John

I am coming back to the Forum to ask a "BIG" question. As so many Brits retire to Spain, can you tell me why you chose to relocate to France ? We are thinking of Normandy, because we would not be able to stand the heat further south. What were the other reasons for chosing France?  Hoping to hear from you all?

Hi everyone, Many thanks for your advice. My income calculation was wrong,  I receive about £18,000 GROSS as a private pension , which is taxed.  I then get about £7,500 as State Pension Retirement Benefit and my wife gets about £ 2500 as State Pension Benefit.  Obviously these State payments are not taxed, as they are deemed benefits.  Would this make a difference for us in France? I pay about £1700 Per annum Council Tax (band F) in the Uk.  Would the equivalent (?Tax Fonciere) be much lower? Thanks again, John

My wife (aged 64) and I (aged 66) want to sell up in UK and move to France , maybe Nord-Pas or Normandy and I am trying to find out the overall cost of living in France, compared to UK!!!  Together we have State and Private pensions worth approx. £27,000 after tax. I have heard that income tax is high in France, but do pensioners get reduced rates? Also with the Council Tax in UK ( now £1700 p.a.) , Petrol prices (currently 90 pence a litre) and energy bills sky high, surely the French costs for these items must make a huge saving. We also have to pay about £1300 per annum for private health insurance (which excludes cancer and heart attacks!!!)  I understand that food etc costs about the same , although the French food is much better quality , and of course wine is about a quarter of the UK price. Can anyone help please???   Many thanks, John