What's cheaper in France?

Wine, obviously. The large UK stores occasionally have special offers in the UK that bring prices down to within 50p of French prices (you can make direct comparisons with Tesco and Sainsbury prices as they both have stores in Calais), but expect to save £1.50 average per bottle. Also Beer and spirits, obviously.

Many cheeses. e.g. Prepacked reggiano parmegano costs €17/kg at Carrefour(£11.72) compared with c£17 per kilo in UK stores

Charcuterie you can get 250-300g sausisson sec and chorizo for significant savings on your local deli counter price.

Washing powders/liquids, dishwasher powder/antismear liquid

Car accessories including wipers, sparkplugs, oil/air/fuel filters - normally half price or less; engine oils and diesel (currently €0.894/60p per litre, petrol €1.09(75p).

Poultry. Free range often cheaper than UK. Duck legs. Guinea fowl. You can even get hens and coq (which disappeared from UK scene after salmonella) for very low prices.

Chocolate bars

Chicory (they call it endive)

Dried fruits

Mustard

Crystal salt

Olive Oil

Filter Coffee (about two-thirds the price of same brands in UK)

It's worth visiting the Carrefour or Auchan promotions sites if you're planning a trip over the channel.

bonehead50 wrote:

So, just about everything then

Not quite.

Avoid :

Over-the-counter medicines such as paracetamol
TVs/DVDs/Videos - Apart from any standards conflicts, they seem sewn up to favour French brands
IT equipment & consumeables, unless the subject of a special offer
PAYG mobiles - definitely a better deal in UK
Drinks in bars
Taxis
Speeding and other minor motoring fines

But add to my earlier list Bikes and bike spares, own-brand alkaline batteries, toothbrushes/oral hygene products, and many DIY power tools

I need a couple of new tyres for my merc. Kwik Fit charged me £150 each last time! Would these be cheaper in France?

Garden furniture, BBQ's etc.
One year we bought one of those cream calico huge garden umbarellas, with a really thick wooden stem back on the roof rack. It was so big it looked daft with our patio table!!

Cost about half the price they were selling them for over here at the time.

Outdoor kids games are cheap too.