For people who live or have live in German only?

Question

I am going to be stationed in Germany in the next three weeks. The exact base in Germany I find out this week looks like Heidelberg. Here are my questions?

1) I will be able to live off post I am an SSG. So what kind of rates am I going to be looking at for an apartment?

2) How will it work to buy a car over there since my credit is back in America? And how much would I be looking at for a car payment over there a month for a brand new car rough estimate?

3) Can I afford my own place and a new car payment and bills and have money left over making around 3000 a month?

4) My Uncle lives in Germany and is married to a German women my plan is to when my three years are over how hard is it to get a job there as a civilian?

5) And I have to ask I am 25 I have been to Europe before

traveling I love Germany do German women like American men even if we are Soldiers?

Sorry for all the questions but in less than three weeks I will be living somewhere along ways away.

Answer 1

Hey, there, welcome to Germany!

As you might know, Heidelberg is a wonderful place to live.

However, housing off post can be very expensive, depending on where exactly you want to live and how big the apartement should be. You should expect it to cost 400€ to 600€ a month, going up to 750€ (with stuff like electricity, heating, waste removal costs and stuff inclued). Also, in contary to American apartements, it is not common here in Germany to have a kitchen built in rent-out apartements. Some do, as they have been left by former renters, but not all.

You might want to ask about that in the military section on here, since a lot of people have been stationed in Heidelberg and might give you information or tips.

THe same goes for buying a car. There are car dealerships that offer financing for American soldiers, but as a German, I have no oea about them other than I know they are there.

However, there is the option of "leasing" cars over here, which is an otion you might want to look into.

Depending on the car you will be going to buy or lease and how expensive the apartement you have, I think you should be able to live on your 3000 comfortably. By the way: 3000$ or 3000€? There's a big difference!

Have you got any other training than being a soldier? If not, getting a job here could be very tricky. If you do, though, things might work out pretty easily, but with no further information on that, I could not tell you. Also, with the current situation, and seeing as you are asking for something that will happen in three years...

About German women liking Americans, even if they are soldiers... There are girls here that go for anything with an American accent, especially if it comes in uniform. You might want to beware of those! ;))

Honestly: You will get to know German women, definitely, and if love hits you, it will hit you. Nothing you can do about that. On either side, so just be nice and friendly, and someone will come around.

About general cost of living: You dind't ask, but: since you can shop in "both worlds", you are able to pick and choose the best prices everywhere. Fruit and vegetables for instance are cheaper in German stores, especially if you shop in stores like ALDI, Penny, Norma, Lidl, while clothes and fuel are more expencive in Germany, so have a careful look around and compare prices.

Hope I helped a little.

Answer 2

Heidelberg is one great city.  You will be close to a bunch of touring spots.  If you are allowed to live off base I would do so.  Living among the locals is a blast.  I spent 9 years in germany.

Heidelberg is a college city with collegiate nightlife.

I haven't a clue as to what it would cost if you were paying your own rent and utilities.

It is easy purchasing a car.  Many GIs sell their cars at dirt cheap prices.  Most of the time you shouldn't have to purchase on the economy.  You will have to have German insurance (Lloyds, Fortune, etc.  They can always be found just off base.  They are governed by law as to what they can charge.

Getting your driver license for Germany can be a challenge.  When I took the test there were 50 questions about regulations and 50 questions about highway signs.  You might be able to start studying now on the computer.  You will not have to take a road test.  You will have to take a driver ed. class that is taught by locals but on base.

Learn about Volksmarchges, they are a bunch of fun.