Guides
Hand written guides for the things that actually matter.
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25 guides in Money
Money
25 guidesSteuererklärung: tax return for Indians in Germany
DTAA, Steuer-ID vs Steuernummer, what to claim, which app to use, and when you actually need a Steuerberater.
11 min readUpdated Jul 2026ReadOpening a bank account in Germany
N26, DKB, Sparkasse, or something else. What you need, what each one actually does, and the trap of debit-first culture.
11 min readUpdated May 2026ReadFintiba vs Expatrio: which blocked account for Indian students in 2026
Side-by-side comparison of Fintiba, Expatrio, and other Sperrkonto providers. Fees, release schedules, bundled insurance, and which one to pick.
6 min readUpdated Jul 2026ReadWorking as a student in Germany: rules, taxes, and where to find jobs
The 140/280-day rule, Werkstudent vs Minijob, tax implications, and how Indian students actually find part-time work in Germany.
12 min readUpdated Jul 2026ReadYour German payslip explained: every line of the Lohnzettel
Brutto, Netto, Steuerklasse, Kirchensteuer, and 15 other lines you have never seen before. Line-by-line for Indians.
15 min readUpdated Jul 2026ReadSoftware engineer salary in Germany for Indians: Berlin vs Munich vs Frankfurt vs Hamburg
Realistic software engineer salaries in Germany by city for Indian professionals. Gross, net, cost of living, INR equivalents, and which city gives the best real take-home.
8 min readUpdated Jul 2026ReadCost of living for an Indian family of 4 in Germany
Realistic monthly budget for an Indian family of 4 in Germany. Rent, food, schools, transport, childcare, health insurance, by city and lifestyle.
7 min readUpdated Jul 2026ReadELSTER: filing your German tax return yourself
Step-by-step guide to filing Einkommensteuererklärung for Indian employees. Deductions, deadlines, and what Steuerberaters actually cost.
7 min readUpdated Jul 2026ReadFreelancer life in Germany: Freiberufler vs Gewerbe, visa, and taxes
The self-employment residence permit, the Freiberufler-Gewerbe distinction, health insurance costs, Scheinselbständigkeit risks, and what Indians actually earn freelancing here.
15 min readUpdated Jul 2026ReadIndian IT professional moving to Germany: complete guide
Everything Indian software engineers, developers, and data scientists need to know about moving to Germany. Jobs, Blue Card, salary, tax, and career growth.
7 min readUpdated Jul 2026ReadSending money from Germany to India: Wise, Remitly, and bank transfers compared
Real costs, transfer times, tax implications, and LRS limits. Which service to use, when, and how much you actually save.
12 min readUpdated Jul 2026ReadIndian engineer in Germany: career paths, salaries, and top companies
Complete guide for Indian mechanical, electrical, automotive, chemical, and civil engineers in Germany. Companies, salaries, career progression, and Blue Card path.
7 min readUpdated Apr 2026ReadSCHUFA score in Germany: what it is, why it matters, and how to build it
The credit score that controls your apartment, phone contract, and bank account. How Indians with zero SCHUFA history can build credit fast.
13 min readUpdated May 2026ReadEmployment rights in Germany: vacation, sick leave, notice period, and probation
How many vacation days you are entitled to, how sick leave actually works, notice periods by tenure, probation rules, and what German employment law guarantees you.
9 min readUpdated Jul 2026ReadGerman pension refund for Indians leaving Germany: how to get your Rentenversicherung back
Can you get your German pension contributions back when you leave? Yes, but only your half, only after 24 months, and only if you have under 5 qualifying years. Step-by-step process for Indians.
8 min readUpdated Jul 2026ReadWohngeld: Germany's housing benefit and who can claim it
Wohngeld is a government rent subsidy available to low-income households in Germany. Who qualifies, how much it pays, how Indians on different visa types can apply, and what disqualifies you.
5 min readUpdated May 2026ReadGerman job application for Indians: Lebenslauf, Anschreiben, and interviews
How to write a German CV (Lebenslauf) and cover letter (Anschreiben) that work. German application culture, job portals, and interview expectations for Indian professionals.
11 min readUpdated May 2026ReadSteuerklasse in Germany for Indians: which tax class, when to switch
Germany's six tax classes explained for Indian professionals. Which class you start in, when married Indians should switch to 3/5, how to apply for a Steuerklassenwechsel, and what the actual monthly difference is.
8 min readUpdated May 2026ReadGerman social security for Indians: what the 40% deduction on your payslip actually buys
The four pillars of German Sozialversicherung: pension, health, unemployment, and care insurance. What Indians pay, what they get, and what happens to contributions when they move back to India.
11 min readUpdated Jul 2026ReadSide income while employed in Germany: freelance, Gewerbe, and tax rules
Can you freelance on the side of your German job? The €410 exemption, when to register a Gewerbe, how side income is taxed, and what your work permit allows.
9 min readUpdated May 2026ReadALG I: German unemployment benefit for Indians
How German unemployment insurance works, how much you get, how long it lasts, what happens to your Blue Card, and how to apply at the Agentur für Arbeit.
16 min readUpdated May 2026ReadPrivathaftpflichtversicherung: German liability insurance for Indians
Why every Indian in Germany needs private liability insurance, what it covers, what it does not, how much it costs, and which provider to choose.
13 min readUpdated May 2026ReadETF investing in Germany for Indians: Depot, Abgeltungsteuer, and DTAA
How to invest in ETFs as an Indian in Germany. Depot account options, the 26.375% Abgeltungsteuer, Freistellungsauftrag, Vorabpauschale, and what to do with Indian mutual funds and NRE accounts.
25 min readUpdated Jul 2026ReadJob search strategy in Germany for Indian professionals
How to actually find a job in Germany. LinkedIn optimization, cold outreach to German companies, how German recruitment works, salary negotiation, and typical timelines for Indian candidates.
18 min readUpdated Jul 2026ReadBuying property in Germany as an Indian: mortgage, taxes, and what banks actually ask for
Foreign ownership rules, Baufinanzierung eligibility by residence permit, the current Grunderwerbsteuer rate by state, and the questions we couldn't get a straight answer to.
5 min readUpdated Aug 2026Read