Living without money goes against the way most people understand a successful and happy life, but more and more people are coming to this way of life. Not only does living without money reduce the stress of financial problems, but it also has benefits such as reduced environmental impact. Living without money makes you more appreciative of what you have, and it allows you to live more purposefully. Even if you decide you can't give up money completely, some of the tricks described below can help you avoid wasting money and be less wasteful.
1
Before you start living without money, try reducing your spending first. Making the decision to live without money changes a lot of things in your life, especially if you live with others and/or support them financially in some way. It can be helpful to start small and try not spending money for a week or a month - this will give you a better idea of whether this lifestyle is right for you. There are many ways to reduce spending in everyday life, and even if you don't decide to give up money completely, these techniques can help you save money.
If you don't live very far from work and can walk or bike to work, you can easily avoid expenses like gas, parking, and car maintenance. Plus, walking or biking will be good exercise, which is so often lacking in today's people!
Try not to buy groceries during the week. Only use foods that you have at home. Many websites have recipe search functions by grocery - this will give you some ideas of what you can make.
If you like to spend money on entertainment, try to find free types of entertainment. For example, local newspapers often publish announcements of upcoming events. You can also read books or use free Internet in public places, and libraries and some other places sometimes have free movie screenings. Try just walking around in the evening, visiting friends, or just spending the evening with your family playing board games, all of which are completely free.
2
Examine your needs and those of your family. If you live alone, living without money will be much easier than when you have a family and need to take care of them. Living without money is a very serious commitment, and you need to make sure that you can meet your needs even without money.
For example, if you or a family member needs regular medical care or medication, living without money is unlikely to work for you.
If you live in extreme conditions, such as a climate that is too cold or too hot, it may not be safe to live without money. This is especially true for families with young children or the elderly, who are more susceptible to illnesses associated with extreme temperatures.
3
Learn from other people's experiences. Whether you want to live a nomadic lifestyle like Heidemarie Schwermer or settle into a cave like Daniel Suelo, it will be helpful to first learn about the experiences of others who have given up money. That way you can better understand if you can accept such an ordeal.
Mark Boyle's A Man Without Money is a first-person account of life without money. Mark Boyle also blogs and wrote a book called The Moneyless Manifesto, and he created a website about living for pennies called Streetbank.
Mark Sandin's Money Free Man is a biography of Daniel Suelo, a man who lived without money for over 14 years.
4
Think about what you can invest. Some things that make living without money easier, such as gardens, solar panels, bio-toilets, and water wells require an initial investment. The financial benefit of such funds, however, will be reduced costs (such as lower utility bills), but keep in mind that this may not happen right away.
If you live in the city and don't own your own home, not all of these options may work for you. Think about it and determine what would be helpful in your case.
5
Remember that there are always unavoidable costs. For example, if you need certain medications, you can't pass up the cost of buying them. You can check with your doctor to see if you can waive these medications. If you can't or won't sell your home, you will probably need to pay your mortgage and/or utility bills.
If you decide to continue working, you will need to continue paying taxes.
In some countries, you may need to pay health insurance. Sometimes the amount of this insurance depends on your salary. Either way, health insurance can be helpful.
You must be logged in to post a comment.