Saving money in Germany doesn’t mean suffering — it means knowing the rules. German supermarkets are highly competitive and clearly tiered. With a few basic habits, you can realistically cut your food spending by 30–40% each month. Here are 30 proven tips, from choosing the right store to everyday routines.
Choose the Right Supermarket (The Most Important Step)
- Do your main shopping at Aldi or Lidl: These two discount chains are 20–35% cheaper than Rewe/Edeka for vegetables, meat, dairy, and household items. Quality is fine — the main difference is fewer brand choices.
- Netto and Penny are also discounters: Same tier as Aldi/Lidl, sometimes cheaper on specific items. Compare prices.
- Use Rewe/Edeka for top-ups and special offers: They have a wider selection, but only buy there when items are on sale. Don’t make them your main store.
- Buy Asian ingredients at Asia Markt: Soy sauce and other staples can cost 2–3 times more at regular supermarkets. Stock up in bulk.
Plan Your Shopping, Reduce Waste
- Make a weekly shopping list: Without a list, you’ll buy 20–40% more. Sticking to a list is the foundation of saving money.
- Shop once a week, not daily: Every extra trip leads to impulse buys.
- Check the best-before date (MHD) and buy near-expiry items: German supermarkets discount products close to their MHD with yellow stickers — usually 30–50% off. Milk, bread, and deli items are common. No loss if you use them the same day.
- Buy in bulk: Rice, flour, and pasta are cheaper per kilo in large packages — often 30%+ savings. Buy big if you have storage space.
- Seasonal vegetables are cheaper than imported ones: Buy tomatoes, peppers, and cucumbers in summer; carrots, potatoes, and beets in winter. Off-season peppers can cost three times more than cabbage.
Make the Most of University Resources
- Eat at the Mensa (student cafeteria) several times a week: Main dishes cost €3–5, with plenty of protein and carbs — time-saving and budget-friendly.
- Find Foodsharing points near your university: Foodsharing.de is a German platform for free food. Many universities have pickup points where you can get unsold but still edible items from supermarkets.
- Borrow textbooks from the library instead of buying: German textbooks often cost €60–120. Use the library, or buy used copies from student groups or second-hand platforms for 50–70% off.
Cooking Habits
- Cook in bulk and freeze in portions: Make a big pot of stew or braised meat, then freeze individual servings. Spreads the cost and saves time.
- Replace some meat with legumes: Linsen (lentils) and Kichererbsen (chickpeas) are high in protein and cost 1/5 to 1/10 of meat. German supermarkets have a good variety.
- Eggs are the best value: 10 eggs cost about €2 at Aldi. Use them for scrambled eggs, omelets, or fried rice — versatile and cheap.
- Buy frozen meat instead of fresh: Frozen chicken legs or pork chops are 20–30% cheaper than fresh, with little difference in taste.
- Choose oats and potatoes as staples: Hafer (oats) at €0.50 for 500g and potatoes at €1 per kilo are among the cheapest staples in Germany.
Drinks
- Check for the Pfand (deposit) symbol on bottled water: Bottles with Pfand can be returned for €0.25 each. Take them back to the supermarket machine to get your deposit back — it adds up.
- Carry a reusable bottle and use a filter or tap water: Tap water is drinkable in most German cities. This can save you €10–20 per month.
- Avoid sugary drinks: Make your own Schorle (juice mixed with sparkling water) at home for 1/5 the cost of store-bought bottles.
Pfand (Bottle Deposit) and Small Savings Habits
- Get into the habit of returning Pfand bottles: At €0.25 per bottle, you can reclaim €5–10 per month, which directly offsets your shopping bill.
- Use Payback or DeutschlandCard loyalty cards: Rewe and Edeka have their own points cards. Accumulate points and redeem them for vouchers — effectively 1–2% cashback on your spending.
- Check Prospekte (supermarket flyers): Aldi and Lidl publish weekly specials online or via app. Plan your list around discounted items.
Control Impulse Buying
- Ignore the promotional displays at the entrance: The “Aktionswaren” (special offers) at Aldi and Lidl are often non-food items like electronics, tools, or sports gear. Skip them.
- Don’t shop hungry: Studies show you buy 20–30% more when hungry. Eat before you go.
- Cut down on takeout: A fried rice on Lieferando costs €15+; making it yourself costs under €2 and takes 15 minutes.
Other Money-Saving Channels
- Buy furniture and appliances second-hand: On eBay Kleinanzeigen (Germany’s Craigslist), student apartments are often sold fully furnished for €5–50 per item. Many graduates sell cheaply each semester.
- Use virtual mobile operators for your phone plan: Aldi Talk, Congstar, or Freenet offer 10GB+ for €8–12 per month.
- Compare insurance prices: Haftpflichtversicherung (personal liability insurance) costs €40–80 per year, but prices vary widely. Use CHECK24 to compare.
- Get a library card for media: A Stadtbibliothek (public library) annual card costs about €10 and lets you borrow books, DVDs, magazines, and digital resources — a cheap alternative to streaming subscriptions.
Summary
Saving money doesn’t mean lowering your quality of life — it means turning shopping and eating decisions from random into systematic. Choose the right supermarket (Aldi/Lidl), use the Mensa, and cut takeout. These three changes alone can bring your monthly food spending from €250 down to €150. Combine them with the other habits, and you’ll easily free up €1,000–2,000 per year.
