Your Guide to Smart Spending – June 4

Nebenan is a free social network built around your immediate neighborhood – local recommendations, lost-and-found posts, the occasional complaint about trash removal. What makes it worth a mention here is its marketplace, where people nearby sell, give away, and lend things to each other.

The selection is smaller than on a giant like Kleinanzeigen, so you won't always find exactly what you're after. But when something you like does turn up, the appeal is hard to argue with: there's no shipping to pay and nothing to wait for, because the seller usually lives a few minutes away and you just walk over to collect it. Some items are listed for free, too, by people who'd rather pass something on than throw it out.

The borrowing side is also interesting: rather than buying a drill, a carpet cleaner, or a folding table you'll use twice a year, you can often borrow one from a neighbor for nothing. It's the sort of thing that used to happen on its own when people knew everyone on their street – the app just makes it easier to find who has what.

So if you're furnishing a flat on a budget, clearing out things you no longer need, or trying to stop buying gadgets you'll only touch once, it's worth setting up a profile and seeing what's nearby. Worst case, you’ll get to know a few neighbors.

MediaMarkt* is running its recurring "VAT as a gift" promotion again, available to myMediaMarkt and mySaturn members. Signing up for either program is free and takes a couple of minutes.

A note on the math: despite the "19% VAT off" framing, that's not the discount you're actually getting. VAT makes up about 16% of the gross price you pay – a €119 item is €100 plus €19 of tax – so stripping it out works out to a discount of roughly 15.97%, not 19%. That's still a real saving on big-ticket items, and it applies to plenty of products that are already reduced – so there are some great deals to be had.

The promotion runs until June 8 at 11:59 p.m. and doesn't apply to third-party sellers, so make sure the item is sold and shipped by MediaMarkt itself. If you've had a larger purchase planned, this is a good week to make it happen. Shop MediaMarkt here*.

When interest rates are trending down, it leaves you with a tradeoff. Fixed-term accounts (Festgeld) pay more and lock the rate in, but your money is stuck until the term ends. Flexible accounts (Tagesgeld) let you withdraw anytime, but the bank can cut your rate whenever it likes. BBVA's Flexible Fixed Deposit* sits between the two: you lock in a guaranteed rate for the term you pick, but can still take your money out whenever you need it.

Terms run from 6 months to 5 years – 2.90% per year over 12 months, 3.00% over 24, rising to 3.40% for the full 5 years – and the rate is guaranteed for the entire period. The minimum deposit is €500; you'll need a free BBVA current account to use the Flexible Fixed Deposit. You can withdraw early, in full or in part, at any time. Deposits are protected up to €100,000 per customer.

If you've got savings you'd like to protect from falling rates but don't want to commit to fully tying them up, this is an option worth considering. Open a BBVA fixed deposit here*.

P.S. If you'd rather have the highest possible rate for a short time and don't mind moving your money afterwards, Chase (an American bank that recently expanded to Germany) is paying 4% for the first four months. And if you run a registered business (like freelancer or a Gewerbe), you can open Finom's business account* that offers 5% for the first five months.

This promo one comes back every so often, and it's a hit every single time. Yves Rocher* gives you the first item in your cart free, regardless of its price, with the code CRAZY26 (advertisement). The promotion covers the full range (excluding sets and limited editions) and runs until June 9. The minimum order is €20, and shipping is free from €20 too.

The trick is to add the most expensive thing you want to your cart first – for example, a serum at €69.90*, a perfume at €69.90* or a rich day cream at €49.90* – and then fill the rest of the basket with lower-cost basics like shower gels, hand creams, or soap to reach €20. Tip: this coffee-scented shower gel* smells divine. Done right, you can walk away with a good amount of products for just over €20.

The products are good quality, and they make nice gifts too, so even if you don't need anything for yourself, it's a chance to stock up ahead of time. Shop the Yves Rocher offer here*.

Money-back supermarket product promos are among the easiest ways to cut everyday costs. A lot of promotions from previous issues are still active – you can find them all here. For more free grocery products, Rewe product tests are worth a look as well.