With the pandemic still in the air, the idea of living off the grid is becoming less of a pipe dream and more of a serious plan for a lot of people in the UK. But is it possible?

Living off the grid is ideal for people who aren’t interested in the amenities of the modern world and want to live a simple life away from it all.

There are lots of ways to live off the grid, whether it’s a caravan in the woods or a house at the base of a mountain. If you’re going to live in a house, a conveyancing solicitor in Newcastle, Somerset, the New Forest, or wherever you decide to live, can help you out.

In this post, we’re going to give you 10 things you need to consider before you start living off the grid. But, before we do that, we’re going to briefly touch on what it even means to live off grid, and why on earth you’d consider doing it. Take a look…

What Does ‘Living Off the Grid’ Mean?

Our modern world is a cold and challenging place. It’s so far removed from how we evolved to live. It’s become so cut off from nature, that moving away from it all to live in the middle of nowhere seems like a comfortable alternative.

The reality is, living off the grid is a lot of hard work. That said, at least that work is all about keeping yourself and your family alive without the help of companies, the government, or any other modern crutch most of us rely on.

Living this way also reduces the amount of damage you cause to the planet, especially if you put in the work to make your new off-grid home sustainable. In order to live off the grid you’ll need to:

• Produce your own power
• Have a water source
• Grow your own food/forage for it
• Learn how to deal with waste and sewage
• Be prepared for all weathers
• Know how to fix and build things
• Be content living with your family and seeing no-one else

We’ll touch on how to prepare yourself for all these things later in the post. If that list looks like the sort of life you want, living off the grid might be the choice for you.

Why Would You Want to Live Off the Grid?

So, we have an idea of what all this entails, but what are the actual advantages of doing it? The main reasons people choose to live off the grid are:

• It’s healthier because everything you eat is grown, foraged for or hunted
• There’s less pollution, freeing your lungs from the city smog
• The only stress you’ll have is making sure everyone in your house is fed, watered and looked after (no more deadlines, meetings and presentations)
• You’ll save money because you won’t spend anything on utilities, rent, food, etc.
• You get to live in nature every day, which benefits your mental health and overall life fulfilment
• You’ll be more responsible for your environment
• You get the satisfaction of knowing you’re completely self-sustainable and not reliant on anyone else

10 Things You Need to Start Living Off the Grid

Now that we’ve gotten the persuasion part out of the way, you probably have a better idea of whether you actually want to live off the grid or not. If you’re on board with the idea, consider these 10 things before you decide to take the plunge:

1. Find a location

Starting with the obvious, you need to find the place you’d most like to live, taking into account it’s going to be your new home for the foreseeable future.

You need to consider aesthetics, availability of water, how much land you can afford to grow crops on, whether there’s anything to forage, etc. Basically, everything we mention in the next nine points are things your new location has to be able to accommodate.

If you live in the UK, you’ll need to buy a piece of land to live on, and you might even need to pay council tax, depending on the size of the land. The best way to sort this is to speak to a local conveyancing solicitor.

2. Decide who you want to live with

This, again, is different for everyone. Some people see living off the grid as a completely solitary thing with just you or your immediate family. Others would rather build something like a commune.

If there are people in your life you just can’t live without who you want to live off the grid with, you can all do it together. It’s actually a lot easier doing so with more pairs of hands to help with all the hard grafting.

3. Choose what you want to live in

Most of you won’t even think twice about this; it’s house or nothing. But, others might want to live in an RV as it’s a lot cheaper and has the benefit of running water, a sewage tank and a generator all built in.

It’s also a lot quicker than building a home from scratch. However, it’s obviously not as comfortable and would be much harder to live out of if you have a family. Assess your situation and needs, and go from there.

4. Acquire planning permission

If you don’t fancy living off the grid in an RV and you’d rather build a house, you have to take planning permission into account.

Even though you own the land, the council has a say in how it’s built. You have to submit a planning application to the council with all your plans for the site and the supporting documentation.

If they approve it, you can get started. If not, you’ll likely have to make changes to your plans and spend a lot of time dealing with the council until you finally get your approval. It’s definitely worth reading more before you decide to live off the grid.

5. Create a power source

Even though people live this way to get away from all the stresses of modern life, it doesn’t mean you have to live completely free of modern technology.

You can generate power to your home and enjoy modern appliances, mobile phones, laptops, and other technology to keep one foot in the real world. This really helps to make life off the grid more convenient. Your choices are:

• Solar panels on the roof of your house/RV
• Wind turbines
• Hydroelectric power

Out of all three, solar panels are probably the most cost-effective and have the most benefits of solar energy. They also produce the most consistent power. Remember that all the above power sources require batteries to store the energy, and you need to install enough batteries to power your appliances.

6. Find/collect water

When you pick a location, you need to make sure you buy land next to a water source. You’ll need this water for drinking, cooking, washing, and basic necessities.

If you’re not able to buy land near a water source, you can collect rainwater or bore water and purify it to make it consumable. You’ll need a water tank to store it and, if you choose to collect bore water, you’ll need a geological survey to find out where to look.

7. Generate heat

When you build your house, you should consider how to insulate it as much as possible, so that hardly any of the heat you generate escapes your home. The best options for heating your home are:

• Heat pumps
• Biomass
• Portable heaters

Heat pumps are the most efficient of the three, as they use either underground heat or heat from outside to warm up your home. Biomass is the burning of wood or organic matter, and portable heaters are electrically generated heaters.

8. Grow, hunt or forage for food

There are no supermarkets when you live away from modern conveniences, so it’s time for you to learn to procure your own food. You can grow vegetables, fruits and grains, or raise livestock for dairy and meat. Make sure there’s arable land to grow on when you buy a plot of land.

You also have the option to forage for berries, mushrooms and other wild plants or animals. Foraging is completely legal in the UK, as long as you’re not trespassing on private property, but hunting animals requires a license, which can be difficult to get hold of.

9. Drainage and waste disposal

Improper disposal of waste can cause problems with the land, nature and environment. The two best ways to dispose of waste are:

• Composting toilet: many of these are waterless, compact in size, and don’t smell
• Soakaway: a simple hole dug in the ground filled with coarse stone and rubble. It allows surface water to percolate into the ground.

10. Consider the cost

All of the things mentioned above cost money. So, before you make any rash decisions about living off the grid, you should do a full cost-analysis. Think about:

• The initial investment: land, house, equipment, appliances, septic system, power, water, etc.
• The daily costs: household items, maintenance, internet, taxes, etc.

The daily costs are nowhere near as huge as the costs of living in a modern city. So, once you’ve made the initial investment you won’t have to worry too much. Also, depending on how connected you want to be, you could still work on your laptop to make money.

Should I Pack my Things Then?

As you can see, living off the grid is either something you’re comfortable with, or it isn’t. Lots of people have considered it as a thought experiment but would never actually do it.

However, with COVID-19 convincing people to move to rural areas to get away from overcrowded cities, who knows; this might become a more popular way of life. So, if you want to give it a go, now’s the time to buy your plot of land before someone else gets in there before you.

When it comes to looking for a bar stool, one thing that should be in mind is pleasing the customer. The stool should be appealing and give maximum comfort to the one seating on it. Several factors might affect the comfortability of the stool namely the height, the back, and the cushion. Not to worry, here you will find useful tips that will help you in the selection of bar stools that will cater to your customers’ comfort.

Desired Height and Shape

Most barstools out there come in a round shape cushioned top that is more functional as it is appealing. This element in design paired with foam filling ensures maximum comfortability. Once you have a cushioned top that is padded and well fitted don’t forget about the height. The height is usually selected based on the height of the countertop. The best way to hack matching the height of the stool with the countertop is to get a stool with an adjustable height functionality.

Detachable or Fixed Cushions

As much you want to have the best barstool there is affordability is key. Most bar stools that come already padded might tend to be a little costly and might cause a dent in your budget. A way of having a bar stool that is cheap and offers comfortability is by getting a generic barstool and attaching a cushion. The good thing about having a detachable cushion is the fact that you can easily change them regularly to ensure the stools remain comfortable for the customer.

The Fabric On The Stool

The materials that are used to make the sitting area of the stool are always very important. Take keen notice of how different fabrics might react to the type of cloth you have on. Faux leather has been in use for a while, although it gives the stool a classical look and all, it tends to be a little slippery. If one gets on the stool at the wrong angle, you might fall off. A fabric that offers not only an eye-catching value but also a grip is one that you should go for. It is not uncommon to see a bar stool top fitted with a crotched cover, because one is assured both comfort and grip.

Versatility 

As you go looking for bar stools for your establishment you must remember what is the use of the stool, whether it is an outdoor or indoor stool. Look for a stool that can be easily switched to cater to more than one area. That way you will spend less cash on buying many stools for different areas within your premises. Still on this point. You have to know if you need a stool with a back or a stool with no back. Bar stools with no back support are easily stackable and give it an upper hand when compared to the one with a back. Though in most cases a bar stool with low back support works its magic in regards to offering comfort while sitting for a long time.

Within the world of dating, there has never been a clear-cut answer regarding whether or not long-distance relationships work. For some, the thought of having to battle against the odds is too much, and thus they would rather not try. However, it doesn’t have to be like that. As the old cliche suggests, if you really love someone, then what you have is worth fighting for. Of course, that’s not to say that making things work over a distance isn’t problematic, but it doesn’t always have to be a relationship-ending issue. So, let’s take a look at how to get around distance.

The Importance of Keeping Romance Alive

Irrespective of whether or not you’re in a long-distance relationship, efforts should focus on keeping the romantic flame burning. According to a report by Medium, making an effort in this regard helps to make the connection between two people feel fresh. In turn, keeping the excitement alive will go a long way in minimising sadness when apart from your loved one. While, of course, it can’t fill the void entirely, there’s no benefit in focusing on factors that you can’t control, when instead you can centre your plans around sustaining a romantic connection.

Source: Unsplash

How a couple deals with the issue of distance will likely vary. That said, there are numerous ways of keeping the romance alive. When seeking to make the best of long-distance dating, whether it be starting a new relationship through dating apps or maintaining an existing connection, it’s essential to make time for conversation throughout each and every day. Communication provides the platform to learn more about each other, and that can range from life-long goals to favourite food. While talking can bring you closer together, it’s also advisable to continue with date nights. Retaining a sense of intimacy acts as a reminder of the connection between two people, which is a must when seeking to get through a testing period.

If It’s Meant to Be, It’ll Work Out

The world of dating is full of advice and old-school cliches. However, little can help in instances where distance is keeping two people apart. That said, if anything, 21st-century couples are better equipped than those before them to combat this predicament. Following the rise of digitalisation, people are able to communicate with the touch of a button via their smartphones. Although this doesn’t provide the same level of real-world intimacy, it’s one easily-accessible way to feel close to your partner.

Source: Unsplash

As per a report at Verywell Mind, those who have gone into a long-distance relationship with a positive mentality have enjoyed greater success regarding communication and satisfaction. Adopting a success-orientated mindset can undoubtedly make the difference, particularly in relation to making your partner feel loved and valued. Perhaps the most important thing to remember, however, is that if it’s meant to work out, then both parties will make an equal effort to keep the spark alive.

Don’t Listen to Negativity

The worst thing that long-distance couples can do during their geographical break is to open themselves up to negative opinions. Each relationship is different, and there’s nothing to say that your connection can’t flourish in spite of the distance. Ultimately, if you remember to make time for each other and communicate, you’re already off to a positive start.

The first lockdown in the UK caused a massive surge in addiction problems and a crisis in mental health. According to the Independent, ‘high-risk drinking doubled’ during the lockdown, and the BBC reported a rise in ‘suicidal thoughts’.

Unfortunately, with a second lockdown now upon us, we are facing many of the same problems. So how do we deal with the stress that lockdown puts on addiction recovery and mental health? We’ve compiled a few tips for you.

Stay connected

Addiction and poor mental health thrive when we are isolated and disconnected. This is one of the main reasons why the UK has experienced such a huge rise in addiction problems during the pandemic.

In order to combat this, it’s important to keep up connections and maintain relationships as much as possible. It’s easy to let friendships fester when you can’t see people face-to-face, especially if you don’t like technology.

Unfortunately, these sorts of technology (Zoom, Skype, texting, phone calls) are the only way we have to keep in touch with people at the moment. So, even if you’re a technophobe, it’s worth making the effort to call people up and keep those relationships going.

You’ll find that the simple act of talking to someone who’s in a similar situation to you makes a big difference.

For those following the 12 Steps, make sure you stay in touch with your sponsor. For others, consider joining an online support group. And for everyone, keep in touch with friends and family!

Don’t rely on alcohol to improve your mood

It’s important to not rely on alcohol to improve your mental welfare. If you are reaching for a beer or glass of wine each night, then you are heading for trouble. Drinking too much could mean you become physically dependent on alcohol. Afterall, alcohol is a very addictive substance.

If you have drank too much alcohol over the course of the pandemic, you could require alcohol rehabilitation in order to overcome potentially dangerous withdrawal symptoms. If you experience withdrawals, seek out the help of your local GP clinic as a first port of call.

Establish a routine

Addiction loves isolation; it also loves chaos… and there’s plenty of chaos at the moment, both on the global stage and at home.

The best way to fight that chaos? Establish a routine.

It can be hard when you’re working from home, or if you’ve been furloughed, to keep to a routine. It may feel like there’s just too much dead time in a day. But for the sake of your recovery, and your mental health, it’s absolutely crucial.

It might be a good idea to actually write down a routine for yourself, where you wake up at a certain time, have meals at certain times, exercise at certain times and so on.

You’ll find that as each day passes, it becomes easier and easier to stick to that routine.

There’s something in our genetic makeup which seems to react well to routines: it’s been proven, for instance, that having a sleep routine is a great way to ensure a good night’s sleep.

So do yourself a favour: get a routine, and stick to it. You’ll feel better for it.

Stay away from social media

Having praised the benefits of technology in my first tip, I’m now going to talk about some of its dangers.

Social media can sometimes offer a false sense of connection. We refresh our Instagram feeds obsessively, desperate to know what everyone else had for dinner, or we check Facebook for the millionth time, to find out what that girl we went to school with thinks about the US Election.

This is not connection. If you want connection, call someone up and have a real conversation.

Be careful what you read

A lot of us get our news from social media now, so this is related to the previous point.

There is more of a risk now that reading the news can act as a trigger for mental health and addiction relapses. With coronavirus sweeping the planet, the news is pretty bleak at the moment. If you suffer from anxiety, especially, there is a lot to be said for avoiding the news as much as you can.

Perhaps try reading something comforting: a favourite book, for example. Reading can be a great form of escapism in these distressing times, and it’s better for the mind than just watching TV.

Keep up a healthy lifestyle

One of the best ways to look after yourself – regardless of the pandemic – is to keep eating well, sleeping well, and exercising.

It can be easy to give up on these things when you don’t have such a strong routine. That’s why a routine is important: it helps you to maintain a healthy lifestyle.

Food, diet and exercise are like the three pillars of mental wellbeing. If you get these right, then you give yourself a good chance of avoiding a relapse.

Focus on the positives

This point also ties in to the one about the news.  There’s a lot of negativity around at the moment, and it can be difficult to stay positive.

One way to do this is through a technique called mindfulness. When you notice yourself having a negative thought, stop for a moment and write it down. Then try to come up with a more positive alternative.

Similarly, if you find yourself having a craving, make time to call someone, perhaps a sponsor, a friend or a member of family. Remember that staying connected is one of the best antidotes to addiction.

Don’t go too hard on yourself

If you notice that you’re not being as productive at the moment, or you’re not exercising as much as you’d like, or whatever it may be, remember that this is a really difficult time for everyone, and cut yourself some slack.

That’s not to say you should use the lockdown as an excuse for destructive behaviours: obviously, you still need to avoid those. But it’s OK to not be realising your full potential right now.

Final thoughts

Remember, things will go back to normal eventually. Hang on in there, stay connected, stay safe, and hopefully we’ll all come out the other side of this in one piece.

The most worrying experience for most parents is when their baby gets overheated or become so cold. With these conditions, the baby’s night will be quite uncomfortable. Plus, they may spur other health risks like sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). The following tips will help you detect the body temperature changes. Then, you can take proper action to ensure your little one gets a good sleep.

Feeling the hands and feet

The typical way to know your baby’s temperature is by feeling their hands and feet. Most babies are prone to having cold hands because their circulatory system isn’t mature enough. When they are asleep, it’s quite challenging for them to feel bothered with the cold paws. So, the parent must ensure the baby gets the warmth they deserve.

In such cases, a sleeping sack that covers the hands is the best choice. Plus, use mittens and socks to keep their hands and feet warm and comfy. When you buy your baby girl clothes, be sure they are soft and have thermals to keep them cosy and prevent overheating.

Check the room’s temperature

Usually, a suitable temperature for a baby’s room ranges from 19 to 21 degrees. So, you should always take the temperature readings of your child’s sleeping room to determine if they are comfortable enough. However, this may vary depending on how cold or hot the exterior weather conditions are. Let your baby sleep in a crib with soft and comfortable cotton or fleece when it is cold outside. You can also wrap warm your kid should you find a drop in the temperature readings.

Low crib temperatures

During winter periods, there is a light wind that flows from the windows, decreasing the room temperature. That’s why you will find the baby’s crib relatively colder than the readings from your main floor’s thermostat. Therefore, the crib fails to keep your baby warm as required making them cold. The best solution is to set the crib away from the window and if possible, between the walls. By doing so, your baby will not get the chill brought in by drafts.

The baby is joyful

Seeing your baby laughing, playful and joyful before getting asleep is an indication of cosiness. Thus, in turn, implies that the baby is warm enough. On the other hand, a silent and still infant it is probably due to cold body temperatures. So, be sure to allow your infant to have skin to skin contact with your body. After that, dress you, little girl, with warm baby girl clothes, and wrap them with warm blankets; do the same for the little man but with boys clothes, to give them sufficient warmth.

Conclusion

The best way to know your baby isn’t cold is to feel their hands and feet with your hand. The other methods discussed above can help you understand if the infant is cold or not. If you want your baby to sleep well and stay healthy, make sure you provide cosy yet warm clothing and bedding.

Ever thought about how an illness or injury could affect you financially, especially if it lasts for a long time and stops you from being able to work? From bad backs to broken bones, critical illnesses to poor mental health, there are countless things that could leave us unfit for work. Yet most of us don’t have much of safety net in place in case it happens to us.

How much you’d be affected financially if you couldn’t work for health reasons depends on your own circumstances. Most of us have financial commitments of some kind (mortgage, rent, food, bills, etc.), but lots of us are also parents, which means we have other people relying on us having an income – our children.

If you’re a parent and need to protect yourself against this kind of thing happening, it’s worth looking into income protection – the kind of insurance that does just that.

What is income protection? How does it work?

Income protection is an insurance policy that pays out a monthly amount if you can’t work for medical reasons. It ultimately covers you for anything and everything health-related, so long as a medical professional signs you off work. If you need to claim on your policy, it’ll pay out monthly for a set amount of time (e.g. 2 years, if you buy short-term cover) or for as long as you need it to (if you buy long-term cover). Which kind you go for depends how comprehensively you want to be covered and how much you want to spend each month to be insured.

One important thing to know about income protection policies is that they always come with a ‘waiting period’ (or ‘deferred period’). This is the amount of time you wait before it starts paying out. The longer you can wait, the cheaper your policy will be. A good rule of thumb is to time it so it would kick in after your sick pay stops, so you know you’ll always have money coming in.

How income protection helps if you’ve got children

Being a parent means having financial dependents – a.k.a. other people who rely on your income. That’s why it’s one of the main reasons people get cover like income protection – because you not having an income could affect your children too. This is particularly the case if:

● You’re a single parent

Being a single parent usually means being a single-income household. Not having the financial cushion of another income coming in could make it even more difficult to keep up with the bills if you couldn’t work.

● You’re self-employed

This is another key reason to get cover – especially if you’ve got children too – because being self-employed usually means you don’t have the back-up of sick pay to tide you over. This means the financial implications of not being able to work could affect you even more quickly.

Think you need income protection?

This guide to the UK’s best income protection companies is a good place to start. It’s also a good idea to have a think about what might need covering in case you lost your income – i.e. what are your essential bills and outgoings? How much money is needed each month to make sure you and your children are financially stable? This will help you work out how much cover you might need to give you peace of mind in case of illness or injury. Another cost-effective option in 2022 is to compare multiple quotes free of charge through Reassured Advice.