Money and Happiness: Insights from Eefje, a 28-year-old Entrepreneur

Photo: Pexels / Metro

Where one thinks money should roll, the other keeps repeating that you can only spend money once. Every week we talk to people from all corners of society. Because if we’re honest; what then remains of the traditional Dutch saying ‘money does not buy happiness’? Today: 28-year-old Eefje, who grew up as the youngest child of four in a villa, without money worries.

Name: Effie
Age: 28
Profession: independent entrepreneur at eefjewensing.nl
Living situation: owner-occupied home with partner and son
Monthly turnover of company: between 5,000 and 10,000 euros

Money does not make you happy

How was the financial situation at home?

“We had quite a broad financial education. My father was also an entrepreneur, just like me, my mother was a stay-at-home mom. We are four children, I am the youngest, and we grew up in a villa. We also often went on holiday, for example six weeks away in the summer, on winter sports and often weekends away in between. The financial situation in which we were brought up was very generous.

There have never really been any problems, but I do know that my father, as an entrepreneur, was a bit more stressed in some periods than in other periods. But in general, as children, we did not experience or notice that at all.”

How was money discussed at home?

“A pretty funny statement my father used to make was: ‘Money doesn’t play Rolex’. But with a funny approach, because he is not materialistic at all. He doesn’t value that at all, but my parents did tell us that it was important to earn enough money.

‘Just make sure you earn enough money that you can do everything you like and invest in your future’, was a bit of the idea. That’s how we always lived as children.”

How do you view money yourself?

“The way I look at money has changed since childhood. As a child I didn’t think money was that important, it didn’t matter much to me. But as I grew older and matured, had a family and was responsible for my own situation, that did change. From that moment on I understood more why it is important to have plenty of money financially. This gives you more options, for example if you need care or if something breaks in your home. Then it is nice that you have the financial resources to tackle that.”

As a child I didn’t think money was important, it didn’t matter much to me.

Didn’t you think money was so important as a child because there was always enough?

“Our private situation at home was not always very nice, so I always thought ‘as long as you are happy’ and the importance of money was left behind. Now I’m older, I have a family of my own and I’m happy in this situation and my private life. Then money comes into play. I now realize that money also plays a role in this.

The basis of the situation in which you live, for example with a partner or children, must be good. That’s definitely number one. But I do believe that if you have too little money, it has a negative effect on that basis. For example, you feel more pressure in your relationship, you may feel less comfortable in your own skin, that is very much connected.”

Have you ever had problems with money?

“Not major problems, but at a certain point my partner and I realized that more money really had to be put on the shelf to pay for the costs.”

Do you have debts?

“Yes, my mortgage,” laughs Eefje. “But no, we don’t have student debts or anything else.”

Do you think it’s important to have a piggy bank on hand?

“Yes, I have always been a very good saver myself and that has also brought me a lot. For example, that there was the possibility to buy a house. I strongly believe that saving is important and that it gives peace of mind, but it must be in balance. If there are financial setbacks, it’s nice to have something you can fall back on.

But you must live. Not just saving and looking to the future, but also looking at what amount you can do fun things to experience that happiness now.”

Saving is important, but you also have to live. That has to be in balance.

How come you can save so well, was that part of your upbringing?

“I think part of it is in me. My brother, for example, is the opposite: every euro that comes in with him goes out just as quickly. So I think partly from myself and partly from the upbringing. My father did say that we should save up to buy a house later and to be able to do fun things. So I think it’s a combination.”

Statement: with an extra 1000 euros per month I would be happier in the long term

“No, I do not think so. I am happy if I can pay my fixed costs and if I can do fun things. That is the case at the moment. So that wouldn’t necessarily make me happier right now.”

Quote: You can never have too much money

“I do not think so. With a lot of money you can invest a lot, for example in charities, things you believe in. Then your money is not only for yourself, but you can also invest it in several things.

I believe there is no limit to making money. If you want something, you can make it happen in any way you can. It is really feasible to earn a lot of money and be happy. You don’t always have to work very hard to earn a lot of money and be happy. Those things can coexist.”

Thesis: money becomes more valuable if you can share it

“Absolute. I really enjoy giving presents or giving things away, or organizing a nice moment for someone. If you have more money, that is also possible more often. Or indeed a donation to a good cause, or helping a friend or family member in need. I think that would make me really happy.”

Money doesn’t buy happiness, does it?

“Yes, yes. I think you are not happy if there is no money. If there is money, you are more likely to be happy. If that is not there, you are by definition, in my eyes, in the Netherlands, not so happy. There are simply fixed costs that you have to pay and if that does not work, it is very heavy. Money is a kind of stepping stone to a happier life.”

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2023-08-05 06:00:33
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