Het Gooi, for many people it is known as a prosperous environment, but nothing could be further from the truth: after the inflation, energy and corona crisis, average and above-average incomes are also more often affected by debts. The shame that comes with being in debt is great and often exacerbates the situation. The Hilversum woman also notices this Sarah. “If you’re in debt, you’re a loser,” she once heard.
Many people with debts in ‘t Gooi – NH News
Figures for 2022 show that middle incomes with a demand for help rose from 24 to 30 percent and those with above-average incomes from 9 to 13 percent (NVVK, 2022). The reason for this increase is that the energy crisis affected everyone, including people with higher incomes. Self-employed people often still struggled with the after-effects of corona and for some the energy crisis came on top of this. This led to an increase in debt relief for higher incomes. If people have not had financial problems before, an income drop is in many cases very embarrassing.
Struggling with debt
Sarah* lives in Hilversum, has a permanent job in healthcare and a good income. Still, Sarah is in debt. Due to a nasty home situation, she decided not to open her blue letters anymore and to put them in a pile. She couldn’t handle these money worries. Until someone from the municipality showed up at her door with an outstanding energy bill and confronted her with her money problems. “I thought it was a disgrace for the neighborhood,” she says.
Sarah kept the curtains drawn for weeks, didn’t dare open the door and was startled every time she heard the bell. “There is a lot of shame about debts and that is actually ridiculous. If you are in debt you are a loser. In a slum you have debts, but not in my neighborhood in Hilversum.”
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“If you are in debt you are a loser, in a slum you are in debt, but not in my neighborhood in Hilversum.”
Difficult for many people
Debt counsellors, municipalities and interest groups also notice a difference in the demand for debt counselling. Jaap Diepeveen helps people in ‘t Gooi at the earliest possible stage of financial problems with the Schuldhulpmaatje organization. He also notices an increase in the demand for debt assistance. “You see people who used to make it now. Middle incomes are also having a hard time.”
In a prosperous environment such as ‘t Gooi, fewer money problems are expected. This stigma is therefore negated by people like Sarah who work hard, have a good, permanent job but cannot make ends meet due to all kinds of external factors. Sarah herself also had prejudices about people with debts: “In my experience, someone with debt is someone who is at the bottom of society or is unemployed, but that is not necessary at all.”
Through the municipality, interest groups or debt counselors such as Schuldhulpmaatje, help can be sought for anyone who is in a difficult financial situation.
* Sarah is not her real name, the data is known to the editors.