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France Made Simple

France Made Simple

Catharine Sceats 136 Episodes Oct 9, 2026

France Made Simple explains everything you need to know to create a new life in France for you and your family. Host Catharine Higginson draws on her personal experience from over 20 years of living and working in France and shares insight from specialist guests tackling subjects such as inheritance planning, property purchase and renovation, visas and insurance. The podcast also offers free resources via a Buy Me A Coffee page.

Episodes

Moving To France? Rent Before You Regret!
Moving To France? Rent Before You Regret! Oct 9, 2026 00:32:00 That gorgeous French house might tick every box. But will you actually enjoy living there?In this episode of France Made Simple, I’m joined by Ben, who helps people moving to France find long-term rentals. We discuss why renting before buying can give you valuable breathing space, why securing a rental can be surprisingly difficult for newcomers, and how to look beyond the holiday dream to find so
French Home Insurance: The Myths That Could Cost You Thousands
French Home Insurance: The Myths That Could Cost You Thousands Sep 30, 2026 00:38:43 French home insurance is not quite as straightforward as you might expect, especially if you’re coming from the UK or another country with a different insurance system.In this episode of France Made Simple, Cat is joined by Fabien from Fab French Insurance to debunk some of the biggest myths surrounding French home and contents insurance.We look at what is legally required depending on whether you
Moving to France? 5 Mistakes I Made So You Don’t Have To!
Moving to France? 5 Mistakes I Made So You Don’t Have To! Sep 25, 2026 00:27:26 Moving to France can be an exciting new chapter but there are a few mistakes that can make the transition considerably harder than it needs to be.In this episode of France Made Simple, I run through five of the most common mistakes people make when they move to France and, as usual, I’ve made plenty of them myself so you don’t have to!We look at why you really do need to learn French (and why “I’l
French Car Insurance: Don’t Listen to Steve on Facebook!
French Car Insurance: Don’t Listen to Steve on Facebook! Sep 15, 2026 00:42:49 French Car Insurance: What You Really Need to KnowCar insurance in France is one of those subjects surrounded by endless urban myths, conflicting advice and the inevitable “my friend down the road does it this way” stories.In this episode, I’m joined once again by Fabien from Fab French Insurance to cut through some of the confusion and explain how French car insurance actually works.We talk about
5 Reasons NOT to Buy a Property in France!
5 Reasons NOT to Buy a Property in France! Sep 10, 2026 00:27:58 Buying a property in France can be exciting, romantic and, occasionally, a spectacularly expensive mistake…In this episode, I go back to one of the earliest topics I tackled on France Made Simple, finding a property in France, but with a rather different approach. After nearly 30 years of looking at French properties (and buying quite a few!) , I look at the five things you really shouldn’t do whe
French Healthcare Explained: What Is a Mutuelle and Do You Need One?
French Healthcare Explained: What Is a Mutuelle and Do You Need One? Sep 2, 2026 00:36:38 French health insurance can leave you facing a maze of unfamiliar terms, confusing reimbursement percentages and potentially expensive gaps in cover. Choose the wrong policy or misunderstand what it pays, and a hospital stay, dental treatment or even a pair of glasses could cost far more than you expected.So what exactly is a mutuelle? Is it private health insurance, or something different? What d
From Little House on the Prairie to Green Bean Hell
From Little House on the Prairie to Green Bean Hell Aug 25, 2026 00:20:12 From playing Little House on the Prairie in a London garden to fishing for mullet in the Bay of Mont Saint-Michel… how exactly did that happen?In this rather more personal episode of France Made Simple, I tell the story of how a little girl growing up in Streatham, dreaming of ponies, vegetable gardens, chickens and a cottage in the countryside, eventually ended up living in rural France and, some
La Rentrée in France — What You Really Need to Know
La Rentrée in France — What You Really Need to Know Aug 18, 2026 00:28:04 If you’re moving to France with children, already living here, or simply trying to understand what happens when the long summer holidays finally come to an end… this episode is for you.In this 30-minute episode of France Made Simple, I’m taking a proper look at La Rentrée — how the French school year actually works, when children go back, what happens in those first few days, and all the things th
No Filter France: The Reality of Expat Life After 20 Years
No Filter France: The Reality of Expat Life After 20 Years Jul 28, 2026 00:34:12 This one’s a straight-up, no-filter Q&A. No polishing, no “France is perfect” fantasy, just me keeping it real!I’m answering your questions about what it’s actually like living here: financial woes, the weird social codes, the small-town dynamics, and the stuff people usually dodge because it’s awkward or not very Instagram friendly.I’m talking about the reality of certain expat pockets, the cliqu
What Moving to France Does to Your Mind: A Therapist’s View on Expat Life
What Moving to France Does to Your Mind: A Therapist’s View on Expat Life Jul 21, 2026 00:42:29 In this episode, I’m chatting with Julia a therapist who made the move to France three years ago—and hasn’t looked back, despite the inevitable challenges along the way…!This is a really honest insight into what it’s really like to rebuild both your life and career in a new country.Julia shares her personal journey of relocating to France including the realities of settling in, and how expectation
Moving to France? The Visa Mistakes That Get You Rejected
Moving to France? The Visa Mistakes That Get You Rejected Jul 15, 2026 00:41:09 Moving to France sounds straightforward—until your visa gets rejected!In this episode, I’m chatting to immigration guru (!), or immigration GP as he prefers to be known, Fabien from FAB FRENCH INSURANCE and we’re going through the most common mistakes that cause refusals, and more importantly, how to avoid them. From incomplete documentation to weak financial justification, small errors can have m
The Truth About Moving to France: Why Some People Thrive—and Others Want Out
The Truth About Moving to France: Why Some People Thrive—and Others Want Out Jul 7, 2026 00:30:33 Every year, people move to France looking for a better lifestyle.Some absolutely love it. Others quietly (or sometimes, not so quietly!) regret the decision.So what makes the difference?In this episode, I break down the 5 small (but critical) mistakes that can completely shape your experience of living in France—from finances and paperwork to language and choosing the right place to live.Because

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