Hacks for Homesteading Using Almost No Money

 
Homesteading is not just a hobby; it is a way of life that many people around the globe are now adopting. Since the Earth’s natural resources are rapidly depleting and pollution is rampant, adopting a self-sustainable lifestyle is really appealing.

You don’t need to be rich to Homestead; by being clever with your resources, you can accomplish this task with almost no money.

 
What is Homesteading All About?
Homesteading can mean different things to different people. To some, it can be about building an environmentally friendly house and to others, it can be about growing their own fruits and veggies. Using natural energy resources is also a key component of this practice.

The idea of this practice is not just to attain self-sufficiency but also drastically reduce costs of living homesteading on a budget can be highly beneficial not only for your wallet but also for Mother Nature. So, let’s learn how to Homestead on a budget without breaking the bank.

Here are some hacks for homesteading using almost no money:

 
1. Build a Vegetable Garden
The first thing you need to take care of is food and shelter. Assuming you already have a home to live, the next step for you would be to plant your own vegetable garden. Within a small area, sow seeds of leafy vegetables, tomatoes, carrots, potatoes, and other things you’re fond of.

As community living is getting more popular, don’t be shy to ask your neighbors for help. In fact, the best practice would be to trade vegetables with the neighbors when you have a surplus. By doing this, you’ll get access to a lot of veggies and fruits to stay self-sufficient.

 
2. Make Eco-Friendly Light Sources
Once you have a locally grown food source, you must then take care of lighting inside of your home. To save money, make the most of coke or beer cans. You can have a makeshift lamp or lantern with nothing but some cotton material and oil coconut, palm, or cooking oil.

Just fill an empty beer can halfway or three-quarter with the oil of your choice and insert a cotton material taken from worn out clothing to make your own disposable lantern. Just remember to keep a flashlight during emergency situations.

Also, if you’re using a candle, you can save a lot of money by recycling the wax. Gather all your leftover candles; get a cotton thread or wick and a jar. Melt the leftover candles in a double boiler, vertical insert the cotton thread inside of the jar and then pour the melted candle.

 
3. Hand Wash Clothes and Leave Them Out to Dry
There’s no doubting the fact that a laundry machine consumes a lot of energy. Since the idea is to live by spending the least amount of money, you would have to hand wash the clothes. Soak the laundry in clear water for a few minutes and then gently rinse with a bleach solution.

4 to 6 drops of unscented bleach is enough to clean a gallon of laundry. Be sure to use an environment-friendly detergent. Hanging clothes out to dry in clotheslines is an excellent way to save money. Just be sure to read the label to know whether to dry in shade or sunlight.

 
4. Install a Rain Tank
One of the greatest challenges of homesteading happens to be in regards to harvesting water. Installing a rain tank can prove to be a fantastic decision to not only collect rainwater but also for recycling water used for Bath by building pipes leading to the vegetable garden.

Learning how to use a flashlight can also come to great help when installing pipes in dark places. Also, simple habits like not leaving the taps on while brushing and using flash in moderation can help you save lots of water in the long run.

 
5. Take Care of Livestock
Sure, keeping a boat or a cow may be a big responsibility, but this practice can yield great results when done right. If you don’t know much about livestock, reading up on farming ideas and livestock nutrition can be very useful.

Having livestock can mean a steady supply of meat and milk, the two most essential nutritious foods you must have in your regular diet. If you have enough grazing space, having livestock can indeed change the homesteading experience.

 

 

 

About the Author

Jack Neely is a fitness expert, survivalist, and world traveler. He’s been in several life or death situations, and he’s making an effort to spread his knowledge around the web to help others survive these situations as well. He’s also on the content team at The Tactical Guru.

All content provided courtesy of Jack Neely and thetacticalguru.com

Header image courtesy of Marek Lipczak.