<\/a>Apart from the fact that country dwellers are much happier than their city counterparts it turns out they are much better off too. There are no doubts that living in the country can positively affect your mental and physical health for the better, but your wallet too?<\/p>\n

Living for Less<\/p>\n

There are the obvious reasons the country saves you money, houses cost less for a start and although that may mean travelling expenses are increased, they\u2019re also offset by the quality of life and other ways that living in the country can be good for your pocket.<\/p>\n

Reduced rent and house prices can save you so much money, whether you\u2019re just moving an hour out of the city, settling in so-called \u201cMini London\u201d like Bath or going fully rural the costs of living in the country are considerably smaller than those in the city. Council tax too is less in rural areas but money saving isn\u2019t limited to government-centric costs.<\/p>\n

Saving on Fuel<\/p>\n

Savings can be found in the country in the most unexpected areas. Living near a copse means picking up fallen fuel for wood burning stoves, some places will offer offcuts for free just for the purpose of clearing it out, another good tip is to look out for overhead cables as this means the council will occasionally pop round to clear the area, more free fuel! The savings continue as using a wood burning stove for just 2 days week makes a saving of 10% a year.<\/p>\n

Grow your Own<\/p>\n

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Savings on groceries are easy, you can grow your own fruit and veg, swap produce with neighbours, keep chickens (For \u00a33 you can adopt a battery hen and give them a great life in exchange for eggs (there are tips and advice on this available on the internet.) Even just buying eggs from farms locally will work out cheaper, and the products tend to be fresher and more flavourful than you would get from your standard supermarket. If you\u2019re dedicated enough, foraging is also a great way of building reserves. I personally spent many a lot of time gathering local brambles and assorted fruits, for jams and desserts as well as gathering wild garlic which was everywhere in the Scottish Borders and who doesn\u2019t like Sloe Gin?<\/p>\n

No Distractions<\/p>\n

Without the endless chain stores of coffee shops and distracting fast food places, there\u2019s a good chance you will be saving money, probably by relying on home cooking and baking. According to a report, people who live in the countryside tend to have more savings than their urban counterparts, could this be the reason why?<\/p>\n

No Kidding<\/p>\n

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Activities for the kids in the countryside will cost a lot less, simply because there are more things to explore and do for free. Long walks, outdoor activities and exploring or teaching your new fishing buddy the basics of catching trout, all come with an extra bonus, as they\u2019re sure to tire the kids out! How can you complain about more time spent outside and less time in front of a games console?<\/p>\n

Healthy Balance<\/p>\n

It could even be argued that the health benefits of living in the country could also mean savings on pharmaceuticals. However, that could possibly work out as a cost, as country dwellers live on average two years longer than people in more urban areas<\/p>\n

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Taking the dive into country life doesn\u2019t have to be completely aspirational, but could be construed as just a simple act of common sense. With so many ways to save money, I would call it a sound investment.<\/p>\n

by\u00a0Stephanie Hall www.myfavouritevouchercodes.co.uk<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Apart from the fact that country dwellers are much happier than their city counterparts it turns out they are much better off too. There are no doubts that living in the country can positively affect your mental and physical health<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":549,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[87,90,89],"tags":[],"yoast_head":"\n