Want to Live Off-Grid? 4 Considerations to Keep in Mind When Making the Decision
Many romanticize “going off-grid” and leading what they believe will be a simpler life. While there are many rewards to living off-grid, there are also many challenges, so let’s explore four things you need to consider before you go off-grid.
Consider Why You Want to Go Off-Grid
Are you worried about the financial drain of city living, such as the costs of electricity, water, gas, and other expenses? If your electric bill is the main concern, installing solar panels on your city house might do it. You don’t necessarily need to move to the country to go solar or start growing your own food.
Is “getting away from it all” and escaping the “rat race” part of your off-grid dream? If leading an independent lifestyle, away from the rat race, is your goal, then moving out of the city may be a good move.
Whatever the case, you need to talk this over with your family, to make sure you’re all on the same page. Create a “mission statement”, to keep you focused on your off-grid goals.
Consider How You Will Earn a Living
While leading a simple life of tilling the soil may be your goal, getting there will take some money. You can save enough money to buy your land and home cash, but even so, you will still need money. Working remotely online is a good option for earning a living off-grid. However, solid internet can be an issue. You can use the mobile internet from a cellphone provider, but that can be unreliable. But there are internet providers that go where others can’t, so you may want to look into that.
Do Your Research
There are a lot of aspects to living off-grid, and you need to know what you’re getting into before you make the jump. There are solar panels, water wells, reusing gray water, gardening, and so much more. Plan it all out, create a budget, and start saving money.
Adjust Your Attitude
Hold on to the reason you want to make this change, and stay positive. Don’t dwell on all the changes you need to make, simply take it one step at a time. Decide what’s important, and define your reasons for changing your lifestyle. When the going gets tough, it’s easy to forget why you want to go off-grid. There’s a mental adjustment period, so you need to stay positive and keep your eye on your goal.