How to Get Out of the City and Live Off-Grid
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While living in cities offers some environmental benefits, many of us would prefer to leave the congestion and noise behind and have a quieter life in the country, perhaps on our own smallholding or farm. Not only is it better for our own personal lifestyle, but it may also be better for the planet. The more self-sufficient you can be, the more you can protect mother Earth.
If you’re looking to move off-grid, you might have a long journey ahead of you. Getting out of the city can be expensive, but it’s not as costly as you might think. Better yet, if you can bring your job with you, you can make money wherever there’s an internet connection or local marketplace.
How to Live in the Country
Life in the countryside is different from the city. If you live away from a major urban center, don’t expect wages to be equally high. They won’t be. You can expect to get paid as much as 30 percent less in the country for the same work you do right now.
Don’t let the numbers put you off though. What you lose in income, you gain in the form of lower rents and prices for other services.
Of course, if you’re someone who earns a living via their computer, then your wages should not change if you move location. You can simply transplant your existing job to the new location.
However, if you currently work as an investment banker, you’ll need to find a new line of employment. Goldman Sachs and the countryside don’t mix.
Start an Online Business
One option is to start your own online business. This way, you’re not reliant on physical markets to sell your products. You can just do it over the web.
There are actually a lot of jobs available on the internet that pay decent rates. These include:
Making and selling crafts via sites like Etsy—ideal for country properties that have a lot of space
Writing for content mills, SEO companies and white label agencies
Consulting and coaching -- particularly if you have developed or advanced career skills from a previous job
Education and tuition -- an extremely high-paying area
YouTube and social media content creator
Sales and affiliate marketing
Of course, you can also look for agriculture businesses for sale and make money using these if you have the capital available. Continuing with an existing business is a great way to get cash flowing from day one.
Turn Your City Job Into A Remote Role
Thanks to the pandemic, many people are abandoning the idea of corporate life in search of something more fulfilling. COVID-19 gave everyone time to pause and take stock of their priorities in life. Is it really worth working for fifty hours a week for a high salary if it pins you down and doesn’t give you freedom? Probably not.
You don’t have to join everyone else in the Great Resignation, though. Instead, you can compromise by turning your regular city job into remote work. This way, you get the best of both worlds. You can keep your income (for as long as you need it), and you can move to the country which is where you will be happiest.
Build Self-Reliance Skills
When you’re in the city, there’s always someone willing to meet your needs (so long as you pay them). However, in the country, you’ll need to do more things for yourself, particularly if you want to get off grid and be more independent.
Basic mechanics skills come in handy. You’ll want to learn how to do basic servicing on your vehicle, such as changing a flat tire, winching yourself out of a ditch, and troubleshooting simple problems, like a dead battery. You can, of course, hire somebody to come out and see you, but you might face high callout charges.
If you’re way out in the countryside, you’ll also need to learn cooking skills. In many instances, you won’t be able to just call up your local takeout and order a meal.
Food storage is also an issue. If you’re not able to get to a grocery store daily, you’ll need to experiment with things like drying, desiccating, pickling, salting, freezing and refrigerating. Many of these food preservation techniques are not used in modern time, but they are still highly effective.
Lastly, you’ll want to raise some of your own vegetables. This helps to get a steady supply of calories from high-nutrient foods. You could grow kale, cauliflowers, garlic, onions, turnips, parsnips, and garlic.
