When I first arrived to Germany, I mainly shopped on post at the commissary. This was not only my comfort zone, but it was also convenient for the first few days while we were living in the hotel. I knew my first trip to a local grocery was going to be a learning experience and boy was I right! To help you prepare for your first trip, here are 7 tips to make the process as smooth as possible.
1. Bring your own shopping bags.
They do provide bags at the stores here, but you have to pay for them. They’re typically around 10-20 cents. Save your money and bring your own. I personally like this about Germany because it reduces the amount of trash. (I sound like a local already)
2. Always keep a euro or some change for the shopping carts.
In order to use the shopping carts, you have to put some change into a slot to unlock it. You get your money back when you return the cart. It makes sense when you think about it! Some people even have a little metal “coin” they carry around for this specific reason, but I have yet to get one.
3. Weigh your produce.
Most grocery stores require you to weigh your produce before purchasing. You will see the scales placed around the produce section. Just take your veggies over to the scale, find the item and press print. It will then print out a sticker with the price tag on it. If the produce is already in packaging or grouped together, you don’t need to weigh it. Not all stores require this though, so just ask someone or when in doubt, watch what others do.
4. Lay your bottles down on the conveyor belt.
This may seem like a weird and random tip, but trust me, do it! I was yelled at during my first store trip because of this. Most of the bottles are glass in Germany, so this keeps them from toppling over and potentially breaking if it rolls off the belt.
5. Bag your own groceries and be quick!
There are no baggers here. That means you are in charge of it on your own. The cashiers are quick and Germans don’t like to wait, so work quickly. If I have a lot of groceries and am pressed on time, I just place all of my items back into my cart and bag them once I’m away from the register. This will help keep those stares at bay.
6. Keep an eye for the pfand (deposit) symbol on your drink containers.
Germany is all about recycling and being green! When you buy your drinks (beer, water, juice, etc.) you will sometimes pay a small deposit on the bottle. These are marked with a small green symbol. If you see this on the bottle, you can bring it back to the store to get money back. There is a specific machine to place them in and you will receive a printout receipt with your refund amount on it. Use that receipt to get money back at the register or they will take that amount off of your next grocery bill.
7. Everything is closed on Sundays.
Last but not least, don’t save your grocery shopping for Sundays because nothing will be open. This may be the most important tip of the bunch! Most restaurants will be open though, so you won’t starve if you didn’t plan accordingly.
I do hope these tips make your first trip to the grocery that much easier and less stressful! Good luck and happy shopping!
Love the pictures and the tips!!
Thank you! Glad you enjoyed it 🙂