Debt adjustment in Finland and Sweden Insolvency proceedings in Germany Amendments to the Dutch Wsnp Planned reform of the Austrian proceedings Regulation urgently needed in Poland and Spain

Introduction p5 The design of reference budgets p11 The construction of reference budgets p27 The application of reference budgets p41 Case studies p51 (AT/BE/BG/SP/FI/DE/IE/SE/UK) Mutual learning on reference budgets: lessons learned p122

Reference budgets are expenditure patterns for different types of households. « The UK's New Minimum Income Standard « The Common Financial Statement (CFS) « Reference Budgets in the Netherlands « More than a Minimum Budget in Sweden « Minimum Essential Budget Standards in Ireland

The financial crisis will dramatically increase the number of unemployed people. In this process, the number of over-indebted people will increase as well. Therefore it is an urgent need to have a closer look on the actual situation concerning over-indebtendess. "Money Matters" 7 provides data and insights into the situation in Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Portugal, Sweden and the United Kingdom and gives a short overview of the fight against over-indebtedness at EU level.