There are plenty of pros and cons to living in Germany and as military members, dependents, contractors, etc., we have one foot in each world. There are many ways to take advantage of this fact and we have compiled a list of 5 things that you should buy off base.
#1 Toilet Paper
Toilet paper is one of those things that you cannot do without. But $13.44 for 6 rolls?
KMCx recommends getting toilet paper off base. For less than 8 EUR, you can score a 20-pack of 3-ply at stores like Globus.
“But KMCx? What about the sales tax?” Not to worry, you can accumulate a month’s worth of purchases and put them all on a single VAT form (at least at Globus you can). Simply talk to the customer service desk and they will hook you up!
Trust us, if your nethers protest because they’re used to that Charmin, your pocket book sure won’t!
#2 Paper Towels
Why are paper products so expensive in the States? KMCx is just as much in the dark as thou art.
Grab a 3-pack at any German store. Aldi, Lidl, Kaufland, go to whichever store is most convenient. This 3 pack will ususally run you 4 EUR or less for big rolls that will last you weeks or even months but maybe shorter if you have kids!
Compare this to a 2-pack of Bounty for over $8 and you have a recipe for savings!
#3 Bread
Why spend $6 on an american loaf of bread that has travelled across the ocean when you can get a locally-produced specimen at a fraction of the cost?
If you’ve been in Germany for more than 5 minutes, you should have noticed the abundance of baked-up flour power.
Wether you get it fresh from the myriad bakeries or pre-packaged sandwich slices, it is superior and cheap. This also applies to flat bread like wraps and tortillas.
# 4 Batteries
Most German stores are cheaper than buying on base and stores like Globus (no we are not sponsored!) will have AA and AAA batteries for as cheap as 5.99 EUR and that’s for a name brand and a 12-pack to boot. We have even seen these same packs on sale even cheaper at 2.99 EUR.
Come get you some!
Don’t forget that you must recycle your used batteries in Germany. Most German stores will have a box where you can deposite them free of charge.
# 5 Fragrant Candles
Some brands of candles on base can break the bank, you may know the brands of which we speak (you know who you are!).
KMCx has tried many smelly candles in order to find an alternative. Luckily for us, Globus offers great candles in many seasonal scents for under 10 Euros.
However, we have since switched to LED candles to avoid soot marks on our ceilings. The cheap batteries shown above helped us with that decision!
