Talking about money is still taboo in France. However, it is a fascinating subject… and feminist in some respects! In our section Settle the accounts, of the people of all kinds come to peel their budget, tell us about their relationship with money and their financial organization as a couple or alone. Today it is Manon who has agreed to open her accounts for us.
- Name: Manon
- Age: 29
- Profession: Piano teacher
- Net salary net of withholding tax: € 2,142 per month
- Living space: a 57m2 apartment in the center of Strasbourg, which she owns
Manon’s income
Manon is a piano teacher and works in two different places:
“I have a permanent contract in Strasbourg and a temporary worker in a conservatory in Paris (with a contract renewed every year for 0 months).
On Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays I give classes in Strasbourg. Friday and Saturday I give classes in Paris. “
Explain that this is a fairly common situation for music teachers, who often have to combine different positions to reach full time.
He also holds private lessons on Thursdays and Sundays.
His 16-hour permanent contract in Strasbourg earns him a salary of 880 € per month. His 11 hours a week in Paris bring him back 1083 the months in which he works therefinally, private lessons bring it 400 € per month over 9 months. Smoothed all year round, his salary therefore amounts to 2,142 euros per month.
She does not consider herself well paid:
“For the investment, in time, energy and finance of my studies (I have a bac + 5, a master’s degree in piano and a teaching license) I do not consider myself well paid in Strasbourg. I am better paid in Paris … But with a precarious status as a temporary worker, which guarantees me only a salary 9 months out of 12 and I’m not angry. That said, I consider myself lucky to be doing this job and I knew that salary was not the criterion that would be the most attractive. “
“I didn’t know enough about the costs associated with ownership”
A few weeks ago, Manon became the owner of her main residence, a 57m2 apartment in the center of Strasbourg.
She pays off 730 euros per month, that’s about a third of his monthly budget, and he’s in debt for 25 years. Overall, his property cost him 220,000 euros, of which 42,000 of inheritance and 12,000 of savings that were used to pay agency and notary fees.
However, this purchase costs her more than she anticipated:
“I made this decision seeing that being a tenant was expensive for me, but I didn’t know enough about all the costs associated with ownership. I find myself paying even higher monthly installments. “
Among these costs that he had not foreseen, he includes loan insurance of 17 euros per month, home insurance, property tax (46 € per month)the condominium expenses of € 100 per month, but also the works of the condominium, in the apartment, the cost of the duplicate keys or the termination costs …
“During the simulation with my banker I naively thought I had 750 euros per month (expensive, but feasible), but I find myself paying around 1,000 euros per month just for this apartment. And I wonder if I haven’t done something stupid, if I’ll be able to accept it … “
To this sum are added € 90 electricity and heating bills.
Manon’s expenses
Each month, his loan insurance and home insurance cost him € 43. His bank charges are € 15, and she pays Monthly subscription € 32 for your Internet access and video or music streaming services.
She matters € 450 per month in spendingin a supermarket near home:
“There is a Norma downstairs, it’s a not too expensive shop where I mainly do the shopping. But I’m vegan and often get fooled by advertisements for new animal product substitutes or vegan restaurants that we like to go and try with loved ones! “
A figure that he would like to reduce, to lighten his budget a little.
She also buys € 25 each month of supplies and food for his pet rabbit.
One of the largest expenditure items is in the transport budget. As Manon previously explained, she lives in Strasbourg but is not paid for her travels to her second workplace: Paris. She therefore spends 500 euros a month, 9 months a year, to travel to Paris and stay there on Fridays and Saturdays. Honed over the year, this represents a budget of 375 € per month.
Manon’s hobbies
In terms of free time, Manon spends little. She explains that her work allows her few outside activities:
“Piano lessons are often held in the afternoons and evenings, and as I work every day, it is impossible to sign up for a yoga or tennis class, which I was tempted to do but which generally take place at the end of the day … I used to go to concerts and cinema a lot as a student, but my work leaves me practically no free time apart from the summer holidays where I pay for it. “
Counts approximately € 80 of free time per month, mainly in books and sheet music. What she considers her latest “madness” is not lacking in practicality:
“My latest crush is a second-hand iPad (750 euros) to avoid having to carry my entire sheet music library with me on every trip. “
She says she rarely buys herself clothes, and counts around € 15 every month honed throughout the year.
Manon’s relationship with money
Manon considers herself lucky to have given her a healthy relationship with money. She says :
“I am very lucky, I have never lacked anything. My parents allowed me and my two daughters to do activities, to travel, to study at our choice… The piano has come at a cost, I am aware of it and I am eternally grateful to it. “
Money was never an issue in her family, but she says she was taught to save:
“It’s not taboo for us, but we’ve learned that you have to be careful, so I quickly give up trying to travel or things I don’t need. “
Manon’s savings
Although his recent purchase is straining his budget, Manon manages to save € 30 per month on an equity savings plan and € 100 per month on his two life insurance policies, one of which is for his goddaughter. You cannot save for the trip yet:
“I can’t save more. I wanted to visit my sister who lives in Korea, but she will have to wait. “
In the future he would like to find a more stable position without going back and forth and starting his quartet.
Thanks to Manon for opening his accounts for us!
To participate in the section, do not hesitate to contact us at the email address: [email protected] with the subject “Settlement of accounts”. Introduce yourself in a few lines, we will contact you with the procedure to follow!
Photo credit: Charles Parker / Pexels
Source: Madmoizelle
Lloyd Grunewald is an author at “The Fashion Vibes”. He is a talented writer who focuses on bringing the latest entertainment-related news to his readers. With a deep understanding of the entertainment industry and a passion for writing, Lloyd delivers engaging articles that keep his readers informed and entertained.
