Thank you @bigato.
Good ideas on the growing aspect. Good thinking! Pretty much what we are trying with the small garden started. I just picked a few things and put them in the dirt to see how they do. I know this year, since we aren't out there and can spend a lot of time on it just yet, we aren't going full out on growing a huge garden. So I just picked seven different things, things we will eat, and it will either be it grows good here or it doesn't. So far the tomatoes and green pepper are producing, and the watermelon, jalapeno and radishes are sprouting. Not much on the cantaloupe or onions, so far. Herbs and spices are definitely on the future list.
Wild game out there so far are deer, turkey and quail. Will be adding chickens in the next few years. That will help get the food budget down even more. The hubby has threatened to dig for a small fish pond, I kinda like the idea.
So those are ways that will help reduce the food budget, which is a biggy. Another biggy for us is electricity. We are on rural electric, which runs pretty high because they can. For example, last summer one of our bills was $320 a month, yuck!! Current house, though. This was using as many electric reductions strategies as I could, but where we live our summer can be BRUTAL. That month was mostly high 90's and low 100's.
We will be on the same rural electric once we moved. But here are differences that will help reduce electric usage: the home will be 1/3rd smaller than current home. 840sqft to heat/cool. We will also only be putting in 2 energy efficient window units, compared to the huge inefficient central unit we currently have. The home, as I said previously, we purposely set up to take advantage of passive/solar heating and cooling. The long sides face north/south, with the entry facing south. This helps a few ways, the north side has a bunch of tall shade trees to help block the northern summer sun, along with us blocking the northern side windows with blackout curtains. Will also be putting the window units on the northern side, blocking it from view when you drive up and getting shaded by the trees. During the winter the southern sun will be let in with the southern facing windows. The eastern short end is the kitchen, getting the morning warming sun. The short western end is the bigger bedroom, which will either have a shed added to help block hot evening sun, or a trellis with growing vines added to shade and help cool. The cross breeze during the day is good enough to not even need the AC on, we have been quite comfortable now at low 90's, with a box fan and plugged in ceiling fan running.
Also, currently have a very large electric water heater, new place will have an on demand water heater. We have procured some free poles to line dry clothing. For now we have electric appliances, but want to at least get a propane stove at a later date. Heating will be with propane stoves, using to warm the rooms we are in. Right now we cook mostly indoors but will be cooking more outside once moved. Grill, crockpot, microwave to cut down added heat in the home during summer. Will probably try solar cooking, as well. Use more fans over AC. The south side of house is fully shaded and awesome to hang out.
I anticipate saving around $100-$200 a month on electricity alone. Add in the food saving strategies, there's another $100 or $200.
What other bills do we have, and how can I reduce them. Cell phones: already have a fairly cheap prepaid with the local provider, $45 for two lines, no data. But can always go with redpocket to go lower or go through the hassle of freedompops free plan. Car insurance right now on two old paid vehicles is fairly cheap, $55 a month, can pay yearly or can always go with just one vehicle. Household stuff can bulk buy, make homemade, etc. Internet we have now and hope they can still service our new place isn't great, it's rural wireless, we pay $66 a month. Am checking with another provider to see if they can service our place with lower monthly. Can always not have it and hit the library when needed. Gas for vehicles is pretty high right now, with the running back and forth and hubby's commute. Once moved will cut some with hubby not able to run home for lunch (won't have time), and will batch trips for store items. Don't have cable/satellite and haven't for years, but we do have Netflix, which can be cut, use antennae. And lastly we have one spoiled shih Tzu that gets pampered every other month, I can learn to groom. That's it, that's pretty much our expenses.
That's it for now, time to gather some things and head out there to work on it some more.