Couple who built their home by hand says the biggest myth about off-grid living is that it’s cheap (exclusive)

Breanne and Julius Bailey tell PEOPLE that while off-grid living saves money over time, building the life they wanted took years of hard work and upfront costs

NEED TO KNOW

• Brianne and Julius Bailey tell PEOPLE the biggest misconception they hear is that living off the grid is inexpensive
• Although they built their home largely by hand and now save on monthly utilities, they say that getting started required a significant investment in land, materials and infrastructure
• The couple says the trade-off for greater freedom is working longer hours, but after building the life they always wanted, they have no plans to return to traditional living

For many people, off-grid living brings to mind tiny utility bills, total independence and a simpler way of life. But Brianne and Julius Bailey, the married couple behind a TikTok documenting the home they built largely by hand, say the biggest misconception they hear is also the most common: that living off the grid is inexpensive.

“It’s amazing to us how many people think living off-grid is dirt cheap,” the couple tells PEOPLE exclusively. “The reality is that it becomes cheap or pays for itself in the long run.”

Long before they were building a home together, Brianne and Julius were already imagining a life beyond the traditional 9-to-5. “Both of us had always wanted this kind of lifestyle even before we met,” they say. “Because we were on the same page, it was natural and easy to undertake the process once we began our relationship.”

Building that life required far more than constructing a house, however. While the couple says they were fortunate to build on family land and receive help from relatives, they quickly learned that buying materials, drilling a well and establishing an independent homestead demanded significant time, planning and financial investment.

“As a result, certain expenses like water and power are virtually nonexistent,” they explain. “But starting out, once you factor in land, materials for your home, a well, etc., to try and move off grid in today’s world and economy is quite an expensive undertaking.”

Now settled into the lifestyle, they say the payoff isn’t just financial. Without monthly utility bills, they’re able to redirect money toward unexpected expenses, whether that’s maintaining the property or covering surprise repairs, like when the air conditioning in their vehicle recently stopped working.

For Brianne and Julius, though, the biggest reward has always been freedom. They run their own business instead of working traditional office jobs and rely primarily on solar power, giving them independence from the electrical grid even during storms that leave neighboring homes without power.

That freedom comes with its own responsibilities, however. “Sometimes you can find yourself working much harder and longer than a traditional 9-to-5,” they say, adding that generating their own electricity also means being far more mindful about how and when they use it.

Their workweek stretches well beyond maintaining the home itself. Between responding to business inquiries, fulfilling contracts, connecting with subscribers and continuing projects around their property, there’s always another task waiting, though they intentionally set Saturdays aside to observe the Sabbath without work or business.

Even after years of building, the couple says their property is still evolving. They’re currently constructing a storage cabin that may eventually double as a guest suite, adding another room to their home, expanding the driveway and planting a larger garden.

Despite the constant work, neither of them can imagine returning to a more conventional way of living. “We have the home and the land and the well,” they say. “Why would we give all that up just to go back to being more reliant on someone else? We are off-grid for keeps.”

Read the original article on People