Fun & Famous

KIKI'S BANK AFFAIRS: THIS IS CHANGING IN 2017 FOR YOUR WALLET

Am I hearing something about saving money? A.k.a. more money for a new designer bag? Then you have my attention. If it's about things that are getting worse and more expensive, then I'll just click away. But those ostrich practices might not always be smart, so let's quickly summarize what is changing in 2017 for your and my wallet.

Say goodbye to roaming charges

Okay, as a travel enthusiast, I think this is the ABSOLUTE BEST news ever. Starting June 2017, telecom providers can no longer charge roaming fees for calls, texts, and data usage in the EU (here's room for a primal roar: YIIIHAAAAA).

The basic health insurance package is being expanded

Imagine, you have very large breasts and you're having trouble with that, then it's handy to figure this out. Plastic surgery will partially be reimbursed again. There must be a medical necessity. Breast corrections, eyelid corrections, and circumcision in men are among those covered.

“Okay, as a travel enthusiast, I think this is the ABSOLUTE BEST news ever”

An extra tenner per month in health insurance premium

That's a downside. The expansion of the basic package does mean that the health insurance premium will rise. On average, an extra tenner per Dutch person (it also depends a bit on where you are insured).

Cigarette packs will look definitively different in 2017

It may not have much to do with money, but good lord, we already saw this coming. Bad habit smokers Adeline and I are horrified by the new packs (which must have a mandatory warning with a shocking photo that must cover at least 65% of the packaging). I mean: black lungs, sure, but today I saw a photo of a BLACK ROTTEN TOE that is falling apart. Come on! It actually works, because I smoke a lot less.

The motor vehicle tax will be slightly lower

I'm a train child, so this doesn't make me happy, but do you also drive like May in her little Renault to work every day? Then you might want to listen because the motor vehicle tax is going down by 2 percent. Maybe not enough for a designer bag (too bad), but it saves a few gin tonics. Just saying.