Blog

Blog: Finance in Germany, Explained Simply

Here I write about the things people ask me most: a letter from an insurer that doesn't say what it actually wants, a payslip full of German terms, or a decision you don't know where to start with.

Each article takes one topic from the ground up: the German terms, the logic behind the rules, and what is worth knowing before you sign anything.

Buying a House in Germany as a Foreigner

Residence permit, probation, SCHUFA and paperwork: what banks check when you finance a home in Germany, and the order of steps up to the land register.

October 5, 20267 min read

Insurance
Disability Insurance in Germany: Who Needs It
When occupational disability insurance (Berufsunfähigkeitsversicherung) makes sense in Germany, what the state pays and what to check in the terms.
October 5, 20267 min read
Home & loans
Down Payment and Closing Costs in Germany
What counts as own capital, which purchase costs apply in Baden-Württemberg, and why you should keep a reserve after buying a home in Germany.
October 5, 20267 min read
Investing
ETF Savings Plans in Germany: A Plain Guide
What an ETF savings plan is, how a Depot works, which costs and taxes apply in Germany, and why your time horizon matters. Explained without promises.
October 5, 20267 min read
Basics
German Payslip Explained: Gross, Net, Deductions
How to read a German payslip: Lohnsteuer, tax class, the four social insurances, and what to check every month and keep for later.
October 5, 20267 min read
Retirement
German Pension System Explained: Three Layers
How the German pension works: the three layers, the Renteninformation letter and the pension gap, explained for people who joined the system later.
October 5, 20267 min read
Insurance
Personal Liability Insurance in Germany Explained
What you are liable for in Germany, what personal liability insurance (Privathaftpflicht) covers and leaves out, and what to check in your policy.
October 5, 20266 min read
Basics
What Is SCHUFA? The German Credit Score Explained
What SCHUFA stores and what it doesn't, how the new twelve-criteria score works, how to see your data for free and when entries are deleted.
October 5, 20267 min read