Living in France
Moving to Live in France? How to Learn French
Published on 26 April 2008
So you want to live in France do you? You and a lot of other Britons equally fed up with their working lives or bored in retirement then! In fact, the dream of living in France is shared by high numbers of Brits because the nation is so accessible and because the cost of living and way of life are so attractive.
But, there is one drawback with going to live in France and that is the fact that you have to learn to speak French. Well, you could try and get by without doing so, but you will fall at the first hurdle and find that living in France is actually a chore and a bore at best, a nightmare at worst and not exactly what you had planned. So, if you’re moving to live in France, here’s how to learn French!
Good News for Expats Living in France
Published on 10 April 2008
Clearly Sarkozy’s new found friendship with Great Britain is a good thing in terms of encouraging greater, deeper and more lasting links on all political and economic levels – but we’re not a political website so we’ll leave that discussion right there! Suffice to say, Sarkozy seems to be a good thing for Franco-British relations…
And he is also a good thing for us expats too! The good news for expats living in France is that Nicolas has done a U-turn on his policy to scrap free healthcare entitlement for early retirees who had chosen France as their relocation destination of choice.
Helping Your Child Learn French before Living in France
Published on 04 April 2008
If you’re thinking about moving abroad to live in France or you have a holiday home across the Channel for example, it makes a lot of sense to help your child learn French before living or holidaying in France. And what’s more, there is now more proof than ever that children who grow up speaking more than one language have a far better understanding of language full stop.
This ability relates to a process called metacognition and this is what you will be helping your child develop if you teach them French before they move to live in France and then keep assisting with their French language development once you have relocated – whether permanently or just for the summer holidays!
Surviving Culture Shock When Retiring to France
Published on 27 March 2008
Now that the President of France Nicolas Sarkozy has thanked Great Britain for helping his nation when it was on its knees during the Second World War and received a very favourable reception in the UK as a result, it seems that French and British relations are on an excellent footing and that there’s never been a better time to retire to France!
Reasons to retire across the Channel include the fact that the standard of living in France is high, the cost of living can be more affordable than the UK, the French real estate market is generally more affordable as well, and the way of life in France is so conducive to a relaxed retirement. But there are some key differences between France and Britain that any would-be expat should bear in mind if they want to make the transition abroad a smooth and successful one. In this article we’ll look at surviving culture shock when retiring to France!
Ten Reasons to Retire to France
Published on 07 March 2008France is the most visited nation in the world and one of the most popular countries with would-be British retirees as well. The reasons for France’s appeal lie in the beauty of the country, the history, climate and culture and therefore there are a million reasons to consider living there. In this article we’ll cover ten of the most popular reasons to retire to France.
If you’re coming up for retirement or you’re thinking ahead and maybe planning where to buy a home overseas to enjoy now and then live in when you retire, why not consider France a little more closely? After all, with our top ten reasons to retire to live in France you’ll be hard pushed to come up with an argument not to at least consider it!
Tax Matters When Living in France
Published on 03 March 2008
So, you’re dissatisfied with the Great British climate/immigration policy/government/economy/cost of living/way of life (delete as applicable…) are you? And you’ve decided that you want to live in France where the weather is better, the lifestyle is more attractive, the cost of living is incredibly affordable and where, if you learn to speak French, you will be made to feel at home.
Fine. You have clearly covered at least the basics when considering both leaving the UK and where you want to move to – but what about the financial aspects of living in France? For example, tax matters when living in France because it is actually one of the highest taxed countries in the EU. So, if you thought the UK was bad, take another look at France before you commit to a relocation!
The Best Place to Live in France
Published on 27 February 2008
With statistics from the Home Office suggesting that over two thirds of the British public are now seriously concerned about the likes of gun and knife crime in the Britain, wouldn’t it be wonderful to live in a location where such crimes are mere figments of the over active imagination of television drama producers? But does such an idyllic land exist? Is it truly possible to find anywhere – let alone anywhere within reach – where you can get back to the wholesome basics of family and community living?
Apparently it is.
For there is a corner of France where British residents have found themselves back at home in an England of fifty years ago, and according to these emigrants they have not only found the best place to live in France, they have found the best place to live in the whole world.
Greater Numbers of Brits Living in France
Published on 11 January 2008
We predict that a certain global phenomenon will see great numbers of Brits living in France in the near future. What are we going on about? Well, the carbon footprint debate of course.
As the debate rages, concern about global warming increases, oil prices rise and greater fuel surcharges are introduced on flights about the globe, so the British love affair with expatriating and retiring abroad is not diminishing. So we believe that more Brits will choose France as their retirement, expat, second and holiday home destination of choice in the future because it is just so easily accessible.
Living in France and Getting a Divorce
Published on 24 December 2007
With more than 250,000 Brits living in France and more heading across the border all the time, this particular retirement and expatriating destination is certainly popular. Living in France however, is a little different than life in the UK. Once you’re settled in and have taken in the sights, the flavours and the incredible culture, real life is bound to hit. For some, this means finding a job or hobby, falling in love and even getting married. In short, settling into a comfortable daily routine. For others however, a troubled marriage that originated in the UK might find itself at the breaking point whilst the couple lives in France.
Getting a divorce in France, or in any other country outside the UK for that matter, can present a tough challenge to say the least. It is possible to get through the ordeal. The biggest obstacle lies in deciding what court system holds sway over the proceedings though.
Living in France and Visiting the Supermarket
Published on 14 December 2007
Expatriating to a foreign country to soak up the culture, the sights and the flavors of something new and different is an experience that thousands of people from all over the world choose to explore on a yearly basis. The adventure, the change of pace and even the potential cost of living savings makes this prospect hard to pass up. Once the novelty wears off however, many expats find themselves fumbling a bit, trying to figure out how to handle the basic necessities of living.
If living in France is what you desire, you’re going to find a lot of things are the same as they would be in the UK or even America. However, there are some variations that expats will notice. One basic necessity of daily living that can require a point in the right direction for some, involves the ins and outs of visiting a supermarket!