It’s TOTALLY possible: How to homestead when you’re flat broke

Most people interested in an independent lifestyle are wary of the costs that come with it. As intimidating as it may sound, homesteading is all about self-sufficiency, involving little to no money at all. Homesteading projects at home usually involve the whole family, and resources used are things that are readily available. A bench you make yourself may not look exactly like the one you found at that posh furniture store, but over time and with much practice, your projects will be just as aesthetically pleasing as well as functional.

Being rich helps, of course, but takes the fun and meaning out of homesteading. Instead of involving the kids in building the tree house, you’d instead hire some carpenters to do the heavy work for you. Basically, using loads of money to buy stuff for your home defeats the purpose of homesteading at all.

When it comes to building your homestead, there are only five things you need to have, and these will definitely bring you closer to a beautiful, efficient, and comfortable family home.

• Resourcefulness – A beginner doesn’t really start out with nothing. Assuming you have your own house or apartment, you already have a lot of stuff around that you can use in building your homestead. If you have several dining tables in your current home, you can re-purpose some of them into an outdoor bench by sawing the legs shorter, or use them as an elevated platform for your saplings or plants. Resourcefulness is an incredible skill to have, especially when you want to minimize expenses as much as possible. It’s as simple as making the most of what you currently have around you, including what most people consider trash. A visit to the nearest junkyard with only $5 in hand would get you all the stuff you need to build your own chicken coop. Ask your neighbors for stuff they don’t need or are throwing out. But take note not to scavenge trash bins! Even if it is a trash bin, you’ll still need to ask permission from the home owner to go through it.

• Creativity – The main difference between being creative and being resourceful, is that creativity is about the tendency to create or make, and resourcefulness is more of being clever or efficient with on-hand resources. Creativity was the force behind many of the greatest inventions and discoveries in the world, including fire. Most scientific discoveries are made by researchers and scientists who went out of the box, out of the norm, to create an explanation for something. Creativity is also exercised when trying to find other ways to make money (aside from your day job) that involves less time and effort, hence homemade goods usually sold by fellow homesteaders. Finding a means to create more money will help you fund the improvement of your homestead.

• Determination – It’s simply a matter of respecting your decision to do something. Committing to your goals and dreams for your home, no matter what the difficulty may be, is determination. If you find yourself unwilling to do a task, remember your reasons for starting in the first place. When the time is almost up, your strong will and determination will bring you to the finish line. The intense want for something to be held firmly in your hands is what brings you to complete your homestead, with or without the money.

• Optimism / Positive mindset – Homesteading without money isn’t a piece of cake, but is possible. If you say you want it and you believe you can have it, then you already win the game. Thinking negatively never helps, and speaking negatively greatly decreases your chance at success. Opportunities lie in every single crevice of life, and with a positive mindset and determination, you’ll finish your homestead without spending more than a few bucks, or none at all.

• Contentment – The foundation of a happy family is contentment. If you think you need more than what you already have, or dream of a luxurious life, then this might deter you from your dreams of being a homesteader. People who choose to live this lifestyle are happy with having a meal to eat, being able to serve their community, and having time to spend with the family. As medieval and cheap as it might sound, homesteading is only for people who are happy with what they’ve got.

Sources include:

NewLifeOnAHomestead.com

TheFrugalChicken.com