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Category: Festival

Posted on December 26, 2021January 8, 2023

Celebrating New Year In Germany – What To Do On Silvester in 2023

featured_celebrating new year in Germany_what to do on silvester_food and drink in germany on silvester_my life in germany_hkwomanabroad

Are you wondering how to celebrate New Year in Germany? And why is New Year’s Eve called “Silvester”? In this article, you will find out all you need to know about New Year’s celebration in Germany. This includes a list of traditional food, drinks, and different celebration activities. Continue reading “Celebrating New Year In Germany – What To Do On Silvester in 2023”

Posted on November 14, 2021January 24, 2023

German Christmas Traditions – Christmas in Germany

featured image 2_christmas in germany_german christmas traditions_advent calendar_mylifeingermany_hkwomanabroad-min (1)

As you probably know, Christmas in Germany is an important festival. Do you know about the German Christmas traditions? What can you expect in a German Christmas market? How does it work with the advent wreath? What kinds of advent calendars are there? Check out this post to get prepared for Christmas in Germany! Continue reading “German Christmas Traditions – Christmas in Germany”

Posted on November 29, 2020November 3, 2022

Believe In Santa – Why I Will Never Do This To My Kids

featured image_believe in Santa_why i will never do this to my kids_the time when i found out that my father was santa_santa clau

Did you believe in Santa when you were young? Do you plan to make your kids believe in Santa? I did believe (too much) in Santa when I was a kid. In this article, I will tell you why I will not let my kids believe in Santa. And how you should tell your kids the truth if they already believe in him.
Continue reading “Believe In Santa – Why I Will Never Do This To My Kids”

My Life In Germany_German culture_Germany blog_studying living and working in Germany

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Have you ever thought about how much are all your Have you ever thought about how much are all your belongings at home worth?😕

What if you suddenly lose all of your belongings? Can you afford to buy all of them again new?😱

But how can you suddenly lose all your belongings?🤔

There can be different reasons. Damages caused by fire, water, natural disaster, burglary, vandalism...just to name a few.🔥🚒

Do you have an expensive bike? 🚴‍♀️Are you worried that someone might steal your bike when you park it outside? How about your lawnmower or stroller?

What if someone steals your valuables in the hotel room when you are on vacation?🏨

What if you have fallen victim to a phishing attack and the scammers use your personal data to make bank transfers?💶💶

This is when home contents insurance comes into place. If you cannot afford to replace all your belongings at home in case something happens, you should consider taking out a home contents insurance policy.💪

I have home contents insurance myself but have never made a claim (luckily). On the other hand, my friend had a water leakage in her flat 2 years ago, which caused a lot of damage to her furniture. But her home contents insurance takes care of that (luckily).😯

In my latest article, you will learn

🔺What is home contents insurance in Germany

🔺What items/ risks are covered (and not covered)

🔺The 5 best home contents insurance providers for expats in Germany

🔺Factors to consider before taking out your policy

🔺The difference between home contents insurance and liability insurance

🔺The difference between home contents insurance and building insurance

🔺And many more...

👉Click the link in my bio and check out my latest article about home contents insurance in Germany!
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#homeinsurancegermany #homeinsurance #homecontentsinsurance #homecontentsinsurancegermany #homegermany #insurancegermany #movetogermany #liveingermany #insuranceingermany #workingermany #expatingermany #foreigneringermany #movingtogermany #mylifeingermany #lifeingermany #hkwomanabroad #protectyourhome #germanhome
For most of us, trying to search for a rental apar For most of us, trying to search for a rental apartment in Germany is like a nightmare.😱

I was a student and did not speak German when I first moved to Germany. My flat-hunting process was extremely frustrating and emotional😢.

The supply of flats in Germany simply is not catching up with the demand, especially in the big cities. For those who are trying to find a rental apartment in Germany, I can totally feel you.

That is why I am putting together an ultimate guide to finding your apartment in Germany.💪

Follow these tips and you will have a better chance of getting your dream apartment.

If you are living in a rental apartment at the moment, do you know your right as a tenant?
 
The good news is that German law is in favor of the tenant. Your rent amount is regulated. It means that your landlord cannot just increase your rent significantly without a reason. And your rent level needs to be in line with a similar flat in your surrounding😯. 

In my latest article, you will learn

🔺Your rights as a tenant in Germany
🔺How the rent amount is regulated in Germany
🔺Why the hell is the kitchen not included in a rental flat in Germany
🔺How to increase your chance of getting your dream rental apartment (+27 tips!)

👉Click the link in my bio and learn everything about renting in Germany!
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#rentingingermany #rentinggermany #rentgermany #germanrent #findflatgermany #findapartmentgermany #flatgermany #apartmentgermany #housegermany #flathuntinggermany #liveingermany #foreigneringermany #expatingermany #mylifeingermany #lifeingermany #workingermany #movetogermany #relocatetogermany #movingtogermany #relocationgermany #hkwomanabroad
In my hometown Hong Kong, it is very common for pe In my hometown Hong Kong, it is very common for people to support their parents financially. Since I started working when I was 22, I have been sending money to my parents. This did not change after I moved to Germany. I continue to send my parents money every year until now.💶💶

After sending money to my parents for a few years, I heard that this kind of maintenance payment is tax-deductible in Germany. I could have saved so much tax if I would have known it before!

So, I started trying to deduct my maintenance payments in the German tax return. This was when I realized that the process was very frustrating😣. The most challenging part for me was to find a local authority in Hong Kong who was willing to sign on the tax form provided by Germany.

After years of trying, I was so happy that I finally got my maintenance payments approved by the German tax office as deductible expenses! 💪

It was a lot of work but it was worth it. I have been deducting these expenses for 3 years now and I have saved a few thousand Euros of tax every year. After the first year, the process got easier as I know now what exactly I need to do to make it work.

I know that many expats in Germany are facing the same pain. I see this question over and over again. People are asking how they can deduct their maintenance payments in the tax return. Based on my experience, I have written up a guide to help you.

In my latest article, I write about

🔺My personal experience of claiming the maintenance payments

🔺Who can you support with the maintenance payments

🔺How much maintenance payments can you deduct in your tax return

🔺How to deduct your maintenance payments

🔺More tips to claim your payments successfully

👉Click the link in my bio and start saving your taxes now!
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#germantax #germantaxreturn #claimgermantax #germantaxdeduction #maintenancepayment #maintenancepaymenttax #maintenancepaymenttaxgermany #taxingermany #taxrefundgermany #germantaxrefund #taxreturngermany #taxreturn #mylifeingermany #lifeingermany #expatingermany #foreigneringermany #liveingermany #workingermany #movetogermany #relocatetogermany #hkwomanabroad
Do you know that the CV structure in Germany may b Do you know that the CV structure in Germany may be different from that of your home country? 

Simply translating your current CV into German is not sufficient. You should make sure that you use the German CV format when applying for a job in Germany. 🇩🇪

Do you know that 93% of all hiring managers use CV scanning software to filter candidates from the application pool? 😲 

This software extracts data from your CV and creates a short summary of you for the hiring managers. It also extracts all the keywords about your skills and competencies.

That is why it is important to have the correct keywords included in your CV. Without the right keywords, your CV may not even make it to the hiring managers. ☹️ 

Therefore, I recommend getting a free comprehensive CV review. You will get objective feedback on your skills and expertise, and also personalized recommendations on your CV.💪

And the best part? It is free!😲😲

I did mine and the result shows me how the CV scanning software present me to the hiring manager. Many of the keywords I used were irrelevant.😣 I got a long analysis on my CV, highlighting the weak points and how I could improve them.

Do you know that hiring managers spend on average only 6 to 7 seconds when looking at a CV? ⏳

Your CV is the first impression you give to the hiring manager. So, it is very important to make it right and follow the German format.

In my latest article, I write about

🔺Should you write your CV in English or German?
🔺How to use an online CV builder?
🔺The length, format, and style of a CV 
🔺The CV structure in Germany
🔺My free CV template for you to download
🔺13 tips to write your CV in Germany

👉Click the link in my bio to learn everything about writing a successful CV in Germany!
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#CV #Cvgermany #germancv #findjobgermany #workingermany #resumegermany #germanresume #resume #jobgermany #germanjob #mylifeingermany #lifeingermany #hkwomanabroad #movetogermany #relocatetogermany #studyingermany #expatingermany #foreigneringermany #foreignmomingermany #studentingermany #germanwork
Do you have people financially dependent on you? T Do you have people financially dependent on you? This can be your spouse, your children, or even your parents.
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Or, are you financially dependent on someone, like your spouse?
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If your answer is yes, you (or your spouse) should seriously think about getting life insurance in Germany, in case you don't have one yet.
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We started to think about that after we have our first kid, and moved to our new home.🏡
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Before we have life insurance, I was often worried about what happened if my husband dies.
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With my salary alone, I will not be able to pay the monthly mortgage.💶
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It was such a peace of mind after we got our life insurance because this issue is now covered.😊
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Even though life insurance cannot stop your family from suffering emotionally due to your death, it can help to remove their financial burdens.
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Without life insurance, your family may be forced to move out of their own home in case you die.😱
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Therefore, it is very important to have life insurance if you have dependents, and especially if you own a property.
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In my latest article, I write about

🔺The different types of life insurances in Germany
🔺How does life insurance work
🔺Who needs a life insurance policy
🔺A comparison of the 4 best life insurance providers in Germany
🔺How to choose the assured sum and duration of your insurance contract
🔺The cost of life insurance in Germany
🔺How to optimize tax when you have life insurance in Germany
🔺And many more tips...

👉Check out my article below and learn everything about life insurance in Germany!
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#lifeinsurance #lifeinsurancegermany #germanlifeinsurance #insurance #germaninsurance #insurancegermany #mylifeingermany #lifeingermany #workingermany #expatingermany #foreigneringermany #studyingermany #movetogermany #relocatetogermany #movingtogermany #hkwomanabroad
Thanks to technology, there are so many ways to le Thanks to technology, there are so many ways to learn German nowadays. Classroom style is not the only option anymore. It is getting more and more popular for people to learn German with apps.

So, does it really work to use an app to learn German?🤔

Well, the research said yes!

But only if you stick with your app and put effort into the learning.💪

But why should you use an app to learn German?

Here are some reasons:

🔺Many apps are fun to use. It makes learning feel like games.

🔺It is much cheaper to use apps than to attend a traditional German class. Some apps are even free.

🔺Almost all the apps have some free content. So, why not try them out?

🔺App learning involves audio, music, video, or even augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) elements. Doesn't it sound much more fun than your textbook?

🔺Apps can also help to train your speaking and pronunciation!

🔺You can learn whenever, wherever you are.

🔺Flexibility - You can decide what topics and how fast you want to learn.

🔺Some apps also allow you to interact with other users and build your community.

If that sounds interesting to you, the next step will be to find an app that works best for you. To save your time, I have spent tens of hours compiling a list of the best apps to learn German. I have tested each of these apps personally (and approved them!). No  matter which learning style you have, how good or bad your German level is, you will find an app in this list that is for you. I guarantee.

In my latest article, you will learn

🔥 The 10 best apps to learn German (free or paid)

🔥 The pros and cons of each of the apps in the list

🔥 How to choose the best app that best fits your needs

🔥 5 Tips to learn German successfully with an app

👉Click the link in my bio to find your best app to learn German!
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#learngerman #learngermanapp #bestapptolearngerman #bestapplearngerman #languageapp #languagelearningapp #howtolearngerman #freeappgerman #freeapptolearngerman #learngermanfun #learngermanfree #mylifeingermany #lifeingermany #movetogermany #liveingermany #workingermany #studyingermany #expatingermany #foreigneringermany #foreignmomingermany #hkwomanabroad
Let's admit it. Nowadays, it is almost impossible Let's admit it. Nowadays, it is almost impossible to live without the internet.

Without the internet, you will not even be reading this message now!

Since internet is so important in our lives, I have to write a detailed article about it.

In my latest article, you will learn

🔺The 4 best internet providers in Germany and their offers (including internet plans with no minimum duration)

🔺12 tips to find the best internet provider that can best suit your need

🔺What internet speed do you need and how to check your speed

🔺Why the internet is so slow in Germany and what to do about it

🔺What type of internet connections you can use in Germany

🔺How to set up your internet in Germany

⭐Another bonus - I will share what I did to get a big discount from my existing internet provider, at the end of my current internet contract.

👉Click my bio to check out my article! Learn everything about the internet in Germany.💪

And don't forget to  let me know what you think 😊
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#internet #internetingermany #internetgermany #bestinternetprovider #bestinternetprovidergermany #internetprovidergermany #internetspeedgermany #internetconnectiongermany #wifigermany #mylifeingermany #lifeingermany #hkwomanabroad #workingermany #liveingermany #movetogermany #relocatetogermany #expatingermany #foreigneringermany #foreignermomingermany
Today is the first Sunday of Advent. Advent start Today is the first Sunday of Advent.

Advent starts on the fourth Sunday before the Christmas day. 

It is the first time this year we started baking Christmas cookies.

Our elder daughter was very helpful in making the cookies.

Our small one is not yet two years old. But she was already very excited and made the cookies together with us.

Making Christmas cookies is one of my favourite German Christmas traditions.

How about you?

Happy Advent Sunday to all of you ❤️
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#christmas #xmas #christmasgermany #germanchristmas #xmasgermany #germanxmas #advent #firstadvent #adventsunday #christmascookies #xmascookies #christmasingermany #xmasingermany #lifeingermany #mylifeingermany #workingermany #expatingermany #foreigneringermany #foreignmomingermanu #hkwomanabroad
Once I was working in the office, I had to send a Once I was working in the office, I had to send a letter to the bank for work.
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Then, I realized that I had no idea where and how I should write the addresses on the envelope. I was working in an international team. There were no German colleagues on that day. And it seemed that nobody knew how to do it neither.🤔
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Do you have this experience as well after you move to Germany?
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German people love paper. They like to send letters.✉️
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After living in Germany for years, I was still confused from time to time when I had to send a letter or a parcel.📦
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In Hong Kong, we put the recipient address in the front and the return address at the back of the envelope. So clear and easy.
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But hey, we are in Germany now and we need to learn the German way to do things.🇩🇪
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In Germany, do you know

🔺how to receive letters if your name is not on the postbox?

🔺you can buy your stamps online?

🔺you can simply write a code on your envelope, instead of using a physical stamp?

🔺you can send a letter by email? (Yes, Deutsche Post will help you to print it out and post it. You can just stay at home and you don't need to print any paper.)

🔺you can have DHL pick up your parcel at home?

🔺you can use the Packstation to send or receive your parcel, without worrying about the office hours of the post office?

👉Click my bio to see my latest article and learn everything about post and mail in Germany.
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#postgermany #mailgermany #deutschepost #dhl #sendlettergermany #sendparcelgermany #receivelettergermany #receiveparcelgermany #mylifeingermany #lifeingermany #liveingermany #expatingermany #foreigneringermany #foreignmomingermany #studyingermany #workingermany #lettergermany #addressgermany #hkwomanabroad

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