A good overview of your finances provides peace of mind and grip. Smart tips and handy tools help you keep a good overview of your finances. Discover how to make optimal use of pension, AOW and benefits. And what’s the problem? Find out where you can get free help with money problems and build up a buffer. This will keep you financially healthy, now and in the future.
Here are some helpful tips.
- Gaining overview of income and expenses
In these two videos, we explain how to gain insight into your income and expenses. Good to know, the form in the videos in now housed in the Pension Planner on the tabs Adjust income Adjust expenses. Understanding your income and expenses is useful not only if you’re nearing retirement, but also if it’s still a while away. Other useful tools are:
- The Nibud Personal Budget Advice calculates how much you need and can save;
- Or create a simple household book in Excel or Google sheets, just like your colleagues;
- Some banks offer automatic spending analytics (such as ING, Rabobank and ABN AMRO).
- Getting a grip on your money
- See if you are entitled to allowances (rent, healthcare, or energy allowance through My Allowances);
- Look annually to see if your energy, insurance or subscriptions could be cheaper with another provider.
- Start investing yourself for extra retirement or put extra into your pension with SPIN;
- Gifts and loans to children can be tax-deferred.
Please note! Supplements are based on your annual income. If your income increases due to retirement or savings, your supplement may decrease or expire.
- Overview of your pension and state pension
Many people will soon receive money from multiple income sources such as the Social Insurance Bank (AOW) and various pension funds. In SPIN’s Pension Planner, you can easily add your pension from other employers and see how much AOW you will receive, with which pension funds you have accrued pension and an estimate of your pension income after AOW age.
- Saving money after retirement
- You can smartly apply the payroll tax credit. Do you have multiple retirement benefits? If so, apply the wage tax credit only to your highest income to avoid paying too little tax. You can check this through your tax return;
- IBM offers group discounts. Ask your former employer about this;
- Rent reduction => If you receive AOW and have a low pension, you can check whether your rent can be reduced via rentcommission.nl;
- Apply for remission of municipal taxes if you have a low income.
- Use discount cards such as ANWB membership, 65+ discount card or Museum card;
- Travel cheaper with the NS Voordeelurenabonnement or the age discount for anyone 65 and older.
- Help with financial problems
Are you struggling to make ends meet or in debt? These are organizations that can help you for free:
- IBM Schotte Fund => if you are a member of the Schotte Fund, you can apply for financial assistance;
- Municipal debt assistance => Free help with money problems or administration;
- Humanitas.nl and schuldhulproute Nederland => organizations of volunteers who help with administration and budgeting;
- IBM offers group discounts. Ask IBM HR about this.
A financial advisor can help you
An independent financial advisor can help you see what is wise for you. They can advise you whether it is best to set aside extra money or whether other measures would be more beneficial. Which measures are best for you depends on your personal situation. How do you find a good financial advisor? Then look here.