‘HOW TO LIVE WITHOUT MONEY’

Have you always wished to live without spending....?

1.      Try reducing your spending before you commit to living without money. Making the decision to live without spending money is life-changing, particularly if you are living with and/or supporting others. You may find it helpful to start small and go for a week or month without spending money to see if the cash-free life is for you. For example If you live in an area where walking or biking to work is feasible, you could avoid your commute and its expenses (gas, tolls, parking, car maintenance) by choosing self-powered transportation. Plus, it’s great for boosting fitness!

2.      Examine your (and your family’s) needs. If you’re a single person, living without money will be much easier to manage than if you have a family. Because living cash-free is a huge commitment, you will want to make sure that your essential needs can still be met without money. For example, if you or a family member tend to require frequent medical care or prescription medications, living without money may not be a good option for you.

3.      Read about others’ experiences. Whether you want to take up a nomadic lifestyle such as the German cash-free liver Heidemarie Schwermer or live completely off the grid in a cave like Daniel Suelo, reading what the experience of living without money has been like for others will help you decide whether you’re up for the challenge. The Moneyless Man: A Year of Freeconomic Living by Mark Boyle is a first-person account of living without money. He has also written blogs, a book called The Moneyless Manifesto^[3], and established a low-cost living website called Streetbank.

4.      Consider what you have to invest. Some things that make living without spending money easier, such as vegetable gardens, solar power grids, composting toilets, and water wells, require upfront investment. The financial rewards of reducing or even eliminating most of your household bills are significant, but may not happen overnight. For example; If you live in an urban area and/or don’t own your home, your options for some of these things may be reduced. You should do some research to understand what is feasible for you.

5.      Understand that some expenses may always be necessary. For example, if you require prescription medication, you should not simply stop spending money on it; consult a physician before stopping any medication. If you cannot or do not want to sell your house, you will need to continue making mortgage payments to avoid foreclosure and evictions. For example; If you decide to keep a job, you will need to continue to pay taxes.