Spring Sunshine Makes Off-Grid Living Doable: Budgeting our Off-Grid Homestead

 

Hi there friends! Welcome back!

Spring is such a beautiful time on the homestead. So many bumblebees visiting our blueberry plants and we just put in our apple / cherry tree orchard. The sun is out and our solar batteries are charging to the 90 percentile! We are seeing the savings roll in, thanks to our off-grid setup.

Will and I are keeping our budget the same for the next few months, and throwing the extra cash into savings accounts designated for future projects and winter utility bills. Winters are harsh here and really put a strain on our finances. It's nice to finally be staying under budget. 

Variable expenses projected for April:

Laundromat: $50
Fuel (gasoline, kerosene, diesel): $450
Groceries: $800
Home Improvements: $2800
Propane: $100
Dining out/entertainment: $250
Pets: $100
Online orders: $200

Total: $4750

Following is what we actually spent for April:

Laundry: $30
Fuel (gasoline, kerosene, diesel): $344
Groceries: $1012
Home Improvements: $1581
Propane: $24
Dining out/entertainment: $500
Pet: $54
Online purchases: $187
Misc (car tags): $500

Total: $4232

Here's the comparison:

Laundry: +20$
Fuel (gasoline, kerosene, diesel): +106$
Groceries: -212$
Home Improvements: +1219$
Propane: +76$
Dining out/entertainment: -250$
Pet: +46$
Online purchases: +13$
Misc: -500$

Total: +$518

We've also been using a lot less propane as the weather has stayed in the 60s-70s, keeping our trailer warmer throughout the evening and night. 

With milder temperatures, I've also started my little vegetable garden and have yellow zucchini, red onions and purple potatoes growing already. It's been a great start to the season.

Let's Keep it Going!

As mentioned before, Will and I are keeping our budget the same for the next few months and building up our savings. Living off grid (and not having stable utilities) really forces you to live by the seasons and cycles of mother nature. It's fascinating to see how our budget changes as the season changes. 

Fixed expenses, which stay the same for us, no matter the weather or usage:

Cell Phone: $130
Car Payments: $1140
Insurance (i.e., car, medical, etc.): $350
Waste Management: $47
Internet: $120
Subscriptions (i.e., streaming services, etc.): $52 

Total: $1839

Variable expenses for April:

Laundromat: $50
Fuel (gasoline, kerosene, diesel): $450
Groceries: $800
Home Improvements: $2800
Propane: $100
Dining out/entertainment: $250
Pets: $100
Online orders: $200

Total: $4750

We finally got our house foundation finished and we are starting our house! It's so exciting! Due to the mild winter this last year, we are a full month ahead of schedule. We are hopeful to have the house dried in by winter. The new home expenses are not included in these budget projections because they've already been accounted for.

This blog is for entertainment and educational purposes only. I am not a finance professional, and this is not financial or legal advice.

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