jackieb moving to France

[jackieb]

Hi there, I am new to all of this so I hope I am getting it right.
I hope to be moving to France in the not too distant future with my husband.
We are both retired and we have always loved France and hope to make it our new home.
It is all a bit bewildering especially when you are a bit older and your brain is working overtime with all the questions that need answering.
So can you tell me is this forum a good place for me to ask the questions that I want answers to.
Hope someone can help me and look forward to hearingfrom you.

Jackie

[mkettner]

Originally Posted by jackieb

Hi there, I am new to all of this so I hope I am getting it right.
I hope to be moving to France in the not too distant future with my husband.
We are both retired and we have always loved France and hope to make it our new home.
It is all a bit bewildering especially when you are a bit older and your brain is working overtime with all the questions that need answering.
So can you tell me is this forum a good place for me to ask the questions that I want answers to.
Hope someone can help me and look forward to hearingfrom you.

Jackie

Hi Jackie,

Thanks for joining our forum. You will find a lot of great members with a lot of helpful suggestions. We look forward to doing what we can to support you. I also commend you for taking the first step in doing your research and joining a internet discussion forum.

All the best,

Michael

[jackieb]

Originally Posted by mkettner

Hi Jackie,

Thanks for joining our forum. You will find a lot of great members with a lot of helpful suggestions. We look forward to doing what we can to support you. I also commend you for taking the first step in doing your research and joining a internet discussion forum.

All the best,

Michael

Hi Michael

Thanks for replying so promptly, can you suggest an internet discussion forum actually I must admit that I am a bit confused reading all the information on the Expatforum.
All I want to do is ask questions on things I take for granted in the UK and wonder how they work in France.
First I would like to know whether things like building and contents insurance and motor insurance are comparable with the the UK.
Next, I have read that water charges in certain parts of France can be expensive we are deciding on whether to settle in the Lot and Garonne or the Charente areas of France any info on water charges here. Also if you have a pool does this substantially increase the water charges. Never having had a pool I wonder whether you have to employ someone to clean it and if so what is the cost of that or can you do it yourself. Being pensioners, we obviously have to watch out for extra costs.
I think I will leave it at that for now and will no doubt bombard you with more questions.

Ciao Jackieb

[mkettner]

Thank you for your second post. In order to help you best I will divide up your last post into several different threads so that if our members can reply directly to your questions one at a time. You will see that I will do this all within the French forum.

All the best,

Michael

[sarah]

Originally Posted by jackieb

Hi there, I am new to all of this so I hope I am getting it right.
I hope to be moving to France in the not too distant future with my husband.
We are both retired and we have always loved France and hope to make it our new home.
It is all a bit bewildering especially when you are a bit older and your brain is working overtime with all the questions that need answering.
So can you tell me is this forum a good place for me to ask the questions that I want answers to.
Hope someone can help me and look forward to hearingfrom you.

Jackie

I've lived in the south of France for a little over three years. If you want any help, give me a shout and I'll see if I can answer your questions, or point you in the right direction.

It is daunting at first, but I'd suggest the easiest starting point would be to decide where in France you'd like to set up home and go from there. Each area/department has it's own charm, so it's a personal choice. You also need to think whether an English speaking expat community is important to you when deciding where to live. There are a lot of English speaking groups that have meet ups, but some expats want to be in areas less populated with English speakers. If you don't speak French, it's sometimes easier to live around areas where there's an abundance of English speakers. The French don't always speak English outside the tourist areas - but if you haven't got a good grasp of French, you can still get by (as long as you're not looking for employment).

[nataliak]

Hi Jackie,

I just found your email, I am wondering where you are based in France. I have just moved to Lyon, it's all a bit exciting and at the same time it would be great to find other people who are in the same boat

[giantpanda]

Originally Posted by jackieb

Hi there, I am new to all of this so I hope I am getting it right.
I hope to be moving to France in the not too distant future with my husband.
We are both retired and we have always loved France and hope to make it our new home.
It is all a bit bewildering especially when you are a bit older and your brain is working overtime with all the questions that need answering.
So can you tell me is this forum a good place for me to ask the questions that I want answers to.
Hope someone can help me and look forward to hearingfrom you.

Jackie

dear jackie,

If you have questions, you can ask - but certainly do it is question by question - French answers are not necessarily simple, because in many things you have to forget what you may have learnt in your life in Gb.

Yours,

giantpanda

[Happiness]

Originally Posted by jackieb

Hi Michael

expensive we are deciding on whether to settle in the Lot and Garonne or the Charente areas of France any info on water charges here. Also if you have a pool does this substantially increase the water charges. Never having had a pool I wonder whether you have to employ someone to clean it and if so what is the cost of that or can you do it yourself. Being pensioners, we obviously have to watch out for extra costs.
I think I will leave it at that for now and will no doubt bombard you with more questions.

Ciao Jackieb

Hi Jackie,
I know some people who've been living in the Charente area for some years, they have recently had a pool built. I am sure that they can answer lots of your questions, please email me at nettiesweb@imaginet.co.za if you'd like to discuss more.
Good luck with your plans, what part of Hampshire are you in?

Nettie

[julie&andy]

Hello ive just read your reply to the other lady, could you be of any help to me, my thread is posted on the sight.( moving to france) it's julie&andy.
Many thanx

[parsnips]

Originally Posted by jackieb

Hi Michael

Thanks for replying so promptly, can you suggest an internet discussion forum actually I must admit that I am a bit confused reading all the information on the Expatforum.
All I want to do is ask questions on things I take for granted in the UK and wonder how they work in France.
First I would like to know whether things like building and contents insurance and motor insurance are comparable with the the UK.
Next, I have read that water charges in certain parts of France can be expensive we are deciding on whether to settle in the Lot and Garonne or the Charente areas of France any info on water charges here. Also if you have a pool does this substantially increase the water charges. Never having had a pool I wonder whether you have to employ someone to clean it and if so what is the cost of that or can you do it yourself. Being pensioners, we obviously have to watch out for extra costs.
I think I will leave it at that for now and will no doubt bombard you with more questions.

Ciao Jackieb

Hi Jackieb,
To answer your specific questions, insurance is comparable with the UK. I am told house and some car insurance is cheaper, but not having lived in UK for 16yrs am unable to be definite.
Water charges vary with regions but generally are less than UK; As
water is metered the cost is in your hands to some extent. Of course first filling a pool will add to your bill. On pools , unless you buy a house with a pool I would advise you to wait a bit to see if you really need your own pool-- you will probably get plenty of invites, and most small towns have a swimming lake etc. Pools are a continuing expense and bother for about 3-4 months comfortable use.

If you can make a list of specific questions, I or other members will be pleased to give you specific answers.