My Best Money Life

29/05/2026

While a lot of Americans keep their USA credit cards in France, those that don't ask me how they can earn points and miles in France like they did in the United States.

In France; Visa and Mastercard have much lower fees for merchants than in the United States which is why French visa and mastercard credit cards do not earn miles or points in France.

American Express offers point earning cards with 0.4% cashback or 1 mile per € on Air France / KLM in France. While not as good as American credit cards, it is better than 0% which other cards in France earn.

Unfortunately American Express isn't as widely accepted as Visa and Mastercard, I have still found it useful.

If you are interested in an American Express France card, you can find my referral link here:

https://americanexpress.com/fr-fr/referral/green?ref=tIMOtDqukY&XLINK=MYCP

The link is for the Green Card, but if you click on Voir Toutes les Cartes you will see all the American Express cards on offer.

The Green card has a 10,000 bonus point offer (40€) after spending 500€ and no annual fee for the first year.

The Blue Card has no annual fee.

The Air France - KLM Gold Card has 25,000 bonus miles after spending 2000€ and no annual fee for the first year.

I wrote a longer article on American Express cards here: https://www.mybestmoneylife.com/american-express-green-card-france-one-of-the-only-cards-to-earn-cashback-and-points-in-france-first-year-free-10000-points-40euro-after-500euro-spend

If you have any questions on American Express Cards in France feel free to reach out via DM.

I personally have the green card as I signed-up for the 10,000 point bonus, but will likely move to a no annual fee card after the first year.

En tant qu'ami d'un client American Express, bénéficiez de la meilleure offre de bienvenue. En savoir plus...

28/05/2026

The France vs United States salary debate is never as simple as the paycheck.

After moving from the U.S. to France, I learned the real difference is in the benefits, protections, and quality of life that don’t show up on a payslip.

If you’ve ever wondered whether a lower French salary can still mean a better financial life, this breakdown will surprise you.

Read the full comparison 👇

https://www.mybestmoneylife.com/france-vs-united-states-salaries-and-benefits-a-true-comparison-based-on-my-personal-experience

I took a 40% pay cut moving from Texas to France in 2007 but gained more vacation, lower living costs, strong employer benefits, and greater life satisfaction. Learn what to weigh when evaluating a French job offer.

27/05/2026

🇫🇷 iGraal France Cashback has their Biggest Sign‑Up Bonus in History!


Through May 30th, iGraal is offering an exceptional 20€ bonus after spending just 20€ in the first 90 days via my referral link to celebrate their 20th anniversary.

👉 You can sign-up via my referral link here:
https://fr.igraal.com/parrainage?parrain=AG_68812298153b2&utm_medium=raf&utm_source=refer_friend

iGraal is my favorite cashback site in France. Today, for example, they’re offering 80% cashback on NordVPN and they offer 10% cashback on Hotels.com at least once a month

Don’t miss this chance to earn an easy 20€ and stack cashback all year long.

If you have questions about cashback in France, feel free to DM me

25/05/2026

Hi All,

I just saw that one of the portable air conditioners I recommended last week is on sale at Amazon France today so thought I would share given the heat wave we are currently experiencing in France: 245 euros for 9000 BTU Unit delivered

https://amzn.to/4e2LSSK

Achat et vente en ligne parmi des millions de produits en stock. Livraison gratuite à partir de 25€. Vos articles à petits prix : culture, high-tech, mode, jouets, sport, maison et bien plus !

25/05/2026

With the increase in the French minimum wage on June 1st, you will now require minimum financial resources of 1,478 euros per months per person with a recommended minimum of 1,867 euros per person per month in order to obtain a Long-Stay Visitor Visa.

As a result, I have updated these new threshold in my moving to France guide here:

https://www.mybestmoneylife.com/guide-moving-to-france-2026

If you have any recommendations for additional sections to the guide, please let me know in the comments.

Planning on moving to France? This comprehensive guide offers practical steps for renting an apartment, buying a car, setting up a bank account, and selecting the best internet, mobile, and electricity providers to ensure a seamless transition.

25/05/2026

Happy Memorial Day in the United States and Happy Lundi de Pentecôte in France.

Sharing a picture from the American Cemetery in Normandie.

23/05/2026

Hundreds of kids playing baseball…

This isn’t Texas or Wisconsin; but a baseball tournament in a small town in Brittany France with baseball teams of all age levels coming from all over the region…

23/05/2026

Just wanted to share that TotalEnergies is still capping the price of unleaded fuel in France at 1.99 euros.

If you go; I recommend buying the SP98 which is the same price and will give you slightly better gas mileage

22/05/2026

Hi everyone,

Would there be interest in a live Webinar with Feather Insurance to explain Visa‑Compliant Health Insurance in France and answer your questions?

I recently wrote a comparison of the top two visa‑compliant providers : Feather and Mondassur : including pricing, coverage, and which situations each one fits best.

You can read the comparison here:
https://www.mybestmoneylife.com/france-visa-compliant-health-insurance

I also have an exclusive Feather promo code for €15 off, which I can share via DM.

If you’d like me to organize a Webinar with Feather, just let me know in the comments.
If enough people are interested, I’ll reach out to Feather and set it up!

Compare France visa health insurance options for long-stay visas (VLS-TS). Learn €30,000 coverage rules, repatriation requirements, CPAM timeline, and choose between Mondassur or Feather. Save €15 with exclusive Feather Promo Code.

21/05/2026

Sharing some pictures from Brittany (Bretagne) near Perros-Guirec

21/05/2026

With the expected heatwave early next week, I just wanted to share that last year we bought a portable A/C unit for our bedroom and it was a lifesaver during the August heatwave. These items tend to get low on stock once the heatwave hits.

Here is the unit we bought for 299€:

https://amzn.to/43k9YSV

We thought about this unit but it wasn't in stock at the time and is more expensive, but quieter:

https://amzn.to/4v07vJ1

You can find all the different models of Portable AC units here:

https://amzn.to/4nGv1Z7

Curious what others experiences are? I have always found this to be a life-saver when the heatwave comes.

Refroidissement puissant: grâce à son compresseur à haute efficacité, cet appareil offre un refroidissement rapide pour votre habitat, bureau ou garage tout en limitant la consommation d'électricité. Optimal pour une pièce de 80m³ (31㎡)