Have you ever spent an afternoon spread out on the grass by a lake, or driving down a long country road, and felt like you never wanted to leave? You can spend much more time in those peaceful environments if you move to a rural location. Rural living isn’t just for people with family farms who’ve lived in the area their whole lives. Anyone can do it, and it comes with a wide range of benefits, too.
To begin, your sense that life in the city is draining isn’t just your imagination. A recent study by the University of Queensland in Australia found that people who had regular access to nature had much better mental health and lower blood pressure than people who did not. Being away from the bustle and noise of the city promotes contemplation and relaxation; two things that are vital for a healthy lifestyle.
Further, if you have children, life in the country will give them much more freedom than what they could get in an urban center. Cities offer plenty of activities for adults, but children do not have the independence to take advantage of them. What they can do is explore the woods, play by the creek, build themselves a playhouse, and many other diversions that will entertain them and teach them a little about their own capabilities.
The move is also likely to be a good choice financially. The cost of living in rural areas can be obscenely low (housing, in particular, is much cheaper since land is not scarce), and there are many less-obvious opportunities to save. For example, assuming you have the access to land that goes hand-in-hand with living in rural spaces, you could start growing some of your own food, or tend chickens for their eggs and meat. You should make sure an ALTA land title survey is done before purchasing a home to figure out just how much land you are purchasing. You also won’t make as many impulse purchases of things like coffee, movie tickets, and clothes when you’re far from the places that sell them – and while it may seem like that won’t make much of a difference, it can easily add up to hundreds of dollars a month.
Rural life doesn’t necessarily mean sacrificing your income or career, either. Many jobs can be done by telecommuting these days, which will not only save you more money in reduced fuel and vehicle maintenance costs but also give you back the time you would normally spend commuting. It can be hard to get your boss to agree to an arrangement like this, but even if you can’t, you might consider taking the plunge to become a full-time online freelancer. Freelance income can be unpredictable, but if you don’t need much money to live on, it’s much easier to weather the lean times.
If all of this sounds good to you, don’t forget that on Zipmatch, you can buy a condo for sale anytime. Taking a quick look at the real estate on offer in rural areas on the site is a great way to see what’s available and start to make this great idea into your reality. If you find the idea even slightly appealing, check it out; it’ll show you that rural living is more attainable than you might think.