r/wien • u/eternally_missed • 2h ago
Ohne Schmäh | Serious What am I doing wrong?
33F, living and working in Vienna. I feel like my salary is pretty decent yet I struggle to save barely anything. Yes I do like to go out for a dinner, but I try to limit it to maybe once a week, but it still adds up to 400€+/month. I don't buy any fancy makeup or branded clothes. I am trying to think about what I spend my money on, at the same time I know this is a decent salary so I would expect to have a certain level of freedom. When I am in a restaurant I want to pick what I like, not what is cheapest. But I can't get my savings growing, every month there is something "extra" that I need to buy, like this month some birthday gifts for my family and a plane ticket. I do put my money into savings account in the beginning of the month, but after 2 weeks I have almost nothing left so I have to start taking the money out. I really don't know how my colleagues are feeding their whole families on the same salary. When I was younger, I thought I'd be living completely comfortably with this money, yet I find myself thinking about every purchase and feeling guilty when I buy 20€ mascara instead of the 10€ one. Is this normal? What am I doing wrong?
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u/Unhappy-Ad6494 2h ago
Restaurants: 369,- is insane
Clothes: 188.- every month? why?
Gifts: 176,- seems a bit much as well
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u/confringos 2h ago
Why does this OP strongly feel like someone trying to implement their US consumerist spending culture in Austria
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u/Psychological-Cod634 2h ago
170€ at DM/Bipa every month? What do you buy? The whole store?
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u/Lonely_Thanks2594 2h ago edited 2h ago
700€ a month for eating is too much. And yes its because auf restaurants mainly, but you could also reduce your groceries.
Edit: oh you got another position for coffee and snacks for another 100€.
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u/Serena_Sers 2h ago
336 alone wouldn't be that bad if that's all the food to be fair, that's a little bit more than 10 Euro per day for food. Before, when we were without child we also didn't compare prices when doing groceries and then you are quickly at such costs. It's all the extra stuff that's also food that's the problem with OP.
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u/Bright-Command-1453 2h ago
Bro you pay for a garage, car insurance, gas, annual public transit pass.. and you still take Ubers? Bro are you navigating life like a gta character who just hops into whatever vehicle is closest to them? Monthly gifts for 176? Now you are a santa clause and a gta character man
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u/K00pfnu55 2h ago edited 2h ago
You’ve got a spending problem. Nothing else.
€465 on restaurants and coffee.
€366 on your car.
€417 on cosmetics and clothes.
€653 on travel, fun and gifts.
That’s €1,901 a month right there. You’re simply living an expensive lifestyle. Cut back.
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u/mahsimoon 2h ago
You spend every month 200 on cloths and 170 on dm? I would say that could be worked on in case you want to Save some Money.
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u/confringos 2h ago
What are you complaining about exactly?
> so I would expect to have a certain level of freedom.
To do what? Rent a private yacht every week?
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u/Any-Preparation7396 2h ago
Spending almost 400€ on a car you barely use (according to gas+uber spending) is wild.
But it's probably a troll post anyway.
200€ cloths, 60€ nails, 170€ DM, and 170€ gifts per month..... that's 600€ for "image" per month
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u/dreadinger 2h ago
You are spending a lot. Which is fine as long as it makes you happy I guess. Just be aware of it.
I had similar months like this and I felt like I was constantly out, doing a lot of things and it was nice. But can’t imagine doing that long term.
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u/A_random_otter 2h ago
3.8K net income per month and you can't save?
Thats a you problem not a salary problem...
Start by cutting the car. You don't need one in Vienna.
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u/Forsaken-Line-3055 2h ago
Maybe you are doing much better than you think!
According to your description you live a decent life, allowing for pleasure and high quality food, clothes and cosmetics. And you save ~2500 EUR per year at a still relatively young age, which will accumulate nicely over time, even more so assuming future salary raises.
The one question you might want to think about is: do you really need a car? (Which amounts to 300 EUR per month)
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u/freeziix 2h ago
You spend monthly €1602 alone on fixed costs. Then another €800 for food which is the biggest expense. Do you really need a car? You can already save a lot by cutting down those two.
If you want actively save money of course you have to live below your means. You can't keep going to fancy restaurants AND buy new clothes every month AND go travel. Choose one. If these is one the regular 14 salaries, I earn less than you but can save over €1000 a month.
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u/Successful_Snail 2h ago
There is like 1k+ of basically fun money, which is fine but it eats your savings potential
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u/Draugdur 2h ago
Car-related expenses are 10% of your income alone, for something that is completely unnecessary in Vienna. That's were I'd start. On the upside, if that makes you walk or cycle more, you could also cut gym expenses.
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