A young woman stands in her first apartment of her own, with boxes behind her
Finance & Law
16.06.2026 Sabrina Ludwig 19710

How much will my first apartment cost?

Finally moving into your first apartment! But this newfound freedom comes with financial challenges. As an apprentice or student, your bank account usually isn’t exactly overflowing. To make sure your dream of having a place of your own doesn’t turn into a financial nightmare, we’ve put together a list of all the important costs and money-saving tips for you.​​​​​​​

​​​​​​​Text: Stephanie Bartsch, Karin Lohse, Income and Budget Counseling

You can find out here:

What do I need to keep in mind before moving out of or into my first apartment?

Before you start looking for your first apartment, here are a few things to keep in mind:

  • Build up a financial cushion: If possible, stay at home for another half year and set aside money specifically for this purpose. That way, you’ll start out with a cushion to cover your security deposit and initial furniture purchases.
  • Household Check: Learn from your parents how to manage expenses and run a household. That’s the best way to prepare for real life.​​​​​​​

What should I look for in a lease agreement?

The first rule of thumb is: Don't sign anything you don't understand! Lease agreements often contain complex clauses. You can also ask the landlord if you can take the lease home with you for a day.

Check whether the rental agreement contains the following important information:

  • Are all ancillary costs listed?
  • Is the amount of the deposit noted?
  • Have all the tenants' names been entered?
  • Is there a written handover protocol?
  • How long is the notice period?

Base Rent vs. All-Inclusive Rent

The base rent is just the starting point. On top of that, there are costs for electricity, hot water, heating, and apportionable operating expenses such as trash collection or the building superintendent, for example.

Security deposit

The landlord may require a security deposit of up to three months' rent (excluding utilities) . If everything goes smoothly when you move out, you'll get your money back.

Handover Report

Make a written note of every crack in the sink and every scratch on the hardwood floor so you won't be held liable for them when you move out.

Notice Period

This is usually three months— be sure to factor that into your future plans. Also important: The three-month notice period applies to your landlord as well.

 

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First Apartment: Where Can I Find Financial Assistance?

Vocational Training Grant (BAB)

Under certain conditions, apprentices can apply for a vocational training grant (BAB). You can find an overview here at Sparkasse: Financial Support for Apprentices

BAföG

If you're a college student, you can apply for BAföG. You can find all the information about BAföG here: Apply for BAföG online

You can find out here whether you're eligible for BAföG: Am I eligible for BAföG?

Grant to Help Students Get Started

If you are starting your first degree program and are under 25 years of age, you can receivea one-time “Studienstarthilfe” grant of 1,000 eurosfrom the BAföG office.

  • Requirement: In the month before you began your studies, you received certain social benefits (e.g., Bürgergeld, housing allowance, or child supplement).
  • Application: Digital applications only via the BAföG Digital portal.

Am I eligible for housing assistance?

You must apply for housing benefit at the housing benefit office of the municipality in which your home is located.

As an apprentice , however, you’ll usually only receive housing assistance in exceptional cases (e.g., if you’re pursuing a second apprenticeship or a profession not recognized by the state, such as a yoga instructor or typesetter).

In addition, you must be of legal age and provide proof that you are responsible for covering the costs of the apartment on your own.

You can find everything you need to know about housing assistance in this article: How do I apply for housing assistance?

Where can I apply for rent assistance as an apprentice?

The good news is: Under certain conditions, as an apprentice, you can apply to the local government office for additional rent subsidies, especially if you're under 25 and can no longer live with your parents (e.g., because of the distance to your training site).

Rent Assistance Checklist:

  • You are receiving BAB or BAB has been rejected because your income is too high.
  • The BAB rent allowance does not cover your heating and rent costs.
  • You no longer live at home.
  • Before you moved out of your parents' home, you applied for a rent subsidy from the office responsible for ALG II and received permission to move out.
  • Your apartment is reasonable in terms of size and price. Otherwise, you will only receive the rent subsidy that corresponds to a reasonable apartment.

When will I receive a housing allowance?

If you are under 25 years old and no longer live with your parents, you may be eligible for a housing allowance only if it would be unreasonable for you to move back in with them.

This applies, for example, if your place of training is far away or if there are serious social reasons justifying your move.
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The "Hidden" Fixed Costs

In addition to rent, there are costs that many people underestimate:

  • Electricity & Internet: Look specifically for bundled plans, but pay attention to the contract terms (often 24 months).
  • Broadcasting License Fee (GEZ): It amounts to 18.36 euros per household. Important: If you receive BAföG or BAB, you can apply for an exemption! In a shared apartment, only one person has to pay—if everyone is exempt, no one pays.
  • Insurance: Personal liability insurance is a must. Check to see if you're still covered under your parents' family insurance policy.
  • Transportation: Don't forget the cost of the monthly pass or your car.

Application for exemption from the broadcasting fee

Other costs you should expect

In addition to rental costs, there are other costs that you should take into account in your financial planning.

For example for:

  • Furniture, home furnishings, and items such as pans, towels, glasses, and hair dryers
  • Internet and cell phone costs
  • Costs for groceries and other items such as contact lenses, clothing, and haircuts

To get a good overview of what’s known as the cost of living—the additional monthly expenses on top of rent and other costs—it’s a good idea to keep some kind of household budget .

Furnishing Your First Apartment in a Sustainable and Affordable Way

Your first apartment doesn't have to be a catalog home.

  • Secondhand: You can find affordable furniture and kitchenware (pans, glasses, etc.) on kleinanzeigen.de, at flea markets, or in thrift stores. With a little creativity, you can even give bulky trash items a sustainable new lease on life.
  • Set priorities: Think carefully about what you need right away and what can wait.

Keep an eye on costs with a budget book

To avoid ending up in the red at the end of the month, a budget book is essential—whether it’s the traditional paper version or an app, such as

My Household Budget Book

Moneon Household Budget Book

Finanzguru App

If you track your spending on groceries, leisure activities, and subscriptions, you'll automatically save money.

Bonus Tip for Filing Your Tax Return: Even if you're an apprentice or a student, it's worth filing a tax return. Travel expenses and work equipment (laptop, tablet) can often be claimed as tax deductions.

What do I need to keep in mind after moving?

As soon as you move, you must update your registration with the Residents' Registration Office () . You generally have two weeks to do so. If you forget, you risk a fine of up to 1,000 euros.

​​​​​​​Income and Budget Counseling

As a comprehensive EAP provider, pme Familienservice offers Familienservice in all situations—from psychosocial counseling and leadership development to income and budget counseling.

If you want to empower your employees in the long term, learn more here about the services offered by pme Familienservice how we can provide personalized support.
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EAP advice

 

 

zero How ILB makes employees crisis-proof

The ILB building in Potsdam
Leadership & HR
04.11.2024 Isabel Hempel 7563

Strengthening team resilience: How ILB makes employees crisis-proof

In this interview, Kathleen Wiesener, HR Development Officer at the Investitionsbank des Landes Brandenburg (ILB), sheds light on the importance of a strong team spirit and how targeted measures such as coaching, feedback culture and external moderation help to strengthen employees. She explains which strategies ILB uses to create a resilient working environment in which employees receive the support they need to be successful in crisis situations.

What does ILB mean by team resilience and why is it particularly important for the company?

For us, team resilience means the ability of a team to overcome challenges, crises or stressful situations together and emerge stronger. This includes cohesion, mutual support, good communication and trust within the group. A resilient team can adapt quickly to new circumstances and remains productive even in difficult times.

What specific challenges do you face in strengthening the resilience of your teams?

Digitalization presents our employees with considerable adjustment requirements. In addition, there are frequent reorganizations, for example due to new guidelines or efficiency measures. There is also a high workload in many areas due to sickness absences or unfilled expert positions as a result of the shortage of specialists.

How have you anchored the topic of team resilience in your organization?

ILB recognized team cohesion and resilience as key issues many years ago. We offer our employees systematic support from coaches and trainers from the pme Academy. We have succeeded in raising awareness among managers that good team dynamics promote well-being. This leads to fewer conflicts and less sickness-related absences and strengthens the team's performance.

How does the cooperation with the pme Academy work?

The pme Academy supports us in the organization of team meetings and the moderation of larger workshops - ranging from small teams of 4 people to entire areas with 80 participants. We also work together with their conflict moderators. Managers are part of the system and therefore cannot mediate neutrally, which is why external support is very valuable. There are also preventative offers that enable managers and employees to address conflicts and provide feedback.

Unleash the full potential of your managers and teams now.

Our trainers and coaches at the pme Academy support you in difficult transformation and change processes or analyze together how you can make even better use of your team's strengths. 

More information on the seminars and training courses: pme Academy

What effect do these offers have on your employees?

Our employees find these offers very helpful. They appreciate being able to talk about team spirit away from the daily work routine. Since the coronavirus pandemic, many have been working from home, which has led to fewer informal meetings and more social distancing. Hybrid or digital meetings are often very business-oriented, but personal interaction is crucial to strengthen bonds and a sense of community.

How do managers specifically support their teams in difficult times and ensure a resilient working environment?

We promote a sense of unity in a variety of ways in order to strengthen cooperation. Together with the workforce, we have developed guidelines for transparent, constructive communication, a lively feedback culture and cross-divisional collaboration.
Not only managers but also employees are responsible for regularly discussing and reflecting on these values. Regular team events offer the opportunity to maintain personal connections despite hybrid working models and to discuss common interests beyond work content.

What measures do you take to ensure that employees dare to speak openly about challenges or mistakes?

Dealing constructively with mistakes and challenges is firmly anchored in our vision of a learning organization. We promote transparency and encourage our managers to support their employees and adopt a solution-oriented approach instead of looking for someone to blame.

How does this work in practice? Are there tools and techniques for systematically talking about setbacks and mistakes?

We systematically integrate the topic of feedback into our annual appraisals and thus repeatedly raise awareness of its importance. There have also been campaigns on how to give constructive feedback, with newsletters, postcard campaigns and training measures.

What programs, training or resources do you offer to continuously promote the resilience of teams and individuals?

In addition to various communication training courses, such as conflict management, we offer teams the opportunity to call in external mediators or moderators for team building in times of crisis. The pme Familienservice is an important partner here.
In addition, all managers have the opportunity to choose a coach to support them in challenging situations. In day-to-day work, it's often all about the "what" and less about the "how". When a team is reassembled or a new manager is appointed, we support the process with targeted guidance.

How do you ensure that employees are not overwhelmed in stressful phases and remain productive?

Stress management is a key issue that we support through training for both our employees and managers. It is an essential part of management development so that they can protect themselves and their teams from overload and manage crises in a targeted manner. We also offer social counseling and practical support in difficult private and professional situations via an external partner.

We are currently experiencing a very strong polarization in society. Is this also noticeable in your teams? Are the conflicts growing?

My perception is that we are very reluctant to talk about politics, possibly to avoid conflict. I can only speak for my team here: It is very important to us to treat each other with respect, and that includes respecting different opinions. One example was the vaccination debate during the coronavirus pandemic, where there were both supporters and opponents. I experienced a lot of tolerance. Good cooperation is important to us and helps us to overcome crises together.