Couple ‘Sick of Paying Rent’ Spends $70K on ‘Cheap Land’ in Hawaii, but Admits Off-Grid Lifestyle Isn’t Easy (Exclusive)
By Google News Technology ·
In 2021, Ellie Rose Staub and her fiancé traded an expensive rental for an off-grid home on Hawaii's Big Island
From managing their own power and water to dealing with limited space and remote living, the experience has taught them independence and resilience
Despite the challenges, Staub tells PEOPLE she would make the decision all over again
Moving to Hawaii meant a fresh start for Ellie Rose Staub and her fiancé, who had always dreamed of living somewhere far from home.
After leaving upstate New York at just 18, they settled on the Big Island, where they eventually realized that island living came with a price.
Tired of spending so much on rent and wanting more control over their future, they took another leap, purchasing a piece of forested land and turning a small shack into their off-grid home. But while the lifestyle has given them a new sense of freedom, the couple quickly discovered that living off the land wasn't quite the peaceful escape some might imagine.
"I feel like a big misconception is that this life would give you a lot of time to relax and enjoy being one with nature, but in reality, there is always something that we need to be aware of running out of, or chores like getting water and taking out the trash that need to be done," Staub, 25, tells PEOPLE exclusively. "It feels sometimes like there aren't enough hours in the day for it all."
The couple had always talked about traveling and moving somewhere different, and graduating high school gave them the perfect opportunity to take that chance.
They made the move to Hawaii in 2019, long before they had established careers or taken on major commitments. Living on the island was exciting, but finding an affordable place to settle down proved challenging.
Their lowest rent payment was $1,200 for a room measuring just 400 square feet beneath a house, and that didn't include utilities or groceries. Eventually, they began looking at other ways to make Hawaii home without spending so much just to have a place to live.
"Honestly, we were just sick of paying rent and wanted to have more independence and financial freedom," Staub admits. "That's when we decided to look for cheap land. We found this lovely property surrounded by forest with a tiny shack on it! It was a fixer-upper for sure, but I remember us talking about pitching a tent on the land if we needed to."
Outside Ellie Rose Staub's homeCredit: Ellie Rose Staub (2)
The couple purchased the property for roughly $70,000 and immediately began the work to make it habitable. By August 2021, they had officially started their off-grid journey.
At first, this was a big change from the conveniences they had grown up with, and the adjustment involved learning skills neither had much experience with — from figuring out how to operate a generator to setting up a water heater and maintaining their power supply.
According to Staub, their home has no city water or electricity, relying instead on their own systems to keep the home running.
Solar panels and batteries provide the property with electricity, while a generator serves as backup. "We run the generator a lot during this [rainy season]," Staub explains. "Usually in the evenings, we turn it on for a few hours to make sure our house doesn't die overnight."
They also collect rainwater for household use, bring in their own drinking water, and cook primarily on a propane camping stove outside on the outdoor patio.
Given that their home sits in a remote area, the…
Originally published by Google News Technology
