Germany’s statistical offices are preparing for one of their most detailed household studies, calling on residents across the country to document every expense they make for an entire month. The initiative comes with a straightforward incentive: anyone who takes part receives 90 euros in compensation for their time and effort.
The survey is part of a large-scale project designed to understand how families in Germany structure their monthly budgets—what they spend on essentials, how much goes to leisure or subscriptions, and how everyday costs change over time.
Why multi-person households are especially important for 2026
For the study year 2026, the statistical office in Saxony highlights a particular interest in larger living arrangements. This includes households where adult children still live at home, as well as families shared with grandparents or in-laws.
Multi-person households provide more complex and diverse spending patterns, making them especially valuable for national calculations on living costs, consumption trends and future economic planning.
A closer look at the study and its purpose
Although the official title of the project—Laufende Wirtschaftsrechnungen—sounds highly technical, the principle is simple. The survey is voluntary and focuses on how much money people spend each month on daily needs: groceries, personal items, tobacco products, mobile contracts, entertainment and various household essentials.
These monthly snapshots help public authorities identify long-term trends, estimate inflation from a household perspective and refine social and economic policies.
Tracking expenses is easier than ever thanks to the app
To simplify participation, the statistical offices now offer a dedicated app. Instead of collecting receipts or filling out handwritten forms, households can enter their spending digitally, category by category, whenever it suits them.
The digital approach reduces paperwork and helps researchers receive uniform data more quickly, while participants benefit from a clear overview of their monthly expenses—something many admit they rarely examine in such detail.
A simple process with a guaranteed reward
Participants who complete the full one-month documentation receive a 90-euro payment, transferred directly after the study period ends. The compensation is not designed as a wage but as a thank-you for contributing time to a project that supports national statistics and long-term economic planning.
With the study relying entirely on voluntary participation, the incentive plays an important role in motivating households to take part.
A valuable insight into everyday life in Germany
Every year, the data from this project helps paint an accurate and nuanced picture of how families manage their finances. While the public often focuses on high-profile indicators like inflation or energy prices, this survey reveals the quieter, everyday patterns that shape the cost of living: small purchases, monthly subscriptions, unexpected expenses or shifts in consumer habits.
By encouraging broad participation, the statistical offices aim to ensure that the results reflect real life across different regions and household types.
