Important changes in May

• Germany will elect its new Chancellor on 6 May. Those preparing for the German citizenship test should monitor the latest political developments. The German citizenship test contains questions about the current chancellor and the coalition government.
• You no longer need printed passport photos when applying for identity cards or passports. German authorities will accept a digital passport photo from 1st May. You can take this photo on-site or submit it digitally by a certified photographer.
• No need to go to the Citizens' Registration Office to pick up your new passport or identity card. From 1st May, you can request the delivery of your identity card via post for 15€ only. The post will only be handed over to you personally; otherwise, it'll be forwarded to a post office.
• Berliners will enjoy an additional public holiday on May 8, 2025. This day marks the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II in Europe and the liberation from National Socialism. Plan something fun for the long weekend. 🤩
• From May 1, 2025, organic waste may contain a maximum of 1% foreign matter. This is to improve compost quality and reduce environmental impact. If the limit is exceeded, you may face a fine or your organic waste bin might be abandoned.
• Commerzbank is no longer free. Every Commerzbank customer will pay a 4.90€ monthly fee for their checking/current account from 1 May. You can close your Commerzbank account and open a free checking account with any other bank. We find C24's* free current account to be the best in the market. However, they only offer services in German. Another good option is N26*. You can compare all the banks here.
• Summer is almost here, and the swimming season is starting. Check the current prices and opening hours on the websites of your local indoor and outdoor pools. You can buy a season ticket or take advantage of a family or young people's discount to save money.

Retirement planning and protection against financial risks for women

Although retirement planning is essential for everyone, we focused on women for the following reasons.

• Unfortunately, we still face a gender pay gap in 2025. Generally, women in the same profession earn less than men.
• Another factor that lowers a woman's income is the career breaks for family care. This not only reduces their income but also reduces their contributions to the statutory pension plan.

Thus, early retirement planning for women is vital.

What should you consider?

• Start planning the moment you start your career. Young individuals should consider getting occupational disability insurance to protect themselves financially. At the start of your career, you don't have any financial cushion. Occupational disability insurance provides a monthly pension if you become occupationally disabled due to an accident.
• Couples planning to have children should agree on how to offset the loss of pension contributions. Because those who cut back on their careers to raise children also pay fewer pension contributions. In this case, ETF savings plans, voluntary pension contributions, or additional private pensions are some options to compensate the lost pension benefits.
• Women, especially mothers, shouldn't compromise financially with their ex-partner and forgo payments to which they are entitled.
• You should review your potential pension gap every 10 years. This will allow you to adjust your monthly contributions on time.
• You should review your potential pension gap at age 50. At this age, you still have the option to close the pension gap with manageable monthly payments.

What are the typical mistakes that lead women into financial dependence?

#1 Avoiding the topic of investing

Many women neglect the topic of investing. They believe that it's too complicated.

But that's not true.

Nowadays, investing in the stock market is as difficult as downloading a mobile app. Here are the steps to get you started.

• Download the app of your favorite broker. You can open a free trading account with Scalable Capital*, Finanzen.net Zero*, or Smartbroker+*.
• Open an account online.
• Set up a "standard order" or "ETF savings plan" to automatically invest a fixed monthly amount.
• Buy any ETF that tracks broad market indices, e.g., MSCI World.

That's it.

It'll take you around 15 minutes to do this.

#2 Assuming that insurance brokers provide impartial advice

Insurance brokers are liable for their advice. If they gave you incorrect advice, you can sue them.

Insurance brokers offer free advice. They earn a commission if you buy an insurance product through them.

You can also get advice from a fee-based insurance advisor (Honorar-Versicherungsberater). You pay them on an hourly basis for their consultation.

Find an insurance broker or a fee-based advisor you trust and discuss your requirements openly. They are not allowed to share your personal data with anyone without your written consent.

#3 Marriage provides financial security, but this is only partially true

Life is unpredictable.

You can't plan a divorce or the death of your partner.

So, don't leave your financial planning to your partner. Take control of your finances and draw a plan to secure your financial security.

Where and how can you invest?

We already mentioned investing in the stock market. Here are other ways to build a financial cushion.

• Open a fixed* or daily* account and save a fixed sum every month. This is the safest option, but the returns are next to zero.
• Buy a property. Real estate is the best way to force discipline and create wealth. You can even get a mortgage for 100% of the property's purchase price. You can learn everything about buying a house in Germany in our book.
• Get a private pension plan. Contact a certified financial planner or an insurance broker for advice. We find investing in ETFs better than private pension plans. However, very few people are disciplined to invest consistently.

New naming law

From May, you have more freedom when choosing your last name in Germany.

• Married couples can use a joint double surname. This means you can combine your and your partner's surnames with or without a hyphen.
• Married and unmarried parents can give their children their last names.
• If the parents don't choose a last name for their child after birth, the child will automatically receive both parents' last names separated by a hyphen.
• You can even change your and your children's last name according to the new rule.

​Here is a tool to check differnt last name combinations.

Latest News

US-Ukraine mineral deal

• Agreement Overview: The U.S. and Ukraine signed a deal on April 30, 2025, establishing a Reconstruction Investment Fund to channel investments into Ukraine’s infrastructure, energy, and critical minerals sectors.
• Key Provisions: The agreement ensures Ukraine retains ownership of its resources, with a 50/50 partnership for managing the fund. It includes U.S. offtake rights for minerals on competitive terms. However, mineral revenues will not be used to repay past U.S. military aid.
• Challenges Ahead: Success depends on addressing outdated geological data, rebuilding Ukraine’s war-damaged energy infrastructure (down to one-third of prewar capacity), and mitigating ongoing security risks to attract private investment.

Sources: [1, 2, 3]

AfD is marked as an extreme right by German intelligence

• AfD Classified as Extremist: On May 2, 2025, Germany’s Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution (BfV) officially designated AfD as a “proven right-wing extremist organization.”
• Enhanced Surveillance: The classification allows increased monitoring, including informants and communication intercepts.
• Political Backlash: AfD leaders Alice Weidel and Tino Chrupalla denounced the move as a politically motivated attack on democracy and vowed to challenge it in court.
• Ban Debate Intensifies: The "extremist" designation fuels discussions about banning AfD. Chancellor Olaf Scholz urged caution. Critics argue a ban could deepen AfD’s victim narrative.

Sources: [1, 2, 3]

Community Shoutouts! 📣

• We updated our book "Buying a house in Germany" and added five new chapters focusing on investing in German real estate. Everyone who bought the book will recieve the new version automatically on Monday.
• We are working on a new project (LetterKrieg) to simplify German bureaucracy. You can create and download letters and contracts for free on this website. Moreover, you can send physical mail with a push of a button. So, no need to print the document, and go to the post office to send it. We aim to launch it by 15 May. 🤞

Whether it's a must-visit place, a life hack, or an inspiring story, we’d love to hear from you.

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