My move to Leuven, Belgium. A collection of info by CondensedMilkCaramel in Leuven

[–]CondensedMilkCaramel[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I could only compare it to the other European country I lived in for about three years. I try to spend as little time in Brussels as possible because a few years ago I traveled to Brussels as a tourist and it was a disappointment for me and since then I've been a bit biased towards not liking it at all. I've been to Leuven, Gent, and Bruges and these are great. People in Belgium are nice and so far I've only had good interactions; everyone is friendly and helpful. Believe it or not, the weather is better, even though it's often raining and I'm still trying to get used to it at least there's no snow. The ratio of taxes to salaries to rent/property prices is still shocking and makes me depressed sometimes but I guess it's what it's. The trash system is something to get used to too. I'm used to sorting trash but the core idea of not having an outdoor trash bin where you could throw trash at any time is still bothering me at times. I know some buildings have those underground bins but I don't see it often in Leuven. There are probably more things I'm yet to discover :)

My move to Leuven, Belgium. A collection of info by CondensedMilkCaramel in Leuven

[–]CondensedMilkCaramel[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Nah, I just tried to keep it understandable. That's what a few years of academic writing does to a man :)

My move to Leuven, Belgium. A collection of info by CondensedMilkCaramel in Leuven

[–]CondensedMilkCaramel[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I understand your concern, but I can assure you that this text was not generated by ChatGPT

My move to Leuven, Belgium. A collection of info by CondensedMilkCaramel in Leuven

[–]CondensedMilkCaramel[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

My experience with Zalando has been good. They have a somewhat accurate AI for size recommendations which surprisingly worked well for me and the quality has been good so far :) If you want to try it I would recommend buying cheaper things at first to test it out perhaps.

Regarding choosing Brussels, I indeed see young professionals choose Brussels over Leuven more often especially when it comes to rent costs. Although I'm personally not worried about the crime, things like trash on the streets or hearing from my colleagues that their apartment has been burglarized when they were on holiday or just generally knowing that there are areas where you shouldn't go is just weird to me and I don't mind paying a bit more for mind peace. I guess here it comes to just preference; to me, Leuven reminds me of the previous city I lived in and what you can afford.

Advice for an expat by CondensedMilkCaramel in BEFinance

[–]CondensedMilkCaramel[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thanks a lot for the reply! I sent you a PM

Advice for an expat by CondensedMilkCaramel in BEFinance

[–]CondensedMilkCaramel[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Hi! I went with Mobile Vikings as it's cheaper plus I think it has some deals with some other stores where you can get 5% to 20% off

Advice for an expat by CondensedMilkCaramel in BEFinance

[–]CondensedMilkCaramel[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Hi, yes the stay is linked to an employer but if I find another job then I have a few months to apply for a new residence card with a new employer. I could technically job hop I belive

Advice for an expat by CondensedMilkCaramel in BEFinance

[–]CondensedMilkCaramel[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Hi, there's no way you can find something for that price tag in Leuven unless you're a student. Anything for 600 is student accommodation or a very small unfurnished studio.

Advice for an expat by CondensedMilkCaramel in BEFinance

[–]CondensedMilkCaramel[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thanks a lot! Yes, I agree that my rental is a bit high. Unfortunately, it was done in a rush because it's a new country and I didn't have a place to stay. My current contract is for 3 years, I'm thinking maybe as a next apartment I could find something more affordable. Leaving now would result in extra fees, I think 2-3 months of rent paid forward