Your Guide to Smart Spending in December

Featured Tip: Always Use Payback Coupons when Shopping on Amazon

Amazon is one of the largest Payback partners in Germany, though you wouldn't know it from looking at their website. You can't store your Payback number in your Amazon account like you can with other Payback partners, and even Payback browser extension doesn't pop up when you’re shopping there. But don't let that put you off: Payback always has active coupons offering up to 8% cashback, helping you save on every Amazon purchase. The rates vary by category and change slightly every week: currently it’s 2-3% on electronics, 4-5% on household items, toys, and kitchen products; and 5-8% on beauty, fashion, and watches.

The process is simple: before shopping on Amazon, open your Payback app or website, activate Amazon coupons, and click on the "redeem online" link that will take you directly to Amazon. Make it a habit to check for Payback coupons either before you start shopping or right before checkout – it’s a small extra step, but it can lead to meaningful savings over time! If you’re new to Payback or want to learn more about maximizing your points, here's my complete guide to getting the most out of Germany's biggest loyalty program.

Free Sante Hair Products at dm

€150 Bonus for New N26 Customers

N26 is offering new customers up to €150 when opening an account: €50 cashback through Shoop cashback browser extension plus up to €100 bonus with the code N26GEHALT100. For the bonus, you'll get €20 after your first transaction, and an additional €80 if you receive three deposits of at least €700 by March 31, 2025.

Personal note: I've been an N26 customer for seven years now, and I still think it's one of the best banks in Germany. The whole experience is digital and modern (still rare in German banking), the app is great, and the standard account, complete with a virtual debit Mastercard, is completely free. I also love their MoneyBeam feature for instant transfers to friends. While it's not my primary spending card anymore (that spot now belongs to Trade Republic's 1% cashback debit card and AmEx credit cards), it's definitely staying in my wallet (and on my phone).

More Deals to Explore

• Podimo 30-day free trial: A Danish audiobook and podcast app Podimo (think Spotify Premium meets Audible) just launched in Germany. While their audiobook library is mostly in German, they offer plenty of podcasts in both English and German, including the heavy-hitters like Huberman Lab, The Joe Rogan Experience, Tim Ferriss Show, and Radiolab. Try it free for 30 days — that’s potentially a month of not paying for Spotify Premium if you primarily use yours for podcasts.

• Rewe delivery service: I order my groceries there regularly, especially now that it’s getting colder. You get the same prices as in-store, and delivery is free once per week (in my area it's Wednesday, but check yours), so it costs exactly the same as going to the supermarket. €50 minimum order is also quite reasonable (thanks, inflation). First-time delivery service users get €5 off + free delivery with the code 22900000000000200027.

• Marley Spoon: This meal kit service offers new customers 35% off their first box and 32% off the second. I recently tried this deal myself, and liked both the recipes and ingredient quality. To give you an idea of the cost, my first box came to €28.74 for 6 meals (€4.79 per portion). If you choose to get more than 6 portions/week, the price per portion is even lower. Cancel anytime after your first box arrives.

☕️ Your Coffee Habit Is About to Get More Expensive

Bad news for coffee lovers: coffee futures just hit their highest level since 1977 (yes, that's longer than many of us have been alive). The popular Arabica beans have jumped about 70% this year, while Robusta prices have nearly doubled. German distributors have warned that the price of ground coffee may go up by at least 30 percent in 2025.

Why? There's a perfect storm brewing: poor weather conditions in Brazil and Vietnam (the world's biggest coffee suppliers) have hurt production. Plus, new EU regulations are coming that will require importers to prove their beans weren't grown on deforested land. We’re going to feel this all in our wallets pretty soon – Nestlé and other major brands are announcing price increases and shrinking their pack sizes. If you're using coffee capsules to make your coffee, clear some cabinet space and stock up: capsules have a surprisingly long shelf life and might even last past their best-before date. Fresh bean lovers might just have to accept that their morning energy kick now comes with a higher price tag.

And please, don't suggest switching to tea. We're not that desperate... yet.