France Made Simple

Finding a job in France is never simple. You can have qualifications up the ying yang, speak fluent French and still get passed over time and time again. Even the French find it tricky so chuck in being an “étrangère” and you’ve got a perfect storm. As a result huge numbers of expats decide to start their own business. But this isn’t for everyone. There’s another option though. How about if you co...

One of the things that comes up over and over again is people sharing their experiences of working with agents or realtors when they are buying a property in France. And as you can imagine, there’s no general consensus… People seem to either have really great or really bad experiences! In this episode I’m running through all the stuff you can do to ensure that you have a really good working relati...

In this episode I’m talking about daily life in France and revealing what it is really like. Is it one long round of sipping glasses of crisp white wine by the pool? Or is it one long battle with French administrative demands? Listen in and find out! Doctor Lib : https://www.doctolib.fr/ You can support me here : buymeacoffee.com/francemadesimple

In this episode I’m chatting to Olivia who is a musician and Gestalt therapist. What’s really interesting here is that she is both French and English and thus, not only totally bilingual but has a unique ‘foot in both camps’ perspective. Moving to and living in, another country isn’t always easy and very often these type of life changes throw up issues that we need to address. Olivia works both on...

There’s an urban myth that the French are a nation of hypochondriacs and compared to us ‘stiff upper lip’ British, there’s certainly an element of truth in that. But is it them? Or is it having a system that actively encourages you to run to the doctor at the first sign of a snotty nose? Having been ill for the last week (and no, I haven’t been to the doctor!), I thought it was time to take a look...

In this episode I’m catching up with my favourite estate agent, Sheelagh co-owner of Agence Newton, an estate agency that specialises in Brittany, Normandy, the Limousin and the Corrèze. Sheelagh covers the Normandy area and luckily she lives close enough for me to pop round and snaffle her chocolate biscuits. Listen in and find out what she’s been up to since we last spoke and what the French pro...

In this episode I’m looking at all the ways to get rid of your clutter. Whether you have stuff to donate, sell or just recycle, we’ve got the low down on how to go about decluttering in France. And here are some of the useful sites I mention in the podcast :Interencheres -  https://www.interencheres.com/  (Be careful - it’s addictive!)Donnons -  https://donnons.org/  (Ditto!)Vide greniers etc -  h...

And here’s part two ! I’m continuing the conversation with superstar chef Lucy about the challenge of cooking French recipes for a French clientele. I loved recording this episode and hope you enjoy it as much as I did! You can get in touch with Lucy via her website  http://www.simperskitchen.co.uk/  and follow her on instagram - @simperskitchen

In this first episode which is part of a two part interview, I catch up with British chef Lucy Simper who is managing to wow the French with her cooking. No mean achievement I think you’ll agree! Lucy caters for groups, weddings, dinner parties and just about anything else you can think of. You can check out her website here  http://www.simperskitchen.co.uk/  or find her on instagram where she’s @...

One of the things that comes up time and time again when I’m chatting to people about moving to France or even just visiting, is speaking the language. You can’t really make the most of everything that France has to offer unless you speak French but becoming fluent can be a challenge. Immersion is one of the best ways to develop your confidence and your vocabulary - fast! But finding well run and...

In this episode I’m talking about 5 reasons why you need to move to France. Although I actually ended up with seven - without even trying too hard! If you are thinking about moving to France or even just planning a holiday here, hopefully, this short episode will enthuse and inspire you. As always please keep your suggestions and comments coming. I love getting your feedback!

In this episode I’m talking to Paul Robson, a France based UK chartered accountant who understands both systems. And…can explain what to do and not what to do in an idiot proof manner. Which is exactly what I need when it comes to anything related to money and finances! Hopefully it will prove helpful to lots of you lot too. You can get in touch with Paul directly via email advice@houxservices.fr...

I hope you enjoy this short episode. It’s by popular request so to speak…!Plus, I thought it was probably about time that I gave you, my lovely listeners, a bit of background and explain why I podcast about life in France. I really hope that you all enjoy listening and do keep sending your questions in. I absolutely love getting them. Have a lovely weekend everybody! Cat x

In this episode we’re talking about how to go about your French tax return. And honestly, it’s really not that bad! First off - here’s the link to the FREE tickets for the French Property show this weekend Then here are the useful links I mention in the show :Here’s the link that shows WHEN you need to file -  https://www.service-public.gouv.fr/simulateur/calcul/DeclarationImpots Here’s the simul...

Buying a property in France can be a minefield and stressful to boot. Apart from anything else, the system is simply not the same and this can be hugely frustrating. This is especially true if you come to it from a North American perspective and trying to persuade a seller to accept your hard earned cash can seem like an uphill battle. And that’s if you’ve even got past the “incompetent agent” sta...

In this episode we’re looking at all the different options you have when eating out in France. From the humble ‘menu du jour’ to Michelin starred restaurants, France has something for everyone and every budget! Listen in and make sure you get the most out of your French dining experience. Here are the sites I mention in the podcast:Les Routiers  https://www.relais-routiers.com/ Flunch  https://ww...

I thought it would be nice to start the New Year with a bit of positivity! This mini episode is my personal take on what you need to do to get the most out of your time in France. The advice applies whether you’ve been here for ages, have recently landed or are simply toying with the idea. And actually it applies even if you have no intention of moving to France! 😂And… I’m also talking about the...

To get you into the Christmas spirit I’ve devised a little Christmas quiz, so that you can see just how French you have become! Enjoy and bonnes fêtes to one and all!

A very short video where I explain a bit about the Survive France website and reveal what it can do for you!

The French are well known for their love of debate and discussion! And in this episode I’m talking about the subjects they love to discuss. And no, it’s not just food - although obviously that is a major topic1 Give it a listen and tell me which are the ‘hot topics’ that you’ve noticed coming up time and time again?

In this episode we run through everything that you need to put onto your “Renovation Checklist”! Making a list like this when you’re viewing a property and before you sign on the dotted line, will help avoid making an expensive mistake. Or at least, give you an informed idea of what you’re letting yourself in for! I’m also talking about the French Property Exhibition being held in London at the en...

Renovating in France can be super stressful and spiralling costs only add to that stress. In this episode we look at ways to keep a handle on your budget and make sure that you know what you are in for (in terms of cost at least!) before work begins. Joking aside, making sure that you don’t blow the budget simply because you have forgotten about a key element (and it can happen, trust me…), is som...

The episode is a short one but I’m covering an important subject for anyone thinking about moving to France. And if you’re already here you will know EXACTLY what I’m talking about! I’m talking about, for want of a better word, charlatans. That group of people who move over here and try to make a living from exploiting others - listen in so you know what, or who (!) to avoid.

This one is by popular request and I was delighted to be asked to talk about one of my favourite subjects - horses! Now I know not everyone moving to France will be planning to keep horses but a lot of people might be planning some type of small scale (or otherwise) agricultural activity and lots of the stuff I cover will apply. As I mention in the podcast - this is very much an overview (as alway...

In this episode I’m chatting to writer and film director Dave Hall about his first feature film,  Passing Through;   an English-language family drama shot in and around the town of Agde in Languedoc. It tells the story of an Australian couple who have just moved there to start a new life together. It's just been released on Prime Video in the UK, after winning awards at various festivals and i...