While many people might think about living the off-grid lifestyle, others enjoy the simplicity of their outdoor lifestyle. Returning to the freedom found in the generation rarely is among the ones that many people already have. However, like everything else, the beginning is the most daunting step.
In many areas, off-grid life is similar to other life goals, as you need to take things further slowly. Off-grid living includes knowledge and skill development while you build up the tools required for survival.
There are numerous things that you can do to make things as great as possible for off-grid at the very beginning. For a detailed guide with video tutorials on off-grid life, you can refer to the best YouTube channels, such as Azhen Sanctuary, and discover off-grid living ideas. It does not happen in a day. A lot of positive changes can together make your lifestyle change.
Have Clear Goals
Whether you want free resources or an independent, rent-free way of life that does not depend on industrial food consumption and public utilities for survival, you will need to figure out what type of lifestyle you are aiming for.
● Do you wish to live in the town? On the other hand, are you thinking of moving to the country?
● Would you have a family?
● What appliances do you want?
Do You Want To Learn New Skills and Live “Outside the Box”?
The best thing to start is to sit down for a few hours and immerse yourself in thoughts. You can hit everything, including:
● Where is the food available from? What gets grown and what is bought?
● Do you have livestock, wild animals, and pets on the property?
● Who works off the property, and for how long?
● Who manages the garden? Chopping wood?
● Will you live rustically, or do you want the convenience of a modern appliance?
You can work to organize things in a chart, list, drawing, or something that feels natural. Most importantly, categorize things according to the way you want to live. While this takes time, avoiding wasting time and money while chasing the wrong dream would be vital.
Putting Things Together
Although living off the grid is considered a cost-saving option, you’ll require some money to begin. Likewise, living for free and clear is impossible when you’ve got debts that need to be cleared every month. It is recommended to consider your monthly expenses and income, make a budget, and set plans to pay off debts accordingly. This can involve reducing entertainment expenses.
When considering living off the grid seriously, you have to be self-determined and disciplined. In addition, this would begin with putting the house back in order. Don’t worry if you might need more time to get financially stable.
Develop And Practise Skills
As you do not have the right property for an off-grid lifestyle, or even while you are living in an apartment or a dormitory, you can start to move off-grid whenever you want. You can plan or grow food, take a gardening course, or watch farming and gardening tutorials for more help.
Taking Projects One By One
The best way to ensure progress is to move further systematically.
You can take different aspects of the off-grid lifestyle and carry them into projects that are possible to achieve within a few months. Sometimes, what might seem like a project can take longer than expected?
Consider Off-Grid Costs
The biggest beginner question is, “How much does living off the grid cost?” It would be fair but challenging to answer as everyone has varying conditions and different goals:
Land prices can considerably vary country-wide, the lower the land plot, the lower per acre cost you pay. In addition, plots that have wells, other improvements, or buildings will also cost more. Be wary of low-cost lands as they are there with complications such as:
● No access.
● Underground pipelines or large power lines running through the land.
● Zoning issues that make land legally useless.
How And When You’ll Build?
When you think of building, you must consider how and when you can build your home. You would not love to build an off-grid cabin in the area of New England during winter. You can consider an RV or shipping container home when building off-site. A standard home or cabin would also need generators and contractors at the site of the building.
You can take the help of YouTube channels such as Azhen Sanctuary to set up your home and practice an off-grid lifestyle in the most cost-effective way.
Conclusion
There is no denying that living off-grid needs some investment in the beginning, a lot of time, and energy, especially when you have chosen the DIY route, which requires patience and hard work. However, the results are much better than the regular ways of living. What matters towards the end is the freedom you get from living off-grid. Enjoying life with your loved ones while becoming more self-sufficient.