In this next thrilling episode of our survey ‘are you suited to a life in France‘ I’ll share my thoughts about how much money you need, always a thorny issue but one that is hard to ignore. (You can see the original survey and other responses in the ‘Expat Requirements’ category).
If you answered that you are rich as Croesus and have money falling out of your pockets then you can ignore the following.
If you said that you have no money but can always get by…well, perhaps, and perhaps not. Yes you can probably work on cash in hand jobs and earn some money but this is not a recommended way to support a family, since you might be thrown out of France at any time, you will not be part of the French health system, and you’ll all die of starvation when the work dries up in a wet February.
A pretty good starting point is to assume that life in rural France costs the same as life in the UK, then make a deduction for any loans and mortgages you will no longer have. Really most other things cost a pretty similar amount – car and house insurance, food, clothes, property taxes and so on are all still expensive and just as necessary.
So you need to have either the cash to support yourself, or the funds to buy/establish a business that will earn you a living (eg gites), or the experience and skills to start your own business (eg builder, gardener).
Some expats find work in estate agents and similar businesses where they need someone English speaking. Don’t rely on finding this work after you arrive, opportunities are few and far between.
One other opportunity is franchises – usually internet or estate agent related. Again, be very cautious before handing any money over and always seek the advice of an expert.
(For other ideas, see also how to make money in France that I wrote a couple of weeks ago.)
I can’t go into all the financial possibilities for all the business plans above, because they depend so much on individual circumstances, but you need to be sure your business plan is valid. Show it to a friendly bank manager or accountant if you are not familiar with finances and listen to their advice.
Incidentally I am a qualified accountant (most definitely not practicing so no job offers thanks) so this time I really didn’t need to take my own advice.
Unfortunately lack of money is one of the most common reasons why expats end up leaving France. That 300,000 euros that looks so much in the bank now will look a lot less after two years of renovation work and giving in to your desire to have an Olympic size swimming pool.
But solve the thorny problem of money and everything else should come together nicely.
I have just discoverd your website tody and have been lost in it! How exciting and so very useful, it took me away on this wet,windy day in Sunderland! My drea is to one day live in the south of france, i am taking french lessons and have been reading lots of books also taken as many holidays as possible there. I am 37 have travelled lots over the years with my job as an illusionists assistant. I still have a passion for magic and still dabble now and then but back at home now with my mam and have gone into marketing and promotions,, sadly not enough work coming in at the moment, (the calm after christmas). I have no ties and im still a bit of a free spirit, but obviously wanting the best and a nice life not just for me but my lovely mam and my dog. I was very interested in your article about the kind of jobs the expats are doing, particularly the job of maintaining peoples houses whilt they are away. Please could you give me some advice or any websites i can visit to enquire directly of any of this work or similar.eg. taking care of pets, i would be very grateful!
I really hope you can help me.
Yours sincerely
Andrea Coulthard
Hi Andrea, that’s a groovy job to have!
Not trying to be negative, but there are a couple of challenges:
- I think many areas have a reasonable amount of work available for other expats maintaining properties etc, but the only way you’d know about it is to live there first and get to know the people who live there. Finding that type of work before you arrived and before anyone knew you would be hard, probably not possible
- when you do start working, either it is all cash in hand (with problems to do with breking the law, no access to the health system etc) or it’s all registered and above board…which is pretty expensive in France, and often doesn’t work out if you aren’t earning very much.
It depends a lot on your finances etc.
One possible solution for the second problem is to get paid using the cheque d’emploi system (I’m not an expert but if you search I’m sure information will turn up, it gets talked about on France type forums quite often)
It’s not easy, but it is a good experience!
Hi Andrea, long time no speak. I guess you’ll just about remember me. It’s Graham Smith, we did Byker together years ago. I stumbled upon this website and was surprised to see you up there. I have a load of information about moving and living in France. I have a good few friends who have done just that and I’ve spent a lot of time out there grafting with them. Drop me an email and I can pass on the info. Hope you and your Mum are well.
I just discovered your site and I am SO loving it! I live in California (yes, gorgeous weather year round) but have long desired to move to France. You have cured me! I speak French, love France, and I thoroughly enjoy reading your site. You taught me something important though at just the right moment…I can love France but we can’t live there. You are so right when you suggest that a place one experiences while on vacation is not the same as a place to live and generate income and it’s critical to understand the difference.We’re planning instead to move to the East Coast so that we’ll be only six hours from France…so…where is your gite? Warmest Regards, Suzi
Hi Suzi,
California sounds like a pretty good second best! I’d fancy a couple of years there myself, and my girls would love to live in America – whatever you might hear about differences between the Americans and the French, the kids at their schools certainly think the USA is A VERY GREAT PLACE.
Our gites are in south-west France, near a small medieval town called Villereal, just south of the Dordogne department.
Hope your plan works out – it sounds like a great compromise
Cheers