August 27 - DIY Homestead - Lowering Energy and Food Costs

 August 27, 2022

Day 331 of the Adventure

I was reading a story recently from someone who was wanting to reduce their energy and food costs to 50% of what they were currently costing. That's a pretty challenging goal but I wonder if it's not something that should be considered in the economy we are facing today. Energy and food represent something that does not go away. We must deal with their effects all the time. Finding ways to force those expenses down is a legitimate goal in combatting today's high costs of food and energy. I suppose the question is how to track whether or not any savings are being gained as different cost saving measures are being applied. 

We personally never set a specific percentage of reduction in our costs at Camp Run-Amuck. Our goal was to see how close to zero we could get. Establishing solar energy was an obvious cost but we are treating the installation of the equipment as a cost of construction rather than a monthly expense. Knowing there will need to be about a $6,000 cost recovery to break even will remain in the back of our mind through the process. As of right now though, our electrical energy bills have been close to $200 less each month during the Summer than they have historically been. Plus, since we plan to be using wood heat in the winter, I'm expecting about a $200 savings per month there as well. Spring and Fall savings will not be as dramatic as less energy was used in the past (and present) during those seasons for comparison. I still think we will be in the $1,500 to $2,000 savings range. We'll continue to monitor that throughout the Winter and make the occasional reports. 

Food is another issue. I think our greatest savings will be from simply not eating out as often as we used to. While it's certainly a savings, I suppose that's cheating the numbers a little. Dining out excluded, we are spending more effort shopping less frequently and buying things that hold up better to storage for preparation later. That alone is reducing costs by not purchasing as many convenience items. Honestly, returning to more home-cooked meals has been a welcome change from our hectic paced "grab it from the freezer and throw it in the oven" routine. Most of our food expense has been trips to the grocery store or Farmers Market. We have been re-building our supply of canning equipment for next year so there will be another ramp down of costs once the gardening and canning takes effect. 

Since we have dedicated part of this adventure/journey to the self-sufficient lifestyle principles, our personal choices may not even make it on to the radar for others. Right now, though, every time I see an electric bill that's almost nothing, a slight smile crosses my face knowing that in some small way, I am beginning to beat the system. At some point, that may indeed drop to zero as we continually ween ourselves away from the grid. If any of this is an inspiration to you, then a good part of our personal mission for doing this in the first place has been achieved. 

Carry On

 Adventure Quote:  “Somehow, we'll find it. The balance between whom we wish to be and whom we need to be. But for now, we simply have to be satisfied with who we are.” ― Brandon Sanderson

Base Camp Coffee of the Day: B-52 (Kahlua/Irish Cream/Amaretto flavors)

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Bobcats fighting over the hill from our cabin

Todays Sunday Morning Outdoor Breakfast

 

Our Cabin build "Playlist" at Camp Run-Amuck