5 money habits every British and Irish expat in France should adopt

6 minutes read

Moving to France - whether full-time, part-time or somewhere in between - is a dream for many British and Irish people. Better food. Better weather. Better pace of life.

Until a few issues arise. Your UK IBAN? French companies won't touch it. Your UK bank? Three hours on hold trying to explain you have moved. That simple transfer? £25 please. Sound familiar? 

We've been there. Our team at CA Britline is made up of British and Irish expats who have navigated these same challenges. We have bought property here. Retired here. Paid French taxes. Dealt with French banks. And we have made a couple of mistakes, so you don't have to!

In this article, we share 5 money habits that we wish we had adapted sooner, which changed our financial lives in France from chaotic to completely sorted. If you are a British or Irish expat living in France, or planning to move to France, this is for you.

1) Open a French bank account within your first month

Trying to run your life in France from a UK or Irish bank account is like driving on the wrong side of the road - it works… until it doesn’t. Many expats arrive thinking that they will just keep using their UK or Irish account for now. They “will sort it later”. Don't be that person.

You cannot function properly in France without a French bank account. France is IBAN-centric. Salaries, insurances, tax payments, utilities: they all expect a French IBAN…

Russell's experience: “I waited three months. Thought my UK bank would suffice. Big mistake. Paid over £200 in transfer fees alone and my insurance company kept rejecting my payments. Opening a French account should be priority number one."

Action steps

Adopt a clean structure: 

1. Keep your UK account for any potential income, pensions and UK expenses.
2. Open a French account for your daily life, bills, taxes and property costs.

And this is where CA Britline comes in!

Since 1999, we have been helping UK and Irish citizens, expats and non-residents property owners in France to manage their finances smoothly across both countries. Our entire team of advisors speak English and most of them have lived in the UK and France.

• Apply online and only upload 4 documents: proofs of identity, proof of address and proof of fiscal status.
• Book a telephone appointment: no need to visit a Credit Agricole local branch.
• Speak with an English-speaking advisor who has been in your shoes.
• Get your French bank account and RIB immediately after the call.

And that's it! French bank account sorted from your couch. Simple and essential.

2) Track your spending in both currencies

Most expats maintain UK ties: Pensions, investments, property income etc. Your money lives in two countries now and your brain is still trying to figure that out. You will never understand your true financial position without tracking both currencies.

It's easy to overspend when you are mentally converting everything... Constantly calculating and never quite sure. You need visibility in both currencies to have a clear picture.

Chris's experience: “I was constantly confused. Thinking in pounds but spending in euros. Nothing made sense. I started using a simple spreadsheet tracking both currencies monthly. Sounds boring? It's been transformative! I now know exactly where my money goes and I can plan properly for the first time since moving here.”

Action steps

• Review your spending weekly for the first three months.
• Identify patterns - where are you overspending?
• Set realistic budgets for French vs UK expenses.

Knowledge is power. Financial knowledge? Even better.

3) Review and optimise your cross-border transfers

Regular transfers from the UK to France are simply part of expat life, whether it's pension payments, investment income, or moving savings across. The problem is that these seemingly simple transactions are quietly draining your finances if you're not doing them properly.

How you transfer money to France dramatically impacts your finances. High street banks? Extortionate fees and terrible exchange rates.

Many expats lose thousands annually through poor transfer choices. It's invisible money leaking from your accounts month after month…

Richard’s experience: "I was transferring my pension monthly through my UK bank. Seemed convenient. Then I calculated—losing nearly £1 200 annually in fees and poor exchange rates. Switched to a specialist service. Now use forward contracts when rates are favourable. That's an extra holiday every year. Just from being smarter about transfers."

Action steps

• Compare transfer services - don't just stick with your UK bank. Plot twist: CA Britline offers currency exchange solutions and expert tips. Who knew banking could be this convenient? 😉
• Consider forward contracts for regular transfers – it enables you to lock in an exchange rate for up to two years.
• Keep an eye on exchange rates and transfer strategically: Sign up for rate alerts with our currency exchange solution.
• Calculate the true cost: fees AND margin on the exchange rate.

4) Set up savings accounts in Euros

You've got savings in the UK but here's the thing: do not rush to transfer everything to France immediately!  Currency fluctuations can cost you thousands if you transfer your money at the wrong time. Exchange rates change daily and timing matters. Once you are set up in France, opening savings accounts will protect you from future exchange rate chaos.

Life in France can come with surprises and unexpected costs: Property maintenance, annual taxes, healthcare top-ups, new boiler or car repairs… 

Having Euro savings accounts mean that you are prepared. Not having to rush to transfer money from the UK at an unfavourable exchange rate when an emergency arises.

Sarah's experience: " Six months after moving, our septic tank failed. 9000€ to fix it. I panicked because all my savings were still in the UK. I just used my regular high street bank for the emergency transfer at a rubbish exchange rate and lost about £250 just on the poor rate - didn't even think to shop around for a better provider... That was my wake-up call. I found a competitive currency provider, transferred a proper chunk of my UK savings to France at a much better rate, and opened a French savings account.”

Action steps

• Before transferring your savings to France: find a competitive, secure and trustworthy currency provider and speak with a currency expert. The Britline International Payments Service can help you optimise your transfer, make it safe and ensure that you are not losing money unnecessarily.
• Transfer a sensible portion of your savings to France.
• Open a French instant savings account with your transferred funds.
• Set up automatic transfers from your French current account to continue building up your safety net (start with whatever you can afford - even 50€ monthly adds up!)
• Review and adjust quarterly based on your expenses. 

Your future self will thank you.

5) Understand French tax obligations early

French tax rules are complex. Especially for expats with income from multiple countries. Not understanding French tax obligations could end with expensive penalties and sleepless nights.

The French tax system is completely different from the UK: Property taxes, social charges, potentially wealth taxes you have never encountered… It's a minefield.

Katie's experience: “Nearly had a heart attack when my first “Taxe foncière” arrived. 1800€ that I hadn't budgeted for. Then came social charges on rental income, declarations I didn't understand… I wish I had consulted a bilingual accountant from the very first month. Now I budget monthly for annual tax bills, understand what I'm paying and why.”

Action steps 

• Consult a bilingual accountant within your first three months. 
• Find out about the tax agreements between the United Kingdom and France aimed at avoiding double taxation. 
• Register with French tax authorities immediately.
• Set aside 20-30% of any French income for taxes.
• Open a separate savings account for taxes.

Don't wait and sort this out early.

Conclusion 

These five habits are not complicated but they are transformative. Our team learned them the hard way with expensive mistakes, stressful situation and countless hours sorting financial messes that could have been avoided. You don't have to follow that path.

Start with 2 actions this week: Open that French account and set up automatic savings accounts. 
Each small step will build financial confidence and stability in your new French life.

Need help getting started? Our bilingual team understands exactly what you're going through: we've lived it ourselves. Request a call back with our expat banking specialists or call us on +33(0)2 31 55 67 89* to speak with someone who genuinely gets it.

* Local costs apply when phoning within France from a landline. Check with your service provider when calling from abroad.

First published: 27th February 2026
Image used is provided by Adobe Stock