Show Notes
- Bank accounts
- Schufa (Wikipedia)
- SCHUFA-BonitätsAuskunft for 29,95 €
- SCHUFA-"Datenkopie" for free
- Phone plans
- Gyms
- Cheap meals
- Libanon Falafel (Google Maps)
- Döner Kebab (Wikipedia)
- Burgers
- Drinks
- Admiralsbrücke (Google Maps)
* Referral link
Transcript
Manuel:
[0:09] Thank you for listening. We've already had some great feedback, and a first supporter who's buying us a coffee on a monthly basis!
Jack:
[0:16] Oh, wow! Congratulations, you two! That's such an achievement.
Manuel:
[0:17] Yes, thank you, thank you. You can go to everyone.berlin/contribute if you want to send us money. And money, coincidentally, is the topic that we'll talk about today ...
Jack:
[0:31] Mm hmm. Very well done!
Manuel:
[0:32] ... even though Jae really doesn't want to talk about it.
Jae:
[0:35] I just felt it was a little bit boring, but it is necessary. It is necessary.
Jack:
[0:38] Necessary, and you've done so well so far!
Jae:
[0:41] Yeah, you know, let me pat myself on the back really quick!
Manuel:
[0:45] So yeah, bank account, I mean, you opened one, kind of the first day. And there's not that much to say, I guess, because all the foreigners open an account with N26 because it's the easiest.
Jae:
[1:00] It is the easiest.
Jack:
[1:01] Mm hmm. Even I once spoke to a financial advisor randomly, and he was like, "Are you with N26? You should be with N26." So I think even the non-foreigners are recommended N26.
Manuel:
[1:11] But here's the thing. N26 is not a good bank, like ... Yeah?
Jack:
[0:09] Thank you for listening. We've already had some great feedback, and a first supporter who's buying us a coffee on a monthly basis!
Jack:
[0:16] Oh, wow! Congratulations, you two! That's such an achievement.
Manuel:
[0:17] Yes, thank you, thank you. You can go to everyone.berlin/contribute if you want to send us money. And money, coincidentally, is the topic that we'll talk about today ...
Jack:
[0:31] Mm hmm. Very well done!
Manuel:
[0:32] ... even though Jae really doesn't want to talk about it.
Jae:
[0:35] I just felt it was a little bit boring, but it is necessary. It is necessary.
Jack:
[0:38] Necessary, and you've done so well so far!
Jae:
[0:41] Yeah, you know, let me pat myself on the back really quick!
Manuel:
[0:45] So yeah, bank account, I mean, you opened one, kind of the first day. And there's not that much to say, I guess, because all the foreigners open an account with N26 because it's the easiest.
Jae:
[1:00] It is the easiest.
Jack:
[1:01] Mm hmm. Even I once spoke to a financial advisor randomly, and he was like, "Are you with N26? You should be with N26." So I think even the non-foreigners are recommended N26.
Manuel:
[1:11] But here's the thing. N26 is not a good bank, like ... Yeah?
Jack:
[1:17] Well, I mean, what is your criteria for a good bank?
Manuel:
Manuel:
[2:05] Right. For example, I would not feel comfortable ... I don't think it's an issue necessarily, but if you have a lot of money and you want to have it in a bank account, I don't know if I would choose N26. I don't know if I trust them, you know? That being said, they have a good app, I hear, and they let everybody sign up very easily. So I do think it's kind of probably the best thing to do when you just get here.
Jack:
[3:10] It's like they're very slow to adapt to like apps and basic ... what online means now. They've started to have an app that is relative ... seems like on par with apps that were built past 2010, but they're very slow.
Manuel:
Jack:
[4:17] Mm hmm. Bad blood! Oh no, I had N26 in that time, which was really good.
Jae:
[4:24] This is called toxicity!
Jack:
[4:25] Mm hmm. It is, it is. It was also just, like I just don't like being told: No. And then, once I finally got what I had been refused, I realized that I didn't want it!
Jae:
[4:35] That's the definition of life, just for everybody! It's like ...
Jack:
Manuel:
[4:41] Okay. So just, I think one of the major differences is that with DKB you can get cash, as much as you want, for free. And with N26, unless you have like the fancy premium thing ...
Jae:
[4:51] Oh yeah, you have like a limited amount of ...
Manuel:
[4:53] ... It's yeah, three times per month for ... Like both of them are free - which is kind of crazy that most banks aren't that way necessarily. So if you go to like Volksbank or Sparkasse, like one of the traditional banks that actually have buildings and you can go and talk to someone, those, if you open an account it will just cost money, it will cost €20 a month or something like this.
Jack:
[5:14] What? €20 a month? ... Okay.
Manuel:
[5:15] I don't know the exact prices, but DKB and N26 are free and they give you ... So they don't ... So the one thing that we should maybe explain is that basically there's two types of cards in Germany. The credit cards are still ... I'm not going to say they're new, but many Germans still don't have a credit card. And DKB and N26, for them the credit card is like the main card and that's the card that you use to withdraw money, and that's why withdrawing money is free-ish. And you can go to any bank account, any ATM, even worldwide, which is kind of the the big benefit of these banks, is that you can just pick up money anywhere.
Jack:
Manuel:
[6:06] Exactly. The other one is called Girokonto or Girokarte or EC-Karte - I don't even know what the official word is - but that's basically connected to your debit account? Is that the word you would use?
Jack:
[6:19] Yeah I think it would ... I think it's somehow related to debit and you can't use it online. You can only use it at, I don't know ...
Manuel:
[6:28] In shops and to withdraw money. But if you withdraw money, it can only be at the own bank's ATMs. And that's why you see so many ... Like the traditional banks like Volksbank, Sparkasse, Deutsche Bank, they have so many kind of locations, because if you're a customer, you always want to go there to pick up money. And that's kind of the old kind of standard way it was done in Germany. Like most people, they're either at Volksbank or Sparkasse, and when they want to pick up money, they're looking for a Volksbank or Sparkasse to pick up money.
Jack:
[6:59] I've spent way too long in freezing cold winter nights, hiking like kilometers with German people who'll be like: No, I will not get money out at a non- ... at not my bank! I will not pay €5! I'm like: Oh my God, time is money! You have, like ... you're way worth more than this!
Manuel:
[7:18] Look, I used to be at Volksbank as a teenager, and I don't remember a single time that I didn't withdraw money from a Volksbank. I think it's like ...
Jack:
[7:26] Mm hmm. It's problematic. It was also like they're ... When you have rules like this where you can only get money out at your own ATM, you would think there would be more ATMs, but the city had none. Now there are like a few, but they're all these generic Eurocard ATMs which ... I don't know, I don't even know if the EC-cards work there, if that's what you're saying?
Manuel:
[7:48] I think they do, yeah.
Jack:
[7:49] But they're ...Yeah, I just would say ... And if you go to the post office you can't use a Visa card still, you have to use an EC! Yeah, it's wild! And they're a bank! And then no credit cards, only EC or cash. iIn 2022!
Manuel:
Manuel:
[8:24] Like better conditions and your money might not ... like, might be actually safe!
Jack:
[8:29] ... disappear! ...Okay!
Manuel:
[8:30] Yes. We'll put links to both.
Jack:
[8:33] But I think a good benefit for people moving to Berlin would be that N26, the app, is available in multiple languages, and they also will support you in multiple languages. Whereas DKB refuses to speak anything but German.
Manuel:
[8:47] I don't think they even have a support team. Like I don't think you can talk to them, can you?
Jack:
[8:49] I mean, their current ... Where ... DKB ... ?
Manuel:
[8:51] Oh, they can't actually. I called them once.
Jack:
[8:54] Yeah, I've emailed them and they were just like, "Huh? Nein!" Whereas N26 has been quite helpful.
Jae:
[9:04] Yeah, I've been with them for nine days and I have no complaints so far! I'm a happy customer! I mean like especially if you guys are thinking about ... We're in the first steps of moving, so if you just need something just - again, this is all what I'm about, was just getting my feet like flat on the ground - get N26. It's easy. They'll mail your card in like a few days, and y'all at least be able to start, you know, like getting money in euros that may be coming from the States, or be able to transfer other people's money too.
Jack:
[9:32] Mm hmm. Because I think they also have a partnership with TransferWise. So it's like, transferring internationally is super chill.
Jae:
[9:49] Yeah, well it's actually cheaper, because I did the annual ...
Jack:
[9:52] What did you do? Did they insure your bike?
Jae:
[9:56] They have insurance on it and ... Okay, so this is the whole thing that I'm just talking about. Like my relationship with money has been a journey, right? And I just decided that when I was going to come here, I wanted to feel luxurious, I really did. So I wanted to treat myself, I did, I really did. And like I put money aside, of course, for everything and then I saw that I was like: Fuck, I have the money for it, it's a cool card, why not? And it insures me in like different ways. I'm planning on doing a lot of traveling and stuff. So just like the other benefits of it probably will benefit me probably in the long run.
Manuel:
Manuel:
[12:11] The Anmeldung? That's a good question. Hmm.
Jae:
[12:13] Not, no, there was no requirement for the Anmeldung.
Manuel:
[12:30] Okay, I'm glad we covered the bank topic. Next, let's quickly talk Schufa. Exactly. Let's talk about Schufa, which I think we touched upon in the first episode. And there isn't that much to say. Basically, I think in the US you have a credit score.
Jae:
[12:45] A credit score, but we use that with our credit cards. So I'm curious, how does the Schufa work if people don't have credit cards here?
Manuel:
[12:52] Actually, everybody is curious, because it's a secret! And they won't tell anyone, and ... yeah it's it's crazy!
Jae:
[12:59] No one knows how their credit scores are ... ?
Manuel:
[13:00] Schufa is a crazy thing that exists because it's actually a private company. But they basically have this secret private database of everybody, and they have a ranking system that is also secret. And they basically determine in the end whether or not you will get credit, whether or not you can buy a house, whether or not you get an apartment. They have so much power, and it's really, really crazy. And yeah, it's been criticized a lot. People have been trying to reverse-engineer and kind of figure out the scoring system by people voluntarily contributing their data and then their Schufa score, and like there have been attempts like this. Basically, the things that will influence it - very obviously same as in the US - if you are in debt and you're not paying off the debt and things like that ...
Jae:
[13:59] But that's only if you have a credit card, to have that, right? Or an overdraft?
Manuel:
[14:01] No, you could have like a private ... Yeah an overdraft, or even if you just, like you can go to your bank and say: Hey, can you lend me money? And that's it.
Jack:
[14:11] It's also, like if you have like a phone contract, no? Any sort of contract.
Manuel:
[14:13] Phone contracts play a huge part. Any sort of contract is in there, anything that you're paying on a monthly basis. If you fall behind, that's bad. It's not like in the US where you basically want to have credit early on and like actually be in debt and paying it. That always seems crazy to me that in the US, in order to get a good credit score, you want to borrow money and pay it off and that's like a good sign. It doesn't work like that. Like if you never borrow money at at all ever and all the other factors are also good, then you have 100% score, like that doesn't help you.
Jae:
[14:48] So do internationals have an advantage sometimes, because when they come here ... ? And is the Schufa only developed once you get a bank account? Like, do I have a Schufa now that I have ...
Manuel:
[14:57] Yeah, I think as soon as you have residency and they have any information about you at all, that, they start building your profile, is how I imagine it.
Jae:
[15:06] Residency as in like an Anmeldung?
Manuel:
[15:08] Right, because that actually also - and this is like the really shady part - that also factors in. Like I think ... none of this is official, but I think basically, if you live in a poorer neighborhood ...
Jack:
Manuel:
[15:25] Like it's basically, it's very shady. But, basically, what you want to try and do in order to keep a positive score, is to never fall behind on any official payments. If you do get a credit, pay it off, pay your tax.
Jae:
[15:42] The normal things. Just be a good citizen, y'all!
Manuel:
[15:44] Yeah, and the reason that's important is ...
Jack:
[15:46] ... this private company will reward you with a good score!
Jae:
[15:52] Who owns that?
Jack:
[15:53] I don't know. I didn't know it was private. That feels ... Germany is so contradictory in wild ways, whether like we're super secret and you're not allowed to know who I am and we can't have Google Street View, hut here is this private company that knows literally everything about me!
Jae:
[16:07] I feel like that makes like a good movie plot of this like Romeo and Juliet secret shoot!
Manuel:
[16:16] Okay, so you usually need a Schufa Auskunft, so like a report, when you are looking for a flat. I think that's the biggest one for people, sometimes maybe for a job, or if you're doing some kind of big contract, mostly though, if you're looking to rent a place, people want to know: Hey, you know, has this person paid their stuff in the past? And you can go to their website and buy it for €29.95 and then they send you like a fancy one on paper and via email. But at least there's been a law that says that you can get it for free twice per year. And that's obviously like hidden on their website, but you can get it for free, you just need to send them an email or fill out some form. I will find it and link it in the show notes. The thing is, it will then look ... like it won't look pretty, it's just like a letter that has all the information that they have about you. And it's not redacted like the official one that's €30. There it's one that just says it's positive and no other information, and that's the one that you give your landlord. The one that's free just has all of the information on it, like: This is the contracts we have, these other bank accounts we have, about you, like they're legally obliged to tell you the information that they have about you, so you can also try to correct it if it's wrong. So you should get the free version anyway. But if you're looking for a place, sadly I think you should probably still pay the €30.
Jae:
[17:44] Just because it makes it easier for the landlord to see ... ?
Manuel:
[17:46] Yeah, and you don't have to redact it. And you want everything to look perfect when you're looking for a place.
Jae:
[17:51] That would suck, to pay €30 and then it's negative!
Jack:
[17:54] Like, "Nein!" Yeah. It's like: Eugh!
Manuel:
[17:56] Yeah: Now it's even negative, it's even worse. I had to get into debt for this, and now you're telling me ... !
Jack:
[18:03] You just paid to be shut down! I think you can also do it ... I went into Postbank very recently and a lot of ... I found out about no credit cards, only cash, you see. And also they had some signs about doing a Schufa there ... in ...
Manuel:
[18:10] Yeah, probably.
Jack:
[18:20] So, I think that's also helpful sometimes.
Manuel:
[18:21] Yeah, post offices. They can be useful.
Jae:
[18:26] "Can be useful!" That's the quote of the day!
Manuel:
[18:28] Let's talk about sim cards, phone plan. I'm ... Can I just say, Jae, I'm a little disappointed. Because you just ran out into the world and did it all without consulting anyone!
Jae:
[18:43] I really ... So that's a that's a toxic trade-off! I do that a lot in my life! I just go out and I just do things, and then I mess up and then I'm like: Okay, that sucks!
Manuel:
[18:53] And then it's our fault because we didn't tell you!
Jae:
[18:58] No! No, honestly, it was just because I was on my international plan, and that's $10 a month - no, no, $10 a day - to use my data, so I was like: I just got to find something just really quick or whatnot.
Manuel:
[19:09] ... What? ...
Jack:
[19:13] Yeah, I would have done that before getting a bank account.
Jae:
[19:14] So I just ran into the store. Yeah, you see. And now actually I'm going with the one that Cari has: Congstar. Yeah. Yes. Amazing.
Manuel:
Jack:
[19:40] Oh! Maybe I wasn't with Congstar? Maybe I was with ... there's another one that's quite bad and they use the 02 network, which is bad because then they also don't get prioritized on that network so it was ridiculous. And so now that I'm with 02, it's good.
Jae:
[19:57] We had a two different experiences!
Jack:
[20:00] Some have to struggle before they arrive!
Jae:
Manuel:
[20:33] Right. And it's the opposite here. Here, they're like the big used-to-be-state-owned company and they run most of the infrastructure, even for like DSL and stuff like that. So they're the big one: Telekom. Then there's Vodafone which is the other big one, more or less the same size, maybe a little bit smaller. They also have their own infrastructure, all of that. Also, by the way, all of these companies now do internet via DSL, via fiber, they also do TV, they do all the things, but we're talking about mobile phones now. And the third one is 02. And it's actually called 02-something now because they merged ... What do they call it? ... And they're just called 02?
Jack:
[21:16] Telefónica?
Manuel:
[21:17] Telefónica, yeah, something like that. Those are the three big ones, and you can go directly to them and make a contract with them.
Jae:
Jack:
[21:35] Supposedly the network is better. Supposedly, in the country, if you're in Brandenburg a lot.
Manuel:
[21:38] The network is very good. So if you want like the best of the best and you don't care, you can get a contract with Telekom. And it will be, for example, for 12 GB a month, you pay €50 a month, and you're locked in for two years and you can't get out of the contract for two years. So then it's similar for Vodafone, and for O2. O2 is a little bit more affordable, I think. And in terms of the networks, Telekom and Vodafone are really good. 02 is really good in the big city, so as long as you're in Berlin, I think - which is where we live - but as soon as you go to the countryside or you go on a trip, it starts getting really flaky. And so those are kind of the three. And then all of them kind of sell their services to other companies. And there's a million companies that you can get either a prepaid plan with, or a two year contract, and it will be much cheaper. And it'll be different amounts of gigabytes that you get per month and stuff like that, and, as you mentioned, Jack, it might not be prioritized but they will be on one of the networks. So for example Congstar - the one that I use, and Cari, and now you - is the Telekom network, so it is a really good network, like the coverage is really good. But it is still slower than if you go directly to Telekom, because it's like not the full LTE speed or whatever. And then Vodafone has companies that use their network, and the same for O2.
Jack:
[23:17] I don't remember who I was with. I went Congstar, and then some other third company, I feel like it's green ... Mmm, no ...
Manuel:
[23:25] The ones I hear a lot about are ... Ah, the green one is Debitel, probably? ... You can just go into a supermarket. So Aldi has ALDI TALK, and that's like easy because there's all these supermarkets anywhere, and it's really cheap, and you just go in and you get ALDI TALK. And I think that's probably the 02 network where that's based on, so ...
Jae:
[23:47] I have a little bit of advice for people. If you are just getting here and you just need like a prepaid, I recommend getting a prepaid. I ended up going with the Telekom one. But I think if you're just looking for something temporarily, definitely.
Jack:
[24:00] Actual Telekom? Wow, you are fancy! You're like, that Metal card ... I mean if you're going to splurge on something, I think net, like mobile connection is the one to do it.
Jae:
[24:06] Mm hmm. I have the actual Telekom. I wanted the top of the top, the top of the top! Look, I'm not trying to get lost in the city, but like, especially, I mean, I think I just bought the Congstar thing, so I think I was just like in a rush. So if I was to redo it, I probably would have gone for like the ALDI TALK, or like a cheaper prepaid that may not have the best service right now, but if you're in the city - which, I'm going to stay in the city - then it would have been like: It's not that bad. Because I'm paying ... because the Telekom prepaid ones are not the best, just like 5GB for €25.
Manuel:
[24:42] No, don't do that!
Jack:
[24:44] Blink and it's gone! I think I was with Windstream, and I think they might be on the 02 network. And I feel like they were slightly cheaper than Congstar.
Jae:
[24:51] Yeah, but also be careful going into the stores. Because I went to the Vodafone store - and like this is a little bit of my culture that I talked about in the last episode - but like I was just trying to get a prepaid, and the guy was trying to get me on this €50 contract and I'm like: All I wanted was a prepaid. And the only reason why I went with the Telekom one was because I didn't have to talk to anybody. It was literally on the shelf. That just had 5 GB. I just didn't have to really talk to him, just like, "Here, take this, take my card."
Manuel:
[25:19] So just to compare: I mentioned this 12 GB plan is €50 on Deutsche Telekom, and on Congstar a 15 GB Plan is €22. And it's more or less the same. It's slightly slower maybe, but it's also LTE B50, and so there's a giant difference in price and you won't really feel the difference there.
Jae:
[25:41] I'll even add to that. I got lucky and there was a promotion, so I got 18 GB for €22 with 5G, so Congstar is definitely the way to go.
Manuel:
[25:51] Yeah. Okay, so we'll put a Congstar link in the show notes. And there are kind of three different options: you can get prepaid, which if you're only here for a short amount of time I think is good because then you only have to charge it, and then you use it, and then when you're out of credit, it stops working. If you're here for the long term, I would get a contract tarif. It's essentially the same, except it just charges you after you've already used it. And I, for example, have their Fair Flat or whatever, where you can basically say: Hey, I want to use up to 18 GB per month, but if I only use 5 GB then it will be cheaper. And so there's these different options. And so I would just get that.
Jack:
[26:35] When have you ever used 5GB in a month? It's so little.
Manuel:
[26:40] I don't leave the house that often! But yeah, and the nice thing about Congstar, in comparison to many other companies, is that they let you do a contract postpaid, where you pay after the fact without a two-year lock-in. Like most companies, including Congstar, have that option where they lock you in for two years. But here you can pay a little bit extra, €35 once, and then you don't have the lock-in, so you can switch any time. I hate being locked into ...
Jack:
[27:14] I also did, and then I realized that I was just paying these companies anyway for two years, so I felt that's when I got locked in. And I think Germany is also quite predatory with contracts, where if you don't tell them you're canceling your contract three months before, you are then locked in again for another two years. It is wild, but it's changing, or it has changed.
Manuel:
[27:34] It's illegal now. The EU has changed the laws, and now ...
Jack:
Jack:
[28:29] Yeah, like weird hotel lobby with gym equipment!
Jae:
[28:30] I mean, like really, like that's how you feel inside of it. Like it's even the machines, some of them are like leather brown and very rustic.
Jack:
[28:41] Does it not just smell of old sweat?
Jae:
[28:44] No, it doesn't. Like it smells like a normal gym at the end of the day. I mean the music is actually pretty good, and I was very impressed with the music choices.
Jack:
[28:50] I mean I'm a big fan of Superfit, and that's €19.90 a month or something. Super cheap, very clean, they have a sauna, they have a women's gym ...
Jae:
[29:00] Superfit's different from McFit? ... Gotcha.
Jack:
[29:03] ... Yes ... It's more McFit-y!
Manuel:
[29:04] I know nothing about this topic. I told Jae about McFit, and he was like, "McFit! Hahahaha!"
Manuel:
[29:18] Okay, hold on! Explain it. So, gyms. What do you do if you want to go to the gym? What's the cheap option? What's the medium option? What's the ...
Jae:
[29:25] Okay from my research, it was like McFit is like the biggest one. No, but like it's not actually the bottom of the barrel, it sounds like it is, it sounds like McDonald's! I was laughing, I was like, "Ha ha ha! This is so stupid!" But actually it's like probably the biggest one. For America we have one called Gold's Gym, which is just very like everywhere. And we have a Gold's Gym, LA Fitness, it's just one of them, so it's not like a bad option. And then you have their like a brother company, which is John Reed, which John Reed - a little bit more expensive. And you're not necessarily paying for better equipment, you're paying for the atmosphere, you're paying for like what we just talked about, where there's bookshelves and carpets, you know?
Jack:
[30:06] The carpets, the shag carpets!
Jae:
[30:10] And just this interesting vibe, and you're paying for the music. And then there's FitX, there's Superfit ...
Jack:
Jack:
[30:36] I mean cool, cool is ...
Manuel:
[30:41] They have a buddha statue!
Jack:
[30:42] The gays, trust me, the gays go everywhere! If you really want to go to the fancy gays' gym, you go to Holmes Place, which is wild expensive. They have a pool. You don't have to bring your own towel!
Jae:
[30:54] Really? Holmes Place? Oh wow!
Jack:
[30:56] But I'm not ... I've never been. I'm a big fan of Superfit, also has lots of gays. Oh my God! John Reed looks ...
Manuel:
[31:06] It looks like a palace!
Jack:
[31:08] I mean you guys are being very generous. A palace? It looks like a sushi bar - which sometimes look like palaces, that's true!
Jae:
[31:20] Yeah it's a very interesting design. Like I'll be honest ...
Jack:
[31:23] I don't know. More is not always more.
Jae:
[31:25] I don't think you need it. Like I'm trying it out right now, but it's definitely not necessary. It's a bit extra, you know, I think you do go for the atmosphere or what not, but at the end of the day, look, I'm trying to get my workout done. And I'm willing to leave, you know.
Jack:
[31:39] I would say also it depends where you live. Because John Reed, there's not so many.
Jae:
[31:43] Yeah, there's not. I have to bike ...
Manuel:
[31:46] Exactly. So when Jae asked me about gyms, I was like: Hey, I haven't gone to a gym in like 10 years, but I will just say this: is the first thing I would do, is on Google Maps, type in "fitness studio" and see which ones are closest to you, because that's kind of the most important factor.
Jae:
[32:03] But then, though, I mean if you're all about fitness, why not walk a little bit longer to get to where you want to go? I kind of use it as my exercise.
Manuel:
[32:10] That's a very American thing to say!
Jack:
[32:11] I also walk somewhere!
Manuel:
[32:13] No, I mean, like you should have ...
Jack:
[32:14] I don't think that's very American!
Manuel:
[33:34] Now we know where your priorities lie!
Jae:
[33:36] Yeah. Also should you describe your nails? No one knows what they look like!
Jack:
[33:39] They're just ... they're understated ... green.
Jae:
[33:42] Green. I thought they were like a green yellowish ...
Jack:
[33:45] I think they're green. People call them yellow. The guy was like: "They look a bit like fungus." I was like, "Okay, well that's your opinion."
Jae:
[33:53] He has long ... cute nails, too. They're very nice.
Jack:
[33:57] Yeah, they're a bit longer than like a gel extension.
Jae:
[34:00] Yeah. And they're pointy. So don't try to rob him because ...
Jack:
[34:02] They're very pointy. They're a bit long at the moment, I'm going to get them done. Yeah. Also I can't ... it's not ... Yeah I might hurt someone, not on purpose!
Manuel:
[34:13] I'm just realizing now, I don't think I want to play Jungle Speed with you!
Jae:
[34:16] What is Jungle Speed?
Manuel:
[34:18] We'll play. It's a board game where you kind of have to grab things fast, and even with just regular nails there's usually blood! But yeah, anyway, so gym is ... The last thing I would say is I think all of them have like a free trial, right? Like usually you can just try it out for a week. So I would just do that with all the gyms and see which one you like best.
Jae:
[34:38] Yeah. Honestly, I mean it's not rocket science, finding a gym, just whatever you like. And they're fairly all around the same price too. So it's like ...
Jack:
[34:47] I don't know. I think like, yeah, Superfit is pretty cheap, like €19 a month. I think it goes up to like €70. Like Holmes Place is wild, probably right up your alley!
Jae:
[35:00] Honestly, I think I looked into Holmes Place but then I was like, it did sound cool, but I'm like: Will I ever use any of this type of stuff?
Jack:
[35:07] They also have a pool, but it's only 25 meters.
Jae:
[35:11] Yeah but ... Oh! Well that's ... Actually, I do not know what that is! I was like: A pool? 25 meters? I'm like: Meters? What is that? I can't ... don't comprehend! But honestly, I mean, like for the gyms necessarily though, I do like this fancy type of thing. But then also I'm just like it's wherever I can just go get my workout in then. Yeah. So don't overthink that. Gyms and bank accounts, go with the easiest one.
Manuel:
[35:38] You asked me this week, "Where can I get cheap meals?" So you're splurging on all the things, but then on food that's the area where you want to save money?
Jae:
[35:48] Yes! Well, because because food adds up! ... I've already spent ... like I already know the expensive places!
Jack:
[35:51] ... So does a Metal bank card - literally adds up once a month!
Jae:
[35:54] Yeah, but you know what's the thing about that? That's the annual thing, so look, I pay it once, I don't think about it for the rest of the year, until next year.
Jack:
[36:01] You just want a food flat rate!
Jae:
[36:02] I just want the food ... yes, I need like a food membership now!
Manuel:
[36:05] So I feel like, Jack, you're the expert on €1 falafel.
Jae:
[36:09] €1 is ... actually, inflation hit even the €1 falafel. It went up to €1.30 maybe two years ago, and now it's €1.50, which people are still like, "That's amazing!" Like: No, it's not!
Jae:
[36:25] That's 50 cents more.
Jack:
[36:26] Yeah, it's a lot more! It's hard to know, there's always cheap places, it's basically wherever you are, there are cheap options. There's amazing Turkish places, falafel is really cheap ...
Manuel:
[36:38] Let's define, because I was saying like most restaurants, like most Vietnamese restaurants or whatever, usually you'll pay around €10 to €15 for a main, but then they always have like a lunch menu, where if you go between 12 pm and 4 pm they have like three options that will be just €7 or €8. That's kind of my impression of normal restaurants.
Jack:
[37:01] Yeah. In my mind I think more than €10 ... I think you can easily eat out quite well for less than €10 in Berlin. I'm not a vegan ... I eat really cheap meat! ...
Manuel:
[37:11] I think vegan restaurants, which I tend to go to, are little bit on the pricier side. ... That's great! ... But yeah, so that's kind of the general, normal price. And then if you want to live on the cheap, €1 falafel is probably the extreme. Do we want to ... Where is that place? That's on Hermannstraße, Flughafenstraße, which we can link. It's small, though, like you need two or three of them to be okay.
Jack:
Jae:
[37:42] There was a place that I was actually impressed with: Yorma's? It's like in Alexanderplatz, like where all the trams or whatnot, it was €3 for a subway sandwich, and it was a pretty good, tasty subway sandwich. It was literally like a half of a footlong. Subway is like €6, so it was €3 for that.
Manuel:
[38:01] Yeah. And the same for kebab, which is I guess, "The Berlin Food." It was invented here. So that's also usually €3? I don't know. Ten years ago when I was still eating that stuff, it was €3.
Jae:
[38:14] Yeah, so you got falafel sandwiches and kebab.
Manuel:
[38:20] If you really want to live on the cheap, you'll be eating a lot of bread. Yes.
Jae:
[38:23] Yeah.
Jack:
[38:24] There is a lot of very tasty places to eat in Berlin, but there's also a lot of very un-tasty places to eat.
Jae:
[38:30] Yeah. But then you also have the option, which you mentioned was the grocery store, where you can go there, and I found the actual, really nice snack that I like. It is just like chopped-up vegetables, and then I buy - like that was like €2 - and then just get like some hummus, and that can be an actual meal. It was very filling, so ...
Manuel:
[38:49] Totally. That was my lifesaver in Japan, where all the supermarkets have really good prepared food. And it's not like Japan here yet, but the big supermarkets, the big Rewe, yeah, mostly Rewe, I feel like, they have a salad bar which you can mix your own salad, and then you can just go to the bakery and get some bread, and you'll have a lot of good food for very little money.
Jae:
[39:16] Yeah. I know I can ... Eating out is nice but that can add up.
Manuel:
[39:23] But that is something that for me personally is just so worth it. Like I will try to save money on a bank account, like you know, priorities. Yeah, but I kind of, I don't know, I go out eating a lot. I also can't cook, but ...
Jack:
[39:40] Me neither. I don't really cook. I eat out constantly. Yeah. I learned to cook like during the lockdown, early, early wave, one lockdown, I saved wild amounts of money because I had to eat at home and it was like ... I'm choosing to ignore it now, because I'm like, I don't need to learn from that experience. I don't need to because it's also ... I don't know, I'm always out and about in Berlin. I never am at home to eat. That was the biggest ... that's my biggest problem.
Jae:
[40:11] You're a busy man!
Jack:
[40:12] Busy, busy! There's really good bubble tea as well. I'm now obsessed with bubble tea.
Manuel:
Jae:
[41:12] Everyone does burgers.
Jack:
[41:13] Yeah, but there's ... Not all burgers are created equal, and Tommi's is high up there. High up.
Jae:
[41:16] That's true. That is very true. There's a place called like something-Burger. It's like in the middle of like these like subway trams, whatnot. It used to be like a converted toilet.
Jack:
[41:28] Ah, Burgermeister. Also very good. No milkshakes.
Jae:
[41:31] Yes, I'm very curious to try that place.
Jack:
[41:33] Yeah, it is good. They became quite a popular chain, I feel, like a local chain. There was like Burgermeister ... They're all puns on the word, "burger."
Manuel:
[41:43] Yeah. Yeah, there's a lot of them. There's also ... What's really nice is that most of these places have vegan options now, I'll just say. And then there's also really good options specifically for vegans, Smokey Greens is very expensive but good, and Vincent Vegan, which is in a mall - I don't know if they have more than one, they might - is like cheaper but also pretty good.
Jack:
[42:08] There's also lots of vegan/vegetarian places in Friedrichshain, all right there.
Jae:
[42:12] Yeah, there is. There's a really good - I'll shout this place out - it's called Mom's Creation. It's a Vietnamese vegan spot. Very good. I had that, first day I got here.
Jack:
[42:21] You're also vegan? Oh wow!
Jae:
[42:22] Yeah. I started ... I started vegan/vegetarian and slowly ... I started when I moved here, because I was like: Why not try something new? Yeah, so there's been no meat that we've consumed in the past week or so.
Manuel:
[42:38] Mhm. So, speaking of drinks, let's finish the episode on drinks. How much is a beer at Späti and in a bar? And how much is a "drink" drink?
Jack:
[42:51] I literally just drink milkshakes and bubble tea! I don't ... I remember that beers used to be very cheap from Spätis, like for 70 cents!
Manuel:
[43:02] Yeah, I mean compared to a supermarket ...
Jack:
[43:03] Can you get like a Sternburg Sterni for 70 cents? Is that ... ? Obviously depends on inflation ...
Manuel:
[43:08] No, because like a ... Yeah, obviously depends on the kind of beer and stuff, but I think, like rule of thumb, like a bottle of beer, O3 or whatever, will be less than €1 in a supermarket, between a €1.50 and €2 at a Späti, and probably around €3 or €4 at a bar.
Jack:
[43:27] Yeah, that sounds about right.
Manuel:
[43:28] And then cocktails, depending on the place ...
Jae:
[43:32] €9 to €11.
Manuel:
[43:33] Yeah, if it's like a good place.
Jack:
[43:34] Yeah, an Aperol Spritz, you can get ... used to be like €5, €5.50. I feel like now it's like €6, €6.50 everywhere, a Spritz.
Manuel:
[43:42] Yeah.
Jack:
[43:43] It went up
Manuel:
[43:45] Obviously the nice thing about Germany is that you can totally legally drink outside. So lots of people, especially in the summer, just get beer at the supermarket or at a Späti, and then hang out on ... what's the bridge in Kreuzberg?
Jack:
[43:58] Ooh, it does have a name ... It's called Admiralbrücke.
Manuel:
[44:04] Admiralsbrücke. Yeah, that's one of the places to hang out in the summer and just sit on the bridge and have a beer.
Jack:
[44:12] Mhm. It's very tasty. But now the police shut it down like clockwork at 9 o'clock? or 10 o'clock? or whenever the sun comes down there, clearing that place like nobody's business.
Jae:
[44:24] Interesting interesting. Overall, I do like it here. It's ... it's a good place. I like Berlin a lot.
Jack:
[44:31] This is the second episode you've had here! Okay, interesting!
Jae:
[44:33] Yeah, in the last episode I was not in a good mood! So that was so: We're dealing with culture shock, and I ...
Jack:
[44:41] Yeah. Yeah. Is it what you expected?
Jae:
[44:43] I mean, yes? It's just like I'm a perfectionist, and I get can be so hard on myself sometimes. So any obstacle that I go into, I'm just like: Ah, it's my fault, something that I did was wrong, like how are they ... like why did this happen? But everything else, I mean, like I think it's better than I imagined, which I'm like realizing now, because I mean like to be fair, I didn't really have any reference of what to imagine it to be. I just knew I wanted to be here.
Jack:
[45:09] It also just got nice, weather-wise. Like literally when you came, it's been nice since then. So you have that. You didn't have to deal with the winter, which was gross.
Jae:
[45:18] No, and I did it on purpose. I was like: I do not want to be here in ... I don't want that to be my welcoming. I'll deal with it when it comes, but at least let me enjoy these beautiful days of like, you know, the sun, and feeling happy, you know, without having to take medication - Vitamin D, you know!
Jack:
[45:36] Seasonal depression, it's a thing. I did not know until this year. I was like: This is what you guys were talking about! It's gross!
Manuel:
[1:21] Kind of not doing illegal things, for example ...
[1:29] Do not earn money!
Manuel:
[1:32] No, but N26 has been doing some shady stuff.
Jae:
[1:35] Like what?
Manuel:
[1:37] Dude, I don't know the details.
Jack:
[1:38] I had Deutsche Bank before, so that's like ...
Manuel:
[1:41] Okay, that's potentially even worse because ...
Jack:
Manuel:
[1:32] No, but N26 has been doing some shady stuff.
Jae:
[1:35] Like what?
Manuel:
[1:37] Dude, I don't know the details.
Jack:
[1:38] I had Deutsche Bank before, so that's like ...
Manuel:
[1:41] Okay, that's potentially even worse because ...
Jack:
[1:47] I have forgotten all the news stories that I read, but there were a lot of news stories about ...
Jack:
[1:49] I think it was a while ago. Yeah, and early on, when they weren't really a bank, this is all ... Yeah, they were like a startup bank and then they officially became a bank. And they were like: Oh, shut down people's accounts! Stuff like this, but yeah, it was a long time ago.Jack:
Manuel:
[2:05] Right. For example, I would not feel comfortable ... I don't think it's an issue necessarily, but if you have a lot of money and you want to have it in a bank account, I don't know if I would choose N26. I don't know if I trust them, you know? That being said, they have a good app, I hear, and they let everybody sign up very easily. So I do think it's kind of probably the best thing to do when you just get here.
[2:46] Of course you do! I will just say that DKB, Deutsche Kredit Bank, is horrific!
Jack:
[2:54] Nope, it's not horrific!
Jack:
[2:54] Nope, it's not horrific!
Jack:
[3:10] It's like they're very slow to adapt to like apps and basic ... what online means now. They've started to have an app that is relative ... seems like on par with apps that were built past 2010, but they're very slow.
Manuel:
[3:27] True. And they're also a little bit more selective in terms of accepting people, but the conditions are a little bit better.
Jack:
[3:36] Yeah, they declined me when I first ... So I got a Deutsche Bank account in a completely random location when I first moved to Berlin because I was just in the city somewhere. And then whenever you had to do something with that account, they're like: Oh, you have to go back to that Deutsche Bank. And I was like: What? It was ridiculous. And then once I was like: I'll get a DKB account. And then they refused me because I didn't have a residency at the time. So then I waited five years to get residency, and as soon as I got it, I got a DKB account, only to find out that they're horrific! Yeah, only to find out that actually ... yeah!
Jae:
[4:14] You had five years! You had five years to find something!
Jack:
[3:36] Yeah, they declined me when I first ... So I got a Deutsche Bank account in a completely random location when I first moved to Berlin because I was just in the city somewhere. And then whenever you had to do something with that account, they're like: Oh, you have to go back to that Deutsche Bank. And I was like: What? It was ridiculous. And then once I was like: I'll get a DKB account. And then they refused me because I didn't have a residency at the time. So then I waited five years to get residency, and as soon as I got it, I got a DKB account, only to find out that they're horrific! Yeah, only to find out that actually ... yeah!
Jae:
[4:14] You had five years! You had five years to find something!
Jack:
[4:17] Mm hmm. Bad blood! Oh no, I had N26 in that time, which was really good.
Jae:
[4:24] This is called toxicity!
Jack:
[4:25] Mm hmm. It is, it is. It was also just, like I just don't like being told: No. And then, once I finally got what I had been refused, I realized that I didn't want it!
Jae:
[4:35] That's the definition of life, just for everybody! It's like ...
Jack:
[4:39] It's problematic.
Manuel:
[4:41] Okay. So just, I think one of the major differences is that with DKB you can get cash, as much as you want, for free. And with N26, unless you have like the fancy premium thing ...
Jae:
[4:51] Oh yeah, you have like a limited amount of ...
Manuel:
[4:53] ... It's yeah, three times per month for ... Like both of them are free - which is kind of crazy that most banks aren't that way necessarily. So if you go to like Volksbank or Sparkasse, like one of the traditional banks that actually have buildings and you can go and talk to someone, those, if you open an account it will just cost money, it will cost €20 a month or something like this.
Jack:
[5:14] What? €20 a month? ... Okay.
Manuel:
[5:15] I don't know the exact prices, but DKB and N26 are free and they give you ... So they don't ... So the one thing that we should maybe explain is that basically there's two types of cards in Germany. The credit cards are still ... I'm not going to say they're new, but many Germans still don't have a credit card. And DKB and N26, for them the credit card is like the main card and that's the card that you use to withdraw money, and that's why withdrawing money is free-ish. And you can go to any bank account, any ATM, even worldwide, which is kind of the the big benefit of these banks, is that you can just pick up money anywhere.
Jack:
[5:59] Yeah, kind of, if you come from anywhere else in the world, that's the card that you get everywhere. And in Germany they just have this other one.
Manuel:
[6:06] Exactly. The other one is called Girokonto or Girokarte or EC-Karte - I don't even know what the official word is - but that's basically connected to your debit account? Is that the word you would use?
Jack:
[6:19] Yeah I think it would ... I think it's somehow related to debit and you can't use it online. You can only use it at, I don't know ...
Manuel:
[6:28] In shops and to withdraw money. But if you withdraw money, it can only be at the own bank's ATMs. And that's why you see so many ... Like the traditional banks like Volksbank, Sparkasse, Deutsche Bank, they have so many kind of locations, because if you're a customer, you always want to go there to pick up money. And that's kind of the old kind of standard way it was done in Germany. Like most people, they're either at Volksbank or Sparkasse, and when they want to pick up money, they're looking for a Volksbank or Sparkasse to pick up money.
Jack:
[6:59] I've spent way too long in freezing cold winter nights, hiking like kilometers with German people who'll be like: No, I will not get money out at a non- ... at not my bank! I will not pay €5! I'm like: Oh my God, time is money! You have, like ... you're way worth more than this!
Manuel:
[7:18] Look, I used to be at Volksbank as a teenager, and I don't remember a single time that I didn't withdraw money from a Volksbank. I think it's like ...
Jack:
[7:26] Mm hmm. It's problematic. It was also like they're ... When you have rules like this where you can only get money out at your own ATM, you would think there would be more ATMs, but the city had none. Now there are like a few, but they're all these generic Eurocard ATMs which ... I don't know, I don't even know if the EC-cards work there, if that's what you're saying?
Manuel:
[7:48] I think they do, yeah.
Jack:
[7:49] But they're ...Yeah, I just would say ... And if you go to the post office you can't use a Visa card still, you have to use an EC! Yeah, it's wild! And they're a bank! And then no credit cards, only EC or cash. iIn 2022!
Manuel:
[7:57] Really? That's interesting. And they're a bank: Postbank! So our recommendation, bottom line, is get N26 if you just want to get over with quickly. If you want to maybe reap the benefits of a traditional online bank, then sign up for DKB.
Manuel:
[8:24] Like better conditions and your money might not ... like, might be actually safe!
Jack:
[8:29] ... disappear! ...Okay!
Manuel:
[8:30] Yes. We'll put links to both.
Jack:
[8:33] But I think a good benefit for people moving to Berlin would be that N26, the app, is available in multiple languages, and they also will support you in multiple languages. Whereas DKB refuses to speak anything but German.
Manuel:
[8:47] I don't think they even have a support team. Like I don't think you can talk to them, can you?
Jack:
[8:49] I mean, their current ... Where ... DKB ... ?
Manuel:
[8:51] Oh, they can't actually. I called them once.
Jack:
[8:54] Yeah, I've emailed them and they were just like, "Huh? Nein!" Whereas N26 has been quite helpful.
Jae:
[9:04] Yeah, I've been with them for nine days and I have no complaints so far! I'm a happy customer! I mean like especially if you guys are thinking about ... We're in the first steps of moving, so if you just need something just - again, this is all what I'm about, was just getting my feet like flat on the ground - get N26. It's easy. They'll mail your card in like a few days, and y'all at least be able to start, you know, like getting money in euros that may be coming from the States, or be able to transfer other people's money too.
Jack:
[9:32] Mm hmm. Because I think they also have a partnership with TransferWise. So it's like, transferring internationally is super chill.
Jae:
[9:49] Yeah, well it's actually cheaper, because I did the annual ...
Jack:
[9:52] What did you do? Did they insure your bike?
Jae:
[9:56] They have insurance on it and ... Okay, so this is the whole thing that I'm just talking about. Like my relationship with money has been a journey, right? And I just decided that when I was going to come here, I wanted to feel luxurious, I really did. So I wanted to treat myself, I did, I really did. And like I put money aside, of course, for everything and then I saw that I was like: Fuck, I have the money for it, it's a cool card, why not? And it insures me in like different ways. I'm planning on doing a lot of traveling and stuff. So just like the other benefits of it probably will benefit me probably in the long run.
Manuel:
[10:39] Winter Sports Insurance ... Put some skis on ... !
Jae:
[10:40] Hey, you never know! I'm maybe going to Switzerland soon.
Jack:
[10:43] I actually want you to have several types of delays while flying, because I would like to see what kind of coverage they actually have! Like I think ...
Jae:
[10:45] I'd be curious.
Jack:
[10:52] We need some like proper hands-on experience! And if you're flying in and out of Berlin through BER, you will have delays, and you will have luggage issues!
Jae:
[10:58] Exactly!
Jack:
[11:01] So actually I think you should ... It's going to be worth it, for sure.
Jae:
[11:04] It's going to be worth it in the long run. And like my biggest thing is, I don't mind shoveling a little bit of extra money for the security, you know.
Jae:
[10:40] Hey, you never know! I'm maybe going to Switzerland soon.
Jack:
[10:43] I actually want you to have several types of delays while flying, because I would like to see what kind of coverage they actually have! Like I think ...
Jae:
[10:45] I'd be curious.
Jack:
[10:52] We need some like proper hands-on experience! And if you're flying in and out of Berlin through BER, you will have delays, and you will have luggage issues!
Jae:
[10:58] Exactly!
Jack:
[11:01] So actually I think you should ... It's going to be worth it, for sure.
Jae:
[11:04] It's going to be worth it in the long run. And like my biggest thing is, I don't mind shoveling a little bit of extra money for the security, you know.
[11:15] I mean actually, that's also in the free column as well. You get ... but you get dedicated N26 Metal line!
Jae:
[11:23 ] Yes, that's a special ... I don't even know what it is! But yeah!
Jack:
[11:28] I'm a little bit jealous of the Metal card, but I literally never touch my card. It's all in my phone, so ...
Jae:
[11:33] I never do either, but I've been doing it now, just because I ... just ... just because I want to use it! I'm just like ... I just look at it and I'm like: Okay, cool, cool! I mean, you don't need it. I'm hella extra. And like I said, I just was like: Hell, why not? But you can get the normal free card, and still, I mean, have a great life!
Jack:
[12:01] And did you have to be registered somewhere to sign up?
Jae:
[12:05] Yeah, well you need like an address to ship your card, and stuff like that.
Jack:
[12:09] But not an official one?
Jae:
[11:23 ] Yes, that's a special ... I don't even know what it is! But yeah!
Jack:
[11:28] I'm a little bit jealous of the Metal card, but I literally never touch my card. It's all in my phone, so ...
Jae:
[11:33] I never do either, but I've been doing it now, just because I ... just ... just because I want to use it! I'm just like ... I just look at it and I'm like: Okay, cool, cool! I mean, you don't need it. I'm hella extra. And like I said, I just was like: Hell, why not? But you can get the normal free card, and still, I mean, have a great life!
Jack:
[12:01] And did you have to be registered somewhere to sign up?
Jae:
[12:05] Yeah, well you need like an address to ship your card, and stuff like that.
Jack:
[12:09] But not an official one?
Manuel:
[12:11] The Anmeldung? That's a good question. Hmm.
Jae:
[12:13] Not, no, there was no requirement for the Anmeldung.
.
Jack:
[12:15] Okay. Because I think when I first got a bank account, there was something, we were like: Oh, you have to have registered first. It was just ... it was ...
Manuel:
[12:15] Okay. Because I think when I first got a bank account, there was something, we were like: Oh, you have to have registered first. It was just ... it was ...
Manuel:
Manuel:
[12:30] Okay, I'm glad we covered the bank topic. Next, let's quickly talk Schufa. Exactly. Let's talk about Schufa, which I think we touched upon in the first episode. And there isn't that much to say. Basically, I think in the US you have a credit score.
Jae:
[12:45] A credit score, but we use that with our credit cards. So I'm curious, how does the Schufa work if people don't have credit cards here?
Manuel:
[12:52] Actually, everybody is curious, because it's a secret! And they won't tell anyone, and ... yeah it's it's crazy!
Jae:
[12:59] No one knows how their credit scores are ... ?
Manuel:
[13:00] Schufa is a crazy thing that exists because it's actually a private company. But they basically have this secret private database of everybody, and they have a ranking system that is also secret. And they basically determine in the end whether or not you will get credit, whether or not you can buy a house, whether or not you get an apartment. They have so much power, and it's really, really crazy. And yeah, it's been criticized a lot. People have been trying to reverse-engineer and kind of figure out the scoring system by people voluntarily contributing their data and then their Schufa score, and like there have been attempts like this. Basically, the things that will influence it - very obviously same as in the US - if you are in debt and you're not paying off the debt and things like that ...
Jae:
[13:59] But that's only if you have a credit card, to have that, right? Or an overdraft?
Manuel:
[14:01] No, you could have like a private ... Yeah an overdraft, or even if you just, like you can go to your bank and say: Hey, can you lend me money? And that's it.
Jack:
[14:11] It's also, like if you have like a phone contract, no? Any sort of contract.
Manuel:
[14:13] Phone contracts play a huge part. Any sort of contract is in there, anything that you're paying on a monthly basis. If you fall behind, that's bad. It's not like in the US where you basically want to have credit early on and like actually be in debt and paying it. That always seems crazy to me that in the US, in order to get a good credit score, you want to borrow money and pay it off and that's like a good sign. It doesn't work like that. Like if you never borrow money at at all ever and all the other factors are also good, then you have 100% score, like that doesn't help you.
Jae:
[14:48] So do internationals have an advantage sometimes, because when they come here ... ? And is the Schufa only developed once you get a bank account? Like, do I have a Schufa now that I have ...
Manuel:
[14:57] Yeah, I think as soon as you have residency and they have any information about you at all, that, they start building your profile, is how I imagine it.
Jae:
[15:06] Residency as in like an Anmeldung?
Manuel:
[15:08] Right, because that actually also - and this is like the really shady part - that also factors in. Like I think ... none of this is official, but I think basically, if you live in a poorer neighborhood ...
Jack:
Manuel:
[15:25] Like it's basically, it's very shady. But, basically, what you want to try and do in order to keep a positive score, is to never fall behind on any official payments. If you do get a credit, pay it off, pay your tax.
Jae:
[15:42] The normal things. Just be a good citizen, y'all!
Manuel:
[15:44] Yeah, and the reason that's important is ...
Jack:
[15:46] ... this private company will reward you with a good score!
Jae:
[15:52] Who owns that?
Jack:
[15:53] I don't know. I didn't know it was private. That feels ... Germany is so contradictory in wild ways, whether like we're super secret and you're not allowed to know who I am and we can't have Google Street View, hut here is this private company that knows literally everything about me!
Jae:
[16:07] I feel like that makes like a good movie plot of this like Romeo and Juliet secret shoot!
Manuel:
[16:16] Okay, so you usually need a Schufa Auskunft, so like a report, when you are looking for a flat. I think that's the biggest one for people, sometimes maybe for a job, or if you're doing some kind of big contract, mostly though, if you're looking to rent a place, people want to know: Hey, you know, has this person paid their stuff in the past? And you can go to their website and buy it for €29.95 and then they send you like a fancy one on paper and via email. But at least there's been a law that says that you can get it for free twice per year. And that's obviously like hidden on their website, but you can get it for free, you just need to send them an email or fill out some form. I will find it and link it in the show notes. The thing is, it will then look ... like it won't look pretty, it's just like a letter that has all the information that they have about you. And it's not redacted like the official one that's €30. There it's one that just says it's positive and no other information, and that's the one that you give your landlord. The one that's free just has all of the information on it, like: This is the contracts we have, these other bank accounts we have, about you, like they're legally obliged to tell you the information that they have about you, so you can also try to correct it if it's wrong. So you should get the free version anyway. But if you're looking for a place, sadly I think you should probably still pay the €30.
Jae:
[17:44] Just because it makes it easier for the landlord to see ... ?
Manuel:
[17:46] Yeah, and you don't have to redact it. And you want everything to look perfect when you're looking for a place.
Jae:
[17:51] That would suck, to pay €30 and then it's negative!
Jack:
[17:54] Like, "Nein!" Yeah. It's like: Eugh!
Manuel:
[17:56] Yeah: Now it's even negative, it's even worse. I had to get into debt for this, and now you're telling me ... !
Jack:
[18:03] You just paid to be shut down! I think you can also do it ... I went into Postbank very recently and a lot of ... I found out about no credit cards, only cash, you see. And also they had some signs about doing a Schufa there ... in ...
Manuel:
[18:10] Yeah, probably.
Jack:
[18:20] So, I think that's also helpful sometimes.
Manuel:
[18:21] Yeah, post offices. They can be useful.
Jae:
[18:26] "Can be useful!" That's the quote of the day!
Manuel:
[18:28] Let's talk about sim cards, phone plan. I'm ... Can I just say, Jae, I'm a little disappointed. Because you just ran out into the world and did it all without consulting anyone!
Jae:
[18:43] I really ... So that's a that's a toxic trade-off! I do that a lot in my life! I just go out and I just do things, and then I mess up and then I'm like: Okay, that sucks!
Manuel:
[18:53] And then it's our fault because we didn't tell you!
Jae:
[18:58] No! No, honestly, it was just because I was on my international plan, and that's $10 a month - no, no, $10 a day - to use my data, so I was like: I just got to find something just really quick or whatnot.
Manuel:
[19:09] ... What? ...
Jack:
[19:13] Yeah, I would have done that before getting a bank account.
Jae:
[19:14] So I just ran into the store. Yeah, you see. And now actually I'm going with the one that Cari has: Congstar. Yeah. Yes. Amazing.
Manuel:
[19:22] Which is the one that I have, because ...
Jack:
[19:24] I also used to be with that. They were quite good.
Manuel:
[19:26] And now?
Jack:
[19:28] Now I got like a Geschäfts contract through work or whatever with 02, which is the same network as Congstar.
Jae:
Jack:
[19:24] I also used to be with that. They were quite good.
Manuel:
[19:26] And now?
Jack:
[19:28] Now I got like a Geschäfts contract through work or whatever with 02, which is the same network as Congstar.
Jae:
[19:36] No. No it's not! Congstar is Telekom.
Jack:
[19:40] Oh! Maybe I wasn't with Congstar? Maybe I was with ... there's another one that's quite bad and they use the 02 network, which is bad because then they also don't get prioritized on that network so it was ridiculous. And so now that I'm with 02, it's good.
Jae:
[19:57] We had a two different experiences!
Jack:
[20:00] Some have to struggle before they arrive!
Jae:
[20:03] You walked so I could ride!
Manuel:
[20:06] Okay, let's go three steps back and explain. There's basically three big companies in Germany that control the actual networks, that actually put up their own antennas, and they run the infrastructure. And the three companies are Deutsche Telekom, which is like the underdog in the States but is the big one here.
Jae:
[20:24] Yeah it really is the the underdog in the States: T-Mobile. No one really goes for T-Mobile, but they've actually been getting better. But like at the beginning they were a joke.
Manuel:
[20:06] Okay, let's go three steps back and explain. There's basically three big companies in Germany that control the actual networks, that actually put up their own antennas, and they run the infrastructure. And the three companies are Deutsche Telekom, which is like the underdog in the States but is the big one here.
Jae:
[20:24] Yeah it really is the the underdog in the States: T-Mobile. No one really goes for T-Mobile, but they've actually been getting better. But like at the beginning they were a joke.
Manuel:
[20:33] Right. And it's the opposite here. Here, they're like the big used-to-be-state-owned company and they run most of the infrastructure, even for like DSL and stuff like that. So they're the big one: Telekom. Then there's Vodafone which is the other big one, more or less the same size, maybe a little bit smaller. They also have their own infrastructure, all of that. Also, by the way, all of these companies now do internet via DSL, via fiber, they also do TV, they do all the things, but we're talking about mobile phones now. And the third one is 02. And it's actually called 02-something now because they merged ... What do they call it? ... And they're just called 02?
Jack:
[21:16] Telefónica?
Manuel:
[21:17] Telefónica, yeah, something like that. Those are the three big ones, and you can go directly to them and make a contract with them.
Jae:
Manuel:
[21:31] It's really expensive. And like yeah, if you get - let's just try this - if you get ...
[21:31] It's really expensive. And like yeah, if you get - let's just try this - if you get ...
Jack:
[21:35] Supposedly the network is better. Supposedly, in the country, if you're in Brandenburg a lot.
Manuel:
[21:38] The network is very good. So if you want like the best of the best and you don't care, you can get a contract with Telekom. And it will be, for example, for 12 GB a month, you pay €50 a month, and you're locked in for two years and you can't get out of the contract for two years. So then it's similar for Vodafone, and for O2. O2 is a little bit more affordable, I think. And in terms of the networks, Telekom and Vodafone are really good. 02 is really good in the big city, so as long as you're in Berlin, I think - which is where we live - but as soon as you go to the countryside or you go on a trip, it starts getting really flaky. And so those are kind of the three. And then all of them kind of sell their services to other companies. And there's a million companies that you can get either a prepaid plan with, or a two year contract, and it will be much cheaper. And it'll be different amounts of gigabytes that you get per month and stuff like that, and, as you mentioned, Jack, it might not be prioritized but they will be on one of the networks. So for example Congstar - the one that I use, and Cari, and now you - is the Telekom network, so it is a really good network, like the coverage is really good. But it is still slower than if you go directly to Telekom, because it's like not the full LTE speed or whatever. And then Vodafone has companies that use their network, and the same for O2.
Jack:
[23:17] I don't remember who I was with. I went Congstar, and then some other third company, I feel like it's green ... Mmm, no ...
Manuel:
[23:25] The ones I hear a lot about are ... Ah, the green one is Debitel, probably? ... You can just go into a supermarket. So Aldi has ALDI TALK, and that's like easy because there's all these supermarkets anywhere, and it's really cheap, and you just go in and you get ALDI TALK. And I think that's probably the 02 network where that's based on, so ...
Jae:
[23:47] I have a little bit of advice for people. If you are just getting here and you just need like a prepaid, I recommend getting a prepaid. I ended up going with the Telekom one. But I think if you're just looking for something temporarily, definitely.
Jack:
[24:00] Actual Telekom? Wow, you are fancy! You're like, that Metal card ... I mean if you're going to splurge on something, I think net, like mobile connection is the one to do it.
Jae:
[24:06] Mm hmm. I have the actual Telekom. I wanted the top of the top, the top of the top! Look, I'm not trying to get lost in the city, but like, especially, I mean, I think I just bought the Congstar thing, so I think I was just like in a rush. So if I was to redo it, I probably would have gone for like the ALDI TALK, or like a cheaper prepaid that may not have the best service right now, but if you're in the city - which, I'm going to stay in the city - then it would have been like: It's not that bad. Because I'm paying ... because the Telekom prepaid ones are not the best, just like 5GB for €25.
Manuel:
[24:42] No, don't do that!
Jack:
[24:44] Blink and it's gone! I think I was with Windstream, and I think they might be on the 02 network. And I feel like they were slightly cheaper than Congstar.
Jae:
[24:51] Yeah, but also be careful going into the stores. Because I went to the Vodafone store - and like this is a little bit of my culture that I talked about in the last episode - but like I was just trying to get a prepaid, and the guy was trying to get me on this €50 contract and I'm like: All I wanted was a prepaid. And the only reason why I went with the Telekom one was because I didn't have to talk to anybody. It was literally on the shelf. That just had 5 GB. I just didn't have to really talk to him, just like, "Here, take this, take my card."
Manuel:
[25:19] So just to compare: I mentioned this 12 GB plan is €50 on Deutsche Telekom, and on Congstar a 15 GB Plan is €22. And it's more or less the same. It's slightly slower maybe, but it's also LTE B50, and so there's a giant difference in price and you won't really feel the difference there.
Jae:
[25:41] I'll even add to that. I got lucky and there was a promotion, so I got 18 GB for €22 with 5G, so Congstar is definitely the way to go.
Manuel:
[25:51] Yeah. Okay, so we'll put a Congstar link in the show notes. And there are kind of three different options: you can get prepaid, which if you're only here for a short amount of time I think is good because then you only have to charge it, and then you use it, and then when you're out of credit, it stops working. If you're here for the long term, I would get a contract tarif. It's essentially the same, except it just charges you after you've already used it. And I, for example, have their Fair Flat or whatever, where you can basically say: Hey, I want to use up to 18 GB per month, but if I only use 5 GB then it will be cheaper. And so there's these different options. And so I would just get that.
Jack:
[26:35] When have you ever used 5GB in a month? It's so little.
Manuel:
[26:40] I don't leave the house that often! But yeah, and the nice thing about Congstar, in comparison to many other companies, is that they let you do a contract postpaid, where you pay after the fact without a two-year lock-in. Like most companies, including Congstar, have that option where they lock you in for two years. But here you can pay a little bit extra, €35 once, and then you don't have the lock-in, so you can switch any time. I hate being locked into ...
Jack:
[27:14] I also did, and then I realized that I was just paying these companies anyway for two years, so I felt that's when I got locked in. And I think Germany is also quite predatory with contracts, where if you don't tell them you're canceling your contract three months before, you are then locked in again for another two years. It is wild, but it's changing, or it has changed.
Manuel:
[27:34] It's illegal now. The EU has changed the laws, and now ...
Jack:
[27:37] Was it just for phone contracts or also for gyms? I feel like it might be just for phone contracts.
Manuel:
[27:42] Yeah, especially also DSL contracts, things like that. Gyms, I'm not sure.
Jack:
[27:46] Yeah, it's just ... I don't know.
Jae:
[27:47] Oh yeah, those gym contracts. So I'm on the John Reed fitness thing.
Manuel:
[27:53] Isn't that also the ... ?
Jack:
Manuel:
[27:42] Yeah, especially also DSL contracts, things like that. Gyms, I'm not sure.
Jack:
[27:46] Yeah, it's just ... I don't know.
Jae:
[27:47] Oh yeah, those gym contracts. So I'm on the John Reed fitness thing.
Manuel:
[27:53] Isn't that also the ... ?
Jack:
[27:54] John Reed! How do ever have any money? You're like ... ! What the hell!
Jae:
[27:57] Well I'm actually using a promotion right now, so I'm just trying it out. But like there was, like the silver membership's like €35 a month, which is pretty good, but then that's like a two-year contract.
Jack:
[28:08] I just ... John Reed! ... The whole ...! It's ... ! Okay, this is a completely uneducated opinion because I've never been in there - I've just heard things and seen pictures maybe - but why is there like books and carpets and things in the gym? You don't want that! It's like ...
Jae:
[28:22] There's a weird design, like they were trying to go for. I guess it's very like hipstery type of ...
Jae:
[27:57] Well I'm actually using a promotion right now, so I'm just trying it out. But like there was, like the silver membership's like €35 a month, which is pretty good, but then that's like a two-year contract.
Jack:
[28:08] I just ... John Reed! ... The whole ...! It's ... ! Okay, this is a completely uneducated opinion because I've never been in there - I've just heard things and seen pictures maybe - but why is there like books and carpets and things in the gym? You don't want that! It's like ...
Jae:
[28:22] There's a weird design, like they were trying to go for. I guess it's very like hipstery type of ...
Jack:
[28:29] Yeah, like weird hotel lobby with gym equipment!
Jae:
[28:30] I mean, like really, like that's how you feel inside of it. Like it's even the machines, some of them are like leather brown and very rustic.
Jack:
[28:41] Does it not just smell of old sweat?
Jae:
[28:44] No, it doesn't. Like it smells like a normal gym at the end of the day. I mean the music is actually pretty good, and I was very impressed with the music choices.
Jack:
[28:50] I mean I'm a big fan of Superfit, and that's €19.90 a month or something. Super cheap, very clean, they have a sauna, they have a women's gym ...
Jae:
[29:00] Superfit's different from McFit? ... Gotcha.
Jack:
[29:03] ... Yes ... It's more McFit-y!
Manuel:
[29:04] I know nothing about this topic. I told Jae about McFit, and he was like, "McFit! Hahahaha!"
[29:15] They did, and they're connected to John Reed, like they're all ...
Manuel:
[29:18] Okay, hold on! Explain it. So, gyms. What do you do if you want to go to the gym? What's the cheap option? What's the medium option? What's the ...
Jae:
[29:25] Okay from my research, it was like McFit is like the biggest one. No, but like it's not actually the bottom of the barrel, it sounds like it is, it sounds like McDonald's! I was laughing, I was like, "Ha ha ha! This is so stupid!" But actually it's like probably the biggest one. For America we have one called Gold's Gym, which is just very like everywhere. And we have a Gold's Gym, LA Fitness, it's just one of them, so it's not like a bad option. And then you have their like a brother company, which is John Reed, which John Reed - a little bit more expensive. And you're not necessarily paying for better equipment, you're paying for the atmosphere, you're paying for like what we just talked about, where there's bookshelves and carpets, you know?
Jack:
[30:06] The carpets, the shag carpets!
Jae:
[30:10] And just this interesting vibe, and you're paying for the music. And then there's FitX, there's Superfit ...
Jack:
[30:16] Does John Reed ... do they have classes like body pump?
Jae:
[30:19] Yeah, they have classes and stuff. I haven't done any of the classes, but they have like different types of options. I don't ... Like if you're just looking for a gym, like honestly, the cheapest one is always probably the best one. But John Reed does look cool, you know, it is Instagrammable. That's, I think, yes, I think that was their goal, was to have ... Like that's where all the gays go.
Jae:
[30:19] Yeah, they have classes and stuff. I haven't done any of the classes, but they have like different types of options. I don't ... Like if you're just looking for a gym, like honestly, the cheapest one is always probably the best one. But John Reed does look cool, you know, it is Instagrammable. That's, I think, yes, I think that was their goal, was to have ... Like that's where all the gays go.
Jack:
[30:36] I mean cool, cool is ...
Manuel:
[30:41] They have a buddha statue!
Jack:
[30:42] The gays, trust me, the gays go everywhere! If you really want to go to the fancy gays' gym, you go to Holmes Place, which is wild expensive. They have a pool. You don't have to bring your own towel!
Jae:
[30:54] Really? Holmes Place? Oh wow!
Jack:
[30:56] But I'm not ... I've never been. I'm a big fan of Superfit, also has lots of gays. Oh my God! John Reed looks ...
Manuel:
[31:06] It looks like a palace!
Jack:
[31:08] I mean you guys are being very generous. A palace? It looks like a sushi bar - which sometimes look like palaces, that's true!
Jae:
[31:20] Yeah it's a very interesting design. Like I'll be honest ...
Jack:
[31:23] I don't know. More is not always more.
Jae:
[31:25] I don't think you need it. Like I'm trying it out right now, but it's definitely not necessary. It's a bit extra, you know, I think you do go for the atmosphere or what not, but at the end of the day, look, I'm trying to get my workout done. And I'm willing to leave, you know.
Jack:
[31:39] I would say also it depends where you live. Because John Reed, there's not so many.
Jae:
[31:43] Yeah, there's not. I have to bike ...
Manuel:
[31:46] Exactly. So when Jae asked me about gyms, I was like: Hey, I haven't gone to a gym in like 10 years, but I will just say this: is the first thing I would do, is on Google Maps, type in "fitness studio" and see which ones are closest to you, because that's kind of the most important factor.
Jae:
[32:03] But then, though, I mean if you're all about fitness, why not walk a little bit longer to get to where you want to go? I kind of use it as my exercise.
Manuel:
[32:10] That's a very American thing to say!
Jack:
[32:11] I also walk somewhere!
Manuel:
[32:13] No, I mean, like you should have ...
Jack:
[32:14] I don't think that's very American!
[32:21] I'll give you that one!
Jack:
[32:22] No, I think, yeah, definitely, where you live is probably number one, but then there are also quite a few random, little, not-connected-to-big-chain gyms, which can also be fairly hit and miss. I don't know, I went ... yeah, and expensive, but there's also this Urban Sports, which is kind of like a club. Yeah, it's like an online membership that gives you entrance into a bunch of different sporting facility venues and ... Urban Sports ... and so you can like boulder and they've got like BEAT81, which is like fit classes.
Jae:
[32:53] ... What's it called? ...
Jack:
[32:59] They've just got basically all the sports you can think of and you pay like one monthly flat rate and you can go to all of these things for free, basically. Gym-wise, they have like some random gyms in there, and so if you're not married to a certain location, it can be quite good. I used to use it a lot for bouldering, but now I can't climb anymore ... Because my nails are too long! ... Gels and nails and climbing don't match!
Jae:
[33:22] ... Why not? ... I want to go climbing ...
Jack:
[32:22] No, I think, yeah, definitely, where you live is probably number one, but then there are also quite a few random, little, not-connected-to-big-chain gyms, which can also be fairly hit and miss. I don't know, I went ... yeah, and expensive, but there's also this Urban Sports, which is kind of like a club. Yeah, it's like an online membership that gives you entrance into a bunch of different sporting facility venues and ... Urban Sports ... and so you can like boulder and they've got like BEAT81, which is like fit classes.
Jae:
[32:53] ... What's it called? ...
Jack:
[32:59] They've just got basically all the sports you can think of and you pay like one monthly flat rate and you can go to all of these things for free, basically. Gym-wise, they have like some random gyms in there, and so if you're not married to a certain location, it can be quite good. I used to use it a lot for bouldering, but now I can't climb anymore ... Because my nails are too long! ... Gels and nails and climbing don't match!
Jae:
[33:22] ... Why not? ... I want to go climbing ...
Manuel:
[33:34] Now we know where your priorities lie!
Jae:
[33:36] Yeah. Also should you describe your nails? No one knows what they look like!
Jack:
[33:39] They're just ... they're understated ... green.
Jae:
[33:42] Green. I thought they were like a green yellowish ...
Jack:
[33:45] I think they're green. People call them yellow. The guy was like: "They look a bit like fungus." I was like, "Okay, well that's your opinion."
Jae:
[33:53] He has long ... cute nails, too. They're very nice.
Jack:
[33:57] Yeah, they're a bit longer than like a gel extension.
Jae:
[34:00] Yeah. And they're pointy. So don't try to rob him because ...
Jack:
[34:02] They're very pointy. They're a bit long at the moment, I'm going to get them done. Yeah. Also I can't ... it's not ... Yeah I might hurt someone, not on purpose!
Manuel:
[34:13] I'm just realizing now, I don't think I want to play Jungle Speed with you!
Jae:
[34:16] What is Jungle Speed?
Manuel:
[34:18] We'll play. It's a board game where you kind of have to grab things fast, and even with just regular nails there's usually blood! But yeah, anyway, so gym is ... The last thing I would say is I think all of them have like a free trial, right? Like usually you can just try it out for a week. So I would just do that with all the gyms and see which one you like best.
Jae:
[34:38] Yeah. Honestly, I mean it's not rocket science, finding a gym, just whatever you like. And they're fairly all around the same price too. So it's like ...
Jack:
[34:47] I don't know. I think like, yeah, Superfit is pretty cheap, like €19 a month. I think it goes up to like €70. Like Holmes Place is wild, probably right up your alley!
Jae:
[35:00] Honestly, I think I looked into Holmes Place but then I was like, it did sound cool, but I'm like: Will I ever use any of this type of stuff?
Jack:
[35:07] They also have a pool, but it's only 25 meters.
Jae:
[35:11] Yeah but ... Oh! Well that's ... Actually, I do not know what that is! I was like: A pool? 25 meters? I'm like: Meters? What is that? I can't ... don't comprehend! But honestly, I mean, like for the gyms necessarily though, I do like this fancy type of thing. But then also I'm just like it's wherever I can just go get my workout in then. Yeah. So don't overthink that. Gyms and bank accounts, go with the easiest one.
Manuel:
[35:38] You asked me this week, "Where can I get cheap meals?" So you're splurging on all the things, but then on food that's the area where you want to save money?
Jae:
[35:48] Yes! Well, because because food adds up! ... I've already spent ... like I already know the expensive places!
Jack:
[35:51] ... So does a Metal bank card - literally adds up once a month!
Jae:
[35:54] Yeah, but you know what's the thing about that? That's the annual thing, so look, I pay it once, I don't think about it for the rest of the year, until next year.
Jack:
[36:01] You just want a food flat rate!
Jae:
[36:02] I just want the food ... yes, I need like a food membership now!
Manuel:
[36:05] So I feel like, Jack, you're the expert on €1 falafel.
Jae:
[36:09] €1 is ... actually, inflation hit even the €1 falafel. It went up to €1.30 maybe two years ago, and now it's €1.50, which people are still like, "That's amazing!" Like: No, it's not!
Jae:
[36:25] That's 50 cents more.
Jack:
[36:26] Yeah, it's a lot more! It's hard to know, there's always cheap places, it's basically wherever you are, there are cheap options. There's amazing Turkish places, falafel is really cheap ...
Manuel:
[36:38] Let's define, because I was saying like most restaurants, like most Vietnamese restaurants or whatever, usually you'll pay around €10 to €15 for a main, but then they always have like a lunch menu, where if you go between 12 pm and 4 pm they have like three options that will be just €7 or €8. That's kind of my impression of normal restaurants.
Jack:
[37:01] Yeah. In my mind I think more than €10 ... I think you can easily eat out quite well for less than €10 in Berlin. I'm not a vegan ... I eat really cheap meat! ...
Manuel:
[37:11] I think vegan restaurants, which I tend to go to, are little bit on the pricier side. ... That's great! ... But yeah, so that's kind of the general, normal price. And then if you want to live on the cheap, €1 falafel is probably the extreme. Do we want to ... Where is that place? That's on Hermannstraße, Flughafenstraße, which we can link. It's small, though, like you need two or three of them to be okay.
Jack:
[37:41] Yeah, but they're good.
Jae:
[37:42] There was a place that I was actually impressed with: Yorma's? It's like in Alexanderplatz, like where all the trams or whatnot, it was €3 for a subway sandwich, and it was a pretty good, tasty subway sandwich. It was literally like a half of a footlong. Subway is like €6, so it was €3 for that.
Manuel:
[38:01] Yeah. And the same for kebab, which is I guess, "The Berlin Food." It was invented here. So that's also usually €3? I don't know. Ten years ago when I was still eating that stuff, it was €3.
Jae:
[38:14] Yeah, so you got falafel sandwiches and kebab.
Manuel:
[38:20] If you really want to live on the cheap, you'll be eating a lot of bread. Yes.
Jae:
[38:23] Yeah.
Jack:
[38:24] There is a lot of very tasty places to eat in Berlin, but there's also a lot of very un-tasty places to eat.
Jae:
[38:30] Yeah. But then you also have the option, which you mentioned was the grocery store, where you can go there, and I found the actual, really nice snack that I like. It is just like chopped-up vegetables, and then I buy - like that was like €2 - and then just get like some hummus, and that can be an actual meal. It was very filling, so ...
Manuel:
[38:49] Totally. That was my lifesaver in Japan, where all the supermarkets have really good prepared food. And it's not like Japan here yet, but the big supermarkets, the big Rewe, yeah, mostly Rewe, I feel like, they have a salad bar which you can mix your own salad, and then you can just go to the bakery and get some bread, and you'll have a lot of good food for very little money.
Jae:
[39:16] Yeah. I know I can ... Eating out is nice but that can add up.
Manuel:
[39:23] But that is something that for me personally is just so worth it. Like I will try to save money on a bank account, like you know, priorities. Yeah, but I kind of, I don't know, I go out eating a lot. I also can't cook, but ...
Jack:
[39:40] Me neither. I don't really cook. I eat out constantly. Yeah. I learned to cook like during the lockdown, early, early wave, one lockdown, I saved wild amounts of money because I had to eat at home and it was like ... I'm choosing to ignore it now, because I'm like, I don't need to learn from that experience. I don't need to because it's also ... I don't know, I'm always out and about in Berlin. I never am at home to eat. That was the biggest ... that's my biggest problem.
Jae:
[40:11] You're a busy man!
Jack:
[40:12] Busy, busy! There's really good bubble tea as well. I'm now obsessed with bubble tea.
Manuel:
[40:16] Wow! Bubble tea! That's so 2006! That is like ... Since I was 13 ...
Jack:
[40:18] I know. That's what I thought. Trust me, you know, when I first moved here, it was everywhere, it was everywhere. And then the bubble tea places became, I don't know, burger places. And now they're back to bubble tea, and I'm a big fan.
Jae:
Jack:
[40:18] I know. That's what I thought. Trust me, you know, when I first moved here, it was everywhere, it was everywhere. And then the bubble tea places became, I don't know, burger places. And now they're back to bubble tea, and I'm a big fan.
Jae:
[40:32] Do you think they're overpriced, though? They're like €4 for like ...
Manuel:
[40:34] Yeah, and what's good about it? It's just sugary ...
Jack:
[40:35] What is overpriced? You pay €16.90 for your bank ...
Jae:
[40:39] No, actually it's €12 because I have the annual, thank you very much!
Jack:
[40:46] It isn't cheap, but I just love drinks.
Jae:
[40:48] You love drinks.
Jack:
[40:49] I love drinks. Like I would ideally have milkshakes all the time, but they don't make them here. Yeah, it's rough. Like I found now one really good burger place that does an amazing milkshake with real ice cream, but that's it.
Jae:
[41:04] What's it called?
Jack:
[41:06] It's called Tommi's. Tommi's Burger Joint. They also do an amazing burger.
Manuel:
[40:34] Yeah, and what's good about it? It's just sugary ...
Jack:
[40:35] What is overpriced? You pay €16.90 for your bank ...
Jae:
[40:39] No, actually it's €12 because I have the annual, thank you very much!
Jack:
[40:46] It isn't cheap, but I just love drinks.
Jae:
[40:48] You love drinks.
Jack:
[40:49] I love drinks. Like I would ideally have milkshakes all the time, but they don't make them here. Yeah, it's rough. Like I found now one really good burger place that does an amazing milkshake with real ice cream, but that's it.
Jae:
[41:04] What's it called?
Jack:
[41:06] It's called Tommi's. Tommi's Burger Joint. They also do an amazing burger.
Jae:
[41:12] Everyone does burgers.
Jack:
[41:13] Yeah, but there's ... Not all burgers are created equal, and Tommi's is high up there. High up.
Jae:
[41:16] That's true. That is very true. There's a place called like something-Burger. It's like in the middle of like these like subway trams, whatnot. It used to be like a converted toilet.
Jack:
[41:28] Ah, Burgermeister. Also very good. No milkshakes.
Jae:
[41:31] Yes, I'm very curious to try that place.
Jack:
[41:33] Yeah, it is good. They became quite a popular chain, I feel, like a local chain. There was like Burgermeister ... They're all puns on the word, "burger."
Manuel:
[41:43] Yeah. Yeah, there's a lot of them. There's also ... What's really nice is that most of these places have vegan options now, I'll just say. And then there's also really good options specifically for vegans, Smokey Greens is very expensive but good, and Vincent Vegan, which is in a mall - I don't know if they have more than one, they might - is like cheaper but also pretty good.
Jack:
[42:08] There's also lots of vegan/vegetarian places in Friedrichshain, all right there.
Jae:
[42:12] Yeah, there is. There's a really good - I'll shout this place out - it's called Mom's Creation. It's a Vietnamese vegan spot. Very good. I had that, first day I got here.
Jack:
[42:21] You're also vegan? Oh wow!
Jae:
[42:22] Yeah. I started ... I started vegan/vegetarian and slowly ... I started when I moved here, because I was like: Why not try something new? Yeah, so there's been no meat that we've consumed in the past week or so.
Manuel:
[42:38] Mhm. So, speaking of drinks, let's finish the episode on drinks. How much is a beer at Späti and in a bar? And how much is a "drink" drink?
Jack:
[42:51] I literally just drink milkshakes and bubble tea! I don't ... I remember that beers used to be very cheap from Spätis, like for 70 cents!
Manuel:
[43:02] Yeah, I mean compared to a supermarket ...
Jack:
[43:03] Can you get like a Sternburg Sterni for 70 cents? Is that ... ? Obviously depends on inflation ...
Manuel:
[43:08] No, because like a ... Yeah, obviously depends on the kind of beer and stuff, but I think, like rule of thumb, like a bottle of beer, O3 or whatever, will be less than €1 in a supermarket, between a €1.50 and €2 at a Späti, and probably around €3 or €4 at a bar.
Jack:
[43:27] Yeah, that sounds about right.
Manuel:
[43:28] And then cocktails, depending on the place ...
Jae:
[43:32] €9 to €11.
Manuel:
[43:33] Yeah, if it's like a good place.
Jack:
[43:34] Yeah, an Aperol Spritz, you can get ... used to be like €5, €5.50. I feel like now it's like €6, €6.50 everywhere, a Spritz.
Manuel:
[43:42] Yeah.
Jack:
[43:43] It went up
Manuel:
[43:45] Obviously the nice thing about Germany is that you can totally legally drink outside. So lots of people, especially in the summer, just get beer at the supermarket or at a Späti, and then hang out on ... what's the bridge in Kreuzberg?
Jack:
[43:58] Ooh, it does have a name ... It's called Admiralbrücke.
Manuel:
[44:04] Admiralsbrücke. Yeah, that's one of the places to hang out in the summer and just sit on the bridge and have a beer.
Jack:
[44:12] Mhm. It's very tasty. But now the police shut it down like clockwork at 9 o'clock? or 10 o'clock? or whenever the sun comes down there, clearing that place like nobody's business.
Jae:
[44:24] Interesting interesting. Overall, I do like it here. It's ... it's a good place. I like Berlin a lot.
Jack:
[44:31] This is the second episode you've had here! Okay, interesting!
Jae:
[44:33] Yeah, in the last episode I was not in a good mood! So that was so: We're dealing with culture shock, and I ...
Jack:
[44:41] Yeah. Yeah. Is it what you expected?
Jae:
[44:43] I mean, yes? It's just like I'm a perfectionist, and I get can be so hard on myself sometimes. So any obstacle that I go into, I'm just like: Ah, it's my fault, something that I did was wrong, like how are they ... like why did this happen? But everything else, I mean, like I think it's better than I imagined, which I'm like realizing now, because I mean like to be fair, I didn't really have any reference of what to imagine it to be. I just knew I wanted to be here.
Jack:
[45:09] It also just got nice, weather-wise. Like literally when you came, it's been nice since then. So you have that. You didn't have to deal with the winter, which was gross.
Jae:
[45:18] No, and I did it on purpose. I was like: I do not want to be here in ... I don't want that to be my welcoming. I'll deal with it when it comes, but at least let me enjoy these beautiful days of like, you know, the sun, and feeling happy, you know, without having to take medication - Vitamin D, you know!
Jack:
[45:36] Seasonal depression, it's a thing. I did not know until this year. I was like: This is what you guys were talking about! It's gross!