'I buy more books than I have time to read them'

Who: Faik Durmus (26)
Master's degree in business administration and master's degree in communication sciences

'I once borrowed the maximum amount from DUO for one month. My mother became angry and panicked when she heard that. So it was once, but never again. I understood that well at the time. I immediately stopped my loan from DUO and my mother immediately made me pay back the borrowed amount. My family raised me with the advice not to get into debt. In the end, I enjoyed the amount in my account for three days.'

Bookworm... Or not?

'Nowadays most of my money is spent on petrol, because I work as a self-employed person in Zwolle on the weekends. In the past, my money mainly went to PC games, but there is no time for that anymore. I can save because I have few fixed costs and still live at home with my parents in Enschede. That doesn't mean I spend money on random things. However, most of my money is spent on books. When I walk into a thrift store, I immediately dive into the book corner and then walk out the door a few minutes later with a whole bundle. The pile of books in my room grows and grows. Yet I buy and order more books than I have time to read them all.'

'The themes vary from non-fiction to psychology and self-help books. Those books help me to take steps in life. I am still myself after reading it, but I dare say that it makes me a more optimal person. That's why it offers me a lot of value. A good example of such a book is 'The subtle art of not giving a f*ck'. That's a book that lays the foundation to help yourself out of the shit. You can read a book a hundred times and learn something new from it every time. The book that helps me the most and makes an impact is: 'Finite and Infinite Games'. Look, the sticker with the price is still on the back. 2.25 euros at the thrift store! For that price you get so much in return. You don't have that at the cinema where you spend a few tens of euros for your ticket, coke and popcorn. And that for only two hours of entertainment.'

Confusing status with wealth

'I also know the downside when you don't have much to spend. I remember well that I bought too much for a period and there was only 2.73 euros left in my account. Then you have panic I can tell you. Fortunately, my parents are a safety net, but I do that as little as possible. You have students who constantly call their parents. I therefore believe that students are short-sighted. They often spend the full amount that comes in each month. That's not smart of course. You need to know what you're spending your money on. Actually, as little as possible. Do you go to that one cinema three times a week? Then find a way to watch movies at home. Do you have expensive coffee at the Starbucks or the Theatercafé every day? Teach yourself to make good coffee at home. For example, I take my own thermos to uni every day. In addition, people confuse status with wealth. Everything has to be from the most expensive or from a certain brand.'

Worries about the future

'I'm not into constantly spending money. A while back I had a girlfriend. Then I noticed that the money is flying out of the wallet a bit faster. Even if you share the costs together. I'm not saying you should skip a girlfriend, but many young people are often mentally and emotionally not ready to maintain a relationship. I want a relationship later when everything is stable. Otherwise you have your partner with it too. In the end, I want to settle down and that costs a lot of money.'  

'The future worries me. Not even about my own situation, but about what the world will look like later. I'm almost done with my studies, but other students may have to deal with the long-term student fine. The cuts in education therefore attract me, because I want the UT to be and remain among the best universities. My favorite teacher has also been cut back. He was a warm, humorous man with a beer belly. Really a top teacher! If you cut back on good people, there is nothing left of the uni. A university does not consist of buildings, but of the people who work there.'

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