Money Talk: Anna, 32F, Mitte
If you asked 10 people how to manage your money, you would get at least 10 different answers. Berlin is no different. Some people track every euro, others don’t really care. Some save aggressively, others prioritise experiences. With this new series we want to offer an insight on how Berliners handle their finances.
Our first guest ever is Anna*, a 32-year-old customer success manager who went from 37k to 90k in four years, owns a 100m² apartment in Mitte, and, as it seems, times her job changes like a pro poker player.
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*name changed for privacy
Personal snapshot
Age & gender:
32, female.
Relationship status:
Married.
Kids? Pets?
None.
Where do you live and since when?
Mitte, Berlin, for the past five years.
Describe your housing situation—own/rent, size, and monthly cost.
I own a 100 m2 apartment with a 2,850€ mortgage (split with my partner).
What did you study or train in?
Master’s in international finance and a master’s in BA.
Income and work
Job title, annual salary and monthly net income:
Senior customer success manager, €90k (40 hours), €20k bonus. Monthly net income is €4,450 without bonus.
Additional monthly income (if any):
My bonus can add up to €2,500 per quarter (net).
How did your salary evolve throughout your career?
- I came to Berlin after an entrepreneurial experience in the US.
- I started as an account manager in EdTech at €37k in late 2020.
- After a few months and after talking to my good friend, I found out that I am seriously underpaid, and I also realised I won’t be able to grow in my role, so I applied for a customer success manager role at a MarTech company. I joined the company at €60k in late 2021 with a €10k bonus.
- Within 18 months, I got promoted to a manager role with a salary increase for a base salary of €72k and a bonus of €18k.
- In summer 2024, I found a better role at a different company and applied for a senior customer success role with a specific focus on the French market because I speak French fluently. I then increased my salary to €90k base and a €20k bonus.
Do you negotiate salary? How do you prepare for it?
Yes, I did. I clearly stated my salary expectations during the screening interview. I then received an offer that was €20k below my expectations and told the company that my salary expectations were non-negotiable. 24 hours later, I received an offer with my exact salary expectations.
And I do ask for a raise every year. I track my achievements and link them to the revenue, this is easy, because I manage accounts, and it makes me feel confident asking. I let them suggest first, then counter with a proposal. I put the responsibility on my manager to get me that raise because it’s their job. I address it during the annual performance reviews.
But I also think about work-life balance, not just money and status. I’m not interested in much more money if it comes with much more responsibility (eg. need to be available 24/7 for a raise of 10%).
Remote, hybrid, or office?
Remote with an office in Berlin. I can go whenever I want.
What was your best career move?
My best move is to always leave a company when I’m at my highest: good reputation, excellent performance review and before the company goes down with too much funding or product issues.
Every time I start to see some red flags in the leadership, I slowly look for job offers. I have a strong advantage as I have time and little pressure to find a new role. That allows me to be strong in negotiation and carefully choose my next move.
Daily life and spending
BVG monthly ticket, Deutschlandticket, bike, car, or something else?
I don’t have any of those, but my company sponsors the BVG ticket.
Do you cook regularly? How many times a week do you eat out?
I mostly go out on the weekends with my friends, so maybe 2-3 times per week. Otherwise, I cook at home.
What’s your threshold for an “expensive” restaurant meal?
€90 per person.
Which subscriptions do you have?
Urban sports, Spotify, Apple storage. I also have insurances.
Do you have a cleaner?
Yes, every three weeks.
What’s worth every cent you spend on it?
My Urban Sports membership.
What do you spend on that you wish you could quit?
I don’t like supporting companies with questionable ethics like Spotify and Netflix, but I haven’t found replacements yet.
Money mindset
How do you manage money: disciplined tracking, intuition, or something in between?
Mostly intuitive, I know how much I earn and how much I allow myself to spend.
How comfortable do you feel about your financial situation right now?
Pretty comfortable, although I feel you never know what can happen in the world.
The numbers
Checking account balance (accessible today).
€30k.
Monthly savings amount.
Around €1,000 to €1,500.
Do you invest? (stocks, savings plans, other)
Yes, €600 per month in ETFs and gold.
Private or public health insurance?
Public.
How many times per year do you leave Berlin/Germany?
Easily 10 times a year. I travel almost every month.
Your current net worth
Without the apartment, €26k on top of the savings (€30k).
Looking forward
What’s your biggest financial goal right now?
I’d like to save €100k.
If you got a 20% raise tomorrow, what would change?
Nothing, I’ll just save more money and maybe spend a bit more when I go shopping or choose a fancier restaurant.
What money advice would you give your younger self?
- buy bitcoins in 2011 when that guy in your business school did a presentation about it.
- buy an apartment in 2020 when the rates were lower.
Want to share your story? Drop us an email or message. Your details will remain anonymous.
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