2025-09-29 15:00:00
Flying cars have been a big part of science fiction for decades. They often show up in movies or futuristic stories, and some people even see them as a sign of progress. But I’ve never really understood the obsession. What problem are they supposed to solve? Why do we even need them?
Sometimes I think the idea of flying cars might have come from living in tall buildings. If you’re on the 30th floor and need to visit someone on the 40th floor of another building across town, it seems inefficient to take the elevator down, drive across the city, and then take another elevator up. Flying directly between them might save time.
But this idea only makes sense in places full of skyscrapers. In Hamburg, Germany, where I live, we don’t really have many tall residential buildings. Most high-rise buildings are offices, hotels, or social housing. When people have more money, they usually want to live in a house with a yard, not on the 25th floor. So there isn’t much motivation here to build tall buildings, except maybe to reduce the cost per square meter.
If most people aren’t living in skyscrapers, then the whole “flying between tall buildings” idea doesn’t hold up.
Another argument for flying cars might be speed, getting from point A to B faster. In some big cities, rich people already use helicopters to avoid traffic. That sounds nice in theory. But what happens if flying cars become common?
The sky would get crowded, just like roads are now. Once air traffic increases, there would be regulations and limits to keep it safe. So you wouldn’t really go faster. You’d just be stuck in “air traffic” instead.
There’s also the problem of noise. Think about drones, helicopters, or airplanes, none of them are quiet. People living near airports already complain about the noise. Now imagine thousands of flying cars buzzing overhead every day. Going outside would be unbearable.
And then there’s the issue of accidents. With more flying vehicles in the air, the chances of mid-air collisions would go up. And unlike a regular car crash, a flying vehicle crash means something could literally fall out of the sky. That’s not just dangerous, it’s terrifying. This kind of risk is already a big concern with drones, and it’s one of the main reasons we don’t see drone deliveries happening in cities yet.
For all these reasons, I don’t think flying cars will become a thing. Instead, we should be thinking about hovercars, cars that float slightly above the ground. With electric vehicles, we’ve already reduced a lot of pollution and engine noise. But cars are still loud because of their contact with the road. Hovercars could eliminate that friction, reduce noise even more, and cut down the cost of maintaining roads. Of course, my real preference would be investing in better cycling infrastructure, more bike lanes, fewer traffic lights for cyclists, and incentives for using e-bikes. Cycling is still the most efficient and affordable way to get around. But since cars aren’t going away anytime soon, I think focusing on improving them (rather than trying to make them fly) is the smarter move.
2025-08-23 19:20:00
As someone who lives in a country different from the one I was born in, I often see people confuse the terms expat and immigrant. Instead of giving textbook definitions, I want to share how I understand these two words based on my own experience.
To me, an expat is someone who moves to another country for a short time. This could be for a few months or a few years. Their main reason is usually to explore a new place, meet new people, and maybe enjoy a different lifestyle. A lot of them work in the tech industry. Some work remotely and choose to live in countries where the cost of living is lower. This way, they can enjoy a higher quality of life while earning the same salary as in their home country.
Expats often spend time with people who are just like them. Many are not very interested in learning about the local culture, history, or rules. They often compare everything to their home country and get frustrated when things are different. It is hard for them to make close friends with locals. They tend to look for the same food, sports, or social life they had back home. Most expats live in a kind of bubble and are not very involved in local politics or communities. Many of them are single or with a partner, but usually without children.
When choosing a country to live in, expats often care about how cheap it is and how much tax they will need to pay. They try to move to places that offer special visas or low taxes. If those benefits disappear after a few years, they usually move on to another country. They also visit their home country whenever they can. When problems come up, they look for help from people from their own country or go back home to solve it, instead of learning how things work locally. They often live in areas popular among other expats, even if rent is high.
On the other hand, immigrants are people who choose or are forced to move to a new country to build a new life. Their goal is to stay long term, so they learn the language, culture, and laws. They or their partner usually take part in integration courses. Most are married or have children. Their kids go to local schools and have local friends. Immigrants are active in their communities, whether it’s helping others settle in or joining groups that match their interests.
Instead of complaining, immigrants try to understand how things work in their new country. If they arrived single, it is likely they now have a local partner. They follow local news and politics, and if they get citizenship, they or their children may even take part in politics, like joining the local council or parliament. They take part in local sports and activities, like hiking or skiing, depending on where they live.
Immigrants often work in different industries, not just tech. They usually work for local companies and are willing to pay taxes because they see the long-term benefits, like free education for their kids or support when they retire. When problems come up, they work with locals to find solutions. They live across different parts of the city, not just in one area. They also tend to value what the country offers instead of always looking for things to complain about.
Of course, not every expat or immigrant fits these descriptions perfectly. There are always exceptions, but this is the general pattern I’ve noticed. I meet people from both groups often. When I talk to expats, the conversation is usually about how different Germany is from their home country. When I talk to immigrants, we talk more about local politics, things to do, or new places they discovered.
I often find expats frustrated with their lives. Immigrants, on the other hand, seem more settled and are planning long-term things like starting a family or buying a home. If I were a government decision maker, I would focus on attracting more immigrants than expats. I believe immigrants bring more long-term value to a country.
Expats, while they bring some benefits, can also cause problems. They may push up rent prices and make it harder for locals to afford housing. The neighborhoods they move into can change, with local shops closing and new ones opening to meet expat demand. This can make the area feel less like home for the people who have lived there for a long time.
At the end of the day, both groups shape the places they move to in different ways. But from what I’ve seen, it’s the immigrants who stay, grow roots, and contribute to the future of the country in a deeper way.
2025-08-10 15:40:00
These days, most people listen to music through streaming apps like Spotify, Apple Music, or YouTube Music. Some people pay for subscriptions, while others use the free versions with ads and limited features. If you’re paying, you might assume your money goes to the artists you listen to. But that’s not really how it works.
Spotify often says they pay about 70% of their revenue to music rights holders. But how they split that money is not based on what you listen to. Instead of dividing your monthly fee based on your personal streams, they put all the money in one big pool and pay artists based on their share of total plays across the entire platform.
Let’s say there are only two users on Spotify:
Here’s what people might think happens:
But here’s what actually happens:
So even if you only listen to indie artists, your money still mostly goes to the big names, because the payout is based on total listening across all users, not just you.
In 2024, here were the top artists by streams:
| Rank | Artist | Streams (Billions) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Taylor Swift | 28.21 |
| 2 | The Weeknd | 13.27 |
| 3 | Drake | 12.11 |
| 4 | Bad Bunny | 12.08 |
| 5 | Billie Eilish | 12.00 |
| 6 | Ariana Grande | 10.03 |
| 7 | Kanye West | 9.67 |
| 8 | Peso Pluma | 9.38 |
| 9 | Travis Scott | 8.41 |
| 10 | Bruno Mars | 8.36 |
Spotify had about 4.8 trillion streams in 2024. They say they paid out $10 billion to artists. Since Taylor Swift had about 0.6% of the streams, she got about $60 million from that alone. The Weeknd got around half of that, and so on.
Now let’s talk about a smaller band. Say an indie group has 10,000 fans who each listen to their songs 10 times a day. That’s 36 million streams a year. Sounds like a lot, but it’s just 0.00076% of all streams on Spotify. That would earn them around $76,000 for the whole year, not per month, as many people might expect.
This is why many smaller artists say streaming doesn’t pay the bills. If Spotify changed the model to pay based on each user’s listening habits, big artists would still make a lot, but smaller artists would make much more than they do now. Apple Music does the same kind of global payout, by the way. So Taylor Swift likely earns way more than $600 million a year from all platforms combined.
What are the alternatives? Not many. You could try buying songs on Apple Music, but those versions often don’t come with lyrics or high-end features like Dolby Atmos. So you get less for the same price.
One option that still helps artists is going old school: buy vinyl records. You get better sound, cool artwork, and your money goes more directly to the musicians you want to support.
EDIT: A friend of mine recommended Bandcamp.com after reading my post. It looks like a great alternative to other platforms, offering high-quality album downloads while directly supporting the artists. I’m definitely going to try it out.
2025-07-13 19:00:00
I’ve been living in Germany for seven years. During that time, I’ve gone through many bureaucratic processes — from getting my Blue Card to setting up a sole proprietorship (Einzelunternehmen). I’ve also changed jobs a few times and was unemployed for a short while.
If you search online, you’ll find a lot of jokes about Germany still using fax machines and how the country is behind when it comes to digital systems. In this post, I want to share my personal experience with how digital or non-digital things really are.
First of all, I’ve never had to use a fax machine. I’m not sure where that stereotype still comes from, but I also don’t know anyone who has actually used one here.
Let’s look at some specific examples so you can get a better idea of how the bureaucracy works in practice. Just keep in mind, this is based on my experience living in Hamburg. Things might be different in other parts of Germany, so don’t treat this as the full picture.
Over the past seven years, I’ve gone through several visa-related processes in Germany. I first applied for a Blue Card, later renewed it because I got a new passport, and eventually applied for permanent residency. All of these steps were handled digitally.
I booked my appointments through the official Hamburg state portal and uploaded all the required documents as PDFs. When it was time for the appointment, I just brought the original documents so the officer could verify them in person. After the process was complete, I got a letter letting me know my ID was ready. I booked another appointment online to pick it up — and that was it.
As for the supporting documents, like proof of health insurance or pension contributions, I was able to get all of them from the websites of the relevant providers. For example, when applying for permanent residency, you need to show your pension payment history. To do this, you can log in to the official portal using your Blue Card.
Here’s how it works: You open the AusweisApp on both your computer and smartphone. Then you connect the devices, hold your Blue Card on your phone to scan the NFC chip, enter your password, and log in. Once you’re authenticated, you can download your pension history — and this system works across many government websites.
Honestly, I find this system quite impressive. It’s secure, straightforward, and works well (at least in my experience).
When it comes to work, most companies in Germany now allow you to sign your contract digitally — using tools like DocuSign, for example. That said, some employers still ask for a physical (wet) signature, even if you’ve already signed it digitally, just to be on the safe side.
However, when it comes to resigning, things are less flexible. You always need to hand in a signed resignation letter, and digital signatures are not accepted for some reason. It has to be on paper, with your actual signature.
When I started my first job in Germany seven years ago, I used to receive my payslips by post every month. Any promotion or salary change also came with physical documents. Over time, this process has become more digital. Many companies have stopped sending paper payslips and now use platforms like Workday, Personio, or DATEV to share payslips and other HR documents in PDF format.
If you have permanent residency in Germany, you’re allowed to start your own company. I wanted to do that because I develop apps and earn income from them.
Starting a sole proprietorship (Einzelunternehmen) was actually quite simple. I went to the website of the responsible office and filled out an online form. After that, I used a third-party accounting service to submit another form to the Finanzamt (tax office) to get a new tax ID. I think you can also do this through Elster, but I didn’t take the time to figure it out.
The biggest downside was the waiting time. If I remember correctly, it took around six months to get the official confirmation that my company had been registered. But honestly, this wasn’t a huge issue because I received my tax ID after just a couple of weeks. That was the important part — it allowed me to start selling apps right away.
Like most bureaucratic processes in Germany, I got several letters in the mail confirming different steps along the way.
When it comes to taxes in Germany, if you’re working full-time as an employee, you usually submit your tax forms the following year. Your employer will send you a document that shows how much you earned and how much tax you paid. You can then use Elster to submit your tax return. The cool part is that you can authenticate yourself through the NFC chip in your ID card to log in to Elster.
The good thing about Elster is that the information your employer sent you is already loaded into the system. You don’t have to manually enter the numbers. You can just use what’s already been submitted. This also applies if you paid for health insurance out of pocket during a gap between jobs, or if you received unemployment benefits. You can see all these documents directly in Elster.
However, the worst part of Elster is definitely the user interface. Since Elster is available to everyone, and taxes are complicated, the forms can be super overwhelming. If your German isn’t great, it’s almost impossible to navigate and figure out where to put certain numbers. If you’re just submitting the standard information from your employer, it’s not so bad. But if you want to deduct some expenses for tax returns, report investments, or account for freelance work, it gets really tricky to figure out.
Because of this complexity, there are several third-party services that help with filling out tax forms, like SteuerGO or Taxfix. For the first few years, I used SteuerGO to handle my taxes, but in the last couple of years, I decided to switch to Elster, even though my forms got more complicated due to my sole proprietorship. I wanted to learn the entire process because I’ll need to submit tax returns every year for the rest of my life, and I didn’t want to rely on a third-party service forever. Plus, those services charge around €30, while Elster is free.
I really hope that one day the Finanzamt realizes how difficult Elster is to use and improves the user experience. Once you’ve submitted your tax forms, you’ll receive a letter from the Finanzamt that tells you how much you owe or how much you’ll be refunded.
So far, I’ve mentioned quite a few letters. If you live in Germany, you’ll definitely need a folder to keep track of all the letters you’ll receive. From my understanding, letters are still the preferred method of communication because it’s the most reliable way to ensure you receive important information. The alternative would be using emails, but then there’s the issue of needing some form of tracking to confirm that the person opened the email. Plus, emails aren’t encrypted, so there’s a privacy concern as well.
At some point, maybe the government will introduce a system to replace physical letters. Some government offices already offer digital-only communication options, meaning you can choose to receive only emails and not letters. But if you miss something, it’s on you. In these systems, you’d get an email notifying you of a new message, and then you’d need to visit the official website to view the content of the message.
Dealing with all these letters can be overwhelming, especially if you’re constantly checking your mailbox. That’s where Deutsche Post comes in with a free service that notifies you when a letter is on the way via the DHL app. I really appreciate this because I don’t have to check my postbox every day. You just register for the app, confirm your address with a letter, and from then on, you’ll get notifications whenever a letter is on the way. They even send you a scan of the letter, so you can see who it’s from before it arrives.
In most cases, you get the letter the same day or the next day. The app also notifies you when a package is on the way, which I find super useful. This service is one of the main reasons I always use DHL for my packages.
A couple of years ago, when you got a sick note from your doctor, you’d receive three copies: one for your insurance, one for your employer, and one for yourself. You’d then submit the papers to your employer and health insurance. Some companies even allowed you to take a sick day or two without a note, so you didn’t have to deal with any paperwork. But in the last few years, this whole process has been completely digitalized. Now, when you get a sick note, the doctor submits it directly to both your employer and health insurance — no more paper handling.
The same goes for prescriptions. These were also digitalized recently. If your doctor gives you a prescription, you can simply go to the pharmacy and redeem it by showing your health insurance card. If you need a refill for medication you regularly take, you can usually just email your doctor to request it. There are also services where you can see a doctor via an online call, so many aspects of healthcare are now fully digital.
When it comes to payments, you typically don’t pay for most health services, but if you’re staying in a hospital after surgery, you’ll pay €10 per day. Once you’re discharged, you’ll get a letter for the payment. The same process applies to dental treatments — you get the service and then a letter for the payment.
There are a few issues I’ve noticed with the health services, though. One is the lack of a standard way to make appointments. Some doctors use services like Doctolib or Jameda to manage their appointments, while others have their own system, or some don’t use any online service at all. In those cases, you have to call them, which I personally dislike, especially when I have to do it in German. That’s why I always prefer doctors who offer a digital appointment system.
Another issue I’ve encountered is when you switch specialists. Your old doctor prints out a bunch of papers for your new doctor, who then scans those papers into their system. It’s a bit old-fashioned, but I believe this problem is being addressed through the introduction of digital health records (ePA). With this system, you won’t have to carry physical papers from one doctor to another.
During my 7 years, I also lost my job once and was unemployed for a while. I was really surprised by how digital the whole process was. I’ll write another blog post later about what to do if you lose your job in Germany, but for now, I can say that you do almost everything through the Agentur für Arbeit website.
You just sign up using your ID card, fill out some forms about your situation, and upload the letter your employer gave you about the job ending. Most of the time, you’ll need an appointment to speak with someone about your case, but you can also do that online if you prefer. Sometimes, you may need to send them a letter, but if you use your ID card, you can send it online by signing the document digitally. You can also choose to get all messages through the website instead of by mail, and they’ll send you an email when there’s something new.
When I told my German friends about this, they were also surprised at how digital it is. The website even has Passkey support now, which was another surprise for me. Through the Agentur für Arbeit site, you can tell them you’re unemployed and looking for a job, set up an appointment and have a video call, apply for benefits, send an appeal, get a confirmation that you’re unemployed, and later let them know when you’ve found a job. It’s all online, no need for paper.
When it comes to payments, you can use your card almost everywhere in Germany these days. Of course, there are still some places that don’t accept MasterCard or Visa — they only accept Girocard, which is a local payment system with lower fees. From what I’ve observed, most places offering cheaper products tend to avoid card payments, but this is probably true for only about 10% of the places.
If you need to make a payment at a government office, you’ll usually need either a Girocard or cash. I assume the reason for this is that they don’t want to pay commissions to MasterCard or Visa. One other common thing I’ve noticed is that many Döner shops don’t accept any cards at all, so keep that in mind.
For person-to-person payments, PayPal is still the most widely used method. If you’re selling something you no longer need, most people prefer paying through PayPal. Similarly, if you’re paying a friend for something, PayPal is usually the go-to option.
In the past few years, many supermarkets have introduced self-checkouts, where card payments are the only option. This is part of the shift towards cashless transactions. For public transportation, many people now use the Deutschlandticket, a subscription that lets you travel without limits. You can also buy tickets through a mobile app developed by the transportation company in your city. The cool part is that there are no card readers on buses or trains. Instead, there are random ticket checks to make sure you have a valid ticket. You can add your Deutschlandticket to Apple Wallet, for example, and just show the QR code on your Apple Watch during those checks.
When it comes to renting a flat in Germany, there’s one rule that keeps the process from being fully digital: you have to see the flat in person. Before that, though, you need to somehow secure an appointment for a viewing, which can be tricky due to the high demand and limited supply. In most cases, landlords post their ads on websites like ImmobilienScout24, and within minutes, they receive dozens of messages from interested tenants. These messages typically include basic information about the applicant, like their job, salary, and other personal details.
Once you secure a viewing, you’ll go to the flat, and if you’re interested, you’ll fill out a form with the same information you shared earlier to show your intent to rent. If the landlord chooses you, you’ll get the contract, which you’ll sign in person. So, while the process is mostly digital, the in-person viewing and signing remain essential steps.
After you’ve signed your contract, managing utilities is fairly simple and can be done entirely online. If you’re moving from another flat, you just inform your internet or electricity provider, and they’ll update your address in their system. This means no interruptions in service. If you want to cancel a utility contract, it used to be necessary to send a signed letter, but thanks to the Kündigungsbutton law, companies now have to provide a cancellation form directly on their websites. However, some providers try to hide this cancellation option by burying the link deep in their site or making it hard to find. Their goal is to get you to call them so they can try to convince you to stay.
In addition to utilities, phone contracts are also easily manageable and cancellable online. If you switch your phone number or bank account, you might need to verify your identity. In most cases, you can do this via a video call where you show your ID or by simply uploading a photo of your passport or ID through an app. No need to visit offices or send physical letters anymore.
There are probably some things I didn’t mention here because I haven’t needed to deal with them or just forgot. A friend of mine also mentioned that when you buy a second-hand car, you can handle everything digitally. I’m not a German citizen, but I know that for elections, you can either vote by mail or in person. However, when you vote in person, you still use paper ballots. For things like museums, concerts, and other events, you usually get a QR code for your ticket, and that’s all you need. You can also add it to your Apple Wallet sometimes. Gone are the days of printing tickets!
If you’ve made it this far, you might be wondering, “Germany seems fairly digital—so why do people still complain about bureaucracy or the lack of digitalization?” There are three key reasons for this, and they’re exactly why I wanted to write this post—because these issues often don’t get the attention they deserve.
One major problem lies in how digitalization is defined. Take this year’s elections in Hamburg, for example. When I tried to learn about the political parties’ platforms, I visited their websites. Instead of finding clear, digestible summaries, I was faced with 100-page PDF documents packed with dense policy details. Technically, yes, that’s digital—they’ve uploaded their programs online. But realistically, that’s not useful. A giant PDF isn’t reader-friendly. There are much better digital tools out there—web pages with interactive elements, infographics, or summaries that make information accessible.
So while something may be available online, that doesn’t necessarily mean it’s been digitized in a meaningful or user-friendly way. And that brings us to the deeper issues.
Even though many administrative processes are now online, you still have to collect and resubmit the same documents multiple times. For instance, if you hold a Blue Card and want to apply for permanent residency, you’ll need to provide your address registration (Anmeldung), pension history, and other records—again. Even if you’ve already submitted them elsewhere.
This redundancy slows everything down. In a truly digital system, government offices would be able to access the data that’s already on file, pulling your information automatically from connected databases. This wouldn’t just save you time—it would ease the burden on civil servants too, reducing manual work and room for error.
Even with online forms and uploads, many processes still move at a snail’s pace. A big part of the problem is staffing: there simply aren’t enough people working in government offices to handle the volume of requests. So even if you submit your documents digitally, you might still be waiting for months.
This is especially frustrating for critical applications like visas or residence permits—delays here can affect your ability to work, relocate, or make long-term plans. If agencies were digitally integrated and systems could communicate, that alone would speed things up significantly. There’s also potential for express services, where applicants pay extra for faster processing, which could help fund more staff and reduce overall wait times.
And when I say “long,” I don’t mean a few days or weeks. I’m talking about months, sometimes even years. I know people who waited six months just to get an appointment, and then another three months for their Blue Card to be issued. Citizenship applications are even worse—despite going digital recently, the process still requires collecting documents from different offices, facing repeated requests for more paperwork, and enduring radio silence for years on end. Some people have had to hire lawyers just to navigate the delays. In fact, over 1.000 people sued the immigration office in Berlin for its lack of action. As a result, the process has improved, and now, while naturalization still takes years in many cities, in Berlin, it can sometimes be completed in just a few weeks.
Like my previous blog posts, this one turned out to be pretty long, but I think I’ve made my point. Everywhere on the internet and in the news, you hear a lot about digitalization and bureaucracy. But I think these terms don’t really capture the real issue. What we should be talking about is the integration of government offices and reducing waiting times.
Government offices need to be held accountable for how long people have to wait, and they should be incentivized to speed things up. One idea is to share average waiting times on their websites, just like Deutsche Bahn does with train delays, and compare between the cities. That could give people a clearer picture and push for improvements.
2025-07-01 23:00:00
The second quarter of this year went by faster than I expected. For some reason, I didn’t read or watch as much as I did last quarter, but I still read some really good books, watched interesting TV shows, and played games that reminded me how fun gaming can be. Let’s get into it.
This quarter I read six books. I liked many of them, but three really stood out because they opened my mind to new ideas.
Like last quarter, I couldn’t resist reading another book by David Graeber. He might be my favorite author. I’ve read four of his books so far, and none have disappointed me, including this one, The Utopia of Rules.
This book is a collection of three essays and one movie review. I really enjoyed it because it shows how smart Graeber is. He talks about how bureaucracy started and how it affects our lives. Then he asks why we still don’t have flying cars. He also connects video games to bureaucracy, and ends by criticizing a superhero movie—specifically The Dark Knight Rises by Christopher Nolan.
Like his other books, this one taught me things I didn’t know before, made me think about new topics, and helped me question ideas I had accepted without much thought.
If you like coffee, you probably know James Hoffmann. After struggling with my capsule coffee machine and finally buying an espresso machine, I wanted to learn more about coffee. The coffee world is very big, with lots to know—from types of beans to brewing methods.
When I said I wanted to learn more, a friend recommended Hoffmann’s The World Atlas of Coffee.
This book was exactly what I needed. It starts by explaining the coffee fruit and its different kinds. It shows how coffee is grown, harvested, separated from the fruit, dried, roasted, and shipped. Then it explains how to brew coffee in different ways. At the end, it talks about the main coffee-producing countries and their taste profiles.
I found this book very helpful. It made me more comfortable talking about coffee with friends. I even wrote down some countries I want to try beans from. My coffee journey has just started, and I think I’ll write more about it later. So, stay tuned!
Maybe because of my interest in coffee, I finally bought Tastes of Paradise by Wolfgang Schivelbusch, a book that had been on my reading list for years.
This book is about the history of spices, stimulants, and intoxicants—all covered by one German word, Genussmittel. It talks about how tobacco, chocolate, coffee, tea, and alcohol became part of our daily lives.
I love reading about everyday things and their origins, and this book gave me just that. For example, learning how a simple spice like pepper changed the world, or how coffee was once used as medicine, surprised me and made me want to read more history.
The way the author tells the story is very engaging. Because of that, I added two of his other books to my list: one about train journeys and another about the history of light in the 1800s. I’m excited to read those too!
This quarter, thanks to a friend, I finally found a way to subscribe to HBO from Germany. At first, I planned to watch The Last of Us Season 2, but after the second episode, I lost interest. Then I looked for another show to watch before my HBO membership ended—that’s how I found The Pitt.
The Pitt is a show that follows the emergency room of a hospital in real time. There are 15 episodes, and each one covers one hour of a single shift on the same day. I really liked this style because it shows what healthcare workers face every day.
There are also intern doctors and students, which adds interesting points of view. You see their different behaviors and how they work with others.
As you might expect from HBO, there are some tough scenes—blood, surgery, childbirth, and more. So if you’re sensitive to that kind of thing, this might not be for you. But if you want a realistic look at how an emergency room works, this show does it well. You see how they treat patients, decide who needs help first, and what happens in big emergencies.
Another thing I liked was the lead doctor, played by Noah Wyle. At first, I didn’t recognize him, but once I did, I was happy to see him again. The last time I saw him was in The Pirates of Silicon Valley, where he played Steve Jobs. There have been many movies about Jobs since then, but none as good as that one.
It’s hard to know where to start, but I’ll just say it up front—Andor was probably one of the best shows I’ve ever watched. And I say that as someone who isn’t a Star Wars fan. The great thing is, you don’t even need to know anything about the Star Wars world to enjoy Andor. What makes this show so good is how well it tells its story and how deeply it builds its characters.
Unlike other Star Wars shows or movies, there’s no Force, no lightsabers. Instead, the focus is on the early days of the rebellion—how it starts, who joins it, and what they give up for the cause. You also see how harsh and cruel the Empire really is, and how normal people are treated under such a system.
One of the things I liked most about the show is that it doesn’t rely on one great actor—there are many strong characters, and all of them are played really well. You get to see each person’s backstory, understand their reasons, and see why they make the choices they do. That makes it easy to connect with them.
Another thing that stands out is the main character, Andor. He doesn’t follow the usual “hero’s journey” you see in most shows. Things don’t always go as expected, and that makes the story feel more real and surprising. As a viewer, you’re the only one who sees all the sacrifices people make. You start to wish the characters in the story could know what each other went through. Especially with Andor himself—he goes through so much pain and loss, and you just want his story to be known, especially by the leaders of the rebellion.
There are also other characters who give up a lot, but their efforts are never recognized. That’s part of what makes this show so powerful—it shows the hidden costs of fighting for change.
I highly recommend watching Andor. I got Disney+ just for this show, and I can honestly say it was worth it.
After selling my gaming PC, I decided to buy a second-hand Xbox Series X so I could keep playing games using Xbox Game Pass. I felt this was the best way to finally get rid of the last computer that uses an x86 processor and stop using Windows.
I’ve loved puzzle games since I was a kid. I started with flash games online, and later played big franchises. I still remember enjoying Portal, Portal 2, and The Stanley Parable. I would put Blue Prince in the same league as those.
In Blue Prince, you play as a child who inherits a big mansion from his uncle. But before you get it, your uncle sets a challenge—you have to solve the puzzle to claim the inheritance. The mansion itself is the puzzle. There are 45 rooms, and you need to find the 46th.
The tricky part is you have a limited number of steps each day. Every time you use all your steps and start a new day, the rooms change their places, so you have to think carefully about your moves.
I really enjoyed Blue Prince. It was probably the first time in a long while that I needed to use pen and paper to solve puzzles. There are many different puzzles, not just one, so you have to think hard. Sometimes it can get frustrating, but it feels great once you solve a puzzle. As you solve more, you learn more about the uncle and his family’s story.
If you like puzzle games, I definitely recommend this one!
I don’t really remember if or when I last played Doom, but I always wanted to try it because it’s one of the classics of the gaming world. When I saw the new game was on Xbox Game Pass, I decided to give it a shot. And wow, it was a really fun experience that I hadn’t had in a long time!
Doom: The Dark Ages is a first-person shooter with very simple controls. You have guns, a shield, and a health and armor bar. There are 22 chapters where you complete missions by killing monsters from hell. Timing is very important—you have to time your shield and attacks well to avoid taking too much damage and to kill enemies quickly. When you get the timing right, the game is really fun.
I can’t say much about the story, but it keeps you wanting to play more. I also liked the heavy metal music in the background—it fits the action perfectly and keeps you pumped.
You can upgrade your guns, shield, and melee attacks. After a while, I found my favorite setup—the Super Shotgun and the Cycler—and I stuck with them for the rest of the game. Because of that, I lost some interest in collecting upgrade items like gold and rubies since I didn’t need to change my gear, and collecting took extra time.
Even though I had fun with the game, I don’t think it’s worth 80€. If I were to buy it, I’d pay no more than 30€. So I recommend playing it on Xbox Game Pass instead. Once you finish the story, there’s not much else to do—no multiplayer mode.
If you want a fun, simple game to play after a long day without needing to think too much, this is a great choice.
If you enjoy this blog series, don’t forget to subscribe to the newsletter so you’ll know when I post new updates. I already have lots of books, games, and shows lined up to share. See you in the next post!
2025-06-30 16:30:00
If there’s one thing I’ve learned to do well, it’s budgeting. Ever since I was young, I’ve understood the value of knowing where my money goes and how to get the most out of it. That’s why I want to walk you through my budgeting process, so you can learn how to save more and spend more on the things that actually make you happy.
Let me be clear: the goal of budgeting isn’t to live a boring life or to cut costs on everything just to have more money sitting in your bank account. Budgeting is really about making better choices with your money. It’s about dividing your income wisely so you can enjoy life both now and in the future.
Before we get into the details, I should mention that I’m a single person living in Germany. So, the examples I share will mostly reflect that lifestyle and might be more useful if you’re in a similar situation.
The first step in budgeting is figuring out your essential expenses. These are the things you need to pay for no matter what, things you simply can’t live without. Here are some examples from my own budget:
Since these are fixed costs that come up every month, even small savings here can make a big difference over time. That’s why I review my essentials every year to see if I can cut back or switch to better deals.
Let’s go over each of these categories so you can get an idea of how to optimize them. I’ll also share some of my actual numbers to give you a point of reference, especially if your lifestyle is similar to mine.
In Germany, rent is usually split into two parts: cold rent and warm rent. Cold rent is just for the apartment or house itself. Warm rent includes additional costs like heating, water, and sometimes other shared building expenses.
In many cases, there’s not much you can do to lower your cold rent unless you move to a smaller place, a different neighborhood, or live with a partner or flatmate to share costs.
However, warm rent gives you more room to save. One way I’ve cut costs is by using smart radiator valves, like the ones from Eve. Since I installed them, my heating bill has dropped by about 30%. These devices control the heat more efficiently, so you don’t waste energy. The upfront cost pays for itself in about a year or two, and after that, you’re just saving money.
When it comes to utility bills like electricity, internet, and mobile plans, there’s actually a lot you can do to save money. In Germany, most companies use the same infrastructure, so the quality of the service stays the same no matter which provider you choose. This means you can switch providers without losing quality, and often pay much less.
One of the easiest ways to save is by taking advantage of special offers for new customers. Many companies offer lower prices or bonuses during the first year or two of a contract. Websites like CHECK24 can help compare offers, but keep in mind they often only show deals from companies that pay them a commission. Because of this, you might find even cheaper options by looking directly on company websites or using other comparison tools.
When comparing offers, don’t just look at the monthly cost. Some contracts come with bonuses, cashback, or discounts that only show up if you calculate the total cost over the full contract period. Always check how much you’ll pay in total over 12 or 24 months, and use that number to compare.
Once your contract ends, never just continue with the same provider. Prices usually go up after the first contract period. It’s better to switch again and take another new-customer deal. This might sound like extra work, but switching is actually very simple in Germany, especially for electricity, internet, and mobile. Most of it can be done online with no paperwork.
You can also save more by waiting for Black Friday deals. Many companies offer bigger discounts during that time. If you time your contract to start on Black Friday, you can plan to switch again the following year when new deals come around.
I review my contracts every year to make sure I’m not overpaying. Just by doing this, I’ve significantly lowered my internet and phone bills. I also tried switching to an hourly-rate electricity contract to save more, but this year it didn’t work out as expected due to low wind energy. Still, I believe it will be cheaper in the long run.
Here’s what I currently pay:
I only use 3 GB because I don’t stream videos, and I spend just 2–3 hours a day on my phone. I also use FaceTime for calls, so I don’t need a phone or SMS package.
One of the biggest money drains in many people’s budgets is ordering food. I can’t stress this enough: ordering food regularly can quickly add up. I’ve seen many of my friends spend a lot of money on food delivery, and it’s not just a small expense. If we look at the order value and revenue of major food delivery companies in 2024, it’s clear how much money is at stake:
The top food delivery companies alone are handling over $200 billion worth of orders.
When you order food, you’re paying not only for the meal but also for the delivery, the restaurant’s profit margin, and the app’s commission. In the end, you end up paying a lot more than if you made the meal yourself.
Now, I’m not saying you should never enjoy a meal prepared by a chef, I’ll come back to this later. But the reality is, you have to eat at least two meals a day for the rest of your life. So instead of relying on delivery, there are much cheaper and healthier alternatives.
Here are a few options:
When it comes to my monthly grocery expenses, I spend around €200–250 per month for one person. This includes:
Compare that to the cost of ordering food. For example, a Big Mac menu ordered through McDonald’s app costs €12.59 for the food, but with delivery fees and service charges, it’s closer to €15. If you ordered two meals a day, you’d be spending over €1,000 per month. Even if you opt for cheaper fast food, you’re still paying 3–4 times more than if you cooked at home.
When I worked in an office, I noticed how expensive it was to eat out for lunch every day. I’d spend around €10–15 per meal, which added up to nearly €200 a month. But many offices in Germany have microwaves, and a lot of people bring meals from home to heat up. There’s even a Reddit community called Meal Prep Sunday, where people cook for the whole week and store it in the fridge. This way, you just warm it up each day. Since I work from home now, I prefer to cook fresh meals when I’m hungry.
Similar to groceries, I also buy most of my toiletry items from store brands. However, keep in mind that some of these products might not work for everyone, especially if you have skin sensitivities or other specific needs. For example, I’ve used the same shampoo for years, and if I switch, I get skin problems. So, if you do decide to try store brands, make sure they’re right for you.
One trick to save even more is to stock up on toiletries when they’re on sale. These products have a long shelf life, so you can buy in bulk and save money over time, while avoiding the impact of inflation.
In Germany, there are a few key insurance policies that are highly recommended, particularly liability insurance and household insurance. These are both affordable and provide peace of mind. I use Getsafe and pay about €5 per month for both. Depending on your situation, you might also want to consider dental insurance since regular health insurance doesn’t cover all dental expenses.
Another unavoidable expense in Germany is the Rundfunkbeitrag (broadcasting fee). This is a contribution to the public broadcasting system and costs €18.36 per month per household. There’s no way around this, so it’s something to factor into your monthly budget.
Self-care is essential, but it can vary greatly from person to person, making it hard to set a fixed budget. For example, this category can include things like haircuts, cosmetic products, and other personal care items.
For me, self-care expenses are minimal because I don’t use many cosmetic products. When I do buy something like sunscreen, deodorant, etc. I include it in my grocery budget.
When it comes to haircuts, during the COVID pandemic, I learned how to cut my own hair. I invested in some tools to help me, and now I cut my hair at home. If you think you could manage this, I highly recommend it. Haircuts are something we all need regularly, and by doing it yourself, you can save a lot of money over the years. If you or your partner can learn to cut hair, that’s a skill that pays off in the long run.
I don’t own a car, and I have no plans to get one. I believe owning a car is expensive, and I’m lucky to live in Hamburg, a city with great public transportation. I could pay €58 per month for the Deutschlandticket, which gives me unlimited access to public transport.
That said, I don’t use public transport much because the city has very good cycling infrastructure. A couple of years ago, I bought an e-bike, and now I use it for almost all my transportation needs. So, my transportation costs are practically zero.
If you live in a city with great public or cycling infrastructure, I highly recommend you skip owning a car. If you need a car occasionally, consider using MILES or other car rental services for those rare occasions.
This is probably the most fun part of budgeting. Once you’ve followed the advice I’ve shared and saved money on your essentials, you’ll have a bigger budget to spend on things you enjoy. But before diving into the different categories, I want to mention one important thing: savings.
What helps me spend money without stress is having a clear savings plan. In Germany, the average savings rate is around 10%. However, this varies depending on your goals—whether you want to build a retirement fund or maybe even retire early. I’ve written more about this in a different post, so I won’t go into detail here. I just want to emphasize that setting aside some money each month is crucial. It’s not just for the future; it also gives you peace of mind now, knowing you’re financially secure.
For me, once my essential expenses and savings are sorted, I know exactly how much I have left for the non-essential stuff. I get my salary, set aside the amount for essentials, send the money I want to invest to my broker, and then I’m left with the rest to spend freely.
I give myself a bit more flexibility in the eating out category since I save money by cooking most of my meals at home. Going out for a meal with friends is a treat, and I don’t stress too much about the cost. Typically, a café visit with coffee and cake costs around €10, while a meal at a restaurant averages €15–20. For special occasions, I might splurge on a slightly pricier restaurant, but even then, I rarely spend more than €35.
Since I only eat out 7-8 times a month, it’s hard to spend more than €150 on eating out. This makes it a manageable and enjoyable category for me.
Vacation is one of the non-essential categories where I recommend setting a budget, just like you would for savings. The key is to plan ahead and save regularly, so you’re ready when it’s time to go.
Most people don’t take vacations every month, but there are likely a few times during the year when you want to go away for a week or two, plus maybe a couple of weekend trips. To make this possible, set aside a bit of money each month for your vacation fund. The amount you save will depend on how often you go on vacation and how much you typically spend.
Here’s how to do it: Estimate how much you usually spend on vacations throughout the year. Once you have that number, divide it by 12 (for the 12 months in a year) and save that amount each month. To keep the money separate from your daily spending, I recommend using a neobank like N26, which has a feature that lets you create separate saving spaces. This helps you avoid accidentally spending your vacation money on other things.
The key tip here is to plan your vacation a few months in advance. By doing so, you can score cheaper deals on flights and hotels. These are often the biggest expenses of your vacation, and by saving money there, you’ll have more left over for things like dining out, museums, or activities.
Also, don’t forget to look for seasonal discounts. Hotels and airlines often offer discounts in the opposite season. For example, many summer deals are available in the winter months, and winter deals can be found during the summer. If you don’t have kids, consider booking during school periods (before or after holidays) to find cheaper prices, as that’s when fewer families travel.
Some people may consider shopping as an essential, especially for things like clothing or household items. However, I include it in my non-essential budget. Typically, you already have what you need, and the desire to buy something new comes when things wear out. While I understand that some people want to buy new things constantly, I don’t find that sustainable.
My approach is simple: I focus on buying items that last longer, rather than purchasing a lot of cheap things. For clothing, I prefer UNIQLO; for sports gear, I go to DECATHLON; and for electronics, I stick to well-known brands like Apple.
If I’m saving for something big—like a new device or a piece of furniture—I follow the same method I use for vacations: I save a little each month until I’ve reached the amount I need to buy it. If an unexpected need arises, like a broken phone, I tap into my emergency fund and then replenish it by saving a bit each month.
Leisure spending can vary a lot depending on your interests. For some, it includes streaming services, gym memberships, or going to concerts/cinema. Personally, I don’t have a gym membership; I prefer exercising at home or in the park unless I’m going bouldering with friends.
When it comes to streaming, I avoid juggling multiple subscriptions. Instead, I cancel one after I’ve finished watching, then switch to another when I’m ready for something new. This keeps things interesting, and by the time I return to a service, there are usually plenty of new shows to catch up on.
The biggest part of my leisure budget goes to books. I buy a lot of them, but I always try to shop second-hand on sites like medimops to save money.
The key here is setting a clear leisure budget. It’s easy to overspend on things you enjoy, so having a spending limit ensures you don’t go overboard. Another way to stay on track is to plan your activities in advance. For example, if you love concerts or festivals, set a goal of attending like 4 per year. If you’re into video games, you might decide on buying 4 AAA games and 3 indie games each year.
I hope you found this post helpful! As I mentioned at the start, the goal here is to share how I approach budgeting. I focus on saving money in areas I don’t mind, like cooking at home or buying supermarket brands, so I can spend more on things I truly enjoy, like eating out, buying books, and traveling.
Of course, your priorities might be different, but the key takeaway is this: you need to save in some categories to enjoy more in others. It’s all about finding a balance that works for you and making sure your spending aligns with what brings you joy.