Times are tough for most of us these days, so here are our top ten money saving tips for 2011.

We make no claim that these are revolutionary ideas, but neither do we think you need us to tell you that in order to save on your shopping bills you should shop at Lidl!

So here are some other ideas that do require you do some basic research and, most importantly, act on the outcome of that research.

i. Reduce Your Health Insurance Costs

Healthcare costs are increasing in France, but if you are on a modest income, then there are steps you can take to protect your budget.

Consider making an application to the CMU Protection Complémentaire (CMU–C) for free health insurance cover.

Access to the CMU-C is available to expats who either run a business, who have been in France at least 5 years, or whose ‘inactive’ status has previously been broken by a period of employment or self-employment.

You can read more at Free Health Insurance.

If you are not eligible for the CMU-C, and you hold a complementary ‘top-up’ health insurance policy, then you might be able to obtain assistance with your health insurance premiums.

This scheme of assistance is called L’aide complémentaire santé.

You can read more at Assistance with Top Up French Health Insurance.

You should also consider obtaining alternative quotes for your complementary health insurance, or reduce the level of cover in this policy.

One option would be to take out a ‘hospitalisation’ cover only policy, leaving you responsible for routine treatment costs.

You can read more at Does Voluntary Health Insurance in France Make Sense?

ii. Get Assistance with Your Heating Costs

There are schemes of assistance for electricity and gas heating costs, although the latter is far less generous, and is only available to those on mains gas.

You can read more at Assistance with Your French Electricity Bills.

iii. Change Your Bank

Consider whether it would be cheaper for you to change your bank, or at least change the type of account you run with the bank.

Many accounts that offer a package of services for a fixed fee are often more expensive than merely running a basic account.

So check if you are on one of the packages, and see if it would not simply be cheaper to run a current account without the baubles attached to it. It is quite possible to run an account free of charge, without any charges.

All banks are now required to show on their web site a list of ten basic services and the cost of these services, using common terminology. Accordingly, a comparison of charges has now been made far easier.

Most UK banks also run international bank accounts, but these accounts can often be more expensive to run than using a French bank. If you are using a bank outside of France simply for reasons of language, then you may be paying a heavy price for translation.

You can read more at Banks in France

iv. Apply for a School Grant

There are a number of school grants available for primary and secondary school children to assist with their education.

Although the grants are generally means tested, the income thresholds are quite generous.

You can read more at French School Education Grants

v. Use the Internet for Insurance

Be more adventurous in the selection of your car and house insurance policies by using the internet to obtain comparative quotes on-line.

We are frequently surprised at the number of English speaking expats who choose their insurer simply because they are able to converse in the English language. In many cases they are paying more than they would do so if they shopped around.

If language is a problem, then learn some of the keywords, and/or obtain assistance.

You can read more at House and Home Insurance in France.

vi. Get Assistance with Housing Costs

If you are undertaking renovation works, then a wide range of grants (through a tax credit) are available, albeit they have been reduced this year.

You can read more at Home Energy Conservation in France.

Similarly, there are also means-tested grants available for the more general renovation of property.

You can read more at Property Renovation in France.

vii. Change your Telecoms/Internet Provider

It is not easy to fathom the different offers that are available and whether you are eligible, but careful consideration of your internet provider and package can offer savings each month.

In particular, you need to find out if you are in an area where you can do VoIP without the need to pay a monthly fixed line rental.

Even if you still want the fixed line or dégroupage is not available, most of the main providers now offer a cheap internet only package, starting from around €15.

One cheap offer is from Orange, but other operators are now stepping up their game with commensurate or better offers.

viii. Change Your Business Status

If the turnover of your business is suffering during the present climate then consider opting for auto-entrepreneur fiscal status, where you are only charged social security contributions on the basis of turnover.

As you may be locked into your current legal and fiscal status for a minimum period, then consider closing the business, and opening afresh, or discuss your situation with your local Chambre de Commerce/Metiers.

You can read more at Micro-Entrepreneur Business in France.

ix. Minimum Income Support

If you are from within the EU and you have lived in France for at least five years, or you are in employment or run a business, then you are entitled to access the full range of social security benefits in the same manner as a French national.

There are a range of benefits that grant entitlement to a minimum income, whether in or outside of employment, most notably the Revenu de Solidarité Active (RSA). There are also specific benefits for the elderly, such as the Allocation de Solidarité aux Personnes Agées (ASPA).

In order to make application for RSA you need to contact your local Caisse d'allocations familiales (CAF), and for ASPA, you need to contact the Caisse nationale d'assurance vieillesse (CNAV).

x. Boost Your Income

It may be less a money saving tip, than a means of income generation, but if you have run out of all ways of saving money, then the only alternative may be to try and generate new cash.

If you have a large property with spare rooms, then one step might be to take in a lodger.

You can read more about the taxation of income from lodgers at Taxation of Property Rental Income in France.

Alternatively, consider hosting a French student wishing to learn English. There are numerous schemes around, or simply check your local French newspaper.

If your attic is full of household and personal items you no longer want, then go on e-bay and sell them, which may then lead you to be more adventurous and buy and sell on a regular basis.

Or maybe you are able to make an offer of personal services such as gardening, caretaking, or one of the ‘sittings’ – babies, school children, pets, or homes.

Alternatively, why not consider making a business out of a hobby or talent you have? For instance, teaching music, sports or other activity?

If you are still short of ideas of how you can make money, then join a local voluntary group and see what ideas emerge from simply engaging more in the local community.

If nothing else, more regular contact with your local community may be all you need to combat the stress of having to live frugally. You may be surprised to find just how many people are in the same position as yourself.