Fewer bills, better health: living off-grid on the rise across the UK

The act of an individual transitioning to a more simplistic, stripped-back way of life can be categorised as living off the grid.

As a definition, off-grid implies little to no connection to any main public utilities such as energy grids or water supplies.

This lifestyle covers a wide spectrum and some may take a casual approach whereas others choose a more extreme way of living in which little contact to “normal life” remains.

But how easy is it to achieve this lifestyle?

The idea of living in such an independent, solitary manner has become increasingly appealing to UK residents as it is anticipated that around 150,000 people are currently living off the grid which is up from just 25,000 in 2007. When considering the reasoning behind why this movement is becoming more popular, it seems the financial benefits are largely to commend. 

Paul Jackman is a Lincolnshire man who swapped rising energy bills and a mortgage for a new life on wheels as he is now a self-proclaimed ‘vanlifer’. When he’s not working his factory job, Paul travels in his £6,000 military truck, Milly, and saves half of his wages which would have previously gone on house bills. When asked about the financial benefits Paul said: “You haven’t got any house bills at all to pay so you can put that money into buying a decent vehicle in the first place. No council tax to pay for, no water, no electric.” 

However, Paul went on to discuss that regardless of the financial advantages, van life can also face some difficulties. He said: “The council are shutting down a lot of the park ups, they’re just trying to stop the movement of it.”

When asked about the Council’s motive for this, Paul said: “One big thing is because they’re not paying council tax for a start, so the council are losing thousands because people aren’t living in houses. 

“There’s still a stigma to it in the UK, but as soon as you travel over the border and go over to France, they have, in every village, specially designed carparks for campers to pull up to empty your toilet, fill up your water, park for the night and stay, all for free.”

As well as the council posing a threat to this lifestyle, Paul claimed members of the public often weren’t very nice as they assume there is a “traveller element” to the van life community. It appears the ongoing stigma in the UK poses a threat to the growth of this lifestyle. 

Earlier this year, Paul appeared on Channel 5’s New Lives in the Wild, hosted by Ben Fogle.

In the programme, Ben typically meets people who have ‘dropped off the grid’ to simplify their lives and live more sustainably. When asked about any lessons or insights Ben has learnt from the show, he said: “That if you have less you enjoy more. That if you want nothing, you have everything. Our capitalist obsession with money is only making people unhappy, reduce your reliance on the financial grid and you are a step closer to happiness. Simplicity and calmness will lead to contentment and happiness.”

Ben is a strong believer in the correlation between financial freedom and mental health, suggesting that taking a step away from the stress and chaos of our typical everyday life may be the key to finding true peace. 

Another key motive for the transition to a more simplistic life derives from the environmental benefits. The Eco Experts found that, on average, going off-grid means you can wipe out your energy-associated carbon footprint, removing 2.7 tons of CO2 per year from the atmosphere. Additionally, they discovered that residential emissions make up 16% of our national carbon footprint and they are the only major emissions category that hasn’t decreased since 2014, meaning the more households that decide to go off-grid, the better.  

Shane is the entrepreneur behind ‘The Van Conversion’, a website outlining all the information needed to build your own van via a step-by-step comprehensive guide.

Regarding the shift in his attitude living off-grid has influenced, Shane said: “Living off-grid has made me more mindful of my consumption and the resources I use daily.  

 “My routines now revolve around the natural cycles of light and weather, and I’ve become more deliberate in my actions, from conserving water to generating power. This lifestyle has fostered a deeper appreciation for the basics and a more intentional way of living.” The notion of off-grid living encouraging such positive attitudes towards the environment and sustainability is a significant motive for more people to consider the transition and adopt this self-sufficient way of life.  

Despite the lifestyle presenting such benefits both financially and sustainably, revisiting Paul’s comment regarding the lack of council support sparks concerns as to how maintainable off-grid living is in the UK. In fact, Paul plans to leave the UK this year and begin a new off-grid journey in Bulgaria. Speaking about the difference in nature and acceptance outside UK borders he said, “£10,000 gets you a home over there with land, so it’s just crazy. It’s a beautiful country and it’s not like the UK where everything is getting more and more digital. Over there everything is still cash, grow your own food, help each other, all the old-fashioned stuff, back to that old style again.”

Off-grid living in the UK may be flourishing, but the stigma surrounding the lifestyle, particularly the van life community, poses challenges for individuals looking for that simplistic way of life.