Tackling The Downsides Of Living Off-Grid
Recently, we spoke about off-grid living and what it entails. As a brief recap, we’re talking about the idea of taking yourself away from the hustle and bustle of urban life. You tend to live out in the countryside without hoards of people around you. It’s your intention to be more self-sustainable, finding renewable energy sources and growing your own food. The whole idea is to save money and save the planet.
No doubt there are some big advantages of living off the grid, but what about the downsides? Of course, it won’t be the perfect situation for everyone. So, today’s post will take a look at the slightly less impressive elements of living off-grid and how you can tackle them.
High initial costs
Talk to anyone that’s tried living off-grid and they’ll explain that it initially costs a lot of money. There are many things to set up – like your water supply, a renewable energy system, etc. All of these elements cost a sizeable chunk of cash, which can put many of you off.
However, you need to view things through a long-term lens. Yes, there will be some high initial costs, but off-grid living pays for itself and then some. The more time you spend off-grid, the more money you save – and you have a chance to make some back through renewable energy schemes or farming. Don’t let the initial costs worry you; it works out as a more affordable way of living in the long term.
You’re quite isolated
Living off-grid can feel quite lonely at times. You have no friendly neighbours and the nearest town is a fair drive away. It means most of your time is spent alone or with your family. Moreover, being isolated also puts you at an increased security risk. Sure, it takes a while for someone to find your home, but the lack of neighbours makes it easier for people to sneak up and attempt to steal things.
Countering isolation is simple. Firstly, make an effort to schedule social time with friends or family members every week or month. Just because you’re off-grid, that doesn’t mean you can’t still go back to town and see people. Secondly, sure up your home security. Consider putting fences up with barbed wire and installing security cameras. Sites like Sightmark also do binoculars that are good for keeping an eye out for intruders if you suspect something at night. You can spot them from afar, allowing you to take action before they have a chance to cause any issues.
Lots of manual work
Finally, a possible downside of off-grid living is the amount of manual work involved. You have to be very active all the time – and you must learn some key skills to survive. If you’ve never been good at DIY or manual work, this can be a huge change for you.
As with everything, practice makes perfect. You have to grind it out in the beginning, but once you learn new skills the work feels natural!
All in all, the biggest concerns revolve around adjusting to this new way of life. It can be hard in the beginning, but the longer you live off-grid the easier it gets.
