Frugal France v Frugal England...an ongoing blog

Is it easier to be frugal in France than in England? Now that's an interesting question that's going to take some thinking about. Watch this space.

I think first point goes to France in that you can buy a property with substantial land for half the price to something similar on the UK. For example recently sold in Normandy was an immaculate 3 bed barn conversion , with a one bed gite and five acres of land for 240,000 euros. If you are selling up in the UK for more it gives you a good bank of savings to call on in a rainy day.
I quote Normandy as the weather is very similar to the UK. Other areas...Pays de la Loire, Charente and the Limousin are only slightly more expensive but if you only want a small property with land you are looking in the region of 130,000 euros. The most expensive areas are when you hit the Med ....that's because tourists are attracted to the weather so there are a lot more holiday properties. It's difficult to find a village propery with substantial land...usually to get one at the right price you are looking at major renovations...which whatever figure you think you will do it at needs to be tripled!


Second point has to go ..in terms of  the weather...well I am not sure. Here in the South you have hot dry summers....great if you are on holiday but when you have land to look after and general work to do it makes life very tiring. It means early morning starts or late evenings to be able to work comfortably.
In the summer in France you will pay extra in electricity if you have air conditioning ( a must if you want to sleep) also ..unless you have a well on your land...you use a lot more water for the garden.
Winters whilst not freezing are still cold enough to need heating. We spent our first winter with only wood burning stoves.....not advisable in a big old house. With a smaller property that lets in a lot of light you can take advantage of the lovely winter sun. I think the biggest difference when living in the south of France is that it is mostly dry and bright instead of damp, foggy, dull and wet days.
So I think it still works out more economial to live in the S of France...all our utility bills work out less than what we paid in the UK

Third point......council taxes. As with the Uk ..if you live in sought after places then you will find that the taxes (here they are the Fonciere tax..which the owner of the propeerty pays and the Habitue tax which the person living in the property pays) As an owner living in a propery you pay both taxws however if youa re renting you will pay only one. Both of our taxes together amount to half what we paid in the UK and this amount also includes the tv licence, which is automatically put on your taxes. Despite being in a small village we have our rubbish bins collected 3 times a week, We have 2 reycling points. We have a dechetterie...a tip...wheere all other rubbish can be taken. We can leave this outside our door on a Friday morning and they will take it away for you..same with garden rubbish. Bin bags are given out by the Mairie twice a year....5 rolls per household.....so no bin bags floating around in the streets. If you run out then it is your responsibilty to buy more!!

to be continued......