Practical

What are some of the different ways to save cash when making calls?

What does the election of Emmanuel Macron as French president mean for the currency markets and Brexit negotiations?

One of the more controversial proposals of President Emmanuel Macron is raising the social charge the Contribution sociale généralisée (CSG) by 1.7% as part of a redistribution of charges aimed at benefitting, in the main, people in work.

In the next month or so tax bills should start to arrive and people are advised to check their avis d’impôts as increasingly we are seeing significant errors appearing, nearly always (oddly) in favour of the tax office.

Organic products have never been so popular, with latest 2016 figures showing more shoppers going “bio”, the opening of new specialists all over France, a rise in the range and amount of organic products in supermarkets and the number of farms converting from conventional methods.

If you have long hair and want to get it cut short you could donate your locks to an association which helps cancer sufferers on low incomes buy attractive, comfortable wigs after chemotherapy.

French people are seriously in love with the great outdoors and it is a great place to stay fit and young. Sally Ann Voak discovered the benefits of being active when her family moved to the Alps and speaks to others on their ways to keep healthy

We asked readers living in France to tell us what they like most about their home – here Lin and Trev Griffiths speak about their house and garden in Côtes d’Armor

Being the owner of a fine, old and fully-renovated house is the dream of the vast majority of people in France with two out of three saying they would prefer a house to a flat.

We have lived in France for almost 13 years and have a French usufruit will signed 5/6 years ago but are not sure of our situation.

My husband wants my grandchildren to inherit his share: can he do this? He has no children.

If he dies before me, do all proceeds go to me and then to my relatives in future or would his will dictate what happens?

I will leave my share to my two sons, but what share would be given to the grandchildren if I were to die first and what inheritance tax would they pay? M.A.

We no longer use our car and have no more need for our garage so, as it is built on to the house, would it be possible to turn it into a spare room for visitors?

Can you say how we should go about it and what formalities we need to complete?  T.M.

If camping conjures up images of cooking sausages on a camp stove, sleeping bags and chemical toilets you might want to think again

I am British and live in France and am married to a Frenchman. We have two sons who are dual nationals and live in France.
My sisters in the UK who are childless want to put my sons in their wills as their main beneficiaries but are concerned that my sons may have to pay high French inheritance tax, as they would if they inherited from aunts in France. F.G.

France’s new government is set to move ahead this month with the first steps in its plan to reform labour laws, the Code du Travail, using edicts called ordonnances to cut delays.

In the theatre actors are key but they can get vital help from the scénographe-décorateur who provides the stage that is essential for their performance.