Content

• To step
• Method 1 of 5: Make plans
• Method 2 of 5: Arrange housing
• Method 3 of 5: Finding and growing food
• Method 4 of 5: Provide for your other needs
• Method 5 of 5: Arrange transport
• Tips
• Warnings

Living without money is at odds with our culturally ingrained ideas about success and happiness.However, it is a choice that is being considered by more and more people. In addition to reducing stress about money problems, a cashless life has many other benefits, including a smaller carbon footprint, a greater and deeper appreciation for what you have, and a more purposeful life. Even if you ultimately choose not to go through life completely cashless, these techniques will help you reduce waste.

To step

Method 1 of 5: Make plans

1. Start reducing your spending before going completely cashless. The choice to live without spending money is drastic, especially if you live with others or support someone. It might also be helpful to start small and try not to spend money for a week or a month to find out if the cashless life is right for you. There are many ways to reduce expenses in your daily life, and whether you end up going cashless or not, these techniques will certainly help you save money.
   • If you can walk or cycle to work, you can save a lot of travel costs (such as gasoline, tolls, parking, maintenance and road tax) by opting for transport on manpower. An added bonus is of course that it is healthy!
   • Try not to run errands for a week. Make meals with whatever you currently have in stock. There are many websites that can help you make meals with the ingredients you currently have available.
   • If you enjoy going to gigs, try finding free entertainment nearby. You can often find free activities and events on the website of your local newspaper. And libraries, in addition to books and free Internet, sometimes also have movies that you can watch for free. And of course walking or playing games with friends or family is always free.
   • www.moneyless.org is an English-language online database with many useful tips for a cashless life.
2. Evaluate your (and your family's) needs. If you live alone, living without money will be much easier than if you have a family. Living without money is a huge commitment, so you want to make sure you can meet your basic needs without money.
   • For example, if you or a family member needs regular medical attention or prescription drugs, cashless living may not be a good idea.
   • If you live in very hot or cold weather conditions, it may not be safe to live without temperature control at all. This is especially the case if you have small children or the elderly in your family. They are the most sensitive to illnesses and disorders due to heat and cold.
3. Immerse yourself in the experiences of others. Whether you want to live as a nomad like the German Heidemarie Schwermer or in a cave like Daniel Suelo, reading about other people's experiences with living without money will make it easier to decide if this is for you.
   • The Moneyless Man: A Year of Freeconomic Living by Mark Boyle is a single-handed account of living without money. He also has blogs called a book The Moneyless Manifesto, and Streetbank, a website about cheap living.
   • The Man Who Quit Money by Mark Sundeen is a biography of Daniel Suelo, a man who has lived without money for over 17 years.
   • The documentary Living Without Money from 2012 captures the life of Heidemarie Schwermer, a German woman who has been living without money since the 1990s.
4. Think about investments. Some things that make the cashless life easier - such as vegetable gardens, solar panels, bio toilets and water wells - require upfront investments. The financial benefits of reducing or removing your household bills are significant, but of course, this cannot be done overnight.
   • If you live in a city or don't own a home, these options may be a bit limited for you. It is always good to do your own research to find out what is bum for you.
5. Understand that certain expenses may be unavoidable. For example, if you're taking prescription medication, don't stop right away - always talk to a doctor before stopping medication. If you are unable or unwilling to sell your home, you will have to keep paying your mortgage to avoid eviction.
   • If you want to keep working, you will also have to keep paying taxes.
   • In the Netherlands, basic health insurance is mandatory for everyone over the age of 18. If you have a mortgage, you will probably also need home insurance and term life insurance, because many mortgage lenders require this. If you have a vehicle in your name, third party insurance is also required by law.

Method 2 of 5: Arrange housing

1. Live off the radar. Find or build a house that runs on sun, wind, or another renewable energy source. Use a well or a nearby stream for water. Install a bio toilet: it saves water, saves the environment and produces "manure" for your vegetable garden.
   • Campers can be a good alternative if you cannot afford a "normal" home. With a camper it is also easier to find a place with drinking water.
   • "Earthships" are inexpensive and environmentally friendly homes built from waste materials such as car tires and beer bottles. You can often get these materials cheaply or even for free, and you can turn to barter for help with building.
   • Even if you don't choose to move or live cashless, solar panels and bio toilets are good for both your wallet and the environment.
2. Volunteer on an organic farm. World Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms is an established and respected organization that coordinates volunteering worldwide. You pay a small annual fee for the service. Usually you trade your labor for shelter and food. Some farms even accept whole families.
   • If you want to volunteer abroad, you may have to pay for a work visa. You will also need to have enough money for travel expenses.
   • Working on an organic farm will teach you important farming skills, which you can then use to grow your own food.
3. Move to a neighborhood with like-minded people. There are many types of communities with both shared housing and shared ideals. A few names for this way of living are "communes", "central living", "communal living", "residential groups" and, especially in Flanders, "Samenhuizen". In these types of communities you can sometimes trade skills or food for housing and support. More information about communal living can be found online.
   • It is smart to first make contact with a community, and possibly visit it, before you actually live there. Community living is not for everyone, and you want to make sure that your potential new home connects well with you and your values.
4. Become a house sitter. You can choose to build a reputation as a responsible and reliable house sitter. If you don't mind moving from place to place, this is a great way to live and travel comfortably. You can use online organizations such as Huisoppas.nl and Mind My House, or make a name for yourself in your own neighborhood as the person people need when they go on vacation.
   • If you are very flexible and like to meet new people, you can also use organizations such as Couchsurfing and The Hospitality Club for temporary accommodation.
5. Live in the wilderness. It may take some time and effort to acquire the necessary skills, but there are plenty of options for a life outside of conventional housing. Caves and other natural shelter are often good options.
   • Realize that this is a strenuous lifestyle; excellent health is a must! If you have health problems or live with children or the elderly, this is probably not a good option.
   • Move to a warmer environment. Living outdoors is so much easier without big temperature swings, heavy rainfall or icy temperatures.
6. Join a religious community. There are many religions with communities dedicated to renouncing material life, such as Buddhist Sanghas and Christian monasteries. These communities usually provide essential support in the form of clothing, shelter, and food in exchange for services and, of course, dedication.
   • If this fits your values ​​and your beliefs, you can research your options online or simply reach out to someone in the community.
   • Religious communities usually only accept individuals. So this is probably not an option if you have a family.

Method 3 of 5: Finding and growing food

1. Learn about your food options. If you plan to forage for food, you should find a good book on the types - edible and poisonous - plants that live in your area. Richard Mabey's Food For Free is a classic; an easy-to-obtain illustrated handbook that is well assessed. If you plan to grow food, you will need to research the most effective ways to divide farmland, plant seeds, and tend your crops.
   • See if a university or college in your area has a cooperative department. Sometimes schools have a department that provides education about things like growing and collecting food, and often this is free too.
   • Remember foods are seasonal. Berries are usually ripe in the summer, and apples and nuts are usually harvestable in the fall. Leafy vegetables can usually be harvested all year round. Whether you collect or grow, always make sure you can harvest food year-round so that you can maintain a balanced diet.
2. Look for "wild" foods. Finding wild foods in your area is a fun and eco-friendly way to spend your day and get a meal on the table. Even in a suburb you can often find food. Your neighbors may have a fruit tree or other food source that produces more than they can use for themselves. Of course, ask before consuming someone else's food.
   • Avoid nuts and plants that have been partially eaten by another animal, that have been broken open, or that are partially rotten, as they can contain dangerous bacteria.
   • Avoid vegetables and other plants that grow near busy roads or industrial areas, as exhaust fumes and other air pollutants can contaminate food. Rather, look for food in rural areas, far from the influence of cars, industry and technology.
   • Only eat things you recognize. If you are not sure whether something is dangerous or not, it is better to leave it.
3. Ask local shops, markets, and restaurants for surpluses. Most supermarkets and restaurants throw away unwanted or surplus food, and food that is past its sell-by date but is still edible is often thrown away. You can always ask a business manager what their disposal policy is. At the market you can always ask sellers if they have discarded food you could take with you.
   • Be careful with meat, dairy and eggs; the risk of harmful bacteria and food poisoning is higher.
   • Independent stores and family businesses may be more generous than large chains, but larger companies also regularly give away food.
   • Make a name for yourself in your environment. Many households waste thousands of euros on food every year. You can put up flyers in a community center or supermarket about yourself and your ambition to live without money. There may be people who are happy to help you with fruits, vegetables, or dried foods.
4. Negotiate for food. Swapping is a great way to negotiate prices, make your diet more varied, and get rid of products you don't need. You can also offer tasks such as washing windows or mowing the lawn in exchange for food.
   • Look at what you can offer in exchange. Do you grow vegetables that your neighbors don't have? Do you have skills that the people around you need? Try to trade your homegrown potatoes, your self-picked berries, your babysitting skills, and your experience walking dogs for foods you can't grow or pick yourself.
   • Remember, everyone wins from a successful negotiation. Always be honest when you ask for something. Is an hour of babysitting really worth five kilos of apples? Or rather two?
5. Grow your own food. The art of gardening is a financially smart way to feed yourself with your own soil and hands - and it's rewarding too. Even in a (sub) urban environment it is possible to grow your own fruit and vegetables. Even if you can't make a living from home-grown food, what you do eat home-grown will be healthier and cheaper than what you get from the supermarket.
   • Determine which foods grow most easily in your area. The best way to find out is to visit a local farm or talk to someone who maintains their own vegetable garden. Differences in soil and climate have a major influence on which types of fruit and vegetables grow best in which areas.
   • Build a greenhouse! With recycled garbage bags over a wooden frame, you can grow hardy vegetables - such as potatoes, Brussels sprouts and radishes - in colder regions, and even when there is snow.
   • Ask your neighbors if they want to maintain a vegetable garden together. You can reduce your workload, build friendships and diversify your diet by sharing work with others on a larger plot of land.
6. Start a compost pile for your vegetable garden. Foods that are no longer edible are still fine to decompose into nutritious soil for your vegetables, fruits, and grains.

Method 4 of 5: Provide for your other needs

1. Learn to negotiate. Many online communities such as Freecycle and Streetbank offer free overviews of available products and services. Sometimes products are just given away, and sometimes people are eager to trade their products for skills.
   • Search for products you want to get rid of. One person's waste is someone else's gold, so don't throw away your old shoes or that old watch or put them on Marktplaats, but try to exchange them for products or services you need.
   • Remember you can also negotiate for services. If your house is in need of repair, you can try to trade in your own time or skills for that repair.
2. Grow your own toiletries. For soap and shampoo, you can plant soapwort in your vegetable garden. You can make natural toothpaste from baking soda, and even table salt.
3. Dig in containers. A lot of things that are thrown away are useful for a moneyless life. Old newspapers can serve as toilet paper. Also, sometimes stores throw away hygiene products that are out of date but are still safe to use.
   • Many shops and restaurants throw away food. It is better not to take products containing meat, dairy, shellfish or eggs, and of course avoid anything that smells strange or rotten. Products such as bread, canned food and packaged foods such as potato chips are usually safe to eat, but make sure it is packaged and has no dents, tears, or bulges.
   • Be aware that waste containers can be dangerous due to, for example, broken glass, rats and even biological waste. If you go for container diving, be well prepared: with wellies, gloves and a flashlight you are a lot safer.
   • Do not sniff containers off-limits. This can be illegal, and it's not worth getting caught or even arrested.
4. Organize a swap evening. If you no longer need certain things that are still in working order, you can organize a joint exchange evening. Invite friends and neighbors to exchange things they no longer need. You can advertise with flyers, or online on social media.
   • This is a good way to get rid of baby clothes and old toys, for example. You can also exchange books you have already read for "new" books, or exchange unnecessary bed linen and towels for products you need more.
5. Make your own clothes. Negotiate for a sewing kit, some fabric, and a few sewing lessons. You can also look for unused pieces of cloth, towels, and sheets to use as fabric for your clothes. Fabric and craft stores may also have scraps of fabric they'd like to give away.
   • Repair holes, tears and wear. Save excess fabric from items you can no longer wear so you can use them as repair material.
6. Organize a skill swap. Negotiation is not just for goods and services! Organize a communal group in which people can teach each other skills. This is also a great way to make friends without spending money.

Method 5 of 5: Arrange transport

1. Sell ​​or exchange your car. Owning a car is next to impossible without spending money, unless you know a mechanic who wants to work in exchange for stuff, and a gas station where they make you work for your gas.
   • Search for carpoolers near you. If you really have to or want to keep your car: some municipalities offer financial benefits if you carpool with other people. You may also be able to drive to work with other people in exchange for money for gasoline and maintenance.
2. Negotiate car trips with others. Many people make daily car trips to work, school or other places. Swap food and services for the car rides you need.
   • Websites such as Ridester, BlaBlaCar and Toogethr can also help you find nearby carpools.
   • Hitchhiking can be a great option for long distances, but be careful! It can be dangerous, especially if you are traveling alone.
3. Get a bicycle. If you regularly have to cover longer distances, or if walking is not a profitable option, cycling is a fast and environmentally friendly solution. And you also stay in shape!
   • With baskets on the front and back of your bike you can easily take food and other things with you.
4. Stay healthy. The legs car is the easiest, most accessible and most cashless means of transport.A healthy and hydrated body can travel at least 30 kilometers a day without being overloaded, but then you will need water, food and walking shoes.
   • Prepare an emergency plan for hikes in colder weather. A little snow can quickly turn into a blizzard, and being far from home can easily become an emergency. So always go with a friend, or make sure someone knows where you are and when you are expected back.

Tips

• Start slow. It is highly unlikely that someone who pays rent, buys clothes, drives a car and has a full-time job can switch to a cashless existence just like that. Start with emotional fulfillment and entertainment, and look for things that don't cost money. Meet up with friends outside instead of in a restaurant, go for a walk instead of shopping, etc.
• Live with like-minded people. Moving to a cashless economy is much easier in a group where you can share work, combine skills and solve problems together. Whether you're moving to a community or simply attracting a group of friends with similar interests, sharing your experiences as a cashless consumer is both satisfying and beneficial to your ambitions.
• Move to a warmer climate. Growing food, gardening, outdoor living, and living in simple, homemade shelter is easier in places where the weather is consistent and moderate.

Warnings

• Regularly evaluate your nutritional intake to make sure you are on a balanced diet and stay healthy.
• If you live with small children or the elderly, remember that they are more vulnerable to food poisoning, temperature extremes and exhaustion. So don't put them at risk.
• Be careful. Hitchhiking, living in the wilderness, and just taking long walks all come with their own risks. So delve into the best ways to stay safe.