Has anyone sold up and moved to live in France?

Question

What is the best way to go about it?

What part?

Cost of living?

Taxation levels?

UK Retirement Pensions

Answer 1

The best way to go about it is to research it beforehand. It's very difficult to give general answers to your questions because a great deal depends on your circumstances. There's a book recommendation above - there are several others available, and really the choice depends a lot on what topics are of particular interest to you. I liked Going to Live in France by Alan Hart, but look around in a bookstore or online.

What part really is up to you - the books will give you descriptions of each region which will help you decide, and you can look at property prices online (for example www.seloger.com). Property is generally considerably cheaper in the countryside than in the cities. Whilst areas of Paris are as expensive as London, average prices are much lower than in the UK.

Cost of living depends on how you live. Food and drink tend to be cheaper, both in shops and restaurants, but especially in restaurants. On the other hand you will often be tempted to buy things which you wouldn't buy in the UK (eg hand made cakes/chocolates, freshly prepared ready-meals), and these will be much more expensive than their mass-produced equivalents!

Taxation levels are higher than in the UK but the method of calculation is very different, so some people would be better off in France, and others could be significantly worse off. You can run a simulation on www.impots.gouv.fr (assuming you speak French well enough to understand it!)

You can access your UK retirement pension in France - there is a european union agreement whereby you are guaranteed to be no worse off. However you really need to check your particular situation, especially if it's complicated (eg multiple pensions).

Answer 2

My mum and dad moved out their 3 years ago.  They live on pensions so don't need to work.  Cost of living out there can be really cheap.  They just searched for houses on the internet.  Went over to check places out and are so happy now that they would never move back home.  HOWEVER I heard about a younger couple that moved over there with their children about 1 year ago and never found jobs, the husband had to work in the uk and visit home once every five weeks.  Eventually they had to move back to the uk.  If you have the money and a job to go to do it.  Otherwise think very carefully.

Answer 3

Buy a copy of this book:

'Buying a Home in France' by David Hampshire and published by survival books. UK£11.95

www.survivalbooks.net

Has the answers to all your questions

bonne chance !!

Answer 4

Not much is different, my ex lives out their now and everything balances out with all the above and guess what.......people still talk gibberish over there, it's just like home!! Whaddayano