Many people think that when someone says they live off the grid, that person has no money in the bank, doesn’t work, and doesn’t have a penny to his name. This is the most convoluted assessment of living off the grid that people make about others. Living off the grid doesn’t mean not needing money. They still pay taxes, and they would still go to the hospital for medical emergencies. Except for a few, living off the grid means making a conscious effort not to harm the environment, living as naturally as possible, and minimizing unnecessary purchases.
It will also mean living a healthier lifestyle where you eat what you grow. You will spend more time with nature than indoors, glued to your phone and laptop. Save for the time when you have to work (either online or offline). Instead, you’ll be tending to the garden or farm, trying to make sustainable living a reality.
And yet, that doesn’t mean you don’t need money to make this life work. You need money for the crops, the house, and your personal needs. Sure, you’re literally off the power grid, but how can you afford the solar panels if you don’t work? Unless you’re living off a huge inheritance, you still need to make money. How are you going to do that while living off the grid?
Work Online
There are plenty of opportunities online. You can become a content producer, social media marketer, virtual assistant, and many more. Companies need people to work from them online, and you will fill part of that need. However, if you don’t want to be an employee, you can start your own online business. You can become an expert in social media management and marketing and help business owners get their businesses off the ground.
But if you are going to work either full-time or part-time online, you need stable broadband internet. As a backup, you need a portable satellite internet and mobile internet stick. These are for the days when the broadband internet becomes too unstable, and you have to send a message to your team about working offline that day.
Gardening and Farming
A lot of people are into gardening now because of the pandemic. Spending a year cooped up inside the house made them into plant lovers. You can begin gardening for other people if you have a flair for it. Or, if that is not your thing, you can grow plants, flowers, herbs, and produce in your own garden. You can sell these food items at a local farmers’ market, or you can have them delivered to your customers’ doors.
Another option is to consider a pick-and-pay system, wherein the customers will go to your garden or farm to pick the produce themselves. They only pay for what they pick. Of course, you need an appointment system for this so that people won’t flock to your place at random times.
Farming is a good choice, too. You can keep the animals for cheese and milk produce. Then, you can sell them to a meat market. Farming is a lot of work, but it’s highly profitable. It will put food on the table, plus some extra for your medical emergencies.
Homemade Products
Are you good at baking, carpentry, pottery, and crafting? Perhaps, you can sell what you make online. You can start an e-commerce store or sell on Etsy, eBay, or Amazon. You can make anything—from baked goods to handmade soaps to knitted hats. Food is always a great product. If you have a knack for making a yummy three-cheese pimiento and tomato salsa, you can bottle these and sell them at a local market or online.
Tourism
How about opening your home to a few guests when it’s tourism season? Families, friends, couples, and individuals all like to get a taste of life off-the-grid. You can build a small cabin on your property and rent it out to guests. If you do not like having guests on the same property as you, work as a tour guide. You can take tourists hiking, kayaking, and other things that they can do in your area. You get paid by the hour. It’s usually a profitable side job during tourist season.
Living off the grid comes with a lot of challenges. It’s not a walk in the park, but it is better than living in the city for many people. This is a respite for them. It is their own version of heaven. But those who live off the grid face the reality of needing to work, too. Thankfully, there are plenty of ways to earn money now than simply going to the office and working in front of a desk.
