How to Live Without Money

The money-free lifestyle seems to contradict the understanding of success and happiness in most cultures; however, more and more people are choosing this way of life. In addition to reducing stress due to financial concerns, this lifestyle offers many benefits such as reducing our impact on the environment, understanding and appreciating what we have, and helping you live a more meaningful life. Even if you can’t live 100% without money, the methods below will help you live more frugally.

Table of Contents

Plan

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Try cutting back on spending before completely living a life without money. You should know that this is a life-changing decision, especially if you are living with or sponsoring someone else. It would be better to start small, like not spending for a week or a month to see if this lifestyle works for you. There are many ways to cut spending in your daily life, and even if you can’t live without money, these methods will help you save.

If you live in an area where you can walk or cycle, you can eliminate transportation costs (gas, tolls, parking, maintenance) by choosing self-powered vehicles. In addition, it is also a good way to exercise the body.
For a week try not to shop. Try to use only foods that are currently in the fridge. There are many websites that teach you how to cook from readily available ingredients. ^{[1] X Research Source}
If you like entertainment, look for free activities in your area. The local website may have information about these activities. In addition to free books and internet, the community library also offers free movie screenings. Going for a walk or spending time playing games with friends or family doesn’t cost money either.
www.moneyless.org is a website that shares useful tips and tricks for a money-free lifestyle.

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Consider your own and your family’s needs. If you are single, it will be easier to maintain this lifestyle than if you are married. Because living without money is a big deal, you’ll need to make sure your needs are satisfied even without money.

For example, if you or a family member needs regular medical care or prescription medication, living without money is not an option for you.
If you live in extreme climates, like very hot or very cold, it’s safer to have air conditioning. This is the most practical need especially when your family has young children or the elderly, who are susceptible to diseases due to weather and other causes of death. ^{[2] X Trusted Source United States Environmental Protection Agency Go to source}

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Read about other people’s experiences. Whether you want to live a nomadic life like German psychiatrist Heidemarie Schwermer or live a secluded life in a cave like Daniel Suelo, read about the experiences of those who have gone before you to make the right decisions. better before acting.

The book The Man Without Money: Experience a year of living without money by Mark Boyle – a pioneer in the lifestyle without money. He also wrote a blog and a book called The Moneyless Manifesto ^{[3] X Research Sources} , and established a frugal lifestyle through the Streetbank website.
The Man Who Gives Up Money by Mark Sundeen – is a biography of Daniel Suelo, a man who lived without money for 14 years.
The 2012 documentary, Living Without Money , follows the lifestyle of Heidemarie Schwermer, a German woman who has lived without money since the 90s.

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Consider what you need to invest. There are a few things that make living without money easier, like vegetable gardens, solar panels, composting toilets, and water wells, which require an initial investment. In return, you’ll reduce or no longer pay the majority of your household bills, but this doesn’t happen overnight.

If you live in the city and don’t own your own home, these methods may seem impossible. You need to do your research to understand what is right for your situation.

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Understand that some expenses are still necessary. For example, if a disease requires medication, then you need to buy medicine, not stop, or consult your doctor before stopping any medicine. If you don’t want to sell your home, you’ll still have to keep paying your mortgage to avoid foreclosure or eviction.

If you still decide to work, you will still have to pay income tax.
In the United States, all adult citizens are required to pay for health insurance under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. ^{[4] X Source of Research} Depending on your annual income (current threshold is $10,000 a year, but it is subject to change), you are required to pay health insurance or you will have to pay a penalty.

Arrange accommodation

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Live apart from the modern world. You can find or build a home powered by solar, wind, or other forms of self-renewable energy. Water can be obtained from a well or a local stream. You should install a composting toilet: it saves water, protects the environment, and provides the ideal fertilizer for the vegetable garden. ^{[5] X Research Sources}

Living in a mobile garage is also a good choice if you can’t afford a house big enough for a family with full amenities. At the same time, it will be easy to find a place to park near the water source with the garage model.
The Earthships housing model is also an eco-friendly, inexpensive option because these houses are all built from scraps such as old tires and beer bottles. You can find these materials for very cheap or free, and you can trade items to hire construction workers. ^{[6] X Research Source}
Whether you want to live permanently or live without money, things like solar batteries and composting toilets are also affordable and eco-friendly options.

Find and grow vegetables for food

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Learn how to find food. If you plan to forage by forage, look for a guidebook on the plants that grow in the area, what is edible, what is poisonous; Richard Mabey’s Food For Free is a classic, illustrated book that is widely sold and has received rave reviews. If you plan to grow your own food, research how to divide the plot, sow seeds, and take care of the plants.

If there is a university or college in your area, check out the course information. These centers often run community education programs about a variety of things, including farming and gathering. You can ask for information or join these classes for free.
Remember that food will be seasonal. Berries usually ripen in the summer, and apples and nuts are harvested in the fall. Green vegetables can be harvested all year round. Whether you plan to forage or grow your own, make sure to plant your plants year-round to ensure a balanced nutritional intake.

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Picking wild berries. Picking wild berries that grow in the area is a fun and eco-friendly way to prepare meals. Even if you live in the same suburb, your neighbors may also have fruit trees that produce more fruit than they need. Remember to ask permission before picking their fruit.

Avoid collecting seeds or plants that show signs of being gnawed by other animals, fallen under a tree, or partially rotting, as harmful bacteria may have grown in them.
Avoid picking vegetables and plants that grow near busy roads or industrial areas, because vehicle waste or factory pollutants have contaminated food. Instead, choose a less developed rural area, away from any influence from cars, factories, or technology.
Never eat unidentified food. If you’re not sure if something is edible, it’s best to skip it.

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Ask for leftovers from shops, farmers markets, and restaurants. Many stores and restaurants often throw away leftovers, as well as expired food that can be sold but still eaten. Politely ask the store manager about the product’s cancellation policy. You can also ask the farmers at the farmers market if they throw away items that are still edible for you.

Be careful with products made from meat, dairy, and eggs, as the risk of bacterial infection and food poisoning is higher.
Independent and family-owned stores will lend a helping hand to the larger chains, although places like Trader Joe’s are also well known for giving away junk.
Notice to households in the area. Many families waste thousands of dollars annually on discarded food. You can post flyers in your neighborhood to let people know about your lifestyle. Many people will happily donate fruit and rations for you.

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Exchange. You can exchange things, or haggle for food, which is a great way to negotiate prices, increase your appetite, or exchange items you no longer need for something more useful to you. You will find many people willing to exchange food or supplies to hire you to do errands like cleaning windows or mowing the lawn.

Consider what can be exchanged. Do you grow vegetables that your neighbors don’t have? What skills do you have that the people around you are in need of? You can trade home-grown potatoes, home-picked berries, volunteer to paint fences or walk your dog for food that you didn’t grow or pick.
Remember: A successful contract is when both parties benefit. Be fair to all requests. Is an hour of babysitting worth four and a half pounds of apples? Or should it be just over 2 kg?

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Grow your own food. The art of gardening helps you better manage your finances as well as the full experience of being able to support yourself from your own land and labor. Even if you live in the city or the suburbs, you can still grow your own vegetables. Even if you can’t fully live off of what you grow yourself, the produce you make is healthier and cheaper than buying it from the store.

Determine what is suitable for planting. The easiest way to determine the right crop is to visit a local farm or talk to someone with experience in gardening. Different climates and soil types will affect the type of vegetables that can be grown.
Build a greenhouse. By reusing plastic stretch bags with a wooden frame, you can grow hardy vegetables like potatoes, Brussels sprouts, and beets in cold climates, even snow-covered soil.
Invite neighbors to join in building a vegetable garden. Together sharing the time to cultivate, in return for a larger planting area, growing a variety of vegetables and fruits, diversifying diets, reducing labor, and also building good relationships.

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Set up a composting area in your home garden. The spoiled food you remove can still become a nutritious soil fertilizer, perfect for fruit, vegetable, and grain crops later.

Other needs

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Learn how to trade items. There are many online communities, like Freegle ^{[11] X Research Resources} , Freecycle ^{[12] X Research Resources} , and Streetbank ^{[13] X Research Resources} , which often have lists of items to give away and skills. for hire. Sometimes items that are no longer in use will be given away, or you will find people willing to hire you and pay with the item.

Make an inventory of the things you want to get rid of. One person’s trash can be another person’s treasure, so instead of selling old shoes or watches on eBay, or throwing them away, use them to exchange for needed services.
Remember that you can also exchange items for services. If you need to fix your home, see if you can trade some of your time and skills for someone else’s home improvement services.

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DIY bathroom accessories. You can grow soapwort in your garden to make soap and shampoo. Paste made from baking soda or salt can also be used as a natural and healthy toothpaste.

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Trash bin. Many things people throw away can still be useful for life without money. Old newspaper can be used as toilet paper. ^{[14] X Research Sources} Stores that throw away products like deodorants and body washes even though they’re still usable just because they’re expired can be sold.

Many shops and restaurants throw away leftovers. However, you should not pick up any products made from meat, milk, eggs, shellfish. Avoid items that smell rotten or unusual. Bread, canned goods, and packaged products such as chips are available for take-out, provided they are in their original packaging and are not torn, dented, or swollen. ^{[15] X Research Source}
Be careful because landfills can contain dangerous objects such as broken glass, rats, even biological waste. If you choose to rummage through the trash, you should prepare rubber boots, gloves, and a flashlight to be safer. ^{[16] X Research Source}
Do not rummage in places with “No Entry” signs or the like. If you go in there you are breaking the law and it’s not worth the trouble of being arrested.

About means of transportation

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Sell or trade cars. Owning a car is impossible without money, unless a mechanic agrees to barter with you, or a gas station agrees to let you work in exchange for gas.

Find out about carpooling offers in your area. If you absolutely must keep the car, some cities offer financial incentives if you’re carpooling with someone else. You can go to work with other people and they will pay for gas and maintenance for you.

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Hitchhike a member of the community. Many people still drive daily to work, school, and other places. You can exchange food, service yourself in exchange for a ride.

Websites like Liftshare, Ridester, and Carpop World can help you find carpools and hitchhiking in the area.
Hitching a hitch is also an option if you’re going long distances, but be wary! Hiking like this can be dangerous, especially when you’re alone. ^{[19] X Research Source}

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Buy a bicycle. If you have to travel longer distances than usual, or walking is not a good option, cycling is a fast and eco-friendly way to get around. Cycling also helps you stay in shape!

Attach baskets to the front and back of your bike to carry food and other items.

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Keep healthy. Walking is the easiest, accessible and inexpensive way. A healthy, well-hydrated body can walk 32 miles a day without getting exhausted, but you’ll need good shoes, water, and food to go the distance.

Prepare a backup plan if you have to go in the middle of cold weather. A mild snowstorm can quickly turn into a major storm, and if you’re hiking from home, it could be an emergency. Bring a friend, or make sure everyone knows where you are and when you must be home.

Advice

Start slowly. It is very difficult for a person who is living a life of paying monthly rent, shopping for clothes, driving a car, working 8 hours a day can quickly change to a life without money in a short time. You should start by focusing on emotional well-being and choosing non-consumptive entertainment, such as spending time with friends outdoors instead of going to a restaurant, or going for a walk instead of going to a restaurant. buy soon…vv
Move to a warmer climate. Activities like farming, gardening, living outdoors, and living in a simple, self-made shelter are easier if the climate is mild.
Live with like-minded people. Life without money is easier if everyone works in a community group, where we can share the work, combine skills, and overcome any obstacles together. Whether you’re moving in with a group, or calling on friends with similar interests and passions, living without spending money is a fulfilling experience, and has real benefits.

Warning

Regularly check your nutrient intake to make sure you are eating a balanced diet and maintaining good health.
If you have to feed young children or the elderly, remember they are vulnerable to foodborne illnesses, extreme weather, and burnout. Don’t let them get into unsafe situations.
Be careful. Hitching a ride, living in the wilderness, and hiking alone carry risks. Educate yourself on the best way to protect yourself.

Steps