💰The EXACT COSTS of Starting a Homestead from Scratch on a Budget 🐓

How much did we pay for our property? Ways we have SAVED MONEY and how much have we SPENT the first 3 month setting up our homestead to become more self-sufficient. Plus our NEW SUPER LOW MONTHLY BUDGET.
I share it all here!
So, how much💰do you think it is going to cost to drill a well? 🥴🤣
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[@raisingwildflowers]

How to Buy Land for a Self-Sufficient Homestead 🐓 🍅 🌽 kzbin.info/www/bejne/n3_ZeZiCdpx8hbcsi=g64D6k3no99KrLMe

[@amydecker6207]

Katie! You got a tractor! That is awesome! You could consider hosting hayrides with the tractor every October. If you plant a pumpkin patch, you could sell pumpkins as well. It would be a great way to recoup the cost of the tractor over a few years.

[@JasonPowers-rw8rf]

When everything hits the fan you could trade for food to let them rent your tractor! Pumpkins are easy to grow in hayrides are a huge hit! Huge

[@raisingwildflowers]

A pumpkin patch sounds like such a fun idea! I also want to grow a million sunflowers🌻😂

[@Beth_Agnes_Casey]

I live 5000ft elevation in southern Arizona on 6 acres. Bought the 6 acres raw so had to put well, septic and have the house built. Our well had to go down a minimum of 350ft to get water. Our well total cost $15k - “well” worth for a hopefully 🤞 a lifetime of water 💦 Also, the peace of mind with good, well water for us and not relying on city water for our garden & farm animals in todays world, is priceless 👊🏻

[@christinecortese9973]

Hey friend, I’m up on the rim with a well. Prior owners paid $12k just for the pump before I bought the place. Sounds like you got a good deal there!

[@Beth_Agnes_Casey]

@@christinecortese9973 hello neighbor. We do get a lot more rain than the rest of Arizona. I’m in Elgin/sonoita area 👍

[@denisewilson8367]

I didn't see propane costs. Auto insurance? The solar generator cost, solar panels? The laundry mat charges $8 per washer, and it's 25 cents x3= $0.75 to start the dryer, but usually $4 = $5 to get one load dry. How can you do laundry for a toddler & 2 adults for 4 weeks for $10? How much is each washer and how much for each dryer?

[@raisingwildflowers]

@denisewilson8367 Propane is about $27 every 3 months or so. We are just using it for cooking right now so are using very little and will not need to fill it up this month. Car insurance was included in the budget. The solar panel and battery we had prior to moving onto the property (and was actually given to me by the company to review because of my KZbin channel). Our laundromat charges $2 for a load of wash and we hang-dry the clothes at home. I hand-wash laundry between trips.

[@thehuntschool196]

Have you ever had your well water tested? A lot of Az ground water is elevated in arsenic and wouldn’t be great for consumption without treatment.

[@lilly6766]

I dont think your cat dislikes your kittens. It was all soft Paws, no claws. It looks like just parenting / correcting manners. ❤❤❤ very cute!

[@chasingsimpledreams]

I agree she is just reminding him she’s older and therefore wiser, lol. Defly was using soft paws. Super cute

[@Intotheout.]

You’re so informative, attractive, and kind hearted… absolutely appreciate your time. I hope you, & your family thrive. You’re doing awesome work.

[@raisingwildflowers]

Thank you so much! 😊

[@ericwitt4586]

I agree she is an attractive woman and smart too !

[@fishinghole333]

I'm so proud of y'all for all your accomplishments and hard work so far! My husband, daughter and I have s 25 acre homestead, and i would humbly suggest that you hang onto that tractor unless you absolutely have to sell it. We have a similar one, and it has turned out to be a necessary workhorse for us. It pulls heavy loads without getting bogged down in wet areas. With a hay fork attachment, you can move large rolls of hay. You'll need to plow, drag and scrape your land more than you can imagine right now. Because of what we've learned, i cringed a little when you said you were thinking about selling it. But it seems y'all are very intelligent, common sense people, so I'm sure you're making the best decision for the facts in your situation. I hope you are blessed in the work of your hands and the dreams in your hearts.

[@ashleybosvik3031]

I agree with you about the tractor

[@pfe3883]

I would kindly suggest to not sell the tractor. If you have property, it will have lots of uses over the years. You got a really good deal on it also even though it wasn't working, you got it for not much more than the price of scrap metal.

[@MsLuLu03]

I definitely agree with you on hanging onto the tractor. Lots and lots of unexpected uses and situations will inevitably arise. 😊

[@nt6719]

Thank you for sharing costs so far including the cost of the land.

[@truthseeker2718]

That shower is awesome great idea

[@lunchhooks2253]

I am really digging this homestead series. And more chickens please! :)

[@jennifermunn6898]

I love y’all’s adventures and the heart yall have for animals ❤ taking in the kitty, and the older animals like the donkey and horse❤ you guys are so smart beyond your years, your living your best life and have it figured out ❤can’t wait for more videos!!🎉

[@GrannyLinn]

I’m enjoying this so much! I dreamed of doing it, even bought 10 acres in the Ozarks, but my (then) husband decided against it and now I’ve definitely aged out! This is bringing out all those old dreams.

[@favored4life]

It's never too late. Hire a caretaker or have them live on the property to do the work you want.

[@richardhanes7370]

How have you aged out? I bought an abandoned farm and have been fixing things slowly while I live on it. This is my retirement plan, to work the farm

[@GrannyLinn]

@@richardhanes7370 I’m way past retirement (which, by the way, is very nice, wherever you are)!

[@bradlafferty]

You and your husband are terrific in the long-term execution of your homestead building plan/strategy! Appreciated the breakdown of expenses and expectations of future costs. Look at diy your own well if the water table is high (see Bush Radical’s channel). Thanks.

[@donnaallison7462]

Your both doing a great job!When i was a young adult me and my brother and dad hand dug our septic tank and lines by hand which saved a hugh amount of money and just had the tank dropped in.

[@MsLuLu03]

Love how you are sharing your journey. Having a small homestead has been a dream of mine for several years.

[@MadisonBriggsArtchick]

Great job on adding a shower and expanding your garden!!!

[@laurab7379]

I am so impressed with all you have done! I know you will have a wonderful homestead, you have done so much so far! Very exciting, love your budgeting and meals! So happy you took the kitty in he is beautiful! Yes, the older one is the boss! LOL! Geez a septic tank I am guessing between $8,000 and $10,000, hopefully your area is less but necessary 1 time cost and will make your life easier having water and sewer! Wishing you the best future!

[@morninggloryfarmstead]

I say about 16-20k for the well. Could be more. Love the cats. So glad you helped the kitty! 🥰

[@bonessam9618]

Our well cost $7,000. They went down 99 ft. Our septic/mound system cost $25,000. It's almost a given in our area that one needs a mound system. It takes up so much space and cost a lot. I'm not sure how much to guess where you live. I hope it's $10,000 or less. Thanks for sharing all of the info. Everything adds up quickly, even when you diy or find things on the cheaper side.

[@TheowlFreedompharms]

Love your videos! I stumbled across your videos and started saving over $2000 a month! And am living debt free! Thank you!

[@raisingwildflowers]

Congrats!!!

[@ic1238]

I love your videos! And I think what I love the most is that you keep on going with your beliefs despite all opinions people try to impose on you! You are an inspiration!❤🎉 here commenting for the algorithm!

[@Intotheout.]

You’re so awesome for how clear you are, thanks for video, and your time. New sub xo

[@Sunshine-zi4nq]

You are definitely keeping your expenses very low. But I wonder how your insurance is only 28 dollars. Is that for all of you? How much coverage could you get for that amount? What happens if one of you suddenly needs hospitalisation or ongoing treatment for a condition? In life these things happen.

[@nesadcruz7840]

Right, arent you afraid of funding medical emergencies?

[@lindawilson8434]

She is probably on welfare The taxpayer pays

[@PaulJ-et4on]

Go,go,go , you're doing a great job. It's always a lot of work. But look how far you have gone. And in another few years, wow. Yes, a greenhouse and an outdoor kitchen is a great idea. You guys are on the right track. Being independent is a wonderful feeling once your setup. You're children are learning so much

[@lindc1070]

Your chickens are lucky. They have a cosy home.❤

[@Intentional-frugality]

Kitties 🐈‍⬛ are so beautiful 😻

[@hilo4noff1]

We're 10 years ahead of you in the Ozarks. We did the catchment also and after the house roof added to catchment we've never come close to running out of water. Plus our appliances and faucets get replaced bc we want something new. Not from the hard well water build up. From our perspective, the upfront costs of drilling a well, the ongoing water conditioning or softening then filtering before drinking is just not worth the money. We have 4 ibc totes, 2 above ground for bulk catchment, then 2 in the ground as a cistern. We transfer to the ground as we have room. This goes through an RV hose attached filter then into the house through a uv sterilizer. Granted this is even overkill as the water falling from the sky is already distilled and our first flush system gets rid of roof debris and chem trail dust. We're about 2k all in for the best water in the world. When people come visit they can't believe how well and clean the feel after a shower. We picked up the catchment bug in Hawaii. Where everyone drinks from a doughboy pool outback. Obviously it took some adaptations in an area where we get real winters but we will never go back to well water again.

[@kkj822]

You guys are so smart, I love your videos.

[@WaywardAbode]

Another video I want to thank you for! I would like to do a miniature version of what you're doing and am trying to understand what I need to get started. This definitely helps. ❤

[@ashleybosvik3031]

Your well will probably cost about $20,000 .

[@user-rf1zf5jb9c]

I would like to say that I love that ya'll are doing it all yourself. I have always been that way, learned it from my grandpa I think. With that being said, there are ways to dig the well yourself and save you many thousands of dollars. I am not sure about where you live if that is allowed, but I am most certain that you two are more than capable of at least attempting to find videos and figure it out. And another suggestion would be not to sell the tractor. You may not find another one if you decide later that you need it. It's like your savings account. Keep it and if you get into a bind, then you can sell it later, but there are many uses for it besides just mowing. You can attach a small trailer to it and use it to haul things around the property, or even give the baby a hay ride. Thanks for another great video, see you on the next one.

[@raisingwildflowers]

It’s really not possible to drill our own well. We were going to but have done a LOT of research and between the rocks and the depth of the water table, we will almost certainly be wasting our money trying 🫠

[@gurrrrlish]

i am in Boston area (expensive capital of the universe).... drilled a well - it was very very deep 450ft +... 7K (included installing the actual well pump machinery -- - took 2 days of drilling... not cheap but \ one imagines that it would be cheaper in your area but who knows - - they may hit water - - but it needs to pass tests to be acceptable... so then they dig deeper till perfect water is hit

[@marieparks5674]

I think a tractor would be so useful on your land, for hauling and general stuff.

[@cjengland2365]

Yeah! Been hoping for this video. I saw him on the tractor in an earlier video. Glad he could fix it cause that was a good deal and quicker than using a rotortiller. My guess on drilling a well with pump and all at about $10k.

[@jonathanjacques7250]

Don't get rid of the tractor.

[@michelleh5727]

I'd guess 15-25 thousand dollars for the well.. very expensive.. but I know it also depends on how deep that they have to drill to hit water...

[@robert4027]

outdoor shower in the winter must be fun LOL

[@artisticagi]

6:30 this is smart to just run the outdoor shower off a solar battery

[@janicemunro2458]

We had a well and pipped the water into the house from the well, for as long as i can remember, until recently when we had to go on the main public water.

[@JasonPowers-rw8rf]

Keep the tractor!!! EMP proof. It's a blessing you can actually fix it doesn't have a computer

[@carolined3058]

Keep the tractor it will come in handy to move heavy stuff .

[@urbanitesgarage3299]

I agree with what you said about being able to save alot of money if youre able to fix up old equipment, i have bought many many many machines fixed them up and when i get the better model im able to make a profit and have a better machine

[@barbhopell1649]

You guys are awesome. Thank you for the tour and explaining your budget!

[@CassieDavis613]

Thanks for the homestead playlist.

[@ClairenParkerontheRoad]

Wow I'm amazed at all the progress you guys are making!

[@antoinettepeeps2640]

Love your content!

[@DeannaLee]

It is nice to see adventurous people not afraid of a bit of work. If I were younger this is something I would love to do. So many folks have no patience and want it all now qnd not be willing to work for their goals. Starting a homestead and budgeting to get it is inspiring.

[@user-hw8jx2pf1o]

Great job 👏

[@LL-wu8zt]

Your property is beautiful!

[@AnaViolinViola]

I enjoy watching your videos…although my lifestyle is the opposite 😂 (living in a megapolis, in a very small flat, no kids, no pets)

[@pagardener2953]

I’m in the burbs but love watching too 🙂

[@Shobyw]

You guys have been working very hard and need to be good to yourself more! You are doing very well in a very short time!

[@DJMOM3NTUM]

Thanks!

[@raisingwildflowers]

❤️ Thank you!

[@rebacarmack8335]

I think you guys are making really smart decisions

[@ericdpeerik3928]

I wouldn't sell that tractor until you have a new one. I don't think you realise how many things you can do yourself with a tractor. Or you can just use it to get around the property and haul things.

[@anthonybaroni3285]

I would think the starting price for the well is $10,000???

[@ZXX984]

Hi Katie. First of all, the budget book you recommended help me pay off my vehicle 4 months early and shows a better picture where our money goes. I found this video very interesting and informative for the mentioned subject even though my family is pretty well settled in our house in Florida. If some circumstances arise that make living there, then we may move back to NY. This regarding health issues or God forbid something happens to one of us. Thank you.

[@raisingwildflowers]

Congrats on paying off your car!! I love the budget book so much! ❤️

[@TampasCreekHomesteadandMore]

Omg...this is the video i needed. Thanks for sharing this with us. I've just purchased raw land in the Ozarks, and i don't know what im doing. But im excited about starting our homesteading journey.

[@raisingwildflowers]

Congrats on your property!! No one ever knows what they are doing until they do it … We certainly didn’t 😂 You got this 💪

[@TampasCreekHomesteadandMore]

@@raisingwildflowers 🤣You are so right. Thank you ☺️

[@davebrooks2942]

If I had a year-round spring on my property that's where I would be getting my water

[@loriellis9410]

The well will depend on the depth it get dug at but i would guess starting round 15K. Great start to the homestead and keeping costs down.

[@janicew6222]

We recently put in a well on rural ground, it was $10,000. This wasn't plumbed to a house. It was our best quote. Very good price on your land, not sure you could have done this here in Indiana.

[@donnamaas5122]

😊😊

[@denisewilson8367]

Just remember you can only charge 18 miles of "hot" wire. You have to measure each strand of wire. So, if you have 3 strands of wire 300 ft long = 900 ft then your garden fence 3 wires 100 X 50 = and 900 ft so your total so far is 1,800 ft in this example. You don't want your fence running over 75- 80% of your total allowable footage.

[@raisingwildflowers]

You are correct! But 18 miles is a looong way, even with multiple strands of wire. I don’t think we could ever get close to overloading it on our little 7 acres 😆

[@GrannyLinn]

Our well was charged by how far down they had to drill to hit water. It was a bit more than the estimate. (South Texas)

[@yankeemom3579]

How much are your yearly taxes there? Where did your 2 daughters go? LOL You got a lot done in a little time!

[@raisingwildflowers]

Taxes are $400/yr before we develop the land or apply for an agricultural exemption. We’ve decided to keep my older kids lives more private now that they are teens/young adults. I did a video a bit ago explaining 😊

[@nanar.8088]

I'm guessing between 4 & $5000.00. To get well, septic and foundation probably looking at $20, 000.00

[@MadisonBriggsArtchick]

Curious what you do with the chickens since you are plant based. Are you selling eggs?

[@raisingwildflowers]

I am planning on doing a video discussing the chicken eggs! It is one of my most asked questions 😊

[@shariburns6263]

I believe you said you will heat your house with wood? Have you started on stacks of firewood yet so they can dry for a year?

[@rachaelsupadventures]

Good afternoon Katie❤ Where did you get your roof material for the lean to and about how much did it run? Also your gutters.

[@raisingwildflowers]

We found the metal roofing on Facebook marketplace. A roofer was selling it as leftover material from some of his jobs. We paid around $2/sqft. It was 2 different colors but worked for us 😂 The gutters we bought new at Home Depot and they were not cheap 🙃

[@rachaelsupadventures]

@@raisingwildflowers That is so great that you find so many amazing things on Facebook market place. I never find anything lol I would not care about the color either! I know on August 23 and 24 I think they have like a city wide yard sale and I am saving up for it! lol

[@ericwitt4586]

What kind of water heater is in y’all’s shower house and how much did it cost ? I need to replace the one in my off grid cabin thanks Eric from North Georgia 😀

[@melindaatkins11]

Well cost $6,000 maybe 🤔

[@queenali91]

I’d love to do something like this but I don’t have any family or friends to do it with lol. I wouldn’t want to shoulder all of the work and expenses alone :(

[@SandraHay-kp3sc]

She likes the kitten on her terms ha ha

[@chasingsimpledreams]

I’m going to guesstimate at 30k for the well!

[@carolwoodward6141]

We live SE of Richmond. Well drilling companies are backed up for months. Cost will vary based on how deep it has to be drilled. Not a well expert, though I have had one for 38 years.

[@raisingwildflowers]

The first well company we called was booked for a YEAR 😮 Everyone is so busy! Seems like we need to get into the well drilling business 😂

[@carolwoodward6141]

@@raisingwildflowers In our area well companies say they can’t find employees. One family member of a neighbor had their well go dry. They were hauling water for almost a year, before they could get a new well dug. I guess you need to book early to get on waiting list and save like crazy, which I know you can do. I have no idea about the cost. 🤞

[@improvisedsurvival5967]

Really depends on what you have for land what natural resources I has you can use. What the growing zone it is. Whether you choose to do permaculture or a garden. How you get materials to build. If you have trees you can turn into ruff cut lumber to build with. If you’re gonna have animals. You can do a small homestead cheap if you don’t fall into the I need this new $40k tractor now I need the $15k backhoe for it. The $7k brush cutter. Blah blah. you don’t need that. You don’t need a tractor at all if you do permaculture. Just a machete. You don’t need all that .whats point of having a big field to plant if its too much work take care of. Less is more let nature do its thing. Get some goats they will eat the grass and 💩can be composted. Chickens eat bugs and give you meat and eggs. I always laugh at people who spend all kinds of $ they don’t need to spend

[@dart336]

just remember: an idjit cuts random corners and ruins everything. a master carpenter knows which beams are load bearing and what areas need to look pretty. They are plenty of cheap and free things out there, you just need to be willing to spend the time and gas on it.

[@QuietLivingOz]

Great work and what a beautiful farm you have. This would never be $60 000 in Australia! More like $500k or more. Which general part of Virginnia are you in ie zone (not town for your privacy)? Map with the region? Looks beautiful.

[@raisingwildflowers]

We are in SW Virginia in the Appalachian mountains ❤️

[@accidentalhomestead5522]

25k for the well

[@emilrhodes2761]

Great video! You probably answered this in a previous video but do your older daughters still live with you and did Asher get a job outside of the homestead?

[@patticurry565]

No to both questions.

[@lindawilson8434]

It is amazing no outside jobs You tube I guess

[@anitamcclanahan2212]

Where did you get your t-posts from?

[@rictech.]

30,000

[@user-rq5vj5gw8y]

Being Va I would guess your well to be about 73,000.

[@rachelcrossen8136]

I would keep the tractor. We use it all the time. I don’t understand how you only spend $100 on animals. I spend more than that just on one dog and one cat. Not to mention all the “farm” animals.

[@raisingwildflowers]

I’ve thought about doing a video on that! Our horses have “free” pasture grass to graze on right now and the chickens are mostly free-range.

[@Peter-pe6pp]

It wouldnt be possible to buy land that cheaply , even much smaller plots in most developed and even some developing countries. You are able to live on such a low budget because your costs are so low . I know Americans think it is high but it really isnt compared to other parts of the world. Of course prices vary a lot within the US. But that is good as it presents many possibilities. How developed is your area in terms of amenities? I mean your town

[@raisingwildflowers]

We are 5 mins from a smaller town with basically everything - grocery stores, gas, post office, feed store, lumber and building supplies, farmers market, doctors offices, contractors, etc. It’s a touristy town so lots of restaurants and shopping too 😆 Everything is small-business owned. We are 45 mins from a big city with hospitals and corporate stores (Home Depot, Walmart, etc).

[@bucklanders5946]

I've been looking for a good app to download to keep track of expenses. Do you have any recommendations?

[@jilld.5626]

Will you remain off grid once the well and septic system are installed? Will you just use solar power or tie into the grid? Great videos!

[@raisingwildflowers]

We are going to connect to city electric while we are building, but will be adding full solar to run the house 😊

[@dommywantstoknow]

You could barely get an acre for 60k in Ireland, and the regulations for living on your own land are ridiculous here. Best of luck building your dream homestead, it's looking great so far, lovely peace of land

[@ginnypeckham4022]

The regulations are also very strict in the UK. It's very difficult to get permission to build on rural land.

[@nesadcruz7840]

Off grid living is illegal in some countries like Singapore as we arent rural . But If anyone has nowhere to live the govt will provide a cheap rental flat for a Nominal sum like 30 dollars a month. In fact one man found living off grid a few years back was relocated this way.

[@Loraleijean]

I think the well will be $14,000.

[@jillgott6567]

Are your older children still with you

[@donaldstaudt3197]

$8k to $15 k well

[@JamieWayz]

Good video but theres no such thing as hot water heater! Why would u heat hot water? Its just a water heater

[@raisingwildflowers]

Here in the south it’s a hot water heater 😉😂

[@ragdollpreppers2648]

Kittens name ?❤❤❤

[@raisingwildflowers]

Rafiki - it means “friend” in Swahili - and is also the name of the baboon in The Lion King 😆

[@ragdollpreppers2648]

@@raisingwildflowers oh my goodness what a CUTIE I LOVE IT

[@JasonPowers-rw8rf]

$10,000 for a well.???????

[@MadisonBriggsArtchick]

What is your cell phone cost?

[@raisingwildflowers]

We have paid upfront for a year of Mint Mobile, which came out to just $15/mo per line (so $180/yr).

[@GeraldYoder-ee3ov]

sell your horses. keep your tractor you wont regret.

[@raisingwildflowers]

I would