Not only low-income households, but also households with an income above average are now in the danger zone because their household expenses are rising.
Energy costs sky-high
This is mainly due to the energy bill. A family with an income of twice the average now pays 188 euros more expensive compared to January last year, according to a calculation by Nibud. This increase is largely due to the energy costs, which (with constant consumption) have increased by 128 euros. Groceries have become about 55 more expensive for this family.
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A single person on social assistance, living in a house that is not energy-efficient, sees his energy bill double to almost 200 euros. In the supermarket, this single person spends 30 euros more per month.
Fixed charges
Ideally, according to Nibud, a household should spend no more than half of its income on fixed costs. If more than 70 percent of the monthly income is spent on this, then there is hardly any money left for unexpected expenses, healthcare costs or building a buffer.
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“The financial stress that this gives them is enormous,” warns Nibud director Arjan Vliegenthart. “We would like to see this stress move from the kitchen table to the board table, because people can no longer solve this on their own.”
According to Vliegenthart, the current energy compensation is not enough to help the lower income groups in particular. Nibud advocates a social tariff on energy or the introduction of a maximum amount on the energy bill.
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