BrittanyFrance56 - Brittany Life- Money Matters

Surprise view near Cleguerec.

With a holiday home you will always be at the local D.I.Y store and Mr Bricolage is just like B and Q. At Pontivy they have an English speaker.Watch out for opening times,no chance on Sunday and the famous long lunchtime(12-2) is always when you reach that critical point on your repair.Otherwise its open 9am to 7pm or at least the one at Pontivy is.

Conleau,Vannes

Euro

The worsening exchange rate can cost a fortune on the mortgage and outgoings.Foreign exchange companies will give you a fixed rate for a period but it may be less than the current going rate,its a gamble. You will however save money by using a foreign exchange company to move funds across monthly,especially if you adopt their standard date each month for the transfer.

Bills to Pay

The bills each year include amongst others,mortgage,tax fonciere,tax habitation,water(Saur),electricity(EDF),grass cutting,usual maintenance,house insurance and contents,bank charges,chimney sweep etc.Most of these bills can be paid by direct debit which is the easiest method of payment once set up and you can arrange to have all bills posted to England.

Taxes Foncieres-Bills issued in October.

Taxe d'habitation (Inc TV Licence)-Bills issued in December.

SAUR-Previous occupier can help on the handover .Maybe no local office.

EDF-Just call into the local office to sort out ,perhaps with the seller to help out.

Taking meter readings on the above-luckily the meters are usually outside your property.

House Insurance- Your bank can arrange this,make sure that you have the correct insurance for a holiday home i.e with the long periods when unoccupied.Note that you cannot complete if house insurance is not arranged before purchase (If you have a mortgage)

Sailing away on Lake Guerledan

A sleepy calm over the fields near Cleguerec

Sculpted "calvaries" -Brittany is well known for these elaborately carved sculptures of crucifixion scenes, to be found in churchyards of villages and small towns, especially in Western Brittany-Wikipedia-S Moller

And....

Carnac-Standing Stones

Shopping

Of the big supermarkets ,Super U are quite handy and not too big.The Pontivy store is open 9.00am to 7.15pm,Monday to Friday and 9.00am to 7.00pm on Saturday(i.e they don't close for a long lunch).Prices are similar to England except for the wine.You can buy really cheap wine but I would spend a little bit more.On day to day products milk is usually best bought long life and your baguette can be bought fresh at your local store like Shoppi ;our local store has the advantage of opening on Sunday 9.00am to 12.00pm but does close for lunch Monday to Thursday.

The Chateau at Josselin

Banking

Can be opened on site , Credit Agricole are very good.You will need personal documentation and you need to know a little French ,they do a check on your background.Bank charges are about 5£ a month ;by the way a cardinal sin in France, is to issue a cheque with insufficient funds.

Port Louis-Photo Gallery 2

Fort Le Lat-Photo Gallery

Stained glass window, depicting the Round Table, in the church of Trehorenteuc-Broceliande

The traditional drinks of Brittany are:cider( Brittany is the second largest cider-producing region in France).Also a sort of mead is made from wild honey and finally an apple eau de vie called lambig.