advantages&disadvantages of countryside living

johnny1234 said:

We came from living in the city to living in the country (wife originally country girl) and the living is brilliant, easy and far more secure. More importantly it is much more cost effective to live in the country.

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Is it really more cost effective on a day to day basis to live in the country?

I was going to post and ask about this as everything has to be done in a car so the cost of running a car would be much higher (more than likely you would need more then one car possibly more if you have kids living at home of a driving age).

Shops in rural areas charge a premium over their large town/city counterparts and obviously choice is limited as to shopping around for competitive prices.

These are just a couple of things that immediately spring to mind so would be interested in knowing what is the opposite view and makes country living more cost effective for daily living

I think it depends how "country" you are going...I grew up in North County Dublin in a rural area, 2 miles to the nearest shop, pub etc. However, big towns were only 10 mins drive away and Dublin city 16 miles. We had plenty of friends within half a mile radius so I guess its the best of both worlds.

My sisters both still live there, unfortunately there was no more land for me to build! But given half the chance, I'd move back out there in a second.

webbs said:

Is it really more cost effective on a day to day basis to live in the country?

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Well in fairness the poster didn't explicitly claim "on a day to day basis".

Maybe he means house prices/eating out - things like that. They are certainly cheaper anyway.

Anyway, hairdressers, pubs, mechanics, clothes shops...all cheaper IME.

Hi,

You have a fair few answers speedy and also have had replies from people who grew up in the country having moved from cities. To be honest 10 miles outside a city is not that far of a move to what you call "country" - it mighnt be that big of a deal after all"

Angela59

Caveat said:

Well in fairness the poster didn't explicitly claim "on a day to day basis".

Maybe he means house prices/eating out - things like that. They are certainly cheaper anyway.

Anyway, hairdressers, pubs, mechanics, clothes shops...all cheaper IME.

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Agree I did hijack their comments a bit just was interested to see what people thought about price differential.
Just to reply to your final line, is it possible that you may pay a little less but get a limited choice for eg the hairdresser if you are not satisfied then you are limited in where to go for an alternative (if you are a man then this wont really apply to us so much ;-) )
I also would disagree with you about mechanics and clothes shops if you shop around in a city there are better deals to be done.

I was brought up in the countryside admittedly not in Ireland and am not sure if I could live in an isolated rural setting, as anther poster said growing up especially once you hit 10+ is hard work and am sure it was a real pain for my folks ferrying us everywhere and this from a couple of decades ago when there was far less nervousness about kids out on roads etc. As for later teens I seemed to spend an awful lot of time in parents cars or waiting for a bus going to and from the nearest large town/city as it was beyond boring for a teenager in the countryside.

I guess am being a little of a devils advocate here as am pointing out the negatives which were more pronounced than the positives which am sure my parents would have noticed more

We have been in the country for the past 2 years having previously been living in Dublin and a large town. Live within 7 miles of a 3000 odd pop. town.

Mrs Caveat will certainly tell you that her (now rural) local hairdresser does a far better job than her previous urban equivalent - and a lot cheaper.

Clothes shops? maybe you're right about the choice but I'm a reasonably trendy ( ) 30 something and am not frustrated by lack of options etc.

Small local town finds it hard to shift some of the more expensive shirts/T shirts sometimes and consequently they are slashed. But put it this way - you'd probably find it hard to get a 'man bag' or the very latest MBTs or something.

Mechanic - well maybe it's just my experience but my rural mechanic is about 20% cheaper than his urban counterpart - and 200% more trustworthy I have to say.

Anyway, suffice to say that I would never move back to a large town or city again. Peace and quiet, space, less crime, pace of life and generally nicer people are my main reasons.

Our nearest shop/pub is about 5 miles away - doesn't bother me as I rarely go out and I shop in the town I work in anyway - 15 mile commute from my home.

Spent years 1-10 in the city, 10 -21 in the country and from 21 till now (34) in the city again, I think a NICE house in the city is the job. Something in a dodgy area in the city or something too small with little/no garden would be a lot worse than a reasonable commute with space. However, if you can nab something decent in the city in this market then that would be my preferred choice.

Some posters have mentioned the relative security about living in the country - not sure I agree with this - if your house is on an isolated spot it is pretty easy for burgulars etc. Also, in the long-term (i.e. when you're old) you would be glad of a city house with a bus-route / post office / hospital etc.

Also, to add, IMO it will always be easier to sell a house in the city, should you want to move to the country, than vice-versa.

Firefly said:

Also, to add, IMO it will always be easier to sell a house in the city, should you want to move to the country, than vice-versa.

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Yes, I'd probably agree with this anyway.

Hi,

I'd agree with caveat and previous poster regrading selling a house in the country versus city - selling a one off country house is a bit more specialised and not to everyone's liking - selling in a city there is probably more demand for your house.

Angela59

speedy said:

here's my list, please add to either side

disadvantages:
1. no bigger shops closeby like tescos
2. as children grow up we'll be in the car continuously bringing them to activities in the city. This is so true, and the kids will want to be driving at 17, scary.
3. children will have to get bus to secondary schools.
4. very few children closeby to play with. Thats a major consideration if you are in anestate now. i grew up on the outskirts if a town and I always envied kids in estates with so many friends to play with.
5. smell of slurry (one of my husband's reasons).


advantages:
1. more of a sense of community. Not always. some rural communities can be anti blow ins
2. more space and quietness. I live in a giant estate and its really quiet.
3. no worry of who is going to rent next door to our semi detached house. Possibly trade up to a detached?
4. smaller primary school

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I'd buy a bigger house in a better estate in town. I think kids have it very very hard in the countryside because they have no one to play with without mom driving them. When they are teenagers they have less freedom too, there are generally no buses etc. I have seen lots of teenagers driving drunk in cars because there is no other way to socialize. In the city there are taxis and night buses.

I think there is great value in older houses which need some work now. Not everyone will buy them as they can't get the money to do them up, they are often being sold because the owner has died and the kids need to sell so they might take a lower price.
Look in the older settled estates and keep a few bob for doing the place up.

i can't thank you all enough for all the replies. they're so detailed and full of thought. the renting was something we had thought of and its probably a good way to go.

what i'm most scared of is selling our house, moving and then realising that it's not for us. as i said my memories of childhood are amazing but ireland is such a different place now and there's no way i'd allow my daughter go off for the whole day they way we did years ago.

thanks again

Any chance you could keep your city house and rent in the country on a trial basis?

there isn't anything to rent out in the area at the moment.but i actually made some enquiries and put up a sign yesterday in the little shop, so we might get lucky.

Hope so, good luck!

speedy, you haven't stated where you intend to move to, but I find it strange in these times that you are unable to find a place to rent.

Really interest thread that I stumbled upon, especially andaras and alana posts.

My input may not be much help but....no personal experience but two closely related ones. One is a couple who moved back to country after kids left, they had both been from country as kids. they sold their old house in Dublin, and bought in countryside. They moved back to Dublin within 2 years, a very expensive test.

Another couple, early 30's, no kids, recently married. Husband likes the outdoor life, fishing, watersports etc. They moved, he transferred his job, she worked remotely from home. She is now feeling very isolated, they now have kids. And there is no way bac - they sold up in Dublin and bought in the country, cant afford to move. One now redundant with no job market close by.

If you take anything from this thread listen to Firefly's advice - rent before you buy. there's no reason why not to. Reasons like you're not committing to it etc hold no water IMO, if you like it you'll make it more permanent, if you dont you can reverse the decision with ease and limited cost. Good luck whatever you chose.

johnny1234, if you could see the size of this village you'd understand. the local shop has a bar on one wall and groceries on the other wall and a nutter working as barwoman/shop assistant.

speedy said:

johnny1234, if you could see the size of this village you'd understand. the local shop has a bar on one wall and groceries on the other wall and a nutter working as barwoman/shop assistant.

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And you want to move there??
Why this village in particular?