How do you live in this modern age without electricity?

Question

If the electric company cuts off your power, how can you live? I know I'd have water and hot water (gas water heater) if this happened, but what else do I need to think about?

Just FYI, our power company REFUSES to work with us. They tell us to call charities in the area for assistence - but I work 40 hours per week and can't qualify for anything. I have been busting my ___ to try to make extra money. My husband caused this outrageous bill. He is sorry, but that's not going to help anything. I figure they'll cut it off any day now.

We can grill dinner and eat foods you don't have to cook for other meals.

Thanks for all the tips - please keep them coming! :)

I tried to gove them $200, but they wanted more than $300. So they cut it off. Let the fun begin. :) I guess I gotta clean out the fridge tonight.

gove = give

Gotta love the typos, sigh...

Answer 1

You can certainly live, but without alot of amenities. You'll need to be able to cook, do you have a gas stove? If not you can purchase a propane burner to use in the camping section at target or something, but fuel will be a factor. You'd have to buy food fresh and in small quantities since you won't have a refrigerator to store it in. You'll need light, especially in the winter, so you'll need oil lamps or candles. Also, you'll need to find something for entertainment... no tv, dvd or computer. also, if you need heat in your house, you better figure out how that works. Again, you can buy a kerosene heater. Also, if you have electric razors, hair dryers, toothbrushes, etc you won't be able to use them. You won't be able to charge a cell phone, so that could suck.

Actually, the cost of not having electricity would probably be greater than having it if you wish to maintain a standard mof living.

Answer 2

I have been there and done that not by choice but by no money. The biggest thing is the refrigerator, Thats the one thing that you just donot get used to not having. Living in a house that you are used to just flipping on a switch for lights is another Its not so bad if you are camping and you dont have the switch there to flip on. If you are in an apartment in the city where you have city water you can make it. In my case I lived in the country and without electric I didn,t have water either as I had a well and it had an electric pump. The next thing is the lighting situation you tend to go to bed a lot earlier when you do not have the TV to keep you up so you end up better rested for work. Because we have grown up with electricity we have not been raised with the knowledge and common sence about the proper use of candles as lighting. Meny people tossed into the need to use them during power outages are careless and do not know how to secure the candles in the holders or on a non burnable surface. They tend to let the candles burn during the night as they are used to nightlights and leaving them to burn unattended causes a lot of fires. If you do have this happen you would be well to stock up on batteries for a flashlight rather than candles. The light from a candle is not bright enough to read by either. If you are antisapating this to happen then stock up on canned foods that you can consume without having leftovers or that need the fridge to keep. Things like powder milk that can be made one glass at a time or drinks like Tang are good. Without electric most people have trouble with boredom as we are used to the mecanical entertainment, find things to keep you busy such as reading or some kind of handwork. You may find yourself feeling somewhat dispondent and asking the question Why Me? because the bright lights of a city around you make one feel like they are alone and that noone elce understands the extent of your problem but some of us do. If you have a computer with wifi meny Mc D's have free service if your near a college then take advantage of their liberies and computer services. Or even city liberies do research on your family as liberies with genealogy departments are used to people being there for meny meny hours day after day. Do what ever it takes to keep your days filled with good and positive things and by and by it all works out and the electric will be restored.

Answer 3

There is government help and the power company will work with you if you give them a call and make arrangements.

For light you will need candles, oil lamps, and or flashlights.

Your food...either an ice chest or canned and dried food. You can put ice in the refrigerator if it has a container to melt into. If not then you need to clean out the refrigerator and dry it to prevent mold.

For entertainment there's games, books, writing, hobbies and etc.

Laundry can either be hand washing or the laundromat.

Good luck and I hope you power doesn't get cut off.

Answer 4

Its not going to be fun that is forsure :)
but you can do it people lived a good comfortable life before electricity was invented.. we need to know more about your situation though so we can better help you :) if its temp you need to think about the bare boans basics a cooler a kerosene heater and a way to cook and heat water. you can heat water on a kerosene heater but it takes forever :)
and you are going to want to get a nice oil lamp :) and get some really good boOKs to keep your mind off of things :)
everything will be ok and work out keep your head up :)

Melissa D

Answer 5

You can either live like a caveman or find a way to pay the bill in installments. No lighting, tv ,fridge, washing machine, PC, heating, video games the list is endless, plus candles are a serious fire risk. Do what you can to keep electricity most people can't live without it once you've got it.

Answer 6

I did this many years ago. I was sire at society after coming home from the war. I took my family and went into the Canadian/Minnesota border woods, we didn't have or need neighbors, we raised five kids this way, until the notion of school came up. Then I had to "wake up"

There are people that do live this way, the Amish of our area have no electric, no telephone, no automobiles. They have no modern appliances.
A young baby drowned due to this, there wasn't a phone to call for help, the D.A. tried to press charges but, lost.
A young man recently almost lost his live after a farming accident, again, no phone.

Answer 7

Your refrigerator will not work so food storage becomes impossible. No TV, Computer, Lights, phone. Your electric stove won't work so you have no method of cooking.
It really depends on your situation. This is a very difficult situation to navigate with winter coming on (where I live anyway).

Answer 8

Sell your computer and cancel your ISP. Use the money to pay for the electric bill.

Answer 9

Probably much the same way that Southerners and their GOP Lords react to the rest of us today.

Answer 10

a camp site