Are you making a transition to off-grid life? If so, you are not alone in your journey. Many people are converting to a more straightforward way of life, disconnected from many modern conveniences. The latest estimates claim that around 250,000 people in the US live off-grid, which means they live without being connected to public electricity, water, or other utilities.
When you decide to make a household move to take your life off the grid, many things about the place you call home can change. Therefore, there are naturally some things you own that can be donated, tossed, or left behind.
1. Clothing
Clothing is essential, but it can also consume a lot of space. The more clothing you have, the more room you will need and the more laundry you can have. Both of these things are unrealistic in most off-grid homes. These homes are usually designed to be easy to heat and cool, which means a lot of added space for storing clothing may not be available. And, you may be relying on a private well, solar power, or hand-washing to do your laundry.
2. Excessive Household Decor
Some off-grid homes are just as decked out as anything you would find on the grid. However, this is the exception and not the norm. Most homes are designed around minimalism and efficiency. In other words, keep items that don’t serve a need or purpose to a minimum. As a result, you may not have a lot of space to hang a ton of wall decor or stash all those knick-knacks.
3. Electronics
Electronics are bound to be one thing that can be harder to let go of. However, if you rely on solar, wind, or even water energy to power your home, you will likely keep electronic use to a minimum. So, some electronics may not get as much use. So, take a discerning look at your electronics and determine what you’re likely to use in your off-grid lifestyle.
4. Excess Amounts of Paper Documents
Certain paper documents are essential to have around. For example, experts recommend keeping tax returns for seven years. However, you can convert paper documents to digital copies and consume less space. Consider scanning documents you have to maintain and loading them onto a flash drive or digital storage device. You could quickly turn an entire filing cabinet worth of papers into just one small container.
5. Small Kitchen Appliances
Small kitchen appliances take up a great deal of space and require a lot of energy. Consider which items you use if you have a collection of small appliances, such as a toaster oven, air fryer, deep fryer, countertop rotisserie, and juicer. Things that don’t get used more than a few times a year, even while connected to the grid, may not get used once you get moved.
Find Help Making Your Off-Grid Transition
Even if you are transitioning from a traditional home to an off-grid location, professional movers can help along the way. Reach out for a free moving quote to start the process.
