It is the emerging generation in the labor market. The managers of tomorrow. The thirties. How do they deal with work and money for now and later?
Today: online marketer Santousha Kalk.
Santousha Kalk (33)
Profession: online marketer
Weekly working hours: 20 to 30 hours
Income: EUR 7,000 to 7,500 gross per month
Savings: EUR 75,000
Pension arranged? No
What do you do as an online marketer?
"Lately, I've focused largely on online advertising, via social media and Google. My clients are mainly SMEs, like dental practices, firms of civil-law notaries, but also coaches, trainers and webshops."
How long have you been doing this job?
"I started online marketing in 2006, as an employee at the time. I've always done something different; at first, I was mainly involved with SEO, then with Google Ads and advertising on social media."
Since when have you been self-employed?
"Since I've been living in the Netherlands. Until a year ago, I lived in Suriname, where I was permanently employed."
Have you consciously opted for entrepreneurship?
"Yes. I wanted to have freedom of location, and as a self-employed person, you also earn better. I've now also consciously chosen not to work full-time anymore, so that I can organize my own time. If I feel like starting later, I will, and if I need an afternoon nap too."
What do you like about the job?
"I've always been a nerd. As a child, I built my own websites, which I then tried to generate traffic for. Growth is very measurable online, you immediately receive data you can use. It gives me a good feeling to be doing that. The industry is also constantly changing, it's never boring."
Does it earn you enough?
"Absolutely. What I earn is more than enough for me. I'm happy with it and quite proud of it."
What are your fixed charges?
"Every month, I pay about 900 Euros into the joint account and I don't spend much more than that. I work from home and therefore have no costs for renting an office. I hardly spend anything on clothes, I'm at home anyway. My main monthly expense is the rent, together with my partner, it's 1,050 Euros. We live in a rented house in The Hague. We're looking for a house to buy, but it's not easy in the current market. It's difficult to get a fully-fledged mortgage, especially as a self-employed person, also because I can only submit accounts for one year."
Do you pay close attention to what you spend?
"Yes, because I want to build up a certain buffer. Not that I have a target amount to save, I just put aside as much as possible. I earn well now, but I don't want to live that way. I don't know what the future holds, so it would be unwise to spend everything I earn right away."
