Sources and method

This page explains where VasteLast's comparison figures come from, how we calculate and what the limitations are.

Reference figures

The reference amounts per category and household type are indicative (base year 2025). They are loosely based on public example budgets from Nibud and statistics from CBS (Statistics Netherlands). They are guide amounts to compare your own expenses against, not official standards.

How we calculate

We convert all amounts to a monthly figure: yearly amounts are divided by twelve. The comparison uses your household type (single, couple, family with children or single parent), because a family has different expenses than a single person.

We show a savings hint when a category is roughly 15 percent or more above the reference amount. That is a signal to compare, not a judgment about your spending.

Limitations

Reference figures are averages and guide amounts. Your situation may differ for good reasons, for example your location, health or older contracts. Use the comparison as a starting point, not as a standard.

Updates

We review the reference figures periodically and update them when Nibud or CBS publishes new figures. The current figures are an indication for 2025.