| How to Live off the Grid Posted: 17 Sep 2021 05:00 PM PDT If you're looking for absolute freedom, going off the grid may be the lifestyle for you! Living off the grid means living without connections to public utilities like sewer, water, and electrical lines. It also usually means living a minimalist, efficient, self-reliant lifestyle. While it can be tough to get everything established, with hard work and the right equipment, you can build an entirely self-sufficient homestead. To get you started, we've put together a list of tips and strategies so you can get an idea of what it takes to truly live off the grid. [Edit]Buy land with resources you can use. - You'll need a place to establish your homestead. Look for a location that you can afford that's away from major cities that also has access to resources like trees and water so you can use them. Make sure the property has road access so you can get in and out, and read up on local laws regarding living off of the grid. Pay cash for the land or work with a local bank to finance the purchase.[1]
- Read up on local property taxes and zoning laws as well. You may have to pay an annual tax for the land.
- Ask if the property has "legal access," which means it isn't surrounded by either private or public land that could prevent you from accessing your own property.
[Edit]Build or buy an off-grid home. - Disconnecting your current home usually isn't an option. This is especially true if you live in a built-up area with numerous public utility connections. Instead, look into alternatives like the following:[2]
 - Buying a rural home that you can convert to off-grid living. Check property listings online. Contact realtors about homes that pique your interest. Visit a few homes to get an idea of what each one offers and how easy it would be to take it off the grid.
- Building an off-grid home from scratch. Work with a housing contractor that has lots of experience building tiny homes and other types of off-grid housing. Alternatively, look into building your own off-grid home—but be realistic about the amount of time, energy, effort, and money it'll take!
- Building a tiny home. Get in touch with a company that specializes in building tiny homes, which are cheaper than full-size homes but have all of the amenities. Many are also portable so it can be delivered to your property.
- Living in a camper or RV. Modern RVs have kitchens, bathrooms, bedrooms—everything you could need in a home. And you can drive to a new location if you ever want to.
- Joining an off-grid community. This can be a good choice because it allows you to live off-grid while maintaining connections with other people. There are off-grid communities around the world. Search online to find one in your area.[3]
[Edit]Install a solar power system. - Off-grid living requires you to develop home energy independence. In most cases, the best option is to retrofit your existing home (or fit your new home) with solar panels, which will absorb energy from the sun that you can use in your home. Solar panels need to be installed by a professional so, consult a solar power installation company in your area to get the job done right.[4]
- Total installation costs of an average solar power system—including solar panels, a battery, a backup generator, and professional installation—averages around $40,000 USD.[5]
- Solar power systems can also power a hot water heater so you have a supply of hot water for showers and cleaning.
[Edit]Install a backup power supply. - Supplement your solar panels with a secondary power source. When you have a stretch of cloudy weather or any kind of mechanical problem with your solar panels, a backup really comes in handy! If you live near a creek, you could get a micro hydropower turbine installed as a backup system. Alternatively, you could get a wind turbine installed near your house. Talk to renewable energy companies in your area about your options.[6]
- A domestic wind turbine costs around $10,000 USD. A small micro hydropower turbine can cost around $7,000 USD, while a larger one can cost over $50,000 USD.[7]
[Edit]Drill a well for fresh water. - Opt for a professionally-drilled well for water reliability and safety. Depending on where you live and the depth of the water table, it may be possible to dig a well yourself with power equipment or even just shovels. However, while dug-out wells and wells made by driving pipe into the ground can only reach down about , professionally-drilled wells can go down or more. The deeper your well, the less likely water contamination becomes.[8]
- Drilling a well typically costs around $30-$60 USD per foot, with a typical total cost somewhere in the neighborhood of $7,000 USD.[9]
- You can also use drums or barrels to collect rainwater, which can be useful for gardening, toilets, and washing clothes. But you'll need to filter or purify the water before you drink it.
[Edit]Put in a septic tank system. - You need a way to safely treat your sewage in order to live off the grid. A septic tank is a watertight chamber that collects sewage in the absence of a sewer system. While solid waste remains inside the tank, liquids exit into a surrounding leaching field. The size of the leaching field means there's a fairly substantial amount of excavation involved in the installation process. While it's possible to do the installation yourself in some cases, it's usually best to have your septic tank system professionally installed.[10]
- Solid waste in the septic tank will need to be emptied by a vacuum truck periodically.
- Having a septic tank system installed generally costs around $5,000 USD.[11]
[Edit]Conserve water with a greywater system. - This isn't essential for off-grid living, but it's a great add-on! A greywater system treats water used in dishwashing, sinks, showers, and baths so that it can be used in toilets or for irrigation. While it's less of a necessity than a septic tank or a well, a greywater system can extend the lifetime of your well by allowing you to use water that has already been pumped up to the surface.[12]
- Recycled greywater is not safe for drinking, cooking, or cleaning.
- Installing a greywater system typically costs around $1,000-$4,000 USD.[13]
[Edit]Learn to grow and preserve your own food. - Increasing your food self-sufficiency makes off-grid living more viable. Even if you can't grow everything you need in a household garden, aim to supplement your diet with fruits and vegetables raised by your own green thumb. Choose plants suited for your area's climate and plant them in an area that's well-drained at gets at least 6 hours of sunlight a day.[14] It's equally important to have ways to preserve your food bounty, through methods like freezing and canning.[15]
- You need somewhere around of growing space to grow enough food to feed one person for a year.[16]
- It's a good idea to invest in heavy-duty freezers that can keep your food cold for several days if the power goes out.[17]
- Even if you aren't planning to go completely off the grid, being able to grow your own food can make you more self-sufficient.
[Edit]Hunt or gather food from the land. - Supplement your home garden if you're aiming for food self-sufficiency. For many people, living off-grid still means you have to make trips to the grocery store. However, if you're aiming for maximum self-sufficiency in your off-grid lifestyle, supplement gardening with food gathering methods like the following:
- Hunting and fishing. Hunting, trapping, and fishing can provide protein for your diet. Make sure to follow all hunting and firearms rules where you live.[18]
- Gathering food from your environment. Wild berry and fruit trees can offer an abundant source of ready-to-eat food during the summer and fall. Get an illustrated botany book that explains which safe-to-eat fruits, nuts, and berries grow naturally in your locale.[19]
- Keep in mind that many people who live off the grid still go to the grocery store to pick up supplies, so you don't have to fully rely on your ability to live off the land.
[Edit]Collect enough clothing for every season. - Proper clothing is vital. Gather enough clothes to keep yourself warm when it gets cold and to keep yourself cool whenever it's hot outside. Even if you have a power supply, you never know when it could go out or when you'll need additional clothing. Keep a solid stockpile handy.[20]
- If you have other people with you, make sure they have enough clothing as well.
- You can find affordable clothes at local thrift stores or flea markets.
[Edit]Get in shape so you're healthy and strong. - Off-grid living can be hard work. You'll likely be active every day, especially in the wintertime if you're using wood to burn for fuel and heat. Work on strengthening your core and upper arms so you're able to pick things up and perform the work it takes to build and establish your off-grid homestead.[21]
- You can build your core with ab exercises like crunches, planks, and leg raises.
- Push-ups and curls are great for building arm strength.
- Even while you're living off the grid, try exercising for a little bit every day to stay in shape.
[Edit]Reduce your electricity usage. - Relatively simple adjustments can greatly reduce your electricity needs. Since you're producing your own electricity instead of getting it from the grid, it's important to take steps to ensure you don't use too much power. Start with the simplest steps, like turning off lights when you're not using them and unplugging items like TVs that draw power even when they're turned off. Rely on LED bulbs for lighting and choose the most energy-efficient appliances and household items available.[22]
- Properly insulating your home can help to substantially reduce your power usage for heating and cooling.
- You can save $100 USD in energy costs per year simply by eliminating "vampire loads"—the electricity used by appliances when they're turned off!
[Edit]Cut down on household waste. - Reducing waste increases your self-sufficiency and is better for the planet. In addition to the environmental benefits, it makes practical sense to reduce your waste production. After all, you'll likely be forgoing trash pickup as part of living off the grid. Start small by, for instance, learning how to compost food scraps and yard trimmings, and go from there.[23]
- Buying less of what you don't need cuts back on waste. Figure out what your true necessities are and always make a detailed shopping list when buying goods.
- Sell, donate, or repurpose items you no longer need.
- Some people aim to live a zero-waste lifestyle. This may be further than you're willing or able to go, but any reduction in household waste is a net positive![24]
[Edit]Save and earn money creatively. - Going off-grid isn't cheap, especially at first, and emergencies will happen. Your off-grid lifestyle will be more secure if you are able to pay for upgrades, repairs, or other things when you need them. To ensure you're able to do so, save as much as possible before going off the grid, and continue to save wherever possible after going off the grid.[25]
- How much should you save up before getting off the grid? There's no way to say for certain, but a good general rule is to have at least six months' worth of your current income saved.
- Eliminate unnecessary expenses. Even if you've started out your off-the-grid lifestyle with a large nest egg, work to buy only what you need and save as much money as possible.
- Use your hobbies to make money. For instance, if you're a seasoned cross-stitcher, you might want to sell your creations online or at a local farmer's market.
- Turn your knowledge of off-grid living into a financial opportunity. Monetize a blog, produce videos, or write a book about your experiences. You might also host others in a kind of off-grid exchange program.[26]
[Edit]Educate yourself on off-grid living. - Beyond disconnecting from public utilities, defining "off-grid" is up to you. You could choose to live within easy reach of stores, hospitals, and family. Or, you might decide to live in a totally self-sufficient home or trailer far from anyone else. Check out resources on off-grid leaving to learn more about your options.[27]
- Attend workshops on topics like growing your own garden, starting a compost pile, and repairing your home might be useful when you move off-grid. Check out the community events calendar of your local newspaper or library.
- If you plan on growing a garden, for instance, run a search for how to do so using your search engine of choice. There are countless videos and articles online about how to live off the grid.
- Renting an isolated cabin provides you with a taste of what you can expect when living off the grid. Spend a week or so in one that most closely approximates the sort of home you plan on living in. If you want to totally disconnect when you go off the grid full-time, see if you can handle going without using your phone, computer, or other communications tech during your stay.
- As you're planning to live off the grid, think about where you're going to get supplies when you need them. If you have to drive there, make sure you always have a backup supply of fuel.[28]
[Edit]References [Edit]Quick Summary |
| How to Find Percent Increase Posted: 17 Sep 2021 09:00 AM PDT Finding how much something has increased or decreased allows you to create a useful statistic for scholarly papers, articles, or business meetings. If you need to calculate the percent increase within a given period of time but need a little help with the math, this article is here to help. Keep reading for the formula to get the calculation you need. [Edit]Write down the old value and the new value. - These are the 2 numbers that you'll use in your equation. Usually, these indicate the same statistic or topic and were gathered on 2 different dates. Gather your materials as well, including a calculator, a pencil, and paper to write out your formula and solve it.[1]
- If you don't have a calculator, the one on your phone or computer will do just fine.
[Edit]Subtract the new value from the old value to get the increase. - Write down the larger number (the number that has increased). Subtract the original number from the increased number. For example, write "the new amount" minus "the original amount" on your piece of paper.[2]
- If you had 12 job prospects in 2007 and you have 64 job prospects now, then the actual increase would be 52 job prospects.
[Edit]Divide the increase by the old value. - Use your calculator to get an accurate number.[3] For example, let's say the original amount was 12 and it increased to 52. Take 52 and divide it by 12.[4]
- The answer in decimals for this particular example would be 4.33.
[Edit]Multiply the answer by 100 to get the percentage increase. - This is how you convert a decimal to a percentage. Take your answer in decimals and stay between 2 and 7 decimal points in your answer. The larger your change is, the more likely you will need extra decimal points for an accurate figure. Then, multiply the number by 100. The percentage you get is your percent increase.[5]
- For example, multiply 4.33 by 100. This gets you a percent increase of 433%.
[Edit]Alternatively, write down the old value and new value. - These are the 2 numbers you will use to calculate the percent increase. Gather your materials as well, like a pencil, calculator, and a piece of paper. If you don't have a calculator, use one on your phone or your computer.[6]
[Edit]Divide the new value by the old value. - Plug the values into your calculator. Once you divide the new value from the old, you will get a decimal number as your answer. Write down that value.[7]
- Let's say there used to be 55 Skittles per bag and now there are 75. Divide 75 by 55 to get 1.37.
[Edit]Multiply by 100 to get the percentage. - Use your calculator to plug in the two values. For example, multiply 1.37 by 100. This gets you 137%.[8]
[Edit]Subtract 100 to get the percentage increase. - Use the percentage you just calculated. Using the example equation, subtract 100 from 137%. This gets you a percent increase of 37%.[9]
[Edit]Practice Problems - Use a similar formula to get a percent decrease. If your original amount is larger than your new amount, subtract the new amount by the original amount.[10] Divide that number by the original amount, then, multiply the number by 100.[11]
- If you are submitting the percent increase figure for publication or other important purposes, ask a friend or colleague to double-check your math.
[Edit]Related wikiHows [Edit]References [Edit]Quick Summary |
| How to Be a People Person Posted: 17 Sep 2021 01:00 AM PDT Becoming a "people person" is a lot easier said than done, especially if you don't like to put yourself out there. Still, there's no need to worry! Being a people person isn't about flipping a switch and changing your personality—it's all about making small, actionable changes in your day-to-day routine. We've put together some tips, tricks, and ideas to help you take the first step on your journey. [Edit]Crank up the enthusiasm. - Cheerful, enthusiastic people tend to make a stronger impression. Imagine you just shared some great news with a couple of your co-workers. One person says, "That's fantastic! I'm so happy for you!" while the other says, "Oh, that's nice." The first person's reaction is a lot more positive and uplifting, right? Being a people person is all about making a positive impression on the people around you, and being a person others enjoy spending time around.[1]
- "Kudos!" "Wow, that's incredible!" or "That's so exciting!" are just a few ways to add some extra enthusiasm into your conversations.
- Try to keep the positive energy going, even if you're having a rough day. For example, if you overslept your alarm before work, you might comment about how nice the weather is instead of complaining about your rough morning.
[Edit]Ditch robotic, automatic replies. - "I'm fine" is a real conversation killer. The next time someone asks about your day, take a moment to give a genuine answer. This simple change can help you make the most out of your conversations, and connect more deeply with the people around you.[2]
- You might say something like, "I had my favorite cereal for breakfast today, so my day's going pretty great so far!" or "I lost track of time reading a great book last night and only got about 4 hours of sleep. It was totally worth it, though!"
[Edit]Tweak your tone. - Watch the way you inflect words in a sentence. In ordinary conversations, it's easy for our minds to go on autopilot. As a people person, take a moment to think before you say anything. Try to speak in an even, consistent tone, so you don't sound condescending by mistake.[3]
- For example, "Did you really do that?" may sound condescending, while "Did you really do that?" sounds a lot friendlier.
[Edit]Act empathetic instead of sympathetic. - Empathy focuses on connection, while sympathy is more detached. To be a people person, focus on connecting with the people in your life as much as possible, instead of acting like a bystander. A simple change in your daily responses and reactions can make a really big difference![4]
- For instance, you might say "You must be so excited" instead of "That's good to hear."
- A sympathetic response might be something like "That's too bad," while an empathetic response could be, "Oh no. You must be so disappointed!"
[Edit]Be a good listener. - Believe it or not, being a people person doesn't involve lots of talking. It's all about connecting with others in a positive way, and making a good impression. Being an active listener is an easy way to do this. Make eye contact with your conversational partner, and give them your full attention until you're done chatting.[5]
- Try making thoughtful comments throughout the conversation. You might say "Mmm-hmm" throughout the conversation, or repeat back some of what the person said.[6]
[Edit]Ask lots of questions. - Most people love to chat about themselves. When you express a lot of interest in another person's life, they start to find you interesting, too. Offer lots of friendly questions throughout the conversation—the other person will really appreciate your interest. At the end of the day, making positive connections is what being a people person is all about![7]
- You might ask "How was your weekend?" "What are you doing over the holidays?" or "Anything exciting coming up?"
[Edit]Remember the little details about people. - Reference those small details in a later conversation. Being a people person really comes down to the little things, like how you connect with others. Try taking mental notes about the small details in your conversations, even if they seem insignificant at the time. Then, the next time you chat, ask about the small detail they mentioned before.[8]
- For instance, you might ask a friend how her math test went, or ask a co-worker if their doctor's appointment went well.
[Edit]Make small talk with the people around you. - Small, pleasant conversations are a great way to network with new people. The more individuals you're friendly with, the easier it is to become a people person. Try striking up a conversation with a co-worker or classmate you don't chat with often, and see where things go.[9]
- You might say "hi" to a classmate you sit close to, or make small talk with the person standing next to you on the subway.
- You can make a few professional acquaintances by exchanging business cards.
[Edit]Invite people to events. - Building social habits is a great way to become a people person. In the upcoming weeks, try inviting your friends and acquaintances to more activities, like a professional seminar. Even if they can't attend the event with you, they'll still appreciate the fact that you reached out.[10]
- You can take baby steps with this, if you'd like! For instance, you might email your friend a link to an interesting article, or forward them a post on social media.
[Edit]Set specific goals. - Over time, small steps can make a big difference. Each day, make small, intentional changes that force you out of your comfort zone. It's okay if you take it slow—after all, baby steps are still progress![11]
- You might decide to chat with a co-worker one day, or say hello to a random person on the street. What matters most is that you put yourself out there, even if you're taking baby steps.
[Edit]Be patient with yourself. - Don't expect to become a people person overnight. It can be tough to put yourself out there, especially if you prefer keeping to yourself. That's okay! Be kind to yourself, and take it one day at a time.[12]
[Edit]References [Edit]Quick Summary |
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