Living off-grid can be incredibly rewarding, offering independence, sustainability, and a closer connection to nature.
However, it can also be expensive if not approached thoughtfully. By focusing on frugal strategies, you can minimize costs while still enjoying the benefits of off-grid living.
Here are the most cost-effective ways to embrace an off-grid lifestyle:
1. Choose Affordable Land
Land is often the biggest expense for off-grid living. If you’re not inheriting land kept in your family for decades, it can be hard to see yourself doing this at all. But there are affordable properties out there! I remember when we saw a property in the Ozarks for $40,000 for 40 acres (and it even had a river running through it as a water source). These deals are going to be coming up off and on, so always make sure you’re checking out websites that have them updated.
To save money, it’s best to look for affordable rural properties that have few restrictions and zoning. If you can, aim for land with natural resources like a water source, fertile soil, and plenty of sunlight for solar energy. Avoid areas with strict building codes or expensive permits to keep costs down, because you really don’t need that hassle when already taking on so much.
2. Start Small
Something I wish people could understand is that you don’t need everything you think you do! You can start with a bit of preparation and what you already have!
As long as you can live on property, you can even start in an RV (we considered that!), learn to build out a 16 x 40 shed like the Hollands family (and then plan to sell it as a flipping investment after you’re done). The Hollands also sell their floor plan, so in doing this adventure, they’ve created a great revenue source! Yes, this is an upfront cost, BUT you save on not having to rent while you’re waiting.
You can also buy a mobile home or tiny home that you plan to move and rent out later (or fall in love with and stay in!). Whether you want to camp out and live on your land that way, or move a smaller structure to it, there are endless opportunities that all depend on your individual budget and family needs, as to what you can realistically do.
We knew we didn’t want to live in an RV, so we started with a structure that’s over 1,000 sq ft and has lots of room (we’re also minimalists so we make the most of every sq inch)!
So instead of feeling pressured to build a large, elaborate home, you can simply start with a smaller, temporary and simple structure, and make that last for years.
Tiny homes, converted sheds, or even repurposed RVs or school buses can serve as cost-effective living spaces. By starting small, you can save money upfront and expand as needed later.
3. DIY Construction
If you can do it, building your home yourself is one of the most frugal options out there. Learning basic construction skills through free online resources, workshops, or books also adds to your ability to make more money as you can hire yourself out to help other families achieve their dream.
Using salvaged or reclaimed materials whenever possible also helps, such as pallets, barn wood, or scrap metal. We’ve used almost all repurposed materials and got them super cheap usually from around our neighborhood!
We know a couple who built their house out of mud bricks much like cob! We went to a mud-mixing party they had where all of us (parents and children) mixed straw from hay bales in with a certain amount of water and special soil they had prepared – it was so much fun and an amazing experience to get to be apart of their house building project!
You can also use things like earthbags for structure construction, and many more affordable and sustainable building methods.
4. Generate Your Own Power
Solar power is a popular choice for off-grid energy, but it doesn’t have to break the bank. Start with a small solar setup and gradually add more panels as your budget allows. You can also explore alternative energy sources like wind turbines, micro-hydro systems, or even homemade biogas digesters if your property has the right conditions.
5. Harvest Water Naturally
Installing a well can be costly, but there are other frugal options. Most people in our county are at least interested in collecting rainwater, because we’re almost always in a drought.
You can easily collect your own rain water by using gutters and barrels, and then purifying it for drinking.
If you have a natural spring or stream on your property, you can also use it as an alternative water source.
We personally love reusing our own graywater for tasks like irrigation and garden watering to maximize our efficiency.
6. Grow Your Own Food
Food is a major expense, but growing your own can significantly reduce costs. Start a vegetable garden, plant fruit trees, and raise chickens for eggs.
We also have meat rabbits, goats (mostly for dairy needs like milk, butter, yogurt and cheese, but there are people who eat them, too), and chickens specifically large enough for meat. Having all these dairy and meat sources make us feel extra secure and help maintain a frugal budget.
Use low-cost gardening methods like composting kitchen scraps, saving seeds, and practicing companion planting to improve yields without expensive fertilizers or pesticides.
7. Cook Efficiently
Traditional cooking methods like open fires if you’re living out on your land can be wasteful or even dangerous in a drought.
Opt for a rocket stove, solar oven, or wood cook stove, which are more efficient and use less fuel. This solar oven is amazing, using NO power or batteries or anything, and even dehydrates foods if you need to do that!
If you’re lucky enough to have a wood stove for heating, try using it for cooking as well, to save on energy. Check out our post on How to Clean Cast Iron after you’ve cooked with it!
8. Use Secondhand Tools and Equipment
Off-grid living requires tools and equipment, but you don’t need to buy them new. Check thrift stores, online marketplaces, and garage sales for used tools, gardening supplies, and building materials.
Borrow or trade with neighbors to avoid unnecessary expenses. We’ve found some of our best items from a neighbor who always comes over to check on us 🥰, plus it makes them feel glad you’re putting something to use they didn’t need.
9. Prioritize Low-Tech Solutions
Embrace low-tech solutions to avoid the high costs of modern conveniences. One surprising thing we found saved us quite a bit of money was learning to use oil lamps in the fall and winter for nighttime lighting! It creates such a beautiful, cozy effect, and dramatically affected our solar battery bank so that we are using the generator less and less each year (as we become better at all of this)!
For example, use an approved composting toilet system (one that incinerates etc) instead of a septic system, clotheslines instead of dryers, and hand tools instead of power tools.
These options not only save money but also reduce your environmental impact. I love the incinerating compost toilets! All the waste is completely gone and purified, and it doesn’t drain treated septic water onto our property where our goats would be grazing 🤮. In some cases like ours, a draining leach field in unhealthy for your animals (or for the water sources below as it runs off into the streams and natural springs).
10. Learn New Skills
Self-sufficiency is key to frugal off-grid living. Learn skills like plumbing, carpentry, gardening, and food preservation to avoid hiring professionals. Many resources are available for free online, or you can exchange skills with others in your community.
11. Barter and Trade
Build relationships with other off-gridders or neighbors and trade goods and services. For example, you might trade eggs or produce for firewood or mechanical repairs.
Bartering reduces costs and fosters a supportive, helping community.
12. Embrace Minimalism
I know this may be something that comes natural to some people and not to others and I get it.
You don’t have to completely become a minimalist to learn to enjoy getting rid of clutter and excess junk that’s making you stressed. You can keep your eclectic vibe, while still learning to organize and purge, in fact, making your area cleaner, organized and peaceful will actually make your eclectic pieces stand out more!
The fewer possessions you need and want, the less money and time you’ll spend keeping it organized or in good working order. It helps you be frugal with your money AND your time, as you don’t have to waste hours putting the house back together when it’s relatively easy to do it in 15 minutes a day (staying on top of it).
By focusing on what’s truly necessary, you can avoid buying items you don’t need $$$, and you can repair or repurpose what you already have instead of replacing it.
13. Use Renewable Heating Methods
Heating can be a significant expense in colder climates! We’ve found it most frugal to have multiple good sources of heat like propane and our 100 year old wood cook stove.
You don’t have to spend money on a giant cook stove though, any rocket wood stove is a frugal choice, especially if you have access to free or low-cost firewood. Although we love all the cooking options that come with our wood cook stove – that isn’t necessary if you’re not cooking for a large family.
Also make sure to insulate your home well so that your house holds the heat in, and consider passive solar heating by designing your home to capture and retain sunlight.
14. Recycle and Repurpose
These may sound cliche, but they’re still worth mentioning because it’s true! Be resourceful by recycling and repurposing items instead of always throwing them away. For example, old windows can become part of a greenhouse, or pallets can be used to build furniture – get creative and fun with this and make it into family projects! This approach saves money and reduces waste, while teaching your kids to think out of the box!
15. Live Within Your Means
Finally, the most frugal way to live off-grid is to avoid unnecessary debt and expenses. Set a budget and stick to it, prioritizing needs over wants. By living simply and focusing on sustainability, you can enjoy the freedom and peace of off-grid living without financial stress.
In conclusion, living off-grid frugally requires creativity, resourcefulness, and a willingness to learn. By prioritizing cost-effective solutions and embracing a minimalist, self-sufficient lifestyle, you can reduce expenses and thrive off the grid without breaking the bank.
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