Grocery inflation still doing its thing? Let’s fix that. In this issue, we’re rescuing dinner and your budget with Too Good To Go. Plus, MediaMarkt is back with its VAT-free sale, a 30 GB phone plan for just €5.99, a 50,000-point AmEx bonus, and more deals and grocery freebies that are worth a look.
Note: this post contains affiliate links, which are marked with *.
🥐 App Spotlight: Too Good To Go
Too Good To Go* helps you buy unsold food from local shops, cafés, and supermarkets at the end of the day – for just a few euros. You reserve a “Magic Bag” in the app, pay online, and pick it up within the given time slot. Prices usually range between €3 and €5, and you’ll often get much more than you’d expect for that amount.
You can pick the kind of bag you want – baked goods, ready meals, groceries. There are also new categories like flowers & plants and pet food. You can also filter for vegetarian or vegan food to find bags that fit your diet.
Most offers come from local restaurants and bakeries, but you’ll also spot big names like Rewe To Go, Denn’s BioMarkt, Netto, Edeka and Bio Company. There are even hotel breakfast bags from Hilton or Hampton – a fun way to do brunch at home for €4 for two people! Each listing shows a rating based on user reviews so that you can gauge whether the bag is worth it. Pro tip: cross-check the reviews on Google Maps as well – some people review their Too Good To Go bags there too.
I’ve had everything from fresh pasta to pastries to organic fruit & vegetables through Too Good To Go, and it’s been reliably good value. It’s an easy way to save on food. Sign up here*.
🔥 Hot Deals
💻 MediaMarkt & Saturn Sale: 16% Off Almost Everything
MediaMarkt and Saturn*, which belong to the same group, are bringing back their “VAT-free” promotion this week – meaning you save the amount of VAT that’s normally included in the price. They don’t actually remove the VAT from the base price (legally they can’t do this), but simply reduce the final price by the VAT portion that’s already built in – so in practice, that means around 16% off most products.
The sale starts online on October 23 at 8 p.m. and runs until October 27. To get the discount, you need a free myMediaMarkt or mySaturn account. Once you’re logged in, you’ll see the reduced prices. The offer applies to most in-stock items both online and in stores, with eligible items clearly marked.
It’s one of their biggest sales of the year and a great time to buy tech, home appliances, or phones. Shop the sale*.
📱 sim24: 30 GB for €5.99
Mobile plan prices in Germany have dropped a lot over the past couple of years – so if you haven’t revisited your phone plan lately, it might be time. Right now, sim24* is offering what might be the cheapest plans I’ve ever seen: 30 GB for €5.99 per month, or 10 GB for €3.99.
All plans include 5G, unlimited calls and texts, and speeds up to 50 Mbit/s. The price is locked even after the first two years, so there’s no surprise jumps later. You can choose between a 24-month contract or a monthly cancellable plan (setup costs €9.99 for the flexible one, free with the 24-month option). And if you’re switching from another operator, you can bring your phone number with you. If you’ve been paying more than €10 a month for your phone plan, it could be worth switching. Check out the plans*.
These just might be the cheapest plans I’ve ever seen.
✈️ 50,000 Points with Amex Gold
If you’ve been thinking about getting a credit card to collect airline miles, this might be the best moment to do it. If you sign up for the American Express Gold Card* by November 10, you get 50,000 Membership Rewards points when you spend €4,500 within the first six months. These points alone can be worth €500–€1,000 if you redeem them on flights – the biggest bonus Amex has offered this year.
The card costs €20 per month, so it’s not for everyone — but if you’d like to collect airline miles, it’s easily the strongest option available in Germany. I’ve had mine for over a year and I’m really happy with it – here’s my full review of the card. Apply for Amex Gold here*.
If you’re not into airline miles and would prefer a free credit card with some rewards, the Amex Payback Card* might be for you – it has no annual fee and comes with a welcome bonus of 4,000 Payback points (worth €40).
💰 More Deals
Berliner Volksbank: Last call for a €200 welcome bonus! This offer has been running for a few months, and many readers have already signed up – for a good reason. It’s the biggest banking bonus in Germany right now, but it’s about to end: the offer closes on October 27, after which the conditions will change and the bonus will be reduced. Open your account now*.
Flink: I try not to use fast grocery delivery apps much since they’re often pricier than supermarkets, but Flink actually sells a lot of Rewe’s own products, and Ja! items cost exactly the same as in-store, while Rewe Beste Wahl is only 10% more expensive. New users can get €15 off (€30 minimum order) with the code FLINK-PUF9EV. Shop here*.
NeoTaste: Get 1 month free on this foodie darling app that gives you access to restaurant deals like 2-for-1 mains, €10 off €25 spend, and even €1 dishes. I’ve been using it a lot lately, and the deals are really good. It’s available in 39 German cities, including Berlin, Munich, Cologne, and Hamburg. Start your free trial*.
Perplexity Pro: Connect your PayPal account and get a full year of Perplexity Pro free if you’ve never subscribed before. It’s an AI-powered search tool that’s great for research. The plan renews at $20/month, so cancel in advance if you don’t want to keep it. Get it here*, and if you don’t have PayPal, you can sign up here* and get €10 cashback.
Last call on this reader favorite banking bonus.
🎁 Freebies
Mövenpick Quark Snacks: Try Mövenpick Quark Snacks in Mango Yogurt or Chocolate Vanilla for free. Available at Rewe and Kaufland until December 1. Weekly refunds are limited, so it’s best to submit early in the week. Upload your receipt here.
Eat Natural: Buy any Eat Natural bar or multipack until November 16 and get your money back when you upload the receipt here.
YoPro Skyr or Pudding: Buy one YoPro Skyr or Pudding (various flavours) and get it for free by uploading your receipt here. The offer runs until December 14, with uploads possible until December 28. Limited to 5,000 redemptions per week.
Smol laundry capsules: Try 9 Smol laundry detergent capsules for free – you only pay €1 shipping. You’ll need to set up a recurring delivery, but you can cancel right after your free pack is shipped. Get it here.
Money-back promos on groceries and household products are still one of the easiest ways to cut everyday costs, and there are usually several running at the same time. A lot of offers from previous issues are still running – you can find them all here. For more free grocery products, Rewe product tests are worth a look too.
That wraps up this week’s round-up of ways to save money in Germany. If you’d like these deals, cashback offers, and money tips delivered straight to your inbox, you can subscribe to my newsletter here. It’s free, and every week I send practical deals and tips that make life here a little easier and cheaper.
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