There’s something deeply appealing about rustic living. It’s the promise of cozy interiors and rugged exteriors with no stress of the modern lifestyle. As a result, most of us are attracted to farmhouse, country or log cabin decor, imagining ourselves surrounded by serene woods, our home nestled lakeside, all year long. It feels like a much needed respite from the busy and anxiety-driven urban landscape many of us know. ​
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But there’s more to rustic living than just peace of mind. Living a rustic lifestyle can save you money, so long as you know where to start. Embracing a minimalist home requires you to transform your lifestyle to make it work, but it's a great way to get your household budget under control, too.

​Here is how living a rustic lifestyle could benefit you.

Live A Rustic Lifestyle And Save Money At Home

Use Your Fireplace To Cut Down On Heating Costs​

Can there be a proper rustic winter without a fire? If the romantic image of gathering 'round the fire on a chilly winter's night appeals to you---but chopping wood, stoking a fire and cleaning a chimney vent does not--why not convert your fireplace with vent-free gas logs instead?

Gas logs require less maintenance than traditional fireplaces, eliminating ash and debris and the need to clean the chimney every few years.  Additionally, gas logs are so much safer than traditional wood: real wood logs can create dangerous  sparks and creosote buildup in your chimney, but gas logs produce a much tamer flame and emit less matter into the air when lit. 

For less than the cost of burning wood, gas logs will radiate heat for hours after the gas has been turned off, making it much more efficient than a wood-burning fireplace.  Highly efficient gas fireplaces can heat roughly 1,000 - 1,400 square feet of living space at low cost, too.  Imagine heating your entire first floor with just a click of a remote control?

Do It Yourself​
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A rustic lifestyle embraces the do it yourself mindset. That means cooking from scratch, making your own clothes, growing your own fruits, vegetables and herbs and, if you're really skilled, turning reclaimed wood into a beautiful pieces of handcrafted furniture.  (This man saved $5,000 by building his own furniture!)

If you're not artistic, creative or skilled, no worries.  You can still get back to basics in other ways, like:

• Reusing and recycling
• Creating a compost heap
• Pickling vegetables & fruits
• Volunteering & supporting causes
• Using more eco-friendly products
• Disconnecting from technology​
• Drive less, walk more

Many of these ideas will no doubt save you money in the long run.  Not only that, but you will grow, make or create exactly what you need without excess waste!

Spend More Time At Home
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It’s hard to imagine living a rustic lifestyle from behind the wheel of your car while stuck in rush hour traffic.  Or by eating dinner out for the third time this week.  Or....well, you get the picture.

Unwinding and relaxing at home is one of life's greatest pleasures, and a staple of rustic living.  As important as going outside for fresh air and exercise is, so is decompressing and kicking back in your cozy, rustic homestead.

To save money by staying in, start by planning your weekly menus in advance and food shop for just the necessities--skip those temping end caps and product promotions.  In your recipes, use as much from your garden as you can.  Speaking of cans, do you know how super easy it is to can your own tomatoes, jams and pickled veggies?

To save time preparing meals, do major food prep on weekends, like chopping, slicing and marinading.  Many dishes can be prepared in advance and frozen, like these 25 crockpot freezer recipes with 5 ingredients or less.

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Being frugal and responsible with your money will set you on a path of mindfulness and accountability that is a staple of rustic living.  Getting back to basics and living a rustic lifestyle comes with many perks; saving money just happens to be one of them.  ​

What do you think about living a rustic lifestyle?  Let me know in the comments below.

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