Living abroad tips and hints for money savers

donny-gal

Well I actually think it is the newspapers spin on it. We do not seem to talk that way talking to folks at home. Unfortunately, however, you decide to do it, it is our money they have to spend, and many local councils were not being efficient in their use of funds.

I agree we caught the last episode of Educating Yorkshire, and I am sure few would not have had slightly damp eyes at the end.

I am the President of our Community of 62 houses at the moment, and passed a suggestion that each house donated 5€ per house to those who were struggling to feed their families via a church charity out here. It was passed 4 objected, so we did not take it from them, but it meant 300 € = 2 basket loads of Lidl foodstuffs to be distributed to those in need. One of the purchases was milk. I was told some people were now sleeping on the beach (this was June), and each morning they went round collected the school children, had made arrangements for them to go into school early so they could do their ablutions, and then fed them breakfast before school, hence the need for milk.
Many older residents are now returning or wanting to return to the UK, those who sold their UK homes are in a fix for the prices in the London area especially have gone up more than they were, so they cannot buy, and renting is not cheap. I think she they get around the mid 70's they feel they want their families nearer, and health care without any language difficulties.
Scandinavia, and particularly Norway are the main buyers now, with a few Russians thrown in.
This autumn we have the best weather yet, still in the mid 20's, but it has been in the mid 30's for a good while.
While I agree 7DW especially in the mountains Southern Spain is cold in the winter, but to he honest in our part a Calor gas heater does most of the job and a few bottles of gas at 16€ a time suffices. Day time if you get in the sun, or have a southern facing house it is warm, those who did not use a compass when buying really feel it cold & damp.

Back to the chilling. DG

angelil

Thanks for the head-up regarding the vote and passport thing. As someone who's spent basically their entire working life in France (all five years of it so far ) I don't face the same problems as many of you do - but I will be keeping an eye on those two things for sure (passport runs out in 2016).

droopsnout

Hi, angelil.

Yes, it's a bit of a shame that this thread is in the Silver Surfers' section. There are loads of younger British families spread around the world doing their own thing.

If you've been here in France five years, I expect you are in the health system, taxation, etc., like French nationals.

I must say that I am quite concerned about the voting thing, not least because if the present UK government is re-elected and holds its promised referendum, we expats won't have a vote. Is there any group of people who could be more closely involved??? It's a real disgrace.

I pay all my taxes in the UK; France gets nothing from me. And yes, I really wish I paid my taxes to the country that looks after me. IDS and his mob are suggesting that health cover for Brit expats may be reduced in the future, and we all need to keep an eye on what they are trying to do.

I guess that most expats probably lean towards the right, politically speaking, so it is quite surprising that a Tory government is having such a go at potential supporters. On the other hand, so very few of us have registered to vote.

Anyone interested in these issues could have a look at [FONT=&quot]www.votes-for-expat-brits.com and www.votes-for-expat-brits-blog.com.[/FONT]

oldandhappy

After your five years do you still think France is a better place to live than the UK in general terms?

droopsnout

Your question is obviously aimed at angelil, so forgive me for butting in.

I've lived in France for eleven years now, and my answer to your question is: yes, without any hesitation or doubt. I can't speak for other regions, but down here in SW France, life is immeasurably better.

All IMHO, of course!

oldandhappy

good to have opinions for sure ...thanks

angelil

oldandhappy wrote: »

After your five years do you still think France is a better place to live than the UK in general terms?

Oops, only just saw this

On the whole, yes. While I do miss the general standards of customer service in the UK (and Waitrose ), I really appreciate several things about France (not least that I was able to find a full-time graduate job there immediately upon leaving university in 2008, whereas the recession-hit UK did not want to hear from me!). Among the things I find most advantageous are the ridiculously cheap and generally efficient public transportation systems, the lack of interest in binge drinking and celebrity culture, the solid start given to French young people by its primary education system (after that there are definitely things that the French could learn from the UK ), the diversity of landscape, the quality of the health care, the easy access to the rest of mainland Europe, and the abundance of local retailers. Plus lots of things that I'm sure I've forgotten

droopsnout - you are right. I'm fully paid up in France in terms of the health care system, taxation, pension etc.

droopsnout

I agree with all that you have said, angelil. Customer Service in France is pretty shoddy and frequently offhand - even in this quiet corner, where manners are generally considered de rigueur.

The plus points you list are major ones, especially the health care, which we have found far superior to what we were used to in the UK. However, we also know that in the UK standards of care are extremely variable, and we may have had a raw deal with our former PCT, which is currently under special measures, or whatever it's called.

For me the main attraction, as I live in a very rural area, is the much slower pace of life, but the fact that the locals are really not bothered about one's "class" (i.e., job, wealth, etc) is very refreshing. Sadly, when meeting Brits for the first time, "What did you do when you were back in the UK?" is one of the first questions. I generally pretend not to have heard!

angelil

Speaking of jobs, that is something that bothers me: the attitude of people from outside my profession towards what I do, and some of the things that are wrong with my profession in France on the inside. I'm a teacher. The attitude of people on the outside (e.g. my French inlaws!) is very dated: you teachers and your holidays etc. (Think I'd have a nervous breakdown if I didn't have them!!) Inside, there's plenty that's good, as I've mentioned (particularly in the primary years). However, there's also plenty that's rotten, particularly in terms of special educational needs and disability, as well as in terms of innovation and effort (alternative learning styles, social education etc...all things that are widely adopted in the UK are virtually non-existent here. Plus, there are plenty of teachers who are quite happy to put in the minimum effort - although in fairness, these people are not always French - and teachers who complain CONSTANTLY [these are mostly French ] ). I guess that's partly what I was alluding to when I said that in terms of secondary education and beyond, there's a lot that the French could learn from the Brits.

droopsnout

I was a teacher in the UK. The attitudes you describe are not limited to France, though when I was running exchange visits, I certainly did think that the French teachers appeared to have strange approaches to their pupils and to their profession.

They were, though, really serious!