Preparing for off-grid requires one step most people miss, so here is that step, a credit freeze.

When we decide to move off grid we start making lists, and plans of things that we want; and need, to be successful. One of the things that's often not found on those lists, but should be; is closing your credit down, so someone doesn't steal your identity!

What's the use of moving off grid to protect yourself or to cut your costs if you find 6 months later but someone's been living high off the hog off of your credit rating? So what we need to include in our planning step, is a systematic shut down of our credit!

Here is the contact information and the protocol for freezing or credit at all three credit agencies:

This does not mean that you're forever without credit, there is reactivation sequence is included in this information. Also what it does mean is that someone can't sneak behind your back, and steal everything you've worked for!

My off-grid plans included a dearth of loans, and the total non use of any credit. Loans and credit only keep you on the grid. If there's no payments, there's no record; and you're off the grid both power wise, and economically speaking! So what my initial goal includes is to shut this stuff down. It is a little slower this way, but it works so much better, IMHO!

This is just one more step, in creating a low profile. If you: move to the country, go solar, add batteries, heat with wood, use a well, and grow your own food; but have large loans to pay for it all, guess who is still easy to find?

Freezing credit will have no detrimental effect on going off-grid unless you are planning to use loans to do so. This could be a viable way to go, depending on your money situation. If you plan on doing that; get your loans early, get stuff going the way you want it to go; and then freeze your credit. The other thing to do in that instance would be to pay the loans off as quickly as possible. That will allow you to be much more effectively off-grid, when they're paid off!

Just in case you can't read the picture here is the contact data in hard copy:

Equifax Security Freeze
P.O. Box 105788
Atlanta, Ga.30348
800-3499960
www.equifax.com/persobal/credit-report-services

Esperian Security Freeze
P.O. Box9554
Allen, Tx.75013
888-3973742
www.experian.com/help

TransUnion
P.O. Box 160
Woodlyn, Pa. 19094
888-9098872
wws.transunion.com/credit-freeze

Remember, and this is important, you must freeze all three! If you leave one open and they find it they can still steal your identity and everything you worked for. So be sure and contact all three to do credit freezes!

If in the future you need to take out a loan or you need to use credit for whatever reason you can simply contact these people again and you're allowed to unfreeze your credit don't do it every week are there get tired of you and start charging you. But this is one procedure that identity thieves cannot get past. You also don't have to pay somebody to watch your credit every month switch leaves another paper trail. It also saves your little money!

One last note: One of the reasons for moving to the country is to lower your property taxes. Once lowered, consider paying ahead on your taxes. If you have a tax bill of $100 and you pay 10 years ahead you don't get hurt, but you are much harder to find!

Be blessed, and thrive!