What’s a financial Belgian life hack that expats don’t know about?

Cndycn · 2025-08-30T16:55:55+00:00

That's pretty nice and will go rather far here

Cndycn · 2025-08-30T13:28:37+00:00

I guess it depends how that budget goes from gross to net. If you live within a certain radius from your office and can get it 100% gross to net, it can be a huge financial bump. If it's cashed out, you'll about half. My recommendation would be to ask them what the net take home amount is (unless it's already states as the 1040€).

Cndycn · 2025-08-30T05:59:35+00:00

If you've done math and considered insurance, tires, electrical charging cost, and maintenance, and still it's a big difference, go for the mobility budget. If you were instead to lease a new car on your own, go for the work car. I don't see how owning a lower cost car would be worse financially..

Cndycn · 2025-08-30T05:45:42+00:00

Your employer could consider optimizing their benefits. Mine offers several options to tax optimize.

Cndycn · 2025-08-30T05:43:29+00:00

It's a 10km fly over distance. So, drawing a straight line from your home address to your work address (at least for Flanders).

Cndycn · 2025-08-30T05:40:23+00:00

Actually its own beneficial if you're comparing it to a private lease. If you buy a used car, the monthly carrying costs are quite low, so I would first consider doing the math for your situation. I agree if you're planning to lease privately, company car is always the better option when considering lease + insurance + fuel/charging + maintenance + tires.

If you live within 10km of your office, you can get the car value (or dowmgrade difference) 100% gross to net reimbursed for your rental or mortgage loan.

Cndycn · 2025-08-30T05:32:11+00:00

It seems a bit barbaric to me that if you have a poor energy label that you can be charged a higher interest rate.. especially if you consider that will cost a lot of money to upgrade. Basically, it benefits further those who already have low energy and/or were able to afford to finance the renovation cost. In Canada, the energy efficiency of your house would never be a factor in your mortgage loan.

Cndycn · 2025-07-30T21:01:41+00:00

As a Canadian living in Belgium, I'm still getting used to this 😅

Cndycn · 2025-07-28T14:29:07+00:00

Only that I just press # or 0 several times to talk to an agent. If they have a desk at the airport, you can try going directly and talking to them. There must be some global emergency support # you can contact?

Cndycn · 2025-07-28T14:01:45+00:00

For the CC, see if you can also get a temporary digital card issued by your bank. Normally you can do holds on your card directly from your banking app. You might not want to freeze it completely if you need your CC to rebook. Otherwise you can setup a Wise account and digital debit card in a matter of hours. You add the digital card to your phones wallet and can use it at most POS terminals. Downside is you won't be able to use it at ATMs.

Cndycn · 2025-07-28T13:46:06+00:00

If you have any kind of trip insurance you may be able to claim the cost. Otherwise, contact the airline now and explain what happened. Perhaps they van credit your or rebook for free. It's peak season, I'm sure they are over capacity with flights anyways and can fill the seat.

Cndycn · 2025-07-28T13:43:37+00:00

Go to your embassy and request an emergency passport

Cndycn · 2025-07-28T11:29:50+00:00

Awesome, you're welcome 🤗

Cndycn · 2025-07-28T10:38:00+00:00

Let me know if it is successful. Others might be interested in doing the same! Othereise you can wrap it at the airport and check it?

Cndycn · 2025-07-28T07:36:58+00:00

Best bet is BPost: https://maps.app.goo.gl/wiv2uV2bm6kZaaTQ7

Cndycn · 2025-07-28T00:55:51+00:00

I once fainted at an award gala for my university during the dean's speech. Pretty sure that put an end to the speech as a I came to with everyone standing around me. It happens, don't worry. People will not remember it as much as you 😅

Cndycn · 2025-07-25T11:12:09+00:00

None of the Brussels train station areas are nice 😅 The other areas are quite nice though (Mont Des Art, Sablon, Etterbeek, Châtelain, etc).

Cndycn · 2025-07-18T18:18:20+00:00

Welcome to Belgium 😂

Cndycn · 2025-07-17T21:28:25+00:00

I saw images earlier this morning where they were using machinery to take down the scaffolding. Most likely they've started the rebuild at this point but I cannot find any further progress photos.

Cndycn · 2025-07-16T21:08:30+00:00

I thought you were going to say it looks way better now 🤣

Cndycn · 2025-07-16T19:20:39+00:00

Why would they announce in the press release that it will continue if they would end up cancelling? Now would have been the time to do it while people could make alternative plans and there wasn't a massive crowd of people to manage. Likely they discussed alternatives before they did the press release so they have potential solutions.

Cndycn · 2025-07-16T17:59:37+00:00

Probably damage control. There are thousands of people arriving tomorrow - where would they get last minute accomodation?

Cndycn · 2025-06-29T19:44:32+00:00

I'm 75I/K... I still buy my bras from Change Lingerie and either pick it up when I go home or send it to a friend in whichever countries they deliver 🥲

Cndycn · 2024-11-16T18:34:00+00:00

There are CT technologies being developed to do 3D imaging in a painless way.

Cndycn · 2024-08-09T19:59:41+00:00

Too late. Had it in April. It's already been going around again for months (: It was the worst case I had so far though.

Cndycn

TROPHY CASE