How We Built a Barn Debt Free

If you are thinking about building a barn and refusing to go into debt to do it, the tips below are for you. It won’t be easy, but boy, it will be rewarding. You can look through some of the free barn plans I’ve linked to and watch a video of our barn from start to finish.

Important Questions to Ask When Building a Barn Debt Free

Before you even begin the building process it’s essential to answer the following questions about building a barn- especially if you are striving for a debt-free project.

1.Why do you need a barn?

Before starting your barn-building project, take some time to think about why.

What is the motivation behind this decision? Is it because of current circumstances, or do you have an idea for something better in mind that will serve as a future goal once accomplished (i.e., starting a homestead and using the money to pay off debt or live on one income?)

The best way I’ve found is to pray about the decision and to think about how it will impact your future.

2. What does the future look like for your barn?

We knew we needed a barn for our animals. We are currently and still do use our 100+-year-old barn. The chickens go in it at night, and that is about it. It’s unsafe, and its life is questionable at this point. 

I have always wanted a small farm. But, now that we have the acres to build on, the animals will continue to come. They have come to look at how many animals I have in this barn today.

We started with a potbelly pig who lived inside with us for a whole year; I knew this wouldn’t last. He was our motivator to look at building a barn.

We talked about the barn for an entire year. Where to put it, how big to make it, it took a lot of planning and prayer to find out which spot was best. 

At this point in our lives, hiring someone to do any DIY work like building a barn is out of the question. However, we love a challenge, and Eric is pretty amazing when building stuff. 

Since he was building the barn himself, we also had to figure out what he could realistically handle. 

Check out how we did our Kitchen Makeover HERE.

3.What size and what can you actually afford?

This leads us to this question. First, you have to know what size you can afford. I would have loved to have the money to fix up the original 100-year-old barn.

We even dabbled down that path and had a couple of quotes. To get the foundation level was $12,000. So we would be looking at a $30,000 investment in the barn.

We don’t have $30,000 for a barn for animals. So it wasn’t an option, not at this time. 

We looked at the money coming in from my side hustle, blogging. We figured out that we would have the entire thing paid for by taking my income and building our barn in a few months. We didn’t have to take out any loans or use our credit cards. 

Blogging has been a fantastic journey for me. If you want to learn more about blogging and make money with it, go here.

Key Factors to Building Your Barn Debt Free

NO DEBT TO START

We went into building a barn without any debt other than our mortgage. It’s important to note this because we already have a system in place regarding how we spend money and look at debt.

We took a long, arduous path to get here, but it becomes a lot easier to know what you need and wants once you change your mindset. That you can afford and what you can’t.

You may want to consider GETTING out of debt before you build your barn.

This will mean a behavior change. That is the key to starting a debt-free life. First, you must change your behavior. You can read more on debt-free living here.

FIGURE OUT YOUR NEEDS AND FUNCTION

We knew, for now, we didn’t need a huge barn. We only have a few items to put inside, and we only have a couple of pigs. Our goal is to add a couple of goats and sheep.

These animals will fit nicely into this new barn. Take a minute to think about the future and what you need from the barn.

Don’t forget to figure in permits for your budget. Every state and country will vary on requirements and fees. In New York state, I’ve learned that building a livestock barn should not affect your taxes- meaning an increase.

We needed a loft to store hay in a safe place. It’s a gamble every time we step foot into the older barn. 

Above is our 100+-year-old barn that did end up falling in June of 2020. You can read about it here.

When it comes to living below your means and building a barn, you probably won’t get everything you want. That can be not easy to accept, depending on where you are on your financial journey.

It’s best to let it go and focus on the here and now. What you can afford now and your purpose for the barn is now. 

Who’s to say you can’t add on in the future, right?

Update- We added on to our barn in 2021! I thought it would be for my expanding livestock adventures, but my husband decided it was for storage! I did end up expanding our livestock with the addition of two pregnant ewes- who lambed in Jan. 2022! ( Updates coming for that!) I did share a glimpse on Titkok.

 Here is a picture with the addition on it.

Time Consideration

How long will the barn take to build? If you will follow our route and do it all yourself, think about what else is going on and will it disrupt the barn building.

For me, with my husband, I know when a big project is coming on like this, I don’t offer much physical help, but I’m there taking care of the rest of my life.

The challenge for me is to know it’s my time with the kids. I have to help pick up some of the other chores he may not be getting to because his time is going towards the barn.

It takes teamwork and schedule changes, but it’s worth it for us. But, of course, it isn’t a permanent thing, and we could build our barn ourselves and for a whole lot less. 

When it comes to spending money, I always say do I have money to spend or time? Us ally, it’s a little of both, but if you hire others to do things for you, you’re paying them for their time. 

HOW WE BUILT OUR BARN

We started the barn in April 2018. We ultimately finished it by the end of July 2018. My husband was the one who worked on it. His dad comes out twice for a few hours. Otherwise, it was him and him alone.

The only thing I contributed was managing the rest of the family and homestead while he worked on the barn. Oh, and a few Vlog videos too. 

The barn is 24’x24 ‘with a 16’x8’ loft. Everything cost us $8,000, and we’d also have electricity in the barn. 

We have two stall doors inside that house, the mini pigs. 

It is a beautiful building and one we hope will last many years. You can watch the video below of it coming together. 

Step-by-Step Process for Building Your Barn

Hands-on folks, this one’s for you! Here’s how we tackled our barn-building project step by step.

Step 1. Research and Plan

• Permits and Regulations: Double-check local zoning rules and building permits. New York, for instance, doesn’t tax livestock barns—yay!
• Free Barn Plans: Use available online resources. Some straightforward free designs we recommend are included here.

Step 2. Set a Budget

• Decide your ceiling price. We aimed to build ours within $8,000—and succeeded. Knowing your limits helps avoid overspending.

Step 3. Gather Materials

• Shop around for supplies. Buying secondhand or sourcing locally can dramatically cut costs. Start with treated lumber, roofing supplies, and hardware.

Step 4. Build It Yourself

• Be realistic about your skillset. My husband spearheaded construction while we saved on labor costs. If something’s beyond your expertise, hire help for key steps like roofing or electrical installs.

Step 5. Expect the Unexpected

Building your barn will take longer and cost slightly more than planned. Make room in your timetable and budget for surprises. For us, this included unforeseen weather delays and needing extra wood.

Cost Breakdown and Budgeting Tips

Here’s how we spent our $8,000 budget—and where you might save too.

• Framing: $4,500 (treated lumber)
• Roofing: $1,500 (metal roofing for longevity)
• Hardware & Fasteners: $500
• Permit Fees: $100
• Miscellaneous: $1,400 (paint, loft materials, etc.)

Money-Saving Ideas

• DIY Everything: Labor is your biggest cost saver (and sweat equity feels great).
• Reusable Items: Use wood scraps or repurpose old barn doors.
• Side Hustles: Blogging covered our costs; find your own income stream for extra cash flow.

Practical Tips for DIY Barn Building

1. Start Small

You don’t need the Taj Mahal of barns right away. Focus on what you need now—a dry, sturdy shelter—and expand later if needed.

2. Think Function-First

Consider what you’ll store and how it’ll be used. We added a simple loft for hay storage, which made a world of difference.

3. Teamwork is Key

While my husband built the barn, I managed daily life—cooking, cleaning, kid-wrangling—to give him the space to work uninterrupted. It might not sound glamorous, but teamwork will keep the project moving forward.

4. Test Your DIY Limits

Unless you’re a seasoned carpenter, know when to ask for help. Electrical? Call a pro. Framing? Give it a go yourself.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1. What if I lack building experience?

Start small, or bring in help for the tricky parts like roofing or concrete work. You’ll learn along the way.

Q2. How long does it take to build a barn?

Our project spanned four months from start to finish. Your timeline may vary based on weather, materials, and your available time.

Q3. Are DIY barns durable?

Yes, if built correctly! We designed ours with treated lumber and a metal roof for extra longevity.

Q4. What size barn should I build?

It depends on your needs. Start with how many animals or items you need to store. A small barn may save you money and grow with you over time.

Final Thoughts

Building a barn debt-free is no small feat, but with careful planning, a realistic budget, and plenty of DIY determination, you can make it happen. Take the time to consider your needs, utilize free resources like barn plans, and focus on what works for your lifestyle and finances.

Remember, it’s okay if your barn isn’t perfect—it’s a work in progress, just like any homestead venture. You can always add on or upgrade later. The most important step is starting.

Now go grab those free barn plans, pick up a hammer, and get to work on building your dream barn without breaking the bank!

FREE BARN PLANS

Below is a roundup of FREE barn plans you can use to start building your own barn.

1. A 20′ X 30′ two-story barn with a gable roof and 10′ wide lean-to along its length. GET IT HERE.
2. A building plan for a two-story wood frame barn, 30′ X 24′, with a gable roof, box stalls, cow stalls, a calf pen and feed room. GET IT HERE
3. A Pole Barn Shop. Get it here
4. A 40×44 Barn plan. GET IT HERE
5. a 18×30 Barn plan. GET IT HERE

 

WATCH OUR VIDEO OF IT COMING TOGETHER 🙂