Penny for your thoughts

No one wants to spend more than they have to and there are lots of ways to make savvy savings in France. Vicky Leigh shares some tips

- Vicky Leigh

Whether you’re preparing to put a foot on the French property ladder, are about to embark on a renovation project or simply want to reduce your outgoings, there are lots of easy ways you could save yourself some money and give your bank account a boost. From being savvy about your location choice to applying for government grants or downloading an app to your smartphone, here are a few suggestions on how to spend less without sacrificing the enjoyment of life’s little pleasures. After all, la vie française has plenty of those and they’re probably a big part of the reason you decided to buy in the first place.

WHERE TO BUY

It’s all about location, location, location when buying a property and that’s certainly true when it comes to setting your budget to buy a home in France. You’ll find your money generally goes a lot further across the Channel and even more so in certain parts of the country, which can help you decide on your search area.

Many departments have an average house price of between €100,000 and €150,000 according to Notaires de France figures, including those that regularly feature on many a British house hunter's wish list, such as Lot (€122,000), Corrèze (€105,000) and even perennially popular Dordogne (€120,000). In some areas you’ll find you have changed from €100,000 – in Creuse for example, the average is just €55,000. And, if you want to buy in the sunny south but Provence is beyond your budget, neighboring Occitanie has the benefit of southern sunshine but with considerably lower prices.

RENOVATION PROJECT