My rats live in same-sex groups of two to six except in rare circumstances, in cages which give them plenty of space to live and play. I make a commitment to give each rat individual attention every day, typically with each cage of rats coming out for at least half an hour with me each day in a rat-safe play area with toys to keep them happy. This also serves to limit the number of rats I keep, as obviously there are a limited number of half hours in every evening. I use shredded card cage substrate; an economical and less dusty alternative to softwood shavings which avoids the possible health risks of exposure to wood dust and phenols in shavings. Cages are cleaned once a week, with spot cleaning inbetween where needed.
I feed the Shunamite diet, which is based on Alpha Herbal Rabbit Deluxe with added dog kibble (usually Burns) and low sugar/salt human grade cereal, plus plenty of green leaf vegetables, other vegetables, some fruit and the occasional left overs from our own meals.
I hold my own vet fund to insure against the expense of illness, and find that putting away 5 pounds per month per rat gives me a good cushion against vet costs.
