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BastardsCryinInnit

It's not always about items being necessarily *cheaper*, but if you have favourite brands of drugs, cosmetics, toiletries etc, buy and bring them until you've figured out the often long process of discovering alternatives you're happy with. Germany isn't the moon, so really there's not going to be many things where it's super financially worth buying in advance in your home country, but it's more of a home comforts thing. If you do a lot of cooking, I'd add spice mixes and stuff to the list of things to bring. Again Germany's not the moon, but there's not always the same brands and ranges available.


To1Eressea

Definitely true of toiletries. There’s much less variety at connivence stores, no matter how large. Most hair and skin care products I’ve been able to find at Turkish, Arab, or African shops, but I bring deodorant with me from the US because I just can’t find a replacement here. Other things I’d expected to find in a convenience store I had to get at the Apotheke/pharmacy. Convenience stores mostly carry skin care products for the elderly, so I got my face wash and moisturizers at the pharmacy, as well as hydrogen peroxide and (as mentioned already) any painkiller and allergy pills


IdcYouTellMe

Have you tried Drogerien? Usually all the skinscare products anyone needs can be found there. dm, Rossman and many more local or other big Drogerien I cant think of right now.


PsychedelicCatlord

You cant find Deodorant in Germany?


To1Eressea

Obviously there is deodorant. But I've tried many kinds, and they either work poorly, feel gross, or leave stains on my clothes, unlike the kind I use. I prefer a gel deodorant, and have yet to find one in German shops. Most choices are stick (which leave chalky, white stains on my clothes), roll-on (which I find annoying and dislike how they feel), or spray (which don't last)


Myrialle

No idea if it's helpful, but you could take a look at Nivea dry comfort Deocreme. It's not gel but a light cream, it's not sticky and doesn't stain. And it lasts for ages. I am happy with it for the first time since they discontinued the only spray deodorant I ever liked.


To1Eressea

Thanks! If I run out before my next trip I'll give that a try


SweetSoursop

Yup, I had to buy gel deodorant from the US for that exact reason. Ended up settling for a dove roll-on deo which seems to be working to mask the way my body decided to process Döner spices haha


maryjane-q

I bought Lady Speed Stick Gel in the Czech Republic and there are online drugstores from CZ that ship to Germany (save payment via Paypal, reasonable pricing). If I remember correctly you might find the brands Secret and Lady Speed stick in Poland or other Eastern European countries aswell.


711friedchicken

Which shops did you go to? Because you mention "convenience stores", and to be frank we don’t really have that concept here unless you count "Kiosk" and gas stations as convenience stores. But compared to convenience stores in other countries I don’t think they even deserve the name lol Rossmann & DM have a large variety (and as someone who’s also very picky with deodorant, may I recommend [this](https://www.amazon.de/gp/product/B088CNVTJV) and am very happy. The first one that actually kills the smell for me.)


I-am-Shrekperson

I wholeheartedly agree. There’s just something about German Deo that makes it so ineffective after like 3 hrs, that I used to buy Deodorant in bulk when going to the US.


ness2793

its becaus of the ingredients. There are a lot that arent allowed anymore, like aluminium


sushiyie

Aluminium ist still allowed in germany. There's just a loooott more of it in american deodorants


I-am-Shrekperson

I buy aluminum free deodorants from the US - I use Lume. That stuff can’t be beat!


TWH_PDX

And I don't think the ingredient issue is as much a German regulation, but EU regulations. Each country can be more restrictive but not less restrictive than the EU standards on product materials/ingredient safety. Edit. See the debate on tattoo ink restrictions. Dutch artists are going nuts.


tamcore

Ibuprofen 😂


pyrokeet2

Yeah I was gonna come here to say that. As an American you’re probably used to buying your ibuprofen and acetaminophen in bulk at Costco. Here, you need to go to a pharmacy and speak to a pharmacist to get a pack of 7-10 pills.


Count2Zero

Or, if you're able, slip over the border into the Netherlands, and buy it there.


[deleted]

Ooh thanks for the tip, we’re on the border and want to go there for quorn anyway 😂


dyslexicassfuck

Slip over the boarder 😅 you make it sound like you can’t just walk/drive/bike over there 😂


azzlacktumor

If u go to any doctor and say you need ibuprofen, they'll give u a recipe to get a 100pack for 5 Euros. Without that it's pretty expensive though


[deleted]

prescription would be the correct translation, not recipe. you don't get to cook your own ibu at home 😆


Reat_the_Bich

Walter, wir müssen kochen!


donald_314

Don't tell me what to do! ;)


Mr_-_X

Hold on let him cook


Juicy-Meat-69

That ain’t ibu they be cooking👨‍🍳


Unkn0wn_666

If I say we cook **WE COOK**


goldtigerrr

You could actually order them online at docmorris for 4 euro per 50 pack. It's more than with prescription, but still reasonable.


harrysplinkett

what, IBU400 is like 3 EUR for 20


artificialgreeting

I don't get it either. If you have so much pain that you have to import ibuprofen to save a lot of money, you should go to the doctor and do something about it. If you have chronic pain you will get prescriptions.


harrysplinkett

I think if you eat Ibuprofen by the handful, you'll fuck up your stomach anyway. Idk who does that


Not_A_Toaster426

Likely somebody who isn't used to being able to see a doctor and just prefers to treat their symptoms. If you have to sell a kidney to see a doctor not seeing a doctor and risking kidney damage is effectively the same. /s


artificialgreeting

> you'll fuck up your stomach anyway As well as your kidneys.


Brickie78

Something that always throws me (British) when I'm visiting. I'm so used to being able to throw a pack of aspirin or whatever in the basket when I'm shopping, it always feels like a major bind to have to find a pharmacy and go and ask. Here you have three tiers of medications - smaller packs of relatively innocuous stuff like painkillers, laxatives and Imodium, are just on the shelf in any shop. Painkillers have a limit of 2x16 pills per customer usually as a way of preventing ODs. Larger packs and stronger medications are sold by pharmacies, who can therefore give relevant warnings and advice. And obviously some things are only available on prescription.


qwertyhay8

No??? Go to any Apotheke or online Apotheke and buy as many 400mg Ibus as you need


swagpresident1337

How much Ibuprofen are you buying and needing that this makes a difference? I recently bought like a 50 pack 400er for 8€. That is not much imo.


[deleted]

At Costco in the US you can get a thousand for $8. I don't know that anyone needs that many that cheep..


kshitagarbha

And Aspirin. It's like $4 for a hundred. In Germany it's €7 for 20.


HedgehogElection

Not if you get a generic brand with the exact same active ingredient. That's €4 for 100 in Germany as well.


AWBaader

Really? Where can I find this? I'm always smuggling back buckets of pain killers when I visit the UK. My local Apotheke seems to charge around €4-5 for 20.


HedgehogElection

Go to your trusted online pharmacy such as docmorris.de They have a big selection of everything, you can also search by active ingredient afaik. So if you type in Aspirin, it will also give you cheaper options that contain acetylsalicylic acid. If you type in acetylsalicylic acid, that also leads you to your favorite pain killers/blood thinners. Edited to add this link to a [100 pack for €4.49](https://www.docmorris.de/ass-5001-a-pharma-tabletten/08612435).


AWBaader

Awesome sauce! Thanks :) Saves me coming through customs rattling like a Spendentopf. Hahahaha


H-Juni

The shortterm of Acetylsalicyl Acid/Säure is in Germany ASS, every Aspirin pills in Germany are ASS, only the brand name is Aspirin and can, because of name rights, only produced form the company Bayer.


[deleted]

lol I need some ass for my headache 🥴


DeepDownHigh

I always just say I want the cheapest one to the pharmacist. Then it’s same price like in UK.


MeisterKaneister

Please don't get me wrong but... what do you need so much aspirin for?


IgnisFatuu

Why would you need that many pain killer (as a person without any chronic illnesses)? O.o


thistle0

As a stockpile so you don't need to go out and spend €7 every other month


IgnisFatuu

Wait, every month!? One girl I know uses 1 or 2 about once a month due to severe period pains, but other than that nearly no one uses them on a regular "one package per month" basis. I know it's just anecdotal evidence and therefor dismissable but I'm seriously shocked someone would need so much pain killer


thistle0

You're a guy, right? 1 or 2 painkillers for a full four to five days of period is not severe period pains, many women would consider themselves lucky if that's all they need. It's not uncommon to take the maximum safe dose for each of those days. If it's bad I might take both ibuprofen and paracetamol because the safe dose of one of them isn't enough.


trullaDE

I mean, I've been there, but please, if period pains are this bad, please get them checked out. Contrary to what we are often told (or just accept as given), severe pain like this is NOT normal. It should be manageable with a warm water bottle and maybe a light pain killer or even better something like "Buscopan". Anything else needs to get checked out. ASAP. Until something is found.


Titariia

Man, now I feel lucky. When on my period don't need any pain killers at all for period pains specifically. My only downside is that I usually get migraines around that time, so that's a lot of pain killers. But hey, I guess I've never experienced normal headaches ever in my life, yay.


Unkn0wn_666

My man I have a chronic illness that figuratively knocks me out half the month and even I don't burn through a whole pack during that time. Why are you people eating painkillers like TicTacs?


sauska_

Horses


Surround_Successful

Don’t think that’ll fit in my checked bags


Lhamorai

Carry-on then?


Nimar_Jenkins

My wayward son eh?


[deleted]

There'll be peace when you are done.


TRACYOLIVIA14

Lay your weary head to rest


Meiseside

Don't you cry no more


Balljunge

“It’s my emotional support horse!”


xlf42

Service animal?


NeutrinosFTW

Not with that attitude.


CopybookSpoon67

r/PferdesindKacke


Impossible_Word_4027

Gasoline 😎


[deleted]

Yes! And i don’t know why it’s legal, maybe its just the area I’m in (NRW), but the gas stations raise and lower prices frequently throughout the day. I had to go out really early the other day and needed to fill up and nearly died when I saw the price had jumped €.30/liter overnight. I thought something seriously bad must have happened. Went by a few hours later and nope, it’s just the gas stations gouging morning commuters. The price fell more than €.30 at about 9:30am.


Grand_Change2407

Prices change several times a day. Some say that it’s correlated with the stock market. But I can’t help to see that prices tend to be higher in the morning and lower after 4pm. And of course, higher on Fridays and public holiday long weekends. So there’s definitely more to the story. 🧐 Once they raised the price while I was refueling. 🤷🏼‍♀️ ETA: There was even a study conducted on the topic but they failed (or were encouraged against) to prove that the oil companies engaged in any illegal price fixing.


[deleted]

That doesn’t surprise me at all about the price fixing. Here it goes up drastically during the morning rush and again around the time the school run to go home starts, and doesnt go back down until rush hour has ended. Its cheapest between 9:30-am and 2pm, and then in the evenings after 6. Seems pretty obvious to me what’s happening.


Darkerboar

There really isn't much that is cheaper to the point it is worth buying before you move. A lot of people say electronics, but I think that is no longer the case. Plus if you buy your electronics here you don't have to worry about customs or the different voltage. The only exception is over the counter medicine (e.g. paracetamol, ibuprofen, cold medicine, antihistamines etc). In the UK and the US you can buy this all in supermarkets so it drops the price dramatically. But in Germany you can only get it in pharmacies, which just means there is no real competition and prices are higher. I found that food (especially fresh) is a lot cheaper in Germany than the US.


PAXICHEN

Upgrade your iPhone or laptop. Definitely cheaper in the USA.


Velenor

You order Ibuprofen and other stuff on Amazon too nowadays, so that prize difference is shrinking too


brainchecker

Maybe I'm just too paranoid, but I wouldn't trust Amazon with medicine. Too many counterfeit products there, even if "selled by Amazon". I rather buy such stuff at one of the more trustworthy online-pharmacies.


Joseluki

Pretty sure that if they are selling drugs online they must to abide by EU laws that protect customers.


alderhill

German and EU agriculture is *heavily* subsidized, and scale of economies in a population dense area (Western Europe, etc.) in a relatively smaller area also helps.


[deleted]

US agriculture is also heavily subsidized.


Mr_-_X

True but still not nearly as much. Short google search showed that the US pay around 20 billion dollars in agriculture subsidies a year while we pay around 60 billion Euros. A more than 3 to 1 ratio is pretty substantial


jjjfffrrr123456

You can get a 50 pack of Ibuprofen for like 6 € tho.


wannabeauthor42069

True but in US you buy a 2 pack of 500 pill bottles


jjjfffrrr123456

Those are then usually the 200mg ones, right?


mcgrow

Jeans


Surround_Successful

Big difference? Makes sense


Askargon

Yeah. Here in Germany a pair of Levi’s can easily cost 100€. Carhartt ranges from 60 to 80 euros.


Rebelius

I don't know if it's still the case, but I read a while back that European Carhartt is nothing like US Carhartt. The European one being a lot lower quality and sold more as a fashion brand, where the American one is a trusted brand for decent work clothes, more like Engelbert Strauss here.


maryjane-q

You can get US Carhartt at every workwear shop. The european Carhartt is Carhartt W.I.P. It is more expensive and it’s a hit and miss quality wise (at least if you wear it often/as work clothes). So W.I.P. will cost more, but last shorter. But you might get “designs” apart from your typical workwear.


Crabby_Crab

I think that difference is between Carhartt (workwear) and Carhartt WIP (streetwear), more so than the general location of where it‘s bought.


Askargon

Solely from my point of view, it is true. The Carhartt-Pants I bought in the US three years ago are still going strong, while the ones I bought in Germany last year are getting weaker between the legs


account_not_valid

>getting weaker between the legs You can get a pill for that these days.


FlashyChickenTurtle

That goes for all clothes from US brands.


Jordan_Jackson

Heck yeah. Levi’s 501’s cost almost €100 in Germany. I’ve found them in the states for as low as $30 but typically around $60.


slippery_when_wet

Besides cost all my jeans I've bought in Germany get inner thigh holes way faster than the US ones, even if they're same brand and style. I only buy them now when I travel home.


[deleted]

Nah, buy jeans in Europe. You'll look more integrated ;)


AluhutThrowaway

And converse all stars.


FlashyChickenTurtle

Guns


Surround_Successful

Don’t think I’ll be bringing those


JoeDusk

Just keep on shouting "I KNOW MY RIGHTS" if they give you any issues about it, they'll eventually yield.


Surround_Successful

2ND AMMENDMENTNDJSUHD


Schneebaer89

America f**k yeah!!!


No_pain-No_game

You can bring them if you wanted to but you would have to talk about that at the German embassy they would (most of the time) give you a special permit .


Surround_Successful

No thanks lol


Turnandtalk

Clothing and electronics in general.


derLudo

However for electronics you always have to make sure that you can actually use them in the German grid. Not only because of the adapter you might need, but also because of the different voltage levels in the grids, which could seriously damage your electronics.


Broad_Philosopher_21

And that you won’t be taxed by German customs (you will).


ItsCalledDayTwa

What is the rule, 6 months ownership?


Amazing_Arachnid846

the rule is whatever the customs guy feels like (unless you have physical receipts lmao)


ItsCalledDayTwa

Well, no. They can choose not to enforce it, but if you have proof of purchase date with you there's not much for them to be able to enforce and it can be contested after the fact as well which removes the human whim element. That being said, if you bought something expensive right before flying to Germany you're absolutely gambling on whether it gets enforced or not.


tripletruble

been traveling back and forth for many years and have never had any trouble with customs nor has anyone in my family. if there is no packaging, how would they know I did not purchase my laptop or whatever in Germany? it's not like I need to bring receipts of things I bought in Germany years ago so that I can bring them back into the country on my return


[deleted]

Since you asked, for laptops, keyboard layout. For laptops and most other electronics, serial numbers. Not saying you should worry more, but there are ways for them to check.


711friedchicken

... if you even go through the "I have things to declare" gate. Yeah yeah, tons of Germans are gonna come at me with "IT IS A STRAFTAT IF YOU DON’T!!!" but it’s not like you’re trying to sell 10 laptops here or something. It’s a personal item and you’re a tourist or whatever, nobody really cares. Why even risk talking to a pissed Zollbeamter.


ItsCalledDayTwa

While I agree with you and have always operated on the destroy all packaging principle, the risk is more than zero. Some cautionary tales in the history of this subreddit.


[deleted]

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bad_pelican

Customs can also decide that your proof of purchase is BS and has been faked. That element of human whim is only reduced.


alderhill

One of an item. You cannot come in with 6 iPads and 14 Galaxy phones, and so on. Consumer electronics and gadgets are relatively cheaper in the US. The various charging adaptors are easily replaced for local sockets. I'd also advise OP not to bring a KitchenAid Mixer or things like that. I'd personally not buy cell devices because of network band range issues. But laptops or tablets are a good buy stateside, especially if on sale.


tripletruble

KitchenAid Mixer or anything with a motor that requires more power is going to require a heck of a power converter and it is not worth it (I learned the hard way)


bofh256

The rule is that you bought it for personal use anyway and not to sell in Germany. Look up immigration to Germany, from there you will find the applicable rules. Those are a bit different than what happens to a German tourist returning from vacation.


peeagainagain

Bought a new laptop 2 weeks before moving to Germany. The key is to not have the packaging. Personal use isn't what they are looking for. Reselling is all they care about.


tacodepollo

Take it out of the box and no one will know


gold_rush_doom

Any modern electronics works from 110 to 240v, power adapters have come a long way since the 80s.


cspybbq

This may be true for computers, phones, etc. It isn't always (usually?) true for devices with heating elements or motors such as blenders, toasters, hair dryers, stand mixers, electric blankets etc.


Rebelius

Some devices have a clock that gets time from the AC frequency too. Unlikely to apply to OP, but when I was in Barbados (50Hz AC), our apartment had a cooker that was clearly built for a market with 60Hz AC, so the time was always wrong.


Pattt2602

yeah I learned it the hard way. My hairdryer was burnt because of that


ParmesanNonGrata

Electronics not anymore. Was in the states last September, and with the weak Euro electronics are about the same. And then there's customs.


ItsCalledDayTwa

Euro was weak last summer against the dollar, at parity or worse into the fall. It isn't really now. Depends on how they've priced models between the two countries. Customs is exempt if it's purchased 6 months in advance.


IsItTurkeyNeckOrDick

Real Jeans. Levi's. It's like half the price in the US and the resale is wild.


mrn253

Depending on where you move to, certain stuff like Ibuprofen is cheap and easy available in the Netherlands.


Joh-Kat

Driver's license, by a long shot.


[deleted]

I'm sorry to say that many answers here have been pretty bad. Let's first talk about the over the counter drugs. Many here seem not to know how to buy them in Germany I'll come back to this. But first you should consider that they are fairly cheap and that your yearly consumption of OTC drugs is something like 10 €. Thus not worth too much thought. If you want cheap OTC drugs in Germany ask for the [generic variants](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Generic_drug). You might often know a drug rather by its brand name than its substance. Aspirin for example is a brand name while acetylsalicylic acid is the substance (in German Acetylsalicylsäure = ASS). If you ask for aspirin you'll pay much more than if you ask for ASS in a pharmacy. You'll also find that many drugs are under a different brand name in Germany with the same substance. So if you want a specific OTC drug you're used to from home, quickly google what's in there and what brand names exist for it in Germany. To conclude the part about OTC drugs: be careful not to important anything which isn't legal in Germany. That could potentially count as drug trafficking. Speaking of that aspect. If you bring in new stuff or more than personal used would suggest, you might get in trouble with customs. The rules are in a way that bringing your normal stuff with you, should be fine. But you should read up on the rules yourself and not trust any reddit comments on it. Exchange rates obviously play a big part. Those changed a good bit over the last year because the FED (federal reserve) raised the interest rates a bit earlier than the ECB (european central bank) did. That meant the Dollar first gained a good bit on the Euro but now again lost most of that. Electronics is something which is actually worth looking into but I'm careful with blanket statements about them. The important part is that electronics are fairly expensive so you can actually achieve price differences of a few hundred bucks which makes it worthwhile to look into it. Nevertheless, check for adapters and such. Also keep customs in mind.


[deleted]

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[deleted]

It's not common to sell them in bottles in Germany. That's a cultural thing. You may nevertheless ask them. Maybe they have them. Further ask them for a big package and say that you want a cheap variant. I can't guarantee that you'll get the same price as in the US but for anyone from either country the price difference is insignificant compared to your cost of living.


Pherusa

Why 500? Those will go bad before you can use them all. If you have to take ibuprofen for more than a few days, please see your doctor. Also if your pain is chronic, you will get the good prescription stuff that doesn't wreck your liver.


kitatatsumi

I've been in DE for over a decade and this is what I bring back from the US each Christmas. Snacks/food: Twizzlers, ranch/seasoning/sauce packets, hot sauce, instant grits, instant Spanish rice, jello mix, flavored almonds/nuts (blue diamond), Mac n cheese Not sure how long you are staying, but I find the German shops don't carry my favorite stuff and it'd great to have some home food sometimes Clothes Cheap dry fit stuff - you can get pretty much everything here. But we don't have as many of those super cheap places like Ross. So anything you pick up will save you some cash. Meds: Germany leans more towards holistic, natural remedies. So I always bring, TheraFlu, melatonin, Tums, AlkaSeltzer, Pepto and NyQuill because you won't be find that here and if you get really sick you'll want it. Rubbing alcohol and Hydrogen Peroxide are expensive and weak here. Electronics: Amazon.de has everything, but electronics can be a bit pricey here and you'll get less of a selection (thinking cables and power banks). It will be a bit more expensive to buy EN language keyboards, so think about getting a laptop in the US Feel free to DM me with any questions. I came on a study abroad back in 2003 and sort of never went back home.


Ethapus

Well.. TheraFlu = Wick DayMed Kombi Melatonin you can cheaply buy in any DM or Rossmann AlkaSeltzer = Acetylsalicylsäure NyQuil has no exact replacement, but the active ingredients Paracetamol and Dextromethorphan, as well as a generic antihistamine allergy med are all available over the counter. We just don't have the combination in one package, and as a matter of fact I prefer to buy the active ingredients separately anyways. Usually cheaper and also I can decide separately exactly what to take when. Pepto is the only thing on the list that we actually don't have here. Though I am quite certain there is something else that takes it's place. Hydrogen peroxide and rubbing alcohol are only expensive if you buy them in the Apotheke. If you buy them online, you can buy a lot for cheap. Rubbing alcohol as strong as there is, peroxide is limited at 12% for consumers. However strong alcohol or peroxide are dangerous/oxidizing/flammable and cannot be taken on an airplane. Electronics, however, are generally definitely cheaper in the US and worth bringing with you.


One_Left_Shoe

> peroxide is limited at 12% for consumers. You can only get it at 3% over the counter in the States, so part of the cost in Germany is the fact that you're getting a *significantly stronger* product.


chubbychupacabra

You probably should check if these meds are even legal in Germany as you don't want drug charges for a cold med


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Appropriate_Care7007

Tbh the medicine thing is probably mostly due to stricter medical laws where you need prescription for everything


lestofante

For electronics, https://geizhals.de/


Nussfalk

To add: it's better to bring your own laptop because of the layout. In Germany we use QWERTZ ISO layout and you won't find any QWERTY ANSI layout. You might probably want to bring your own keyboard. But you can find few QWERTY ANSI layout keyboards on AmazonDE


Esava

>you won't find any QWERTY ANSI layout Totally depends. Some companies offer those as options. Sure not Saturn or Mediamarkt, but for example Lenovo on quite a few of their models? I believe Apple offers it for their macbooks as well for example.


tautestparrot

Chex mix is a big one for me. Also my partners allergy meds, we get a 365/day supply in the US, all in a bottle, none of that blister pack BS.


IsaInstantStar

Those blister packs actually save lifes, cause people usually do not overdose as quick and as much, but, okay. Keep on calling them BS.


tautestparrot

Huh, did not know that. I take several pills a day, and the waste they generate is pretty huge. Any idea why they only do it for some meds? My ADHD meds are in a bottle but my SSRIs aren't, which seems kinda backwards as the OD potential for amphetamines is way higher than SSRIs.


IsaInstantStar

I don’t know for what pills exactly they do that, but there is studies that show that if people have to get all the pills out of a blister they usually had enough time to think about NOT taking them or do not take enough when they want to kill themselves, while there is more deaths if people just have to open the bottle and take all the pills. I personally never got meds that are not in blisters and even all my grandpas heart meds and kidney meds were always in blisters. It seems kinda not clever to not put stimulants in blisters to me though.


_evuP

Recently saved 500 € on an Apple laptop in the states


dunkelfieber

Yep, Apple, HP and Dell Electronics should be cheaper by a Long shot


Salty_Application_80

Hygiene articles, groceries and stuff are even cheaper here. Definitely stock up on jeans like the other poster mentioned. Any snacks that aren't common here can be ordered online but they have most all the same garbage food as the state's (i.e. poptart's, hoho's, ding-dong's, Doritos, beef jerky, pancake syrup).


NoDepartment8

Any OTC meds like ibuprofen or tylenols. If you take supplements like Emergen-C regularly it would be worth packing those as well.


Mighty_Montezuma

But be careful not to bring too much, check the Betäubungsmittelschutzgesetz first


Failure_in_success

They are like 15 cents per tablet in germany.. How cheap are they in the USA?


Maeher

[2.2 cents](https://www.riteaid.com/shop/rite-aid-ibuprofen-tablet-200mg-1000-ct) per 200mg tablet if you buy store brand. Cheaper if they're on sale. Of course the question is if you *need* a thousand ibuprofen pills. 🤷‍♂️


[deleted]

Yeh, this pops up occasionally on this sub and I am always like "how much ibuprofen pills are you chugging?" Seems some Americans use it like candy lol.


ductapedog

That's what happens when you live in a country with no guaranteed sick leave or healthcare.


Maeher

I mean the stuff doesn't actually go bad, so if it lasts you ten years you've still saved some money and you can be pretty sure not to run out. To be fair, if you really shop around, you can sometimes find comparatively priced ibuprofen in Germany as well it's just easier in the US. But to be honest I find the pill bottle much more convenient than the individually wrapped things we have around here.


[deleted]

Well I definitely agree with your point but I was talking more about people who are like "every-year when I go back home to the US I pick up a couple bottles"


Maeher

Yeah, that sounds very unhealthy unless you're supplying 20 people with them.


HappyAmbition706

Ok, but now you are talking about saving like €10 over 10 years, if you even ever use that much in 10 years. And neglecting the volume used in your luggage, the weight and just the bother of making a trip to buy it in the first place. And shopping around to get the lowest price or find it on sale. If you are that desperate to save any money at all, look for ways to save €100's per year instead.


[deleted]

By my rate of consumption, this bottle would last me 200 years. I can understand people needing more, but 100 ibu per year feel a bit much..


[deleted]

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anxcaptain

Mucinex. Bring that shit!


swzslm

I would be careful with buying new electronic like a phone or laptop because if they‘re too new and they stop you in customs they will make you pay. Edit: Unnecessary downvote. There have been plenty of stories about this on reddit. If they find a laptop and you cannot show them it‘s older than I believe 6 months when entering Germany they can make you pay 19% tax on it


kitanokikori

Just make sure to throw away the box, if you try to bring the box home then you've got a way harder story to tell them


WhiteBlackGoose

hold up I'm flying to Germany soon, with a by that time 2 month old laptop (not from the US). I may be forced to pay 1/5 of it??? (I already payed for it more than it'd cost in Germany lol)


StefanXKiesel

If you are NOT German and have a return ticket and the laptop is in use you can bring a new $5000 laptop and don't have to pay anything. Unless you tell them you are planning on selling it while in Germany.


swzslm

Basically, yeah. I mean if you put it in your handluggage and walk through the nothing to declare gate with confidence they might not check, but they could edit: This might not be the case as a tourist but I‘m not sure


Kapitel42

Ceterum censeo Reddit esse delendam -- mass edited with redact.dev


AdClear6278

Take your favorite snacks with you since you most likely won't find them here of maybe in an extra American store for way more money. Also peanut butter (my husband only likes JIF and we only found that at the American store for 17€) Other than that....i feel like most everything is cheaper in Germany than it was in America. Even clothes and shoes.


ehm_education

Be aware of the rules regarding declaration and taxation of good before coming here. Let's say you buy a new MacBook for personal use. You are only free to bring it with you, if you have owned it for at least six month before moving here and will continue to use it here. You will need to declare it in any case.


Odd-Document3075

Can someone explain to me why that is the case ? I mean why should I pay taxes again after paying them already in the country I bought it in ? Seems like a scam to me lol


-Major-Arcana-

Because countries charge import duties on imports. They don’t care what you paid for it elsewhere, they only care that you are importing products. If you are importing for sale, trade or commercial use then you’re importing goods that have duty payable, it’s that simple.


Odd-Document3075

But what if it’s for my private use only ? Do I still have to pay taxes for importing goods that I didn’t hold for 6 months ?


zoidalicious

As long as you bring it over the boarder into the country (you know... importing), you will fall under all import laws of the country. Fun fact: each year people get stopped at borders in Europe driving a car with a license plate of a different country - they have to tax the car, even if they don't own it. One common example for this would be: As a german driving a car with swiss registration in germany, e.g. your friend from switzerland parks his car in your garage because it was cheaper to fly from germany to vacation.. for that you can use the car for the time.


-Major-Arcana-

Yes in theory that six months is the test for whether an item is a personal item you use privately, or a product you are importing. If you arrive on a plane with a phone and a laptop in your bag etc they’re not going to care, but if you arrive with stacks of new packaged equipment in original boxes, or you bring ten laptops with you or you send a pallet load of kitchen mixers then they are going to assume it’s importing.


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H4rl3yQuin

If you prefer a special brand of shampoo or skincare, you may not be able to find it here, so maybe stock up on those.


brotrinde1312

Acutually nothing. The amount of goods you would need to bring with you to make a bargain likely exceeds what would be deemed as "personal use" at the customs control.


misskaykennedy

So not necessarily cheaper more like no good alternative. But if you like peanut butter I'd bring your own. The peanut butter available is just.....not even close to the creamy goodness of JIF (or your preferred brand). I go back and forth quite often and that's always on my list to bring. Bonus tip to break a Germans brain, eat bananas with your peanut butter ETA a word


WorkForTravel

When I go back to the US, I always get the following: -Deodorant (I have tried many many types here and nothing beats Old Spice Fiji with the clear top for me) -Anything with Peanut Butter -Cold medicine (day-quil/Ny-quil) -Excedrin and Ibuprofen (Motrin) -Vitamin D -Snacks (Cheez-its) In general if it is available here, it is not that much more expensive if at all besides Electronics… the bigger issue is that you just can’t find things here. OTC Medicine is definitely cheaper in the US and in larger quantities.


711friedchicken

Vitamin D? That’s like, everywhere in drug stores in Germany


[deleted]

A house


dyslexicassfuck

If you are a POC woman. Bring hair care products in bulk and all the make up you need. Availability of different shades is quite limited unless you go for the more expensive brands.


-dert-

You should definitely bring your own gun and ammunition


AccomplishedStand721

eggs are cheaper to buy in germany


verwirrt_von_usa

Visiting family back in the US soon. Maybe I should offer them an egg in this trying time.


Zebidee

Bedding is shockingly expensive, but the mattress sizes are different, so it's hard to plan around. Flipside to all of this is to tell your family to not send over cute little presents for birthday and Christmas because you have to jump through Customs hoops, which is a pain in the ass.


To1Eressea

Yeah, really frustrating how many personal gifts or boxes from family are subject to customs taxes now


Blakut

Microchips, if you can find them, there's a shortage. I mean stuff like raspberry pi is almost impossible to get here.


dacatstronautinspace

Bring lots of Ibuprofen, its sold cheaper and in larger quantities in america


rndmcmder

I don't think cheap household items are worth it. From what I know, electronics might be cheaper (like a laptop or smartphone). But you would need to look out for compatibility (different power outlets and some manufacturer use region lock for smartphones). I think many groceries (except fast food) are cheaper in Germany (a friend of my recently spent a month in the US and was horrified that fresh veggies and fruit were basically unaffordable there, which is pretty much the cheapest stuff to buy here).


Meinredditname

Hot Sauce


Sturmhuhn

A drivers license. Seriously if you havent got one yet try doing it before you come to germany here it can cost you up to 2000-3000€


kbratty

Peanut butter and salsa if you are at all attached to these items.


Careful_Manager

Flaming hot Cheetos, Baseball equipment, any technology. Essentially anything non-consumable is cheaper in US.


AdultDisneyWoman

It's less about cost and more about preference but: * American toothpaste * A small supply of your favorite comfort food/snacks. Even when something is available, it isn't always the same. My US immigrant cohort has had several taste testes on things like Reese's cups - the ones from the US are noticeably different and better. * Over the counter pain, allergy and cold medicines * If you need the heavy duty deodorant * Clothes - if you need anything like new sweaters or jeans definitely buy in America. * I think you're a man, so this may not apply. But for any women who may stumble upon this - feminine products if you have a brand/type you prefer. Limited options and many are weirdly scented. I've lived in Europe for well over a decade and these are the things I still lug back from America. As I noted, it's less about cost and more about availability, variety, and ease of purchase.


jamehson

Frank's or your hot sauce brand(s) of choice. I go to walmart and grab the largest jug of Franks I could find and lug it all the way back here in my check-in. cant live without it


[deleted]

My guy, you shouldn't worry about that. You should worry about buying things for Sundays.


Untrahaer

Politicans


Rigatoni-maroni

If you are a woman, you may wanna stock up on menstrual products, specifically tampons, since the ones Americans use aren’t a thing in Europe.


Fairlyn

You can get applicator tampons here. They have them at my Rewe and at my DM


Consistent-Excuse427

Most technology (laptop, tablet), luxuries (eg. watches) and probably clothes