Do you want to earn enough money to save the majority of your salary and build a solid budget in less time than you thought possible? If you’re bold, work seasonal jobs, have no obligations holding you back, and can step out of your comfort zone, then this article is for you.
The Sacrifices You Need to Make
First of all, to start saving money, you must understand that you’ll need to make many sacrifices—ones you might not have considered or might not be willing to accept. Some of these include:
- Giving Up Your Home (If You Rent):
Renting a home, along with utilities, is a significant cost that will eat into your salary. Where you’ll live will be discussed further below. - Being Away From Family and Friends:
When you decide that you want all your salary to go into your pocket, you must accept being away from home for an extended period. - Cutting Out Entertainment:
No more late nights, alcohol, or fun outings that end up costing far more than a simple “I’ll just have one drink.” My best friend used to say, “Suffer now to live better later.” Of course, you don’t need to be excessive and completely suppress yourself—after all, we’re human.
If you can accept these criteria, then it’s time to make a change in your life.
How Can You Save Money?
As challenging as it sounds, you need to adopt year-round seasonal employment. If you know how to value your skills and identify the right job opportunities in terms of pay, you can easily secure contracts with salaries exceeding €1,800 per month year-round.
You might be wondering: “But Jordan, seasonal work in Greece lasts only up to six months. What do I do the rest of the year?” My answer: In the remaining months, secure a seasonal job abroad with free accommodation and meals so that your expenses remain minimal and your salary stays high.
Imagine completing a summer season where you make €2,500 per month, including tips, and then immediately heading into a winter season where you continue earning €2,500 without any high living expenses.
€2,500 x 12 months = €30,000 annually.
This amount, of course, is variable since basic expenses like travel tickets, groceries, and personal needs still need to be covered.
However, by avoiding housing expenses and reducing food costs, you’ll have the chance to manage your money effectively and save an amount you’d never achieve in five years living in Athens on a low-wage job.
Where to Find Seasonal Winter Jobs
Finding seasonal winter work is easy with a simple Google search using the right keywords. Many countries are looking for winter seasonal staff, particularly those with ski resorts.
Examples include Switzerland, Austria, France, Sweden, Norway, Finland, and Italy. In these countries, you can find jobs that provide free accommodation, meals, and low-cost or free medical insurance (e.g., the European Youth Card).
Another option is the Netherlands, where they offer accommodation but usually at a cost of around €400, along with medical insurance starting at €25 per week.
The amounts mentioned depend on the opportunities you find, the experience you have to negotiate, the taxes in each country (always ask whether the hourly wage is pre- or post-tax), and how you choose to manage your finances.
Building a Better Future
Taking all this into account, you can imagine that in two or three years, you could save enough to buy a small, affordable home, start a small business, or even pursue studies in something you love and focus on that.
If you’re someone who struggles to get by and wants to change your situation, this is a great method to start making progress.
