An off-grid builder is causing a stir on TikTok after revealing how little it cost him to build his home.
In a video posted by a user focused on sustainable living practices (@amish_heritage), the creator explains to viewers the cost of building his rustic off-grid home, which he says comes to less than $3,000.
@amish_heritage, how much did we spend on the house? #House #Cabin #Homestead #West Virginia #Offgrid ♬ Original sound – amishheritage
Using reclaimed materials, his own sawmill, and a lot of labor, he broke down the math for curious viewers.
“According to my list, I have about $1,700 to $2,000 in it so far,” the uploader says in the clip, later adding, “You can build cheap houses if you do the hard work yourself.”
The cost breakdown covers everything from setting up an outbuilding for $350 to about $1,000 for plywood floors and an insulation upgrade for $500.
His point: Effort is the best budget hack. By milling his own wood and completing almost every task himself, he avoided one of the biggest financial hurdles most homeowners face: skyrocketing labor and material costs.
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This type of DIY off-grid living offers more than just savings. It also ensures long-term resilience because off-grid homes rely less on public utilities and are often built from sustainable or reused materials.
This isn't the only one rethinking traditional housing costs. When an Idaho homeowner set out to build his own home, he didn't need a huge budget or a sprawling lot. He ended up building two comfortable, well-designed homes for about $75,000 each, including land.
Although it's not realistic for everyone to build a home from scratch, the general rule is that progress doesn't have to be perfect. Downsizing or reusing materials can have a real impact on your wallet and the planet.
Needless to say, viewers were impressed.
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“If you do it right, you can build a very nice house for this price,” one commenter wrote.
Another added: “It's a joke – you can't even tell!”
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