Via Europa: Using Cash in France

Robert Dupper
November 7, 2025

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Using Cash in France

with Vanessa Biard-Schaeffer

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When You Pay with Cash, You Get a Smile–and Most People Still Use Cash at Markets and Cafés

Weekly Solari Report

Using Cash in France

November 7, 2025

Solari Cash Substack author Breeauna Sagdal is joined by our Via Europa host Vanessa Biard-Schaeffer, who is also a real estate agent in France, to discuss the pervasive issues surrounding cash and digital IDs.


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3 Comments

  1. Many thanks. I live in Belgium and from what I gather cash is less used then in France. They have made it difficult because many cash withdrawel tech has been reduced significantly. I use cash and refuse to go to restaurants that only use digital money and also in ordering. Those horrors are popping up more and more and sadly very popular. The mean excuse is that the food tastes good!

  2. Fantastic interview. I haven’t seen a poor interview. The idea of needing an id for proof of person hood or proof of citizenship is relatively new and pushed out with commercial travel usage. Lets not take smart phones or id when we take walks. There is no reason for doing so.
    I found the shift to punitive policies against property owner interesting. The higher interest rate for a property that is deemed to be lower on schedule coupled with a high fine for a vacant property is very interesting. The data regarding ownership has always been available publicly but it is much faster to get access to.
    I’d be very interested in getting a farm report! Please do such an interview. It is a difficult time for farmers. It would be valuable information finding out how these farms are surviving under what regulation.

  3. When I was on vacation this summer in the US, I noticed a discount at many dining in restaurants for the use of cash which was great. I was at my cousin’s home in Tuscany in 2019. They did extensive renovations to a century plus old home up in the hills. The regulations were enormous. They blocked off an old stone fireplace to comply. Additionally, there was on going air surveillance with helicopters to verify that construction was according to approvals. I really enjoyed Vanessa’s explanation of the situation of older properties and how they are being viewed in France namely in Paris. Another example of a steal from the middle class who will be aging out and unable to renovate properties up to rental standard. A vacancy tax is being viewed in San Francisco as well. It seems property rights seem to be last on the list of concerns for individual property owners. Looking forward to more interviews with Vanessa!!

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