Hi everyone,
I’m looking for some objective opinions because I’m genuinely undecided.
I currently use C24 as my main Girokonto and I’m very happy with it. I recently applied for an** ING Girokonto, which we recommended by my colleague,** but before making it my primary account I’m asking myself whether there is actually any meaningful advantage.

Here’s my situation:
I live and work in Germany as a foreigner. I do a full-time job. I’m thinking long-term (20+ years) to keep this account.

I compare loans and mortgages through comparison portals anyway, so I wouldn’t automatically borrow from ING just because I have an account there.

What I like about C24
No monthly fee without salary conditions.
Free Girocard (although i never use Girokarte anymore)
Free worldwide card payments and cash withdrawals.
Multibanking (I linked my credit card).
0.5% interest on the Girokonto balance.
I also love the C24 App for everyday usage.

What I see with ING
People often say:
“It’s a bigger and more established bank.”
“It has better loan products.”
“It’s better for the future.”
But I’m struggling to translate those into actual benefits for my situation.
If I apply for a loan in the future, won’t the decision mainly depend on my income, SCHUFA, employment and overall financial situation rather than the fact that I already have an ING Girokonto? If another bank offers a lower interest rate, I’d simply choose that bank. So what real advantage does ING give me?

My biggest question
One reason I considered ING is that I plan to obtain German citizenship in the future. I’m trying to find a German bank that would allow me to keep my existing Girokonto even after permanently moving abroad as a German citizen. I’ve already asked ING directly, but I’m still waiting for a response. (I came to know about DKB but I was told against DKB).

My question to people who have used both
Did you switch from C24 to ING (or vice versa)? What real-life advantages did ING give you that C24 didn’t?
If you had to choose today which one would you choose and why?
Has anyone successfully kept an ING Girokonto after permanently moving abroad (especially outside the EU) as a German citizen?

Sorry if i asked a silly lame question. Thanks in advance!

Hi everyone!

I just wanted to share something with this subreddit.

My dad has been a huge supporter of the German national football team ever since he was a kid. Back then in Bangladesh, that wasn't very common. Most football fans mainly supported Brazil or Argentina, so supporting Germany was a bit unusual.

Nowadays, I've noticed it's much more common for people here, especially among the younger generation, to support different national teams, including Germany.

I was just curious , how do Germans feel knowing that your national team has supporters from places as far away as Bangladesh? I'd love to hear your thoughts.

Greetings from Bangladesh! 🇧🇩

I'm thinking about moving to Germany, specifically Berlin, and I'm not sure how rental rules work there.
Am I allowed to paint the walls a different color, or does that depend on the rental agreement? If so, what's the most common type of contract? Are there usually any requirements to restore the apartment when moving out, such as repainting the walls back to white? Also, is it normal to hang shelves, pictures, or TVs on the walls, or do landlords generally discourage drilling holes?
I'd really appreciate hearing about your experiences or any advice. Thanks!

I’m looking into moving to Germany, i love cars and have all my life, I come from Denmark and currently drive a bmw G30 545e.(expensive car in Denmark because of tax) in Denmark there is a stigma about young people and expensive cars, it’s almost like I’m villainized for my choice of car, even the police love to pull me over.

For tax reasons i will get rid of this car when I move to Germany and I got a friend with a fully specced x7 M50D he offered me to buy this since he just imported another x7 for himself.

To the question at hand: would Germans also think I’m and asshole for being 25 and driving an x7? Or is it not socially outlawed like in Denmark? I need to say that I’m considering the x7 since i like the car, it’s comfortable and I drive many kilometers a year. Not because it’s supposed to be a flashy car.

Me and my mate are going to be traveling from Munich to Hamburg on the 24th of August and we were looking for campsites reachable by public transport that people would reccomend? We are also going to be bringing Hammocks and unsure what the general vibe is in terms of what to book and if they are generally allowed in place of tents. Thanks!

Or something similar for eyedrops , any name?

Thanks for any tip.

I am apply for opportunity card visa so embassy ask me to fulfill following

Equivalent to German statutory health insurance (GKV), with benefits comparable to public health insurance in Germany.

Coverage of pre-existing conditions, without exclusion.

Unlimited financial coverage, with no maximum overall payout limit.

A maximum co-payment/deductible of €300 per year.

Benefits coverage in accordance with §11 I–III SGB V (German Social Code Book V).

Validity for the entire duration of my intended stay in Germany. '

can someone suggest me which Insurance provider i get it

Hi! I’m moving to Germany sometime this year or the next for master studies.

A family member brought back a baumkuchen (the cheap kind, they say) for me to try before, and it was love at first bite. So I’d like to know where I can get good baumkuchen for when I’ve settled ^^;;

I’ve got a sweet tooth and particularly love bittersweet desserts so I’ll take any recommendations for other sweets (or pastries) too ´･ᴗ･`

Distance isn’t an issue for me since I’ve drove to further places back in my home country for less plus I’ve got a victim family member to drag around too🫩

Hi everyone, just wanted to know if my translating skills are good enough before I get it tattooed, so really need to make sure it's correct lol. Is the translation 'lebe schnell, stirb jung'.

Hello all!

I took a trip to Germany last year, and found that I had very little difficulty understanding the Germans I met who spoke English. Frankly, they were far easier to understand than many native English speakers I've met, especially those from parts of Ireland, Texas, and Louisiana. Thinking back, I believe this has been the case for just about every German I've heard speak English, and I'm wondering if it is a particularity of the accent.

My question for the Germans, is the opposite also true? Obviously things vary on an individual basis and with language fluency, so it's impossible to make blanket statements that apply to everyone. But in general, when you've heard someone speaking German with a clearly American (or otherwise Anglophonic) accent are we relatively easy to follow and understand?

Ich brauche mal eure Einschätzung.

Ich frage mich langsam, ob ich als Ausländerin die deutsche Situation falsch einschätze und bei WG-Verträgen zu vorsichtig bin.

Ich hab in letzter Zeit mehrere WGs wegen unterschiedlicher Vertragsbedingungen abgesagt:

• Bei einer WG wurde beim Casting gesagt, dass es keine Mindestmietdauer gibt, im Vertrag standen dann aber plötzlich 2 Jahre.
• Bei einer anderen WG wurde mir eine 23-seitige Hausordnung geschickt. Ich dachte einige Regeln ziemlich streng und hatte Angst, dass es später Probleme mit der Kaution geben könnte.
• Bei einer Zwischenmiete wurde gesagt, dass ich bis zum 30. bleiben kann, im Vertrag stand dann aber nur bis zum Wochenende davor.

Jetzt habe ich wieder eine Situation, bei der ich unsicher bin: Bei einer WG wurde nie erwähnt, dass es sich um eine Untermiete handelt. Ich bin deshalb davon ausgegangen, dass es ein normaler Mietvertrag mit dem Vermieter wäre.

Ich habe bereits meine Schufa, Ausweiskopie, Gehaltsnachweise und Immatrikulationsbescheinigung geschickt, weil diese Unterlagen von mir verlangt wurden. Da ich ausländische Studentin bin, wurden zusätzlich auch die Einkommensnachweise meiner Eltern, eine Bürgschaftserklärung meiner Eltern und Kopien ihrer Reisepässe verlangt. Deshalb bin ich davon ausgegangen, dass es sich um einen normalen Mietvertrag mit dem Vermieter handelt.

Erst später habe ich erfahren, dass es eine Untermiete ist. Da diese wichtige Information vorher nicht erwähnt wurde, war ich überrascht und mein Vertrauen ist dadurch etwas gesunken.

Ich hab schon mündlich zugesagt und fühle mich deshalb schlecht, jetzt noch abzusagen. Gleichzeitig habe ich gelernt, dass man in Deutschland nichts unterschreiben sollte, wenn man sich mit dem Vertrag nicht wohlfühlt.

Bin ich zu pingelig, oder ist es normal, in solchen Situationen noch abzusagen?

Hi everyone,
I’ll move to Germany at the end of the month. I’ve checked Check24 and found some companies but I’m not sure about any of them.
I’ve found that AXA is one of the best ranked, would you reccomend that?
Do you have any advice? I know Feather and Getsafe, but I’ve also read some bad experiences.

Thank you!

Hey everyone,

I've been curious about what motorcycle culture is like in Germany.

Do people mostly ride solo, or are group rides common? Are there local riding groups that are easy to join, or is it mostly clubs that have been around forever?

I'm also interested in the day-to-day side of owning and riding a bike there nd what's maintenance usually are like? Is it expensive?

What brands or types of bikes are the most common? Is there much of a sports bike, ADV, touring, or cruiser scene, or is it a bit of everything?

What do riders in Germany usually enjoy most about riding there? And what do they complain about the most? Like strict regulations, weather, expensive maintenance, parking, noise limits, speed cameras...?

Also, are there any unwritten rules or etiquette that every rider is expected to know?

Just interested in hearing what it's like from people who actually ride there. Feel free to share your experiences, favorite roads, or anything you think someone outside Germany wouldn't know.

I’ve been having a certain medical issue for some time, it’s become quite acute this week, so I went to my house doctor (Hausarzt) and got a referral (Überweisung) to a practitioner specializing in such cases.

It’s worth mentioning that I haven’t been in touch with the German medical system for a long time, I usually went to a private doctor abroad. Now the problem is the following - I have contacted every single hospital, practitioners office in the area I can realistically cover by car (50 kilometers) and they either aren’t accepting new patients at all, aren’t accepting state insured patients or those who pay out of pocket (Selbstzahler) or suggested appointments in like November.

The medical issue is kinda preventing me from traveling, so I can’t commute to my office at all - that’s the acute aspect of the problem. Despite this, my complications weren’t recognized as such, every single medical institution said that there has to be severe pain for this problem to be qualified as acute (they could only offer a visit without an appointment in such cases).

Now my question - Germans, how would you navigate this issue? Is there something I’m missing? I’m insured with the state and must be at work on Monday next week. I looked up clinics and doctors on Doctorlib and on google.

I remember reading that it’s really common practice for people in Germany to let air in/out their home (even in cold weather), I’m sure there’s a German term for this which I’ve forgot 🙈 but I was just curious if there’s a set amount of time which is widely accepted to leave things open for?

Danke :)

How many years of gap have you guys got between bachelors and pursuing of masters?

It can be due to any reason:- work experience or preparing for govt exams or any other personal thing.

Can you guys please share the years of gap?

I am 24 and currently living with my parents. We get along well, I contribute at home, and there is no urgent reason for me to leave. Still, lately I have started feeling strange when people my age talk about having their own routines, handling everything alone, and only visiting their parents occasionally.

My parents believe moving out before marriage is unnecessary unless university or work requires it. When I mentioned wanting my own place, they took it almost as a rejection of the family. They said that since I am still young, there is plenty of time to become independant later.

I also keep hearing that Kindergeld can sometimes be paid until age 25, depending on education or other circumstances. That confused me because it sounds as if German institutions still treat people in their early twenties as dependent children, while socially Germany has a reputation for expecting young adults to seperate from their parents quite early.

I understand that housing costs and personal circumstances matter, so I am not looking for one correct age. I am more curious about the cultural expectation. At what point would most Germans start seeing continued life with parents as unusual, and does moving out usually represent an important step into adulthood here?

I live in Germany and have tried a wide range of German and French breads. Germany clearly has greater bread variety, especially dark bread, rye bread and seeded bread. But for baguettes, croissants, laminated pastry and delicate white bread, I personally find France significantly better.

More broadly, I think French and Japanese cuisines occupy a different level in terms of high-end technique, ingredient treatment, refinement and professional restaurant culture. German cuisine has excellent bread, sausages, cakes and comfort food, but I do not think it competes with France or Japan as a complete culinary system.

Do Germans generally agree with any part of this, or do most genuinely consider German bread and cuisine superior?

I am asking seriously, not trying to insult German food.

Es ist ja allgemein bekannt, dass in englischsprachigen Ländern (also besonders den USA und Großbritannien) Eltern gerne mal sehr ausgefallene oder fast schon bizarre Namen für ihre Kinder erfinden. Die Idee dahinter ist wohl oft, dass das Kind durch einen einzigartigen Namen auch ein einzigartigeres oder ‚angereichertes‘ Leben führt.

Gibt es diesen Trend oder dieses Phänomen in dieser Form eigentlich auch in Deutschland? Oder ist man da durch die strengeren Namensrechte in Deutschland eher eingeschränkt?

About 5 years back I got to know Versicherungsmakler and bought few insurance policies with them. I wasn't naive back then and did not fall for their fancy marketing. I only took insurances that either helped me already or might help in future.

I recently became unemployed have health issues and since then the Versicherungsmakler ran away even faster than Kilian Mbape. Mails, calls nothing absolutely nothing can be used to reach them. Thank god I'm still with Public and not in private insurance that they tried to sell me.

So my question is this, are they all like this? Or are there those who were there for you when you actually needed them?

Hello,

I'm a christmas junkie and this year I finally want to make the trip of my dreams. I've created an itinerary with all the places I want to visit over the course of 21 days. I'm hoping to get some input of locals if this is doable. Not necessarily if i'm spending too little or too much time somewhere (although any advice is appreciated) but if my timing is unrealistic. I would do anything by train but the duration of the train rides are all just averages that showed up on google. Should I consider serious delays, trains with no room, strikes, etc. Would you see any of these train stations are dangerous after dark for a girl alone? Should I expect that the train rides on sunday might be longer if I need to wait between connects because there are less trains? Belgian trains can be pretty messy but I have no idea what to expect from Germany.

I have researched all the locations of the train stations, hostels and christmas markets. Only in Baden-Baden and Heidelberg is the walk from the station to my hostel a little too far to walk. Do you think someone would pick me up if I tried to hitchhike? It's only for about 4km. I don't know what the average German thinks of hitchhikers. Otherwise the bus would be my best option I guess. Should I just buy a single ticket every time, with my phone or a paper ticket?

Thanks so much. I'm really looking forward to it.

Day 1: Belgium -> Aachen (2u train ride)

Day 2: Aachen

Day 3:

- Aachen -> Ahrweiler (2u train ride) -> spend the day

- Ahrweiler -> Düsseldorf (1u30 train ride)

Day 4: Düsseldorf

Day 5: daytrip to Essen (30m train ride)

Day 6: Düsseldorf -> Frankfurt (2u train ride)

Day 7: Frankfurt

Day 8: Frankfurt -> Heidelberg (1u train ride)

Day 9: Heidelberg

Day 10: Heidelberg -> Baden-Baden (1u train ride)

Day 11: Baden-Baden

Day 12: Baden-Baden -> Strasbourg (30m train ride)

Day 13: Strasbourg

Day 14: daytrip to Colmar (30m trainride)

Day 15: Strasbourg -> Esslingen (3u train ride)

Day 16: Esslingen -> Rothenburg ob der Tauber (3u30 train ride)

Day 17: Rothenburg -> Nürnberg (1u15 train ride)

Day 18: Nürnberg

Day 19: Nürnberg -> Salzburg (3u train ride)

Day 20: Salzburg

Day 21: Salzburg -> Belgium (10u train ride)

Background: I moved to Germany many years ago and I took some courses to learn German. As you all know, its not an easy language :) Especially with the articles. Long story short; I can express myself, but my German is not the "yellow from the egg".

Question: Although I can speak basic german (not always grammatically accurate), it is often hard for me to understand a lot of people because of various reasons (e.g. they speak really fast, or too many words which are out of my vocabulary, occasional dialect etc.) - for that reason; I have to sometimes say "wie bitte?" or ask them to speak a bit slower (politely of 'course). But I somehow have the feeling, that if I ask them to "dumb-it-down" for me; they might be offended - especially, when I do it 2-3 times for the same phrase. Is that the case or am I overthinking? (Especially In AMT/Citizen's Office kind of situation)

I am still learning and trying to get better (and one day I WILL get fluent) - but are there any "cultural" tips from Germans, which can help me understand them better and politely ask people to "dumb-it-down" for me (especially people at the AMT)? Thank You! 🙏

Hi everyone,

I live in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, I’m married, and we are expecting our first child soon. Since we live in a small town with limited public transport, the time has come for us to buy a car.

I earn around €3,500 gross / €2,600 net per month. My wife works remotely for a company in our home country. Since we still have some expenses there, her effective contribution to our household budget is approximately €500 per month. Once the baby is born, we should also receive around €250 in Kindergeld.

Our fixed household expenses, including rent, utilities, food, internet, phones, insurance and other regular costs, are approximately €1,200–1,300 per month. We have no other loans or major debts.

I’m currently looking at used VW Passat Variants in the €17,000–18,000 range. I could make a down payment of €5,000–7,000 and finance the rest over four or five years, without a balloon payment.

I have been living in Germany and working for the same company for almost four years, and I have an open-ended employment contract. However, my residence visa still has an expiry date, so I’m also unsure whether a bank would offer financing with a term extending beyond the validity of my current visa.

Financially, this seems affordable to me, but I’m not sure whether I’m being too optimistic or spending too much on a car relative to our income. I’m aware that, as a new driver, my insurance will be relatively expensive and that I also need to account for fuel, taxes, maintenance and unexpected repairs.

I’d like to know what other people in a similar situation have chosen to do, regardless of whether they are native Germans or immigrants.

Would you consider an €18,000 car reasonable in our situation, or would you go for something significantly cheaper?

Hii everyone.

I'll be shifting to Germany soon and I'm researching and getting to know the norms.

I've often heard that in Germany, work relationships tend to stay at work unless you become genuinely close friends.

Where I'm from it's pretty normal for colleagues to become friends outside of work. Visiting each other's homes, celebrating festivals together, or inviting someone over for dinner isn't unusual.

So Is that actually true?

And At what point does someone go from being "just a colleague" to someone you'd invite to your home? Is there an unspoken rule, or does it just depend on the person?

Ich überlege gerade, bei einem Restaurant mit schlechten Google Bewertungen (3,4 Sterne), aber guten Lieferando Bewertungen (4,5 Sterne) mein Mittagessen zu bestellen.

Offensichtlich sind beide Online-Bewertungssysteme manipulierbar. Da ich seit vielen Jahren nicht mehr bei dem Restaurant bestellt habe, habe ich keine eigenen Erfahrungswerte.

Wem würdet Ihr grundsätzlich mehr glauben - Google oder Lieferando?