Before we get started, going off the grid is similar to a choose your own adventure book. Based on different decisions you make certain paths open up and become available to you. If you have read Off Grid Living How to Guide: The Fundamentals you already know the basics. In this excerpt the focus will be on the different avenues that open up based on decisions made. Essentially what route to take with particular goals in mind.
For Instance, if you want a homestead, a camper van isn’t your best option. Or if you want to travel non stop a permanent off the grid home will not be the best route to take etc. The key is how far off the grid you want to go. Not everyone wants to raise livestock and have a garden, some people just want the freedom living off the grid gives you.
What Do You Know?
Do you know what you want? Do you have the knowledge necessary or the skills required to accomplish that want?
This is of the start of your journey. It would be hard to choose your own adventure if you didn’t know were you wanted to end up. I think that most people wander aimlessly through life with this mindset. With the only goal being survival otherwise known as making it to retirement successfully. I imagine you wouldn’t be here if that was all you wanted so the key is figuring that out.
Own It
Maybe your goal is to have a house and own it outright, and living off the grid is the most feasible choice you can think of. So how do you do this? It will look simple on paper but it takes a level of focus and dedication most people don’t possess. The steps are as follows
1. Save your money- This should go without saying, but you will need to save any extra dollar you have in order for this to work
2. Revaluate and Replenish- Get a print out of the last 3 months of transactions from your bank. Find out where money is going and why, anything necessary to survive mark red everything else, stop spending money on. This means subscriptions, fast food, deliveries, frivolous purchases etc.
3. Release- Everything that you have and don’t need sell it.
4. Use your free time to learn the skills to build your own house (cheapest method)
5. Find out the cost of affordable parcels in the area you want to build. If you can’t afford those parcels, choose another location.
6. When you have enough saved, purchase a parcel, Be sure there is enough leftover for the build or be prepared to spend more time saving and selling.
7. Either pay for blueprints to a simple home or come up with simple plans yourself.
8. Put your new skills to work and build your house. Make sure that the house remains in your budget as the purpose is not to borrow.
9. You are now the owner of your own home, Congratulations.
Financial Freedom
This goal is for those that want out of the debt riddled lifestyle they are accustom to. Keep in mind, one doesn’t have to be rich to acquire financial freedom, they just have to live well within their means. The wealth will come later.
Understand that you may go deeper into debt to began this method, but if you follow the steps you will find your way on the other side free.
1. Get a detailed report on how much debt you are in. This number will be the one we need to turn back to zero so keep it visible wherever you are. You will need the reminder.
2. Research- You need to focus on the skills and tools needed to build a camper van. A stealth one if possible. Meaning one that does not appear to be used for living in.
3. Get a good handle on all the information and acquire the tools needed to get the job done (borrow if you can)
4. Spend- I know it seems counter productive but prepare yourself to start spending some money
5. Find a good used van for a good price. Good price will vary based on your expendable funds but although you are spending money don’t over indulge. This means avoid sprinters, VWs and other luxury/ highly sought after vans
6. Get a Chilton and Haynes manual on the van your purchased. Get the necessary tools for basic repairs (you will find them in the book) and study the manual
7. Build the van to your liking will all the things that you need to live. Keep the space as uncluttered as possibly, you will fill closed in if the layout doesn’t have decent flow.
8. Acquire your new debt figure, hopefully you used expendable cash and not credit and the number hasn’t changed much, if it did go up, it is what it is.
9. Get proper insurance for your van being sure it is insured at it’s RV status value.
10. Save your money- From this step forward save everything extra that comes in needs to be save
11. Stop all unnecessary subscriptions, don’t make any unnecessary purchases period it is time to start living below your means
12. Sell everything that you have and don’t need, your car, condo, clothes, shoes, appliances etc. Sell it all. If you are renting move out after the sale. You are living in a van now; you won’t need much. All that stuff means nothing if you are not financially free
13. Save about 2,000 to 4,000 the incidentals and put everything else towards your debt. Hopefully that number has reduced drastically
14. Get P.O. box that reads as a standard address and if you don’t already get a decent job.
15. Without a plethora of expenses money should be flowing in if your working. No, rent/mortgage, No electric bill, no subscriptions, no fast food etc.
16. Rinse and Repeat until debt free.
Results
I know these methods don’t sound exciting, they are not, They are meant to fix a problem as quickly as possible and allowing you to start a new life in the shortest amount of time. There are other ways to do both. Like starting a business off the grid, or doing everything over the course of years so it’s not so overwhelming, but this method is almost a guarantee. This off grid living how to is geared for those seeking to own their own house instead of paying a mortgage and or rent, or gaining financial freedom if you are crippled by debt.
If this is your adventure let me know in the comments below, if not look for the next installment.
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