Cash culture = money saved!

Sometimes I feel so impressionable, but this time it's a good thing.  Banking in Germany is somewhat more challenging than in the States.  Back home, everything is instantaneous, always having innumerable ways of accessing your money, so there's no reason not to spend, spend, spend!  Here, I've passively entered into a "saving mode," having only bought groceries and a pair of gloves.


In Germany, it takes weeks (yes, WEEKS) after opening a bank account to even get a card to use a cash machine, and more like months to get a "credit card" so that you can shop online (but don't dare pay with a credit card at a restaurant or bar.  I've yet to see the little machines actually work properly!).  And I use "credit card" loosely, because that's not nearly as easy to do.  You have to first have proof of income for several months, and then (after they charge you a hefty monthly fee), the balance is automatically deducted from your bank account.  I'm still a little fuzzy on the details, but suffice it to say, a line of credit is quite a different concept here than I am used to!  But it's as plain as day why you never hear of people here getting in over their heads with credit card debt.  It's too hard!


All of that said, you might expect me to bitch and moan about how inconvenient everything is.  On the contrary, it's been very effective in limiting my spending.  And since credit cards are hardly used in the everyday sense, it is made much, much easier to pay with cash.  Only have a 50EUR note?  No problem.  It's made easy to pay individually when out with a group, so you don't have that nasty eye-roll from the wait staff like you tend to get in the US if (god forbid) you ask for separate cheques.  


Thankfully, I've never been one very comfortable with the idea of paying for everything with a swipe of the card.  I rarely paid for my coffee with my card, and I suspect if I tried to pull that stunt here, I'd be totally shunned.  But, all is well.  I need to save my Euros for my wonderful new apartment! (pictures will be coming soon!)