Who we are
Smart Living in Germany is an English-language newsletter and website for expats and international residents in Germany, covering smart spending, deals, and everyday life topics. It is operated by Anna Mezhova, a sole trader (Gewerbe) based in Berlin, Germany.
Controller under the GDPR: Anna Mezhova
Berlin, Germany
Email: [email protected]
What data we collect and why
Newsletter subscribers
When you sign up for our newsletter – either via a form on this website or through our Beehiiv-hosted landing page – we collect your email address and, if provided, your first name. This data is used solely to send you the newsletter and related updates. The legal basis is your consent (Art. 6(1)(a) GDPR).
Website usage data
We use Google Analytics to understand how visitors interact with our site. This may include your IP address (anonymised), browser type, pages visited, and time spent on pages. The legal basis is our legitimate interest in improving the site (Art. 6(1)(f) GDPR), subject to your cookie consent where required.
Marketing and advertising data
We use the Meta Pixel to measure the effectiveness of paid advertising campaigns on Meta platforms (Facebook, Instagram). We also participate in a number of affiliate networks – including but not limited to AWIN, CommunicationAds, and Amazon Associates – which use tracking cookies to attribute clicks and purchases to our content. The legal basis for this processing is your consent (Art. 6(1)(a) GDPR), obtained via our cookie banner.
Cookies and tracking
Our website uses cookies and similar tracking technologies. These fall into the following categories:
Analytics cookies – placed by Google Analytics to measure traffic and usage patterns.
Marketing cookies – placed by Meta (Facebook Pixel) and affiliate tracking networks to measure conversions and attribute referrals.
You can manage or withdraw your cookie consent at any time via the cookie settings banner on our website. You can also opt out of Google Analytics across all sites using Google's opt-out browser add-on.
Third-party processors
We share data with the following third-party services, each acting as a data processor or independent controller under their own privacy terms:
Beehiiv – newsletter platform that stores subscriber data and manages email delivery. As part of this, Beehiiv may collect approximate geolocation data (derived from IP address) for fraud prevention and publisher analytics, track which links you click in emails, and place first-party cookies on our website for visitor analytics and signup attribution. Privacy policy
Google LLC – website analytics via Google Analytics. Data may be transferred to the US under Standard Contractual Clauses. Privacy policy
Meta Platforms, Inc. – conversion tracking via the Meta Pixel. Data may be transferred to the US. Privacy policy
Affiliate networks – we work with multiple affiliate tracking networks, including AWIN, CommunicationAds, and Amazon Associates, which may place cookies on your device to attribute referrals. Each network operates under its own privacy policy, available on their respective websites.
You can manage or withdraw your cookie consent at any time via the cookie settings banner on our website. You can also opt out of Google Analytics across all sites using Google's opt-out browser add-on.
Data transfers outside the EU
Some of our third-party processors (Google, Meta, Beehiiv) are based in the United States. Any transfer of personal data to these providers takes place on the basis of Standard Contractual Clauses (SCCs) approved by the European Commission, or other appropriate safeguards under Chapter V of the GDPR.
How long we keep your data
Newsletter subscribers – we retain your email address and associated data for as long as your subscription record exists in our system. If you unsubscribe, you will no longer receive emails from us. You may request deletion of your data at any time by contacting us at [email protected].
Analytics data – Google Analytics data is retained for 14 months by default.
Affiliate tracking data – retained by each affiliate network in accordance with their own retention policies.
Your rights
As a data subject under the GDPR, you have the following rights:
Right of access
Right to rectification
Right to erasure
Right to restrict processing
Right to data portability
Right to object
Right to withdraw consent
To exercise any of these rights, please contact us at [email protected]. We will respond within 30 days. You also have the right to lodge a complaint with a supervisory authority. In Germany, the relevant authority is the data protection commissioner of your federal state, or the Bundesbeauftragte für den Datenschutz und die Informationsfreiheit (BfDI).
Affiliate links
Some links on our website and in our newsletter are affiliate links. This means we may earn a small commission if you make a purchase or sign up for a service after clicking through, at no additional cost to you. Affiliate referrals are tracked via cookies placed by the affiliate networks we work with.
Changes to this policy
We may update this privacy policy from time to time. If we make significant changes, we will notify subscribers via email. The date at the top of this page always reflects when the policy was last revised.
Contact
For any questions about this privacy policy, email [email protected] and we'll get back to you within 30 days.