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Important Days in France...

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Accepting The Role of French Paperwork

An article discussing the role of French paperwork and the importance of accepting the frustrating differences...

Attending French Property Trade Fairs

Top tips on making the most of attending French property trade fairs...

Benefits of Holidaying in Mainland Europe

Suggestions for enjoying holidays in mainland Europe, from how to get a good deal on a flight to the best motorway hotel chains...

Big Differences Between UK and French Supermarkets

A realistic guide to the differences between French and UK supermarkets - and how to make them work for you....

Buying a House to Renovate in France

What you need to know before buying an old house to renovate in France...

Buying a New House in France

Some advice about buying a new property in France, both completed and off plan, with practical guidance for the benefits and considerations...

Buying an Old House in France

What you need to know before buying an old house in France...

Buying UK Groceries in France

Looking for the taste of home? A guide to buying British groceries in France...

Choosing a School in France

Suggestions on what to consider when choosing a new school in France for your children, with information on the differences in hours, attitude and expectations...

Commuting to the UK from France

A look at the ways in which some British expats choose to commute from France to their work in the UK....

Cost of Living in France

An article discussing the differences in the cost of living between France and the UK, including services, clothes, shopping and utility bills...

Dealing With Jealousy of Your New Lifestyle

Ideas on how to handle possible jealousy over your new adventure in France...

Dealing With Your First Christmas Abroad

Top tips on dealing with your first Christmas in France, with ideas for presents to send back to the UK, the festive fun available in your town or village and how to find those Christmas essentials - ...

Do I Have to Re-Register My Car if I Move to France Temporarily?

A realistic, accurate answer regarding bringing your UK car to France for up to two years and what you need to do to ensure it is legal...

Doing the Removal Yourself

Advice on questions to ask yourself before planning to do the removal to France yourself...

Driving in France

An article about the subtle differences in French driving, compared to the UK, highlighting that variations in what flashing your headlights means, what documents you are expected to keep in your car ...

Earning a Living in France

Advice on the various ways to earn a living in France, with practical suggestions for dealing with the options...

Easy French Sentences to Help in Your First Week

Easy sentences to help you get through your first week in France, with suggestions on taking your first week to enjoy your new home in France rather than try to make arrangements, appointments and agr...

Effective Ways of Transferring Money When Living Abroad

A guide to the various ways to manage your money in France, with details on the differences in banking between France and the UK, money transfer services and the benefits of keeping a UK bank account...

Expat Favourite Businesses in France

Advice for expats looking to start a business in France, with details of popular choices....

Fete Du Travail - Worker's Day

Understanding what Fete de Travail, or Workers day, means to people in France and how most people spend their day off...

French Fashion

An introduction to the differences in everyday French fashion compared to th UK, highlighting the differences in sizing, style and cost...

French Healthcare for Retired Expats

An article dedicated to the provision of healthcare in France for retired expats, with details on the recent changes and a look at the differences in levels of service...

French Healthcare for Working Expats

A guide to the various means of assimilating yourself to the excellent French healthcare system....

French Law, What you Need to Know Before you Move

Advice on key legal matters to be aware of before you start your new life in France, including mortgage clauses and succession laws...

Getting English TV in France

A guide to getting English television in your French home, using specialist services, doing it yourself or utilising local services...

Getting Used to the French Two Hour Lunch Break

Why not enjoy the two hour lunch break that France is famous for, rather than get annoyed that you can't go to the bank or pharmacy. Suggestions for getting used to the long lunch break....

Handing in Your Notice Before Moving

Suggestions on how to handle the minefield of handing in your notice before you leave for your new life in France...

Having a Baby in France

A guide to having a baby in France, including dealing with doctors, health care insurance and French hospitals....

Having Guests to Stay

A realistic look at the good and bad bits of having people to stay in your new home in France...

Healthcare in France

A guide to the provision of healthcare in France, with information on visiting a doctor, getting a prescription from the pharmacy, going to hospital and the types of healthcare insurance available...

How I Chose Where to Live in France: Case Study

A real life story of how one family used the internet to help them find the perfect place to live in France....

How I Dealt With Missing My Grandchildren: Case Studies

A case study explaining how Elizabeth Goldsmith became Technology Gran after she moved to France, so that she could keep in touch with her grandchildren...

How to Be a Good Neighbour in France

Suggestions for how to be a good neighbour in your new home in France - with a guide to village life, town life and city life...

How to Choose a Mutuelle

Understanding what a mutuelle is and how to choose one that suits the healthcare needs of you and your family....

How to Deal with Feeling Homesick

An article that highlights why you might be feeling homesick during your first year and France and what to do to feel better...

How to Integrate Into a French Community

A guide to fitting in to your new French community, with suggestions such as using local tradesmen instead of other expats and trying your hand at whatever local classes are available!...

How to Make the Most of Cheap Communications

A guide to reducing your communication costs when you move to France by taking advantage of the latest technology for your phone, mobile and internet...

I Retired to France: Case Studies

A case study looking at how much one man enjoys his retirement in France...

I Started a Business in France: Case Study

How one British expat found setting up a business in France rather harder than expected....

Importing a Car Into France

An introduction to the detailed process of importing your car from the UK to France, with information on what you need to apply and the costs involved...

Is the French Bureaucracy Cliché True?

A guide to understanding where the French reputation for terrible bureaucracy comes from, and how to try to avoid it!...

Joining Clubs in France

Top tips for joining clubs in France - a great way to meet like-minded people and boost your language skills...

Keeping in Touch With UK Friends When you Move France

Suggestions for keeping in touch with your friends back in the UK when you start your new life in France, with ideas including maintaining an up to date diary and arranging a competitive phone package...

Keeping in Touch With Your UK Family When Your Move to France

A guide to maintaining a good relationship with your family when you start your new life in France - whatever the circumstances...

Learning the Language Before You Move

An article suggesting ways to learn as much French as possible before you move, with insider tips on why you need to...

Learning the Language in France

A guide to the best ways to learn French once you have started your new life in France. With suggestions on taking classes, using local television and using interactive websites...

Life Abroad Since the Internet

A guide to how the internet has made starting a new life in France even easier...

Life as a Football Supporter in France

How to enjoy football as a supporter when you move to France, with tips on getting tickets to watch England games in France and finding your local professional club...

Live Music in France

French people love live music - this article is a guide to getting involved with playing and enjoying live music in France...

'Live the Dream' TV Shows & The Truth About Moving to France!

An article pointing out the differences between the 'Live the Dream' type television programmes on moving to France, or moving abroad in general and the reality of moving to France....

Looking for a French Property on the Internet

Top tips on researching your new French property on the internet - using forums and websites to find out about property and estate agencies...

Making Friends in France

Suggestions on how to make new friends when you start your new life in France, ranging from joining clubs and Anglo French organisations to frequenting the same local restaurant...

Making Friends with your Neighbours

A guide to introducing yourself to your new neighbours and making new friends the French way...

Making Routines in Your New Life in France

A guide to understanding what routines you had in the UK and how to make new routines in your new life in France...

Moving to France with Elderly Parents

A discussion on the potential issues faced when moving to your new life in France, taking your elderly parents with you. The article will look at the pros and cons, taking into consideration other peo...

Moving to France With Teenage Children

A guide to talking to your teenage children about your new life in France, with suggestions on how to involve them in the decision making and how to take their concerns into consideration...

Moving to France With Young Children

An article looking at the benefits of moving to France with young children, including the higher school standards, the improved diet and the positive knock on effects of your children growing up in Fr...

My First Christmas in France: Case Study

How one young family started new traditions and kept old ones with their first Christmas in France....

Packing for a Move Abroad - What to Take, What to Sell

Suggestions on how to decide what to take and what to sell before you move to France, helping you to keep the costs of your removal down...

Planning Ahead, a Move to France Won't Happen Overnight

A guide to researching your move to France - what issues need to be taken into consideration before you make the move...

Priorities That Change When Moving to France

A look at the key changes in priorities experienced by many British expats after moving to start a new life France, with a key focus on money and lifestyle...

Prioritising Your "To Do" List When You Get to France

Suggestions for writing and prioritising a To Do list when you get to France - to help organise your time and ensure you stay on top of official paperwork and documentation...

Reasons for Moving to France From the UK

A look at the various reasons why so many Brits are looking to move to France - the weather, schools, the lifestyle and excellent healthcare...

Renovation and Guests

A down-to-earth guide to help you deal with the expectation of visiting friends and family when your French home is in the middle of renovation....

Renting Vs Buying in France

A look at the pros and cons of renting or buying your home in France...

Resources For Expats in France

A list of places to find helpful resources for British expats, with forums, British shops in France and local twinning associations suggested...

Respecting Cultural Differences in France

A guide to respecting key cultural differences between France and the UK, such as expected behaviour, the importance of the family and the healthy respect for a good debate...

Retiring to France

Information on the practicalities of retiring to France, with sections on health care, property, money and language...

Running a Gite Business in France

An overview of one of the top choices for expats earning a living in France - running a gîte business....

Running a Restaurant in France

Understanding what's involved in running a restaurant in France - with what to avoid and what to look out for....

Simple Tips for Learning the Language

For those wishes to brush up their vocabulary, or learn the language from scratch, here are realistic ways to boost your French language skills....

Sun, Ski, Surf & Shop in France

All the good things in life - shopping, eating, playing (or watching!) sports and culture - are available in abundance in France. This article looks at the best places to indulge your habits....

Taking a French Language Class

Different ways to boost your language skills in France - before you move and when you get there...

Taking Your Pets to France

Information to help the process of taking your pets to France, with what you need to do before you leave, tips for the journey and what to do when you get there...

Talking to Your Children About Moving to France

Suggestions for talking to your children about your new life in France, whether your children are young and will be moving with you or you have grown up children that will stay in the UK...

Telling Your Family You're Moving to France

A guide to telling your family about your move to France, with suggestions on dealing with their reactions...

Telling Your Friends You're Moving to France

Suggestions for how to tell your friends you are moving to France and advice on how to deal with their various reactions...

The New Autoentrepreneur Scheme

An overview of the new auto-entrepreneur scheme designed to make it easier to be self-employed in France....

The Recession in France

An overview of the recession in France and its impact on British expats....

The Role of Estate Agents in Buying a Property in France

An article to explain the role of the notaire in buying a property in France...

The Role of the Mairie in France

A look at the role of the mayor in town, village and city life in France - and how to make it work for you....

The Role of the Notaire in Buying French Property

An article explaining the differences between UK based and French estate agents, with the pros and cons of each option...

The Stresses of House Renovations

Four top tips for minimising the stress of renovating a house in your new life in France...

Things You Will Miss in France & How to Overcome Them

What expats often miss when they move to France - magazines, books, English television and minor family events - with some ideas on how to overcome them...

Toussaint - all Saints Day

Understanding La Toussaint, or All Saints Say, and the role it plays in the French calendar...

Understanding The Different Tax Laws in France

A guide to the different personal and property taxes in France...

Using a Removal Company to Move Abroad

Top tips on using and choosing a removal company to move your possessions to your new home in France...

We Moved Back After a Year: Case Studies

A case study of Anne and Terry Bartlett, who moved back from their dream home in France after only a year...

We Ran Out of Money Renovating Our Home: Case Study

The story of one British family's struggle to afford to continue to live their dream life in France....

We Were Desperate Not to Be Typical Expats: Case Study

How one couple worked hard to integrate into their new French town instead of just being typical expats....

What I Love About Living in France: Case Study

One British expat explains what she loves most about living in the south of France....

What I Wish I Knew Before Moving: Case Study

Top tips from one British expat on some of the things you should know about before moving to France for good....

What Not to do as an English Person in France

Ideas for what not to do as an English person in France, such as talking loudly in supermarkets and criticising the French way of life....

What Not to Say to People Back Home

Top tips on what not to say to your friends and family back home - what to avoid what will offend them, irritate them and annoy them!...

What to Buy in France, What to Buy in the UK

A guide to the best food and non-food products to bring with you in your hand luggage or buy in France!...

What You Will Miss About the UK When Moving to France

A look at what you are likely to miss from the UK when you start your new life in France, from the important things like friends and family, to the really important things, like Eastenders and Marmite...

What's True About French Stereotypes?

A rye look at the common and not-so-common French stereotypes....

Which French Region to Choose?

Some suggestions on what to ask yourself and your family in order to make sure you choose the region of France that is best suited to your circumstances...

Why I Now Keep ID on Me at all Times: Case Studies

A case study that highlights why it is important to keep ID on your person at all times in France - especially if you have a trolley load of shopping in the supermarket!...