I have a few Self Sufficient Living Tips that will help you become less reliant on stores, government, and more.
These are all relatively simple changes that used to be commonplace for our grandparents and fell by the wayside over the years.
If you want to dip your toe into the waters of self-sufficiency or dive into deep waters you have to start somewhere.
Self Sufficient Living Tips
I love being able to share some simple self-sufficient living tips with you. I know that many of us may not be able to go “off the grid”, but learning how to be more self-sufficient in some ways helps a lot.
From doing simple things like starting a garden to making your own homemade foods, you can easily learn a few things to prepare should you need them.
Also, teaching your child some of these tips for self sufficient living are very important for their future.
What is self sufficient living?
The definition of self sufficient is providing for all of your own needs and the needs of your self sufficient homestead without outside help. Basically, it means you can survive all on your own. You can check out the definition on dictionary.com.
How to start self sufficient living
- Research
- Be realistic
- Be frugal
- Get out of debt
- Start your homestead
There’s no set guide on how to start self sufficient living. I believe that the list below is a great way to get you started. You want to research and then research some more. Be realistic about what is feasible for you and your family.
Be frugal. Know where your extra money is going. Get out of debt is super important. It’s really hard to be self sufficient when someone else is in control of your money.
Start your homestead now. Right where you are, even if where you are now is not where you intend to stay. This will help you not only get back to basics and start learning, it will help you save money which will help you eliminate debt.
Self sufficient living skills to learn
Start practicing your self sufficient living skills. Don’t wait until you get where you are going. Practicing now will save you so much time when it’s time to start building out your homestead.
Start a Garden- Learn what will grow in your zone, how to grow it, and dig in- literally. Learning to grow your own fruits and vegetables not only saves money but it is the best way to make sure they are organically grown. Related- Tips for Preparing Your Garden in Spring
Start canning- Everything can be canned and put up for day to day use or in a time of need. From tomatoes to citrus fruits to broths. Learn to can using a pressure cooker as well as a hot water bath.
Raise livestock- Chickens and cows produce meat and other products that your family will find useful, as will rabbits and goats. Related- Getting Started with Livestock on the Homestead
Prepare compost- Turn your leftover scraps, weeds, newspapers and more into a rich soil that can be used for free to help grow your garden. Related- How to Compost
Make your own bread- Get a simple bread recipe that you love and then experiment with adding herbs and spices for variety. This is so much better for you than white processed store bread. Try this tasty Homemade Honey Wheat Bread recipe.
Learn natural remedies- Study basic herbal remedies using plants, herbs, and essential oils that you can use to help heal your family with. Scrapes, sore throats, colds, and more can be lessened with many natural ingredients. Related- Planning a Medicinal Garden
Make Laundry detergent- This one is a money saver and cuts down on needing to buy bottles of detergent week after week as most homemade recipes cost less than $20 and last a year. Related- Homemade Laundry Detergent with Essential Oils
Harvest seeds- Besides learning to garden, harvesting seeds is another way to save money and be self-reliant. Gather the seeds from your heirloom plants to save for next year’s garden.
Learn first aid and cpr- Always good skills for anyone to learn, but if you are working towards self-sufficiency as a lifestyle these are absolutely necessary. Related- Plants to Grow for Salve Making
Smoke and cure meat- Whether you process your own or have the meat butchered smoking and curing meat will give you plenty to lay up for leaner times. This may seem one of the harder parts of self-sufficient living, but it is a must for those who are really
Learn to fish- If you don’t already know how to fish- get some basic poles and tackle and learn. Fishing can provide you and your family with another source of food for free.
Dehydrate and Preserve- Fruits and vegetables shelf life can be expanded many times over by dehydrating and preserving them. This is one of my favorite parts of self-sufficient living. I love being able to preserve foods we have grown for later.
Cut wood- Have a good quality ax on hand and learn to use it properly, you can cut your own wood for fires, fencing, and more.
Barter- Find friends and neighbors to trade with, not just physical items but skills, labor, and other resources. This is a win-win situation.
Make your own cheese- Especially if you are raising your own dairy cows or goats. You can make tasty cheese for a fraction of the cost and much healthier than anything you can find in a store.
Make homemade meat stock- Good healthy bone broth is not only a wonderfully delicious base for soups and other meals but it is full of vitamins and minerals to keep your family healthy and strong.
Have basic mechanic skills- Learn to change your own oil, a tire, and air filters. Simple skills like these will save you a ton in repair bills.
Learn how to sew- Being able to sew your own clothes, blankets, and more can be invaluable, at the very least learn how to repair buttons, sew hems, and make other fixes to your clothing.
Make your own candles- There are many ways to make your own candles for conserving energy or in an emergency situation. Learn several of them and keep items on hand. Start with these- Crockpot Rosemary Lavender Candles
Live within your means- This skill is one of the keys to self sufficient living. Learn to put aside money in savings, pay cash, avoid credit cards, drive a used car, and any other way you can to spend within your income.
These great tips for learning about self sufficient living and ways to become self sufficient are a perfect place to begin your journey toward learning how to take care of your family.
I love knowing that should something happen outside, we could easily live off the land.