Living Urban but “Off the Grid” – The Changes You Can Make

Katherine Martin • August 12, 2016

For those of us who live in the suburbs or within the city, the idea of going off the grid, while a nice concept, feels completely unattainable. This is for a variety of reasons including: space limitations, cost, municipal bylaws, and time restrictions. “We certainly can’t commit to going completely off grid”, we say; and then we give up and move on.

Maybe this is the boat you find yourself in. Maybe you’ve spent time reading articles about being off grid living, it seems kinda romantic, but you just can’t see yourself making the jump to a composting toilet. That’s okay, living off-grid is more of a journey than a destination (although it is almost certainly a destination as well), especially when you live in the city. It doesn’t have to be an all or nothing proposition, it’s about progress, not perfection.

Here are some changes you can make today that will affect big change, both in your life and in the life of our planet.

Cut Down

Ask yourself the question, “do I need this?”. If the answer is, “no, but I want it” then perhaps it’s something that you can give up. Many of us run our appliances and other household products constantly; we keep our lights on; we keep our televisions on, we keep our air conditioning units on; we run power night and day. This generally tends to happen for three reasons: ignorance, laziness, or apathy, none of which are responsible.
Learn to cut down on your power intake. Make due with less. If you’re reading this, and you see a light on down the hall, get up now and turn it off. This is a small beginning, but it’s a beginning!

Start Small

Don’t try to do everything at once. Here are some simple things to get you going in the right direction:

  • Plant a small garden on your balcony or in your kitchen.
  • Buy 1 or 2 backyard chickens.
  • Install a few solar panels.
  • Collect rainwater.
  • Go power-free for a few hours a day.
  • Choose one day a week where you disconnect from your technology in order to focus on the people you love.

It sounds so incredibly cliche, but you have to learn to walk before you can run. Start small.

Don’t Give Up

As I (not so subtly) alluded to at the beginning of this piece, many dreams of cutting down go unfulfilled because people simply give up. Let me encourage you; keep going! Some of the preparation and implementation will be frustrating in the beginning, but the more steps you can take in the right direction, the better.

But admittedly it’s hard, when you plant a garden and it doesn’t grow, you buy solar panels and its cloudy for the next 3 months, or you set up your rain barrels just to prepare for a drought.

Whatever you do, just keep going!

Understand the Big Picture

If being a more eco-responsible person is your goal, these small steps will do wonders for your life. They’ll open your eyes to the things that you’ve been taking for granted, and help ground you in an understanding of consumption. Your footprint will decrease, your happiness will increase, and you’ll be able to declare that, “I’m doing my small bit to help the planet, my family, and myself!”

What could be better?

 

This article originally appeared in the August 2016 Dominion Lending Centres Newsletter.

Katherine Martin


Origin Mortgages

Phone: 1-604-454-0843
Email: kmartin@planmymortgage.ca
Fax: 1-604-454-0842


RECENT POSTS

Don’t Let Collections Derail Your Mortgage Application

By Katherine Martin • November 26, 2025
Can You Get a Mortgage If You Have Collections on Your Credit Report? Short answer? Not easily. Long answer? It depends—and it’s more common (and fixable) than you might think. When it comes to applying for a mortgage, your credit report tells lenders a story. Collections—debts that have been passed to a collection agency because they weren’t paid on time—are big red flags in that story. Regardless of how or why they got there, open collections are going to hurt your chances of getting approved. Let’s break this down. What Exactly Is a Collection? A collection appears on your credit report when a bill goes unpaid for long enough that the lender decides to stop chasing you—and hires a collection agency to do it instead. It doesn’t matter whether it was an unpaid phone bill, a forgotten credit card, or a disputed fine: to a lender, it signals risk. And lenders don’t like risk. Why It Matters to Mortgage Lenders? Lenders use your credit report to gauge how trustworthy you are with borrowed money. If they see you haven’t paid a past debt, especially recently, it suggests you might do the same with a new mortgage—and that’s enough to get your application denied. Even small collections can cause problems. A $32 unpaid utility bill might seem insignificant to you, but to a lender, it’s a red flag waving loudly. But What If I Didn’t Know About the Collection? It happens all the time. You move provinces and miss a final utility charge. Your cell provider sends a bill to an old address. Or maybe the collection is showing in error—credit reports aren’t perfect, and mistakes do happen. Regardless of the reason, the responsibility to resolve it still falls on you. Even if it’s an honest oversight or an error, lenders will expect you to clear it up or prove it’s been paid. And What If I Chose Not to Pay It? Some people intentionally leave certain collections unpaid—maybe they disagree with a charge, or feel a fine is unfair. Here are a few common “moral stand” collections: Disputed phone bills COVID-related fines Traffic tickets Unpaid spousal or child support While you might feel justified, lenders don’t take sides. They’re not interested in why a collection exists—only that it hasn’t been dealt with. And if it’s still active, that could be enough to derail your mortgage application. How Can You Find Out What’s On Your Report? Easy. You can check it yourself through services like Equifax or TransUnion, or you can work with a mortgage advisor to go through a full pre-approval. A pre-approval will quickly uncover any credit issues, including collections—giving you a chance to fix them before you apply for a mortgage. What To Do If You Have Collections Verify: Make sure the collection is accurate. Pay or Dispute: Settle the debt or begin a dispute process if it’s an error. Get Proof: Even if your credit report hasn’t updated yet, documentation showing the debt is paid can be enough for some lenders. Work With a Pro: A mortgage advisor can help you build a strategy and connect you with lenders who offer flexible solutions. Collections are common, but they can absolutely block your path to mortgage financing. Whether you knew about them or not, the best approach is to take action early. If you’d like to find out where you stand—or need help navigating your credit report—I’d be happy to help. Let’s make sure your next mortgage application has the best possible chance of approval.

Start Smart: Get Pre-Approved for Your Mortgage

By Katherine Martin • November 19, 2025
Thinking of Buying a Home? Here’s Why Getting Pre-Approved Is Key If you’re ready to buy a home but aren’t sure where to begin, the answer is simple: start with a pre-approval. It’s one of the most important first steps in your home-buying journey—and here's why. Why a Pre-Approval is Crucial Imagine walking into a restaurant, hungry and excited to order, but unsure if your credit card will cover the bill. It’s the same situation with buying a home. You can browse listings online all day, but until you know how much you can afford, you’re just window shopping. Getting pre-approved for a mortgage is like finding out the price range you can comfortably shop within before you start looking at homes with a real estate agent. It sets you up for success and saves you from wasting time on properties that might be out of reach. What Exactly is a Pre-Approval? A pre-approval isn’t a guarantee. It’s not a promise that a lender will give you a mortgage no matter what happens with your finances. It’s more like a preview of your financial health, giving you a clear idea of how much you can borrow, based on the information you provide at the time. Think of it as a roadmap. After going through the pre-approval process, you’ll have a much clearer picture of what you can afford and what you need to do to make the final approval process smoother. What Happens During the Pre-Approval Process? When you apply for a pre-approval, lenders will look at a few key areas: Your income Your credit history Your assets and liabilities The property you’re interested in This comprehensive review will uncover any potential hurdles that could prevent you from securing financing later on. The earlier you identify these challenges, the better. Potential Issues a Pre-Approval Can Reveal Even if you feel confident that your finances are in good shape, a pre-approval might uncover issues you didn’t expect: Recent job changes or probation periods An income that’s heavily commission-based or reliant on extra shifts Errors or collections on your credit report Lack of a well-established credit history Insufficient funds saved for a down payment Existing debt reducing your qualification amount Any other financial blind spots you might not be aware of By addressing these issues early, you give yourself the best chance of securing the mortgage you need. A pre-approval makes sure there are no surprises along the way. Pre-Approval vs. Pre-Qualification: What’s the Difference? It’s important to understand that a pre-approval is more than just a quick online estimate. Unlike pre-qualification—which can sometimes be based on limited information and calculations—a pre-approval involves a thorough review of your finances. This includes looking at your credit report, providing detailed documents, and having a conversation with a mortgage professional about your options. Why Get Pre-Approved Now? The best time to secure a pre-approval is as soon as possible. The process is free and carries no risk—it just gives you a clear path forward. It’s never too early to start, and by doing so, you’ll be in a much stronger position when you're ready to make an offer on your dream home. Let’s Make Your Home Buying Journey Smooth A well-planned mortgage process can make all the difference in securing your home. If you’re ready to get pre-approved or just want to chat about your options, I’d love to help. Let’s make your home-buying experience a smooth and successful one!
© 2025 

Katherine Martin. All Rights Reserved.