If you’re like a growing number of millennials, you are probably planning to move to a big city where jobs are typically easier to find and entertainment may be just a subway stop away. According to a 2014 Nielsen survey, approximately 60 percent of millennials have expressed a desire to live in urban centers rather than the suburbs where many of them were raised. While there are certainly many pluses of living in a big city-such as mass transit options and an exciting nightlife scene-urban areas can also have their drawbacks. It may be harder, for example, to purchase organic foods in some areas of a big city, and it also can be much pricier to live in a big city. Here are a few tips on handling these minor drawbacks.
Life in a Food Desert
Depending on where you decide to live in a big city, you could, unfortunately, end up in what is popularly known as a food desert. These areas are usually located in poorer neighborhoods and have earned this nickname because they either have no stores that offer fresh and healthy foods or very few. It’s not uncommon, however, for young millennials, to move to food deserts as rents in more desirable parts of a city reach astronomical levels. Unfortunately, gentrification of a neighborhood usually takes time and it can take years for a grocery or organic food store to open in these communities. Luckily, there are some options for healthier eating, including the following:
- Buy your organic products online. Do you believe in eating and using organic products whenever possible? If so, it may be difficult to find these specialty products in a food desert. Fortunately, there are online sites that offer organic products that can be delivered directly to your home. You might be surprised to see the large variety of organic items that can be purchased online these days. There are many websites have everything from nuts, beans, cereals, flours, and nut butters to organic cleaning products for your household. In addition, some of these products are available in bulk, which means you can stock up on those items you never want to run out of.
- Shopping at farmer’s markets. Many urban areas host weekend markets where farmers from neighboring areas bring in fresh produce. In addition, some farmer have begun offering their produce on buses that cruise food deserts so that city dwellers can have more access to fresh fruits and vegetables during the week, as well.
- Dine at trendy food trucks. Many of today’s food trucks offer fresh and unique meals, including vegan and organic fare. If you discover ones that you like, follow them on social network sites so that you can get updates about their locations.
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Ditch the Car
Rents are typically pricey in the city, but you can save a lot of money by ditching your car. Why? Because you will no longer have to pay for car insurance, parking, car payments and maintenance costs. Fortunately, there are a number of options that you can employ for getting around the city, including;
- Using a ride – or car-sharing service. Some ride-sharing services are very similar to taxis. You just contact them for a ride, and for a fee, an approved driver will come pick you up and deliver you to your destination.
- Mass transit. Many big cities offer their residents a network of buses and train service.
- Bike sharing. Some cities now offer bike-sharing programs, where you can pick up a bike, ride it to your desired destination and then either return it to the station you picked it up from or at another drop-off station.
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It’s not surprising that millennials are moving to big cities and other urban centers in record numbers. These areas tend to offer more exciting opportunities to this generation than the quiet – and perhaps boring – suburbs that many millennials grew up in.
