How to deal with money like a German | Meet the Germans

While other European countries make the transition to cashless societies, Germany still has a stubborn affection for a pocket full of loose change. Rachel Stewart investigates the very specific German attitude to money.

Rachel Stewart is on a mission to investigate the quirks and idiosyncrasies of daily life in Germany. Every two weeks she explores a new topic - from beer to nudity to complicated grammar - and heads out to get some tips from the Germans themselves.

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[pavel]

Just a little Hint :

Nobody says pinkepinke

[paulabauer]

Im from Germany and I never heard pinkepinke

[MrNoname]

According to this topic, one should mention that Germans have insurances for almost everything we own to cover the costs if anything gets broken. But when something actually breaks, we pay the repair with our savings so that the insurance fee won’t increase 😂

[ElGuerreroMaya]

1% of people: learned how Germans use money
99% of people: Pinkepinke!

[hendrikreimann]

As a German I love cash. Taking cash out of the wallet to pay stuff induces pain. It really makes you think twice and helps saving. When I pay with the plastic card there is no pain. That's the true cost of going cashless.

[anniehallmartin]

As a German-American, I've found that Germans are less interested in sales and bargains than US Americans are. Germans tend to value quality and are sometimes wary that sales or bargains indicate lower quality.

[hanshartfiel]

I'm a 71 year old German and never heard of the term "pinkepinke" for coins. Kleingeld would be more correct.

[s.z]

"Never spend more than you earn"
"Always put a little bit aside, you never know whats around the corner"
Daaamn that is so 100 percent me, never knew that this is considered to be typically german.

-Again what learned-

[sintiaec]

So basicly you work hard, pay your taxes, save more, pay everything in cash and avoid debt like the plague. Duly noted!

[northmanscall]

As a german who never heard it before, "PinkePinke" is my new favourite word

[zexxonije]

That last bit is the most un-german thing I've ever seen. I doubt any german would throw away even 1 cent 😁

[lincolnclay]

In Germany we say "Bares ist wahres" which means "cash is king"

[Deniera]

GILR I HOPE YOU PICKED THAT PINKEPINKE BACK UP AFTER THE VIDEO

[GoogleUser-wpsg]

Born and raised in Germany and never heard of pinkepinke

[theSupercasa]

“Don’t spend more than you earn.
Always put some money aside.”

That literally just sounds like common sense. Unfortunately, I do know plenty of people who don’t do it at all and are absolutely reckless when it comes to managing money.

[drzz]

I live in Germany since 25 years and never heared "pinkepinke"

[PCLHH]

Paying in cash also helps you to keep track of your spendings. It really makes you think twice before spending. also you can SEE how much is left in the purse.

[MulvDulv]

Nope. “Pinkepinke” is not really a German slam word for ”money”

[izzatfauzimustafa]

Many countries with really well-developed banking services, accessible ATMs, high purchasing power and long-lasting economic boom during the pre-digital/pre-internet era will have more trust in cash rather than the use of debit cards or QR code payments.

[lybanhamar]

Moved to Germany recently from Netherlands and as I was paying with my phone for some new headphones, the lady at cashier panicked and demanded my passport to verify. She thought I was some kind of fraud and asked me not to do it next time..