How much does it cost to live off grid comfortably? While I was planning to build my off grid cabin and homestead I was also working out on paper how I could support myself and thrive without working for someone else the rest of my life. This led to a long experiment in how much money I actually needed to not just survive but live comfortably which I will share with you here for ideas. I designed and built my cabin for under $2,000 with a small solar power system and water from an artesian well and paid for it all with cash so I have no house payment/rent and no monthly utility bills. I do however have property taxes in my state which started out at $28 a year when the land was unused and crept up every year until now I pay about $330 a year. Over 80% of that goes to funding schools even though my kids are all grown and don't live with me. The taxes would be much higher if I owned more land and a bigger cabin and outbuildings. I choose to have a phone and internet though I rarely use the phone. The internet is actually my primary source of income now as I am semi-retired and I use it for researching my projects for off grid living and cabin plans and making youtube videos. That income varies a lot by month but on my worst month I make enough to pay for my phone and internet use which is about $100 and pay for supplies I need. On average I spend about $5 a day for food and I eat well. I cook at home most of the time but I do like a change and will hit a fast food joint or have breakfast at the cafe a few times a month. So I figure $200 a month for food. I drive about 10 miles to town a few times a week and a tank of gas will last me a month so about $25 a month. Insurance on the truck is $300 a year and registration is $70 because it is old. I use propane for cooking, heating and the OD water heater and in summer one 20 pound tank lasts a month and costs $14. In winter that goes to 1 tank a week for about 4 months so about $340 for the year. I don't spend much on clothes or buy expensive clothes but I need a few new things each year so I figure about $200 for that a year. So my expenses for a year are: $4,840 and I allow for extra expenses and figure $6,000 a year or $500 a month. That is just for me and my basic needs and does not include health insurance as I generally pay for care only as needed. I owned a pest control business and put away money for retirement and to help my kids and so far I haven't had to touch that. I hope that helps people thinking about living off grid to plan for your expenses.

Thank you, brother. I’m soon to be without housing, but I think I can make this work. I’m excited about the possibility of the wood stove, and installing the surprisingly large kitchen!

Houses like this one are a great idea for older people or just a couple without children. Most people spend the better part of their lives, and income, paying for more house than they'll ever need

I love your designs. I can't wait to see more design videos like this one!

WOW! Sir you are a genius and a very generous person.thanks for the great ideas you give us.

Finally someone who realizes that small housing people are cheap not trendy! I was looking at tiny houses recently and they cost more than my regular house and the 1/4 land that came with it. I want a small house I can build a green house around every winter so I can go outside and garden year round.

This is great! Thanks for sharing your info, really makes going offgrid more a tangible and realistic option.

I used to have a camp with a loft but it was 12x12. We found a 50s version gas oven/stove/heater combo, and inherited a small coal stove. Together warm enough for winter. Our loft windows were older "sample" size of full size windows, they even came with screens. To save space during the day it used an attic type fold up staircase. Repurposed older house double hung windows and made screens to fit.

Love the 8x12 design. I like to put the TV/monitor on a long extending arm so that you can sit on the sofa, bring the monitor close and use it for focused work like writing etc.

Lamar, glad you are posting more videos. Appreciate you and wishing you a great summer!

Great plans and information. In my town I can build a 150 sq. ft building without a permit.

Land is so expensive. I wish I could get one. I but the extra add ons are expensive. But you designed a great place to own and live happy. This is truly remarkable

His plans are fantastic

This. This is what I've been looking for for so long?

I live by myself on disability, this would be perfect for me to put on my families land, I'd do it in a heartbeat!👍

Great design and very affordable for anyone!

Looks like I found my new home ❤❤❤

Update on Walden cabin plans As usual I always find a few things I should have included in plans and have to add them in later so for people that got the first version the day bed and bunk beds are 3'x6' and you could make the bathroom a little shorter if you need a longer bed or use a narrower door if you need a wider bed. The cabin could be built with 9' or even 10' sidewalls if you want more headroom in the loft and this cabin could be built on a trailer if you reduce the eve width and cut out for the wheel wells. If you build the cabin with a shed style roof you could build a second unit next to it and double the room and that is how double wides are put together. The Walden video is getting lots of views and over 13,000 in 2 days and the ebook plans are selling like hot cakes so thank you to everyone for supporting this work. Plans are here: www.simplesolarhomesteading.com/waldencabin.htm

Thank you im ordering wood right now and also i was reading walden and civil disobedience... and im on the mountains.of puerto rico homeless and this a perfect fit before huracane season. I have salvaje wood and bought new one. But i have to make.it with a stronger foundation. Thank you!!!

Thank you. I have 3/4 acre. We have a great well for water.I am very interested in putting up something affordable, and livable. I have 2 families that need a home. These look like they would work for them. I could put up two. ( :

Very nice & reasonable cost for your plans. Thank you😊

GREAT ECONOMICAL AND ACHIEVABLE DESIGN.

Wow! This is amazing! This is what I've been looking for. I want to build a guest house in my back yard with bathroom n kitchen.

Sweet, this would make a great cabin for a Mountain retreat!!

Great design, well though out

I could definitely live in one of these! I a single retired woman and so desperate to get out of my very depressing apartment and would love just a very small parcel of land near my family, but everything I ever see for sale is way too expensive. This is beyond frustrating!

Looks Great!!! Just bought the plans!! cant wait for them to come in and get to work.

A great place for the price of a home. Thank you very much sir.👍

I just bought my plans! Thanks, Lamar, for another great set of plans!

Always wanted a place like this in the woods....I'm close but its a lot larger than I wanted. Someday...

Thanks,Lamar..Great Video..Hope you are well.

This is really great. I just built a 12 x 16 shed for just under $2000. The one thing I would suggest is to consider a shed roof instead of a gable roof. It's much easier to build and it gives more headroom beside the bed in the loft on 1 side. So, instead of putting the bed in the middle, you'd put it up against the shorter wall and that gives more floor space up in the loft as well.

The Bears and Walden would love that

I just ordered out materials to build this @ about 2600. Not including roofing, windows or doors, or finishing the inside. Just framing. I put it all on a PT 2x6 deck with PT 4x4 carrying gurters. . And did 10ft sidewalls, and got Trex decking for the side deck!

Dude, this may have just helped me out a LOT, thanks for putting this out.

Will watch tonight have a good day bud 👍

Very nice design!

Thinking of putting a couple these in my back yard.

Always a good day when Lamar has a new video.

Maybe put 2 of those 8x12 cabins end to end for a more comfortable space. And use appliances from an RV so most of the place can be run on 12vdc. Just add a utilities shed or sectioned garage to house the batteries, propane and generator.

Amazing! I think we will be buying your full off-grid pack, shortly!

Beautiful!!

I think you could simplify the roof to make it easier to build, might not look as nice but it's the inside space that matters, the outside is for other people to look at. A basic rectangle with a shed roof is the cheapest structure to build. I would do away with the loft and increase the footprint, on a flat lot, you could build it all with just a 6 ' ladder and basic tools 👍😊🇦🇺

Very nice

Your website is really impressive! I got two acres in MO. I want to build your cabin out there soon!

Great idea and can really help some folks. I would suggest a modification, that the side addition be lengthened or move forward, because it looks like rain water will spill on grill and splash the double-sliding door area.

Really nice cabin set up.

Thank you I am looking for it and will hire someone to build it. Thank again. +1

May be exactly what I'm looking for, I'd install a wood mass heater under the day bed.

The Walden Cabin is designed to be easy and inexpensive to build with options for porches, additions and a patio and can be used for off grid housing, recreation cabin, accessory dwelling unit, office, rental, emergency homeless housing and other purposes. Walden Cabin is 8x12 shown with 8x9 addition, porch and patio options and the 8x12 cabin can be built for under $2,000 framed, insulated, drywall, foundation and roofing. If you can cut a straight line you can build this cabin. Plans are 35 pages full color in PDF ebook form and includes all framing for the cabin, porch, addition and patio. Material list for cabin and recommendations for materials and equipment is included. Also includes basic solar info. www.simplesolarhomesteading.com/waldencabin.htm

This is nice

Magnificent!! It’s a dream.

That would work for me!!!....subscribed!!!!

I'd probably change the shower and toilet by the door for those quick bathroom emergencies as well as having mud room capabilities, so I could step into the shower and hose off my shoes if needed. That'd really mess up your design doing that though. But I'd change out the roof for a single slope roof pitched perfectly for solar panels in the area. The foot of the loft bed would be on the short end of the slope and windows on the high end.

Just a little savings info. If you need to put the bath and kitchen appliances in. Find an old camper for little to nothing and pull the parts out that you need.

Please keep the good work up!

Awesome work!

So it is June, 2021 (one year later)...."Walden Cabin sleeps 4 under $7000" And I was in the middle of building my homestead.

This is a great concept

Crock pot microwave and grill outside and you are good to go! Me want!

$2,000 shelter, $5 schematics. It's doable.

In New Zealand, you wouldn't even buy the timber for that price. :-( we get ripped off SO BAD .

The addition would make a great bedroom and the loft would let you sleep 2 plus with a futon in place of a day bed you could sleep 2more

It's amazing you can build a home for $2,000 damn it was sleep four people and you could just add on to it some more things to it once in the hands of the presidents when I use it

FIRST! Nicely done!

I'm so glad I stumbled across your channel. I'm a single, 49 year old veteran who's in need of a cheap housing solution. I've been doing tons of research on RVs, mobile homes, camper vans, you name it. None of those are viable options for me and it's really had me stressed out. This setup with the purchase of a small plot of land is perfect! You said anyone can do it. Is that really true though? I'm thinking about hanging drywall, things like that. And, I'll check out your other videos, but any thoughts on the best/cheapest places to purchase land (I prefer out west)? Thank you so much, I FINALLY feel like I have a viable option.

Great video buddy! I love the layout it looks simple and cozy. Thanks so much for sharing this.

How about building prefabs of these plans!!! I would love!!! Think you would have a lot of buyers as well!!!

I live right near the actual original Walden cabin which is in Concord, MA Walsen Pond.

Cool shit man

Wow...I just luv you so much, my friend! Thanks for all you share! Lil hugs

adorable.

Can you design a cabin with 2 stories and stairs? That cabin looks way too cramped for 4 people.

Wow!!!!!

Very God idea, especially for homeless people!

I have 20 acres near kanosh and wanted to know if you can build an 8 x 12 without a permit to live in?

way cool

Cool

I can only dream of living in this cabin! I am a woman and never saw a piece of wood to be able to take up this challenge. I wish you live in my country England that I ask you for help. I just have to live with a dream for now !!!

Would it require much or any redesign to make it 12x16 rather than 8x12?

I shared your website on FaceBook wonderful website! I will be buying your products!

What is the practicability of simply purchasing a pre-built 8 x 12 shed (or any other size) and finishing it out?

What's E book, can this be printed off if I had a printer, or go to the library and use their printer.

Nice cabin, very livable.

Can I remove the windows and lock it from the outside? I was thinking of a mother-in-law apartment.

Did you ever look into geodesic domes ? They have a hub kit so you just need 2x4's, longer lengths give you a larger house still using the same hubs. The food sheeting is the hardest part with all the angles. I just subbed so I'll go check out your other plans 👍😊🇦🇺

Sweet!

How much do you think it’d cost with lumber prices right now? I’m gonna ray my best to fund reclaimed building materials

I think that the shed roof would be better for the PV panels.

Cute, love the porch, but, where are you located solarcabin? I wanted to build a little cabin for my last few years and rent out my house, but, the town said I could not do that because I need two areas per house, even if my house would only be 16X16 off-grid, a very small footprint. So check with your town before you build. I just found out today, Some places require ceilings 7' upstairs and downstairs to meet their code. And some places require fire alarms hitched up to power, so you can't be completely off-grid you would need a generator or solar.

Allowed a 10 by 10 shed. Can we make 2 sheds? One with bedroom bathroom. One with kitchen living.

Nice!!

I bought your original Walden cabin plans but am now wondering if I should get a 160-square foot cargo trailer and turn it into a Walden cabin, with side windows an electric fireplace instead of a real one.

Thank you for sharing your knowledge with us for a reasonable cost. That is appreciated. I am working on an idea to help veterans interested in farming and need some lodging. Okay to contact you with questions? Thanks again and take care.

Do you think you could build the Walden on a trailer?

Very cool little setup. Perfect for a hunting cabin. I would love to purchase a printed set. I don’t get Service where I hunt in Montana. When it comes available will you offer it on KZfaq?

Hey man! Idk if you will see this but here it goes. So does the cost of the main cabin include the cabinets and all the different stuff inside the cabin??

I'd like to do it

how long would this take 1 person would you say if everything was present at building site

A good design, as always