The French have really mastered the art of frugality. Here’s how they live so well, without breaking the bank. French Frugality Tips & Simple Coq Au Vin recipe.
Discover how you can enjoy a rich, fulfilling life in France without spending a fortune! In this video, I share practical tips on how French families live happily on modest incomes, often under €4,000 per month for a 2 parent family, while still enjoying great food, beautiful homes, holidays, and cultural experiences.
Learn the secrets of French frugality, including:
DIY home improvements and creative hacks to save money
Secondhand shopping and treasure hunting for unique finds
Growing your own vegetables, herbs, and more—even in small spaces
Smart grocery shopping and cooking from scratch to reduce waste
Taking advantage of France’s free cultural events, libraries, and public spaces
Affordable local travel, cycling, and enjoying the French countryside
How French social life emphasizes experiences, not materialism
The benefits of France’s healthcare and education system
Plus, stay tuned until the end for my quick and simple Coq au vin recipe, a traditional French dish made with chicken and red wine—perfect for a fuss-free, flavorful meal at home.
Whether you’re dreaming of living in France or just want to adopt some French lifestyle tips, this video shows how to live well on less and savor life’s simple pleasures.
Chapters:
00:00 Introduction
01:20 French DIY tips and hacks
02:29 No keeping up with the neighbours
02:31 Growing your own food
02:53 Buying things second hand
03:37 Enjoying the free culture around you
03:54 Food shopping like the French and meal planning
05:10 Cycling whenever possible
05:39 Holidaying in France
06:11 How French houses consume less energy
06:30 The French social life
06:40 Why the French don’t need to earn a big salary
07:59 Coq Au Vin – easy recipe
Coq au Vin Ingredients:
4 chicken thighs (or a mix of thighs and drumsticks)
Salt and pepper, to taste
2 tbsp olive oil
Two tbsp tomato puree.
4 slices of bacon, chopped
1 medium onion, chopped
2 garlic cloves, minced
2 carrots, sliced
200g (7 oz) mushrooms, sliced
500 ml (2 cups) red wine (Burgundy or Pinot Noir preferred)
250 ml (1 cup) chicken stock
1 tsp thyme (dried or fresh)
#frenchfrugality #savingmoney #livewellforless
Reading List:
These are some books I have read and really enjoyed, about life in France, the French and creativity. They are affiliate links which means if you purchase via this link, I will get a small commission at no extra fee for you. Thank you for helping support this channel!
The Bonjour Effect: The Secret Codes of French Conversation Revealed
https://amzn.to/3HyJ6Yb
The Culture Map
https://amzn.to/45ktWPl
Big Magic: Creative Living Beyond Fear
https://amzn.to/45jW2u6
1000 Years of Annoying the French
https://amzn.to/3HynGue
Chez Nous: An easy guide for preparing to move or retire to France and the things to consider when planning to move abroad.
https://amzn.to/47xTiKY
A New Life in France: A Guide to Relocating from the US
https://amzn.to/4oDSzxZ
If you want to learn French with a 1 on 1 tutor, I highly recommend iTalki.
Here is my affiliate link to iTalki, : https://www.italki.com/affshare?ref=a…
If you would like to view my available art, it’s here: www.jdyachtpaintings.com
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31 Comments
If you enjoyed this video, you'll love this one too: How French Are You? https://youtu.be/baQdAOIcloM
If you're planning a move to France, make sure you start learning French as soon as possible! Click this link for your 15 Essential French Phrases PDF: subscribepage.io/Livingwellinfrance1
I employ many of these ideas at home in the United States. Shopping in thrift, antique, and consignment stores are my first choices for most needed items. Shopping regularly for fresh produce is a must for my family as we eat a mostly plant based diet. We also garden and preserve to meet our yearly food needs. Sadly, medical and university costs are a different story…
I love watching videos from foreigners who love France, it makes me feel (even more) like I'm living in an exceptional country.
All delicious!
American here. I do same, shopping twice a week for planned meals. We eat at home every day, and I'm the chef, haha.
Lovely 🌹 French vine, French kiss, We learn growing up about French Romance in Province. The French Reveria. Saint Patrick's symbol of the Shamrock ☘️☘️☘️💍 God is a Family. The prise of food is going up. We need to learn to cook, bake, a 🍰🎂 You have pan 🥘 are à pain. Slán.
I once visited a French girl.
She asked me if I wanted to go to the park ? I said sure.
We sat with her friends from
8am till 9pm and just talked.
I was shocked.
costs are heavily subsidized from the pilaging of Africa. Jacques Chraq said it himself – France would have been a tird world country if it was not for Africa…TELL THE WHOLE STORY AND STOP ROMANTICIZING!
This is so awesome, thanks 4 sharing!!!❤❤❤
Another thing. They don't buy bath soap, bathing is rare.
Brits usually go out to eat Fish'n Chips🥘🐟 And (Asian) Curry! Then , hit the Pubs ! Cheers 🍻mate!
I have a lot of the same habits, some from my French friends. But there is something lacking here. You have no money left over for self development or travel.
People in poor countries have to be frugal. Look at the people of Yemen. You would be astonished.
Social attitudes make such difference in what is valued, or acceptable.
My grandma used to cook like that, where everything is just boiled into a mush.
How do you say there’s no black folks around without saying there’s no black folks around.
平等，沒有特權階層，每個人的付出都得到尊重，有人喜歡有人不喜歡，但我覺得這是整個歐洲的大致情況。中國建國之初也保有這樣的幻想，但財富堆積，幻想破滅。
比如你說的話不符合大一統，那麼會被刪帖，再而就會判處9年徒刑，甚至死刑前被割喉，因為你的反抗和吶喊讓人害怕。
Agree & very nice. However at the same time let's think – the media being used to share this information was created by an American company. Similarly many other features of modern life, iPhone, Android Phone, Electric Car (Tesla was the pioneer), Office software from Microsoft, Google Maps, your Laptop, Chrome browser, Social Media, etc. etc. comes from a society which equally values hard work, innovation and the belief, if you work hard you will be rewarded. You will have the good life. So which is better? It's a difficult question.
This is the COMPLETE opposite of the American life, and you wonder why people call it ‘the American dream.’
Being frugal themselves and being known worldwide for high value luxury items like designer clothings, fashion accessories, wines, perfumes sounds bit odd isn't it?
My husband and I adore France, its culture and way of life! We are an older gay couple, and would love to spend our remaining years together where we can be ourselves and enjoy everything France has to offer. I was surprised to learn how you don’t need to be wealthy, since we’re on a somewhat limited income. Your video gave me hope and the incentive to do more research to help make the dream come true.
H perhaps because they aren't spending that 2000 euros on healthcare, education, etc.
They also love small, thrifty cars. Not the giant obnoxious trucks we have in Canada.
I love French frugality, but is 2k still enough in 2025? Maybe adjust 500 upwards?
2k euros???? That's expensive 😂😂😂
I think every country in Europe has free education from pre school to university , as well as free healthcare
Living off 2000 euros per month is not really living on less. In central Europe we live off 950-1300 euros net and groceries are more expensive here than in France. I was really shocked when I saw the prices in Carrefour when I was in France 2 years ago. If Ryanair had the same prices they did in 2008, when plane tickets were around 10 euro for a round trip, I would be regularly flying to France to do my grocery shopping 🤣
Sur la Côte d'Azur, les oligarques russes embauchent des réfugiés ukrainiens pour travailler dans leurs villas, sans rédiger de contrats ni payer de cotisations sociales. Mais personne ne contrôle cela. Les Russes peuvent tuer des Ukrainiens en Ukraine sans payer d'impôts en France.
As an Italian heritage woman born in Australia, I think this is not only how the French live I think it’s a European mentality.
I live like this here in Australia. It’s all about family and gatherings inside the home. Cooking from scratch and just being conscious of how you live and how you run a home. I will never meet up at a shopping centre or buy a coffee at a cafe.
I am so happy that you are enjoying French life – I worked in Paris on and off for a year and truly enjoyed it. What you are describing here though is no different to where I have lived in Wales and England.