With all the increases that are now being implemented in the stores and which seem to be unending for the time being, it is good to look at alternatives. A good alternative to save on groceries is to go shopping in Germany. No idea what to expect? With these shopping tips in Germany you can now get all your groceries cheaply, including personal care products.
If you are wondering what the benefits are of shopping in Germany, here are a few reasons:
To give the economy a boost, Germany will lower the VAT on many products from 1 July. This means you only pay 16% VAT. The VAT on fruit and vegetables will go from 7 to 5%. This will lead to more shopping being done in Germany. As a result, the government hopes to stimulate the economy.
This is in stark contrast to what is currently happening in the Netherlands. The stores have posted record sales in recent months, but continue to raise prices. According to the AD, this mainly concerns Albert Heijn, but practice shows that stores such as Aldi and Jumbo are also not left behind. The consequence? Shopping in the Netherlands will be even more expensive.
So do you have the opportunity? Then go to Germany to do some cheap shopping there! Makes a huge difference, especially if you go shopping for a whole month straight away.
Update January 2022:The VAT prices have now been returned to the old level. Yet shopping in Germany is and will remain a lot cheaper than in the Netherlands.
If you do not live near the German border like me, it is useful to take the following points into account:
You can shop well in the villages and towns below:
Now that you know where to go shopping in Germany, you also want to know which stores you should definitely not forget. Below you will find the most common stores in Germany, including a link to the website, so that you can immediately make your shopping list:
DM chemist:this is highly recommended. I've been coming here for all my organic skincare and makeup products for years. Not necessarily looking for organic products? Here you can also buy very affordable hair dye products and, for example, baby care products. You can choose from large A-brands or the cheaper private labels. Highly recommended? Then look for Balea products.
Kaufland:super large supermarket, I actually do all my shopping here. You can think of it as crazy as you can buy it here, including clothing, toys and stationery. Not only do I buy bakery products that are over 50% cheaper here, but also meat, macaroni, sweets and chocolate and everything you actually need for cooking and baking. There is a wide choice and as said before:you are a lot cheaper here than in the Netherlands. Even if you're looking for fresh, you've come to the right place. Tip:if you suffer from peanut allergy, you also have a lot more choice here than in a standard Dutch supermarket.
Aldi:comparable to the Dutch Aldi, only a lot cheaper and definitely recommended for things like baking products.
Penny:smaller supermarket with plenty of choice and of course also cheap
Edeka:supermarket with a wide range. In all fairness I must say that I personally do not go to Edeka. This one is a lot more expensive than Kaufland (and if you already have the choice, then of course you choose the cheapest supermarket in Germany)
Lidl:you will know the Lidl and you will also find it in Germany. The range differs from that in the Netherlands, with again a wide choice of baking items, preserves, sauces, sausage and much more. The price difference with the Dutch Lidl can quickly rise to more than 25%/.
REWE:is also a German supermarket, where you can go shopping cheaply.
Woolworth: Once you're shopping, you can also take a look at Woolworth. Here you will mainly find clothing, stationery, accessories for the home, toys and the like.
Kaufhof:not really cheap, but definitely worth a visit around Christmas, for example because of the large selection of Advent calendars for young and old.
With the upcoming VAT increase, there will be an even greater difference between the price of products in the Netherlands and in Germany. That difference can certainly add up if you suddenly get a lot of groceries.
You don't have to wait until the VAT increase takes effect:we went to Germany last Thursday and had a shopping cart that was overflowing. I bought (discounted) meat, baking supplies, fruit and much more. I expected to lose around 250 euros, but only had to pay 140 euros. For the time being, my freezer is filled again and my pantry is a bit fuller again.
Below I have listed a number of products that you will certainly find cheaper in Germany than in the Netherlands:
Care products
Eat and drink
Other things that you often find cheaper in Germany than in the Netherlands are fireworks (know several people who just drive to Germany every year for that purpose), glasses and lenses, electronics and clothing (often on sale a lot cheaper than in the Netherlands).
In many cases you can park for free at the supermarkets. Take a parking disc with you, because sometimes this is requested (for example in Kleve near the Kaufland). If you do have to pay, take into account a starting rate of 0.20 for the first 20 minutes and then you pay approximately 0.06 per 10 minutes. We parked in Kleve and lost 4 euros for more than 4 hours of shopping. Make sure you have coins with you.
If you're in Germany for shopping, you might as well have a nice afternoon and also go shopping for clothes. In Germany you will find Kik, C&A and H&M, among others. Now I must honestly say that all these stores are a lot cheaper than the Dutch version. This is especially noticeable when there is a sale. That can save a few euros for the same item of clothing. So it really pays to keep an eye on the sale and then head to Germany. You can also spend a whole day there and then go shopping and do your shopping in Germany.
If you go to Germany by car, keep in mind that you must have an environmental sticker on the car on certain roads and in certain cities. In addition, different rules and laws apply on the roads in Germany. Think of speed that in principle is not fixed on the German Autobahn and the fact that you are obliged to drive with winter tires in winter. So not only with snow or if you want to go to winter sports, but always. If you don't have winter tires, you can get a ticket for that.
The borders are open again and you can go shopping and refuel in Germany again. Although I have understood from some people that they have just gone to Germany all this time, also during all the measures surrounding Covid-19. Keep in mind that in Germany you have to wear a mouth cap while shopping and refueling. Follow the messages closely to see if there are also relaxations. (I understand that Germany is abandoning the 2 meter distance rule with effect from 1 July).
Do you ever go to Germany to do some shopping? Do you have any great tips for shopping in Germany? Then let me know.
