We Germans have a lot of sayings that sound super funny when you translate them word for word into English.
For example, my pig whistles, which basically means wow, that is pretty crazy. Or I think I spider, which also means something like wow, this is unexpected.
But when it comes to saving money, German sayings are actually incredibly accurate. Many of them are deeply rooted in our culture and help explain why Germany is considered one of the most successful nations when it comes to saving money.
Now, we can debate whether this is a good or a bad thing. Of course, economies need spending to grow. But you cannot deny that Germans simply like to save money and are pretty good at it.
As Germans, we do not say let’s get Chick-fil-A for dinner.
We say we still have bread at home, we eat at home.
We do not say just throw it away.
We say give it to me, I will make something out of it.
When I was a kid, I hated these sayings. I was always like, come on dad or grandpa, it is not that serious.
But these small grandpa wisdoms are probably the reason why my husband and I will be able to retire within the next five to seven years. My goal is to retire before I turn 40, and right now it actually looks pretty realistic.
We did not sell a startup. We did not inherit millions. We simply had a good education, stable jobs, and consistently saved money.
Today’s post is a little emotional because we will talk about my grandpa, who is sadly no longer with us. I still miss him every single day. But he shaped my financial future more than anyone else, and I think there is a lot we can learn from this kind, honest, and hardworking man.
So let’s dive into the wisdom he shared when I was growing up. I also shared a YouTube video about these exact 10 rules, so don´t forget to go ahead and check out my Youtube Channel!
Wisdom 1: We Still Have Food at Home
This saying basically means use what you already have.
German households are masters at using existing resources first. Leftover bread becomes another meal. Vegetables become soup or broth. Nothing is wasted if it still works.
It sounds small, but modern spending is often driven by convenience, not necessity.
I love convenience here in the United States. But let’s be honest, much of it is not necessary. Every time you replace something instead of reusing it, you cut away a piece of your financial freedom.
If you want to apply this rule, stop eating out three times a week. Maybe once a week or on special occasions is enough. Learn to cook. Learn meal prep. Make your own lunch instead of spending fifteen dollars every workday.
If you own a coffee machine, make your coffee at home. Every morning I see parents bringing six or seven dollar iced coffees from coffee chains. Doing that daily really adds up. Tea from home might even taste better and usually contains less sugar.
Wisdom 2: Only Cash Money Is Real Money
My American friends always laugh about this because Germans love cash.
The idea behind this saying is simple. It hurts when you see cash leaving your wallet. When you tap a credit card, you do not truly feel the spending.
We have lost the emotional connection to money.
Taking three hundred dollars out of your wallet feels different. You count it. You see it. You experience the loss.
My grandpa never tracked a budget in an app. His system was simple. When the envelope was empty, it was empty.
Wisdom 3: We Are Not Kings
This saying combines several German expressions meaning we are not super rich.
When my brother and I were cold at my grandparents’ house, my grandfather sometimes told us to put on jackets and go for a walk to warm up.
Yes, it sounds strict. Of course the heater was turned on when necessary. But first you adjust yourself before adjusting the heater.
In Germany, sitting indoors in winter wearing shorts and a T-shirt is considered wasteful. Dress warmer, lower the heater by two degrees, and you save money and energy.
We kept this habit in the US, and friends are always shocked by our energy bill. Ours is usually around eighty dollars, maybe one hundred fifty during colder months, while many friends pay four to five hundred dollars monthly.
Over a year, that difference becomes thousands of dollars that could instead grow in retirement accounts.
And honestly, sitting under a blanket with a sweater is cozy anyway.
Wisdom 4: If You Do Not Respect Small Money, You Are Not Worthy of Big Money
As a child I thought small amounts did not matter. But wealth is rarely destroyed by one big purchase. It disappears through many small ones.
My grandpa did not have Netflix or Amazon Prime. When they wanted something, they saved first and bought intentionally. There was no one-click purchase button.
Delayed gratification was normal.
Respecting small money trains you to respect large amounts later. If you do not know where small expenses leak from your finances, building wealth becomes almost impossible.
A six-dollar coffee every workday equals about fifteen hundred dollars per year. Over ten years, that becomes fifteen thousand dollars. Invested wisely, that could significantly grow by retirement.
Wisdom 5: My Savings Plan Means No
My grandpa never used words like minimalism or frugality. He simply said no.
No to unnecessary upgrades.
No to debt.
No to buying things he did not truly need.
If he wanted something, he waited. Sometimes until he visited the city, sometimes until it went on sale.
He often said poverty is not always an income problem but a lifestyle problem. I do not fully agree, because some people truly struggle financially. But many of us with stable incomes simply overspend.
Learning to say no builds wealth.
Wisdom 6: Save First, Spend Later
The German mindset traditionally avoids consumer debt. You buy things when you have the money.
If a television costs two thousand dollars, you save first and buy later.
Consumer debt carries social stigma in Germany. The only widely accepted debt is usually a mortgage, and even that is expected to be manageable and paid off within a reasonable timeframe.
My grandpa drove his car until it completely stopped working.
My grandma always added another saying: nothing feels as good as being debt free.
Wisdom 7: Tighten Your Belt
Sometimes life requires periods of restraint.
Not forever, just long enough to create stability again.
When my husband and I renovated our house, we did everything ourselves. We were young, just starting our careers, and did not have much money.
We canceled our apartment and moved in with his parents to save aggressively. It was less comfortable, but it allowed us to reduce debt dramatically.
Temporary sacrifice created long-term freedom.
Wisdom 8: Respect Resources
My grandpa jokingly said that as long as food was not fully alive with mold, it could still be eaten.
Yes, he probably took it a bit too far. But the deeper lesson was respect for resources.
After World War II, he returned to a destroyed hometown and had to rebuild life from almost nothing. That experience shaped how deeply he valued food, energy, and money.
Nothing should be taken for granted.
That mindset helped me appreciate what I already own instead of constantly wanting more.
Wisdom 9: Let Others Buy It First
You can have almost everything wealthy people own. You just let them buy it first.
Buying secondhand probably saved us at least fifty thousand dollars throughout our lives, especially when furnishing a home, moving countries, and raising children.
Technology becomes cheaper quickly. Last season’s trends still work perfectly fine.
My dad used to say time is the greatest discount code.
Many items I inherited from my grandparents are still in use today. Solid wooden furniture built decades ago continues to serve its purpose beautifully.
Wisdom 10: If It Does Not Fit, Make It Fit
When something breaks, you do not automatically throw it away.
You repair it. Repaint it. Repurpose it.
I have a dresser I received for free. After repainting it, it will probably last another decade. Our cat sleeps in my son’s old baby nest, saving money on a pet bed.
This rule encourages creativity. Before discarding something, consider whether it could serve another purpose. Give yourself a time frame to repurpose it. Only afterward decide to let it go.
What My Grandpa Really Taught Me
These were the ten rules I learned from my grandpa and from growing up in Germany.
As a child, I often questioned them. Today I am deeply grateful.
It was never about being cheap or stingy. It was about mindfulness and respect for resources.
For me, early retirement is not about becoming rich. It is about having enough and feeling satisfied with what I already have.
This way of living reduces financial stress, simplifies life, and creates calm instead of pressure.
I would love to hear in the comments if your parents or grandparents had similar rules that once sounded strict but now make perfect sense.
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I hope to see you again in the next one!
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