You did it! The big move, squeezing your entire life into two 23kg suitcases, and somehow sharing a kitchen with random strangers from vastly different backgrounds. The currency is different, the supermarkets have different names, and as a student, you need to learn to stretch your blocked account allowance to the last cent.
Studying in Germany doesn't have to mean living on pasta and tap water. Once rent and utilities are paid from your blocked account, the amount left for food, furniture and fun can feel small, but a handful of everyday habits stretch it much further.
Whether you're starting an MBA, MSc or MA, here are six practical ways students across Germany save money, plus a few ideas for enjoying your new city without spending a cent.
1. Download the supermarket and drugstore apps
Most German supermarkets and drugstores have free apps with weekly coupons, app-only prices and loyalty rewards. You activate coupons before you shop, then scan the app at the till. Here's what each one offers:
Store | App | How you save |
|---|---|---|
Lidl | Lidl Plus | Weekly coupons to activate, plus 1 point per euro spent (since June 2026), exchanged for rewards in the app |
Kaufland | Kaufland Card XTRA | 1 loyalty point per euro, swapped for free products or coupons; new members get 50 bonus points |
Rewe | Rewe Bonus (in the Rewe app) | Credit in euros on bonus products and activated coupons, plus a monthly Bonus-Booster coupon of 3 to 10% once you spend €100+ a month |
Aldi Nord / Aldi Süd | Aldi apps | No app discounts or points: the same price for everyone. Use the app to check weekly offers and plan your list |
dm | Mein dm app | Coupons on dm's own brands; dm is a Payback partner, so link a free Payback account to collect points |
Rossmann | Rossmann app | Registered users get four 10%-off-everything coupons every two months, plus product coupons |
A few tips to get the most out of them:
Stick to one or two apps. A 2026 price study for the broadcaster SWR found the apps save around 1 to 2% extra on average, so focus on the shop you use most rather than juggling six.
The weekly flyer (Prospekt) is the bigger win. Planning meals around what's on offer saves more than any points scheme.
Activate before you pay. Coupons usually don't apply unless you've tapped them in the app first.
Mind your data. These apps track what you buy. Switch off location access and marketing consent if you'd rather share less.
2. Rescue food with Too Good To Go
Too Good To Go is a free app where bakeries, cafés, restaurants and supermarkets sell their unsold, perfectly good food at the end of the day. It comes as a "Surprise Bag": you don't know exactly what's inside, but the shop lists the type of food (bread and pastries, hot meals, fruit and veg, groceries). Bags typically cost €3.50 to €5, for food worth around three times that. Lidl, Kaufland, Penny, dm and Bio Company are among the chains taking part, alongside plenty of local bakeries and restaurants.
How to use it
Download the app, create an account and set your location to see shops near you.
Browse the Surprise Bags, check the pickup window and the shop's rating, then reserve and pay in the app.
Go to the shop during the pickup window, swipe to confirm your order in the app and collect your bag.
When to look
Check early in the day. Shops post their bags in advance, and popular ones (good bakeries especially) sell out within minutes.
Favourite your go-to spots. Tap the heart on a shop and you'll be notified when new bags go live.
Expect evening pickups. Most collection windows fall just before closing time, so plan an evening walk or combine it with your commute.
Look at ratings. Contents vary, so a highly rated shop is your safest bet. Bakery bags are great for sharing with flatmates or freezing.
Bonus: you get €2.50 in app credit for every friend you invite, so share your link with classmates.
3. Furnish your room for free with Free Your Stuff groups
Before you buy a single chair, join your city's Free Your Stuff group. These are community groups on Facebook (and often WhatsApp) where people give away things they no longer need, from lamps, shelves and desks to kitchenware, plants and bikes. Free Your Stuff Berlin is one of the biggest, and most German cities have their own version.
How it works
Search "Free Your Stuff" plus your city on Facebook, request to join and read the group rules.
Members post a photo, the item and a pickup area. Comment or message quickly: good furniture goes fast.
Pickup is usually on the giver's terms, so be on time and bring a friend for anything heavy.
When you move out, pay it forward by posting what you no longer need.
Good to know: the free section ("zu verschenken") on Kleinanzeigen works the same way, and in many neighbourhoods people leave boxes of free items on the pavement marked "zu verschenken". Always meet in daylight and never pay a "delivery fee" upfront for a free item.
4. Skip monthly bank fees with a mobile banking app
Some traditional current accounts in Germany charge a monthly fee, and every euro you keep counts. Mobile banking apps such as N26, Revolut and Wise offer free basic accounts you can open on your phone in minutes, often before you've even registered your address.
N26 is a licensed German bank with a German IBAN (starting with DE). Its Standard account is free and works well for rent, direct debits and receiving your monthly blocked account payout.
Revolut has a free Standard plan and is handy for everyday spending and travel. Standard accounts usually come with a Lithuanian IBAN (starting with LT).
Wise is best for sending and receiving money in different currencies, for example when family transfers money from home. Accounts come with a Belgian IBAN.
A word of caution
These apps are convenient, but they aren't the right fit for everyone. Before you choose one, keep in mind:
Not all of them are full banks. Wise is an electronic money provider, so your balance is safeguarded but not covered by the EU deposit guarantee of up to €100,000 that applies to licensed banks. Check each provider's status before keeping your savings there.
Support is mostly in the app. If your account is frozen for a security check or your card stops working, there's no branch to walk into, and resolving it can take time.
A non-German IBAN can cause friction. Under EU rules, landlords and employers shouldn't refuse an LT or BE IBAN, but in practice some still ask for a German one.
No Girocard. Some smaller shops, cafés and canteens in Germany only accept the German Girocard, which digital banks generally don't issue.
Consider a German bank too. Sparkasse, Deutsche Bank, Commerzbank and others offer student accounts that are often free (conditions such as an age limit vary by bank and region). You get a German IBAN, a Girocard, free cash at the bank's own ATMs and face-to-face help when you need it. Many students find the best setup is a German current account for rent and official payments, plus a mobile app for everyday spending and transfers from home.
This is general information, not financial advice: compare current fees and conditions on each provider's website before opening an account.
Sources: MS in Germany bank comparison (May 2026), Studienkolleg.org
5. Show your student ID everywhere (and get an ISIC card)
Your student ID is one of the most valuable cards in your wallet. In Germany, look out for the words "ermäßigt" (reduced) or "Studentenrabatt" (student discount) at:
Gyms and sports clubs, many of which offer cheaper student memberships or waive sign-up fees
Barbers and hairdressers, especially on weekdays
Museums, cinemas, theatres and concerts, where reduced student tickets are common
Events and festivals, which often have a student price tier
Streaming, music and software, from student music plans to discounted laptops and design tools
If you don't see a student price, just ask. A friendly "Gibt es einen Studentenrabatt?" (Is there a student discount?) goes a long way.
Go further with the ISIC card
The International Student Identity Card (ISIC) is the only internationally recognised student ID. It's issued in over 100 countries and unlocks thousands of discounts worldwide, from phones and tech to clothes, travel and transport, including Flixbus for cheap trips around Germany and Europe. The free ISIC app holds your digital card, shows nearby offers on a map and lets you redeem them instantly. You can apply through the German ISIC website.
Already finished studying or between programmes? If you're 30 or younger, the International Youth Travel Card (IYTC) offers similar benefits.
6. Turn empty bottles into groceries with Pfand
In Germany, most drinks bottles and cans carry a deposit called Pfand. You pay a few cents extra at the till, and you get that money back when you return the empty container. It's a small system that adds up quickly, and it's how many students fund their snacks, coffee or a few extra groceries each week.
Container | How to spot it | Deposit |
|---|---|---|
Single-use plastic bottles and cans (including milk drinks since 2024) | "Einweg" logo with an arrow on the label | €0.25 |
Reusable plastic and glass bottles | "Mehrweg" or "Pfandflasche" on the label | usually €0.15 |
Reusable beer bottles | Glass beer bottles marked as returnable | €0.08 |
How to return it
Collect your empties at home. A bag or box by the door works well.
Take them to almost any supermarket: shops must accept single-use Pfand containers of the same material they sell, even if you bought them elsewhere.
Feed them into the return machine (Pfandautomat), usually near the entrance.
Press the button to print your Pfand receipt (Pfandbon), then hand it in at the till. The amount comes off your shopping, or you can ask for it in cash.
Make it a habit: after a flat party, a picnic or a study session, gather the bottles and cans and return them together. One full bag of single-use bottles can easily cover a loaf of bread, fruit or a sweet treat.
You'll also notice people leaving empty bottles next to public bins rather than inside them. It's a common courtesy so that others who collect Pfand can easily take them.
Sources: Verbraucherzentrale, ING, Utopia
Bonus: have fun for free
Saving money doesn't mean staying home. German cities are full of free parties, talks, markets, language exchanges and concerts, and a few apps make them easy to find:
Eventbrite: search your city and filter by "Free" to find workshops, networking events, club nights and community meetups.
Meetup: great for finding your people, with free groups for hiking, running, board games, language exchanges and founders.
Facebook Events: check the "Events" tab for what's happening nearby, including flea markets, open-air screenings and neighbourhood festivals.
City guides: in Berlin, Mit Vergnügen and tipBerlin publish regular round-ups of free and cheap things to do. Most cities have similar guides.
A few more ideas: some museums are always free (Berlin's Futurium is one), international museum days and "Long Nights" of museums offer free or cheap entry, and parks, lakes and riverbanks are free all year. And don't forget your own university: student events, welcome evenings and community channels are one of the easiest ways to meet people and enjoy your city on a budget.
Sources: tipBerlin, BerlinEcho
Small habits, big difference
None of these tips will change your life on their own, but together they add up: a coupon here, a rescued bakery bag there, a free desk from a neighbour and a bag of bottles turned into breakfast. Start with one or two that fit your routine, share what works with your classmates, and enjoy everything your new city has to offer, without spending your whole budget to do it.
