Comments on: Five Cost-Saving Reasons To Live In The Country http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/04/07/five-cost-saving-reasons-to-live-in-the-country/ Financial talk for the rest of us Sat, 16 Feb 2013 01:14:45 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.5.1 By: Canadian http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/04/07/five-cost-saving-reasons-to-live-in-the-country/#comment-17434 Canadian Wed, 11 Apr 2007 14:32:38 +0000 http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/04/07/five-cost-saving-reasons-to-live-in-the-country/#comment-17434 Maybe you could also do a post on the cost-saving reasons to live in the city.

My suggestions:

1) Living in a city means access to public transportation, which can reduce or even eliminate the need for a car. Very big savings here!

2) Access to many cheap/free sources of entertainment: free concerts in the park, festivals, half-price/free evenings at the museum, student performances at local universities, bike paths, public parks, possiblility of taking a walk in one’s own neighbourhood, etc.

3) Probably greater earning potential, which is great if you can keep expenses down.

4) Access to many different sources for inexpensive goods, such as ethnic grocery stores, warehouse/discount stores, many different thrift stores, etc.

5) A city usually has greater diversity among its residents. There are people of different backgrounds who live very different lives and make vastly different lifestyle choices. This means that you don’t have to worry about “fitting in” as much. You will be able to find people who support your choices and who even live like you. This is great for socializing and for starting more formal groups if you wish, but also just for not feeling so much that you have to conform.

]]> By: Kevin http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/04/07/five-cost-saving-reasons-to-live-in-the-country/#comment-17173 Kevin Tue, 10 Apr 2007 20:05:30 +0000 http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/04/07/five-cost-saving-reasons-to-live-in-the-country/#comment-17173 It’s definitely a set of trade-offs depending on what you need. Personally, I prefer the city: mass transit, pedestrian-friendly, a large number of good jobs without need to relocate, little or no need to own and maintain an automobile, etc.

Environmentally, New Yorkers have one of the lowest environmental impacts per person in the world: each occupies very little land and generates very little trash thanks to the costs of disposal. Of course, the Big Apple could learn a bit about mass transit from London’s Tube (which is amazing).

]]> By: Mikhela http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/04/07/five-cost-saving-reasons-to-live-in-the-country/#comment-16588 Mikhela Sun, 08 Apr 2007 19:51:51 +0000 http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/04/07/five-cost-saving-reasons-to-live-in-the-country/#comment-16588 Three big drawbacks about living in the country (I’ve just reluctantly moved back the the city):
1. $160 a month on petrol in the country, and at least an hour a day driving, instead of $40 and ten minutes; 2. instead of paths through parkland the only places to walk are along the side of winding country roads, leading to much anxiety about the dog whenever a car speeds by leading to much less exercise; 3. No interesting well paid jobs.

]]> By: AndyR http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/04/07/five-cost-saving-reasons-to-live-in-the-country/#comment-16581 AndyR Sun, 08 Apr 2007 18:54:20 +0000 http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/04/07/five-cost-saving-reasons-to-live-in-the-country/#comment-16581 Seems that country living is rapidly falling to the annexation of ever greater areas bordering metros with developer-backed zoning commissions levying punitive taxes that drive farmers and other larger landowners to sell or subdivide their property (which is exactly what the developers want).

]]> By: Kim Siever http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/04/07/five-cost-saving-reasons-to-live-in-the-country/#comment-16435 Kim Siever Sat, 07 Apr 2007 22:40:58 +0000 http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/04/07/five-cost-saving-reasons-to-live-in-the-country/#comment-16435 Unfortunately, living in the country would increase my commute time and fuel costs.

]]> By: Bill http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/04/07/five-cost-saving-reasons-to-live-in-the-country/#comment-16432 Bill Sat, 07 Apr 2007 21:57:17 +0000 http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/04/07/five-cost-saving-reasons-to-live-in-the-country/#comment-16432 You can do much of the same “in the city.”

My in-laws have a small ranch house on a 1/3 acre lot just inside the city limits (with no restrictive covenants)

They also have well water (for drinking/cooking) but have county water as well (for gardening/landscaping)

The wood stove insert in their basement can heat the entire house (with natural gas now available I’ve offered to buy a whole-house generator for them, but they don’t see the need)

They have blueberries along the fence (toss some netting over them so the birds don’t eat too many)

Their backyard garden can’t be over 1/8 of an acre, but from it they (and we) get pumpkins, squash, cukes, beans, corn, carrots, tomatoes, lettuce (coldframes on the ground made from old windows), and I’ve already mentioned the blueberries. :)

We store that abundance of free food in our chest freezer ($25 at a garage sale).

]]> By: Zachary http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/04/07/five-cost-saving-reasons-to-live-in-the-country/#comment-16428 Zachary Sat, 07 Apr 2007 21:08:55 +0000 http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/04/07/five-cost-saving-reasons-to-live-in-the-country/#comment-16428 Living the country would also save my sanity a great deal of hardship. I detest city living.

]]> By: Getzly http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/04/07/five-cost-saving-reasons-to-live-in-the-country/#comment-16407 Getzly Sat, 07 Apr 2007 19:01:09 +0000 http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/04/07/five-cost-saving-reasons-to-live-in-the-country/#comment-16407 Not to mention any of the long-term savings, like the healthcare costs you’ll save from not having to breathe this: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/7c/Los_Angeles_Pollution.jpg/800px-Los_Angeles_Pollution.jpg

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