France Made Simple

Navigating life in France is easier when you’ve got the right tools in your pocket. In this episode, we break down the most useful apps to have on your phone—from transport and banking to food delivery, healthcare, and everyday admin. Whether you’re a newcomer trying to decode the system or a long-term resident looking to streamline daily life, these apps can save you time, money, and frustration....

What is daily life really like in France? In this episode, we unpack the small but constant frictions of living in France—from confusing bureaucracy and slow administration to shop opening hours, strikes, customer service differences, and language barriers. If you’re an expat, planning a move to France, or already living here and wondering why everything feels just slightly harder than expected, t...

When it comes to importing and registering vehicles in France, urban myths abound. And if you listen to ‘Mike’ down the Dog & Duck or rather, le Chien & Canard, you are likely to come a cropper. But never fear, we’ve put together an episode all about just that. Listen in and make sure you are road legal in France. Enjoy!

If you’re thinking about moving to France and wondering about the cost of living here, then this episode is a must. I’m chatting through the true cost of living here, from the obvious expenses and outgoings to the hidden ones that quietly drain your budget. Let me know what you have found to be more or less expensive than back home as well as those things you’d never budgeted for!

“100% covered” doesn’t always mean what you think in France. In this episode, we unpack the realities of top-up health insurance—how the system works alongside state healthcare, where gaps can catch you out, and how to choose cover that actually protects you. Straightforward, practical, and jargon-free.

In this episode I’m taking a look at some of the highs and lows involved in building on an isolated plot. Lots of practical advice and some useful links and resources, plus, as always my “tell it like it is” approach to living and working here in France! Useful Vocabulary : Un terrain à bâtir - building plot Un terrain isolé - isolated plot Les règles de construction - rules determining what, in w...

In this episode I’m looking at ways to get your property working for you and making some extra money; yes, we’re talking holiday rentals! There are numerous reasons why you might be thinking about renting out your French property and in this episode I run through some of the things you need to take into account before going down this road. Plus, there’s a whole load of practical advice on how to g...

In this episode I’m chatting about my first ever time at an auction in France, and covering what to do (and what not to do!) when you go to an auction in France. Buying at auction is a fabulous way to bag a bargain and find some unique decorative pieces for your house in France. It’s also a lot of fun! I hope you enjoy this episode and don’t forget to make sure you follow the France Made Simple po...

In this second part, I continue chatting with Paul who is not only an accountant but also runs five gites here in France. We’re chatting about the financial, tax and practical aspects of running gites. With increasing numbers of people looking at gites as a way of generating or topping up income here in France, this episode is a must listen. It’s in two parts - “Can you run a gite?” And “Should yo...

In this episode I catch up with Paul who is not only an accountant but also runs five gites here in France. We’re chatting about the financial, tax and practical aspects of running gites. With increasing numbers of people looking at gites as a way of generating or topping up income here in France, this episode is a must listen. It’s in two parts - “Can you run a gite?” And “Should you run a gite?”...

There’s a new episode out and it’s not an Easter special! Sorry - I didn’t think of that in time but I will be doing one about Easter in France - however right now, I’m about to sit down to a rather special Easter Sunday lunch, so you’ll have to wait for that one! In the meantime, here are my answers to some of the questions sent in by you lovely lot. Please keep sending your questions - I love an...

Unlock the secrets to buying property in France without falling into common pitfalls! Paul Simper, a seasoned property finder, reveals why the French real estate market is so different—and how you can navigate it like a pro. Most buyers rely on UK or US-style expectations, but in France, the process is more structured and less familiar—yet far more predictable once you understand the rules. From s...

Whether you’re travelling to and from France for business or pleasure, taking the train is a great way to get there. And back! People often think that flying is going to be the cheapest and quickest option but this isn’t necessarily so. And going by train is a much nicer and less stressful experience. In this episode we chat through all the things you need to know when taking the Eurostar and trav...

One of the best things about moving to France is having more time. And more outside space. Plus of course better weather…Put those three together and you’ll see why eating alfresco is such a big part of the French lifestyle. So in this episode I’m talking you through what you need to factor in when you are planning an outside cooking and eating space. Enjoy!

Having spent a week ranting about living in France and having then spent a week in the UK(!), in this episode I’m sharing my thoughts on why you SHOULD move to France. If you want a clue, it’s because it is basically just quite a lot nicer here…Do you agree? Give it a listen and let me know what you think!

Having spent the last week talking about all the things that wind me up about life in France (and yes, there are a few…), I thought it was time to redress the balance. Because the reality is, people don’t move to France by accident. There are some very specific reasons they choose it, and stick with it. In this episode, I’m sharing five of the real reasons people come to France, whether that’s for...

Every year thousands of people make the decision to move abroad and start a new life - hopefully in the sun! Although if you are actively looking to move somewhere wet and windy, that’s cool too😉And nine times out of ten that move involves a property purchase too. So how do you go about buying abroad? There are numerous ways to do this but one of the easiest and best is to visit an overseas prope...

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