A young woman stands in her first apartment of her own, with boxes behind her
Finance & Law
16.06.2026 Sabrina Ludwig 20297

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 Helicopter parents: the effects of overprotective parenting

A girl hangs upside down from a tree
Parent & Child
23.07.2025 Ifenna Ekezie 17316

What defines helicopter parents?

The anxious mother who takes her child everywhere by car and picks him up again, the controlling father who keeps a close eye on school performance and never shies away from a teacher's talk ...  

While many parents want to support their children in order to smooth their path, they often end up becoming "helicopter parents." However, this overprotective attitude, which usually stems from their own worries and fears, can have a significant impact on the development of their children's independence. 

An article by Ramona Krämer, parent counselor and systemic family therapist at pme Familienservice.

What you can expect in this article

What are "helicopter parents"?  

"Helicopter parents" are parents who are constantly close to their children and circle around them like a helicopter so that they can intervene at any time if they think their child needs support or protection. 

The parenting style of helicopter parents is characterized by

  • Over-involvement
  • Restriction of the child's autonomy 
  • Overprotection 
  • Assigning blame to third parties, e.g. when educators are held responsible if their own child has conflicts in the childcare center .

What is the difference between helicopter parents and lawnmower parents? 

In contrast to helicopter parents, lawnmower parents try to clear any potential challenge or difficulty out of the way at an early stage - preferably in advance. They "mow down" all obstacles before the child encounters them. 

Both parenting styles are characterized by a strong overprotectiveness, but with a different approach: helicopter parents are more reactive, while lawnmower parents plan and act more in advance.

What is behind it when parents are overprotective?  

The overprotectiveness of helicopter parents often stems from their own fears.

There are usually reasons for the parents' overprotective behavior that lie in their past and are linked to experiences - before, during or after pregnancy: for example, a long fertility treatment, complications during pregnancy or birth, premature births, as well as postpartum depression or their own upbringing that they grew up with. 

At the same time, the world is becoming more and more complex, and through media coverage we learn of many disasters around us and in the world, giving us the feeling that the world is more dangerous and unsafe for our children. 

The desire for control often stems from the need to do something about one's own powerlessness and helplessness.
 

We overestimate the probability of events! 

In psychology, this is known as the availability heuristic: an abbreviated, cognitive conclusion in which the probability of events is assessed according to their topicality and vividness in memory. 

This means that tragic news becomes engrained, leading to a heightened sense of risk and thus to misjudgments and errors in judgment. This often results in increased protective measures 

What impact do helicopter parents have on their children?  

The overprotective parenting style leads to children becominganxious and developing phobias or fears themselves.

Before children can gather their own experiences, they rely on the experiences of their caregivers. This type of transfer of experience is very long-lasting, unlike other forms of learning that quickly fade if they are not repeated.

Phobias and fears, such as fear of spiders or the dentist or fear of loss, are transferred from the primary caregiver to their children. This happens on a non-verbal level, through facial expressions, gestures and smell. 

What helps? Name and disclose your own fear!
 

Do the reality check!

Exchange ideas with other parents or your partner: 

- Are there real dangers or is it a perceived insecurity? 

- What can children of this age be expected to do? 

- How do you handle this? 

- Do you have similar fears?

 

BUT the parental role model is not the only factor that determines whether a child develops anxiety. Genetic, biological and socio-cultural influences also play a role here. 

Example 1: An anxious mother limits her adventurous son's freedom of movement, which leads to frequent conflicts. Although the mother's anxiety is often noticeable, it is probably not transferred directly to the son. 

Example 2: A rather cautious child is severely restricted in its independence by its parents. It is less and less confident in mastering challenges on its own and does not learn to develop the ability to act. 

How do children of helicopter parents behave? 

The overprotectiveness of helicopter parents has a strong influence on their children's development . This can be seen in their motor skills, risk assessment and frustration tolerance.

The influence on children's motor development and risk assessment

In its "More safety through movement" series of publications, Unfallkasse Hessen states that children who are allowed to move freely have fewer accidents . Children need free movement and the space to experience things for themselves.

They need challenges, borderline experiences and experiences of failure in order to learn to assess risks correctly and develop self-confidence.

The influence on children's resilience and frustration tolerance 

Overprotected children who experience hardly any negative emotions, consequences and frustration while growing up develop less self-efficacy and suffer more frequently from anxiety disorders, according to studies by Stanford University (2021) and Florida Atlantic University (2023).  

This makes it all the more important that children learn to deal with frustration, injustice, conflicts and even accidents at an early age and in an age-appropriate manner. 

How can we make our children strong? 

Parents - and helicopter parents in particular - must learn to endure their own fears and worries.  

Instead of restricting your own child with well-intentioned overprotection, children need to be supported in their independence. In this way, they can develop crisis skills and learn to assert themselves independently.  

This is also confirmed by the Florida Atlantic University study (2023), which shows that children and young people who spend a lot of time playing freely and riskily and are used to solving problems without parental guidance are mentally happier .

It is therefore important that parents promote their child's self-efficacy and resilience and give them the freedom they need.

5 tips on how to find a healthy level of care

1. see care as support for the independent development of your child. The long-term goal of parents should be to make themselves dispensable. After all, we want our children to be able to manage their own lives when they move out. 

2 Only help your child if he or she asks for it.  

3. ask your child questions instead of giving direct answers and thus anticipating a solution. 

4. do not relieve your child of challenges, but support them in finding a solution themselves. 

5. only provide support until the point is reached where your child can take over on their own. 

"The role of parents is to support their child only until the child can take over on their own—not to do everything for the child or remove all challenges from their path." - Ramona Krämer, parent counselor at pme Familienservice

The pme parent counseling service

Our parent counselors support parents in all matters from pregnancy to the child's adulthood.  

Personal and confidential: We are there for you online, by phone and on site. You can find more information on the pme parent counseling page.