I know Wero is still in its infancy and the digital Euro is still a few years away, even if you believe there'll be no delays. But depending on where you live you can already do a lot for EU financial independence.

Use cash (very easy but not ideal in many situations/online)
Use a national payment providers:
- Germany 🇩🇪: Girocard
- Netherlands 🇳🇱: iDEAL
- France 🇫🇷: Cartes Bancaires
- Poland 🇵🇱: BLIK
- Italy 🇮🇹:Bancomat/PagoBancomat
- Many other options, check for your country
Use SEPA direct debit mandate or wire money directly if you can
Sign up to a european crypto exchange and use it for direct purchases. although I get if you don't like crypto but this is just for direct purchases

Otherwise American Payment providers usually get at least 1% and if you use card payment a lot over time that can really add up. This also mostly makes sense when buying from a european company. For US companies it really doesn't matter much. I've been trying to replace Amazon with Otto and I use SEPA direct debit mandate to avoid fees.

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[–] rumschlumpel@feddit.org 9 points 2 days ago (3 children)

Is stuff like credit cards and Apple Pay really that popular in Europe? I know some people use it, but not sure how popular it actually is.

I've been using Paypal more often before real-time transfer recently became really cheap due to new EU rules. But still, some shops make it a pain to use SEPA or don't offer it at all (especially international shops).

[–] timestatic@feddit.org 9 points 2 days ago

Yeah I was mostly talking about european shops. Shops outside of Europe that don't have SEPA often sadly can't offer it. Sometimes there is no way to avoid but as long as you check and reduce usage less money will flow to them. I used to always use my Visa debit card as I didn't like change and stuff but now I look for alternatives

[–] lmueller@feddit.org 5 points 2 days ago (1 children)

I am from Germany and basically anyone I know pays with Apple and Google Pay on a daily basis. We do have the German "Girocard", which is similar to a Mastercard/Visa Debit, but the biggest bank in Germany also supports Apple Pay with that card.

[–] rumschlumpel@feddit.org 6 points 2 days ago (1 children)

Interesting, I am also from Germany and no one I know uses those (that I know of).

[–] Localhorst86@feddit.org 2 points 1 day ago (1 children)

In germany, most banks that offer free banking (ING, Comdirect, DKB etc.) have switched from girocard to VISA/MC Debit cards. If you want an actual girocard, you'll need to pay a monthly fee, either "directly" for the card (In the case of ING, Comdirect etc.), or by having a paid account in the first place (like Sparkasse, Raiffeisenbank, Commerzbank etc.)

[–] rumschlumpel@feddit.org 2 points 1 day ago (1 children)

Good to know, I was talking about Google Pay and Apple Pay, though.

[–] Localhorst86@feddit.org 1 points 1 day ago

Ah, in that case I only know a handful of people personally that use Apple pay, but I do see some people occasionally pay by tapping their phone at the checkout

[–] george@feddit.org 4 points 2 days ago (1 children)

Everyone that I know pays with their phone. So yeah, Apple Pay and Google Pay are big in some parts of Europe at least.

[–] Kornblumenratte@feddit.org 2 points 1 day ago (1 children)

I pay with my phone using my bank's app. No need for Apple or Google stuff whatsoever.

[–] george@feddit.org 1 points 1 day ago (2 children)

Not all banks have this. And I think this is only possible on Android? From what I know Apple does not allow to replace Apple Pay.

[–] Kornblumenratte@feddit.org 2 points 1 day ago

Yes, I cannot find a corresponding IOS-App for my bank. VR Bank offers it, though: https://apps.apple.com/de/app/vr-banking-einfach-sicher/id1505855171

[–] MoreMagic@feddit.org 2 points 1 day ago

I have iPhone, and I use other payment apps. Swish (native Swedish direct payment, mostly p2p, but also widely used by small businesses) and Klarna.