A WOMAN has spoken about her rent-free life in an off-grid container in rural Scotland - while harvesting rainwater and growing her own food.
Robyn Swan, 33, sold all her belongings and moved in December 2023.
She bought seven acres of land near Stirling for £185,000 and had a 40ft by 8ft container built there to live in - for £4200.
Robyn now aims to become fully self-sufficient.
She started out without electricity for eight months to save up £4500 to have solar panels installed so she could generate her own power.
Robyn also began growing her own food, rearing animals including chickens, rabbits and pigs - and harvesting her own water.
image [https://cdn.magzter.com/1583517504/1741917540/articles/09sYMWnCnRJdFi4wzQsys/9121118712.jpg]
More than a year on, Robyn says she’s around 40 per cent self-sufficient - spending just £260 a month on expenses.
The full-time dog walker - who lives with her partner Luke, 29, an electrician - said: "The container is a full house now - I chose what insulation and double glazing I wanted, so it's a lot cosier than a caravan.
"My monthly bills come to £259.43 - I only need to pay council tax minus water, some food and my phone bill.
"I was spending over £1000 a month living in a house, so I save around £750-a-month which goes back into the land. It's amazing to see my ideas coming together. For the first two months, Robyn slept on a mattress on the container floor as it was being made, as the camper van she planned to live in broke down.
Now it has a kitchen and a full bathroom with a shower and a waterless toilet.
Robyn and Luke u...
Robyn Swan, 33, sold all her belongings and moved in December 2023.
She bought seven acres of land near Stirling for £185,000 and had a 40ft by 8ft container built there to live in - for £4200.
Robyn now aims to become fully self-sufficient.
She started out without electricity for eight months to save up £4500 to have solar panels installed so she could generate her own power.
Robyn also began growing her own food, rearing animals including chickens, rabbits and pigs - and harvesting her own water.
image [https://cdn.magzter.com/1583517504/1741917540/articles/09sYMWnCnRJdFi4wzQsys/9121118712.jpg]
More than a year on, Robyn says she’s around 40 per cent self-sufficient - spending just £260 a month on expenses.
The full-time dog walker - who lives with her partner Luke, 29, an electrician - said: "The container is a full house now - I chose what insulation and double glazing I wanted, so it's a lot cosier than a caravan.
"My monthly bills come to £259.43 - I only need to pay council tax minus water, some food and my phone bill.
"I was spending over £1000 a month living in a house, so I save around £750-a-month which goes back into the land. It's amazing to see my ideas coming together. For the first two months, Robyn slept on a mattress on the container floor as it was being made, as the camper van she planned to live in broke down.
Now it has a kitchen and a full bathroom with a shower and a waterless toilet.
Robyn and Luke u...
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Daily Record (Digital) - 1 Issue, March 14, 2025