Brussels MP starts experiment to live on €180 a month

Carla Dejonghe, a member of the Brussels Parliament, is to spend the next month living on no more than €180. Dejonghe says the idea came to her after a discussion with Thérèse Van Belle, this year's Miss Homeless. According to her, all that remains from the social security benefits she receives, after fixed costs have been paid, is the equivalent of €6 a day.

“When Thérèse asked me if I would be able to live on €180 a month, I decided to give it a try,” Dejonghe said. The experiment began yesterday and will go on until 14 December. Dejonghe will in the meantime forego bank cards and car, her fridge and freezer will be empty, and the heating turned down to 14 degrees. Nor can she reckon on the charity of fellow politicians.

“Of course that's not the intention. We made an agreement that I can only be invited out to eat twice in the whole month. I've had to turn down a lot of invitations from friends.” The isolation doesn't stop there: an evening at the cinema or down the pub is out of the question. “I'm only now realising how quickly you become socially isolated.” she said. “What's more I live alone, so the days will be twice as lonely and cold.”

Dejonghe will be keeping a journal of her experience for De Standaard (in Dutch). The first instalment can be read here.