Talking about money is still taboo in France. Still, it’s a fascinating topic… and feminist, in some respects! In Settle accounts, people of all kinds examine their budget, tell us about their financial organization as a couple or alone and their relationship with money. Today Asmahan agreed to check her accounts for us.
- First name : Asmahan
- Age : 34 years
- Work : company manager in professional retraining
- Allowance: €526 RSA and €230 housing allowance
- Place of life: a 54 m² flat in a social housing that he rented for a year, in Brittany
- Lives with : his daughter
Asmahan’s income
Two years ago, after working for several years in public administration, Asmahan set up a recycling laboratory that promotes the integration of people far from the world of work.
“When I started this company, I was on unemployment benefits. In two years we managed to create two jobs and sell more than 20,000 pieces. But in this period I was unemployed, then at the RSA: I never freed myself from salary. I thought it was normal to pay me last, but we didn’t manage to go that far.
The health crisis has weakened us a lot. The charges have accumulated without us being able to have any visibility into the future, we have seen our customers suffer and close one after another…
In this unprecedented and uncertain climate, we have entered survival mode. We maintain our sales, but without preconditions, and we hope thanks to this to repay our last debts: a loan of €3,600 to be repaid and a delay in contributions of €335 to the USSRAF. In 2023, when these lists are deleted, I would like to dissolve this project and resume paid work.
Waiting, I live on €526 a month. »
To his RSA are added € 230 housing allowance, for a monthly budget of €756. An insufficient amount for your expenses:
“I’m in transition, so I don’t want to put myself in a category like rich or poor.
Every month I end up uncovered (−€150 on average). This is the first time in my life that I find myself in this situation. »
Asmahan’s relationship with money
Asmahan was brought up by very frugal parents, who instilled in her the habit of reckoning:
“My parents immigrated to France in the 70s. They were horticulturists and cleaners, and they made sure we had access to the essentials, without spending any money. We knew Pleasure Shopping was great! Pocket money wasn’t even an argument, we didn’t have any.
When I was 17, my mother let me get a job cleaning companies after school and on weekends. I liked making money and saving it.
This allowed me to be independent quite quickly and only pay for the license. »
Today it has maintained these budget management reflexes and spends as little as possible:
“I am a frugalist by nature. My greatest pleasure is the feeling of freedom! I like to talk about money, and lay out all my accounts to know every expense, every category. »
Asmahan’s expenses
Every month, Asmahan spends 342 € for the rent of his 54 m² apartment in low cost accommodation in Brittany.
“I have been renting social housing for less than a year. I had it with great luck: the first candidate rejected the proposal, which gave me access. »
His invoices are €74 in everything for water, gas and electricity, €15 for his phone which doubles as internet access and 15 euros in bank charges.
The 8-year-old daughter is divided between the house and her father, who bears most of the expenses that concern her:
“We live apart, but we spend a lot of time together. My daughter can spend time with her father or me without a fixed organization, it’s very fluid.
He is the one who receives the help in relation to our daughter, and who handles most of the expenses that concern her at the moment. When my situation changes, we will rebalance expenses. »
“I don’t take contraceptives for feminist reasons”
The thirty-year-old spends 180 € of groceries per month in the shops around his home, often using zero waste bins which can be found with a dedicated app.
“I set up menus and optimize them as much as possible. Gradually, my diet is becoming almost entirely plant based and I drink a lot of raw vegetable juices. »
For so-called female expenses, those costs that weigh on people perceived as women (shaving, “beauty” products, contraception, etc.), Asmahan prefers reusable alternatives “so as not to have to repurchase and gain purchasing power”. She uses menstrual panties, prepares her own creams… she has no contraceptive costs:
“I don’t take birth control and never will for feminist reasons. It is my partner who bears this responsibility. »
In all, these expenses cost him about 20 euros a month.
To get around she uses the car, which costs her €150 per month basically. She pays too €64 for home and auto insurance.
Asmahan’s hobbies
Asmahan spends approx €20 per month in his free time, which includes very different activities that all enrich him:
“I like going to tearooms to work on my projects, it gives me energy: I write, I’ve also launched my YouTube channel which gives me a lot of satisfaction.
I walk a lot and I like to share. I will soon be volunteering to host a cooking event at my local community grocery store. I also read books, meditate. »
Every month try to buy a nice piece of clothing for less than €10 on Vinted : “It’s crazy, the croquettes that can be found there! ».
Asmahan’s projects
In mid-2023, Asmahan hopes to finish with the obligations related to his business and to be able to return to gainful employment. “I want to stay in the integration and social sphere, perhaps as a RSA consultant. »
When he has found a salary, he does not intend to change his lifestyle in particular:
“ I try to privilege being over having. I don’t think I will drastically increase my spending when I’m on a paycheck again… Maybe I’ll spend a little more on wellness, like meditation classes or retreats. We will also rethink the distribution of expenses for my daughter! »
Photo credit: Milan Popovic / Unsplash
Source: Madmoizelle
Mary Crossley is an author at “The Fashion Vibes”. She is a seasoned journalist who is dedicated to delivering the latest news to her readers. With a keen sense of what’s important, Mary covers a wide range of topics, from politics to lifestyle and everything in between.
