Financial freedom: This is how Bremen keep their expenses under control!

Financial freedom: This is how Bremen keep their expenses under control!

Rising prices in many areas of life are putting increasing strain on households. In times when it becomes more difficult to make ends meet, the Bremen Consumer Center offers support. Parsya Baschiri, head of the consumer law team, gives valuable tips on financial control. A particularly effective method is keeping a household book.

A budget book makes it possible to get an overview of income and expenses. All financial transactions, be it shopping, co-payments or bills, should be carefully documented. These recordings can be used to identify savings potential, for example on subscriptions or expensive cell phone contracts. It also helps to look at fixed expenses such as rent, energy costs and telephone in relation to regular income such as wages, unemployment benefit or child benefit.

Budget planning and spending control

Bashiri recommends calculating your available monthly budget to set financial priorities. It is advisable to pay rent and energy costs as priority, as arrears can have serious consequences. If there is a loss of rent, there is a risk of termination, while in the case of electricity and gas supplies, even small arrears of over 100 euros can lead to a shutdown.

To avoid unpleasant surprises, bank statements and telephone bills should be checked regularly. In the event of unauthorized debits, it is important to react quickly and, if necessary, seek help from the consumer advice center. If financial difficulties arise, a seizure protection account (P account) can be set up, which offers protection against seizures for assets of up to 1,560 euros per month.

Financial control steps

Keeping a budget book includes various steps that help you better manage your financial situation. First, fixed and variable expenses should be identified. The budget for variable expenses results from the calculation: income minus fixed expenses. A helpful tip is to divide this amount by four to set a weekly spending limit.

Additionally, it makes sense to divide all variable expenses into categories such as “food and drink” or “clothing”. Smaller amounts should also be noted down to get an accurate picture of your own expenses. The goal is to control the use of money independently and to create targeted reserves. At the end of the month, a balance sheet should be taken to evaluate financial success.

In this context, the Bremen consumer advice center also offers free consultations to offer help to citizens in the Blumenthal district. These consultations take place on Wednesdays from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the House of the Future on the Lüssumer Heide and are accessible without an appointment.

Overall, it shows that structured financial planning becomes indispensable for many, especially in times of crisis. Keeping a household book can not only help you get a better overview of your own finances, but also save money and build up reserves. The support from the consumer advice center is a valuable resource.

For more information on these topics, you can consult the articles from Weser courier and the Consumer advice center be consulted.