Tip of the week: Your guide to German supermarkets

When it comes to supermarkets in Germany there is loads of choice, from discount chains to organic shops. Here's our handy guide to some of them, and the kinds of products they offer.

Edeka

Edeka is the largest German supermarket chain and has around 4,000 stores nationwide. It is similar to Rewe in its provision of a variety of produce such as fresh fruit and vegetables, baked goods, tins, jars and dairy products.

Larger stores often have cheese and meat counters, and you can also buy household items such as soap and loo roll, as well as cards and stationery. In some branches you might also find kitchen gadgets.

Edeka was founded in 1898 as the E.d.K., an abbreviation of the highly memorable Einkaufsgenossenschaft der Kolonialwarenhändler im Halleschen Torbezirk zu Berlin; it was rebranded phonetically as Edeka in 1913, perhaps so people could discuss where they were shopping more easily. 

Rewe

Rewe is one of Germany’s largest supermarket chains with around 3,300 stores in the country. It provides a range of good quality products, including most established German brands.

Rewe sells products from every food group, including fresh groceries, and bakery products, lots of high quality cold cuts, cheeses, tinned products as well as pots of olives and hummus.

In September, Rewe agreed to buy blemished fruit and vegetable products from its suppliers, in light of the drought which has recently affected German farmers.

So even if Rewe’s produce looks a little unappealing, it is likely to be good quality so don't let the way they look put you off.

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Discount supermarkets 

Discount supermarkets such as Netto, Lidl, Aldi, Kaufland and Penny have a good provision of products at cheaper rates. The shelves tend to be stacked high with boxes, tins and bottles of all sorts from every food group.

The focus of these supermarkets tends to be on products that have a longer shelf life, such as boxes of cereal and tins of tomato or other vegetables at cheap rates, rather than organic cucumbers and high-end cuts of meat.

Many stores provide a range of household products as well, and some larger stores sell bigger items like microwaves and bins.

It’s worth bearing in mind that German checkouts tend to be quite hurried affairs, and this is especially true for discount supermarkets.

Expect to have to throw all your shopping back into your trolley while you're paying, and sort it into your bags in the packing area, rather than bagging up at the checkout.

Word of warning: the checkout staff won't be afraid to bark at you for being too slow and holding everyone up if you take too long to pack while paying.

The 'Biomarkt' or organic supermarkets

Germans are known for being environmentally conscious, which is a national characteristic expressed through the popularity of their organic supermarkets, including Denns Biomarkt and Alnatura.

Here you can buy foodstuffs such as organic spinach and blueberries, gluten-free pasta, almond-milk yoghurts and olive tapenades.

You will a notice that the prices are much higher in these shops, especially for fresh fruit and vegetable. But it does offer you the priceless sensation of knowing you’ve helped the environment (or, at least, not damaged it as badly as you might have done).

Drug stores

Technically not for doing grocery shopping but these stores also have some food products, such as cereal, dried fruit, tins - and even tofu. Some of Germany’s biggest Drogeriemärkte include Rossmann and DM.

At these stores you can also buy a variety of other things, ranging from hair products to laundry detergents. You can also pick up cosmetics, sweet sand wellbeing tablets, as well as gluten free food and stationery. Some stores also sell wine. 

However, it's worth bearing in mind that in Germany you won't be able to purchase medication from these shops; if you want to get some paracetamol, for example, you’ll have to go to an Apotheke (pharmacy) and ask for it at the counter. The drug stores do sell vitamins and mild treatment products though, like plasters, bandages and antiseptic creams. 

Furniture Shopping Tips: The Best Secrets For Furnishing A Home On A Budget, From Real People

Don't buy furniture at places that offer "0% Down"-type deals.

wrathking
I wish I had the wisdom to seek this kind of advice when I bought my house. I had never had to furnish a place on my own before, and ended up getting one of those 0% interest two year loans a lot of places advertise to buy $6500 of furniture, basically furnishing a four bedroom house all at once. I bought into the logic of the 0 interest loan, forgetting that I could have saved more money by buying used over a longer period of time. I was just too eager to get all the furniture shopping done. So my advice is: Be patient!

Seriously, don't buy furniture at places that offer "0% Down"-type deals.

wrathking
The problem is that they offer 0% interest because they are building in the cost of financing into their pricing model up front. Any place that offers you 0% interest financing is selling you goods at a significant markup and counting on you to not notice the terrible deal you are getting because it feels like free money.

Go for quality, not quantity.

quebee
Buy a piece or two at a time and make your choices carefully. Do not rush.
Do not buy garbage if you can avoid it. As recent college grads, you will undoubtedly need to buy some things at places like Ikea, but if you can wait and buy nicer things, they will last longer (a lifetime) and look better. You will not regret it. You can find this stuff on Craigslist.
Avoid veneers. Try to buy American made if you can.
Do not spend as much on upholstered furniture, as it will invariably have a shorter life span.

Try estate sales to get the best quality at the best price.

Pollygolightly:
Buying new is expensive, and you'll likely get poor quality compared to what you'll be able to buy used. A $200 plastic and plywood table from Ikea will fall apart much faster than a $200 solid pine table that you buy used. Everything I bought from West Elm fell apart, but the desk I bought at an estate sale for $150 I'll probably be able to pass along to my grand children. It's stunning, and super sturdy.

Ignore sales -- except when it comes to floor samples.

Armadus:
Don't wait for sales. Sales are just an artificial means to drive traffic. How many times can a furniture store close? The answer seems to be infinite. The same deals can be had any day of the week. Floor model sales are the only exception. If you have your eye on a floor model, ignore the special sale price and start your negotiations at 50% off the price it would normally sell at – not the regular price. Expect to end up at 40-30% off. This means your paying just a little more than what they paid for it so they're making a little money and getting some floor space and you get a great deal, everybody is happy. If it's really marked up you might be able to get it at or below cost, but it's rare. If there is no profit in it, the salesperson isn't motivated to sell it, unless they are also in charge of merchandising, in which case floor space may be a big motivator.

This "test" will reveal an upholstered item's true quality.

chair_ee:
On upholstered pieces, rap the center of the sides and back with your knuckles. You're feeling to see if the piece is framed in. You may feel nothing (bad news) or even cardboard (still no). You want a solid piece. It'll make a huge difference. In your seat cushions, try to find cushions that have coils inside (like an innerspring mattress). It will keep your cushion from developing that butt dip from sitting in your favorite spot. In your back cushions, you'll want "bags and baffles". The foam in the back cushions should be in a bag (bagged) and have horizontal seams running across it to keep the foam higher up in the cushion (baffled). This will prevent all the foam from settling to the bottom of the cushion, giving you too much lower back support and not enough shoulder support.

What are your secrets to digging up the best deal on furniture?

Some new homeowners are passing on furnishings that used to be a staple. I guess that's one way to save money, but hey, we do love a good coffee table. See below to find out what's becoming "extinct."

TIPS FOR THE 7 DAYS BEFORE YOU MOVE TO SWEDEN

Your offer is accepted, your flight is booked and your residence permit is approved. You’ve been practising hej! and tack! for weeks and you’ve just about learned to pronounce the name of your university. All that’s left is putting on your warm winter coat, zipping up your Fjällräven backpack, accepting an IKEA gift card from your parents and heading to Sweden! Right?

As we say in Swedish, nja – a handy combination of no and yes. There’s more to prepare than just the practicalities. Here are eight more ways to prepare for your first week in Sweden, courtesy of our digital ambassadors.

1. Pack what you need, don’t pack what you don’t

Will you use a lot of stuff in your daily life in Sweden, just like at home? Probably. But save your luggage space for the essentials – you can buy most of what you need here. ‘Pack light,’ says Gimmy. ‘You can always buy everything here new for a reasonable price, or get it second hand. But definitely bring that rain jacket!’

We especially suggest bringing things with you that either can’t be found in Sweden (like specific spices or foods from home) or that are more expensive here (electronics, winter coats, hair products for some reason). Most day-to-day things like clothes, bedding, basic kitchenware and office supplies are easy to find in Sweden at similar costs to elsewhere in Europe.

2. Take a few long walks – maybe even a swim

It’s rare for students to have their own cars in Sweden – why would they, when cities are walkable, everyone has a bicycle and public transport is extensive and reliable? If you’re used to driving everywhere, now’s a good time to get used to walking or cycling from point A to B (including with your books, groceries, sports equipment…). Believe us, this is a good thing! Exploring the city on foot is a great way to get to know your new home.

And if you don’t already know how to swim, we warmly recommend learning! Sweden is surrounded by water, and you’ll have lots of opportunities to hop into a lake, river or sea.

3. Visit the dentist. Don’t forget to floss!

‘Do your dental checks before moving as dental visits in Sweden can be costly,’ Angelina advises.

4. Buy (and practise using) a sleeping mask

Especially during the summer, days are very, very long in Sweden. This means bright nights. ‘For those who are light sleepers, make sure to bring a sleeping mask. Even in August, daylight hours are still long compared to wherever you’re from, and you probably won’t have a curtain for the first week after you arrive!’ says Hong.

5. Master cooking a few simple meals

‘Learn how to cook and make it a habit to bring your own lunchbox to school,’ Dena suggests. ‘Schools usually have rooms with microwaves where you can heat up your lunch. Everyone does it, since eating out can be pretty expensive.’ Satu agrees: ‘You can save money by cooking at home.’ In addition to being thrifty and healthy, knowing how to make a few dishes from your country is a great way to introduce your new friends to your home culture.