|
|
Earning a Living
Topic has 76 replies.
  
|
|
Sort Posts:
|
|
|
|
 10/05/2008, 5:27
|
NormanH
Joined on 10/04/2008
Posts 179
|
Re: Cost of Living for familes in France?
|
|
|
|
|
I think that Deby and Ginger's comments echo exactly the sorts of experiences I have witnessed, and try to warn people about.
Please don't come to France to solve other problems.
|
|
|
|
|
Report
|
|
|
|
|
10/05/2008, 10:00
|
Lori
Joined on 23/08/2004
Vaucluse (84)
Posts 1,329
|
Re: Cost of Living for familes in France?
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
I would just like to say that I agree with everything Ginger said - short of the comparison costs to the UK as I didn't come here from the UK, so cannot make that comparison.
I would never have dreamed the costs to live here would be so high. I could lay out all the figures for what we pay, but each person's life and costs will vary based on the home they choose to live in and the lifestyle they lead (and of course the number of people in the household), so I don't really see the value in it. Continue to do your homework Sara. It is good you are doing it now, before you arrive.
There is no way we could live on 1500 euros per month (even without a mortgage). And we are only a family of 3 people. The cost of heating our home in winter (we use fioul oil) is between 1500 to 2000 euros and that is going to rise substantially. There are so many other costs that come into play. School canteen, bus fees, etc. add up very quickly, especially if you have more than one child to pay for. These will vary from department to department. So will tax fonciere and tax habitation. Ours are very high.
We are lucky in that the value of our property has risen dramatically since we bought it. We will most likely sell it in a couple of years and leave - ALL due to the cost of living and beauracratic unpleasantness here.
Sorry to sound negative. It isn't all negative. I love many things about France, but no place is perfect (not that anyone said it was) and it is very wise of you to get as much data beforehand as possible.
Best of luck to you Sara. I know it isn't an easy decision to make.
|
|
|
|
|
Report
|
|
|
|
|
10/05/2008, 10:42
|
aimless
Joined on 10/05/2008
Posts 4
|
Re: Cost of Living for familes in France?
|
|
|
|
|
|
Before you do anything rash look at how many brits are selling up in France to move back to the UK. Many Brits hate it in France. I recommend that before you make a big commitment you sepnd 6 months living amoungst these people... You may love it and you may lothe it. Be very careful
|
|
|
|
|
Report
|
|
|
|
|
10/05/2008, 11:50
|
Val_2
Joined on 23/08/2004
Posts 3,060
|
Re: Cost of Living for familes in France?
|
|
|
|
|
|
An example of the cost of living going up here.On Monday I bought a box of the Super U Bien Vu eggs for 89centimes. Yesterday evening I bought another box from the same shop at €1,25,an increase of 36centimes in five days probably because carburants are still rising daily for delivery costs. Not much in the scheme of things as important as buying a house here,but neverthe less only one item out of thousands are rising weekly whereas wages and pensions etc are not. Ginger has shown guts in admitting she found it hard here,many many people still wear rose tinted specs and refuse to accept all the changes going on here. We are paying (actually we have refused and have demanded a lower figure) well over the equivalent of £1000 per month here in health,pension and social security as self employed and so are many thousands of other artisans.This should also be taken into account for anyone wishing to come here and set up inbusiness.
|
|
|
|
|
Report
|
|
|
|
|
10/05/2008, 12:28
|
Scooby
Joined on 25/09/2007
Peak District
Posts 244
|
Re: Cost of Living for familes in France?
|
|
|
|
|
|
I would echo the comments of fuel costs. We are in France for only a few months of the year but our oil bills are scary - far higher than our UK oil bills for a similar sized house. Our neighbour (who lives in a tiny one bedroom village house) was telling me her annual electric bill has doubled in the last year - from 550 euros to nearly 1100 - and they use a woodburning stove for all their heating. French wine maybe cheap - but not much else is.
|
|
|
|
|
Report
|
|
|
|
|
10/05/2008, 12:33
|
Scooby
Joined on 25/09/2007
Peak District
Posts 244
|
Re: Cost of Living for familes in France?
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Ginger wrote: |
I speak fluent French but can't find a decent job - or any job in fact!
|
|
I've heard the same thing over and over again - from locals born and raised in France
| Ginger wrote: |
.....many people told me before we moved that France is for retired people, not for people with families or who need to work and sadly I think they were right.
|
|
That is exactly our view!
|
|
|
|
|
Report
|
|
|
|
|
10/05/2008, 13:01
|
Lori
Joined on 23/08/2004
Vaucluse (84)
Posts 1,329
|
Re: Cost of Living for familes in France?
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Ginger wrote: |
I speak fluent French but can't find a decent job - or any job in fact!
| |
I've heard the same thing over and over again - from locals born and raised in France
| Ginger wrote: |
.....many people told me before we moved that France is for retired people, not for people with families or who need to work and sadly I think they were right.
| |
That is exactly our view!
I agree with all that 100%
Our electric bill is never less than 150 for two months. Normally runs about 190 for two months. Sometimes a bit higher. Summer months are the lowest with long daylight hours and lots of outdoor barbecues.
|
|
|
|
|
Report
|
|
|
|
|
10/05/2008, 20:37
|
Val_2
Joined on 23/08/2004
Posts 3,060
|
Re: Cost of Living for familes in France?
|
|
|
|
|
|
^We are on the gulf stream in Finistère north of the Morbihan region and which rarely gets below 0°C so our heating bills are very low compared to regions further south you would think are warmer. I don't even own a winter coat as a kagoul is sufficient to keep out the wind and rain.
|
|
|
|
|
Report
|
|
|
|
|
France Forum » Living » Earning a Livin... » Re: Cost of Living for familes in France?
|
|
|
|