Living in a Rural Area: How to Cut Expenses

A lot of people have chosen to leave the city and move to rural areas and small communities. The problem is that they are use to the conveniences of the city. There are stores within blocks and gas stations on every corner. It takes some adjusting when you move to a rural area. You have to learn to budget trips and be organized at home.

Stocking Cabinets

It is never convenient to run out of something you need, but it is even less convenient when you live in a rural area and the closest store is 20 minutes away. Twenty minutes may not sound like a lot, but if you have to drive 20 minutes one way just to get a roll of toilet paper, or a gallon of milk it can get expensive and time consuming.

Some small rural communities do not have the luxury of having a grocery store or gas station. If they do, the small grocery or station is usually very expensive. Even if you tried to shop there to save the gas, it would still run into a sum of money.

Doing once or twice a month general stock up shopping will save time and money. Go to stores like Aldi's and Dollar General and by an ample supply of canned goods and household staples. Buy canned vegetables by the case and store them.

Invest in a small freezer and by meat in larger freezer bundles and continue to add to the freezer stock when you are already out of town and see a good sale. Most every rural home I know owns a freezer; some have several.

Cut Expenses by Planning Trips

Set a regular schedule for shopping trips or any thing else that will take you into a bigger town. If you have to go into the city for a doctors appointment, make a list of other things you need to do and of any food or staples you may be running low on. If you smoke, buy your cigarettes by the carton instead of by the pack.

If you work in a larger town, think about what you may need at home before you drive to the rural area, just to find out you have to drive back somewhere because you forgot there was no bread in the house.

Living in the city was convenient for running to the corner station for a soda or snack. Learn to buy soda in large quantities and keep some cold in the fridge. Purchase snacks in large quantities at the grocery store. Buy several bags of chips when you do your major shopping once or twice a month.

Cut Expenses by Letting Someone Else Get It

If someone in your household works in the city, call them and ask them to stop and bring something home that you need. If a friend from your area tells you they are going into town, ride with them, or ask them to pick something up for you. Just remember to return the favor when you drive in from a rural area.

If it is your first time living in a rural area, it will be an adjustment. You are going to run out of things and you will spend more time and gas money than you ever thought possible in the beginning.

You will eventually figure out how to manage living in a rural area and still keep your cabinets stocked. You'll even learn to just do without, instead of turning around and going back to the city. Welcome to rural living!

Source: I live in a rural area!