La Sizer

[quote user="Patf"] La Sizer - if you do a search there are several threads mentioning plumbing. eg this one: http://www.completefrance.com/cs/forums/1/496176/ShowPost.aspx#496176 [/quote] Thanks I did have a look but its a little out of date now, alot can  happen in 4 years...but I did go to the advert site and email a few of the local plumbers to the area I am considering. So hopefully they may be able to fill me in a bit...

Yh, that side of it Im not fussed about, it would just be a back up plan. More importantly is finding a job I think. There seems to be a demand for plumbers, but im also training to do CAD drawing, whats that in French so I can look it up on that job site place??

OK, so all in all E20k per annum, would allow for some unforseens issues aswell as living. (approx.!) Thanks for the info people, I do appreciate it, the last thing I want to do is move then have to come back so Id rather get as much right as possible to improve my chances of a successful move.

[quote user="Sunday Driver"] The new mairie registration system is not yet in force but the resource and heathcare requirements are. If after three months, the OP has not obtained employment, then to maintain legal residency here, he must have sufficient other income to meet the minimum resource level for foreign 'inactives'.  For a couple with seven children, this is 1,840€ per month - 22,080€ per annum. In terms of healthcare, he should check whether his previous UK NI contributions qualify him for an E106.  If they don't, then he would be faced with having to purchase private healthcare for his family for the next five years..... [/quote]   What is it for a couple and 5 children, I dont have seven, if i did I think Id be moving to a mental institute not another country! You mention E106, my contributions here are fine so does that mean Id get free healthcare for 5 years?? If so thats something I can take off my budgeting....

[quote user="Patf"] I might be wrong,(no doubt someone will tell me if I am), but the new regs are that you have to register at the Mairie when you arrive, and prove that you have sufficient income to avoid being a liability on the french state. Will you be able to do that? [/quote] That is the plan, yes...I dont plan on coming over to France with 2 adults, 5 kids and not earning any money!

  [quote] Can I assume that as a family of 7 that includes 5 children of school age? [/quote] Thats correct [quote] You will need to budget for school costs too.  In september "à la rentrée" you can count on spending a very tidy sum on school materials that you have to provide (exercise books, covers for, pens, pencils - there is a comprehensive list provided by the schools) especially at secondary school (collège) this could easily be €150+ per child, even if you bought the cheapest available.  Then there's the school cantine to pay for as it's either cantine or home for lunch; no packed lunches permitted (@ €35+ per child per month), transport to school which could be some distance away (fuel for your car or school bus). Afterschool garderie (crêche) costs if you need to put your child into the after school club due to your working hours, here that is €44 per month for 3 children.  You are looking at several thousand euros per year to add to your budget. [/quote] Yes, thanks for that I hadnt really found out about the costs of schools so thats a good bit of info to know... [quote] Having just read through your posts and the replies, I can't see how you can do it.  You will be receiving "random" payments from your mum as "un-earned income", so unless you actually manage to find a job (unrealistic) you will not be declaring an "earned income".  As a family of 7 I think the authorities would be looking very carefully into your situation wondering how you are managing to exist with no income. [/quote] Dont get me wrong, I wouldnt want to continue doing that, and do want a job, I think I may have given the impression that Im not bothered but yes, definately want a job (hey who wouldnt want a break from 5 kids...lol) Im looking into how desired Plumbers are and its looking quite positive as long as I can speak french and understand the terminology well. I dont have any intentions of moving over without a job to go to. Having said that I like to look at all scenarios, such as getting a job then being made redundant a year later etc.. in which case I would have my stickers to fall back on as a tide me over job. Thats basically why I am trying to find out what I need to live on, to make sure I can afford to do it with a job and should anything bad happen Id also be able to manage until new employment was found. I would have an amount of savings to use but I just want to make sure I cover every situation and every thing is as clear and accurate as possible before I take such a big step.  

[quote user="Russethouse"] Then you'll be taxed on it as unearned income - and don't think they won't know, they will.   [/quote]   Sent you an email..

[quote user="ErnieY"][quote user="La Sizer"] Well funny you should mention that but its all registered in my mums name and will remain that way, she will kindly send some money over every month to help out... [/quote]Which of course you will declare and pay tax on. [/quote] If required yes, but If my mu decides to randomly send me money as a gift, is that taxable??

[quote user="ErnieY"]You need to check very carefully if your child benefit will continue in France, my understanding is that it will not. This from the HMRC web site: If you're going abroad permanently, or expect to be away for more than 52 weeks, you won't qualify for Child Benefit unless both of the following apply: you are moving to an EEA country or Switzerland you are paying UK NICs or receiving a UK National Insurance-related benefit Also you should note that you cannot legitimately sell your signs or whatever without being registered as a business. France is not like the UK where you can just wake up one morning and decide to start a business selling sell say CD's or car parts or WHY from your spare bedroom [blink] [/quote]   It wont but a French friend has made enquries and I would get the french equivilent. And as I said, it would be my mums business and she would just donate all the proceeds...

[quote user="Russethouse"] I would check how your part time income will be treated by the French authorities before you count on it. I'm stil in awe as to how you fed your family on £1.20 a day per person - what's the secret ? [/quote] Well funny you should mention that but its all registered in my mums name and will remain that way, she will kindly send some money over every month to help out...

[quote user="Russethouse"] I would check how your part time income will be treated by the French authorities before you count on it. I'm stil in awe as to how you fed your family on £1.20 a day per person - what's the secret ? [/quote] Sensible buying I guess, the last time I went shoppin was 2 weeks ago just over and I spent £120, and I need to go again now. Like I said, people seem to think it costs more to feed more but in fairness it doesnt cost that much more than a 4 person family, its only a little more veg, potatoes, beans etc...  

[quote user="krusty"]Is family allowance paid at the same rate in France as in the UK ?[/quote] No, theres a site somewhere but you get approx : 154E for 2 274E for 3 + 150E each additional child.

[quote user="ErnieY"][quote user="La Sizer"] This is a breakdown I was given : Habitation tax           300pa Taxe Fonciere          300pa Car Ins                   300pa Water/Electric/Gaz    100pm Broadband/Phone     40pm Muttelle                   150pm Shopping                 350pm Sky TV                    ???? These are the main figures Im interested in, I know theres things like petrol, clothes etc.. but Im talking usual living. This is based on St Ybard, not far from limoge. Please feel free to edit, add, fiddle to make it realistic. [/quote]I don't know who's given you those figures but for starters, regional variations or not, I think a house adequate for a family of 7 is going to cost you nearer 3x the sum quoted. Similarly I would double the Tax Fonciere and treble your fuel estimates and you'll be very lucky to insure what I'm presuming will be a sizeable car for €300, nearer €500 I'd guess. This puts your total up from around 9000 to well over 12,000 and in all I think even a frugal couple in a small house with no kids would struggle on your estimates. To have any sort of decent lifestyle and be able to save a bit for emergencies and a rainy day I think you need to look at an net income of at least €20,000. Frankly I doubt many French plumbers earn anything like that nor have 7 hungry mouths to feed. [/quote] Habitation tax           900pa Taxe Fonciere          600pa Car Ins                   500pa Water/Electric/Gaz    300pm Broadband/Phone     40pm Muttelle                   150pm Shopping                 350pm Sky TV                    ???? Total PM                    1006E Less family allowance    582E Min Wage                     424E PM So I would need to earn a minimum of 424E per month, which I can do as I sell stickers/shop signs at the moment (part time from home) and earn around 327E per month which I would continue doing. So assuming I could get a job for 800E per month?? I should be ok.....

[quote user="sweet 17"] Haven't worked out the food shopping bills but the taxe d'habitation and taxe foncière for us are both over twice the amount mentioned. Unlike what some might think, we don't in fact live in a chateau (sorry, joke from another thread), but in a much more manageable 3 bedroom converted barn  [/quote] I know it varies somewhat depending on the area, are you in the are I mentioned? (30mins drive south of limoge, st ybard)

[quote user="Russethouse"] Shopping for 7  - €350 ? How much roughly do you spend on 'shopping' in the UK ? From the posts I have read there isn't a huge difference in food prices, you may drop a little for some products but pick it up on the another, neither is growing your own always the economy you might think. [/quote] At the moment around £250 per month tops. We eat well and healthily, TBH a few extra mouths doesnt make that much difference.

This is a breakdown I was given : Habitation tax           300pa Taxe Fonciere          300pa Car Ins                   300pa Water/Electric/Gaz    100pm Broadband/Phone     40pm Muttelle                   150pm Shopping                 350pm Sky TV                    ???? These are the main figures Im interested in, I know theres things like petrol, clothes etc.. but Im talking usual living. This is based on St Ybard, not far from limoge. Please feel free to edit, add, fiddle to make it realistic.    

I have 13 years experience in Plumbing on both new builds and maintenance, does anyone know what sort of demand there is for plumbers in the limoge region?

Hi, Im new here also looking into moving. I have looked into cost of living and as far as I have worked out it varies quite alot depending on region. I have been told by someone that their average monthly costs including shopping for a family of four are around 700E per month, then having said that I have also been told 1500E and 2000E per month. I'm personally finding it extremely difficult to work out an accurate amount for myself and my huge family of 7. I do have family living in St Ybard so we would be looking at that area and areas surrounding it upto around a 30 minute drive. They say its pretty cheap, but again there seems to be so many variables its almost impossible to get even an approx. figure without being there and doing it. Work is also an issue for me, I have 13 years experience as a plumber but am still working out if its a sought after trade in the area,