How Do You Afford Off Grid Living?

[@davidbooher5559]

It’s not about how much you can live with, but what you can live without.

[@7kinhomestead]

I think in the context of the modern, work a day world that's true but I've always wondered if you could have everything you want without all the pitfalls by doing it differently. Playing a different game. Something to ponder.

[@seansimone-e6k]

You are a fine example of a true American. Now folks, that is the American dream.

[@7kinhomestead]

Well thank you sir!!

[@Prepper1872]

Love the back story man

[@7kinhomestead]

Thank you!! 👍

[@Prepper1872]

@ not a problem I love watching people live their dream I’ve always wanted to do the off grid scene I have plenty of stuff for it just to scared to try in today’s economy

[@shanewilson765]

Nice to see a down to Earth Homesteader.

[@7kinhomestead]

Well thank you.

[@terryravey2248]

its not how much you got; its what you do with what's you've got.

[@7kinhomestead]

For sure!!

[@john-o1g9p]

i hear you, my brother. we paid cash for a house in longmont colo in 2013 [ thanks mom's estate!]. i was working and all was fine. fast forward to today. she has passed, i was too broken to work anymore. prop taxes from 1600 to 3800. insurances, taxes, and fees across the board doubled and tripled. ditto for utilities. i held off on ss. and have gone thru the savings. the upside is i am retiring to off grid land in spring. the housing market is as insane as your cali prices. my 234k house is going to net 525k. the land is over 100 acres and the prop taxes are 416/year. i can live with that. tired of giving my $ to others and the dog and i will live in the truck while we build our place. glad i found you, pleased to subscribe. keep up the good work!

[@7kinhomestead]

Wow, well it sounds like things are going to be peaceful and manageable soon. I've always considered that the dream. Best of luck on your adventure and welcome to the homestead!!

[@claytontheriault1352]

you are absolutely right about reducing the need for money is the solution to being able to afford this lifestyle. we bought our land a few years ago and started buying building materials as we could afford it. Started building last spring and made the move this fall. our expenses were slightly higher than yours, but mostly just the cost of the land. our house that we have built entirely ourselves was less than 1/10 the cost of a friend's who built at the same time as us. I've never felt as at peace with my life as I do now...living a simple life off the grid with no debt and almost no bills. I work part-time and my wife works a seasonal job a few months a year.

[@7kinhomestead]

That's very, very well done. So cool.

[@spudhut2246]

Just found your channel. New viewer here. Excellent video. Former So.Cal resident for 30 yrs. Moved to the south to start our new life, bought some land, started a homestead and that was 5 yrs ago. After long day, working hard and staying dedicated to the goal, we are seeing the fruits of our labor. We're mostly self sufficient and it feels great. Build your sphere of influence, support your community, they will support you. I work everyday. 8 hr workday, 8 hr at home. I wouldn't trade it for anything. My family and life, love our life.

[@7kinhomestead]

That's awesome!! Very well done. Its quite an adventure.

[@chrisbelsito4231]

What state did you move to?

[@51sicboy]

Such a great message. Simple and effective. I truly hope more people come to the same realization.

[@7kinhomestead]

Thank you!! Me too.

[@VeritasOmniaVinculaVincit]

Thanks for the videos, it's nice to see someone talking about the other side of the spectrum in regards to homesteading. Most channels on YT only show / talk about the success and make things look so much easier thn they really are.

[@7kinhomestead]

I agree. That and people talking about how many buckets of money they spent are among my complaints with homesteading content. It makes it seem unattainable to folks. Thank you!! 🙏

[@VeritasOmniaVinculaVincit]

@@7kinhomestead LOL, well I spent half a bucket of money over 10 years, all the little bits add up over time. But, yeah if you go full blown HGTV homestead, you need to have Martha Stewart money.. People see those videos and dream, but reality is a lot different. I see a farm a few miles down the road from me bought by a young couple from New York when the pandemic started, and in three years they built something I could only dream of doing, however they built none of it themselves and know nothing about how to operate it other than what they saw on YT and the internet. I know this for a fact because I am often called upon by them to give advice or assist with something they aren't sure how to figure out. But, they are a very nice couple and learning as they go. My homestead doesn't look fancy or pretty, but it functions and produces and I am still working on it as time goes on trial with new things and refining things 💁

[@tamakoa-homestead]

Love this! We are on exactly the same journey. It's absolutely insane how hard and long we need to work just to pay off someone else's mortgage. Add schools, transport and food and it's clear why we need to be working 10+ hrs a day and our children raised by others 🌻

[@7kinhomestead]

Totally true!! There's a different way and in my opinion, a better one. 😁

[@tamakoa-homestead]

@7kinhomestead yeah, absolutely! Cannot wait to have our own water, sat, meat, fruit, grains and veggies from the land and look forward to learning from you too 🌻

[@crappiesniper]

My first Homesteading Rapper 😳

[@7kinhomestead]

Lol. Maybe 🤔. That honor may belong to will survives though. 😂

[@crappiesniper]

​@7kinhomestead 😂😂😂😂😂 man you make me want to go ahead and try it 🤷🏽‍♂️ getting started seems to be the biggest hurdle.

[@7kinhomestead]

@crappiesniper I think it's just like anything worth doing. The first step is the hardest to take. I always compare it to the saying, "how do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time". If you don't look too far out and handle each thing as it comes up, it's really not that overwhelming. If it's what you want, you can totally do it.

[@UniquelyUbiquitous-yg3xl]

Good God Almighty! Comin’ outta’ the gates SWANGIN’!!!! This is the first video of yours the algorithms have blessed me with and Lo & behold, you’ve got yourself a new subscriber! Droppin’ OutKast lyrics on the world. My very first CD Christmas of 1996. 🙌🏼🙌🏼🙌🏼

[@7kinhomestead]

That's awesome!! Glad to meet you and welcome to the homestead!! 😁

[@williambehrend5452]

Being a skilled man such as yourself you could work 2 or 3 regular work days as an electrican and be set, congratulations my man, I had an uncle tell me 20 years ago it's not expensive to just live,you need to decide how much you want ....

[@5203mhr]

Great job man Love your story and it’s so inspiring to me and hopefully to others .

[@7kinhomestead]

Thanks man, I appreciate that.

[@chadnye8377]

You sir are my hero of the day

[@7kinhomestead]

Well thanks!! 👍🙏

[@CatsHaveCamerasInTheirEyes]

Your contents the best man, my favorite new YT channel.

[@7kinhomestead]

Thank you!! I appreciate that!! 🙏

[@MyUsualMe]

Here here! It's not what you make, it's what you spend. Another creator here doing the same thing. Just in a different niche. Just found you folks and this Gen X'er approves!

[@outdoormary]

Subscribed as soon as you dropped the Andre 3000 quote! Love it, that was hilarious! And I love your outlook on life. Kudos to you for following your dreams!

[@7kinhomestead]

Glad you enjoyed it. Thank you and welcome to the homestead!!

[@whoblowsthere002]

Waiting on closing on our cash purchased cabin "shack" in the middle of nowhere Adirondacks NY So this is VERY relevant to me. It is crazy how close you have to get to pulling the trigger until you finally discover how to ask that right question, "how can I spend waaay less to only need to make just a little" I get probably 15 people per week looking at me with wide eyes asking "what are you gonna do up there?" and the answer is, everything more than ive ever been able to do in the working world!

[@7kinhomestead]

You got this! Best of luck on your adventure 🤞

[@mywildholm]

Well done guys... super impressive

[@7kinhomestead]

Thanks you guys!! 🙏 I appreciate it.

[@misterfedorattv]

The thought occurred to me to put out something useful too! If you're still in the process of looking for land, don't just look online; ask around! Realtors are a good resource as they know the area well, but you can also just ask neighbors! Rural areas usually change hands by direct sales, and the only way you know if someone plans to sell or knows someone who is selling is to ask. Always be respectful, make yourself known, and be polite, you'll be surprised how far you get. Sure there's always people that are gonna tell you to turn right back around and get the hell off their property, just give them a smile and leave. Those people are rarer than you think, and you'd be surprised how often you can just get caught up in talking to someone new! Take it from me, i used to sell insurance door to door and specialized in rural areas to sell insurance to farmers and ranchers. Just make yourself known, be polite, and don't press anyone. Rural areas have long memories, and if you're overly pushy or rude word may get out to not help the weird guy that just *wouldn't* leave. Good luck!

[@7kinhomestead]

Absolutely!! And I was a door to door salesman too. I even met my wife at a door!!

[@unclrogPitcher]

i got dropped off on a piece w/a land contract, axe, shovel, and my framers toolbelt. day worked for neighborhood farms til they learned i could build... lived with nothin for a few years, shack, kerosene til the woodstove, walked to town for groceries that i carried home.... 30 years later, bigger property, old truck, old tractor, chasing firewood and thanking whichever boss paid the SSI behind my back... God's blessings to you all, it aint easy but it beats paying monthly bills..." you can spend all tour time to make a lot of money to get what you want, or you can spend your time getting what you want"

[@7kinhomestead]

That is an awesome story and I agree completely! There is a huge value in just going for it.

[@maryshores6818]

🎉 love this video 🎉

[@7kinhomestead]

I'm glad you enjoyed it!! ☺️

[@jay58007]

REAL TALK session 😂

[@7kinhomestead]

I enjoy making this one.

[@Cody_Ramer]

If i cut everything i can probably get by on 5k a year, i wasnt barebones when i was able to save up money by working 60-100 hour weeks for two years making 38-42k a year, but i was able to save about 30k and pay cash for my small couple acres. And i paid off some debt before starting to save. I used to spend everything i made on useless stuff, i still spend almost everything but now its going towards improvements for my land(fencing, fruit trees, cement mixer, )so i can start building my house next year. If you are willing to work hard and sacrifice you can do a lot on not much money made per year, i typically make 20-24k a year which is half the median wage, i could move to a city and make much more, but then i would have to live in the city... No thanks. If i can do it making very little money, anyone can do it. It just takes time and lots of hard work.

[@7kinhomestead]

Absolutely!! It ain't about what you made but how much you spent. 😂. Well done!!

[@thefpvlife7785]

You are the coolest Hillbilly I’ve ever seen, at least on the internet bud.

[@7kinhomestead]

Thank you! I appreciate that!! 🙏

[@Kimberlyworks-ps2wm]

Anyone that can and is willing to work with their hand can afford properties. If you have to pay someone you end up spending 95% more. The number one key is never say I can't, always say I can and I will. God already blessed us all with much, we just have to make the effort. I am a woman and I repair and remodel all my properties with my hands. If I can, everyone can too.

[@7kinhomestead]

Awesome!! 👍

[@TheOtherSideOfSanity13]

😂 loving your rapping sir🤣 👏🏼

[@7kinhomestead]

Well thank you, thank you very much. 😂

[@guycampbell733]

Yeah wasn't expecting Outkast bars in a homesteading video. subbed

[@KOutOfMyYard]

Finally someone I can relate too👊🏾

[@7kinhomestead]

Great!! Welcome to the homestead!

[@NewHeightsHomestead]

Good tip. Wish I would’ve sold more before moving everything.

[@7kinhomestead]

It just barely got us here. 😂 We ended up having $300 left over when we arrived. All part of the adventure.

[@NewHeightsHomestead]

@ nothing great comes without risk. You guys rock 🎉

[@7kinhomestead]

Ain't that the truth.

[@IdahoHillbilly]

GOOD MORNING just stumbled onto your channel Great and Similar Story 👍 Just Subbed

[@7kinhomestead]

Well thank you!! Welcome to the homestead.

[@7kinhomestead]

I just subbed back!!

[@IdahoHillbilly]

@7kinhomestead 👍🤠👍

[@wildweeds]

Being completely off-grid with very few handyman skills has resulted in more monetary output than I am comfortable with. Working on solving that problem and making some progress!

[@7kinhomestead]

I totally understand. I feel like that happens and you then you decide to research how to do the thing and you muddle through it making all the mistakes and learning by doing, failing and redoing. That was basically what I had to do. I'm amazed at how much I've learned how to do.

[@offgridamy717]

You learn fast if you are driven. My son did but he had a good teacher.

[@macanClouds]

You got me bennt like elbows!!! I think I found my new best friend!

[@7kinhomestead]

Ah, a fellow admirer of the college park "stankonia"? 😂

[@ldygzlle1291]

Not spending money has become a fun game of “sticking it to the man”for me. The less I spend the less trickles up to the top. My credit score is perfect except for the revolving credit part. I get a big fat fail! Yay!

[@7kinhomestead]

It's definitely a different way of thinking about it!

[@ldygzlle1291]

@ yup. I have sought to plug my bucket, like randy vining. kzbin.info/www/bejne/eKixmqGuoL2Brdkfeature=shared

[@wendellsmith1349]

I am sure recent events are making a lot of people look into disconnecting and getting the heck out of dodge . It is cool of you to go over things for them .

[@7kinhomestead]

Thanks!! I appreciate that.

[@tamaracross9]

I'm 37 sec's in and I love you already ❤

[@7kinhomestead]

Thanks!! 😊🙏

[@user-es3zh3jk5o]

I'm selling my home, in the spring, buying property and I'm going to be a homesteader. Can't wait

[@7kinhomestead]

That's awesome!! Best of luck with your adventure!! 🤞

[@Firefly216]

How did you do roughing it with kids? How old where they at the time? Was it a negative experience for them or did it seem to not phase them much at all? My family and I will be moving our kids and camper onto out property next month or so.

[@7kinhomestead]

The kids were 2.5 and 6 months. They loved it and we used any resources we did generate went to making sure the kids had everything they needed. But it was a great time.

[@BoreasCastel]

If children have what they need, love, being understood and accepted, nourishment, safety, opportunity to express themselves, a variety of people to learn with and from, they can handle lacking any want. Nobody out there is a messed up 40 year old because they didn't get to play enough video games or wore ugly shoes.

[@MrJollyRancher0827]

Small world. I’m also in Vegas(for work) looking to move to Idaho or Utah to start a new homestead

[@7kinhomestead]

Nice! Best of luck on your adventure.

[@hoggoutdoors7328]

I hear idaho is getting full 😅

[@MrJollyRancher0827]

@@hoggoutdoors7328 that’s what they say, but I got dreams to fulfill now that the military ain’t telling me where to go

[@aedanhickey5264]

But what do yall do for health insurance?

[@7kinhomestead]

We have coverage through a non profit health share organization. Its better coverage than the for profit rackets, there is no network, any doctor and it's about 30 percent cheaper. When we reduced our expenses to nearly nothing, the little money we do make goes a lot further.

[@candlelightbeesgardening]

Do you have videos on poultry farming? I see ducks and chickens in the background... don't see videos about them tho...

[@7kinhomestead]

I do have some over on TikTok but I'm working on getting all that uploaded here too. I figure there is no shortage of chicken stuff over here, it wouldn't be missed. 😂

[@MosaicHomestead]

SHHH, you are giving away valuable homesteader information 😂...my monthly bill is actually water and power I don't use, it's only $20 a month, I live on peanuts, the savings are used to improve the property...but when people see what I'm doing, they actually think I'm rich 😂.

[@7kinhomestead]

Same here. The assumption is the funniest to me when someone asked me why I don't just buy a thing. 😂

[@UniquelyUbiquitous-yg3xl]

I’m SOLD!

[@7kinhomestead]

Awesome!!

[@kyleharris3]

I've not watched but a couple of your videos but do you show any "homesteading" projects? Or show any "work projects"?

[@7kinhomestead]

Yep, they are buried in there. These videos are mainly from TikTok and I'm getting them uploaded over here.

[@skid4482]

How do you afford not paying a water bill? An electric bill? Home Owners Association dues? A gas bill? 🤣😂🤣

[@7kinhomestead]

Rain water collection for water, no utilities at all coming out here. Solar for power, no dues, no gas. Property is paid off, but the payments were $212 a month. Property tax is $130 per year.

[@KevinFuller-u6l]

Are you for real? Realize what is going on in the world today. This man is telling the truth.

[@skid4482]

@@KevinFuller-u6l For people that are a little slow, its called sarcasm. The title made me laugh as if your off grid, YOUR NOT paying for the things I listed. 😜

[@skid4482]

@@7kinhomestead Great Job! Getting trapped in a subdivision where all you do is pay is what they want. People trapped in these spending their money on growing grass so they can turn around and waste their time cutting it. ROFL American dream? I don't think so. But the Tell-A-Vision programmed them to believe it was the "American Dream". 😁

[@KevinFuller-u6l]

@skid4482 okay you got me. Thank you for the laugh it made my day.

[@LoWsDominios]

People are so disconnected from reality because of centraliced high density cities and the way society works. It has always been about how much you spend, not how much you earn. My granpa told me that. The less you need, the more free you are.

[@7kinhomestead]

Absolutely!!

[@VictorVLor-pd4yr]

What dog breed is that?

[@7kinhomestead]

He's a husky but I suspect he has some wild in him because he's big. 100#+

[@kajersonvlog]

Hi I'm your new viewer and subs. Are they doing that here in canada?

[@7kinhomestead]

Thanks and welcome to the homestead!! Billyland doesn't operate in Canada but I think there are several that have been mentioned in chats. If you Google "raw, undeveloped, owner financed land in your province" and there should be some results. Good luck 🤞

[@TinyGoHomes]

I have a small business that funded my tiny home. I now have a low cost of living but I’m not sure if I want my own property. The math on paper shows I can’t get any cheaper than what I have currently as a renter. Would cost me almost 3x to have the same situation and be the owner. 🤷‍♂️ most people pay taxes higher than my rent per year and my tiny home is on a 100 acre property. Not sure if anyone else has noticed this. I want a property of my own but it doesn’t make financial sense over all.

[@7kinhomestead]

I get that. I think it depends on the situation. We're on 7 acres that butts up to BLM land in a reserve trust so it will never be used for anything. Our property tax is $131 per year. The property was paid off a few months ago at $212 per month so now it's just that tiny tax amount.

[@TinyGoHomes]

@ that’s definitely cheap 👍 tax wise. I can’t find anything like that here and anything like it is super deep away from civilization to the point gas cost and making money become a serious issue. I pay 500$ a month inclusive and get internet, power, water, catch and cook fishing, xtra parking, storage. No grass cutting bills, no snow removal bills. It’s the over all part that seems to kill the math for me. My landlord just had to pay me 750$ to do his leaves for him. What he has here is amazing, don’t get me wrong. He is honestly running around like a chicken with his head cut off trying to keep up with it. It’s one of the reasons why I’m here to begin with, it’s too much for him alone to take care of. My 6 grand a year helps keep his boat afloat.

[@7kinhomestead]

@TinyGoHomes I totally get it.

[@glennmorganfan9411]

I have no idea how/if I could ever do this. I have too many expenses that I can't get away from.

[@7kinhomestead]

I understand. Who knows, maybe something changes for you? 🤔 Either way. Best of luck with whatever you do.

[@glennmorganfan9411]

@@7kinhomestead Thank You!! ...and I HOPE something changes!! (I know some things CAN'T, but others I hope do.

[@carsonp.7009]

I bet a lot of people didnt recognize the reference in the beginning lol, get your freakin shinebox and your sack of nickels

[@7kinhomestead]

It tickles... 😂 Yeah, over here yes but over on TikTok, it slapped. 😆

[@zak_collings_offgrid]

I used my inheritance for my land and rv. Probably going to end up working at family dollar pretty soon 😂. Certainly not making it as a content creator.

[@7kinhomestead]

I understand. The moment I started blowing up over on TikTok was the moment I stopped showing people what this life was like and started showing people how to accomplish it themselves along with all the lessons I learned along the way. We are now at 700k follows over there. You can do it, it just takes bring a ton of value to your community. That's the trick.

[@zak_collings_offgrid]

@ I’ll have to put in some time before I can start giving any advice. For now my only value is that I’ve made a couple people laugh.

[@7kinhomestead]

@zak_collings_offgrid well we all need that too. 😂

[@misterfedorattv]

First!

[@7kinhomestead]

Checkered flag!! 🙌 Woohoo 🎉

[@johnjenkins9202]

Life is a lot cheaper with out rent and elc bills

[@7kinhomestead]

It sure is. Then reduce food shopping, the costs associated with driving to a brick and mortar job, buying lunch out and whatnot. Modern life is expensive.

[@thezaytsevs]

Funny guy lol

[@7kinhomestead]

I do my best!! 💪😌 Lol

[@stevecole2400]

It's all good until you have a medical emergency or a dental emergency that will change your need for money but if you stay healthy and don't ever need that then this is a doable lifestyle

[@7kinhomestead]

or, you just go to the dentist and or doctor. when you don't need a lot of money to survive, the money you do make goes a lot further. We have coverage. We found a health share company that is significantly cheaper that standard insurance and actually has better coverage all due to the fact its a non profit. there are lots of ways to solve problems. spending a ton of money on it is just one way.

[@denisestarr2314]

Omg $4500 month just to live !

[@7kinhomestead]

I mean, for a family of 4 at the time living in southern California, rent utilities, gas, food. I don't think that's too far out of reality with most folks.

[@hereweare9011]

KZbin money.

[@7kinhomestead]

Lol, I got monetized on KZbin last Thursday. 😂

[@markbrown2296]

Did you not have enough watch hours? You certainly have the subscriber count.

[@7kinhomestead]

@markbrown2296 yeah I didn't have the watch hours. We have a very big following on TikTok (700k) so most of our subscribers over here just came over from there in case the van goes through but didn't really watch anything over here. Add that to us having not made yt the priority and we had a basically dead channel. Now, we're bringing it back to life and focusing more on making new long form for KZbin. Its what we always wanted to do anyway. We just got a little distracted. 😂

[@markbrown2296]

@@7kinhomestead Thanks for the reply and I wish you the best of success.