One in five people can't handle unexpected expenses of CHF 2,500

For decades now, Triangel Zug has enjoyed an excellent reputation in the field of budget and debt counselling. The people behind the organisation are now celebrating a double anniversary – and emphasize that their services remain in high demand.
 

Two life-size cardboard figures stand in the entrance area of the Reformed Church community centre on the Bundesstrasse in Zug. In just a few sentences, they tell the stories of a woman and a man struggling with their financial situation – a burden that weighs heavily on them despite their best efforts.

Both sought outside help, and received advice from Triangel Zug. The organisation has been dedicated to budget counselling for 45 years, while debt counselling has also been a core service for 30 years. These are the two milestones that the Triangel Zug team celebrated.

Before the numerous guests enjoyed a generous aperitif last Wednesday evening, a panel discussion provided them with a wealth of information about the wide range of services offered by Triangel.

Panel discussion covers all areas
The event was moderated by communications expert Manuela Käch from Oberägeri. The panellists included Andreas Hostettler (Directorate of the Interior), Josef Huwyler (Managing Director of the Guarantee and Loan Cooperative (Bürgschafts- und Darlehensgenossenschaft) of the Reformed Church of the Canton of Zug), Rosa Kolm (Founder of "Zuger helfen Zugern" – Zug Residents Helping Zug Residents), Cornelia Löhri-King (Head of the Zug Debt Enforcement Office), and Andreas Lustenberger (Cantonal Councillor for the Alternative List Zug and member of the Executive Board of Caritas Switzerland).

Manuela Käch skilfully guided the experts to make pointed and concise statements. Josef Huwyler offered interesting insights into his work, noting that the people who come to him are often nervous, or even frightened. He conducted around 120 consultations last year, and about half of them were successful, with bridging loans being provided in those cases. To remind clients of repayment deadlines, he sends them a letter: a gentle but effective nudge. Many clients later said, "Next time, I would act sooner."

For 30 years now, Triangel Zug has been advising people who have fallen into debt.             Symbolic image:

Rosa Kolm from "Zuger helfen Zugern" (Zug residents helping Zug residents) emphasized that there is no shame in seeking professional help when facing financial difficulties. The crucial thing is to stop the downward spiral. The steadily increasing number of debt counselling cases shows that the will to get back on solid ground is definitely there.

Andreas Hostettler, the current Landammann (head of government), stressed the importance of easily accessible services in the canton: "It's great that Triangel exists." The organisation has had a service agreement with the Canton of Zug since 2020, a service provided by the Reformed Church of the Canton of Zug. Twelve female advisors and their supervisor, André Widmer, work independently of any religious denomination, and are bound by confidentiality.

"The debtor must be able to live."
Cornelia Löhri-King, head of the Zug Debt Enforcement Office (Betreibungsamt Zug), offered another perspective. 14,818 debt enforcement proceedings were initiated there in 2025 – 6,331 of which involved individuals, and the total amount of claims was around CHF two billion. People with small budgets made up only a small portion of this, she emphasized. Nevertheless, her team handles all cases with professionalism. "I have a loyal clientele," said Cornelia Löhri-King with a touch of irony. Her goal: "The debtor must still be able to live."

For Andreas Lustenberger of Caritas Switzerland, tax debts and health insurance premiums are the biggest cost drivers. Approximately 8% of the population in Switzerland is currently considered poor. Around 19% of people would be unable to cover unexpected expenses of CHF 2,500 on their own, he explained, citing figures from the Federal Social Insurance Office. The latter published its first "National Poverty Monitoring 2025" report last year.

Help for women and families
Women and families can also find financial support at the Zug Women's Centre (Frauenzentrale), which has been in operation since 1969. As Barbara Beck-Iselin recalled at the anniversary celebration, her mother was one of the driving forces behind its founding. In the early days, women had very few rights – much has fundamentally changed since then. The "Women in Need" fund, however, continues to exist.

What became clear at the anniversary celebration: While the services offered by Triangel are well-known, there is still a need for increased awareness. Students at the cantonal school will soon be specifically targeted again.

Note:
The services can be found on the following platforms:
triangel-zug.ch and
frauenzentralezug.ch.