Living on an Ausbildung salary requires discipline. You aren’t poor, but you aren’t rich. You are a “frugal student.”
To make your €900 stretch to the end of the month while working jobs in Germany, you need to hack the system. Here are the essential money-saving tips for International Azubis.
1. Housing: The “WG” Life
Never rent a studio apartment alone.
- The Hack: Live in a Wohngemeinschaft (WG) – a shared flat.
- Cost: €300-€500 vs. €800+ for alone.
- Bonus: Your German flatmates will help you learn the language and navigate bureaucracy.
2. Food: Discounter & Mensa
- Groceries: Shop at Aldi, Lidl, Netto, or Penny. Avoid Rewe or Edeka for basics—they are 20% more expensive.
- Lunch: If your vocational school is near a University, get a “Guest Card” for the University Cafeteria (Mensa). You can often eat a hot meal for €3-€5.
- TooGoodToGo: Download this app. Bakeries and supermarkets sell leftover food bags for €3 at the end of the day.
3. Transport: The Deutschland-Ticket
- The Hack: As a trainee, you can often get a discounted “Azubi-Ticket” or the “Deutschland-Ticket” (valid on all local trains/buses nationwide) for €29 or €49 per month. Ask your employer to subsidize it!
4. Student Discounts (Azubi-Ausweis)
You are technically a student.
- Carry your ID: Your Schülerausweis gets you cheap entry to cinemas, swimming pools, museums, and sometimes even haircuts.
- Contracts: Look for “Young” tariffs for mobile phones and bank accounts (most banks offer free accounts for trainees).
5. Rundfunkbeitrag (The Radio Tax)
Every household must pay €18.36/month for public broadcasting.
- The Hack: It is per household, not per person. If you live in a WG with 3 people, you split the cost (€6 each). Never pay the full amount if your roommate is already paying!
Sample Budget (€900 Net)
- Rent (WG): €400
- Food: €200
- Transport: €30
- Phone/Internet: €30
- Fun/Savings: €240
It is possible. It just takes planning.
References
- Verbraucherzentrale: Tips for students/trainees
- Studierendenwerk: Mensa and Housing info