsubscribe button was quickly found).
Save on streaming services
You’re not paying attention, and you have a subscription to four different streaming services. And of course that’s paying four times for something. That can be done smarter. We like to save on the number of subscriptions to streaming services we have (at number 4 in the top 10 savings). The solution? Share a streaming subscription with people you know. No fewer than 51 percent of respondents appear to do this.
Save on eating out
This year we will save the most on eating out, as the Why-expensive-doing research shows. Interesting, because last year we saved the most on subscriptions to newspapers and magazines. Some people take a more rigorous approach to saving than others. For example, 60 percent have used a toilet for free in a restaurant or café where they did not eat or drink anything else. And those unused packets of mayonnaise, ketchup and mustard? They simply took 41 percent home with them.
Image: Adobe Stock
