How to live off the grid with a family: 10 things to know

From: Ideapod

Would you like to live off the grid with your family?

Whether you want to cut ties with utility companies, or are simply tired of the noise, stress, and pollution of modern civilization, this article will shed light on 10 main things you need to know about living off the grid.

Let’s get started.

1) You might have to spend all your life’s savings

The first thing you must know is that living off the grid is going to cost you – at least initially.

Since you want to take this step with your family, you’ll need much more than a house on wheels and a laptop.

You’ll need to buy land, build a house, invest in solar panels, find a water source, create heating solutions, and so on. The initial out-of-pocket expenses may be really high.

So, answer this:

Do you have that kind of money?

If you don’t, you’ll need to cut your expenses drastically, sell some of the things you no longer need, and save money.

Survival World warns you about the danger of not having enough money to live off the grid and taking this step while still having debts to pay:

“Before you can jump into off-grid living, pay off your debts. The off-grid life might not provide as many opportunities to make money, so settle all your obligations first.”

So, how to live off the grid with a family?

Save enough money for the initial transition.

2) You and your family have to adjust to a new way of living

Living off the grid requires a lot of adjustments, and your family is no exception.

People are used to having convenience at their fingertips, so they will have to get used to doing things in a different way.

This is where your entire family has to put on their big kid pants and stand up… ready to become independent and responsible.

On top of that, you’ll have to spend time together outdoors. You’ll have to spend time on maintenance and chores.

Sound like fun? Maybe, maybe not.

The great thing is that being off the grid with your family will bring you closer together and allow you to enjoy each other’s company in a way most modern families don’t.

However, before you take such a big step, make sure that every member of your family is ready for an adventure. If they are not, your family may face a big crisis.

Talk to each member of your family privately to find out how they will cope with the transition of living off the grid.

So, how to live off the grid with a family?

Prepare them for a different way of life.

3) You need to get back in touch with your core self

Listen, living off the grid with your family might sound dreamy, but it requires a lot of mental strength, physical strength, as well as spiritual strength.

This means that you’ll need to get back in touch with your core self and draw upon the most important things in your life.

Taking the step to live off the grid can be considered a spiritual journey just as much as it is a survival journey.

After all, you’ll be leaving your comfort zone and heading off to an unfamiliar place – a place where a lot of things can go wrong.

To make it through, you can’t afford to take with you the spiritual practices that are holding you back.

How do I know?

I watched shaman Rudá Iandé’s eye-opening video. In it, he explains how so many of us fall into the toxic spirituality trap. He himself went through a similar experience at the start of his journey.

As he mentions in the video, spirituality should be about empowering yourself. Not suppressing emotions, not judging others, but forming a pure connection with who you are at your core.

Otherwise, it can interfere in a serious way with your life, as well as the lives of everyone around you.

So, before you decide to live off the grid with your family, you should think about the spiritual practices in your life and make sure they are enhancing your life, rather than holding you back.

If this is what you’d like to achieve, click here to watch the free video.

So, how to live off the grid with a family?

You must be prepared to go on a spiritual journey as well, not only on a survival one.

4) You and your family should take certain classes

Want to know more?

To successfully live off-grid with your family, make sure every member of your family knows how to give first aid.

Next, assign a skill to each person.

Why? Because when you live off the grid, you need to know how to cook, how to grow food, how to repair things, and how to stay safe.

Off-grid living is not all fun and games. There are some very important skills you must know to live comfortably and stay safe.

And it’s mandatory for you and your family to learn these before you make the transition. Otherwise, your life might become very difficult.

What’s more, it’s not that hard.

You can start by signing up for “foraging, hunting, gardening, canning, woodworking, first aid, cooking classes”, says Survival World, depending on what you need to learn or what one of your family members might need to learn.

So, how to live off the grid with a family?

Get back to the basics of living in nature and learn how to survive and thrive in it. Also, make sure everyone can take care of himself or herself in an emergency before you make the leap.

5) You have to do some research and find the ideal land for your needs

The next really important thing to do before you make the leap to living off the grid is to find a suitable piece of land. The right location will depend on your needs, as well as those of your family.

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According to Logan Hailey, a writer who lives off-grid in a tiny home on wheels, these are the things you should look out for:

• A land where it is legal to live off the grid in regards to permits, building codes, zoning, and so on.

• A land located away from cities and urban areas – because it offers more freedom and includes fewer restrictions.

• A land that doesn’t cost a fortune, including property taxes, mortgage payments, insurance, and other expenses.

• A land filled with ample resources for self-sufficiency such as fertile soil, water supply, trees, and so on.

• A land with proper bedrock for building structures and wastewater disposal such as a septic tank. Wetlands and land susceptible to flooding are not recommended.

• A land that has a natural water source, such as a well, spring, creek, or river.

• A land that gives you the opportunity to harvest solar power.

• A land that is accessible year-round by car, train, and so on.

So, how to live off the grid with a family?

Finding a land that will meet all your needs is an essential part of making the transition. Make sure you do your research and make the best choice.

6) You have to choose between building a home or buying one

Buying vs. building?

This is something that every family needs to discuss.

There are opinions on both sides, but the truth is that there are a lot of factors involved.

For one, building a house can save you quite a lot of money when it comes to construction costs, but you must think about the time and effort required for this.

On the other hand, buying a pre-made home will cost you more money, but it won’t require you to spend time and effort on building it.

“There are so many options when it comes to off-grid dwellings. Tiny homes can be everything from a cabin to a shipping container to a trailer or a tiny home on wheels,” says Logan Hailey.

They can be made out of shipping containers, or you can buy a trailer and make it into a house.

The important thing is that you choose the option that best suits your needs.

It should not be too large and cumbersome, either. Why?

“They are less intrusive on the land, require less energy, need less water, and are easier to heat,” explains Hailey.

7) You must find ways to install solar power and water systems

Sarita Harbour, a woman who lives off the grid with her family for 9 years, shares her advice:

“Depending on where you’re planning to live when you move off the grid, you may have to deal with water delivery, well drilling, pumping, or hauling from a body of water. Look at the cost, labor, and practicality of each.”

To be more precise, you must find ways to get all your water from a natural source. That’s why she recommends rainwater harvesting and drilling a well.

Another thing to take care of is solar panels. Remember that it is crucial to find ways of harvesting and storing solar power in order to power your or your family’s small home.

“Review solar power, solar panels, off-grid electricity, off-grid appliances, wind power, wind turbines, windmills, battery systems, and generators,” she adds.

So, how to live off the grid with a family?

You must ensure a water supply and a solar power source for your home.

8) You have to decide what you’re going to eat

To live off the grid doesn’t necessarily mean that you have to grow your own food. If you have a car and the land of your choice is reasonably close to a grocery store, then you can easily buy food and make your own meals.

But, if your new home will be far away from this kind of civilization, then it is a good idea to grow some food. For example, you can plant a variety of fruits, vegetables, and herbs.

For example, here’s a short list of the easiest vegetables to grow at home:

• Lettuce

• Green beans

• Peas

• Radishes

• Carrots

As for fruits, here are the easiest ones to grow at home:

• Strawberries

• Raspberries

• Blueberries

• Figs

• Gooseberries

However, as mentioned before, it would be best if you already are experienced in growing fruits and vegetables. Otherwise, you might fail at the beginning, which would be a waste of time and money. And, if you fail to feed your family, it would be even worse.

So, how to live off the grid with a family?

Decide what you’re going to eat and set up a small garden – just in case you’re not going to make enough money to buy groceries or you’ll live far away from a grocery store.

9) You have to think about how to keep yourself safe in a brand-new environment

Living off the grid, you can expect many changes in your life, but one of the biggest ones is safety.

Now, you will live in a remote place without neighbors or other people around.

For this reason, you must think ahead and prepare yourself for potential dangers that may occur in your new home.

For example, what would you do in case of an animal attack? Are there even dangerous animals in the area you’re moving to?

Or, how would you react to a natural phenomenon such as strong winds?

It’s also important to have a backup plan for communication. What if your internet connection or cell phone doesn’t work?

Besides all that, you must think about storing some food and water in case of an emergency. It is important to be prepared in case something happens to your home, so there should always be a survival kit on hand.

How to live off the grid with a family?

You have to be prepared for anything and everything, no matter how unlikely it may be!

10) You need a source of income

Look, no matter how self-sufficient you become, you and your family will still need money.

You may want to grow your own food and build your own house, but you will still need some money for supplies, equipment, and other things.

So, if you don’t plan to live off investment or pension or anything like that, then you’ll have to find another source of income.

However, if you can live off the grid and still keep a job, you can disregard this point.

For example, many people who have chosen this lifestyle make natural products and sell them. Some of them even sell objects made out of wood.

But, this really depends on how committed you and your family are to the off-grid lifestyle. More specifically, if you want to isolate yourselves from the rest of the world or not and to what degree.

So, how to live off the grid with a family?

Self-sufficiency only takes you so far, and then the money is required. Make sure you understand that.

Summary

As you can see, living off the grid with a family comes with its challenges.

You should be aware of the prerequisites and make sure they’re being met before giving this lifestyle a try.

But, if you and your family are ready to set up a new life, then it is quite an exciting path.