First of all – thanks for finding your way here! It warms my heart to know that someone is interested in what happens behind the scenes here at OffGridLivingGuide.
Why did I start this site?
Like so many others, I dream of being a bit more self-sufficient. Maybe not completely off-grid (I admit I love my high-speed internet!), but at least less dependent on “the system.” When I started researching solar panels, water filters, and everything else that goes with it, I was surprised by how hard it was to find straightforward, honest information.
So I thought – why not share what I learn along the way? And that’s how OffGridLivingGuide was born!
What do I actually do here?
You might think it’s just about writing down some thoughts and hitting “publish,” but the truth is that each article takes much more time than you might imagine:
Research (4-8 hours per article)
I read everything I can get my hands on about the topic. Compare products, check reviews on Amazon and other sites, read forums where real people share their experiences. Sometimes I dive so deep into rabbit holes about solar panel efficiency that I completely lose track of time!
Testing when possible
When I can afford it, I try to buy and test products myself. My garage is starting to look like an off-grid store with all the water filters and LED lights I’ve collected. My family sometimes wonders if I’m preparing for the zombie apocalypse…
The writing (6-10 hours per article)
A really good article takes time to get right. I want you to understand everything, even if you’ve never seen a solar panel up close. That means I write, delete, write again, double-check facts, and try to find the perfect way to explain why LiFePO4 batteries are so much better than regular lead-acid batteries.
Updates and maintenance
Prices change, new products come out, old ones stop being manufactured. I spend several hours a week updating articles and making sure links still work.
Why affiliate links then?
Here comes the honest truth: This takes A LOT of time, and I’d be lying if I said it was purely out of charity.
When you click on one of my links and buy something, I get a small percentage of the sale (without it costing you anything extra). This helps me:
- Pay for the site – Hosting, domain, tools to make the site faster and more secure
- Buy products to test – The more products I can test myself, the better recommendations I can give
- Invest more time – Affiliate income lets me prioritize writing more and better articles
But here’s the important thing: I will never recommend something I wouldn’t buy myself. My credibility is worth much more than a few dollars in commission. If a product sucks, I’ll say so. If there are cheaper alternatives that work just as well, I’ll mention them.
My promise to you
I promise to always be transparent. When I’ve tested something myself, I’ll say so. When I’ve just read about it, I’ll admit it. And I always try to give you alternatives in different price ranges – not everyone can afford the most expensive option, and that’s completely okay!
Want to join the journey?
Off-grid living is very much about community and sharing knowledge. Have you tested something I’ve written about? Found a cool product I missed? Or just want to chat about being self-sufficient?
Get in touch via the contact form! I read and respond to all emails (though it sometimes takes a few days when I’ve gotten deep into research about composting toilets or whatever it might be).
Thanks for supporting OffGridLivingGuide by reading and using my links when you shop. It means more than you know!
Best regards, The OffGridLivingGuide team
P.S. Yes, “the team” is currently just me 🙂