In order to relieve the population of the rising oil and gas prices, the so-called energy price flat rate (EPP) of 300 euros will be paid to all employees in September. Even if it might be difficult for you: It is advisable to put the money on the high edge until spring.
While the animal world is already slowly preparing for winter, we humans are more dreading spring this time. Due to the increased prices for electricity and gas, there is a risk of high additional payments. For couple households with a living space of 100 square meters, experts currently expect an annual additional burden of almost 1800 euros.
So saving is announced – in two senses: You save energy in the apartment, on the account you save the money for the next additional payment. Now. We’ll tell you how to do that.
But where is the best place to save the energy price flat rate plus other reserves? Not all forms of investment are suitable for such a short-term savings goal. ETF savings plans promise the highest returns in the medium term. However, they are not advisable for a period of just six months due to the volatility on the stock market, because the money for the additional payment to your landlord or energy supplier must be available to you in the spring. Therefore, a daily or fixed-term deposit account with the highest possible interest rate is the first choice.
The overnight money account offers the advantage that you can start there with a starting reserve – for example the energy flat rate – and then put an additional amount aside every month. As soon as the invoices are due, the credit is available for retrieval on a daily basis. The best providers currently charge 0.5 percent annual interest.
Tip: The overnight interest rates currently change weekly. It is therefore worthwhile to always keep an eye on the interest rate trend with the FOCUS Online overnight money comparison in order to be able to react. Since you can access your savings at any time with overnight money, you can also switch providers at any time if this seems opportune to you due to higher interest rates.
If you already have the money that you will probably have to pay next spring, you should take the opportunity and deposit it in a fixed-term deposit account for six months. There you can collect significantly higher interest: Instead of the 0.5 percent mentioned above, there is currently up to 1.17 percent interest for 6-month fixed deposits. The figure also applies here per annum, so you receive half as much interest for six months. The banks are also currently raising their conditions for fixed-term deposits on a weekly basis. The FOCUS Online time deposit comparison gives you an overview of the current leaders. This will help you find your ideal fixed-term deposit account reliably and up-to-date.
How much of the money you save will remain after the additional payment next spring depends of course on whether and how much energy you save in winter. Unfortunately, thick socks, onion look and less heating are not always the best solution. In many apartments, the fight against mold begins in the cold season with the low indoor temperatures. This poses a significant health risk, especially for children and people with previous illnesses. This is one of the reasons why you should have sufficient financial reserves so that you can turn your heating up a little bit.