Saving in Germany: What do the 2025 numbers say about our reserves?

Saving in Germany: What do the 2025 numbers say about our reserves?

In Germany, savers still enjoy good health, even if the financial realities are not always easy. According to a current survey by YouGov on behalf of Postbank, which took place in September 2025, 80 percent of Germans say they regularly put money aside. But there are many reasons why many people feel like they don't have enough reserves: A central problem is the increased cost of living, which has reduced the purchasing power of many citizens, especially in recent years. The inflation rate is currently around 2 percent, after having had difficult years of inflation.

The survey shows that 63 percent of those surveyed feel their reserves are inadequate. Only 24 percent have accumulated a financial cushion of three to six months' salary. Just 15 percent of Germans can only make ends meet for a month with their savings. In contrast, 34 percent can live on their savings for more than six months. Only the popularity of consumption and leisure has won out for some savers, as 33 percent are building up reserves for leisure and purchases, while 44 percent are saving for an emergency fund.

The right savings strategy

How much should you save now? The question cannot be answered in general terms. A common recommendation is the 50-30-20 rule, which is intended to make effective saving easier. 50 percent of your net income should be budgeted for living expenses, 30 percent for leisure and hobbies, and 20 percent for reserves. Fixed savings amounts should be transferred to a current account or an ETF savings plan at the beginning of the month in order to have better control of your own financial situation. In this context, the current account remains the most popular investment with a share of 41 percent, followed by daily money accounts with 40 percent and 34 percent that invest in stocks or funds.

What is particularly striking is that the proportion of funds invested in ETFs has increased from 13 to 21 percent in the last two years. With increasing interest in securities investments, awareness of long-term wealth creation is also increasing. However, we often hear about Germans' skepticism towards stocks and funds, which could not least be due to negative experiences in the past, such as with the Telekom share or the “Neuer Markt”. Therefore, the fear of the overall risk structure of the investments is understandable.

Situation in international comparison

Although Germany is one of the largest economies in the world, its investment strategy falls short of its potential. A report by Allianz shows that the average private wealth in Germany is just under 70,000 euros, while real estate is worth an average of 130,000 euros, after deducting debts. In an international comparison, 15th place in the wealth rankings is rather modest for a country of this size. The majority of wealth creation in Germany occurs through additional savings, with the majority of savers primarily relying on building savings and low-interest bank savings products.

Nevertheless, it remains important to deal with modern savings models. Individual assets can only be grown and maintained by actively exploring investment options. As we can see from these statistics, awareness of financial provision is high in Germany, even if implementation is still lacking. The challenges posed by current developments in the global economy should be reason enough for each of us to fine-tune our own savings strategy.

How long can you live on your savings, and what is the best way to ensure you have enough for the future? These questions need to be answered individually for each person. The key to success is to save timely and wisely and not to be unsettled by significant fluctuations in the economy. Maybe it's time to start 2026 with a solid plan.

Postbank underlines the results of the survey and emphasizes that Germany remains a country of savers, even if the hurdles on the way to financial security should be constantly kept in mind. Take a look into the future of your finances and make sure you have a strategy that works for you.

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