Who can afford that?
3 people – 3 budgets

The documentary series “Who Can Afford That?” is now taking a very personal turn. In “3 People – 3 Budgets,” Anna Planken meets three people from North Rhine-Westphalia who give us a glimpse into their monthly income and where they spend their money. How much do housing, food, clothing, leisure, and healthcare cost them? Because in 2025, many households will have less take-home pay compared to the previous year. These are very personal and surprising insights from people in North Rhine-Westphalia who let us take a peek into their wallets. Among them: a restaurateur who once earned 20,000 a month, a butcher with several shops, a retiree who supplements her income by selling lingerie, and a drama instructor who has so much money that, given her standard of living, she wouldn’t actually need to work. Anna Planken: “Actually, nobody really likes to talk about money—neither those who have a lot nor those who have little. We look where many people don’t even let their friends look.” Whether employed, self-employed, a student, or a retiree—where our income comes from and how much we earn varies greatly. But we all want to eat and clothe ourselves. Food prices, in particular, have risen enormously. Today, they are a whopping 34 % more expensive than they were just 5 years ago.

Episode 1

In the first episode, butcher Mirco from Bochum reveals that, as a business owner, he sometimes earns barely more than his employees. He invests heavily in producing his award-winning sausage and getting it to customers. And those customers are price-conscious. How much money passes through his hands, and what’s left for him and his family?

Ermely, a student from Hürth, earns the least, but doesn’t want to give up good food and nice clothes. How does she manage it? She tells us.

Edelgard from Witten sells high-end lingerie, not only because she enjoys working with her daughter Lena, but also because her pension isn’t enough to cover her expenses. She’s also noticed that her customers aren’t as flush with cash as they used to be.

Click here for the program in the WDR MEDIA LIBRARY.

Episode 2 

We all need a roof over our heads to live in. What we expect from our own home depends on our income. How much of our monthly income goes toward housing alone? Timon, a restaurant owner from Wuppertal, earns some months more and others less, but he always has to cover his expenses. And they’re high! At the same time, he has certain expectations about how he’d like to live. How does he manage to afford such a huge apartment?
Retiree Konrad from Weilerswist wishes he had a little more left over to live on after paying his housing costs. He shows us how he keeps coming up with clever ideas to have more money left over each month.

Conny from Cologne is taking a completely different path. She lives a simple life and saves a lot. Her home: a small camper van. Her net worth: quite substantial for a 29-year-old. A six-figure sum that keeps growing. How does she do it?

Click here for the program in the WDR MEDIA LIBRARY.

Episode 3 

Once we’ve paid for all our basic necessities, what do we treat ourselves to with the money we have left? Some people love big vacations, others enjoy dining out, a gym membership, or tickets to expensive events.

In this episode of “3 People – 3 Budgets,” we meet Samir from Cologne, who spends a lot of money on his health. How does he manage that on a standard salary as a public sector employee? For Jojona from Krefeld, her apprentice salary barely covers food and rent. Still, she treats herself to a hobby that costs a pretty penny. She shows us how she pays for it. Retiree Jürgen from Quadrath-Ichendorf has planned well for the future and lives worry-free—how did he pull that off? He shares his little secrets with us.

Click here for the program in the WDR MEDIA LIBRARY.