Living off the grid isn’t something that should be done on a whim. There is a lot of planning that should take place prior to any decisions are made. After that comes preparation for what is not come. The key is being ready for any contingency and of course knowing what obstacles may arise.
Prepare to Live Off The Grid, In 5 easy steps.
Planning
Preparation can only go well with proper planning. In other words, the plan is paramount. One must ask themselves, where do I want to live, what can I afford? Both essential in the long run. Not being able to afford to move is unacceptable. This would mean a more affordable location should have been chosen.
After that is out of the way payment method must be mapped out. Will this be a loan, or will cash be the proper route. Will the owner carry the loan or does a bank need to be involved. Is previous debt and element or will you go off the grid debt free. The financial aspect is of supreme importance and one must be realistic in what is attainable.
How do you want to live? Is septic an option or will composting toilets be used. For electricity will solar be best or wind, maybe a hybrid system, quite possibly a generator using fossil fuels. Where will water be sourced from, a well, a company… How will the house be heated or cooled, if so how?
What do you want to live in? There are a plethora of choices available, all with there own pros and cons. There are trailers that can be customized and moved easily. Skoolies, Rvs or Vans that can be way stations to whatever location outside of the highest mountain tops or bodies of water. Boats for water travel, the world is 70% water. Of course more traditional methods are also a great alternative. A cabin, or a traditional stick home, a tiny house or brutal concrete structure. Maybe earth bag or cob if in the proper region. These can be purchased new, built by hand or customized and built by others.
At the end of the day plans must be made in order to figure out what to prepare for. A goal without a plan is merely a wish.
Finances
After making a plan there should be a rough estimate in regards to how much funding is needed to execute the goal of living off the grid. Take into account the land price and how payment will be tendered. Or the price of the RV/trailer or other home that was chosen. Make sure to add expenses that will go into building or buying the domicile.
One must also handle their personal finances. Is money owed on a house or car etc. Are there outstanding debts or loans that need to be accounted for. If so how will these things be rectified. Is there enough money saved to take care of everything in perpetuity or will money need to be made in an ongoing fashion to cover the project expenses. If the latter how will money be made in the interim?
Finances are the backbone to the plan. Without necessary backing the plan is useless and the preparations will fail
Throwaways
What will be done with all of the things that have been acquired over the years. How will they be kept or relinquished. Can they be sold or rented. Will there be room for them in the new life that is being forged. Are they needed or wanted? This question alone should assist on whether any items not pertinent to living off the grid or preparing to live off the grid should be sold or given away.
This step does not old the importance of the others but is integral to preparing for the new reality based on space and resources. How much would it cost to move all of these excess items off the grid? what use will they have? How much money will the sale of all these items yield and is the financial support a prerequisite to succeeding in this venture?
Bare Necessities
Far more important than what is being sold or given away is what is needed to fully integrate off the grid. The best thing to do is to make a list of things that are required. The bare minimum. The needs will differ from person to person but a list may look similar to this.
- Solar panels
- Charge Controller
- Copper Wire (Red and Black)
- Inverter
- Water Tank
- Water Filter
- Work Gloves
- Tarp
- Maul
- Axe
This is obviously a short list of random useful items find a more detailed list here. The list for the exercise of figuring out the bare necessities will be far more complicated and quite a bit longer. The key is to make sure these are necessities, of course keep comfort in mind but surviving is the requisite.
Time Frame
Everything fluctuates, prices of property, vehicles, the cost of lumber, water, food etc. Inflation is a constant enemy and supply and demand is it’s weapon of choice. The planning and preparation will be pointless if it is done in 2003 and the move doesn’t take place until 2018. That may seem dramatic but there are many people who plan for dream that they never see come to fruition in that case 15 years isn’t as unrealistic.
Regardless, set an end date to when preparations will ensue 6 months from the start of planning at most. This will give a goal to work for and will in most cases ensure the price discrepancies don’t alter preparation in a way that is irreversible. Timing is everything and it is better to just get things done as long as planning and preparation are well established.
Prepare To Live Off The Grid
Remember the 5 easy steps are as follows
- Plan- Take everything into account: Demographics, type of house, power, water, how much things will cost.
- Figure out the finances- How to pay for everything, if money is owed or loans are in effect, will payments for large items be cash, credit or loan. Is there enough to last a lifetime if not how will money be made.
- Get rid of things that aren’t needed- Is property or vehicles owned? Can they be sold or rented. Keep items that are needed and sale or giveaway everything else.
- Acquire the necessary supplies- Make a list of the bare necessities for a new off the grid life and get everything on the list
- Set a time frame and stick to it- Make sure it is within 6 months from the start of planning to prevent unforeseen catastrophe. Timing is everything.
If you plan on using these 5 steps to prepare for living off the grid let me know in the comments below.
Leave a Reply