Construction costs are currently skyrocketing

2x car insurance 200 euros more. Luckily, one is paid off and the second car only costs 220 euros per month.

I can recommend everyone to simply call the insurance company and ask if an adjustment to current tariffs or similar is possible....
After repeated increases, I also called two days ago and asked if something could be done. Voilà, no problem, new tariff adjustment without any further changes and 160 EUR / year cheaper.

Vacation this year oh dear, sure you can stay in Germany but every region that offers a bit is insanely expensive. If you want to go away e.g. Turkey 2 weeks from 5000 euros for 4 people. Alternatively, by car to Croatia or Italy, with fuel prices and local room prices not any better either.

Vacation in summer with family has unfortunately actually become unaffordable, almost no matter where the trip is supposed to go.
Turkey in autumn, however, is reasonably affordable and still warm compared to many other (more expensive) destinations.

I don’t want to complain, we are definitely doing well. But somehow one might think it should be possible to take a flight trip at some point. And if it were Bulgaria. Something at least.

Bulgaria? In my view, the times when Bulgaria could be called a "cheap travel destination" have been over for 20 years.

Oops, no problem, new tariff adjustment without any further content changes and 160 EUR / year cheaper.

That's somehow this "if the existing customer doesn't resist, then we add a good amount every year" and why many people change their car insurance annually. On the one hand, it's good to know that they will reduce it again if you just ask, on the other hand, it's a bit sad that they added it in that form in the first place.

I am now also wondering what kind of cars or insurances you have. Mine increased for HP+TK from €295 to €305. With a €200 increase, I would definitely look to see if something better can be found with the competition...

Do you know what annoys me much more at the moment than the higher prices? The shortage of craftsmen! You just can't get any, it's driving me crazy. I've been calling and emailing for weeks to find craftsmen for a project in [Sommer 2023]. Absolutely unsuccessful so far. It doesn't even come to offers; it already fails due to the availability of craftsmen.

Now, from [2023] onwards, own work or materials are supposed to be eligible for funding again. But I can't find anything concrete about it. Does anyone here know anything? When will the new funding programs be available so that one can study them reliably?

This is somehow also one of those "if the existing customer doesn't object, then we just add a significant amount every year" and why many people switch their car insurance annually. On the one hand, it is good to know that they will reduce it again if you just ask, on the other hand, it's a bit sad that they raised it in that way in the first place.

Unfortunately, that's how it is.
On the other hand, it is also somewhat understandable that there is a general "inflation adjustment" everywhere and that a certain automatism is behind it.
If the customer tolerates it for years, the company basically "does well" with this approach.

Therefore, it is not wrong for a customer to ask and inquire whether something can be done individually. Then someone reviews it and possibly reassesses the situation or maybe uses new tariff options.
Admittedly, I did this for the first time this year as well. I was happy about the reduction from 670 EUR (comprehensive insurance) to 510 EUR after a 5-minute phone call.

Although I am now also wondering what kind of cars or insurances you have. Mine increased from 295 to 305€ for liability + partial coverage. With a 200€ increase, I would definitely look to see if there's something better with competitors...

With comprehensive insurance and/or multiple vehicles, the savings potential is of course even greater ;)

Can recommend everyone to just call the insurance and ask,

do the same. The 5-series was supposed to increase from €55 to €82 monthly. With the same mileage and lower rates this year. So cancellation and switched. Now at the same conditions €57.

Where do you get all the wood from? And how much do you pay for it? This is certainly very interesting for some.

We get the wood from the church in my home village. Paid €32/Rm for the first delivery at the beginning of the year and €45/Rm for the second coming in January. But we cut and split it ourselves. They are 5m long logs.