A conscious life without money.

[amateur]

Hello, dear forum members! Today I read a fascinating article in The Guardian about life without money. I would like to know your opinion about this. Perhaps you have friends who have chosen this lifestyle. On the other hand, I know that there are many people who are forced to collect food and things in the trash because of poverty. I'm sure they wouldn't mind a better life. I don't know about the UK, but there are definitely a lot of such people in Russia.

Meet the woman who lives without money: ‘I feel more secure than when I was earning’

Ten years ago, Jo Nemeth quit her job and closed her bank account. Today, she’s more committed than ever to her moneyless life

www.theguardian.com

 

[Legion]

I often dream of going full “Walden”, and living “deliberately” in a log cabin in the bush. But I think it would be very difficult in 2025, particularly with a wife and child.

It takes a lot of money in the bank to live without money.

 

[Legion]

Reading the article, the woman is basically staying rent free on her friends property, and doing odd jobs in return. That’s nice if you have friends who can provide that, but essentially you are sleeping on someone’s couch.

The person who owns the property doesn’t get to live without money. They pay rates and taxes and utilities.

Nice idea, but most people are not going to have a benefactor to allow a “no money” lifestyle.

 

[cleanshaved]

Reminds me of people who give up smoking.......then just smoke other peoples as they no longer have any.

 

[StillShaving]

Money makes it easy for people to exchange goods and services between each other. A free-market economy would not work as well without money to fine tune these transactions. But some people like the idea of living in a more basic way that does not involve money, which is understandable.

 

[Dawghows]

In my view she's not really living without money. She's living without handling money. Other people are making all the financial transactions necessary for her to not do so herself.

 

[Nonspecific]

The value of money is based off a collective agreement. It’s a societal construct and I don’t believe i’d be any better at the barter system than the current money based economy. I don’t really enjoy trading items for other items so the dead prez’s is what I deem to be the easiest mode of accruing stuff.

 

[Mojo88]

I know of several people with children in their 30s that have a similar lifestyle. The exception is they live with their parents and have no desire to have a job. Many went to school and didn’t complete a degree, so they live in the basement of their parent’s homes. I tell my wife they are waiting to hit the death lottery. It’s set up so when the parents pass everything will go to them. Some have very nice homes and I would imagine substantial monetary holdings.

One in particular is 35 and never had a job. She is one semester from graduating but would have to take the class in person. She says she can’t do it and the parents have co-signed on this. I see them and quit asking about her.

 

[Rhody]

I skimmed that article. I was interested in what she looked like. The most interesting thing is she has a blog. (Of course) I certainly did not look at it but there is a link. She reads by candlelight but maintains a blog. Call me skeptical.

If you ever watch Star Trek they don’t have money. They never really seem to explain how it works but everyone seems content.

 

[Dawghows]

If you ever watch Star Trek they don’t have money. They never really seem to explain how it works but everyone seems content.

In Star Trek, replicators have essentially rendered money obsolete, as the replicator technology gives everyone access to pretty much all the goods and services they require. Accumulation of wealth is virtually meaningless in such an economy. There are occasional references to "credits" on the show, so there may be instances where transactions must be made for rare or highly specialized items, but essentially the entirety of planet Earth is a post-money society. People are not required to work, but the vast majority do so for a sense of personal fulfillment and/or out of a sense of duty to society.

 

[musicman1951]

Wouldn't work for me - I just purchased a Lexus.

 

[DesertIguana]

Had a long time girlfriend who money was not important too. Told he when she went to grocery store, he big bright smile would not pay for the item in her shopping cart. The lady in the article is a grifter, living off others, pretending to live money free.

JMHO

 

[ctr]

There have always been those who seek advantage from the labors of others. This seems no different, just another variation of the original tale.

 

[Rudy Vey]

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A conscious life without money.....is not possible unless you are mooching of someone. ​

We have a nephew who is early/mid 40's and has never worked in his life, living with his mom (close to 80 now) and she works still. No sure what he is going to do if she dies. Guess he never gets SS as he never worked and paid into....smh.

 

[DesertIguana]

This Lady living without money remind me of relatives who are Adult Children who come to family Thanksgiving, or Christmas get together. All they bring is their appetites.

They never ask can we bring anything. Or stop to pickup a couple of 2L Bottles of Sprite, Coke or?


Best part is when they complain about host not having their favorite item.

 

[cranewarrior]

In Star Trek, replicators have essentially rendered money obsolete, as the replicator technology gives everyone access to pretty much all the goods and services they require. Accumulation of wealth is virtually meaningless in such an economy. There are occasional references to "credits" on the show, so there may be instances where transactions must be made for rare or highly specialized items, but essentially the entirety of planet Earth is a post-money society. People are not required to work, but the vast majority do so for a sense of personal fulfillment and/or out of a sense of duty to society.

It's really never made sense the way they explain it. If there are truly limitless resources, why does the Federation have to wear with the Romulans, Klingons, etc.? Just make a deal and give your new alien buddies whatever they need.

 

[losing]

I need to try what that lady in that article is doing, but the whole thing. My family and me have lived on the barter/trade system mos of our lives. 1 thing my brother's family saved out of my apartment is "the big blue comfy chair". I had seen it on a sidewalk next to other bulk item trash, gave a quick look through, got it to my apartment, gave it a thorough looking at, cleaned it up, put anti-bug stuff on it. It reached a 6 year life with me. And the big blue comfy chair was a title my people gave it. Anyone who sits/lays on it usually falls asleep in minutes. Big, it's the length of one of those short couches.

But never having to pay a bill or buy anything but getting to live in a house i'm all for that....

 

[emwolf]

Some of these modern day decisions, much like the characters in the Oscar winning movie Nomadland, result from dealing with untreated traumas and the rejection of the traditional world view gives some comfort. My wife and I have both worked in fields where you come into contact with many traumatized people. It's a rough world we live in.

 

[Mojo88]

​

A conscious life without money.....is not possible unless you are mooching of someone. ​

We have a nephew who is early/mid 40's and has never worked in his life, living with his mom (close to 80 now) and she works still. No sure what he is going to do if she dies. Guess he never gets SS as he never worked and paid into....smh.

My wife had a friend that allowed her daughter and family to move into her home, her friend then moved into a rental property. She continued to pay utilities for both properties and rent for the property she was living in. My wife commented that it seemed like she was being taken advantage of as her daughter and husband worked sporadically if at all. This was her logic: Well someday when I die it will go to them anyway. Her friend now has moved in with her parents. I told my wife it’s generational stupidity.

 

[DEgeezer]

If any B&B member is thinking of trying this lifestyle, I'll happily help you out, by taking any filthy lucre that's cluttering up your life.