Is it possible to live off the grid with no money? Yes and no. You need money to start, and that means buying land. If you have money to start your off grid homestead that usually starts with the land purchase. Then you build your off grid cabin on your own land. Technically speaking, you don’t need money to “live there”…except for property taxes, (and homeowners insurance if required in your area). Also you may have to live relatively primitively to live off the grid with no money.
UPDATE: About the money thing. Unless you’re gifted land, inherited land or you steal it, there’s no way to get land for free without some kind of monetary investment, whether it’s directly out of your pocket, or someone else’s. There are places in the USA and abroad that are giving away free land. This sounds good at first glance. Until you read the fine print. “Free land” comes with a price. Usually that prices is to build a very specific type of home within a period of time dictated by the land agreement that is usually governed by the county or state (province or region) where the land is offered.
Most of these free land deals come with major restrictions and may or may not allow you to build the kind of home you’ve like to build. Worse, they may restrict your ability to grwo your own food and have a backyard garden. And most likely, they do not allow livestock, which means you cannot raise chickens, pigs or cows for food. Most of the free land that I’ve seen listed have a plethora of rules and regulations and stipulations and prerequisites the prohibitions that don’t make it a good fit for the traditional off grid lifestyle.
Save Money on Labor By Doing It Yourself
If you do all the labor yourself and are a capable physically fit and handy person, good with working with your hands and have the stamina and fortitude and willpower to keep building yourself through the YEARS it’s going to take you to build your off grid cabin, barn, pig stalls, chicken coops, horse stables, and a place to house your cows.
There are many things you need to become 100% self reliant, self sufficient and to live completely and utterly off grid, disconnected from all public utilities.
One of your main hurdles to off grid living is the law
EPA and health and safety regulations prevent the dumping of human waste, trash, and other harmful chemicals etc., into the ground. And these are good rules to follow. No one likes people who disrespect nature by polluting it. Having said that, there are a lot of rules and regulation the govern the building of your own log cabin or setting up you tiny house. These include zoning regulation, permits, fees, etc. You will need money to start your off grid homestead. A large sum to pay off the land and you need to pay for all the tools and equipment needed to build and maintain your homestead. Purchase the initial seeds and livestock for your garden, greenhouse, and farm area for the pigs chickens and cows you will be using to sustain yourself with food for you and your family.
It All Takes Money To Start
It takes money to get started, but if you are clever, do a lot of planning, and do most, if not all the labor yourself, you can LIVE off grid with no money. You can build your own off grid cabin with no money…for materials. Like the logs for and lumber. You can avoid materials costs by choosing the right land with all the resources you need to build with.
You must have money to start and all the tools and equipment you need to last you for the duration you’re planning on living off the grid.
How long do you plan to live off the grid?
I this a permanent move for you and your family? Have you discussed this with your wife/husband/partner and children if any to see how they feel about it? If you plan to live off grid with no money you will not have the money to pay for amenities such as internet, cell phone, or cable TV. You can have a radio to listen to music, but without a connection to the outside world, entertainment will be scarce. No more Netflix or Prime video or Hulu, or any of that.
Solar Power, Water & Septic System
We’re going to assume you will be producing your own power and water and dealing LEGALLY with waste disposal. There are sometimes fees involved with that unless you live so far out on the wilderness that you can have an outhouse, vault toilet or even a composting toilet. Your septic system is a BIG DEAL and could cost more money long term. Especially if you don’t do your due diligence when making your land purchase.
Could you go live in a cave or a tent and not worry about it? Sure, but likely you’ll be breaking some kind of law regarding septic/waste disposal and environmental laws. There are regulations on the books that prevent you from living off the land in the wilderness. Most people don’t want that kind of rugged lifestyle, but some do.
Property Taxes Are Basically Rent You Pay To The Government For The Privilege of “Owning Your Own Land”
You gotta pay property taxes. Property taxes which are due each month/year. It might be low in a rural agricultural area that’s zoned for agriculture/forestry/timberland etc., but you’ll still have to pay property taxes. Maybe a few hundred dollars a year up into the thousands depending on where you are.
Your Off Grid Land
The land, if paid for in cash will produce for you and your family if you spend the time to research and find the right off grid land to buy. It’s going to cost money upfront. You’re going to spend at least a few tens of thousands of dollars for the land, building permits, and septic, water testing, title search/insurance, homeowners insurance (if required by law) plus all the other incidental costs involved in land/home ownership.
Unless you live like a mountain man or survivalist, primitively, then no. There’s really no way to live off grid with no money.
There are ongoing expenses you will have to pay regardless of where you live off grid. Sorry. That’s just the way it is.
If you can figure out a way not to have to pay the annual fees involved with keeping an off grid homestead running, legally, then please let us know. If you have an idea that might work, feel free to comment below.
Can you live off grid with no money? The short answer is no. Unless you live primitively like a mountain man.
***
