Money Talk at the Kitchen Table in France
The everyday French expressions couples use when the bills pile up, the account is overdrawn and every euro counts.
French people talk about money with plenty of colourful expressions: you struggle to joindre les deux bouts, something costs les yeux de la tête, and a cheap find is donné. Many couples share a compte joint for rent, electricity and groceries, and keep savings in a Livret A, the tax-free state-regulated savings account. Going à découvert (overdrawn) beyond the limit your bank allows means fees, so the end of the month is when budgets get tight and shoppers turn to supermarket own brands.
- 1
Ce mois-ci, on a du mal à joindre les deux bouts.
This month we're struggling to make ends meet.
- 2
On va devoir se serrer la ceinture.
We're going to have to tighten our belts.
- 3
La facture d'électricité coûte les yeux de la tête.
The electricity bill costs an arm and a leg.
- 4
C'est de l'arnaque !
What a rip-off!
- 5
C'est donné.
It's dirt cheap.
- 6
C'est une vraie bonne affaire.
That's a real bargain.
- 7
Je suis fauché.
I'm broke.
- 8
On est à découvert.
We're overdrawn.
- 9
Faut faire gaffe aux dépenses.
We need to watch our spending.
- 10
Les marques distributeur, c'est tout aussi bon.
Supermarket own brands are just as good.
- 11
On compare les prix d'abord.
Let's compare prices first.
- 12
Ça revient moins cher chez Lidl.
It works out cheaper at Lidl.
- 13
Ça vaut pas le coup.
It's not worth it.
- 14
On va mettre un peu de côté chaque mois.
We'll put a bit aside every month.
- 15
Ça coûte trois fois rien.
It costs next to nothing.
- 16
L'argent ne tombe pas du ciel.
Money doesn't grow on trees.
- 17
On a fait une folie au resto.
We splashed out at the restaurant.
- 18
On a explosé le budget.
We blew the budget.
- 19
On va devoir taper dans nos économies.
We'll have to dip into our savings.
- 20
Les petits ruisseaux font les grandes rivières.
Every little helps.