On Xiaohongshu, "being cut off by parents" is a hot topic among Chinese students in Germany. Many lose family financial support before graduation—due to family financial changes, conflicts, or simply because parents think it's time to be independent. Whatever the reason, you need an actionable financial survival plan, not panic.
First, Assess Your Buffer: How Long Can You Last?
The first thing after being cut off is not to find a job, but to calculate how long you can survive:
- Remaining withdrawable amount in your Sperrkonto (blocked account, released monthly)
- Cash in your regular account
- Any pending scholarship or assistant salary for the current month
Divide your monthly expenses by your total available funds to see how many months you have. Usually, even with a small balance, the Sperrkonto's monthly release of €934 plus a Minijob (see below) can cover basic living costs.
Option 1: Minijob (Mini Job)
A Minijob is Germany's tax-free part-time job system, with a monthly income cap of €538 (as of 2024). The employer pays social insurance, and you pay no tax, it doesn't affect your student status or public health insurance eligibility.
Where to find a Minijob:
- Your university's student service platform (Studentenwerk job board)
- Local supermarkets, cafés, restaurants (ask in person + drop off CV)
- minijob-zentrale.de (federal mini-job portal)
- eBay Kleinanzeigen for local gigs (tutoring, moving, parcel delivery)
€538/month × 12 = €6,456/year. Combined with the Sperrkonto's €934/month, your monthly income can reach about €1,472, which is enough in smaller cities and manageable even in Berlin.
Option 2: HiWi (Academic Assistant Position)
If you're a master's or PhD student, you can apply for a HiWi (wissenschaftliche Hilfskraft, academic assistant) position, helping professors with experiments, data整理, or teaching support.
- Hourly wage: about €12–14 (above minimum wage in most states)
- Weekly hours: usually 8–20, flexible
- Not a Minijob; taxed as regular income, but with social insurance exemption option (if monthly earnings ≤ €538)
- How to find: ask your supervisor, check department notice boards, or your university's job portal
Option 3: Scholarships Within Germany
You can still apply for some German scholarships after arriving, not just DAAD before departure:
- Deutschlandstipendium: funded by the federal government and private companies, €300/month, apply through your university, no nationality restrictions
- Foundation scholarships: Friedrich Ebert Stiftung, Konrad Adenauer Stiftung, Heinrich Böll Stiftung, etc., offering €800–900/month + additional allowances, competitive but worth trying
- Your university's international student grants: rules vary, contact the International Office directly
Option 4: Check BAföG Eligibility
BAföG is German student financial aid, traditionally for German or EU citizens. However, there's an exception: if you've legally lived in Germany for over 5 years or hold certain residence permits, you might qualify. Visit the Studentenwerk's BAföG office and ask—applying costs nothing, and if eligible, you could get €300–800/month extra.
Option 5: Cut Expenses
Boosting income is hard, but cutting costs works immediately:
- Downsize from a WG single room to a shared bed space (save €200–400/month)
- Switch entirely to Aldi/Lidl for groceries; monthly food costs can drop to €100–150
- Cancel streaming services and non-essential app subscriptions
- Use university Wi-Fi and downgrade your mobile plan to the cheapest option
- Eat lunch at the Mensa (student cafeteria), cook dinner at home, and avoid takeout
Mental Aspect: Don't Delay
Many people's first reaction after being cut off is shame and avoidance, delaying job hunting for months and applying for scholarships only when their account is nearly empty. This puts you in a worse position. Start acting the same week you're cut off: calculate your buffer, find a Minijob, check scholarship deadlines—do all three in parallel. The psychological pressure will ease as you take action.
Summary
In Germany, finding a Minijob is easy, the Deutschlandstipendium is open year-round, and HiWi positions are available at every university. Being cut off doesn't mean you have to go home, but you need to act immediately, not wait. List every possible income source and pursue them one by one—that's more important than finding one perfect solution.
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