I moved to the United States one and a half years ago as a frugal, minimalist German. And honestly, living here sometimes feels like heaven – and sometimes like my inner German grandma desperately wants to write a very serious complaint letter.
If you try to live consciously and frugally with money, the US can feel a bit like winning the lottery one day… and like survival training the next.
Before we dive in, a quick introduction. My name is Uta, I’m originally from Germany, and this blog is all about my German frugal lifestyle habits – everything I learned from my grandparents about saving money and living simply so that we can eventually retire early.
Right now we are living in the US, so a big part of my life is figuring out how to incorporate my German minimalist mindset into an American environment.
And that can lead to some pretty interesting cultural observations.
Of course, this article reflects my personal experiences only. I have traveled through many parts of the US, but I have only lived here for about one and a half years. I can’t speak for every American or every state. These are simply my impressions from a German perspective.
Also, I want to make one thing very clear: we really enjoy living here. This article is not meant to criticize the US. It is simply about cultural differences.
So let’s look at three things I absolutely love about living in the US – and three things I struggle with.
You can watch the YouTube video on this topic here:
1. What I Love: The Opportunity Mindset
One thing I absolutely love about the United States is the mindset around opportunity.
If you want to start a business here, reinvent yourself, or try something completely new, people usually don’t think you’re crazy. Instead, they say: Go for it. Even better, they often ask how they can support you.
When my neighbor found out that I work as a web designer and SEO specialist, his reaction was something like: Wow, that’s cool. How can I support your business? I know a few business owners. Do you have a business card?
That kind of reaction still surprises my German brain. In Germany, the first reaction to a new business idea is often more cautious. People ask questions like: Is that safe? Are you sure that’s a good idea? Isn’t that too risky? In the US, the mentality often feels more like: Try it. And if it fails, try again.
Another huge difference is how easy it is to start a business. In many cases, you can open one online in just a few minutes. That level of flexibility creates a culture where entrepreneurship feels normal.
Of course, there are downsides to that as well. In Germany, some professions require strict certifications. If you want to open a bakery or a hair salon, you usually have to prove that you have the required education and training. The idea behind that system is to maintain a certain quality standard. Sometimes in the US, I get the feeling that people open a business while still figuring things out. But overall, the possibilities here feel almost endless if you are willing to learn, work hard, and go after clients. And I really admire that mindset.
2. What I Struggle With: Everything Feels Like One Big Corporation
Interestingly, the business culture in the US is also connected to one of the things I struggle with.
There is a saying that goes: America is not a country, it’s a corporation. That sounds funny at first, but sometimes it feels surprisingly accurate. Of course there are many small businesses here. But at the same time, it often feels like the same large companies dominate everything. No matter which city you visit, the landscape often looks similar.
There is a Walmart.
Then a Target.
Then a gas station.
Then another gas station.
And then the same chain restaurants.
Whether you are in Atlanta, Phoenix, or many other cities, the commercial areas often look very similar. As a European, I sometimes miss the unique character of small towns. In many European cities, you find small bakeries, family-owned shops, walkable city centers, and streets filled with independent stores.
In the US, many cities feel designed around cars and large retail chains. Another major difference is mobility. Cities in the US are often not very walkable or bike-friendly. In Germany and many parts of Europe, biking is extremely common. You can often get from point A to point B by bicycle.
Here in the US, you basically have to drive everywhere. Gas is cheaper than in Europe, but because you need your car for almost everything, the monthly costs can still add up. In the one and a half years I’ve lived here, I have seen maybe two or three people riding bikes – and they were riding in a state park for fun. That still amazes me (but not in a good way :D).
3. What I Love: The Convenience
Another thing Americans truly mastered is convenience. Everything here is incredibly easy. When I first arrived, I thought Americans had basically invented laziness. Now I have to admit something: I learned to love it. Prescriptions from the doctor are sent directly to the pharmacy. I get a notification in my app and can pick them up immediately. Blood test results? Available in an app. Need cash? There are drive-through ATMs. Drive-through pharmacies exist. Drive-through coffee shops are everywhere. When you have kids in the back seat, this suddenly makes a lot of sense. You don’t have to get them in and out of the car constantly. Everything becomes quicker and easier.
Grocery stores are huge, and delivery services are available almost everywhere. In my hometown in Germany, grocery delivery is extremely expensive – and in some areas, it doesn’t even exist. So my German brain is sometimes overwhelmed by the convenience here.
Of course, this is also connected to American capitalism. The easier it is to buy things, the more people consume. But honestly, sometimes Germans take the opposite extreme a bit too far. In Germany, people can almost feel proud of inconvenience. Like walking five kilometers through pouring rain at 6 AM to buy bread and then proudly saying: Yes, this is how it should be.
Maybe the truth lies somewhere in the middle.
4. What I Struggle With: Gun Violence
This is a difficult topic, but it’s also one of the main reasons I cannot imagine living in the US forever. Gun violence is something that many Europeans simply cannot comprehend. Before we moved here, I knew that the state we chose had relatively high gun ownership rates. But knowing something intellectually is very different from experiencing it in real life.
Shortly after we moved here, I went shopping at Walmart with my kids to buy things for the house. Bathroom rugs, basic household items, things like that. One week later, there was a shooting in that exact Walmart. That was the first moment when the reality of this topic really hit me.
Another moment that affected me deeply was when my son came home from kindergarten and told me about a drill they had done at school. They practiced what to do if an intruder enters the building. He talked about it casually, as if it were completely normal. For someone who grew up in Germany without ever worrying about weapons, that moment felt surreal.
In the US, there are more guns than people. And when you grow up in a culture where guns are present everywhere, it becomes normal. But for many Europeans, it never fully does. I once attended an outdoor yoga event with an American friend. After the event, she said: I’m so relieved nothing happened. My reaction was pure shock. Was that a real possibility?
These moments sometimes make everyday life feel a little more tense than it should.
5. What I Love: The Friendliness and Nature
On a much more positive note, one thing I absolutely love here is the overall friendliness of people. Especially in the southern states, the famous Southern hospitality is very real.
People start conversations everywhere. At the grocery store. At the gas station. In line at the checkout.
Americans compliment each other all the time. Nice shoes. Cute kids. Beautiful dress.
In Germany, that would feel very unusual. If a stranger approached you like that, many Germans would immediately wonder: What do you want from me? I personally enjoy this openness because I’m also quite outgoing.
Another big advantage of living in the US is the weather and the nature. In northern Germany, winters can feel incredibly long. Sometimes from late September until March, it feels dark, grey, and cold. Here, the sun shines much more often. My first December in the US was almost surreal. I woke up and thought: Wow. This is December?
If you enjoy nature and outdoor activities, the US is amazing. The wilderness feels bigger, wilder, and less regulated. You see so many animals and landscapes that feel completely untouched. Germany also has beautiful nature – the Alps, forests, lakes. But the sheer vastness of American landscapes hits differently.
6. What I Struggle With: Grocery Shopping
One of the biggest everyday challenges for my frugal German brain is grocery shopping. Healthy food here can be surprisingly expensive. Meanwhile, giant boxes of sugary cereal can cost less than fresh fruit. My brain sometimes struggles to compute that logic.
In Germany, basic organic foods are relatively affordable. Here, if you want organic products, the prices can be shocking. Buying a simple container of organic yogurt can feel like an emotional experience. You almost need your emotional support system before going to the checkout.
Of course, if you cook a lot at home and plan carefully, it’s still possible to manage your grocery budget. But you often have to make compromises in terms of quality. Another challenge is ingredients. Some food dyes and additives that are banned in Europe are still allowed in the US. As someone who tries to eat relatively clean, I spend a lot of time reading ingredient labels. Food costs add up quickly, especially when you live a frugal lifestyle and try to keep your monthly expenses low.
Eating out is also expensive. The tipping culture means that restaurant meals often cost much more than the listed price. So we reduced eating out quite a lot.
Finding the Balance Between Two Cultures
Living in the US has definitely changed me.
It made me a little braver.
A little more open to trying new things.
I love the American courage and hands-on mentality. At the same time, my German background keeps me grounded. I still value practicality, frugality, and thoughtful spending. Maybe the ideal lifestyle is somewhere in between. A mix of American boldness and German practicality.
And honestly, living between two cultures can be a very interesting place to be.
If you moved to the US from another country, I would love to hear about your experiences.
What surprised you the most? What do you struggle with? And if you are American – what do you think would drive you crazy about living in Germany? Comparing cultures can be one of the most fascinating ways to understand the world.
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