The next economic crisis - and almost everyone is thinking about saving money, or even completely - ways to survive without funds. The question in modern realities is very relevant: how to live on a small salary and what to do if you are fired from work, and there is no way to find a new one? There is more than one way out: downshifting, volunteering, bartering and much more. The way to live without money for some time can be found with a little effort.
Is it realistic to live without money?
A life without money and without work can not be called carefree, but it can definitely do good, especially if the difficulties are temporary. Having lived a little in the mode of truncated opportunities, you can learn to save and plan a budget with the least loss. It is not without reason that many rich people, businessmen and oligarchs, live modestly and sometimes even ascetically, saving on luxury and investing only in the most necessary things: housing, health, a car.
In local second-hand and charity shops (second-hand, household, food), wealthy people are often found who know about the most profitable points of sale. It is this foresight and modesty that increases the wealth of these people.
People are wondering how to live without money, for only two reasons:
- Someone is forced, due to life circumstances, to know firsthand about the problem of lack of money;
- Someone is attracted by the very essence of independence from finance and the style of detachment from worldly concerns, gluttony, greed.
Regardless of what caused such a question, you can live without money and there are quite a few ways to do this.
Downshifting in Russia
The word "Downshifting" was heard by everyone who was wondering how to learn how to live without money. Imagine that a person can choose a certain lifestyle. There are only two options. The first is a good job and a stable income, but with a tight rhythm and framework imposed by society, rules of submission and constant stress, as well as the harsh conditions of the metropolis. The second is a lower level of society, a modest income, no career growth, but in return - complete freedom and independence from the rules that society loves to set.
Downshifters are people inclined to the second option: a conscious rejection of a career and social status in the name of freedom of choice in the matter of a place to live, a hobby and a family.
Downshifting (from the English words “down” and “shift”) is an automotive term translated as “moving to a low border”. As a phenomenon, it is a rejection of the goals that society imposes on a person and following his own worldview.
If society believes that a person should strive for success, wealth and stylish luxury goods, then downshifting involves the abandonment of urban life or a career, moving to nature or abroad and full dedication to personal values and spiritual growth.
An example is the history of the Russian oligarch-multimillionaire German Sterligov. A successful politician, businessman and public figure, the founder of Russian commodity life left his business and left with his family in the suburbs of Moscow, where he built a house and household. Tired of the race for the success and status of society, he chose an occupation that gave him freedom and psychological comfort.
Downshifting in Russia is different from the global phenomenon, but its ideology remains the same. If in Europe downshifters are mostly embarking on travels, then in Russia the idea of moving to the hinterland, away from civilization, joining communes or religious groups, where everyone is familiar with the problem of lack of money, is more popular.
How to live without money and work?
To live without money, and especially without money and work, you will have to go through several ways before you find the right one. If we are talking about a short period of such a life, then, tightening the belt, you can try to live in the usual mode, looking for another job.
However, if we talk about downshifting in an urban environment, then difficulties may arise, because during the period of lack of money you will have to figure out where to get the money for food, utilities, travel, housing and much more. In times of acute need, options such as:
- Microcredit Many banks provide mini loans at a small percentage;
- Loan from friends. It is always more profitable than a loan;
- Pawnshop. The practice of pledging values has been very popular lately;
- Part-time job ads: clean the apartment, walk the dog, fix the computer or furniture;
- Sale of unnecessary property, things, trinkets;
- Work as a nanny, a nurse at neighbors and acquaintances;
- Letting a place or room in an apartment;
- Appeal to social organizations for help;
- Earnings on a hobby - selling items of their own manufacture.
The only really working and reliable way to live without money and work is to move to the countryside and start living on the farm. This option is not suitable for everyone, but it works without misfires. On the ground, you can grow fruits, vegetables, animals, if you try hard - you can do without utilities, and some funds can be obtained by working with neighbors, doing seasonal work or making money-making hobbies. You can always find work through the Internet and work remotely, getting rid of the problem of lack of money.
However, even living on earth, you still have to work, and physically. Take care of the house and the garden, animals, make spins, graze cattle, process products. It will not be easy to survive at the initial stage, given the fact that the household also requires cash deposits, but after a while things will get better and begin to give back the investment.
Regarding other ways of life without money and work, there are options such as:
- Volunteer activities;
- Various barters;
- Natural economy;
- Various religious organizations;
- Work for food;
- Work for the payment of utilities.
Volunteer activity
Now almost every citizen can become a volunteer. Programs are available to almost everyone and only certain projects have requirements and limitations, and some require professional experience.
However, due to the growing popularity of the volunteer movement in the Russian Federation, unqualified and voluntary assistance is required everywhere: people, animals, nature, cultural organizations. Some volunteer programs set aside a budget for sending volunteers abroad. A good option to live without money and travel for free.
Life of a volunteer is harsh, but it can help to survive if you are left without work and livelihood.
Barter
In almost every city in Russia, money-changing groups are widespread in social networks.People gather there who offer to exchange various things, household items, food. In such groups during the period of lack of money you can exchange any unnecessary things for food or necessary household items: washing powders, dishes, other utensils.
In such groups, you can change not only things, but also services: haircuts, nail designs, tattoos, tutoring. You can either exchange free wizard services for food, or earn extra money by building up experience in exchange for something useful.
Natural economy
In urban conditions, to survive without money and work is not so simple, while subsistence farming is a real salvation. You can survive by renting an apartment in the city and leaving for nature: in many villages, houses are empty and rented out, and the plot itself is inexpensive. In exchange for caring for him, you can get the opportunity to live and feed on what the earth gives.
Farming and farming are an affordable, albeit difficult way to survive in a period of lack of money.
Of course, the land will also have to work: cultivate the land, plant vegetables, care for animals and obtain firewood for the winter, but such a life is much more environmentally friendly and pays for itself after a year of work.
Religious organizations
In the absence of prospects, work and a stable income, when there is nowhere to live, and pockets are empty, there remains an option that few people think about. Religious organizations, monasteries, and communities can always seek help.
At the monasteries there is always work to do which you can get shelter and food. Weeding the garden, caring for animals and birds, fields and gardens, cleaning up the monastery premises is a real way to live long enough without money and work. In case of urgent need you can be provided with clothes - many believers bring clothes and unnecessary things to monasteries in order to be given to those who need more.
The advantage of this option is that it is not necessary to be a believer or to take part in the service - many monasteries provide shelter and food even to atheists in times of dire need, following the commandment to help others.
In the period of lack of money, if religious views permit, one can always turn to various non-Orthodox religious organizations and communities, for example, Hare Krishnas. Krishna worshipers often warmly welcome those in need, providing them with an overnight stay and healthy food. In this case, you will also have exciting spiritual conversations and an interesting experience in communication. Among Hare Krishnas there are many interesting people who maintain contact even when a person no longer needs help.
Work for food
When you need not so much money as food, or rather, when there is no money even for food, you can earn extra money in exchange for food:
- To provide the services of a loader or cleaning lady in shops or cafes;
- Having agreed with the administration of the supermarket so that products with an expiring shelf life can be picked up before being discarded;
- Go to the monastery and become a worker, working for food;
- Sell your creativity for food.
A good example for inspiration is Sergey Balovin, a Russian portrait painter who knows firsthand how to live without money in Russia.
Sergey became known throughout Russia thanks to his project “Natural Exchange”. He travels around the world, responding to invitations from youth organizations and just fans. He does not spend any financial resources on this, painting portraits in exchange for tickets, food, clothes, and so on. He redirects many things, since he does not need them, and he always paints portraits in two copies, leaving the second to himself. Only once because of the huge number of people who wanted to meet, he decided to paint one portrait at a time.
Inspired by his example, many novice artists who found themselves in a difficult life situation began to do the same and after a while gained fame, which allowed them to establish their own lives.
How do people live without money?
Continuing the theme of the sensational stories of world famous downshifters and just people who successfully survive in civilization without money, one cannot fail to mention Heidemar Schwermer and Rafael Fellmar.
Heidemar Schwermer
Heidemari Schwermer was born in 1942. At 53, this unique woman decided to live without money. It was a conscious decision, made not under the pressure of circumstances, but as a result of long thoughts about the meaning of his life. Hydemari called the owner of the apartment in which she lived, joyfully informed him that she would no longer pay the rent, handed out all her belongings, leaving herself only a suitcase with replaceable clothes, three pairs of shoes, a small amount of makeup, a book and glasses, and began to live without money. She considered the issue of lack of money not a problem, but liberation from fetters.
Hydemari was a psychotherapist by profession and initially planned to provide psychotherapeutic consultations in exchange for food and overnight, but it turned out that few people want to settle their own psychotherapist. Then Heidemari changed her approach and began to wash windows, cut lawns and do other housework in exchange for food and shelter.
This approach paid off completely: after a while, her talent as a psychotherapist was noticed and Heidemar realized her dream. For nearly 17 years, Schwermer lived without using a cent. She had a reserve of 200 euros in case she still needed the money, but she did not use it. At a certain period of her life, she was assigned a pension, which she initially wanted to refuse, then still accepted, but began to give out money to those who really needed them.
The whole world knew about Heidemarie, she was interested in newspapers, magazines and news television channels, so she got the opportunity to travel for free with lectures and readings on specialization.
For the long 17 years, Heidemari Schwermer lived happily ever after, having proved to the whole world the immutability of her philosophy: money is far from the most important thing in life, but also an absolutely unnecessary thing with the right approach. The necessary products, clothes and shelter can be earned by personal labor, and you can’t buy time for creativity and spiritual development for money.
Heidemari died quietly in 2024 from cancer at the age of 74, leaving her world a legacy: instructions for finding the meaning of life. It is noteworthy that in her whole life a woman was extremely ill, explaining this by the fact that illness causes stress, and stress causes the pursuit of money, which is not in her life. Having refused money, she gained complete freedom and true happiness. She explained this refusal by the desire to expand human consciousness, freeing him from the pernicious thought that everything in this world is decided by money.
Raphael Fellmaraporta
Rafael Felmar is known not only as an experimenter-downshifter who conducted the “5 Years Without Money” experiment, but also as one of the founders of food sharing, along with German journalist and director Valentin Thurn.
Rafael Felmar, a social activist, spent five years of his life without money. All this time, together with his wife and young child, he ate waste suitable for food. At first he rummaged through garbage bins, then began to work with cafes and shops, weekly and even daily throwing out still good, but near the end of its shelf life food.
As a result of this experiment, Rafael made it clear to society that supermarkets and catering establishments waste a huge amount of food, which would be enough to feed an impressive number of needy people. So the phenomenon of “food sharing” appeared.
Foodsharing (Eng. Foodsharing - from food “food”, sharе “share”) - a project of socio-ecological purpose, aimed at saving food in the literal sense of the word. Project volunteers associate with shops and cafes that have surplus unused products, with people in need of food.
Food sharing appeared in Russia in 2024, while it has been known worldwide since 2012.Having first appeared in Germany, it spread throughout Europe and received an incredible amount of feedback from people from all over the world. In Italy and France, owners of large supermarkets were even obliged to conclude agreements with charitable organizations and donate surplus food, otherwise the supermarket may receive a serious fine.
Thanks to the example of Rafael Felmar, the world realized that a huge amount of food products without harm to any of the parties can be distributed correctly: written-off products are already losses for organizations, but are still suitable for consumption.
Far from civilization
If Heidemarie Schwermer and Rafael Felmar are excellent examples of life without money in an urban environment, then Suuelo and Tomi Astikainen can be excellent examples of a comfortable life away from civilization. Life without money, freaking and hitchhiking - about these two.
Suelo
Suelo is an American downshifter, or, as the Russians say, a simpler. Bearing the name of Daniel James Schellabarger, in 2000, at the age of 39, he completely refused money. He currently lives in a cave near the city of Moab (Utah).
Zuelo eats berries and meat from animals that are hit by passing cars, or roams around America.
Suelo received the lion's share of fame thanks to the magazine Details, the websites of The Guardian and BBC. Between 2006 and 2010, he became the hero of three biographical videos, and in 2012, Penguin published his biography of the authorship of Mark Sandin. Suelo categorically refused the fees.
Tomi Astikainen
Finnish coach and training specialist Tomi Astikainen decided to learn downshifting in 2009, when he was only 28 years old. Having completely given up money, he, together with his beloved, went to hitchhike around the world. Since then, they, without any means, travel to different countries, blog on the Internet and write books about their adventures, distributing them for free.
Tomi's philosophy is simple to impossibility: if you need something, the Universe will give it to you.
The examples of all these people show that the assertion about the frailty of money is true. You can live without money and work, doing what you love and exploring the world, but for this you need to first realize that money is not the most important thing in life.
Hitting downshifting with the thought of the hopelessness of your position, most likely you will not come to any result. But, having learned to see the pluses above all in a free life, you will be able to free yourself from the framework of society and change your life radically.
