Originally Posted by dmu

Potatoes at almost 1 € a kilo? They must be "bio" at that price and there comes a point when you have to choose between ecology and economy.... Also, I never eat sprouts in France, i) they are too expensive (and ii) OH doesn't like them anyway.) I eat them (and parsnips, unheard of in my area) in England when I go over on a visit and that suffices! It's certainly true that even humble veg like carrots, turnips, cabbage, have gone up in price in recent years. But then, so have wages.....

Originally Posted by Andrea50

Gosh Ka Ora, thought it was only GOD who had you on speed dial

Originally Posted by L'Acajou

Hi Polly

I know I have posted on this matter before, but having been here over four years and meeting loads of ex-pats, I can assure you that getting work here is really hard, even if you have the language skills. I don't want to be a killjoy, really I don't but I know of two families who have gone back in the past few months, because they can't find work or can't earn enough on one wage to support a small family . I have a french friend who has a splendid CV (had a private meeting with US President etc), she currently works for the family firm, she has applied for other jobs but to no avail, she reckons there are 15 people for each job, minimum. I have another friend (teacher) who has been here 25+years and struggles to find work (she spent most of last year working in a care home in the UK)

You must realise that if you are an employer you have to pay immense social contributions and so to employ anyone is cripplingly expensive - one reason we don't want to employ anyone! Many workers are on fixed contracts as it can be very difficult to get rid of an employee.
There are loads of postings on employment on this forum, I recommend you read them. If you have a qualification it may be possible to convert this to a French certificate but as I understand it these are limited. (My design degree would be worth zip! ) Qualifications are a must-have here. Preferably French qualifications.

I personally wouldn't advise anyone to move over here without any income, especially if they have a family to feed. Sorry to be blunt, but I like to think am a realist . Frankly it can be tough with an income

It might take ages to learn French but it would take you even longer to get a job without it. Depends how committed you are, 120% minimum is about right

They used to say that living in France was cheaper than the UK, this may be so but the wages are less, often a lot less so it balances out. Supermarket prices are going up here just as in the UK, it is Europewide if not global. There are six in our house and I'm certainly noticing the price rises

So I'm sorry, this is not what you want to hear but you should be absolutely sure you can make this work, do your homework! Many things are more difficult here, if I was in the UK for instance I would have gone back to uni, don't have that option here.

I'm not suggesting for one minute that you are in this league, but when I told a neighbour in the UK we were moving to France, she said "ooh, we had thought about moving to France", oh, I said, really, "yeah, but we've never been to France... "

Sue

Originally Posted by Andrea50

Blimey, you mean even God's on an economy drive?

Lawks, what chance have the rest of us got in Le Crunch de Credit if even "Our Saviour" has to get a mere mortal to fix his computer? Does that mean none of the disciples knows dick about binary or what? (I put this in to keep it about Language so I won't be "sent into the wilderness" of the Rendezvous)

No offence, Ka Ora, I didn't mean to insult you by implying you were mortal or anything ......

Originally Posted by Andrea50

NOW you've got me, I'm not religious.

But talking of language, my ex was religious, I was not. We hadn't been in France long, only about a week I think, at his sister's place in Alsace. They mostly spoke German there, and our French wasn't A1 at the time. He got hisself in a right pickle with the neighbours, asking for directions to "le religious" (he wanted to go to church). I obviously wasn't with him.

After a lot of hand gestures and Gallic shrugs, and a German neighbour trying to help as well, (who really DID look like Herr Flick apparently) he followed the directions and came to a cake shop Le Patisserie. He found out later, "religeuse" is a cake in France, and I can wholeheartedly recommend them, as they are pretty yummy - lot more fun than a pew in a freezing Eglise with incense giving me hayfever that's for sure.

And I suppose a bloke who can do miracles doesn't really need a license for anything - isn't he impotent or omniverous or something?

Originally Posted by Jazzy n Lol

Nope. Today in SuperU they had a special offer - 5 kilo sack of normal spuds 5 Euros 45 cents. I NEVER buy bio, just regular stuff. Even the bloody rhubarb here is mad prices - a bundle of 6 measly stalks for 3,55. I live in the heart of farming country, Dept 53, so there is no reason for the fruit and veg to be so dear. I've had to restrict the amount of fruit my daughter eats for the first time in her life, and I had to leave the turnips behind today as they were 2,10 a kilo. I absolutely love my fruit and veg so am particularly upset by these increases.

Stanage - As for eating the "French way" - have you seen the price of fresh haricot vert? Even bread and cheese has gone up - unless you mean gathering snails from the garden and scoffing them?!

Originally Posted by dmu

Things seem to be cheaper in the 34, then....

Originally Posted by cupoftea

Just to add perhaps something more positive.

I had work within a month of arriving here and I live in a remote mountain village. Not boasting, just want to point out that it is possible. Not at the level I was working at in the UK, but for me that is a positive thing because frankly I was sick of too much responsibility and hassle.

It is perfectly possible to learn french, but it is WORK and it certainly does not 'just happen'. You have to really want to learn and be prepared to make a huge effort.

Thirdly, food costs are as you make them. We do not shop in supermarkets. We buy all organic from small shop in next village and the local market stalls. We cook everything ourselves from scratch. We grow our own veg, we eat a vegan diet. Not a choice everyone would wish to make, but it works well for us and adds greatly to the quality of our life.

Those who try to re-create their UK life but in a french environment may find life very challenging. Living here has enabled us to completely re-invent our lives and be more creative and fulfilled than ever before.

Originally Posted by stanage2

The last two lines say it all.

Originally Posted by val50

I don't think they do Stan to be honest.
Like in so many places, I really think it does depend on where you live, rather than how you live. Some areas of France are definitely more expensive than others. As cupoftea said, not many would be able to survive on a vegan diet as they do.
I think we have very few members on here who try to hold on to the way of life they had before moving to France. The pound/euro exchange rate has hit some people very hard, and when you add to that the increase of fuel, which in turn has pushed up prices in the shops, things are not as cheap as I know they were when we first arrived 7 years ago.