Robert Tiller wrote:I don't know if this is the best place to put this but I just need ideas to help me escape this bind before it is too late. I need a few acres of land that could be built on legally in the future as my finances develop.
I'm 23 and live on my own, I moved out of a bad family situation at the age of 18, was homeless but for now rent a room. I've saved around 10,000 dollars, I have no debt but don't really have credit either. I occasionally see chunks of land float around within the price range but there's always something critically wrong with it such as it being wetlands, landlocked, illegal to build on, contaminated or various other nightmarish things I could never fix in my financial situation. I understand that anything I could afford is guaranteed to be very low quality, almost completely non arable desert, that would bring very limited payout in terms of homesteading (For something like that at least a greenhouse is an option) but I will take whatever I can realistically get. I have watched all those land websites (landwatch zillow etc) and it has been very fruitless. I tried calling logging and mining companies to see if they ever sell off land after they strip it and all told me no or give per acre prices (and minimum quantities to buy) so high it is impossible.
I don't know how long I'll be able to maintain my current rent situation, I rent a room and part of a greenhouse on a farm but the relationship with me and the home owners are extremely strained. And I'm starting to suffer serious burnout and fatigue from the stress and working too many hours, I really don't know how long I can take it.
Hey, Robert. First things first: you are in a good situation already. It wasn't til I was 26 that I learned to be serious about saving and my biggest problem for now is finding the time to look at good land I can afford. I got on coolworks 4 years ago (give it a google, it's just a classifieds/job board) and found a job that included room and board in Wyoming. All I had to do was cook for about 50-60 people/day and that let me save 12,000 per six month season every year. I recommend cooking for smaller ranches but if you can get decent pay with room and board covered, go for it. Whatever the pay-to-cost ratio is, go with what nets you more savings. Cash will be important in the next couple of years (puttin' on my real estate speculation hat).
A word of advice about saving hardcore: housing, food, and transportation are everyone's biggest expenses. They often seem impossible to reduce or eliminate but there are options. And while you save for (potentially) a couple years, keep in mind why you save. Keep reading and planning for your land. Connect with people who like similar stuff. The light at the end prevents burnout.
