| >> | Everything you always wanted to know about France |
|
|
This is the 95th newsletter I have sent out about life, living in France and our personal experiences over the last 16 years bringing up our family.
The aim of this newsletter is to share experiences about living in France and to give information about living or visiting France. We moved to the south of France 16 years ago, our family has grown up in France and my Mother has come to live with us in our new home in Montblanc - not the slippery tall place half in Toblerone country, but a thriving village in Languedoc near the Mediterranean. Although we moved over three months ago - I have not had time to explore our village yet, a couple a walks along the river, twice to the bar and that's about it so far. Our website... Do browse through our websites and please use the advertising links. ======= In this newsletter... 1. Don't Buy Euro From Your bank - be a Currency Trader 2. More French Please We're british 3. Property Rule Number One 4. At What Age Can I Drive In France 5. Low Cost Airline Planner 6. Is It Cheaper To pay Taxes In France Or Britain 7. Life Is But A Dream ======= 2. Don't Buy euro From Your Bank - You can Be a Currency Trader Don't Buy euro From Your Bank - Be a Currency Trader And definately do not buy any currency from the foreign exchange shops in the high road or through travel agents. With a little care the rate of exchange you can get can be much better. The Internet has made the "black art" of money changing simple open and fair. If you are going abroad, buying property or transfering a pesion or salary, most people still change their money through their bank. Even for a small house this is like giving you bank manager a free car in the extra commission you will pay. The rate of exchange changes constantly - to see this happening look at... xe.com The prices you see listed are what is called the "mid-market" rate. Mid-market rates are derived from mid-point between the buy and sell rates of large-value transactions in the global currency markets. Since "buy rates" and "sell rates" include overheads and profit margins that are set independently by each foreign exchange provider, they will vary depending on who you're talking to, and will always be different than the mid-market rate. So how do I get the best rate of exchange? One solution is to set yourself up as a foreign exchange dealer, sit in front of a stack of computers and shout into phones buying and selling currencies all over the world. However, this is totally impractical for most people, you need access to a few million euro to start with A better solution is to register with an independant foreign exchange company. I have tried several recently and the one I recommend is, Currencies Direct. My reasons for preferring them are that, most importantly, they have consistently quoted me the best exchange rate of any other sevice, bank or dealer. They will deal with amounts as little as £2,000. I get one personal dealer who I can call anytime and who will also call me if rates change quickly to my advantage. I can also "haggle", try that with your bank. They also offer the best rates and sevice I have found anywhere for smaller regular transfers like pensions and salaries. To see their services look at Currencies Direct ======= 2. More French Please We're British Helena, the "French Mistress" feature writer in the Sunday Times is my perfect idea of a French Mistress - except she is Swedish/Italian, brought up in England and living in France. Helena's book - More French Please We're British - is an absolutely essential read for anyone visiting or living in France, or thinking of it. To read the rest of this article, please go to http://www.fblog.com/?q=node/view/125 Best Book 3. Property Rule Number One Hello Tony You said about buying property in France in a recent newsletter "nothing beats hard work, dedicated research and a lot of luck." Could you list the most important things a person can do to achieve the ideals set out by you, bearing in mind that I am sitting in Cork. To read the rest of this article, please go to http://www.fblog.com/?q=node/view/123 Rule Number One 4. At What Age Can I Drive in France Tony I am a British citizen and will hopefully soon have my full driving license once I have taken my test. I would like to be able to drive in France when I go there on holiday. I will still only be 17 when I get my license and it appears that the required driving age in France is 18. Will this be a problem if I wanted to rent a car in France, or drive my own car there before I turn 18? To read the rest of this article, please go to http://www.fblog.com/?q=node/view/122 At What Age can I drive 5. Low Cost Airline Route Planner Tom, a reader, sent this really useful site === Tony For low-cost airline routes in Europe you should look at http://cheap0.com - I used it recently on a trip around Europe, it lists all of the routes in a nicely searchable format, and includes maps. Might be useful for your users. Tom ======= 6. Is it Cheaper to pay taxes in France or Britain I often say ask five experts and get six diferent answers - this is my understanding from the "experts" === Tony I have a mobile home in France. I am renting it out from Britain. Do I need to declare and register in France or Britain and pay the taxes in Bitain or France? Would it be cheaper financially to pay taxes in France or Britain? Mark To read the rest of this article, please go to http://www.fblog.com/?q=node/view/120 Are taxes Lower 7. Life Is But A Dream Why do hundreds of thousands of British, American, and people from just about every other country in the world, buy homes and come to stay and live in France, and others dream about a life in a "typical" French village? OK, superficial books like "A Year In Provence" - written over a generation ago - have fuelled the dream of a happy idyll in France, but what has fixed in the, mainly British, psyche the image of a rustic dream of contented peasants living in peace with simple values in never-ending sunshine ? Television "pot-boilers" - like A Place in The Sun - fuel the British obsession with property prices and the urge to own, for a while, some mud and stones to be able to discuss the spiralling increase in their property values. To escape a culture of Speed Cameras, Blair/Bush, overcooked pub food, grey skies, fish and chips from your local Croation/Indian/Chinese chippy or just to get away from a surfeit of Cream Eggs for the benefit of your health are some good reasons to cross the Channel. The reality of life in France is good, but not a dream. I try to reply to all mail and this is a recent exchange with a reader about property and life in France. To read the rest of this article, please go to http://www.fblog.com/?q=node/view/119 Sweet Dreams Are Made Of This Thank you for reading this far - do please visit the advertising links - it keeps this newsletter going - write to me if there is anything I can help with - I really do try to reply to everyone. ======= |