Money and tech decisions for students abroad, tested firsthand.
Köln is home. I finished high school through the IB Diploma Programme, and I'm now confirmed for two internships abroad: Budapest this fall, then Karlsruhe starting in January. Compound Campus is where I write down what I actually did: which bank I opened without a fixed local address, how I started investing on a student budget, and whether a refurbished iPhone was worth it, so you don't have to guess.
Start here
Three guides I wish someone had handed me the week I landed in Germany.
Best Digital Banks for International Students in Europe (2026)
Revolut, N26, bunq, Wise, ING, C24, and Trade Republic compared on fees, opening without a fixed address, ATM limits, and budgeting tools.
ETF Investing With €50 a Month: A Student's Guide
What an ETF actually is, why a small recurring "Sparplan" beats waiting to save a lump sum, and how Trade Republic, Scalable Capital, and DEGIRO compare.
Refurbished iPhone vs New in 2026: Worth It for Students?
Grading systems explained, the battery health number to actually look for, warranty gaps, and where it's safe to buy.
I only write about accounts and tools I've actually used as a student in Germany.
Numbers over vibes
Fees, minimums, and ATM limits are pulled from current pricing pages and checked against my own statements before publishing.
Written for exchange timelines
Most personal-finance advice assumes you're staying put for years. I write for the 5-month semester and the 3-year bachelor's alike.
Get the next guide before it's published.
One email a month: a new comparison, a money mistake worth sharing, or a deal on refurbished tech worth knowing about. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.
This is a visual demo form: it isn't connected to an email service yet.