In Brussels, a mother of Moroccan origin facing an increasingly tight budget

Initially hired as a law student, this 46-year-old woman ultimately opted for an open-ended contract to preserve her family balance. In the newspaper Sudinfo, she details her daily life punctuated by the meticulous preparation of online grocery shopping.

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She receives around 2,300 euros net per month for a part-time job of thirty hours per week. Although she considers this remuneration quite appropriate for this workload, the economic reality of the Belgian capital inevitably catches up with her every month.

With a Brussels rent reaching 1,400 euros, a car loan and nearly 1,000 euros in food budget for her three children, the equation becomes more complex. This financial pressure has greatly worsened since her husband’s illness has reduced the household’s income by nearly 1,500 euros.

Expensive leisure activities such as dining out have disappeared, while pension savings had to be suspended. Even the summer vacation in Morocco is now uncertain due to the tripling of the cost of sea crossings: "Today, we rather live one month at a time," she admits with lucidity.

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The future of the large-scale retail sector also raises some questions, as linear careers are no longer guaranteed. Despite these daily challenges, the employee refuses to succumb to anxiety and says she is ready to retrain if necessary, affirming that she prefers to "see the bright side of things" with unwavering optimism.