Family- 1st Posting to Germany

sammie383

Hiya!

We are a young family, myself (20) DH (25) and our wee girl (just turned 2), DH is just about to come to the end of his Phase 2 training and we have just found out that we are being posted to Germany.

Does anyone on here have any advice regarding being prepared for the move?

I have done alot of research myself as I work within my hubbys camp anyway. I have gathered information from the hive, but I always think its best to ask for peoples pesonal experiences, also seeing as this is our 1st posting.

Thanks

lee634

Where in Germany are you posted to?

sammie383

Paderborn Lee x

Cat695

The BIG mistake people make when they get posted to Germnay IMO are :-

Not learning to speak German (even the basics) as this will make your life so much better.

Not traveling around Europe (alot go back to the UK every leave WHY OH WHY?)

Not taking advantage of what Germany alone has to offer.

Many many families stay in and around the NAAFI (very expensive) etc and just don't get out and explore and come away from Germany hating it......

Can you drive? If you can't you need to get your licence asap as this will make your life so much easier when your hubby is away on exercise/ops etc.

Wives normally find it more difficult.....but if you learn German and can drive I promise you, you will have a brilliant time.

Buy a couple of 2 pin adaptors before you go (only a couple for when you first get there)

Get rid of phone contracts etc as soon as poss....you can get far cheaper german mobiles.

sindy9001

Good advice!Cat695.

sammie383

Thanks Cat!

Hubby can speak basic German, and I plan to learn. We can both drive so that is ok.

Alot of the people I work for have said that you can find much cheaper etc if you go outside the "box" so to speak. So we definately plan on doing that!

With regards the mobile phones, my hubby runs out in august, and mine in october, so we may have to let those run til the end of contract. Is it quite easy to get German mobiles, contracts out there?

We are also already planning to visit Italy and Austria asap and probably everywhere else as we get the chance! We dont have much to come back to the UK for!

Anything else that you can think of? x

Cat695

sammie383 wrote: »

Thanks Cat!

Hubby can speak basic German, and I plan to learn. We can both drive so that is ok.

Alot of the people I work for have said that you can find much cheaper etc if you go outside the "box" so to speak. So we definately plan on doing that!

With regards the mobile phones, my hubby runs out in august, and mine in october, so we may have to let those run til the end of contract. Is it quite easy to get German mobiles, contracts out there?

We are also already planning to visit Italy and Austria asap and probably everywhere else as we get the chance! We dont have much to come back to the UK for!

Anything else that you can think of? x

Yep things are alot cheaper if you get away from the NAAFI (unless you smoke where you'll find its cheaper).

Very easy to get a German contract....my advise is DO NOT go to the ones on camp (easier I know BUT...though not sure Paderborn has got one on camp) get into town and into one of the German mobile shops most of them speak english and you'll get a better deal.

Hubby is going to get paid quite a bit extra for being out there...called LOA...DO NOT rely on it..it goes up and down so be careful (I never understood how people didn't have money in germany)

DON'T buy a car from one of the dodgy british dealers outside the camp!! if you are going to be there for a number of years (I was there for about8/9 years) buy a German car from a German dealer....FAR cheaper than anything you will get at a british dealer. and if you are going to buy a new car...then again try a German dealer they can get right hand drive cars cheaper beleive it or not.

Sky does work in Germany (if you already have it) so does freeview.

Get to learn German law.....they have some strange ones like no washing out on a sunday...German Police do not mess around (they are NOT like Brit cops) also another good reason to learn German to get on their good side if your ever stopped.

your probably going to be in a flat (Again not 100% sure with Paderborn) but they are big and pretty nice and most have been recently done up.

Get to the American PX's down the south of Germany (excellent deals)

GO to Berlin...its awesome.

Shop in the local small shops and try and speak German they will be extremely helpful if you just try to and not expect them to speak English....plus they will remember you and they will make you feel very welcome.

Germans love kids.....

You pay a fixed amount each month for gas electricity (called fuel and lighting) if you are a true money saver at the end of each year you will get a niec rebate (comes in handy).

You will get cheap fuel (petrol coupons)

Once out there change your car insurance over, you will find it cheaper with one of the companies on camp.(and more understanding to Brit Forces)

Get a German Bank account, you don't have to, but the way the exchange rate is at the mo its better to be paid into your german bank account as you will get a better exchange rate...but its worth getting some put into a UK account straight from his pay (pay office can do this)

If I think of more things I'll let you know.

Oh all electrical stuff you have at home will work in Germany

babywillow

Hi Cat, We are down in JHQ and Ive wanted sky since we got here, but we have no one in the UK who does not already have it! Im excited now Ive read free view works! We are off to UK on day trip tomorrow for xxxl Tesco shop and I think I will pick up a free view box now :0)

Sammie I was in the same position as you in Jan 08, (much older thou!!!) and having a child really helps, I went to the 2 different toddler groups on camp (not everyones cup of tea!) and Bradley really helped me meet people,who are now very close friends.
Its very easy for people to say don't shop in the Naafi, but shopping out here is awful - Lidl and Aldi! and when you want normal food sometimes only the naafi will do.
Anything else you want to know??? x

sammie383

Thanks Cat thats great advice!

Babywillow, we dont really know anyone in the Uk either that doesnt already have sky so we may have to go down the Free View route!

I plan on getting a job within a few months of being there if I can, and I am really wondering if my Uk bank account with Bank Of Scotland, is the best one for me to keep active over here. I am happy with it and wouldnt be changing banks otherwise. Obviously it will be best for us to open German Bank Accounts too?

Whats really going through my head is all the things we have over here that I will have to cancel, like BT, AOL, and when the best time to notify them is, and also if they will charge me for leaving them!

I am actually quite excited about it all, but reading advice from the hive and other places makes it all seem a bit daunting! x

babywillow

Sammie, we have cable which you will told about when you march in, usually the "cable guy" comes onto camp one day a week. Its a bit pants, loads of channels that we don't watch (including adult channels after 11pm!!!) You will have to go to your SSVC shop on camp and get a free box that gets you BFBS and Cbeebies!!
We keep our english account for bills, mortgage etc, and use our German account for spending money. If you are with Sky we explained overseas posting and had no charges. I think BT were ok aswell, worth a try!
Its a very scary move and its taken me over a yr to get used to things and I still say I want to go home at least once a week, but remember you wont be here forever only a few yrs.
Oh just thought make sure welfare tell you about Kindergeld asap, you will be entitled to German child benefit,lots of forms to fill in. This for me with a one child is 54 euros per month, (just had a bonus 100 euros this month!)and you will need a german bank account for this to get paid into.
I work at M and S shipping, we do all the moves out of Germany, only part time but I get bored sitting in the house all day. There are plenty of jobs about but you have to be vetted for most :0) x

sammie383

Babywillow,

I already work on my hubbys camp here, and have a great job that i will be sad to leave. I am graded as a civil servant, although I am not one, so wonder if this would count in my favor?

I don't have anything for me in the Uk other than my DH and daughter, so I don't think I should mind Germany too much.

I couldnt stay at home all day either, my DD would drive me insane hehe, I would only be looking for part time.

We're not sure yet exactly when we're off, but know it will be after the end of July, how soon after is anybodys guess! lol

Where abouts in Germany are you? x