I’m in full productive mode this January – I’ve already almost finished my 2025 tax return (that sentence alone tells you a lot about me). I’ve also been taking some Spanish classes with Lingoda because self-improvement.
This article leans into winter admin energy: why submitting your tax return early is worth it, a great deal on Vodafone home internet, and 40% off Lingoda classes if language learning is one of your New Year's resolutions. There are also money-back promos on chocolate biscuits and Coca-Cola Zero – because you deserve a little treat for all that adulting.
Note: this article contains affiliate links, which are marked with *.
💡 Tip of the Week: Submit Your Tax Return Early
The deadline for the 2025 tax return isn’t until July 31, but submitting earlier is usually a good move – most tax offices start processing returns around mid-March, and they generally work through them in order of arrival. That means that the earlier you submit, the faster you will get your tax refund. Also, let’s be honest – we all have better things to do in summer than thinking about taxes.
Make sure you have all the key documents: depending on your situation, that can include a Lohnsteuerbescheinigung from your employer, a statement from the Agentur für Arbeit if you received unemployment benefits, and (if you’re voluntarily insured) a statement from your health insurance. Once you’ve got what you need, a return only takes 20–30 minutes.
I mostly use Wundertax* to file my taxes, and it’s as close to painless as German bureaucracy gets. It’s available in English, has great UX and guides you step by step, so it’s really easy to use even if you don't know much about taxes. If filing is not mandatory for you and you’re not sure whether submitting a tax return will be worth it, just fill out a return on Wundertax and see your estimated refund – you don't pay anything until you decide to submit.
And if you’re unsure what you can deduct: as an employee, you automatically get a flat rate of employment-related expenses (Arbeitnehmer-Pauschbetrag) of €1,230, meaning you can benefit from it even if you don’t have specific expenses to list. If you want to know what else you can deduct, these two guides go in depth on this topic: A guide to tax deductions in Germany (part 1) and A guide to tax deductions in Germany (part 2).
🔥 Hot Deals
📚 Lingoda language classes: up to 40% off Flex + €20 off Sprint
If 2026 is the year you’re finally gonna learn German (for real this time!), Lingoda* is currently offering up to 40% off on their Flex subscriptions. The offer runs until February 3, 10 a.m. CET, and it’s for new students who haven’t had a paid Lingoda subscription before.
With Flex, you choose a plan based on how many classes you want to take every four weeks, then book live online classes from the schedule whenever it suits you. Lessons are 60 minutes with certified teachers in small groups. There’s also a 7-day free trial to help you decide if this is for you.
With code NY40 (advertisement), the first two months are discounted (12-class plan excluded). The monthly price for the first two months works out to:
12 classes: ~€161.99 per 4 weeks (about €13.50 per class)
20 classes: ~€172.49 per 4 weeks (about €8.62 per class)
40 classes: ~€215.99 per 4 weeks (about €5.40 per class)
I’ve been using Lingoda myself this month to brush up on my Spanish, and I really like both the classes and the self-learning platform you get access to. I find the price really fair for what you get – and with the sale, it’s even better value. Get the Flex offer here*.
If you want to go all-in, Sprint is Lingoda’s two-month challenge format. You commit to a fixed number of classes and, if you attend 100% of them, you get a reward – either 50% cashback of the fees you paid in your bank account or 100% class credits. For Sprint, that means 15 classes in month 1 + 15 classes in month 2 (30 total). For Super Sprint, it’s 30 + 30 (60 total).
This is definitely intense, but if you’re disciplined, the value for money you get is really great. Sprint (15 classes/month) costs €370, plus you can get €20 off with code ANNASP20 (advertisement). If you complete all the classes, you get 50% of fees back – that brings your total cost to €175, or just €5.83 per class. Plus, the motivation boost that comes from getting your money back will be real. The next sprint starts on Feb 6, the signup usually closes a week before the start. Sign up for the Sprint here*.
Total price for the Lingoda Sprint: €350. Motivation to finally learn German: priceless.
🛜 Vodafone cable internet with €120 cashback and extra bonuses
If you’re thinking about switching your home internet, Vodafone* has a strong cable promotion running until January 28: €120 cashback (increased to €240 on the CableMax 1000 plan), plus a starting credit of €50–€80 on 24-month contracts, depending on the plan.
Depending on your situation, you may also be able to stack two more perks: a €200 BestChoice voucher if you’re under 28, and GigaKombi* (a bundle discount) which gives you €10 off per month if you have (or get) an eligible Vodafone mobile plan.
Below are the approximate effective prices for each 2-year contract, assuming you’re over 28. If you’re under 28, the monthly cost of any plan will be ~€8.33 lower.
50 Mbit/s: €29.57/month, or €19.57/month with GigaKombi
100 Mbit/s: €30.61/month, or €20.61/month with GigaKombi
250 Mbit/s: €33.74/month, or €23.74/month with GigaKombi
500 Mbit/s: €35.61/month, or €25.61/month with GigaKombi
1000 Mbit/s: €42.07/month, or €32.07/month with GigaKombi
Vodafone also offers a switching service where they cancel the contract with your current provider for you. And if you’re still tied into another contract for some time, they can waive your Vodafone plan fee for up to 12 months so you don’t pay twice during the switch (very useful for notoriously long German contracts).
I’m with Vodafone myself, and it’s the most stable internet I’ve ever had in my life, so I think this deal is really good. View plans here*.
💰 More Deals
Deutsche Bahn tickets from €8.99: Deutsche Bahn has discounted tickets from €8.99 available until January 15 (limited quota), for travel until March 31. And like usual, with a BahnCard 25 or 50* you get 25% off all tariffs. If you’d like to do a winter day trip or a quick weekend getaway, this is a good moment to lock it in. Book tickets here*.
30% off your first Factor box: Factor is a premium meal delivery service that doesn’t involve any cooking – the meals arrive ready to eat, and you can filter by preferences like high-protein, keto, pescatarian, or low-calorie. Your first box is currently 30% off with free shipping – that’s €39.86 for 6 meals (€6.64 per meal) or €50.34 for 8 meals (€6.29 per meal). The discount continues after the first delivery too, but you can cancel right after your first box. Get your Factor box here*.
€100 bonus with 1822direkt: Get a €100 welcome bonus for opening a bank account with 1822direkt. You need to make at least three card payments per month with the free girocard for the first three months after you receive it, and consent to receive promotional emails until the bonus is credited. The account is free if you’re under 30 or have €700/month incoming payments; otherwise €4.90/month. Open your account here*.
2 months free Readly: Readly is a magazine + newspaper app with thousands of titles in English, German, and more. You can download issues to read offline (great for flights), and you can share the account with family via multiple profiles. First 2 months are free, and you can cancel before it rolls into a paid plan. Get 2 months free here*.
Factor boxes aren’t cheap, but 30% off and free delivery of the first box is a pretty good deal.
🎁 Freebies
Alpro soy yogurt alternatives: Buy a 400g Alpro yogurt alternative by March 31 (max refund €2.29), and upload your receipt here by April 17. Weekly redemptions are limited, so it’s worth submitting early in the week.
Bahlsen Hazelnut Cream & Choc: Buy one pack of these crunchy biscuits filled with hazelnut cream and coated in milk chocolate (yum), then upload your receipt + a photo of the product here by March 29.
Coca-Cola Zero / Light & sugar-free drinks: This promo runs until February 8 and refunds up to €3.50 per bottle or can (deposit excluded) for selected varieties. Eligible sizes vary by product, so it’s worth checking the list on the promo page. You can claim up to 2 different varieties per person. Try to submit your receipt early in the day, since daily redemptions are limited.
Smol laundry capsules: Get 9 laundry detergent capsules for free – you only pay €1 shipping. You’ll need to start a subscription, but you can cancel right after your first pack ships.
Money-back and “try it free” promos are one of the easiest ways to cut everyday costs in Germany, and I always add a couple to my shopping list. If you want more of these, browse the promos from previous issues here – a lot are still active. For more free grocery products, Rewe product tests are worth a look as well.
I’m definitely adding this to my shopping list.
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