Everyone will have less money to spend this year, as health care costs rise more than forecast and pay rises lag behind expectations, the family spending institute Nibud said on Friday.

The government said in September spending power would drop by an average of 1% this year, but Nibud says reductions of below 1% are the exception and some households are over €100 a month worse off.
The drop in spending power is due partly to higher health insurance costs, which rose well above government expectations. In addition, wages have gone up by an average 1.75%, not 2% as the government forecast. Inflation is also higher.
Families
Nibud’s calculations show a working couple with two children and household income of €60,000 a year will lose €29 a month in disposable income. But a traditional family, with two children and stay-at-home mum, with income of €35,000 will be out of pocket by €56. This is partly due to cuts in extra child benefits.
A double income couple with no children earning €75,000 and €50,000 will be €106 a month worse off, Nibud says.
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