The gap is closing between costs of glasses UK:France with advent of so many online retailers now. And of course in France now has 100% santé glasses which are cheaper than UK if not at all bothered about having flash glasses.
OH has them and last pair were €30 for monofocal lens. Very simple glasses but perfectly acceptable.
My frames are not “flash” but I do need the fancy lenses since I rely on being able to see to take photographs! And I spend a lot of time in front of a computer - working not just on SF! 
I’ve got fancy hoya all singing all dancing lenses in my specs and they cost me very little a couple of years ago (my frames were more but that’s because I’m frivolous).
I don’t. I’m with Santander.
I’ve just opened an account with FirstDirect - easy peasy via their app, I just had to upload a mugshot and a photo of my UK driving licence.
As some wise person pointed out (can’t find the post now) it’s good to have two UK accounts in case one of them decides to eject non-UK residents.
So I got the FD account as a backup to Nationwide.
This morning received three hard contact lenses (2L 1R) that I’d ordered from the US because they’re so expensive here. My order including $20 postage and €9 douane was still €80 less than the same make if bought in France.
It’s many years since I purchased any in the UK, but some people might find it useful to compare prices.
Just to say Thanks again - I was worried that the Internet + a mobile phone with data would cost an awful lot - but you’ve come in with monthly prices that’re less than I pay in England!
Great stuff.
Thanks again Jane for taking the time to respond.
Now - I’m not too sure which Top-Up mutuelle I’ll need (as I think you guys have taught me that they come in differing qualities/prices) - but I’ll worry about that later.
Money is such a worry!
Hi George1
Something spooky here in that pretty much everything you’ve one with your money - I’m thinking of doing.
I don’t suppose you’re a big cyclist and gardener - if so - we have a pattern!
I’ve had a chance to digest your messages now - and I did miss one very important bit.
One other factor. France has a special additional tax rate for very high incomes, and those taking lump sums need to bear this in mind… It’s the “contribution exceptionnelle sur les hauts revenus” and adds 3-4% on top of existing taxes for amounts in the 250-500k range.
Now because I’ll be selling a house and cashing in my pensions (exactly as you have described) and putting in my cash savings, there’ll be quite a large pot there albeit temporarily - all thereafter split out into 1 UK savings account + 2 Assurances vie (Nalo + Boursorama) + 1 house - does this mean that the 'contribution exceptionelle sure les hauts revenus" comes into force? I’m not too sure what it relates to. As such I’ll have next to no income (just a bit of interest from UK savings) - and will be living on money extracted from UK savings/Assurance vie as we need until the UK State Pension becomes payable?
Actually - might I also ask - can we have 2 x Assurance vie (I think the answer is yes as you mention two)? and do you know if we can buy pre-made (in the UK we’ve a risk rating on pensions) products? - all I’m after is either a Low or Medium risk Assurance Vie fund that I don’t need to worry about. I have no idea which funds to invest in after all!
Thanks again George1 - ps the only difference I’ve spotted between us is that I’m switching from CA-Britline to Boursorama so I don’t have to pay for a bank account / debit card / credit card … …
Thanks Karen, I think I’ve seen a video with Fabien in - he seems like a jolly nice chap,
Hey!
I use https://www.reglaze-glasses-direct.com/ and was just on the phone to them.
£40 to reglaze with standard 1.6 refractory index lenses and they ship to France.
They do all the usual and I’ve just discovered a no line bifocal which I guess I’ll replace my executive bifocals with some day! But then again, I’m a bit too cheap for that.
Thanks for the comment.
To any Brits moving to France - First Direct + Nationwide actually pay us to join them - and since these 2 banks are coming up in this thread regularly - sounds wise to be paid to open accounts that we can thereafter use in both countries.
I think it’s £175 per account that they pay.
I wonder whether there’re any people here who choose Poland, Turkey or Spain for opticians, dental and medical treatment … … the UK’s soooooo expensive for dental and private medical treatment that I’ve actually used France (paid full price) and still saved much money relative to England.
House prices, private dental and medical costs are unaffordable in the UK!
Both FD and NW pay us to open accounts with them - wonderful stuff.
Ooh I’ve been looking for a nonline bifocal. Is that from the reglazing people you mention?
Ooo haven’t thought of contact lenses for years.
Do you know if we can still get the soft ones that we clean, rather than daily throwaway ones?
40 years ago when I last had them there were Hard, Gas Permeable and Soft and the soft ones could last a year or two if we cleaned them (and didn’t lose them) … … but I think somebody’s told me that they’ve been phased out.
(Just a cost thing - they’re much cheaper, at least if you don’t lose them … … which I will!! )
Yes!!! they do all variations of
Distance - Intermediate - Near
… … and post to France
I’m getting Disance - Intermediate (for computer usage)
I was lucky enough to find an NHS dentist when I came back to the UK from the Caribbean in 2010.
But it’s much more difficult now.
Only if you do the official “switch accounts” thing which involves transferring your money and direct debits, paying in a set amount per month, and using their debit card x number of times. You don;t get the dosh just for opening the account, you have to go through the hassle of doing a switch twice and fulfilling all the conditions.
I am already with Nationwide so have just opened a First Direct account, bunged in £50 and left it at that.
You’re right - I’ve a few more months of cover with my company (BUPA) and so am forcing my dentist to fix anything that could go wrong over the next 20 years!
Sadly - the NHS has died.
(I’m a scientist and have worked in Departments of Medicine across 4 or 5 Universities - and I’ve watched it die - am helping to support the new movement of Disease Prevention - particularly how to age healthily to help resurrect it).