Dutch habits that help you SPEND LESS | Life in the Netherlands | Dutch Lifestyle

When I moved to the Netherlands, I noticed that I was spending less than I did when I lived in the US-and I'm not alone in observing this! Many expats in the Netherlands have told me the same thing. So in this video, I talk about Dutch habits and aspects of the Dutch lifestyle that can lead you to spending less money.
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I like to share my experiences of an American expat in the Netherlands. I describe both the unique and everyday aspects of Dutch culture, and life in Holland while enjoying every bit of it!
Blog website: www.dutchamericano.com
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[@Firglin]

One of the things I noticed a lot in my interactions in the Us compared to the Netherlands was if you compliment someone on something they wear for instance in the US they were like all about how expensive it was, in the Netherlands they like to brag about how cheap they got it.

[@fredlakota3595]

Tell a girl in the Netherlands how sexy and nice her dress looks and then ask her how cheap it was.. i bet she will not be happy lol

[@donder91]

@@fredlakota3595 of course not, as it implies it looks cheap. However women do like bragging about having bought a cheap dress. Just not during a date or something.

[@gerardvriend729]

@@fredlakota3595 your mistaking, she will tell you it cost almost nothing.,

[@TheEvertw]

That, or they brag on the lengths they went to match the items in a stylish way.

[@TheEvertw]

​@@gerardvriend729 No he is not mistaken. If you ask how cheap it was, they will feel insulted. If you ask how expensive it was, they will tell you it took them a lot of effort but they found this special place where she got one item for next to nothing, then found this other place where she got another item for real cheap, and then perhaps how she indulged herself with some nice jewelry or perfume from the money she saved.

[@herby4911]

Another way we save money: We generally try to avoid spending money that we don’t have. Borrowing money costs money... It’s even a mandatory loan advertisement warning here.

[@BobVerdoes]

Exactly, creditcards aren't as common here as they are in the US for example

[@matthijszeeman5351]

Except when it comes to homes, there we go all out on the loans.

[@shersmk90]

So you didn’t buy a house? (Een hypotheek is ook een lening hè).

[@laurenceoverwijn7847]

@@shersmk90 Doesnt count here (just kidding ofc) but it is different.

[@peterkoller3761]

@@matthijszeeman5351 don´t confuse consumer credit and a mortgage on a house! a mortgage to buy a house is acceptable because the value of the house remains, while if you buy a car (or craziest: a vacation!) on credit, value decreases from day one, while a house keeps its value.

[@HenriZwols]

An obvious omission in the food category: tap water in the Netherlands is excellent quality. No need to buy bottled water.

[@lexemmens]

Even in a lot of restaurants ordering tap water (sometimes referred to as 'gemeentepils') is more and more accepted as it is considered a sign of hospitality.

[@rutgerveldhuijzen]

@@lexemmens Ook wel 'plat water' genoemd.

[@lexemmens]

@@rutgerveldhuijzen Plat water ken ik eerlijk gezegd niet als benaming voor kraanwater, maar meer als benaming voor 'zonder bubbels'.

[@ArrowRaider]

You guys don't put lead in the tap water?

[@HenriZwols]

@@ArrowRaider Ehh no. Do you???

[@laurenceoverwijn7847]

Ahhh the age old Dutch tradition, drunk cycling while pretending to be sober.

[@DutchAmericano]

Realized pretty quickly that it was a thing here...

[@outrageouspickles7152]

And waking up the next morning wondering why your knee hurts and how the hell you managed to get home with only one pedal and a flat tire.

[@LucvValen]

Dutch laws say that a police officer can't fine you for drunk cycling on a bicycle. He or she can only fine you for reckless driving.

[@outrageouspickles7152]

@@LucvValen According to article 8 of the Wegenverkeerswet 1994 it is an offense to drive any vehicle (not limited to motorized vehicles) under the influence of alcohol or other substances. So you can get fined for riding a bicycle while drunk, although it's not often enforced.

[@stefangrobbink7760]

@@outrageouspickles7152 It's not often enforced indeed, as the police would rather have you on a bicycle when drunk than in a motorized vehicle.

[@g.m.2427]

About buying cheap vs expensive stuff "The reason that the rich were so rich, Vimes reasoned, was because they managed to spend less money. Take boots, for example. He earned thirty-eight dollars a month plus allowances. A really good pair of leather boots cost fifty dollars. But an affordable pair of boots, which were sort of OK for a season or two and then leaked like hell when the cardboard gave out, cost about ten dollars. Those were the kind of boots Vimes always bought, and wore until the soles were so thin that he could tell where he was in Ankh-Morpork on a foggy night by the feel of the cobbles. But the thing was that good boots lasted for years and years. A man who could afford fifty dollars had a pair of boots that’d still be keeping his feet dry in ten years’ time, while the poor man who could only afford cheap boots would have spent a hundred dollars on boots in the same time and would still have wet feet. This was the Captain Samuel Vimes Boots’ theory of socioeconomic unfairness." Terry Pratchett’s Men at Arms:

[@knarf_inc4790]

Also, rich people get an education, poor people get kids.

[@WhoStoleMyAlias]

Guess Pratchett was never in the army, because then he would have known that you really need two pairs of boots to allow them to last that long and not still wreck your feet. But yes, becoming rich is about not spending money on stuff you don't need. A football costs only a fraction of the price of a PS4. If you require a tuxedo for a one time event, don't spend a thousand dollar on it but rent it. But most of all, don't show off to your friends how you are able to buy and wear expensive brands (Gucci, Rolex, Australian, Adidas, Superdry, etc) that you can no longer put on next year because everyone will know that it is `old`.

[@rendomstranger8698]

Shame that becoming rich has nothing to do with spending and everything to do with being born lucky or just being lucky. Having enough money, now that is a different story. That is all about knowing how to save money in the long run and having some starting capital to start saving money.

[@hisk7263]

What a great excuse to read men at arms... again.

[@g.m.2427]

@@hisk7263 Any excuse to do so is a great excuse, again and again and again

[@MySonBand]

Ok, now all of a sudden the social media comments about Bernie Sanders' coat being the same at various occasions make sense :) Reading them, I was very much like: "well, of course he is wearing the same coat at the inauguration as at such and such time, why would anyone need more than a single winter coat?" :)

[@whitegamma5106]

I will admit I have two. But one I use for work on a farm and horse riding outside. Its an old coat. The other I wear everywhere else.

[@m.e.visser4976]

I know!!! That’s actually what I was thinking. Why are they laughing at him for that? I know a lot of people with similar mittens and just one coat in a neutral color. Bernie has NL DNA I’ll bet you a dollar! Hahaha.

[@wingedyera]

Indeed I was also surprised at the amounts of comments I read like that

[@gardenjoy5223]

Too many Americans are very superficial.

[@rebeccaalbrecht771]

Its because Bernie's jacket was a puffy jacket not your standard black wool overcoat that all professionals wear to the job. The puffy jacket is what you might wear on a walk out in the suburbs or countryside for a walk.

[@nielzzaa]

Three coats for one season!? I have been wearing the same winter coat for the past 10 years (repaired it twice myself) and still get complimented on it.

[@oxycuntin2059]

lol ikr it really pays to know how to work a needle and thread.

[@nielzzaa]

@@oxycuntin2059 Absolutely, I learned how to sew at a very young age and it has paid off so many times.

[@theomeulenberg44]

lol yeah i got 2 coats for the entire year .. 1 waterproof raincaot and 1 wintercoat for when it is actually freezing

[@Ulrich.Bierwisch]

Dutch people on vacation: Years ago, I was on a bicycle vacation in France, close to Alpe d'Huez. At that day, Dutch summer vacation had started and the roads and camping grounds filled up with Dutch people. I kind of panicked because I thought after the travel everybody will eat out at the few restaurants in the small town with the big camping places. I went early to get a place. I was the only one the whole evening and I heard the chef complaining in the kitchen about Dutch people traveling with supply for weeks and not spending a thing at the local stores and restaurants.

[@aliaguerin1266]

Whaha so true.

[@abrahamcusters2987]

Of course. We cook at home or on holidays. And dining out sometimes therefore is a feast and a treat.

[@Ulrich.Bierwisch]

@@abrahamcusters2987 To be honest, Dutch people are very different. You can find the typical Dutch camping tourists but I also know people from the Netherlands who travel completely different. For example, you have the south part of lago di garda with lots of camping and the typical Dutch people on vacation doing the typical camping stuff. You also have the north part of lago di garda with a lot of completely different typical Dutch people. They like the "bella Italia" way of life with restaurants, bars and going out late in the evening. I respect both but I prefer the "bella Italia" part.

[@aliaguerin1266]

@@Ulrich.Bierwisch That is the part with money

[@Ulrich.Bierwisch]

@@aliaguerin1266 Not necessarily. If you look at the total cost of driving a strong car, pulling a big caravan, paying for the campground and all the stuff you carry with you it's probably comparable to going into less expensive Hotel rooms with breakfast and lunch included or private rooms. If you go out for lunch, you can drink some house wine and water and the whole thing don't need to be very expensive. A part of Bella Italia is also to get an incredible small coffee, sit and enjoy the place and stay for a pretty long time. Traveling on a bike is saving some money (and is so much more enjoyable than using a car). I think I'm a bit more Dutch than I had expected.

[@robinsommer]

Also generally, we don't like to boast about our riches. It's culturally frowned upon to show off, so it's ingrained to be proud of a good deal (low price + high quality) and that is something you are able to boast about. Keeping things sober is the main thread in Dutch life, except when we drink of course. How "expensive" things are is just one of the main topics besides talking about the weather.

[@thatgamingcouple2560]

For the wintercoats: I've owned 2 in the last 20 years. Only thing that broke on both was the zipper. As all things in life, quality over quantity.

[@ehekkert]

And zippers can be replaced.

[@svenjohanns8393]

my last one lived for 5 years then it wasnt keeping out the rain anymore

[@m.e.visser4976]

@@svenjohanns8393 You Can wash the coat with a water resistant liquid or use a spray! Just a tip for your next coat!

[@RH-ro3sg]

I just found out my current winter coat is at least 7 years old (found a picture from 7 years ago). I thought it was only 3 years old or so as it still looks quite new. Yeah, it wasn't cheap when I bought it, but quality pays back for itself over time.

[@GrouchierThanThou]

Yes, buying more expensive high quality durable products tends to save you money in the long run. And more importantly, you'll get to enjoy high quality products instead of cheap junk. It's also better for the environment.

[@abrahamcusters2987]

Exactly

[@gardenjoy5223]

I once went on extravagance and bought a pair of boots for about a 100 bucks. Then I found out, that this pair of boots, when kept, were lasting much longer than the average 40 bucks pair. They looked nice for years. I've had them for about 10 years! In the end they were the cheapest boots I ever bought.

[@ernestvanophuizen461]

Good to see you've come around to biking the Dutch way, by which I specifically mean your allusion to cycling after a few beers. My UK friends were aghast whenever I got on the bike after the pub, telling me I was drunk-driving. Which is true, it's even true for the Netherlands. You're not legally allowed to cycle under the influence, but... the police is generally of the same opinion as everyone else, that they'd rather have you drunk on a bike than drunk in a car. Plus bikes have a built-in alcohol assessment! When are you too drunk to cycle? When you fall. :-) One other thing that I imagine also helps with spending less, is how unlikely the Dutch are to have credit cards (as opposed to debit cards). The U.S. has nine times as many credit cards per capita compared to the Netherlands, which make it a lot harder for the Dutch to spend money they don't have.

[@picobello99]

This is definitely true. But you have to take into account that in the US you HAVE to have a credit card and use it in order to build a good credit score. Without a good credit score you won't be able to get a loan or mortgage etc. It's nice and all to tell Americans to not use a credit card, but this can lead to some financial difficulties as well. All they can do is learn how to use a credit card responsibly.

[@ernestvanophuizen461]

@@picobello99 You make an excellent point. Note though, that I'm not telling Americans not to use their credit cards. I'm just pointing out their prevalence and how that facilitates overspending. The fact that you're practically obligated to have one in the first place is adding insult to injury. Now you don't even have the (realistic) choice of opting out for your own protection if you think that would work best for you. :-(

[@Jekubman]

As far as I remember it you technically aren't even allowed to be drunk on the roads as a pedestrian. (But it possible that was changed at some point.) The reason is that drunk people can do unexpected things. So I don't really know how they expect you to get home if your drunk...

[@richardbrinkerhoff]

Beware, if you ride your bike while drunk it can cost you money if stopped by a policeman - a fine or if you're really over the limit, loss of your driver's license.

[@ernestvanophuizen461]

@@richardbrinkerhoff It can... but it probably won't. My girlfriend and her friend once get very, very drunk at a student party. In that state, they cycled home sharing a single bike and were probably being less-than-quiet. They were stopped by a policeman who pointed all of this out and they were indeed fined... for not having a functioning light! :-D

[@Skyfate]

"A beer is only 2 or 3 euros" As a Dutch student, that's expensive XD We have happy hours were you can an (admitedly not very good) beer for 0,5 euros

[@DutchAmericano]

That's insane! Insanely good.

[@DanAndHoe]

My first thought was "2 or 3 euros? That's expensive!" but then I remembered most of the beer I drink is at my student society.

[@Daniel-wx3qn]

Lidl beer is great

[@jwenting]

and have glasses that are not filled to nearly the legally required level (have way too much foam usually) and/or are diluted with water.

[@OP-1000]

Oranjeboom?

[@elodiei.5087]

I think that the Dutch tipping culture helps in saving money. You're not expected to tip a certain amount of money wherever you go (bars, nail stylists, restaurants, etc.) Everything has a fixed price and most people can make a living without dependingon tips. Tipping is appreciated, but not expected.

[@jwenting]

Correct. And as a result many people end up tipping more generously because they don't feel they're being pressured into it, especially when the service was exceptional.

[@octaviano1296]

Here in the Netherlands home made coffee beats Starbucks. ;-)

[@DutchAmericano]

True!

[@jwenting]

it does so everywhere, but convenience... We just don't have the culture here of going out to get something we can make at home just as easily, so places like Starbucks are mostly frequented by people who're traveling (hence finding them colocated with gas stations more often than not in the Netherlands).

[@sjefkerolleman2094]

I am Dutch and my wife is dutch But spending less is a tradition that my wife can hopefully learn too

[@kNowFixx]

hahaha

[@rozemarijnterpstra4682]

Kijken kijken en niet kopen.

[@Aranimda]

#1 Don't get in debt. #2: Try to avoid subscription services as the plague. #3: Quality products may be more expensive in the beginning but will save you in the long run.

[@Nynke_K]

Feeling pressure to own at least three winter coats? That just blew my mind! We have H&M and Zara here of course, so it's not like fast fashion doesn't exist here, and there are plenty of people who go shopping for clothes as a hobby, but I'd be surprised if they felt they had to have three winter coats for reasons of status. (Feel free to correct me if I'm wrong though!)

[@vviolet934]

To be honest as an American I don’t really see this as a trend, most people have one nice winter coat- at least in the Midwest

[@jwenting]

I've 2 winter coats. Bought one when the other no longer fit my increasing waist line but kept it in the hope that waist line would be getting smaller again :) Similar with other clothes. I've sets from before I started gaining weight seriously (medical issues) and clothes from after. The old are just too good to throw away, so I keep them for when (if ever) they will fit again.

[@HenkJanBakker]

There is another thing to 'office coffee' in the Netherlands. Because it's such a big thing many companies have contracts with major coffee brands that install and maintain (including the actual coffee) coffee makers. The coffee you get in the office would be comparable or even identical to what you'd get in any diner because many have the same provider.

[@19louis47]

And a lot of compagnies coffee is for free.

[@GentleRainRobbert]

I love saving money and spending it on something expensive I know I'll use for a long time, it feels like a gift for myself while still being conscientious as not to waste money.

[@meticulousgeek]

We have a saying over here "goedkoop is duurkoop" which basically means that buying cheap things can be more expensive in the long run. I guess that applies to clothes as well.

[@laulau194]

There's a similar one in English - 'buy cheap, buy twice'

[@jwenting]

it does apply to clothes. A cheap pair of jeans will fall apart after a few months of wear, a quality pair can last for years and years.

[@Huskie]

"The poor man can only afford the best tool as he can only afford it once"

[@spiritismisfit]

I am enjoying your videos so much! I have lived in Amsterdam all my life and seeying things I find completely ordinary from your perspective makes me appreciate things more. Thank you for giving me a new pair of eyes. This might exactly be the thing that leads to saving money: to settle for a practical otpion, but every now and then endulge and fully appreciate it. In doing so, you just spend less because you need less.

[@bramvanderklaauw434]

I love saving up so I can buy for example a winter coat that is from a high quality brand and therefore more expensive. Because i jow i have invested a lot in it i want to wear it a lot. I don't want a second one because I am already so proud of this one, and I can even look firward to wearing it again next year. Because I know I can because it is high quality

[@Dawwwg]

We used to have Happy Hour(s) in The Netherlands where you get 2 for the price of one for a long time too, but the govenment prohibited this like 15 years ago (or there about) because it would encourage bad drinking behaviour iirc....

[@jwenting]

and of course many companies have the semi-obligatory friday afternoon borrel to end the work week, usually with some announcements from management to give it a veneer of a corporate activity for tax purposes, at which free drinks and snacks are provided.

[@TheEvertw]

About clothing: you are spot on. I like my clothes so much I will wear them for 10 years. My coat has a lining I can take out, so I wear it both in summer and in winter. I am on my third coat since 1994. I also have a woolen, more formal coat I got in perhaps 2007, but I stopped wearing it when attire became less formal somewhere in the early teens. But perhaps that is me being a lazy man.

[@MrJuzam]

I see what you mean when you talk about biking in the Netherlands, unfortunately it doesn't translate well to the US. Also a thing about biking in the Netherlands is that you dress for the destination, as oposed to the US where you dress for the journey. Biking in the US is not feasable on a daily basis because the infrastructure is not good for biking. If you want to know more about that I recomend the KZbin channel 'Not just bikes'. Otherwise I loved your video and just a slight note on the eating out or in. You have to take into account the cost of groceries. In the Netherlands groceries are much more affordable than in the US. Eating out or making it yourself for the US is realy not that much different in price, but in the Netherlands it is a significant money saver to buy the groceries and making dinner yourself.

[@amyloriley]

Yaay, another Not Just Bikes fan! Do you also like BicycleDutch?

[@CasperEgas]

Not Just Bikes is great!

[@stefangrobbink7760]

Was about to mention the channel, but several people beat me to it.

[@randysem]

It could be feasible, however it doesn't just fall out of the sky. It takes effort. In the Netherlands pre 80ies it was quite a struggle to get the bike infrastructure we are so proud of now. The book Het Recht van de Snelste covers this history. I am not sure if it is translated to English though.

[@ricberretty8224]

Best thing about cycling in NL: Cyclists are protected by law. The driver of the car will always be liable and pay at least 50% of the damages, but most of the time 100%- no matter whose fault it is. Second best thing: because every Dutch car driver is also a cyclist, they're very aware of that part of traffic which makes for safer traffic.

[@classesanytime]

Definitely the impulsive buying habit is the main factor, moreover, we're a debit society instead of a credit society and therefore don't like to spend money we haven't earned yet !!

[@jwenting]

yeah, America's "credit score" system makes it imperative to have debt to get loans (yes, it's crazy) while our BKR works the other way around and you're less likely to get loans when you're in debt.

[@classesanytime]

@@jwenting Exactly 👍 This is also the reason why the Netherlands is the world's most unequal country but you can still have a good life!

[@ehekkert]

When you were talking about the clothes a Dutch expression came to mind "Goedkoop is duurkoop" which would translate to "Cheap is expensive".

[@TheEvertw]

The English expression is "Penny Wise, Pound Foolish", but I think it has a slightly different meaning.

[@ehekkert]

@@TheEvertw That seems to have a very different meaning. "You get what you pay for" is more accurate.

[@JeeGee114]

Clothing is not a good example. Mark ups are gigantic( at Mexx it was at least 2000 procent) and loads of stuff with some fancy or not so fancy brand name come out of the same sweat shop.

[@TheEvertw]

@@JeeGee114 And hence the Dutch quest for shops where both quality and price is acceptable. Mind you, there are still loads of a-holes who buy brand names just because they want to be seen in them. Most Dutch people can't stand these "Kakkers"--though some of them can be friendly.

[@axantedrijvers4444]

@@TheEvertw to be extremely careful about small amounts of money and not careful enough about larger amounts of money.

[@peterkoller3761]

I don´t know if the Dutch got the same saying as we have in Austria: If you buy cheap, you buy twice.

[@herby4911]

Yup. We have a saying with about the same meaning: “Goedkoop is duurkoop”

[@nicollevisser8141]

We have the saying goedkoop is duurkoop. Buying cheap is buying expensive. So it has the same meaning as the austria saying.

[@smijas]

Extending (or building upon) your idea to own one good, high quality piece of "equipment' that you actually need (as in, need-to-use-regularly), I like to pick things that actually last long and can be repaired instead of being thrown away. If something can be repaired to its original glory and has full functional use and still is aesthetically pleasing after repair, I refuse to throw it out or to replace it just for the feeling of owning something new.

[@TheEvertw]

In most Dutch companies, the coffee machine is where non-formal meetings occur. The coffee is usually subsidized by the company, so although the quality is usually not great, no-one goes out to get coffee. The real connoisseurs sometimes bring their own coffee makers to the office.

[@rendomstranger8698]

In regards to the last point, we have a saying in the Netherlands. "Goedkoop is duurkoop.", which translates to "buying cheap is buying expensive." We generally pick quality over price as long as the price is reasonable. This does of course get abused by stores quite often as cheap stuff is fairly regularly given a more expensive price tag to make people think it's higher quality. I know this isn't just a Dutch thing but the saying definitely is Dutch.

[@heroldboertjens4227]

I think the Dutch buy bicycles like you used to buy wintercoats. A lot of people will have a bicycle for every occasion. A racing bike, a mountain bike or touring. Ike, a shopping bike and an old bike for when you go out to drink and it doesn’t matter much if it were stolen. Oh, and nowadays a lot of people - young and old - have electric supported bikes for long rides. And one winter coat...

[@KarelSmout]

As for clothing and buying stuff: Yes, that is a true difference between US and NL. Or even between US and rest of the world. Look at airports: The people with too much luggage tend to be US. Or look at housing: You do need a 'walk in closet' (i.e. an extra room) for your clothes if you but that much. And just today I realised from the brand of my wintercoat that I bought it at V&D. That's been down since 2015. And I remember having it for years already, back then. Now I think about it: Some clothing I use on a daily basis is 10+, some is gone in one or two seasons.

[@LadyQAB]

I have the same with one dress. I recently found foto's from my first phone when I was 13. There was a picture on it when I bought the dress, I wore it last year and it still fits me great and I am 25 right now so it is more than 10 years old

[@happyquinifer5622]

Today i put on a sweater i bought over 20 years ago. Still looking great. That's when you buy more classic stuff it Doesn't outdate and it saves you money

[@ralfhamstra9631]

Just happy u visited Terschelling, ..come back in summer 😙🤗

[@reznovvazileski3193]

Few more crucial points here: -Most of us don't use exclusively debit cards, if you can pay for it now but it, if you can't save up. You don't have to loan it and pay some other guy extra on top of an already expensive product only ever borrow money if you need something this instance and don't have the funds for it, but be aware it will cost you more to loan it than to just save up for it. -In-home cooking is far cheaper when you do it for 2-3 days at a time. You also pay for the packaging and labor of the clerk putting it all into the shelves. If you make food for multiple days at a time and just freeze/fridge and reheat it for another go the next day you can take the bigger often relatively far cheaper products instead so now you save maybe 2-3 euro's on groceries per day which does add up very quickly over a year. -Just because it's on sale doesn't mean you have to buy it. Take a breather and think logically. Was I actually going to buy this? Sure, might as well get it on sale then. I wasn't actually going to buy this but it's something like cleaning agents that I will use regardless, might as well stock up a few if you have the spare cash. If neither of those are the case, just don't buy it. If you wouldn't have bought it off sale it's not cheaper when you do buy it on sale, it might say 50% off but actually, it's 50% on because not buying it costs you 0% of the product and now you did buy it for 50%. Don't let the market manipulate you into impulse buying is what I'm trying to say here, which leads me to the final point. -Eat and drink before shopping. If you are hungry everything looks tasty and you will buy loads more, especially with the special fragrances they spray around fresh bread isles etc. it is too tempting the human mind is usually not strong enough to not at least take 2 or 3 more food products of the shelves subconsciously. Just avoid this altogether by making sure your tummy is full before you enter the mall and trust me you will save lots of money in the long run because a full stomach won't seduce you into buying that pack of fresh croissants you just passed by.

[@eugene__eugene]

An important factor in saving also is: do not focus on brands, but on quality or design or usability. If the product with the desired quality (for the purpose), the design you like, the usability you need for the purpose happens to be a brand, fine... If not, just buy the product that does fit your needs

[@sit-insforsithis1568]

Hey I love watching your videos ! I always feel so flattered about my country haha. But maybe it would be fun to hear you talk about things that are better in the USA ? Or things you miss in general ? Houdoe !

[@Grimlock1979]

I've had my winter coat for over 20 years. Best thing I ever bought.

[@jschouten1985]

Hi Ava, just wondering: do you already have a job here in the Netherlands, and if so, what kind of work you do??

[@randar1969]

I also think that zoning has a big influence in america if you suddenly want for example a special belgium beer you have 2 options go out and pay a lot, or get it a bit cheaper drinking at home which usually require you to take your car and drive to the edge of town both options cost a lot of time. In the Netherland small shops are intermixed with housing areas way more often thus a special beer cost me 2 minute walk living in amsterdam and buy it way cheaper like 2 euro's for a bottle.

[@smenor]

Tangentially related and not something adaptable as a habit but one thing that really surprised me when I lived in Paris was how much cheaper groceries were In the US I find that it’s often no more expensive to eat out than to cook at home unless I put in a lot of effort while there it was much cheaper to just go to Carrefour and cook at home

[@LadyQAB]

The clothes thing is so true, I bought a fancy dress when I 13 now that I am 25 I still have it and it still fits and last year I wore it to a gala. Good quality last a long time ☺️

[@kleinemonnik]

I save a lót on coffee: I don't like coffee ;). But indeed, I do take my own bread for lunch, and this does save a lot in the long run. I also don't go out to restaurants that much, only when there is a special occasion. I can perfectly cook myself. And I do love to cycle to work. Not only is it healthy and fun, and it saves money from public transport, I can also declare the amount of km I travel to work and get something like € 0,19 per km or something for it. So basically I get paid to cycle. Not by a lot, but still, it helps with bicycle repairs that happen from time to time (and it can help save money if you can repair your bike yourself: I have learned that I rather spend some money to have a professional doing it correctly instead of me bumbling for hours with it).

[@deheerschappij]

We have a saying here: "goedkoop is duurkoop", which means that cheap things tend to be expensive in the long run. This not only goes for goods, but also for services. Quality costs more, but gives a lot more as well... Another thing that could help you "spend less" is spending more when doing your groceries: many supermarkets have the option of "zegeltjes sparen" (collecting stamps/coupons). AH, Jumbo and Vomar for example all have a system where you get the option to pay 10 cents per euro more for your groceries to collect stamps, once you get you booklet full of stamps you can exchange them back for money with interest (I believe between 3 and 6 percent). Their interest rates are much higher than those of the banks, so this can give you a lot of benefits over the year, especially when you do all your groceries at one of those supermarkets.

[@liavd2602]

This is a pro-tip... The stamps (zegeltjes)are indeed usually bought for €0,10. A full booklet takes 250 stamps (€25,-) and have a value of €26,- .... making it 4% interest. Don't know about other banks, but Rabobank currently offers me 0,01% on my savings account.

[@gardenjoy5223]

It costs more time to buy them and put them in the booklet. To not loose some, and to go back to the store with them. It's outdated and has a too small return. Time is money too. Much better is to shop wisely. Which means you don't go to the more expensive shops, who sell those 'zegeltjes' (which are NOT coupons!) in the first place, or only for the things you really need, which are not provided by the cheaper shops. To always look at what is for sale, then only buy the things for sale, that you use and buy a lot of those for several months. Make a list for everything else and stick to that. Eat mostly food, which is in season. That will save you far, far more. And avoid shopping, when you are hungry.

[@francinewillemsen7214]

Je bent goed aan het inburgeren Ava!👍😜

[@hcjkruse]

Stayed a week in a posh hotel in Philadelphia for a conference in early November 2000. Not the four Seasons. Loved the city. First time in America, first time sky scrapers. Loved China Town. And they had bicycle lanes. Most special was having dinner next to Liberty Bell on invitation by the city of Philadelphia. Wish I planned some holiday time after the conference. So much to see.

[@DutchAmericano]

It is a nice city!

[@runningunclesinc854]

In the Netherlands we also have the saying "kijken, kijken, niet kopen" which translates to "look, look, don't buy." It means that, here in the Netherlands, we often tend to be very critical of the things we may end up buying. We always consider the advantages and disadvantages of the things we are interested in buying. This often leads to Dutch people choosing not to spend their money on those things because in their opinion it is not 100% worth their money. This is another reason why the Dutch excel at saving money and are sometimes even called greedy.

[@dutchdrone1249]

You have become 100% Dutch when spending less is in your daily system. Welcome to the Netherlands my new fellow Netherlander, we are delighted to have you! 😄

[@RFGfotografie]

Great video :)

[@foggy4180]

Hi Ava, a seperate video about your biking experience in Amsterdan would be very informative for Americans who are moving to the Netherlands.

[@hcjkruse]

One other thing I was flabbergasted about when in Philadelphia was people buying big steel travel mugs full coffee. Not a thing in NL in 2000. Neither where/are food trucks or small carts on the pavement for breakfast. I bought 3 of these mugs as a souvenir from a shop in the mall near radio city.

[@BlueStarDragon]

There is an app. To prevent wasting food. You can get stuff at supermarkets that near or on date. For a low price. It's also good for your creativity as a cook, cause you never now what exactly is gonna be in it. It's called: Too good to go For example you get a little crate filled with meat. You can choose what kind of boc you wanna buy. It will cost you like 5 euro

[@matthijsclaessen8152]

My female colleagues exchange clothes. They organize a party twice a year and trade really good fashionable clothes they don’t wear anymore to eachother. It’s great fun with drinks and fittings and advice. And they really want the other to succeed. It’s in great (team)spirit and all of them ‘win’ by this.

[@SKroeze]

I love your humour.

[@123vincevideo]

Hi Eva, love your videos. Are your eyebrows natural? How do jou colour them?

[@elseline98]

I always make a grocery list before i go to the store. That way i can buy what i need, but also save some money on unnessacery items

[@laulau194]

Philly is actually a pretty bike friendly city (by US standards) - it's been a while but when I was in college I would bike everywhere. Admittedly, not nearly so flat as most of the Netherlands.

[@lil8125]

Never in my life have I owned 3 different winter coats at once, that genuinely shocked me lol

[@gardenjoy5223]

A simple way of saving money, is buying what you need ahead of time. I buy my Christmas decorations after Christmas, when they are 50-75% off. I buy Christmas paper in January for 10 cents a roll instead of 1,-. I buy gifts throughout the year at dump prices to have something nice for birthdays and Christmas. Children's clothes I buy in fire sales for the size they will be needing next year. When something is on sale in the supermarket, I buy enough for the next months. The only thing I need is a bit of closet space extra to store all those things. I buy a better quality of stuff, that I use a lot, so I don't overspend on repairing those or buying new ones. Like the washing machine or laminated floor boards or excellent paint.

[@Helleuw123]

the prces in the us are vastly different, arizona to netherlands almsot everythign is cheaper in az. except healthcare and education. new york vs netherlands we get what you describe.

[@ArjanGroenenboom]

Hi Ava, I'd love to see a video with you and your girlfriend sometime and hear her thoughts on dating an american girl...

[@zweex]

allot of company's these days have some pretty awsome machines for coffee these days. trow in your own beans set the temp etc. its decent. and its free at work!!! haha

[@Ps29Adam]

Hello Eva you talk about public transport I mean the price , the price you talk about is when you buy a single card in the bus/tram/metro but when you take a dutch abonnement card that is much much cheaper , the same you pay 2 euro with te personal card you pay maybe 0.80 eurocents

[@LBUKRK]

Smart buying and minimalist

[@verenigingvandemagogen4548]

It's easy to save money just by moving to the Netherlands. That's NY real estate. 16:00 Appreciating "quality and personal style" instead of "quantity and being different" is just a sign that you're growing up. I think that's more related to age rather than geography/culture.

[@MrMijnaccount1]

A saying in The Netherlands is: Goedkoop is duurkoop. It translate to 'Bought cheap is expensive bought'. Personally I rather buy clothes in the and of a season on sale and use it the next year. You have the good quality for less💪🏽

[@CasperEgas]

I bought one winter coat when I was 18 (in 2002) and a new one in 2015. I do still have the old one, but the zipper is broken.

[@peterkoller3761]

12 Bucks for a glass of wine?! Jaysus! I live in a wine region - a glass of wine (1/4L) is between 3.50.- and 4.50.-; a beer (1/2L) 3.50-4.00.-; a main course in an average restaurant 12-18 Euros (usually one side dish included), service fee included. but you can also eat a really filling (cold meat, saussages, bread etc) meal for around 5-6.- in a lot of places. So, usually, for a full 3 course meal (soup, main course, deserts and one drink) you reckon 20-35 Euros per Person here.

[@underwaterlaser1687]

I recently bought two in between coats from fb market for 15€ all-together. Am I becoming Dutch too?

[@florisvansandwijk6908]

I notice you passed the 10000 subscriber level. When did that happen?

[@palisadesparkwaynextsignal4578]

I was in The Netherlands, Amsterdam specifically, and a Dutch guy told me that his bike has been stolen many times. He also said maybe 3 times in his life he stole a bike. I think one time he got out of the bar, discovered that his bike was stolen, but had to get home so he stole a bike. It’s a regular bike-stealing endless circle.

[@kanehuijbers9528]

did the same thing here... we dutch accept that fact leaving a party

[@jasper7072]

Borrelen: Nah, had one borrel during all of 2019, and 3 during the entire covid period. the beer thing: do you know why it is so expensive? like, is that taxes on alcohol, or are the beer companies just making a rediculous profit per unit, assuming it doesn't go towards the bar itself. The whole takeout thing; recognized :D biking; confirmed (even in a more rural area, still in the center of NL though) fast fashion; Zara, H&M and Primark are a thing here too. but maybe less commonly accepted, not sure about that one though . Tnx for a fun video again Eva!

[@kevartje1295]

1. if you don't like beer, we also have Hugo, it's a kind of wine but it's sweeter and you can get it in every grocerystore for 2 euros a bottle. 2. When we don't want to cook we order food, like chinese or italian, or just fries. Nothing fancy. But only if we have nothing else. it seems to me, as a student, you better cook for yourself cuz it's MUCH cheaper. 3. I'm not that kind of girl who has a lot of clothes, I do buy cheap clothing. If I like it, I buy it, im not looking at brands and stuff. I do know some of my friends have too much clothes and shoes, I feel like its more about the collecting here. It also depends on what kind of friends you have, mine are into climbing trees and playing games with a lot of mud involved so they're not into clothing as much as people who like to go shopping and hang out in the city...

[@banaanaapje4510]

Nice video, i really laughed a lot as some things k think are normal are apparently weird to non-dutch people. We're always focused on saving money. There are many occasions though, when dutch people can get really stingy. Like asking for money after having guests for dinner, say you have an extra ticket for a concert and asking money back after wards etc etc.

[@gardenjoy5223]

NO! Some people do that? That's insane. I'm Dutch and I would never ever do such a thing. We enjoy to give good stuff away, that we found at small prices. Years ago a holiday center was giving a second midweek at their park 'away' for just a 100 bucks extra. We bought it for a single mother with three kids. We were all so happy! When I see a great bargain, and I know it comes in handy for friends of mine, who live on a low income, I will buy it and give it to them. Double joy! I actually know no one in my environment and circle, that is as narrow minded as what you describe, except for my brother in law. He tried to make good money on selling us an old appliance. He's actually that socially inapt.

[@GuidoHaverkort]

I personally totally agree with the clothes. My jeans prob cost like 80 euros (which isnt that expensive compared to some) and they last like 5 years easy instead of some cheapers ones i bought that were worn out within a year

[@kevartje1295]

One question.... why do you have a vase with flowers on your floor and not on the table? is it to make the background more colorful or is it some American custom I missed?

[@naomi6681]

About the clothes thingy: even while still growing I still wear clothes from 3 years ago and because of this whenever someone has bought stg new, friends comment on it because it is very obvious to them when stg is new because they just know your whole wardrobe

[@steemlenn8797]

This year I finally got to use my high winter boots again. I think they are older than 20 years now. But since I only use them a few days per year on average (last year not at all) they still are "new", so no reason to buy another pair.

[@Dutch1961]

In general, before I spend any money on things I didn't budget, I ask myself three questions. 1. Can I afford to buy it without getting into debt? 2. Do I really need it? 3. Is there a cheaper alternative? As a result I don't buy a new smartphone every year. As long as my current smartphone is still working and I don't have to charge the battery every half day, I don't need a new smartphone. My TV set is about 10 years old, but it's still working so I don't need a new TV set, how much I like the more advanced features of newer TV sets. Consume less and you will spend less money.

[@BaRtJuHh083]

Im dutch and i prefer the way you say it we go for quality over quantity instead of being cheap not all best deals are cheap ones. I "play" alot with computers and i build them myself i mostly go for the more expensive stuff because they last longer For example if you buy a pc now for 1000 euros to play games with you will notice in about a year time that you cant play the newest games any more and that its gotten slower while if you buy 1 for 2500 euros you will be able to play the games for 4+ years but it might start to struggle with the newest games. That goes for alot of stuff Higher quality in the end is cheaper. Also more expensive doesnt always mean better quality so always do your research before you buy something and think about if you really need it or not

[@VgHarrie]

Ava. Is the difference in how to spend holidays (Dutch: camping. US: flying) also not related to the differences in the amount of holidays one has? In case I only had a few I do not want to spend them on driving to and back from the resort. I also would go by plane to spend as much as time doing nothing at the pool :-).

[@autohmae]

3:28 I hope that's just NYC and not the US in general that would be insane. Because for example Amsterdam is also more expensive.

[@tedvandenbos5672]

Yes very true. Born in Utrecht but moved to Vancouver when 19 years old. Now 60 plus years later still am “cheap” my family says but have definitely no trouble walking 3 blocks to find a free parking space….

[@MusicJunky3]

No separate sales tax ...! Want to spend big ? Give it 24 hours and you will be amazed ! Great episode of course .

[@borretje140]

A few years i discovered To Good To Go. That is food wich the shopowner is not permitted to sell the next day anymore. When you put the food in the fridge it can leave there for days and days more. So you can eat and drink cheap stuff. For every 5 euro you spent on this food you get 15 euro for food.

[@jemma6506]

Wanneer ga je nu eens in het nedetlands vloggen? Wat doe je voor werk, ben je weervrouw? Die praten nl zo veeel met hun handen😀Je moet video eens terug kijken en dan alleen op je handen letten😂

[@pikefishingxl]

so, when are we gonna meet your girlfriend???

[@IsaSanity]

Interesting. I never knew Horeca was an abbreviation for Hotels-restaurants-cafés. Native Dutchy btw 😂 thanks for teaching me stuff I never knew

[@abyssal_phoenix]

We don’t spend much because everything is so expensive over here. Im happy I live at the border with Germany. I save so much money by buying basically everything over there. Some things are cheaper over there than they are here when the products are in sale! And even imported stuff from the Netherlands is cheaper in Germany. Which is incomprehensible to me

[@theBabyDead]

As a dutch person: I did not know Horeca was an abbrevation.

[@ricberretty8224]

En een vlizo-trap staat voor VLIering ZOldertrap.

[@theBabyDead]

@@ricberretty8224 Hahaha dat wist ik toevallig omdat oude mensen het vaak "vliering" noemen

[@ricberretty8224]

@@theBabyDead Volgens mij is het verschil dat je op een vliering niet kunt staan.

[@peterkoller3761]

1. buy only what you need and wait at least two weeks before you buy something you don´t really need but just want! 2. buy 2nd hand whatever you can (2nd hand often is (almost) new, cos so many people buy on impulse and don´t ever use these items)! 3. buy high quality as barely used 2nd hand! (example: last summer, I bought 5 tshirts (Raplh Lauren, Hilfiger, Boss, ...) in the price range of 60-100 Euros each from a guy who hadn´t even removed the price tags yet, and I paid 5 Euros per shirt!) 4. know the difference between investing and spending, consumer credit and investment credit! 5. as a rule, try to buy seasonal items in the off season (winter tyres in spring, summer clothes in fall...)! 6. save at least 20% of your net income *every month* = live way below your means! 7. keep fixed costs low! 8. buy cash only! of course they all want you to just swipe your card, cos this way it is much easier to lose control over spending. 9. repair/have repaired whatever can be repaired! 10. do your own cooking! 11. the marketing tag "convenience-xxx" means, you don´t *need* it, and it is way too expensive! Think about it!

[@gardenjoy5223]

Now there's a proper Nederlander for you! Well done. Years ago one of our appliances broke down. My husband tried to fix it, but couldn't. The repair man came and told my husband it was usually a certain problem. My husband watched attentively what he was doing. Years later the same thing broke down again. My husband checked if it was indeed that same thing. It was! He applied the lesson learned and was able to repair it himself this time. Next step is check on the internet what the main problem with product X is and watch video's on how to repair it.

[@truusjenskens8485]

If you want to see the real dutch and have a borrel at the same time you should go to a big soccerclub and have drink in their canteen on a busy day. Yes that can also be in Utrecht but it's even more Dutch at the smaller soccerclubs canteen.

[@TheSimArchitect]

I don't get when I see people writing groceries are cheaper here than in North America. I lived in Canada and groceries used to be considerably cheap there. Maybe people don't eat much meat? I could never find 99 cent pork loin (per pound, double that each Kg) and sometimes friends would cross the border to US to find even cheaper deals. Here you can't seem to get any decent boneless low fat meat for less than 6 euros / Kg on sale, 10 regular. Same thing with cereal and even parboiled rice costs a fortune here in comparison. Vegetables can be quite pricey too! You have to pay per paprika, for example, instead of per Kg. Packages are always very tiny so they can charge you more per unit without scaring customers, but instead of buying a 2Kg piece of meat you need a bunch of tiny trays to fill a pot if you want to cook more than a single meal at a time. Fuel costs a fortune, road tax and mandatory insurance are quite expensive as well, don't even get me started on a small fortune you need just to get a driver's license, and the fact you can't just pay for the test, but have to go to a driving school and they have to say you're good to be tested after pushing you a bunch of classes even if you already used to drive before, so they can pay their bills by selling you a service you shouldn't need on the first place. The dentist will charge by the minute they spend on you, on top of all the services, even if you didn't ask them to spend time talking about tooth brushes. They charge you for water and ketchup even at McDonald's, and you have to ask them for a napkin, so they can control how many napkins you're taking from them. Thrift stores and used goods are usually way too expensive (sometimes just 20% lower than a new item instead of paying 10x less like we use to in other countries) because most people here are thrifty, increasing demand, plus the quality of the items is usually much lower in comparison to what I experienced in Canada, because people just won't give away or throw out still good things just because they're out of season, as they do overseas. Social housing is very affordable if you can get a property (through lotto system or if you wait in line for almost ten years). Utilities are also pricey, especially energy. I don't regret moving here, I "get what I pay for" in the sense the food has less chemicals, the streets are clean, I don't see people begging for money on the streets or constant violence everywhere. Things here are quite fair, but I really don't understand why people insist on saying things are cheaper here. Of course, if you downgrade your life, you will spend less, but not because things are cheaper, but because you would (or couldn't) spend money on them. I get it that businesses have much slimmer margins because they are more socially responsible due to the legislation that forces them to pay more taxes, proper salaries etc. Totally worth it, I wouldn't want it to be otherwise, but not cheaper. Please accept my apologies in advance if I said something inappropriate. Understand I love living in The Netherlands and I don't want to be elsewhere.

[@moshemordechaivanzuiden]

Unse the amount of a pea of toothpaste. Don't keep the tap running. Catch water from showering and doing dishes to flush the toilet. Use less toilet paper. Don't use 4 tissues for one sneeze. Only heat your apartment when you have insulated the place. Don't heat with an open window or door. Save left-overs for the next meal. Many left-overs can make an amazing soup. Don't buy so much food it will rot in your fridge. Reuse gift paper your received.. Don't buy cheap junk that will need to be replaced soon. Cook and do dishes not only saves money but also gives you the tastes you want exactly and more satisfaction. Fill you stomach with good food that lasts even before thinking of sweets, potato chips, white-flour stuff, or alcohol. Use low-electricity lamps. Buy flowers that last, not that are almost gone. Or better, replace them with an ever-lasting still life of a few nice bare branches. Who says you need a car at all?

[@michelvanderlaan4670]

Good lord, you forgot to use your teabag at least 3 times... But I do agree with the leftovers

[@gardenjoy5223]

@@michelvanderlaan4670 Nah, just 2 times. After that, the taste gets less. But catching water from showering? That goes a bit far... Maybe he does that for the environment? Why then shower at all? Use a wash cloth at the sink, as did previous generations.

[@berrievanderlinden3797]

Such a good video!. I'm Dutch and why spending while you don't need it. You can only spend a dollar once we would say here.

[@DutchAmericano]

I like that phrase!

[@gitmoholliday5764]

Fruit juice will taste just fine if mixed with 30% tapwater, if you buy your clothes in the same dark colors it is cheaper to wash them. especially socks with holes in them you can easily fix by wearing 2 old socks with holes at one foot.. with a bit of luck the holes don't match and hide each other. old bread can be toasted and stored to make porridge or mixed with grinded meat ( gehakt ) and you can save lots of money by not showering but washing yourself at the sink with water boiled in an electrical watercooker. that will save you p.p. atleast € 3,- per day 🤓

[@herby4911]

You remind me of Scrooge McDuck (Dagobert Duck). 😅

[@gitmoholliday5764]

@@herby4911 just saving the environment and my carbon emissions 😇

[@herby4911]

@@gitmoholliday5764 Heheh, that’s also what I would say... but the last sentence spoiled it. 😋

[@gardenjoy5223]

@@herby4911 Guess it goes hand in hand. Saving on things is usually good for both your wallet and the environment.

[@vincewhite5087]

In Canada, I brew my coffee & bring it in a large thermos.

[@oxycuntin2059]

in canada thats probably how you stay alive in the cold lol

[@Paul_C]

Eh, vintage, or maybe 'vintage' is more appropriate. Sell your own clothes and do the second hand thing. Though I wouldn't want to buy shoes that way...

[@anneliesegberink8281]

I feel more comfortable in my favourite clothes. I wear them all the time.

[@Arnaud58]

Hi Eva, you're saying you love your coffee, a have a question. On my visits to The US the coffee over there was very weak coffee, ditch water is what we call it here. Mind you, that was in the 80's and 90's. Is this difference still there? I also was surprised about your topic on clothes, or the amount of them. Here is a thought about the subject I never understood: When a man steps in a room where multiple men are wearing the same suit, the comment would be: "Nice suit, I like it too". If a woman steps in a room seeing someone wearing the same shoes, scarf or dress, she actually want to double back and go change...