France Made Simple

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 online and in person and her background means that she is uniquely placed to help the Anglophone community. Enjoy!You can get in touch with Olivia by email : zulkeolivia@gmail.com or Olivia gestalt.com

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 at the differences between the French and the AngloSaxon world when it comes to being under the weather. And the things that (allegedly) prevent you from getting ill in the first place. Enjoy! And don’t forget to tell me what you’ve found to be different about life in France.

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 property market is up to too!

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 - https://vide-greniers.org/ Brocantes solidaires - https://www.secourspopulaire.fr/les-braderies-du-secours-populaire-pres-de-chez-vous/

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 @simperskitchen. 

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 interesting courses isn’t easy. So I’m delighted to be chatting to Patricia who has come up with a great solution. The all inclusive three week program is a very reasonably priced and for a limited time she’s offering a promotional rate of just 1850€.There’s even an extra 10% discount if you mention the podcast- valid for 30 days! Enjoy or as we say here, Profitez bien!3-weeks-program-2026Bienvenue à Rennes – Support for International Studentscontact@bienvenuearennes.com+33 07 74 18 17 02

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 or take a look at his site www.houxservices.eu and if you contact him within the next 30 days and mention the podcast, you’ll get a 10% discount off the first set of any fees should you go ahead and use his services!

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 weekendThen 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/DeclarationImpotsHere’s the simulator - https://www.impots.gouv.fr/simulateursHere’s the tax information hotline number - 0809 401 401

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” stage!But never fear, this week we’re talking to a property finder, Paul Simper who specialises in tracking down the perfect property for you AND making the process as stress free as possible. If you are even thinking about buying in France, you should definitely give this one a listen and if you’d like to know more you can get in touch directly :www.luxurybuyersagentfrance.comM: +33 (0)7 69 40 01 20    O: +33 (0)5 47 66 21 81UK: +44 (0)77 99 07 28 02paul@luxurybuyersagentfrance.com

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://www.flunch.fr/Crescendo https://www.crescendo-restauration.fr/Michelin https://guide.michelin.com/fr/enAnd don’t forget you can get your free tickets for the French property show here :https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/the-french-property-exhibition-london-2026-tickets-1590912625489?aff=survivefrance

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 amazing French Property exhibition held in London at the end of January.You can get your get your FREE tickets here :https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/the-french-property-exhibition-london-2026-tickets-1590912625489

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 topic1Give 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 end of January 2026. It is a ‘must’ for anyone considering buying in France and you can get FREE tickets here :https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/the-french-property-exhibition-london-2026-tickets-1590912625489?aff=survivefrance

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 something that happens all too often. This episode will reveal everything you need to consider when calculating your budget for a renovation project in France.And if you need to move money around to fund it, don’t forget our recommended currency exchange partners Lumon. They might not be able to help with the actual renovating but at least your currency transfers will be stress free!https://www.lumonpay.com/partners/survive-france/?utm_medium=referral&utm_source=Regional%20Associate&utm_campaign=Survive%20France