And driving a crappy car
If you are able to buy a piece of property way out of the way....where building inspectors do not go...ideally with a water source, you're set. If no water source, maybe find out the cost to haul in water and/or collect rainwater. If need be, move. Ideally you would move where you can visit for a long while to get to know the area first.
We do not drive crappy cars only because my husband buys them from the auto recyclers and fixes them up. We drive for 2-3 years and he sells them for what we bought them for.
Even if you need to live in an RV, you will eventually be able to build. Socialize, come up on weekends or f/t and get to know the small community (yes it usually needs to be a very small community) so you can get connections to hire those with criminal records to build your home.
We paid $35 & $30 an hour, 2 people, about 50K total, to have our 500 sq foot home with a 200 sq ft loft built.. Luckily when we bought, we learned County Records t showed a 2bdrm/1 bath home already. So when the inspectors show up, if ever, we'll owe yes...but not if we started from scratch. New building permits are outrageous. We also ensured in building the home it was to code. We love our wrap around deck! Sleeping outside during summer, watching the birds, nothing compares to it.
Husband used Pallets to build our huge storage shed himself. Luckily, we have fibre optic internet and landline phones.A well known river is below our home which provides natural, organic food all year long. Renting out a yurt on AIRB&B we bought on CL is an option.
Our resources-
BLACKBERRIES -Provides 1 cup each a piece wk all year. Picked at the River. We also make jam/syrup to go along with homemade maple syrup as gifts. Picked everyday around mid to late Aug. So it's very time consuming but we do swim with our goggles too so it's fun!
CRAWDADS-Our German Shepherds used in home-made dog food. We can provide it 1x a week for the entire year
Cages placed in river while we are picking blackberries
CORNISH CROSS HENS-VERY LARGE MEAT CHICKENS closer to the size of a Turkey.
This is what we make our dog food out of and we have plenty of chicken all year for ourselves
EGGS- from our 15 pet chickens. Also used in our homemade dog food.
HOMEMADE MAPLE SYRUP- We make enough for 1 pint per month. Meaning it lasts us 1 year. No cost except a one time upfront of $20 since I buy quart jars from yard sales or thrift stores. Or whatever the quart jar costs. We often get them free.
Tap the trees, boil down the sap outside in a large pan, drain, & pour into jar where it auto seals itself
POTATOES- Various kinds we grow organically for free!! Probably the best small investment we've ever done. We bought a bag of organic potatoes and tossed in compost pile. Each one duplicated itself into 2-3 more potatoes and so on. We always have way way too many potatoes.
We attend church so we bring what we can provide for almost free, see the above. We all share so we actually get two meals bringing one meal home. We always bring huge meals, people comment about it alot but our donation is low so we try to do what we can.
Start a Meetup Group o whatever interests you regarding your hobby & add a potluck. Monthly, 2x a month, whatever.
It's best to find a town completely off grid to join like-minded folks but it may not be possible.
Since our property is in the forest, growing food is difficult so we are limited to raising animals. We still work p/t since we didn't work enough throughout our life. I love it.
We created a life that revolves around fun exercise. Things we enjoy thus not realizing we are exercising.
At 72, i work a job I like. 12 hr shifts which fit my schedule.
We save cash in the house each month for the future when we cannot homestead. Someday we may not be able to take care of chickens, garden a little, etc..
What do you think? Anyone taken this path? We live easily on $1915 a month Social Security though I still work earning $1025 a month so we can still stash some $ away. It takes alot to plan it out but you can do it
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