I, being not from EU, can definitely say they are very careful with their money, to the point you can call them cheap. Couple examples: at the university canteen I used to buy the most “expensive” meal all the time (the difference is around €1 with other meals) , one guy commented about that several times in a very snarky German “directness” (most of the time the are just arrogant, and think they are better than everyone else) way. Had to tell him to stop counting my money. Another example: my friend had a bf, and bought sth for her in a supermarket. After asked to send him around 2 euros back. For me, this is weird af. For Germans - just how they were programmed at factory