You don’t need me to tell you that going off-grid is an increasingly attractive lifestyle choice for a lot of people. It gets hyped up more each year. On paper, it’s the way to go for those who want long-term financial freedom. But financially-speaking, how does it work?
Well. For starters, off-grid rustication requires an abundance of two things: time and money. Shucks! Most of us industrial dipsticks seem to be in short supply of both currencies. However, if you feel like you have a surplus, even a modest surplus of the two, then you’ll be glad to hear you stand a fighting chance to raise a lovely homestead in 2021 and beyond. If you find yourself asking “OK. But how much money do I need?” you’re asking a critical question, Kimosabe. Here’s my short answer: you’ll need more money than you think.
Terra Firma
Assuming one has the time to spare, money under the mattress, and the motivation to get out of the hive and onto the land, the first quintessential investment on the journey to becoming a homesteading, off-grid, fire-breathing rusticator is land, also known as real estate.
Land is, and always has been one of the most coveted assets in human history. No small wonder the lengths people go to acquire it. You are no different. But in a way, you are, because you’re a rusticator, and as a good rusticator, you’ll want to acquire land outright. Why? The fewer parties involved (i.e. the bank, mortgage brokers, etc.), the better insulated you will be from institutions that can’t profit off independent homeowners. But wait, you say, as you reheat your coffee. No one can afford to just buy land straight up. Contrary to popular belief affordable land, which is to say virgin land–– meaning no house, no septic, no nothing except the buxom bosom of nature––can be found in rural areas for surprisingly good prices if you know where to look.
For example, here in Dawnland aka. western New Brunswick, Canada, it’s typical to find raw land priced below $1000 per acre. I doubt bargains like that would exist in British Columbia and Ontario, but go a few hours north of the concrete jungle and you may just find one. Rusticators ought to prepare relocate for the land they want and can afford.
(Side note: It’s important to avoid going into debt to purchase land. Borrow privately from family members or friends at little to no interest if need be.)
So you bought the land. Good on ya’ scalawag, I salute you. You now have more financial security than at least half of everyone in industrial civilization. What now? Throw a party, obviously, for there is much to celebrate. In the morning, begin to envision your choice of love-shack.
Gimme Shelter
To the rusticator, shelter is the crucible of the journey. Line something up beforehand, usually an RV or a campsite to situate yourself during construction. The climate will determine what kind of abode is needed. It’s natural that a campsite will be more budget-friendly, but it will require more labour. In my community, it is typical that newcomers rent a cabin either right in the neighbourhood or within ten minutes of their newly-minted acreage. Cabin rentals in the boonies are cheap. During our build, my partner and I rented a strawbale cabin from a neighbour for $200/month.
The late, great Art (a skilled carpenter friend of mine) once told me that home construction/framing is not the costly part; it’s the finishing that’s expensive. By finishing I mean everything from insulation, windows and doors to siding, flooring to electrical and plumbing, cabinetry, furnishing, and more. Not to mention the bidet.
Hiring a contractor to frame, sheath, insulate, install windows and doors cost my partner and I roughly $32,000 including materials. It’s possible that an additional $10,000 in materials was spent to do much of the finishing afterwards. And we’re still spending to this day. That said, we did the bulk of the finishing ourselves so we saved big on labour. Some neighbours of mine have spent much less to build their homes while others have spent much more.
Work to Live, Don’t Live to Work
One common concern for people looking to rusticate and go off the grid revolves around making a living.
If you are a careerist, this will be a difficult decision for you to make. Earning a comfortable income is safe, reassuring, comfortable. To walk away from a stable, salaried position in your profession to suddenly find yourself working for minimum wage on a dairy farm is a ghastly thought for some people. It’s not a glamorous path (trust me, I know because I did the dairy farm part), but your potentially overinflated ego will thank you for such a humbling experience.
No, but seriously. What do you do in the countryside to support yourself, your journey, and others who may depend on you? Easy answer: Think about it ahead of time, but don’t dwell on it. You will figure it out. Especially if you have a skill or some kind of means of production.
People think that employment is scarce in the backwoods. Perhaps it is so in some areas. But that’s okay. There doesn’t have to be a Subway, or a Tim Hortons on every other corner for there to be work available for people to do. I’ve found more work than I bargained for in the sticks. For example, in a span of about four years I’ve worked at a dairy farm, for a small solar company, as an English teacher at a logging camp, in a sugar bush, and various odd jobs in between.
I can testify that it’s not appealing to go from job to job. I’ve done that for over 15 years with more jobs under my belt than I can count. But look at it this way. My expenses right now are under $500 a month, which includes internet, phone, and a vehicle I share with my partner. Our household has zero debt. This means that I could effectively work a part-time job at minimum wage and still save money to grow the homestead, travel with my family, and make worthwhile investments. Not a bad setup.
Furthermore, many of my neighbours run their own businesses. This means possible employment for others such as myself who don’t operate a business. It also creates a culture of entrepreneurship that encourages individuals such as myself to develop one’s own enterprise.
The Takeaways
This is not meant to be an exhaustive guide so let me summarize and distill a little extra economics while I’m at it.
• Land. Acquire some. At least half an acre. It could cost you $50,000. It could cost you nothing (depending on who you know and what kind of land tenure you have in your cross-hairs). Try not to mortgage anything, or get in debt.
• Determine your budget for a temporary shelter. $500 in camping equipment, $5,000 for a used RV, or $500 per month for an affordable rural rental arrangement.
• Tools and implements. Don’t underestimate this expense. I’ve spent thousands of dollars on tools and difference-making accessories on my homesteading journey. The list of things to acquire can be very long depending on your wants and needs. Put aside $2000 initially for key hardware.
• Networking. A socioeconomic focal point of rural life. It’s about who you know. Meet the neighbours. Take the time and care to develop bonds. This is how you find work. If your an enterprising person, this is how you get to know your market.
• Pay as you go. Your building a house, but you can’t afford the mudroom. So you put away money until it suits your budget. Then, next Spring, get at it. Buy a temporary greenhouse or use cold frames until you can afford the lumber needed for the 350 sq. ft. greenhouse you’ve been drooling over since you settled on the design.
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