August 28, 2010

And I thought I was a Cheap-o

I pride myself on being a cheap-O, I am always on the look out for the best deal and things I can pick up for free. This last month I have gotten a piano for free, and then had to learn to tune it, as I was to cheap to pay to have it done. Then picked up a bunch of soap making supplies from some people that were moving, all I had to do was haul the stuff away.

But I was reading the news and discovered that I have a lot to learn about living without money. In a recent article on Yahoo News I read about a man that has lived for a year with NO MONEY at all. .

Man has lived without money since 2008

Michael Bolen
Yahoo! Canada News

If a serious person puts their money where their mouth is then Mark Boyle is the world's most serious man.

Inspired by Gandhi's famous words to be the change you wish to see in the world, the economics graduate from the U.K. has been living entirely without money since 2008.

He has written a book about the experience titled 'The Moneyless Man: A Year of Freeconomic Living' in order to share both the philosophy which led to his drastic decision and the tactics he has used to survive.

Living in a trailer given to him for free by someone on freecycle.org, Boyle cooks food which he either grows himself, barters for or forages from the land. He bathes in a solar shower, uses a compost toilet and even makes his own paper.

Despite his challenging lifestyle, Boyle has no plans to return to civilzation. He says the time he has spent away from money has been the happiest of his life.


That just goes to show that a person can make difficult choices and take control of their money or lack of money. I have a long ways to go to be in Marks league but every step I take in the right direction is a step closer.

Cheap-O Economics

1 comment:

  1. It truly is amazing what can be accomplished. I would imagine that living in this way, even for a brief period of time would yield excellent lessons in survival and would help most folks determine the difference between a want and a need.

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