Sound advice Boss, good to see you back on the screen! When your not trying to impress anyone but yourself, you make choices for yourself that make you happy. Being able to role with life's punches is what it's all about! Looking forward to more on the NH cabin, thanks for your time!
Great advice, great video! Living off grid, or even rustic simple style of life is a LOT of work. I don't think people realize how much work is involved. Thanks for the great video, Dawn
Yuppers, there's a whole lot of freedom that comes with frugal living. You explained this very well for those who aspire to a simpler life and I'm glad you pointed out why some fail. Great points and great video!
It is much cheaper to stay on the grid and just cut your power consumption. My power bill is the only utility bill I have and it's usually around $30 a month in the winter and about twice that in the summer. Solar power is expensive if you want to have everything you have when on the grid. I have a little solar power, but it's mostly for emergencies when the power is off during a storm.
Solar power can be (and usually is) ridiculously expensive. And then most houses are still hooked up to the electricity from the company. Live in Vegas now and it would be nearly impossible to only have solar in the summertime. AC units use tons of power and solar just doesn’t cut it when it’s 115 degrees out. They also don’t tell you that solar panels are about 20% less efficient once they’re 10 years old. They’re are a lot of ways to lower your power bill, but solar really isn’t one of them..
At my age I would have to keep the homestead and sell the cabins. It seems you are happy there and keeping it up isn’t costing that much. Hope you keep your health and continue doing what you love doing.
Yes brother you are a smart man my camp is 500 yards from the main road and i had it since 1992 and have no power i love it like that i have a nice Springs water and i have a old barbecue and good woodstove i love the smell of burning wood i like working in the woods in the summer or fall and I have a old Colman stove to it works well for it like camping all over again so i love it God bless you 2
When we were full time RVers, the toaster oven lived out side in the hot weather, as did the slow cooker. Saved our ac a lot of work in Vegas and other hot places we worked. Now I want to save up for an All American Solar Oven!
I live in a small house in the woods on grid. Mostly, I've found having a refrigerator and freezer are worth the cost, about 30 dollars a month. A hard one is getting internet access, which costs me about 50 dollars a month along with the phone.
Well presented JC. You have struck a balance that works for you. Our homesite is also 400' in. We are currently trying to tie into the grid. And I already have my propane summer kitchen stove picked out > to go along with the kitchen wood stove.We like to have all the non-electric counterparts in place,.but I really enjoy using the oil lamps and cookin on the Home Comfort :-)Just feels good to take care of ourselves mostly bu our own hand. All the best my friend.
another great post my friend , its nice to see not everybody banging on about off grid , some of the channels I watch have so many problems with batteries not charging properly , solar panels scattered all over the place , fume emitting batteries indoors , ugly wireing etc . Ile be most likely on grid when we move to Latvia , but for me its about getting out of the city , learning to farm , building a cabin , enjoying the forest , Its funny how some people think ........some of my friends have gas heating in their houses and said it the electric fails they would still have heat ......I had to remind then about heating control panel (electric) and without their electric water pump that hot water was not going anywhere , like you explained put a little thought and planning into things , Keep safe ..........................Harry
+Balvi small farm Homestead Couldn't of said it better myself Harry. Best of luck with your move. I think you've got the right idea for sure. Cheers :-)
I've been off grid for the last 6 months and my biggest drain is our computer equipment. Wife and I both work 50 hours a week from home, are on 2 different shifts, and are required to be on our machines at all times. It's rough no lie and certainly is costing us more than the grid would. Have some more solar panels and a 2nd controller coming tomorrow as a matter of fact.
Couldn't agree more! I've been working toward self sufficient living for some time now, and you sure told everyone the right way to go. I knew I wasn't ready to go "All Out" until I had several things worked out too, and boy does it ever make it easy to live in a "place" when your actually ready for it. My 12 x 32 finished garage took a while, but today it is comfortable, and has what I need. I have most of my solar ready to put in, but have electric too. When I had to stay in it for a few months, it was a relief to have the electric available to me, but the wood stove kept us warm without electric, and a huge bill. I do have to use lamps sometimes, but never use the electric unless I have to. I have many "off grid machinery" ready to install, but it was really good to do it without having to rush and worry about living so hard, that I would have given up. My electric bill was less than $16.00 this month, (I forgot to unplug my cleaned out my refrigerator) but after this month, it will be next to nothing. I'm working on getting the materials to make your refrigerator too. Hopefully it will be in by this fall. I also have a window refrigerator, and that will be in this summer. Great video, and now I know that I'm not the only one that took their time, and considered their real needs, before going totally off grid. Bless, Sheila
thebossoftheswamp It's planting season around here, so not to many free hours.....but hopefully I'll be able to ditch the 9-5 job after this season. Trap all winter and farm all summer, seems just about right :)
'mornin, Boss & 'Lil-Frankie; Great advice as always & That Red & Black Mackanaw is the Bomb ! Thanks 4 taking the time of your explanations Boss. Always great 2 set & have a cup a Joe while watch'n ya, Friends ! Scratch 4 Frankie ! ATB Terry God Bless
Well Boss man you've done it again ! : D I have my 16'X24' "shed / cabin" with electric for a freezer & refer & washer & if needed a dryer for cloths But the house is gas & gas lighting with gas stove & wood stove ! I'm a 1/4 mile from power at the dirt road & the cost alone for power to the house is totally out of this world $4,000.00 ! ! ! nuts Isn't it ? I'm glad so it doesn't matter. Plenty of fire wood around me & it's totally quiet : ) I'm gonna try your lil 12 volt system & see how that goes but that's all I'll need anyway as I don't watch tv or use much elect. now anyway. Glad to see you again my friend Oh , UPDATE ... Looks like "samson" the black bear is really a "SAMANTHA" ! LOL she brought out 3 lil 5 lb cubs & she still watches me close but lets the lil ones follow her along the fence line ! LOL well stay well JC & god bless : )
Power prices change from location to location. My minimum bill is $40 per month just to be hooked to the grid then I have to pay per kw on top of that. I don't use that much power and it costs me an average of $90 per month for electricity. I have been thinking of pulling the plug and going solar, and possible wind.
Yeah they hook me for $43.95 min charge then for every kw I use after 50kw. I heat with wood and the stove/oven is propane. I really don't know how people can afford to pay to heat, power, etc. $1200 a year just for power for one person seems like a lot to me. I was just watching you catch some beaver when this message popped up! I caught my first beaver when I was probably 10 years old. We had the fish and game try to catch it but they said they couldn't catch it so they gave me a license for free since we had a milking station on our property that they milked the rainbow and brown trout from. She was a big one and dad had a rug made out of her.
J C you didn't say anything about the fridg at the homestead, do you use a cooler box (like the cabins) as a backup for the homestead. Nice to know about the amazon link. Will always use it to help you out.
+willie Makit I have a regular fridge at the homestead. My intention was to live here 10 years and then sell it so I set it up for the normal person. Thanks for using the Amazon link. I appreciate it buddy.
HI BOSS, JUST AN IDEA, MAY HELP/MAY NOT, CHECK OUT MAKING YOUR OWN METHANE TO COOK/HEAT WITH, WOULD BE VERY INTERESTING TO SEE WHAT YOU THINK/COME UP WITH, MICK FROM SURREY, TOP VID AS ALWAYS.
New subscriber. Loving what I see so far. I have been toying with the idea of using more oil lamps during colder months for lighting ,however my husband doesn't feel comfortable with oil & flames. Any suggestions? I have 1 or 2 solar lamps that I use as task lighting during the warmer months,but on overcast days they don't charge well. I love your balanced and flexible point of view with this video. Thank you.
I totally agree with you , as we are on the grid but use our utilities wisely and frugally , as always enjoy your videos , and look forward to each new one , thank you .
in other words don't cut off your power until you have done everything you need to do to your home, then try it to see if you can live with out the power. If you have to buy fire wood you are not saving anything, if you are thinking wood make sure you have a place toget it free, know how to cut it with out getting hurt, doctor bills are not free.
I love your videos but the downside to that life style is are u blessed enough with enough start up money and by the look at your set up not every average Joe can live that nice due to income restraint but love your videos
+Amy Ring I started "this lifestyle" at 21. I had no money and drove a 72 Blazer with no insurance. No power, no plumbing, no phone. I accumulated what I have from over 30 years of living simple and cheap. I didn't fall into this lifestyle with a stack of money. Instant gratification has nothing to do with homesteading.
You are so right we do just what you are saying.We are not where we want to be yet.We have decided to ween ourselves off little by little.And make adjustments as we do so as not to be overwhelmed.Great info once again.
Great info I have told everyone I know to look you up . To me and my wife you are a breath of fresh air! Keep up the good work and we will be here to view it.
I have done the same. I built a tiny house and went from a 1650sq ft house to 310 Sq ft. Consequently my electric bill went from $350 per month to just under $40 per month without a major change in lifestyle. Now I am working on efficiency. Love your channel as always.
Who needs cable or Sat TV with the incessant commercials when there is EXCELLENT programs on youtube such as this one. Personally, I am not interested in living in a cabin deep in the woods but Still, I have been encouraged by this video series and others like it to cut back with the unnecessary expenses and dream chasing. Most of us have way too much STUFF and much of it is seldom used. I am downsizing some of the excess and will be more careful on purchases going forward.
hey JC I love your stuff! I wish it were that simple. my power company charges the monthly delivery charge of $50/month. I have a $600 bill before I start using any juice. They are gonna get our money one way or another. I love what you do and appreciate your insights.
I love this video JC! Not sure where you get the ideas for these videos, but I love all your life long experiences, and learn from them all. If most "Homesteaders" watch just half of your videos, they could get over a great "learning curve" much sooner than later. Getting the kids out on their own sooner than later can also reduce the electric bill significantly! :)
OMG! This video has brought tears to my eyes. I want to be off grid as much as possible but I am realistic to my dependence on certain modern amenities. This is the first video I have seen that embraces a hybrid of sorts. You have launched my dreams into a more attainable and realistic vision. Thank you so much!!! You don't understand how full my heart is right now. Thank you just isn't enough.
I made this video because I hear so many folks are dreaming about going "off grid" but then they bang their heads against the wall trying to have alternative methods of electric light. Electricity is awesome and can be very affordable with a conservative approach. Glad you found this beneficial Tabatha, I hope you'll share my channel with others who may enjoy my videos. Cheers :-)
Thank you so much for the advice, very helpful! I just love your video's. Just saw my first video of you about a week ago and oh my goodness, I'm hooked. Subscribed, started watching and catching up nightly. You really are awesome. :)
Catching up on videos all day, drinking beer and watching the Kentucky derby...Wow am I behind, lol... People think its easy to live off the grid...not a chance, if you are not a woods man, cant make adjustments, dont have some sort of a few bucks coming in, have no COMMON SENSE for the great outdoors etc??? So many things to consider...What a great video my friend...Great advice for many that may want to consider living off of the grid...Take care,, Gonzo...
+Heith Gagnon I've got lot of catching up to do as well buddy. I don't watch vids when i'm at my cabin cause my internet is through my phone and I have to be frugal with my data. Always good to hear from you my friend.
For those who are connected to the grid, you can cut your power bill significantly by making a small investment...by retiring your Incandescent Light Bulbs to the Backup Bin. Switch to the more efficient and Warm Feeling LED Bulbs which can last up to 12 Years. They use only about 6-8 Watts/Hr versus using 40, 60, 100 Watts/Hr. They're much safer and less toxic than the Swirly Fluorescent Bulbs...as they contain no Mercury or other harmful Gases. The Light Output is comparable to Bulbs of the same rating equivalent. I switched all Bulbs to LED's and boxed up the Incandescent Bulbs...we have next to nothing for an Electricity Bill now! We do most of our Cooking outside in the fair weather, either on a Coleman Stove, Oven or Barbecue,. especially when the weather is too hot to cook inside....so we use our Oven much less. BTW...I happen to live in the most expensive Province for Hydro Rates in North America...Ontario! We get credits now in reserve, and we haven't had to pay a Bill for a few months now! Our Hydro Bill use to average around $168/Month...and that was using it frugally!
I like how you think. Just because you have electricity from the power company doesn’t mean you aren’t off grid. Off grid to me means being off a city grid. You can easily be 10-20 miles from the city or town and still have access to the electric system. A lot of farms are off grid and still have access to electricity. Under $400 a year for power is dirt cheap. What a bargain! You couldn’t run a generator for that, not to mention the purchase price. Though I’m certain you have one for backup, which would be a necessity. The LED lights make a huge difference. I spent about $35-40 on them to change out the bulbs we use the most. They’re saving me about $35-40 a month, around $450 a year. That’s some good suburban logic lol 😆. Boss, God bless you and yours! Stay safe and healthy my friend and love from the Judge!
Your electric bill is a dream for us Ontarians . Ontario has the highest electric rates in North America . This household is MIGHTY STINGY , like yours , main oven hasn't been on in 4 yrs , run coal oil lights often etc. , and a min. bill is $ 160/month . Been 2 yrs developing a plan & components to unhook from the grid . If anyone knows of where to purchase , or the name of , an energy efficient DC water pump that can take 200 to 220 deg F It would be great to hear from you ! ThanksI do rustic interior/exterior for part of my living , I see you use the stick-out pegs in your beams , your the only person besides myself that I've seen use them , nice !
$351 per year, wow you have cheap power! We are forced to pay $25 a month just to have a meter for service, and yes that is NO electric use at all! $300 per year for NOTHING. That is truely what I paid last year for a property I lease, last year I was seldom there except to check the place and 0 electric used! I had power shut off Dec. Because it is simply cheaper to just buy gas and run a generator if I will be there this year. When I was actively there living and working on vehicles in shop my actual power use was very little anyway per month. I plan to kill power at the house and be totally off grid by end of this year! There can be many reasons other than just money to go off grid also. My power company is stupid!
I don't have a freezer or clothes dryer. All my lights are LED and the most I have on at once is one. Maybe. I don't have internet or home phone or cable. If I want to watch tv I plug it in and pop a DVD in it. When I'm done it's unplugged. I live in a split level 3 bdrm house. My electric bill is 30 bucks a month.
I live totally off grid here in Chile. It was $5,700 to hook to the grid and $4,500 to buy a solar system. If I was hooked to the grid I would have $400 to $600 / month power bills. I do have a generator for running my high power consumption items like my welder, and when we have had a long spell with little sun, but I still love living off grid. Yes the power costs more here in Chile. If I were to return to the former USA, and I do not see that happening, then I would live off the grid there as well. The satisfaction of not having a power bill is priceless. Jim
+ChileExpatFamily I much prefer the off grid lifestyle too. I enjoy my independence and even enjoy the challenges. Both lifestyles have their pros and cons. Cheers :-)
Enjoy your videos - you are very pleasant and have something to say. Saw your video concerning you tube problems. I will watch you & support you. So many presentations are click bait. They barely talk about their title & others use their female companion to create interest.
Thanks for the advice well I made it 1 step closer being disabled I don't get that .Must money it's taking forever it seems to get the wood I needed still have to get some but I on my way 335 bored ft is a good start be making a 24x24 cabin on 100 acres keep you in my mind as I go
In Ontario, due to Lieberal government mismanagement we pay the highest electricity in North America, and more and more people are going the off grid route. I can't since I live in an apartment that has electric heat, but I use as little as possible, mainly by using only two of six baseboard heaters, and all LED lighting.
boss no need to respond back I know you are good about that saw a vid with you talking about alternative lighting but you never showed us how well each did may be a good vid to show how well each lighting does from a candle to your best source just more ideas.
I see well I have to remind myself I've never attempted it but as long as u keep making those videos u will be our guide in such ways to clueless folks like me lol
You make some very good points. :) I am gradually switching to LEDs. Two of the lights that get used the most have been switched over. I guess Franky didn't have any comments on the issue? ;P
Great points made JC, I have been 8 years off the grid and am still learning how to be more conservative! You guys must have some pretty cheap electricity... here in NL we produce some of the largest hydro plants and paying more and more each year. I am so glad to be independent from that! Thanks for sharing boss! Cheers.
Where did u get caribou antlers? I live in an area of 4 acre parcels. Unfortunately the deer can eat my garden but bylaws won't let me eat them. It is kinda a weird place as we have all kinds of animals a stones throw but we are on city outskirts. We aren't very frugal with power but not too bad on natural gas. It gets very cold here at times but we often don't run furnace during the day as sun heats house despite myself allowing cracks under doors so forth. A lot of people close everything tight but many die of radon poisoning. I just don't like tight houses. My wood stove has an intake pipe from outside. So warm sunny days say -1 F I walk around in gaunchies 😆 no fire just sun through two small south windows. Usually stays about 68 F after one heatup in morning & if I start wood weeeeelll.
Great video Boss, thanks for sharing. I enjoy seeing how low that I can get my utility bills, some months, it's not much more than the service charges, but f I need it, it's there.
Guess it's cheaper in the States! I live in Ontario Canada. I am on the grid but also have a 560 W Solar array with 12 Rolls Batteries. That powers the fridge freezer, computer lights etc. I cook on wood or propane, the water heater is propane and the house is a Geodesic dome so lots of light and warmth. I used $23 CDN of electricity last month but the bill also included $76.00 delivery charge, $4.00 debt reduction fee (The Original Hydro company went bankrupt so the Province had to loan money to purchase Hydro One) the there was GST/HST Tax. Total Bill $114.43! Time to invest in more panels and cut the cord :) Really enjoy the channel and look forward always to your next video. Thanks
+Chris Hawkesford Even though my yearly consumption is affordable, I'm very anxious to get back off the grid at my cabins. My homestead uses around 8 or 9 bucks worth of power per month and the rest of the bill is taxes and fees. I don't need the taxes and fees.
April and a little chilly? You make me sick JC, ha ha! Here in Alabama it's been anywhere between 80-90 degrees with very high humidity(70-100%!). Looking on the bright side of things; I don't have to pay for a sauna, just go outside! Always a pleasure to watch your vids, all the best to you and Frankie!!! God bless! Jason M
three couples built a camp in NH in 1988. Electricity on property from past owner, I say wire for electric while bldg. one wife says "no its a camp" I say "you don't have to use it" so we wire it up..... Fast forward 25 years. Guess who is first to hit the switch when we go to camp? Aways remember........ times change. P.S. we never exceed the minimum $ 12.75 per month. Cook on grill,heat woodstove,springwater down hill flow, it's not that hard to do.
WOW! That comes to like $31.25 a month. How is that even possible in NY? I am guessing you use your washer and dryer once a week, fridge is plugged in 24/7, freezer is plugged in 24/7, etc, etc??? I am pretty darn frugal, and the lowest I could get my electric bill down to one month was $50. My brothers garage is on a separate line, and whether he uses any electric or not, they charge him $25 a month fee, just for the service! I don't know how you do it Boss Man. My hat is off to you!!!
+MrRantek24 The fridge and freezer must barely use any power. I have been here 13 years and my highest yearly total was just shy of 400. 2015 was the lowest ever. LED bulbs and killing the standby power made a huge difference. I have a gas water heater and gas dryer but use the clothesline as often as I can.
Great video Boss! Those beautiful paintings behind you...I have a feeling that you painted them. Right?! It looks like there is Nothing you can't design and build! Wow...you're amazing!
Sound guidance JC. Off grid would be more achievable if one "practiced" scaling your power consumption back. This was about power but what about WiFi/internet? How are you managing that at the cabins? I can cook on a woodstove, warm my bum too but I need my internet fix.
+T. A. “TA” Bernhardt I tether my laptop through my phone. The only reason I got a cell phone is so that I could access my online business at the cabins.
Lots of valuable insight on Every video you share. I appreciate it more than you know. I am single by choice, raising my last child and two grand children. So many people are trying to achieve some degree of simple living. I just don't know the best way to go about it alone. The plan is simple... Debt reduction first. My debt was around $16,000, down to $5,500. That is the extent of my plan at this point. Pay off debt and then I draw a blank. No adult male relatives. Makes me really value your insight because men just Know Things !!! You do a fantastic job of explaining and teaching.
Another great video. We live out in the boondocks of the U.P. and slowly reducing our costs as we can. One huge cost for us was the phone bill. My wife is Dutch and her children live in the Netherlands. Calling to them, or her before we were married, on average would cost around $50.00 per call! Way too much. We now used Skype for our phone service for everything. I think our average monthly phone bill is about 26 cents per month. Not too bad I think. If we call using our computers on both ends of the call, there is no cost what so ever. We do try to keep our electric bills to between $35.00-$45.00 per month. Most of the time we are able too. like you, our actual electrical usage cost it very low. It's the rest of the fees, taxes. etc that make the bill large. Keep the videos coming. This Old Norwegian really enjoys them and can relate to most of them.
+Chris Nelson Thank goodness for skype. What a money saver that is for you. There are a few bits of technology that I certainly do enjoy. Thanks for commenting.
I'm well on my way to being off grid, where I'm from in nw Ontario Canada, even if you use 0 kWh it still costs 50 dollars on your bill, I power a fridge, my lights, water system and occasionally a dryer, (family of 4) and use 40 dollars at 11 cents per kWh in a month. after delivery charge, debt retirement fee, generating cost and taxes, that bill inflates to 155+- a month, it's ridiculous!
+trainwreck253 I prefer to be entirely off grid and will be once I sell this homestead and move to my cabins. The power here is affordable, but also like you, my bill is mostly taxes and fees.
Another amazing video Boss!! I was just wondering if you have a third woodstove in the basement so the bitter cold times it will keep your pipes from freezing? If people have a 200-300 dollar electric bill now they should try cutting the bill down into the $50-100 dollar range just to see if they can tolerate living that cheap and if not stay hooked up to electric. Oh Well to each is own you have given everyone great info to consider!! Thanks Again!!!
Great vid JC! When I first bought this house, I was paying $150.00 a month electric bill. The house is total electric but by implementing a lot of what you mentioned, I have cut it down to $65.00 a month. I took an early retirement from that electric company you mentioned...use to be their staff photographer. Don't want to send any more of my retirement money back to them! LOL Keep up the good work!
+photog20001 Good to hear from you buddy. A while back I opened my electric bill and it was 303.00 but then I realized it was my neighbors bill that got stuffed n my box. What the heck are they running over there?
If you don"t mind saying, what is the total energy annual cost of electric, propane, gas, lamp oil, etc. If I am to compare to my electric home I need to compare the total energy cost. I have installed backup 20kw propane generator and 6kw gas generator to my panel with interlocks and transfer switches. Moved all lighting to LEDs, insulated the attic replaced windows and installed propane logs for emergency heat. Also have outside propane stove for backup cooking. My total power bill is $160 per month for a 2 story cape cod colonial with basement about 2200 sq. feet. My little cabin in Lynchburg, Va at the base of the blue ridge mountains.
Sounds like you're well prepared. Electric is the way to go if you are frugal with it. It's certainly the most convenient and often safest route to take. My home is 1350sf and I'm on National grid. My annual power bill is usually under 400.00 or slightly over. Propane approx. 200 and under, lamp oil, barely anything because they are used for occasional ambiance and power outages.
not sure the monthly consumption a propane fridge/freezer uses but like my area the base utility bill before I use a single watt is $26 before taxes then it has varying rates relating to times of day and year and consumption. No FRANKIE ah man you lost points, he's the star!!!! lol
+spudrubble I use about 8.00 worth of actual power. The rest of the bill is taxes and fees. Frankie was in the pic for a second there in the outdoor scene :c)
Unable to go off the grid completely, but have put 55 gallon barrels under rain spouts to collect rain water that we use in garden, washing cars, bird baths, dog washes and even for the first part of the laundry wash. Have saved $20.00 to $30.00 per water bill. Getting it free from rain is good. Thank you for your tips. Love your site.
Excellent video JC. I agree if you can be hooked to the grid you should take advantage but being able to conserve and being prepared for down grid situations is the key. Last week i got my power bill and thanks to the coil heating my domestic water on my wood stove my bill was $0.00. Turns out they hadn't been reading my meter and based it on previous usage. They owe me $210.00. That's a first for me and i'll take it lol. I have you to thank for that as well for inspiring me with your channel. I also did your salt water ice bottles in the deep freeze and shut off my fridge. No need running it to keep a couple of things cold for one person. Anyway my friend great advice. It also may inspire others to conserve which helps with the environment. We are such a wasteful society this day and age. Great job. Gonna share this one on FB. Regards. D. Cote.
That's good advice JC. Last year I built a cabin for a friend to retire into in northern Maine. All was well for awhile, until the long winter set in and was too much for him. Now he's living there part time and has a apartment closer to civilization and back to work to pay for both places. So, you nailed that one right on the head Ebenezer!! ( lol ). Well done boss as always!... Cheers, Pete.
+Peter Stanhope I see similar scenarios all the time and although they may quit the lifestyle, I don't really consider it "failing" because the only true failure comes from not trying. It's a rewarding lifestyle for those that seek it.Cheers.
Hey Boss, Looking into building a full log handcrafted fully scribed log home. Been thinking about scribing it myself but don't have the machinery to lift it while scribing the logs. I thought I would ask you about hand scribing log homes since you used to build them, I would love to have your email if you could send it to me.
Sound advice Boss, good to see you back on the screen! When your not trying to impress anyone but yourself, you make choices for yourself that make you happy. Being able to role with life's punches is what it's all about! Looking forward to more on the NH cabin, thanks for your time!
+Owen4it Well said my friend :-)
Great ideas here. Being conscious of pwer use is key to living frugal on the grid, as you say. Thanks, JC.
Great advice, great video! Living off grid, or even rustic simple style of life is a LOT of work. I don't think people realize how much work is involved. Thanks for the great video, Dawn
Good advice thank you. Using less is the smart thing, using smart is even smarter. You're a smart guy. Thank you for sharing
+Shelley Messier Thanks for the smiles Shelley :-)) Cheers.
Yuppers, there's a whole lot of freedom that comes with frugal living. You explained this very well for those who aspire to a simpler life and I'm glad you pointed out why some fail. Great points and great video!
+fannygitchyurgun spiritwind Going off grid for independence is great but it's not a money saver for most.
It is much cheaper to stay on the grid and just cut your power consumption. My power bill is the only utility bill I have and it's usually around $30 a month in the winter and about twice that in the summer. Solar power is expensive if you want to have everything you have when on the grid. I have a little solar power, but it's mostly for emergencies when the power is off during a storm.
Solar power can be (and usually is) ridiculously expensive. And then most houses are still hooked up to the electricity from the company. Live in Vegas now and it would be nearly impossible to only have solar in the summertime. AC units use tons of power and solar just doesn’t cut it when it’s 115 degrees out. They also don’t tell you that solar panels are about 20% less efficient once they’re 10 years old. They’re are a lot of ways to lower your power bill, but solar really isn’t one of them..
At my age I would have to keep the homestead and sell the
cabins. It seems you are happy there and keeping it up isn’t costing that much.
Hope you keep your health and continue doing what you love doing.
+Lew Bates Have 3 places is just too much. I like it here but don't love it. I love my cabins though :-))
the best set up is to pump electricity into the city and use the reliable city power and if shit hit it just flip the switch and you are off the grid
Yes brother you are a smart man my camp is 500 yards from the main road and i had it since 1992 and have no power i love it like that i have a nice Springs water and i have a old barbecue and good woodstove i love the smell of burning wood i like working in the woods in the summer or fall and I have a old Colman stove to it works well for it like camping all over again so i love it God bless you 2
+Jean-Noel Leger Sounds like you've got a good thing going for yourself. Sounds like heaven :-)
Good advise. We unplug everything possible and it saves tons of bucks. Love your videos Boss. Your the voice of reason!
+Maureen Haggerty WTG Maureen. Keep up the good work. The only thing running standby power here is the computers.
Wise words Boss. We use our toaster oven all the time especially during the summer. Thanks for sharing!!!!
+Raptor66 Toaster ovens are great and such a money saver.
When we were full time RVers, the toaster oven lived out side in the hot weather, as did the slow cooker. Saved our ac a lot of work in Vegas and other hot places we worked.
Now I want to save up for an All American Solar Oven!
I live in a small house in the woods on grid. Mostly, I've found having a refrigerator and freezer are worth the cost, about 30 dollars a month. A hard one is getting internet access, which costs me about 50 dollars a month along with the phone.
+fire7side Couldn't agree more. It would cost all of that for alternative means of refrigeration. Internet is my biggest expense to.
Great job boss keep passing on the wisdom God bless buddy
Well presented JC. You have struck a balance that works for you. Our homesite is also 400' in. We are currently trying to tie into the grid. And I already have my propane summer kitchen stove picked out > to go along with the kitchen wood stove.We like to have all the non-electric counterparts in place,.but I really enjoy using the oil lamps and cookin on the Home Comfort :-)Just feels good to take care of ourselves mostly bu our own hand. All the best my friend.
+diane hall I share your thoughts Diane. Couldn't agree more my friend.
another great post my friend , its nice to see not everybody banging on about off grid , some of the channels I watch have so many problems with batteries not charging properly , solar panels scattered all over the place , fume emitting batteries indoors , ugly wireing etc . Ile be most likely on grid when we move to Latvia , but for me its about getting out of the city , learning to farm , building a cabin , enjoying the forest , Its funny how some people think ........some of my friends have gas heating in their houses and said it the electric fails they would still have heat ......I had to remind then about heating control panel (electric) and without their electric water pump that hot water was not going anywhere , like you explained put a little thought and planning into things , Keep safe ..........................Harry
+Balvi small farm Homestead Couldn't of said it better myself Harry. Best of luck with your move. I think you've got the right idea for sure. Cheers :-)
Thanks you my friend 💕💕💕💗😘 merry Christmas and happy New year everyone here
Great advice there Boss, very practical. Couple nice caribou racks there, I have a chance for caribou tags this fall, fingers crossed....
+William Larkham Jr (Bigland Trapper) Good luck with the tags buddy. Cheers.
Cool. Thanks!
I've been off grid for the last 6 months and my biggest drain is our computer equipment. Wife and I both work 50 hours a week from home, are on 2 different shifts, and are required to be on our machines at all times. It's rough no lie and certainly is costing us more than the grid would. Have some more solar panels and a 2nd controller coming tomorrow as a matter of fact.
+WTF Off Grid I prefer to live off the grid for the independence of it but for most folks it's not any cheaper to do so.
No it's not. I certainly spend more but when I lose power, I handle that complaint lol, that's my responsibly. Yes, sir.
Wow! Great information! Really good stuff!!! I cannot express my gratitude enough to you for making this vid (and all your other ones too!)
+Johnny G Thanks Johnny. I've got some vids coming up I think you will enjoy.
+thebossoftheswamp Sounds good to me!
Couldn't agree more! I've been working toward self sufficient living for some time now, and you sure told everyone the right way to go. I knew I wasn't ready to go "All Out" until I had several things worked out too, and boy does it ever make it easy to live in a "place" when your actually ready for it. My 12 x 32 finished garage took a while, but today it is comfortable, and has what I need. I have most of my solar ready to put in, but have electric too. When I had to stay in it for a few months, it was a relief to have the electric available to me, but the wood stove kept us warm without electric, and a huge bill. I do have to use lamps sometimes, but never use the electric unless I have to. I have many "off grid machinery" ready to install, but it was really good to do it without having to rush and worry about living so hard, that I would have given up. My electric bill was less than $16.00 this month, (I forgot to unplug my cleaned out my refrigerator) but after this month, it will be next to nothing. I'm working on getting the materials to make your refrigerator too. Hopefully it will be in by this fall. I also have a window refrigerator, and that will be in this summer. Great video, and now I know that I'm not the only one that took their time, and considered their real needs, before going totally off grid. Bless, Sheila
I just hope you remain in good health. Off grid is labor intense.
+Train Conductor Me too :-)
Great information.👍👍
Always keeping it real, great info as always Boss.
+backyardmeat Good to hear from you buddy. Haven't seen you post vids in a while.
thebossoftheswamp It's planting season around here, so not to many free hours.....but hopefully I'll be able to ditch the 9-5 job after this season. Trap all winter and farm all summer, seems just about right :)
Another fantastic vid Boss. Great information.
Take care my friend.
+Steven.C. WHHI Than you buddy.
great advice
Loved the video Boss as always. God Bless my friend
+Bobby Ballengee Blessings to you too Bobby. All the best.
Great advice, thanks and please keep it up.
'mornin, Boss & 'Lil-Frankie; Great advice as always & That Red & Black Mackanaw is the Bomb ! Thanks 4 taking the time of your explanations Boss. Always great 2 set & have a cup a Joe while watch'n ya, Friends ! Scratch 4 Frankie ! ATB Terry God Bless
+T.W. Milburn (skillet210) Mornin my friend. Once you go red & black, you never go back haha :-D All the best and God Bless.
Really good video! Great lessons, thanks for sharing!
+walter s You're welcome.
Well Boss man you've done it again ! : D I have my 16'X24' "shed / cabin" with electric for a freezer & refer & washer & if needed a dryer for cloths But the house is gas & gas lighting with gas stove & wood stove ! I'm a 1/4 mile from power at the dirt road & the cost alone for power to the house is totally out of this world $4,000.00 ! ! ! nuts Isn't it ? I'm glad so it doesn't matter. Plenty of fire wood around me & it's totally quiet : ) I'm gonna try your lil 12 volt system & see how that goes but that's all I'll need anyway as I don't watch tv or use much elect. now anyway. Glad to see you again my friend Oh , UPDATE ... Looks like "samson" the black bear is really a "SAMANTHA" ! LOL she brought out 3 lil 5 lb cubs & she still watches me close but lets the lil ones follow her along the fence line ! LOL well stay well JC & god bless : )
+frank Sounds like heaven to me Frank. You're living good my friend. Cheers :-)
Where did you find Frankie he is so amazing
Power prices change from location to location. My minimum bill is $40 per month just to be hooked to the grid then I have to pay per kw on top of that. I don't use that much power and it costs me an average of $90 per month for electricity. I have been thinking of pulling the plug and going solar, and possible wind.
I think ours is 18 to 20 bucks before usage. I'm in the process of doing my taxes and my total power bill for 2016 was 404.00 and 109.00 for propane.
Yeah they hook me for $43.95 min charge then for every kw I use after 50kw. I heat with wood and the stove/oven is propane. I really don't know how people can afford to pay to heat, power, etc. $1200 a year just for power for one person seems like a lot to me. I was just watching you catch some beaver when this message popped up! I caught my first beaver when I was probably 10 years old. We had the fish and game try to catch it but they said they couldn't catch it so they gave me a license for free since we had a milking station on our property that they milked the rainbow and brown trout from. She was a big one and dad had a rug made out of her.
J C you didn't say anything about the fridg at the homestead, do you use a cooler box (like the cabins) as a backup for the homestead. Nice to know about the amazon link. Will always use it to help you out.
+willie Makit I have a regular fridge at the homestead. My intention was to live here 10 years and then sell it so I set it up for the normal person. Thanks for using the Amazon link. I appreciate it buddy.
HI BOSS, JUST AN IDEA, MAY HELP/MAY NOT, CHECK OUT MAKING YOUR OWN METHANE TO COOK/HEAT WITH, WOULD BE VERY INTERESTING TO SEE WHAT YOU THINK/COME UP WITH, MICK FROM SURREY, TOP VID AS ALWAYS.
New subscriber. Loving what I see so far. I have been toying with the idea of using more oil lamps during colder months for lighting ,however my husband doesn't feel comfortable with oil & flames. Any suggestions? I have 1 or 2 solar lamps that I use as task lighting during the warmer months,but on overcast days they don't charge well. I love your balanced and flexible point of view with this video. Thank you.
I occasionally use my oil lamps for ambiance now. My cabins are powered by batteries and I use LED bulbs. Much more convenient and safer than flames.
You really talk a lot of sense!
+kenrowland1 Thank you.
$34 a month before I get any power. Use about 300kwh a month.
shared
+M. Everett Munson Thank you.
I guess I'm in the middle, Ive alway been conservative. Great video boss! great advice as always!
+Annie Farmer Being conservative is the answer for sure ;-)
I totally agree with you , as we are on the grid but use our utilities wisely and frugally , as always enjoy your videos , and look forward to each new one , thank you .
$2500 per year average for grid power in Australia!!
+rickdono64 Wow ;-o
+Amanda Martin thaaank you
awesome video ;)
+cilla3636 Thank you
in other words don't cut off your power until you have done everything you need to do to your home, then try it to see if you can live with out the power. If you have to buy fire wood you are not saving anything, if you are thinking wood make sure you have a place toget it free, know how to cut it with out getting hurt, doctor bills are not free.
+brenda alexander And don't forget, those who gather their own wood get warm twice!
Been there done that. 👍
+brenda alexander Yessah :-)
How long have them LED bulbs last? Been hearing they have not lasting the expected burn time.
+MrAwesome glock They don't last as long as they say from my experience.
I'm guessing you save money because you don't use an electric hair dryer... Just saying - great video!
+The Weekend Homestead Good guess :-D
+thebossoftheswamp we save money on haircuts too. Mr Will Goldylocks day will come.
what do you do as a living? like what do you do for work?
+Ja-RED Galion I will be covering that in an upcoming video.
thebossoftheswamp OK thank you, could u give me a shout out for the video idea?
+Ja-RED Galion I actually filmed this stuff a few weeks ago but couldn't fit it all in my last Q&A. It's something folks ask me all the time. Cheers .
thebossoftheswamp thanks for the replies. I wish the best of luck to you brother. P.s I've bin subbed to you since you only had 106 subs :) cheers man
+Ja-RED Galion Thank you and best of luck to you as well. Cheers :-)
Boss, what do you call those galvanized containers on top of your wood stove in the background? They look useful & attractive.
Do you mean they old enamelware kettles? They are just that, enamelware kettles but I call them my water heater :-)
I love your videos but the downside to that life style is are u blessed enough with enough start up money and by the look at your set up not every average Joe can live that nice due to income restraint but love your videos
+Amy Ring I started "this lifestyle" at 21. I had no money and drove a 72 Blazer with no insurance. No power, no plumbing, no phone. I accumulated what I have from over 30 years of living simple and cheap. I didn't fall into this lifestyle with a stack of money. Instant gratification has nothing to do with homesteading.
You are so right we do just what you are saying.We are not where we want to be yet.We have decided to ween ourselves off little by little.And make adjustments as we do so as not to be overwhelmed.Great info once again.
Awesome information. Subscribed and following you. Have a great day!
+HomeSteadHow Welcome to my channel and thanks for subbing.
Great video bud. Very informative and inspiring.
Keep up the good work and keep the videos coming. Oh and bucko says hi to Frankie.
Another great food for thought video! Thanks for sharing your advice and tips & tricks!
Great info I have told everyone I know to look you up . To me and my wife you are a breath of fresh air! Keep up the good work and we will be here to view it.
Great info and here I thought all along you carried candles and oil lamps with a hat and slippers
+Barbarossa4U Bah Humbug!
Thanks JC, excellent information.
I have done the same. I built a tiny house and went from a 1650sq ft house to 310 Sq ft. Consequently my electric bill went from $350 per month to just under $40 per month without a major change in lifestyle. Now I am working on efficiency. Love your channel as always.
+Bobby James Simple and cheap. Love it :-)
Who needs cable or Sat TV with the incessant commercials when there is EXCELLENT programs on youtube such as this one. Personally, I am not interested in living in a cabin deep in the woods but Still, I have been encouraged by this video series and others like it to cut back with the unnecessary expenses and dream chasing.
Most of us have way too much STUFF and much of it is seldom used. I am downsizing some of the excess and will be more careful on purchases going forward.
I don't know how we all accumulate so much crap. I'm constantly getting rid of stuff but it never seems to end :-/
hey JC I love your stuff! I wish it were that simple. my power company charges the monthly delivery charge of $50/month. I have a $600 bill before I start using any juice. They are gonna get our money one way or another. I love what you do and appreciate your insights.
+David Stocke Wow! I'd be unplugged in no time :-o
I love this video JC! Not sure where you get the ideas for these videos, but I love all your life long experiences, and learn from them all. If most "Homesteaders" watch just half of your videos, they could get over a great "learning curve" much sooner than later. Getting the kids out on their own sooner than later can also reduce the electric bill significantly! :)
+Brad1237202 Thank you buddy. No joke on the kids and power :-o Certainly got that right.
OMG! This video has brought tears to my eyes. I want to be off grid as much as possible but I am realistic to my dependence on certain modern amenities. This is the first video I have seen that embraces a hybrid of sorts. You have launched my dreams into a more attainable and realistic vision. Thank you so much!!! You don't understand how full my heart is right now. Thank you just isn't enough.
I made this video because I hear so many folks are dreaming about going "off grid" but then they bang their heads against the wall trying to have alternative methods of electric light. Electricity is awesome and can be very affordable with a conservative approach. Glad you found this beneficial Tabatha, I hope you'll share my channel with others who may enjoy my videos. Cheers :-)
Thank you so much for the advice, very helpful! I just love your video's. Just saw my first video of you about a week ago and oh my goodness, I'm hooked. Subscribed, started watching and catching up nightly. You really are awesome. :)
+Karey Whaley Glad you are enjoying them Karey. Thank you.
+thebossoftheswamp You're very welcome! Be safe ☺
Catching up on videos all day, drinking beer and watching the Kentucky derby...Wow am I behind, lol...
People think its easy to live off the grid...not a chance, if you are not a woods man, cant make adjustments, dont have some sort of a few bucks coming in, have no COMMON SENSE for the great outdoors etc??? So many things to consider...What a great video my friend...Great advice for many that may want to consider living off of the grid...Take care,, Gonzo...
+Heith Gagnon I've got lot of catching up to do as well buddy. I don't watch vids when i'm at my cabin cause my internet is through my phone and I have to be frugal with my data. Always good to hear from you my friend.
For those who are connected to the grid, you can cut your power bill significantly by making a small investment...by retiring your Incandescent Light Bulbs to the Backup Bin. Switch to the more efficient and Warm Feeling LED Bulbs which can last up to 12 Years. They use only about 6-8 Watts/Hr versus using 40, 60, 100 Watts/Hr. They're much safer and less toxic than the Swirly Fluorescent Bulbs...as they contain no Mercury or other harmful Gases. The Light Output is comparable to Bulbs of the same rating equivalent. I switched all Bulbs to LED's and boxed up the Incandescent Bulbs...we have next to nothing for an Electricity Bill now! We do most of our Cooking outside in the fair weather, either on a Coleman Stove, Oven or Barbecue,. especially when the weather is too hot to cook inside....so we use our Oven much less. BTW...I happen to live in the most expensive Province for Hydro Rates in North America...Ontario! We get credits now in reserve, and we haven't had to pay a Bill for a few months now! Our Hydro Bill use to average around $168/Month...and that was using it frugally!
I like how you think. Just because you have electricity from the power company doesn’t mean you aren’t off grid. Off grid to me means being off a city grid. You can easily be 10-20 miles from the city or town and still have access to the electric system. A lot of farms are off grid and still have access to electricity. Under $400 a year for power is dirt cheap. What a bargain! You couldn’t run a generator for that, not to mention the purchase price. Though I’m certain you have one for backup, which would be a necessity. The LED lights make a huge difference. I spent about $35-40 on them to change out the bulbs we use the most. They’re saving me about $35-40 a month, around $450 a year. That’s some good suburban logic lol 😆. Boss, God bless you and yours! Stay safe and healthy my friend and love from the Judge!
Your electric bill is a dream for us Ontarians . Ontario has the highest electric rates in North America . This household is MIGHTY STINGY , like yours , main oven hasn't been on in 4 yrs , run coal oil lights often etc. , and a min. bill is $ 160/month . Been 2 yrs developing a plan & components to unhook from the grid . If anyone knows of where to purchase , or the name of , an energy efficient DC water pump that can take 200 to 220 deg F It would be great to hear from you ! ThanksI do rustic interior/exterior for part of my living , I see you use the stick-out pegs in your beams , your the only person besides myself that I've seen use them , nice !
$351 per year, wow you have cheap power! We are forced to pay $25 a month just to have a meter for service, and yes that is NO electric use at all! $300 per year for NOTHING. That is truely what I paid last year for a property I lease, last year I was seldom there except to check the place and 0 electric used! I had power shut off Dec. Because it is simply cheaper to just buy gas and run a generator if I will be there this year. When I was actively there living and working on vehicles in shop my actual power use was very little anyway per month.
I plan to kill power at the house and be totally off grid by end of this year!
There can be many reasons other than just money to go off grid also. My power company is stupid!
I don't have a freezer or clothes dryer. All my lights are LED and the most I have on at once is one. Maybe. I don't have internet or home phone or cable. If I want to watch tv I plug it in and pop a DVD in it. When I'm done it's unplugged. I live in a split level 3 bdrm house. My electric bill is 30 bucks a month.
thank you for sharing....
I live totally off grid here in Chile. It was $5,700 to hook to the grid and $4,500 to buy a solar system. If I was hooked to the grid I would have $400 to $600 / month power bills.
I do have a generator for running my high power consumption items like my welder, and when we have had a long spell with little sun, but I still love living off grid. Yes the power costs more here in Chile.
If I were to return to the former USA, and I do not see that happening, then I would live off the grid there as well.
The satisfaction of not having a power bill is priceless. Jim
+ChileExpatFamily I much prefer the off grid lifestyle too. I enjoy my independence and even enjoy the challenges. Both lifestyles have their pros and cons. Cheers :-)
Enjoy your videos - you are very pleasant and have something to say. Saw your video concerning you tube problems. I will watch you & support you. So many presentations are click bait. They barely talk about their title & others use their female companion to create interest.
Thanks for the advice well I made it 1 step closer being disabled I don't get that .Must money it's taking forever it seems to get the wood I needed still have to get some but I on my way 335 bored ft is a good start be making a 24x24 cabin on 100 acres keep you in my mind as I go
In Ontario, due to Lieberal government mismanagement we pay the highest electricity in North America, and more and more people are going the off grid route. I can't since I live in an apartment that has electric heat, but I use as little as possible, mainly by using only two of six baseboard heaters, and all LED lighting.
Great common sense approach. Thanks for the tips.
Regards
Mark
can't believe I just found this video Dec 31, 2018.
camp oven is on my wish list now.....I have been able to keep my power bill down also but not quite that low.....good job
boss no need to respond back I know you are good about that saw a vid with you talking about alternative lighting but you never showed us how well each did may be a good vid to show how well each lighting does from a candle to your best source just more ideas.
I see well I have to remind myself I've never attempted it but as long as u keep making those videos u will be our guide in such ways to clueless folks like me lol
You make some very good points. :) I am gradually switching to LEDs. Two of the lights that get used the most have been switched over. I guess Franky didn't have any comments on the issue? ;P
+MotherOfManyHorses Frankie was sleeping in the hall 'c)
Great points made JC, I have been 8 years off the grid and am still learning how to be more conservative! You guys must have some pretty cheap electricity... here in NL we produce some of the largest hydro plants and paying more and more each year. I am so glad to be independent from that! Thanks for sharing boss! Cheers.
+Dave Wilcox Jr Outdoors I prefer to be independent as well, even if I end up paying more in the long run.
Where did u get caribou antlers? I live in an area of 4 acre parcels. Unfortunately the deer can eat my garden but bylaws won't let me eat them. It is kinda a weird place as we have all kinds of animals a stones throw but we are on city outskirts. We aren't very frugal with power but not too bad on natural gas. It gets very cold here at times but we often don't run furnace during the day as sun heats house despite myself allowing cracks under doors so forth. A lot of people close everything tight but many die of radon poisoning. I just don't like tight houses. My wood stove has an intake pipe from outside. So warm sunny days say -1 F I walk around in gaunchies 😆 no fire just sun through two small south windows. Usually stays about 68 F after one heatup in morning & if I start wood weeeeelll.
+Tossdart I got those racks in a trade a few years back. No caribou around here but I wish there were.
Great video Boss, thanks for sharing. I enjoy seeing how low that I can get my utility bills, some months, it's not much more than the service charges, but f I need it, it's there.
+Hatch61 I wish some women would think like you do. Life would have less struggles ha ha :-D
Guess it's cheaper in the States! I live in Ontario Canada. I am on the grid but also have a 560 W Solar array with 12 Rolls Batteries. That powers the fridge freezer, computer lights etc. I cook on wood or propane, the water heater is propane and the house is a Geodesic dome so lots of light and warmth. I used $23 CDN of electricity last month but the bill also included $76.00 delivery charge, $4.00 debt reduction fee (The Original Hydro company went bankrupt so the Province had to loan money to purchase Hydro One) the there was GST/HST Tax. Total Bill $114.43! Time to invest in more panels and cut the cord :) Really enjoy the channel and look forward always to your next video. Thanks
+Chris Hawkesford Even though my yearly consumption is affordable, I'm very anxious to get back off the grid at my cabins. My homestead uses around 8 or 9 bucks worth of power per month and the rest of the bill is taxes and fees. I don't need the taxes and fees.
April and a little chilly? You make me sick JC, ha ha! Here in Alabama it's been anywhere between 80-90 degrees with very high humidity(70-100%!). Looking on the bright side of things; I don't have to pay for a sauna, just go outside! Always a pleasure to watch your vids, all the best to you and Frankie!!! God bless! Jason M
+CaptainConstruction It dropped to the high 30's last night. Your 80 degree weather sounds nice right now.
three couples built a camp in NH in 1988. Electricity on property from past owner, I say wire for electric while bldg. one wife says "no its a camp" I say "you don't have to use it" so we wire it up..... Fast forward 25 years. Guess who is first to hit the switch when we go to camp? Aways remember........ times change. P.S. we never exceed the minimum $ 12.75 per month. Cook on grill,heat woodstove,springwater down hill flow, it's not that hard to do.
+dennis bailey Good story :-) What part of NH?
WOW! That comes to like $31.25 a month. How is that even possible in NY? I am guessing you use your washer and dryer once a week, fridge is plugged in 24/7, freezer is plugged in 24/7, etc, etc??? I am pretty darn frugal, and the lowest I could get my electric bill down to one month was $50. My brothers garage is on a separate line, and whether he uses any electric or not, they charge him $25 a month fee, just for the service! I don't know how you do it Boss Man. My hat is off to you!!!
+MrRantek24 The fridge and freezer must barely use any power. I have been here 13 years and my highest yearly total was just shy of 400. 2015 was the lowest ever. LED bulbs and killing the standby power made a huge difference. I have a gas water heater and gas dryer but use the clothesline as often as I can.
Great video Boss! Those beautiful paintings behind you...I have a feeling that you painted them. Right?! It looks like there is Nothing you can't design and build! Wow...you're amazing!
I only did pencil drawings, the paintings weren't mine :-)
Sound guidance JC. Off grid would be more achievable if one "practiced" scaling your power consumption back. This was about power but what about WiFi/internet? How are you managing that at the cabins? I can cook on a woodstove, warm my bum too but I need my internet fix.
+T. A. “TA” Bernhardt I tether my laptop through my phone. The only reason I got a cell phone is so that I could access my online business at the cabins.
Lots of valuable insight on Every video you share. I appreciate it more than you know. I am single by choice, raising my last child and two grand children. So many people are trying to achieve some degree of simple living. I just don't know the best way to go about it alone. The plan is simple... Debt reduction first. My debt was around $16,000, down to $5,500. That is the extent of my plan at this point. Pay off debt and then I draw a blank. No adult male relatives. Makes me really value your insight because men just Know Things !!! You do a fantastic job of explaining and teaching.
Debt reduction is a must. Congrats on what you've accomplished so far.
Another great video. We live out in the boondocks of the U.P. and slowly reducing our costs as we can. One huge cost for us was the phone bill. My wife is Dutch and her children live in the Netherlands. Calling to them, or her before we were married, on average would cost around $50.00 per call! Way too much. We now used Skype for our phone service for everything. I think our average monthly phone bill is about 26 cents per month. Not too bad I think. If we call using our computers on both ends of the call, there is no cost what so ever.
We do try to keep our electric bills to between $35.00-$45.00 per month. Most of the time we are able too. like you, our actual electrical usage cost it very low. It's the rest of the fees, taxes. etc that make the bill large.
Keep the videos coming. This Old Norwegian really enjoys them and can relate to most of them.
+Chris Nelson Thank goodness for skype. What a money saver that is for you. There are a few bits of technology that I certainly do enjoy. Thanks for commenting.
I'm well on my way to being off grid, where I'm from in nw Ontario Canada, even if you use 0 kWh it still costs 50 dollars on your bill, I power a fridge, my lights, water system and occasionally a dryer, (family of 4) and use 40 dollars at 11 cents per kWh in a month. after delivery charge, debt retirement fee, generating cost and taxes, that bill inflates to 155+- a month, it's ridiculous!
+trainwreck253 I prefer to be entirely off grid and will be once I sell this homestead and move to my cabins. The power here is affordable, but also like you, my bill is mostly taxes and fees.
Thanks for the video...as always, I enjoyed it! Practical and informative...food for thought
+Amy Knox Thanks Amy :-)
Another amazing video Boss!! I was just wondering if you have a third woodstove in the basement so the bitter cold times it will keep your pipes from freezing? If people have a 200-300 dollar electric bill now they should try cutting the bill down into the $50-100 dollar range just to see if they can tolerate living that cheap and if not stay hooked up to electric. Oh Well to each is own you have given everyone great info to consider!! Thanks Again!!!
+dave hogan The house is built on piers but the skirting is insulated well so never had any worries about frozen pipes.
Great vid JC! When I first bought this house, I was paying $150.00 a month electric bill. The house is total electric but by implementing a lot of what you mentioned, I have cut it down to $65.00 a month. I took an early retirement from that electric company you mentioned...use to be their staff photographer. Don't want to send any more of my retirement money back to them! LOL Keep up the good work!
+photog20001 Good to hear from you buddy. A while back I opened my electric bill and it was 303.00 but then I realized it was my neighbors bill that got stuffed n my box. What the heck are they running over there?
If you don"t mind saying, what is the total energy annual cost of electric, propane, gas, lamp oil, etc. If I am to compare to my electric home I need to compare the total energy cost. I have installed backup 20kw propane generator and 6kw gas generator to my panel with interlocks and transfer switches. Moved all lighting to LEDs, insulated the attic replaced windows and installed propane logs for emergency heat. Also have outside propane stove for backup cooking. My total power bill is $160 per month for a 2 story cape cod colonial with basement about 2200 sq. feet. My little cabin in Lynchburg, Va at the base of the blue ridge mountains.
Sounds like you're well prepared. Electric is the way to go if you are frugal with it. It's certainly the most convenient and often safest route to take. My home is 1350sf and I'm on National grid. My annual power bill is usually under 400.00 or slightly over. Propane approx. 200 and under, lamp oil, barely anything because they are used for occasional ambiance and power outages.
not sure the monthly consumption a propane fridge/freezer uses but like my area the base utility bill before I use a single watt is $26 before taxes then it has varying rates relating to times of day and year and consumption. No FRANKIE ah man you lost points, he's the star!!!! lol
+spudrubble I use about 8.00 worth of actual power. The rest of the bill is taxes and fees. Frankie was in the pic for a second there in the outdoor scene :c)
Unable to go off the grid completely, but have put 55 gallon barrels under rain spouts to collect rain water that we use in garden, washing cars, bird baths, dog washes and even for the first part of the laundry wash. Have saved $20.00 to $30.00 per water bill. Getting it free from rain is good. Thank you for your tips. Love your site.
+9aspengold5 Every little bit helps. Keep up the good work :-)
Excellent video JC. I agree if you can be hooked to the grid you should take advantage but being able to conserve and being prepared for down grid situations is the key. Last week i got my power bill and thanks to the coil heating my domestic water on my wood stove my bill was $0.00. Turns out they hadn't been reading my meter and based it on previous usage. They owe me $210.00. That's a first for me and i'll take it lol. I have you to thank for that as well for inspiring me with your channel. I also did your salt water ice bottles in the deep freeze and shut off my fridge. No need running it to keep a couple of things cold for one person. Anyway my friend great advice. It also may inspire others to conserve which helps with the environment. We are such a wasteful society this day and age. Great job. Gonna share this one on FB. Regards. D. Cote.
+dadgad68 You've got a good thing going for yourself over there buddy. Keep up the good work :-)
That's good advice JC. Last year I built a cabin for a friend to retire into in northern Maine. All was well for awhile, until the long winter set in and was too much for him. Now he's living there part time and has a apartment closer to civilization and back to work to pay for both places. So, you nailed that one right on the head Ebenezer!! ( lol ). Well done boss as always!... Cheers, Pete.
+Peter Stanhope I see similar scenarios all the time and although they may quit the lifestyle, I don't really consider it "failing" because the only true failure comes from not trying. It's a rewarding lifestyle for those that seek it.Cheers.
Hey Boss, Looking into building a full log handcrafted fully scribed log home. Been thinking about scribing it myself but don't have the machinery to lift it while scribing the logs. I thought I would ask you about hand scribing log homes since you used to build them, I would love to have your email if you could send it to me.
+Greg Johnson I built log home kits and stick frame homes. Never did the scribe method.