They Call me the Working Man 

Five minutes before the supermarket's opening time, I pulled into the parking lot. I noticed a man anxiously checking his watch, a mother soothing her child, and the last person in line nervously adjusting her shirt. Surprisingly early, I thought to myself as I watched them anticipate the store's opening. Once the doors unlocked, they hurried towards the discount aisle. Would you swap this broccoli for my yogurt? a woman asked a fellow shopper, struggling to keep hold of her produce.

It’s a reminder of the financial struggles many face. The numbers are staggering. In the Netherlands alone, two million out of eight million households are deemed to be at financial risk, susceptible to any unforeseen expense. Of these households, 730,000 find themselves trapped in debt, unable to get out without help. And with the ongoing rise in energy and grocery prices, the situation is getting worse.

My new venture brings me to De Nederlandse Schuldhulproute (NSR), a non-profit organization dedicated to connecting individuals with the necessary support. Here, I've taken on the role of a designer for their software products, shifting my focus back to UX/UI after three years of delving into the Product Owner role.

I’m excited to help NSR in their mission for a financially healthy Netherlands. 🚀

Currently, I'm compiling a list of organizations offering aid and relief. While I've been Googling suitable entities for a few hours now, I welcome any suggestions or corrections. Reach out to me via email at [email protected] or connect with me on Signal.

For those in financial need: remember, you're not alone. There are numerous organizations to offer financial advice, assistance, and support, guiding you through managing your finances and overcoming debt-related challenges. I implore you to take the first step.

Country Organisation Contact Website
Australia National Debt Helpline 1800 007 007 ndh.org.au
Austria ASB Schuldenberatung GmbH +43 732 65 65 99 schuldenberatung.at
Canada Credit Counselling Canada ? creditcounsellingcanada.ca
Czech Republic People in Need +420 770 600 800 peopleinneed.net
Denmark Dansk Gældsrådgivning +45 91 93 72 55 gaeldsraadgivning.dk
Estonia Eesti Pank +372 668 0719 eestipank.ee
Finland Takuusäätiö 0800 9 8009 takuusaatio.fi
France Les Points Conseil Budget ? solidarites.gouv.fr
Germany Bundesarbeitsgemeinschaft Schuldnerberatung e.V. (BAG-SB) 030 346 55 666 0 bag-sb.de
Ireland Money Advice and Budgeting Service (MABS) 0818 07 2000 mabs.ie
Italy Adiconsum 06 4417021 adiconsum.it
Latvia Patērētāju tiesību aizsardzības centrs (PTAC) +371 65452554 ptac.gov.lv
Netherlands Geldfit.nl 0800-8115 geldfit.nl
Norway Forbrukerrådet +47 23 400 500 forbrukerradet.no
Poland Stowarzyszenie Krzewienia Edukacji Finansowej ? skef.pl
United Kingdom Money Helper 0800 138 7777 moneyhelper.org.uk
United States National Foundation for Credit Counseling (NFCC) 1-800-388-2227 nfcc.org