Sometimes a simple bank account is not enough: For instance car rentals, flight tickets and many online shops you need a credit card, be it from Visa, Mastercard or Amercian Express. But no worries: In Germany, there are plenty of free offers. See the list and comparison here.
Posts Categorized: Arriving
🔐 Cheapest German Blocked Account (Sperrkonto)
If you need a visa to study in Germany, you often also need a blocked account (Sperrkonto), to prove that you have enough funds to sustain yourself while living and studying in Germany. Here I compare the cheapest offers for German blocked accounts.
📑 File Your German Tax Refund in English
Until July 31st you have time to file your tax return – and Wundertax makes this all much easier for you: with an English-speaking online form.
Order Cheap Electricity at EnQu
EnQu is one of my favourite electricity providers as they are fairly cheap even without welcome bonuses. Here’s a walkthrough of the order form with screenshots and translations.
Find a Cheap Electricity Provider with Check24
To find a cheap electricity provider, I recommend the comparison service of Check24* – not only because they compare (so we only need to check at one place), but also because Check24 often has special discount deals with the providers, giving you better rates than at the providers directly.
🎓 Free German Bank Accounts for Students
Coming and living in Germany as a student? Then even more banks offer a free account for you! Find here a comparison of special offers for students, plus in case you need a visa: offers for a blocked account (Sperrkonto).
🍬 German Bank Accounts with Bonuses
Your bank accounts makes you pay fees? Well, there are ones that even pay out bonuses! Make up to 100 € just by opening and using them. See here a list of the best free German bank accounts with bonuses.
🔌 Cheapest German Electricity Providers (2019)
Just moved into your new Berlin apartment? One of the first things you need to do: Find an electricity provider. Here I describe how electricity billing in Germany works, and will help you sign up at the cheapest electricity provider.
💱 Cheapest Money Exchange: The Transferwise Borderless Account
So you arrived in Germany but your money is still outside the Eurozone? Or you’re working for clients that want to pay you in US dollars, British pounds or Polish zloty? Then a TransferWise Borderless Account might be your best solution: Read how you can convert 20 USD with a fee of only 8 cent.
👨💼 Free German Business Bank Accounts for Freelancers
Came to Germany as a freelancer? Or want to create a company? Then you need a business bank account (Geschäftskonto) because a regular one won’t do it. But no worries, there are even free ones: Use our tool here for your individual comparison.
🔍 Find Apartments with ImmobilienScout24 (Screenshot guide)
ImmobilienScout24* (or short: ImmoScout), is one of the largest real estate platform in Germany, both for buying and renting apartments and houses. Here I give an English walkthrough with screenshots for its basic functions.
💶 N26 vs. DKB: Comparing the Two Best German Bank Accounts
In my overview of free German bank accounts, two of them are my favourites: N26 and DKB. If you cannot decide between them, read here a side-by-side comparison of the two and my conclusion at the end.
🚚 Moving To Berlin? Things To Settle Here
Do you move to Berlin and want to settle here? Then welcome! Since 2014 I’ve wrote a couple of articles in this blog – and this is an overview of all the ones that make your start here easier.
♨ Best Gas Suppliers Calculator (+Dictionary)
Moved into a flat with gas heating? Then you need to make a contract with a gas provider – here’s a comparison tool, updated regularly. And a list of estimated consumptions by apartment size.
🖥 Cheapest German Internet & Phone Providers (2019)
Moved into a new flat? Now you probably need Internet! Find here a regularly updated comparison tool for DSL & cable internet contracts, and some personal tips from me.
📄 Cheap Certified Translations (+Discount Coupon)
Settling in Germany often means that you have to translate official documents, like marriage or birth certificates or rental or employment contracts. Some even need to be certified translations (German beglaubigte Übersetzung). Here’s how to do that cheaply and online.
💻 Cheap & Fair Laptop Insurance
From th bginning of this yar, my txts typd on my laptop lookd like this… The E letter on my keyboard was broken, well, not always – but I had to hit it really hard and long. Not really convenient, especially if you want to write “cheap” but what comes out is “chap”.
9 Years DKB: My Long-term Test and Review
The DKB bank account is one of the best free online bank account in Germany. Using it now for 9 years, I wrote this review: How to open the account, how the DKB Visa card works, and where you can withdraw money for free. (Spoiler: everywhere!)
📱 Get a Free German Mobile Phone SIM Card
Settled in Germany and your EU roaming is about to expire? Time to get a German prepaid card! But no worries, there a free ones with no minimum contract term. Just check this comparison table. Prepaid SIM cards are especially good for people who in the future might be out of the country for a […]
🇦🇹 Free Austrian Bank Accounts Compared
Your bank account in Austria costs you fees? There is no English support? There is no free Visa or Mastercard included? This can’t go on! Find here the best free Austrian bank accounts.
Private German Health Insurance Options Compared (+Glossary)
In the previous overview article, you could read about the differences between public and private health insurance options in Germany. If you decided for a private healthcare option, you can find here your ideal one.
Free Schufa report online & paperless
Especially when renting a flat, you need to show your landlord your Schufa information / Schufa score. Here I show you how to get it for free, directly from your computer.
Money Market & Fixed Deposit Accounts Compared
There’s a wide range of options for your savings in Germany: Various call money / day-to-day accounts (Tagesgeld) and fixed-term deposits (Festgeld) are on the money market – here’s an overview.
🏥 Comparison of German Health Insurance Options
Public or private – especially as a freelancer/self-employed you have to choose your health care option in Germany. Read here about their costs, practical usage, and setup process.
🔥 How to Heat Correctly and Stop Mould (Germany Edition)
As a new Berliner, you might be not familiar with German radiators and heaters, so here I introduce you to the German way of heating and ventilating. A side-effect of doing it wrongly is mould, so find here also how to prevent and remove mould.