Money-saver: No-waste cooking classes in France Cooking classes are popping up all over France which teach participants how to cook delicious meals while reducing waste and saving money
Millions of shoppers across France sign up for new ‘deals’ brochure The free weekly brochure is on an ‘opt-in’ basis only and claims €150 savings a month
Money saver: How to pick up free items in France These popular French websites allow you to find items people are giving away, and there are even tax breaks available if you donate your objects
practical French tax return tip: why selecting this box can reduce your bill Many people are unaware of the significance of ‘box 2OP’ which affects taxation of investment income such as bank interest
Money saver: Find second-hand glasses in France Second-hand glasses are a rapidly developing market in France, allowing you to find designer frames at low prices
Seven ways to save on French bank charges From overdraft to ATM fees, and even online banking, we look at how you can reduce bank charges in France
Save money in France by finding missing board game pieces A French website allows you to order the missing piece in a board game instead of having to buy the whole game again
House swapping in France gave us a dream family holiday in Grenoble As the cost of living crisis continues to bite, Chrissie McClatchie talks through a low-cost holiday solution
Could second-home owners in France save with EDF’s Tempo contract? A Tempo electricity contract could be an interesting option for people who do not spend much time in France during winter
How to find cheaper petrol and get reduced rail fares in France From finding the cheapest petrol in your area to reduced fares on holiday train travel, here's how you can make your money go further this month.
Language classes, motorway tolls: Tips for saving money in France Five ways to save money in France, from paying less at swimming pools to improving your language skills for free...
Five money saving tips to help you this winter in France Here are five ways to make your cash go further this winter, from reduced food apps like Too Good To Go to fine dining at a discounted price.
Here's how to save money on good French wine Supermarkets offer a vast range of wine but more savings can be made by cutting out the middleperson
11 tips to save money on your food shopping in France With inflation at record levels, we share cost-saving advice with the help of consumer experts, specialist apps and the people who use them effectively Cost of living: French service promises to find big savings on bills France’s LEP tax-free savings account at 2.2% interest: Who qualifies? Why do my French electricity bills keep rising despite competition?
Pandemic boosted French savings: Options beyond bank current account People in France have saved over €150billion during the health crisis. We explain the different options for savings accounts if you choose to put aside some extra cash Basic living expenses cost €1,059 per month in France, study finds Seven French contracts to renegotiate this September and how to do it Brexit: September 30 is deadline for UK shares held in French PEA Monthly money saver: money off holiday travel Saving tips for over-55s in France
Save on tickets at French cinemas Going to the cinema need not cost a fortune as there are many different ways of saving money on a ticket.
Reader wins a €1,200 French social charges refund A reader is to receive a €1,200 refund of French social charges after he was prompted by an August 2019 Connexion article to apply to his tax office
French website helps you save cash (and the planet) Money saving tip! Helping people keep appliances longer – saving money and helping the environment – is the aim of a new state website.
Recycling in France by using Ressourceries and reusing “Rubbish” is being given a second chance of life, thanks to a network of 157 Ressourceries spread throughout the country.
€600 grant to buy e-bikes in France A grant up to €600 is on offer in one department to help fund electric bike purchases.
Ways to cut costs and save on everyday life in France We work hard for our cash so let’s make the most of it. The Connexion finds ideas to make it stretch a little further
Last chance to claim eco-friendly cash for French home Many better-off households are likely to lose their eligibility for the long-standing system of tax credits for eco-friendly home improvements and renovations next year – so if affected you may want to undertake work while 2019 lasts.
65% reduction in French taxe d’habitation this year Local tax taxe d’habitation is payable for most homes by November 15 if you do not pay online, by smartphone or by regular instalments, but for 80% of households – all but the highest earners – there is a 65% reduction.
French sell-by food app cuts costs You can use free smartphone app Too Good To Go to save money on your shopping bill and fight food waste.
Can I get grant for new fosse at French home? We need to replace our fosse septique . Is it possible to get a grant for all or part of the work? M.J.
We built our off-grid French straw house for €30,000 A three-day course on how to build a straw house on a foundation of old tyres helped a British couple with no construction experience create their own home in France.
Cut cost of driving lessons in France Learners can cut the cost of driving lessons by passing the highway code theory exam as an external candidate, rather than through a driving school.
The truth about electric cars Three Connexion readers who have bought electric vehicles describe their experiences to Brian McCulloch
Second-hand is the new black The Connexion examines the reasons for the rising popularity of second-hand clothing in France – where personal jumble sale parties are the next big thing... and can sell-out in minutes
Free legal advice available in France If you are in any situation where you may need to get involved in legal proceedings, there are ways to get at least some initial advice for free.
France sees come back for refundable glass bottles An old trend is coming back – returning glass drink bottles to receive a deposit or discount.
What criteria for reduced French 'taxe foncière'? WHAT are the criteria to benefit from a reduction or exemption from the taxe foncière ? G.S.
Insurance by the minute A new type of insurance is aimed at people who do not use their car often or who drive only short distances – and it charges by the minute.
What can I have an eco tax credit for? What home improvements are now eligible for a tax credit? It seems to have changed a lot recently. G.T.
School meal price cut by €2 per child Eating at the canteen is to cost a lot less for thousands of primary school children.
Take ‘Advantage’ as SNCF cuts card costs Rail operator SNCF is revamping its range of travel cards – and reducing prices across the board – this month to attract new customers.
How to get a discount in France Your article about the problems encountered by a reader getting a cashback offer (February edition, see here) brought to mind my experience of a couple of years ago.
Financial foolishness worthy of poisson d’avril To mark April Fools’ Day ( le poisson d’avril ), Connexion asked if I would write about the foolish mistakes people make when it comes to their finances in France. At the time, I could not think of what to write, but agreed anyway.
Can I get bonus for electric bike? Is there still a bonus for buying an electric bike this year? G.S.
Cut cost of moving house in France Moving house is expensive – and just one million people out of the three million who move each year use a professional removals company.
Buyer beware - but car from mandataire could save 46% They have been part of the French car scene for years but mandataires , offering discounts on new and used vehicles imported from other EU countries, have not entered the mainstream.
Ouigo to offer extras Low-cost Ouigo trains are to offer new options, including more comfortable seats for €2 extra.
Extra help for green renovations at French home Financial help to carry out energy-saving renovation work has been improved.
Insurance is up: tips to keep prices affordable Car insurance is rising, with drivers now paying an average of €615 per year, says the insurance website LeLynx.fr .
Save on French phone line fees Opting for dégroupage total with your ADSL or fibre optic internet can save you €18 a month in landline fees.
Options for saving and investing money in France Save your money like you do your food – larder, fridge and freezer
New French website offers ‘Blablacar for flights’ A new French website is offering the flight equivalent of carpooling site blablacar.com - coavionnage.
Growing trend is for a simple life in the country Many people move to France in search of a slower “less-is-more” lifestyle with consumerism taking a backseat to family and reduced stress. Now this is becoming the target of more and more French people.
France's €500 culture aid for teens Encouraging the discovery and diversifications of cultural activities is the aim of the Pass Culture smartphone app that will be launched for 18-year-olds in the first quarter of 2019.
Cut the costs of your cut Costs for haircuts and styling can mount but there are several options to keep the price down.
Cut-price power in-store Supermarket giant E.Leclerc will this autumn start offering to supply electricity to customers at prices that will be 16% below the regulated price for energy.
Give specs second sight Even after they have been replaced by new models with new lenses, old pairs of spectacles can still have a life – and may even earn some money, either for yourself or charity.
Secondary net gains... In Bob Elliott’s recent Talking Points column (August 2018) regarding the cessation of the Orange Maison Secondaire lines, he seemed to say this would be more expensive.
There’s little interest in 0% saving Last month I wrote about investing in property and discussed the need to keep some liquidity. Liquidity is all very well, but it is not currently very interesting – indeed, no member of society has been more neglected than savers.
Low-rate loans to ease renovations Anyone planning home improvements such as a garden workshop, new kitchen or rewiring a house can get a loan for up to €75,000 with lower-than-normal interest rates through a prêt travaux or crédit travaux .
Cheap pallets can make an ideal DIY shed Continuing our series on becoming self-sufficient one step at a time, we look at one of the best-known features of most gardens... the shed
Save money by using a DIY garage Car maintenance costs continue to rise year on year and with the new stricter Contrôle Technique starting on May 20 (131 points will be checked as opposed to 123 now) they are likely to rise again but there are ways to keep them in check