Couple who quit their jobs to live off-grid 'happier than ever' as new life costs 'just £8 a day'
If your bills are rocketing each month, chances are you've looked up converting a camper van or running away to live in the woods.
Prepare for some serious envy, as one couple have shared how they quit their day jobs to live off-grid, and say it cost them just £8.87 a day.
Could you live in a static caravan with your other half if it would seriously boost your bank balance?
Libby Ramsden and Ollie Blackwell insist making the move has actually strengthened their relationship, after taking the plunge back in September 2023.
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If it's something you've been considering as there's just too much month left at the end of your money, the duo swear it's worth it to bump up their savings.
They claim it costs them £269 a month, including rent, council tax and heating.
Now, clearly you aren't going to get a mansion for this money so it depends on the lifestyle you want and where your priorities lie.
If you're addicted to Netflix and TikTok, we've got bad news for you: the pair live fully off-grid with no TV or WiFi.
They collect rainwater, use a log burner for heat and their home is powered by a tractor-driven generator.
Before making the decision to go off-grid, Libby worked as a laboratory assistant earning £24k a year, while Ollie was a farmer and tractor mechanic on £20k a year.
They did some research and found the average rent and bills would cost them £1k a month in their area.
Libby, who lives in Silsden, West Yorkshire, said: "The best part is not relying on anybody at all.
"Nobody dictates to us what our electric bills are, we are not tied to any contracts in any way.
"We rely on ourselves. It's just the freedom to live how we want to live."
The pair set up a goat's milk soap and honey business, Herd and Hive, after Libby began making goats' milk soap after being given a goat named Mary by a neighbour.
Her dad, Matthew, 53, started keeping bees as a hobby, so they combined the two.
Here's the catch - like many 'we bought property young!' stories, they had family help.
Ollie's dad, Terry, 60, a farmer, offered to rent them a piece of land.
They then bought a static caravan for £11k.
The couple use a tractor-powered generator for an hour each night to cook, shower and charge phones.
Heating and cooking is done on a log burner, but hope to install solar panels soon.
Libby said: "People think that because we live off-grid we are not connected to the world in any way or we live uncomfortably.
"People think that we go to the toilet in a bucket and carry it out."
Libby said: "Before we moved we looked at renting, or getting a mortgage for a house and in the area that we live you’re looking at anything up to £1,000 a month.
"It was a no brainer if we wanted to quit our jobs."
Libby said: "Most people in the evening will sit down and watch TV, we're not in that routine, so we feel a little bit more connected to each other.
"We have a better relationship because we actually sit and talk in the evening.
"It's definitely improved our relationship, we feel more connected to each other than if we had a lot more distractions in our life.
"We don't have a TV so we generally read or keep each other company talking.
"People love that we have no TV and no WiFi."
On occasion, they do miss the ease of modern life.
Libby said: "Sometimes I miss the ease of being able to flip a light switch on or plug your phone into charge, that type of thing. Just the ease of things.
"Sometimes in winter I miss it when you've had a hard day but the benefits definitely outweigh it."
It's also not for the faint of heart in winter, as they are on top of a windy hill.
Next on their wishlist is a wooden chalet.
"We do see ourselves living off grid forever," Libby said.
'We don't want to go back to living in a house and having bills to pay, but we definitely want to improve our off-grid life."
Would you give it a go?
Topics: Cost of Living, Money, Home, Lifestyle, UK News
Jen Thomas