Tiny Homes and Living Off Grid

A lot of people have been opting for tiny homes over the past few years for many reasons. Some want to use their extra income for traveling places and save more instead of being stuck with a long-term bank mortgage while others simply want to leave less of a footprint. Living in tiny homes is also very popular with the prepper community, the survivalist community, and from the homesteaders as well. It is a good way to simplify life down to the things that truly matter.

If you’re also thinking about living in tiny homes and living off-grid, then here are its benefits, challenges, and as well as some the different types of tiny homes you can choose from.

Benefits of Living in Tiny Homes

Living in tiny homes and living off-grid have a lot of benefits and here are some of them:

  • Easy to Defend and Self-Contained

Since these homes are tiny, they can be defended easily. You can immediately know if your home has been breached by an intruder. You also do not have to worry about intruders hiding in the garage or basement that you will not see straight away. Aside from that, tiny homes are also intended to be self-contained. It means that everything you have there in one place.

  • Mobility

There are also some tiny homes which are designed to be mobile, meaning, you can easily move it to another area if ever things get risky in your current location. Building your tiny home in the right way will enable you to move frequently and stay out of harm.

  • Save Money Through Off Grid Methods

It’s also the best to use off-grid technology in tiny homes such as gardening, solar power, rainwater collection, and woodstove heat. A tiny home can sustain itself with renewable resources and unlike other homes, it is not dependent on city utilities. This means that you’ll be able to save money while still having power, water, and heat.

Challenges on Living in Tiny Homes

Living in tiny homes has a lot of benefits but there are a few drawbacks as well. One of the obvious challenges is having minimal space inside. But there’s one benefit related to this disadvantage which is being forced to spend more time outside and as well as learning to simplify possessions. Having a minimal space will teach you to think about which things matter most.

The biggest challenge that people who live in tiny homes face is when it comes to government regulations. That’s why before making any long-term plans, it’s better to consult with local authorities first because there are different regulations in different countries, towns, and even neighborhoods.

Most of the time, the closer you are to a city, the more rules are there to follow. This might also be the reason why people who live off the grid choose to stay in rural areas in counties. Some of the states that promote off-the-grid living are Colorado, Alaska, Oklahoma, Wyoming, Arkansas, and Missouri.

Types of Movable Tiny Homes

As mentioned above, there are tiny homes that are movable. In fact, there are people who have been building their own tiny homes on wheels and they have a community called Tiny House on Wheels or THOW. Here are some of the different types of movable tiny homes.

 

RV

  • RVs: RV’s were originally created for short-term, vacation housing. But since they are built to be fully self-contained, they are also great for preppers. A lot of people, preppers and non-preppers are modifying RVs as an all year round housing.

Trailer

  • Trailers: Pull behind camper trailers are also involved in tiny living. However, these trailers need modification for people to be able to live in them all year round even in cold climates. With some modifications, there are trailers or campers that can use renewable energy sources like solar power. They can also be self-contained using a rainwater catchment system and a composting toilet.
  • Converted School Bus or Truck: Converting trucks or buses into tiny homes is probably the most creative idea for preppers. What’s great about these vehicles is they run with diesel engines which can be modified to run on other sources like vegetable oil and biodiesel fuel. This means that even when there are no longer any gasoline stations around, you will still be able to make this tiny home move.

Gypsy wagon

  • Gypsy Wagons: Gypsy wagons are made famous by The Wizard of Oz. They are the tiny homes on wheels called Vardos where a crystal ball reader seen by Dorothy and Toto rode when they ran away. A lot of people are creating tiny homes similar to that in the movie. ]

Houseboat

  • Houseboats: Sailboats are originally made for short-term trips but there are also houseboats which are made for longer-term housing. Some people are turning sailboats into permanent tiny homes and they are called houseboats. This type of tiny home is best for those who love the water and those who want to avoid traffic jams. They can also be great for a post-SHTF event.

Living in tiny homes enables us to live in a more practical and purposeful way. Living in tiny homes and off-grid will also help us when the tough times come. And even if nothing happens, the good thing is we are able to save money, eat healthy foods, and live in a more peaceful environment.