Off-Grid Living: Tiny Home vs. Shed Conversion - What's Best?

[@FrugalOffGrid]

Free guide to off grid living: frugaloffgrid.com

[@mosbysmen]

three years before retirement age i was able to pay cash for a shed conversion 16x60 in another state . i paid a local homesteader to work on the conversion several days a week was good for him and good for me . i am now retired and all i have left to do is put a 12'x50 covered porch on the house. all done above code and done right

[@ozarksbrotherjerry4297]

It came out great.

[@skippyjl1]

Building your own from scratch is definitely the way to go👍🏻

[@lenvance8160]

Very happy for you. I'm about 20 years your SR, but I enjoy listening to your thoughts and plans. I spent my 30-40's growing a business and raising kids in suburbia. Proud of all of that, but I admire your hardscrabble approach and consistency. Rooting for your success.

[@nancimiller6850]

I work for a company that inspects Tiny Homes, Skoolies, Shed Conversions, Modular Housing and other forms of alternative housing. This Cabin build is sturdier than all of those, even in its early stages.

[@FrugalOffGrid]

Thank you for sharing. There are many ways to skin a cat. I'm happy with my humble homestead.

[@SusanWray-m8d]

Great information , pointing out things that people would never have thought of ,and just gone for easy options ,well done🇬🇧👍🇬🇧

[@brandonna5539]

Great presentation, thank you for sharing your insights, Grace and ✌️ to You

[@alexanderthegreatjustalex]

You're doing great John

[@bajanconji6553]

I love the content of this video! I have 1.33 acres that I purchased in 2021. Once I retire from my job in Chicago, my dream is to have a cabin on the property. I'm not a builder. My dad and uncles were but they have passed on. I'd love to have one built, but I'm still happy for the options of the manufacturered homes because I don't possess the skills to build like most. Congratulations on the progress of your dream cabin! Perhaps very soon my dream will be a reality too!❤❤❤

[@offgridrooster]

This is an excellent topic. I'm offgrid in the high chihuahuan desert. Ninety percent of my build has been acquired through bartering. I have a long way to go. I've been here going on 4 years. I've been following you since the beginning. You are an inspiration for me. I usually don't see my accomplishments. I just keep moving forward. Keep up the great work and videos. 🐓

[@FrugalOffGrid]

You're doing great! Way to tough it out. It gets more comfortable with time. 🤠

[@offgridrooster]

@FrugalOffGrid Yes, sir! All in due time 🙏

[@Badgerlife]

I’m in northern Nevada doing the same thing except we just moved onto our property a few months ago after the well septic and power station building…. Been a wild ride but picking Signature Solar for our power out of Texas was the best decision we ever made!

[@skippyjl1]

Absolutely excellent! You are achieving way beyond expectations👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻 absolutely excellent

[@jermania7467]

Keep up the great work! It's coming along nicely and I can't wait to see it in it's completion.

[@adammattosjr]

Awesome information once again! Always coming through with the best pros and cons videos!

[@FrugalOffGrid]

Thank you Adam.

[@RobXDandy]

Being able to fully customize your tiny house to exactly how you imagine it is super dope! You get exactly what you want!

[@toddswitzer6799]

This is a massive topic that gets little attention when going off grid. I was pinched for time so it was a choice between buying a small camper or building a mini cabin. The 200 sq ft cabin won out and for less than 5k and 6 weeks it served as my home for 2 years. I've no a single regret on building my own. Now I'm on to my bigger better home. I thought I'd just tear down the original cabin but it works so well that it's become my guest cottage. If it was a shed from a big box store I'd have scrapped it by now but it still serves the purpose it was built for because it's customized to my location. If you have construction skills as Frugal Off Grid does then build a custom cabin, what you learn along the way proves to be invaluable on any future builds.

[@Badgerlife]

I own my 10 acres home and out buildings! I don’t believe in credit! No mortgage company will ever own what I paid cash for

[@FrugalOffGrid]

There's a whole lot of wealth in being able to say that.

[@Badgerlife]

@ and it feels Wonderful!

[@korystewart3799]

I agree and disagree! They say making money takes money and I say never use your money to make money. I am not a communist but in this case to each their own abilities. If you can build do it if you can't have it built. Everything depends on you not your neighbor.

[@deecooper1567]

I like the natural look of wood 💖. And when you build it you KNOW it will last a lifetime 😉 👵🏻❣️

[@chuckspeer2163]

Excellent presentation enjoyed your thoughts, it's what you want and your needs ,why get into to debt, that's what people need to understand , Good foresight john

[@lilviolette121]

Now I'm excited for your fireplace / wood stove. I know I want one when I get off grid. I kinda like the tiny wood stoves.

[@JakeStokes-g3t]

Your addition is looking good

[@brodybey]

There is no need to try and go around the permits! Smart. Resell value and the risk of the county making you tear it down. Keep going Mortgage free and in shape, and learning, and content. ....... proud of you

[@TIsunshineOffGrid]

I absolutely love doing my 🌬️safety meeting and just binging on your channel!! I'm a single person attempting to build my own sandbag home on my property here in New Mexico. I definitely take in a lot of the knowledge you put out for us off gridders 😊

[@timklassen421]

You will enjoy it more when you build it your self .

[@betterlivingonabudget]

This was so interesting and informative. Thanks for sharing the comparisons and your reasons for going with the tiny cabin option. Can't wait to see you move into your new hard-earned home! Do you think the dogs know you're building a new home for the fam?

[@montana4939]

Great information, we love your floor plan for your home .

[@CozmicDragun]

I agree 100%

[@ANTOINETTE-nk1tm]

YES JOHN, YOUR BUILDING THE SMALL HOUSE THE RIGHT WAY. TAKE YOUR TIME AND DO THE JOB RIGHT , WITH THE PROPER INSULATION AND REINFORCEMENTS AND STRONG LUMBER. IT'S COOL MING ALONG GREAT AND I CAN'T WAIT TO SEE IT FINISHED WITH THE FIREPLACE BUILT !!! 😊.

[@barbarar3637]

Shed was best choice for me as I can finish and construct foundation myself but not able to build the shell myself. Did have the opportunity to pay to upgrade the shell construction for local code.

[@JakeStokes-g3t]

I’d be happy with either I love the tiny home idea more then a normal size big house I love the architecture and look an imagination on smaller builds for space and looks

[@rhai8879]

Haaa I started watching and was like damn it I was gonna put a shed on my property... but now I'm scratching my head and also going back to see how you started the build. 😂

[@bzg611]

My county asks fora slab for a shed conversion or tiny home. They do allow living in an rv, but you soon learn that an rv is not ideal for off grid since to remain comfortable you need to be able to heat and cool it and the existing hvac is very inefficient. The most famous shed company that advertises, - I look at them and shake my head. Gaps and poor fitment staples shot with an air stapler, single top plates on and on. My shed builds have been overkill. Haven’t crunched numbers post covid, but both of my shed builds have been better constructed and less cost than a lot purchased shed. That’s with my “ free” labor, but the satisfaction providing you didn’t screw up too much is invaluable, learning as I go and hopefully that improves the process.

[@Nerdy_prepper]

Very very cool man! Nice progress 😎👍

[@levibarros149]

Excellent video!

[@leoshanks7299]

Your a amazing person. Old VET HERE

[@Ifyouarehurtnointentwasapplied]

Its looking great 👏👍

[@schadoffutt3202]

Thank you for your wonderful content.

[@paulmartinez7794]

outstanding!

[@brettoberry3586]

Listen to this man! Cash is the way to go.

[@MelissaMalzahn]

If you are physically capable of building a home it is best. But some people cant physically build so a shed is best for them. ❤

[@LMG-786]

Hi John, bro, I’m almost ready to pull the trigger as I narrow down my property list. You’re so inspiring even though we don’t know each other - thank you for being such a down to earth person. 🤘🏽 appreciate you!

[@ChrisJuel-kd8lk]

I worked as a carpenter I would build my own one piece of wood at a time

[@glentoner3689]

You are doing Great : )

[@delwinchafe976]

love the turn signal ambiance!

[@TommieJean-l4c]

The heater makes that noise❤️

[@leethebee1560]

i have done the same, own my home outright got no payment. Smart move... patient planning pays off. Your retirement plan is ---- PPPO

[@raljame]

For the fourth time we own our home free and clear, this is the first one we paid cash the others where short term loans or lease to own.

[@terrydaly7296]

I would do it the way you are doing it tiny home.

[@johnjenkins9202]

Building it yourself makes it easier to customize it to your own likes and needs. I'm going to use I joists for the floor and roof. They are light and easy to move around by yourself. You can get them in the length you need . My place is going to be 20 x 50 . Bedroom's on the ends and kitchen , living room in the middle. Wide side facing south for a big solar heater to help heat during the day. Solar panels in front of the house. But the over lords say they need to approve of my plans before I can start , along with $3200 for the building permit. Working on that right now.

[@OrionMcKay1]

I’m all for what you’re doing frugal. How ever the tax man cometh once you build. My land with a trailer vs a small house was a extra 1500 in tax and going up to 2300 next year. My neighbor has a metal barn with rv and pays way less . Just a observation and makes you think.

[@JakeStokes-g3t]

Instead of my brother building an addition on to his We our got a 10x20 shed with a small porch Added in a junction box ran Eletric to it put a ac unit in the window, Added insulation Drywall small fridge flooring

[@Cody_Ramer]

i want to ask if you are planning to have some sections of clear roofing on your wrap around porch? there is nothing quite like sitting on the porch in a rocking chair looking up at the stars, or being able to look at the rain coming down. or just sitting in the sun. edit; man you are getting me fired up for building my own house, sadly its winter here( ground frozen, snow, cold af..) i am still working on my house plans though.

[@tjewellm]

What kind of engineer stamped your plans and how did you contact them I live in Arizona as well?

[@triscuitfarms]

Bro, you are going to be moved in before March!

[@TommieJean-l4c]

That 4 foot porch will pay for its self because it protects the house from sun and weather.

[@JakeStokes-g3t]

Instead of my brother building an addition on to his We our got a 10x20 shed with a small porch Added in a junction box ran Eletric to it put a ac unit in the window, Added insulation Drywall small fridge flooring It cost 10k just to purchase the shed but he just had a baby so we didn’t have much time to expand it was convient if it was me I would have built it all I will be building my own tiny home A frame on my own land

[@waynesaller]

You are not comparing apples to apples.Why pay someone to frame out the shed? It doubles the cost. A shed has no stairs. Everything is on one level. Much easier to build.You will soon tire of the stairs. What you built is so much more labor intensive. This is not a put down. It is my thoughts as a former builder. When you finish your build, I have a feeling the cost will be close to a finished shed.

[@Wigington2O25]

Sort of like a rocket mass heater

[@RamblingRodeo]

You should have built an Earthship home

[@Cody_Ramer]

do not buy a shed, they are usually not great build quality, go down in value, are very expensive for what they are, and (i think) worst of all, it looks like a shed.. far far better to build something small as that will go up in value, cheaper, and better built. a 16x40 shed costs 30-35k then you have to insulate ect... you can build a small 16x40 house on a foundation for far cheaper, you are just paying for "convenience" and convenience is very expensive.

[@JamieJohnson-q3f]

Shed r junk what ur building way better and stronger

[@PazLeBon]

not tiny

[@JakeStokes-g3t]

Instead of my brother building an addition on to his We our got a 10x20 shed with a small porch Added in a junction box ran Eletric to it put a ac unit in the window, Added insulation Drywall small fridge flooring It cost 10k just to purchase the shed but he just had a baby so we didn’t have much time to expand it was convient if it was me I would have built it all I will be building my own tiny home A frame on my own land