New here? Check out GermanPediaDid someone forward you this? Subscribe to this newsletter. Important changes The EU and India concluded the history's biggest trade deal. More on it later. Germany's Federal Court of Justice (BGH) ruled that tenants cannot sublet apartments for profit. More on it later Cryptocurrency exchanges are required to report user data and transactions to the tax authorities from 2026. Verdi has called for a nationwide strike in local public transport on Monday, 2...
11 days ago • 12 min read
New here? Check out GermanPediaDid someone forward you this? Subscribe to this newsletter. Important changes Several dog snacks from Dog’s Nature GmbH are being recalled due to Salmonella contamination. Kaufland and Norma sell these dog snacks. If you bought one recently, you can return it even without a receipt. [1] Germany reintroduced the EV subsidy. If your family income is less than 90,000€ and you have children, you are eligible for a subsidy of up to €6,000. You can learn more about EV...
18 days ago • 11 min read
New here? Check out GermanPediaDid someone forward you this? Subscribe to this newsletter. Important changes European wholesale gas prices jumped about 20% within a week. This is due to cold weather, rapidly declining storage levels, and new geopolitical risks around Iran and global LNG flows. You may expect a big heating bill if the prices continue to rise. [1] Public health insurance companies announced the premium increases on 23 Dec 2025. We have updated our guide and listed the premiums...
25 days ago • 10 min read
New here? Check out GermanPediaDid someone forward you this? Subscribe to this newsletter. Important changes Public health insurance companies announced the premium increases on 23 Dec 2025. We have updated our guide and listed the premiums each public insurer will charge in 2026 here. You can also use our calculator to check your 2026 costs and the savings potential by switching to a more affordable provider. More on it later. We summarized all changes that will affect you from Jan 2026 in...
about 1 month ago • 10 min read
New here? Check out GermanPediaDid someone forward you this? Subscribe to this newsletter. Important changes Public health insurance companies announced the premium increases on 23 Dec 2025. We have updated our guide and listed the premiums each public insurer will charge in 2026 here. You can also use our calculator to check your 2026 costs and the savings potential by switching to a more affordable provider. More on it later. We summarized all changes that will affect you from Jan 2026 in...
about 1 month ago • 9 min read
New here? Check out GermanPediaDid someone forward you this? Subscribe to this newsletter. Merry Christmas 🎄 As the year comes to an end, I want to take a moment to say thank you. Thank you for being here. Thank you for reading, learning, and growing with us. And most of all, thank you for your trust. GermanPedia exists because of you. Every message you read, every guide you use, reminds us why we started GermanPedia in the first place. Living in a new country is not always easy. We are truly...
about 2 months ago • 9 min read
New here? Check out GermanPediaDid someone forward you this? Subscribe to this newsletter. Important changes Wero - European alternative to PayPal. Wero is the EU's first step towards becoming independent of American payment services such as Visa, Mastercard, and PayPal. [1] The ECB didn't change the key interest rates. This means the savings interest rate remains at 2.0%, which is below the inflation rate of 2.3%. This is why you must invest your money in assets that return more than the...
about 2 months ago • 8 min read
New here? Check out GermanPediaDid someone forward you this? Subscribe to this newsletter. 31 changes coming in 2026 you should know about Social security Social insurance: Significant increase in contribution assessment ceilings. This is the maximum income considered to calculate your insurance premium. Higher earners will feel the effect. Health and long‑term care: €66,150 to €69,750 Pension and unemployment insurance: €8,050 to €8,450 per month Annual income threshold for switching to...
2 months ago • 10 min read
New here? Check out GermanPediaDid someone forward you this? Subscribe to this newsletter. Important changes Germany's Bundestag approved the voluntary military service law. Every 18-year-old man must complete online fitness questionnaires from January 2026. And from July 2027, every 18-year-old man must undergo compulsory medical checks. [1, 2] The Bundestag finally passes the pension reform. The pension reform will now go to the Bundesrat for the vote on 19th December. More on it later....
2 months ago • 11 min read