I’ve never been one to strive for money. Sure, as a teen, I wanted the things that would allow me to fit in (I didn’t), but now stuff doesn’t interest so much. What motivates me are experiences: travel, a good meal, learning a new skill, a moving story. But experiences still cost money and accumulating experiences can be just as much about boosting one’s ego and status as owning a fancy car, which is why I found the experiment in “The Moneyless Man” so intriguing.
Mark Boyle took it many steps further beyond simplifying and spending less. He couldn’t even spend money on the things that truly mattered to him and brought him joy (a “rule” in many simple living books). No, this is a way of life where if you want to enjoy the simple pleasure of flowers, you have to go outside and find them. I read this book over a month ago and I still think of it often—wondering how can I incorporate what he learned in my life.
As long as we’re part of the “system,” we need money. Money to repair roofs (taking place this very moment), stay connected (phone, Internet), pay insurance and bills, etc. Where I’m saving for a trip to France this fall to visit friends, I am not eager to end my “addiction to civilization” anytime soon, but after spending more than usual over the past few weeks (it happens) my frugal self is reasserting herself and I'm wondering why I'm not willing to give it up. In a society where it’s so easy to spend, spend, spend, it’s important to stop and reflect on where your money goes. Did I really need recycled plastic razors (because do I really need to shave my legs and why do I do it?) Is it truly benefiting your needs? Do your spending habits reflect your values, and I mean really? How much of your spending is compulsory? Did you really need what you bought? How often do you find yourself drawn into stores for no reason? If you want to understand the collective values of a society, look at their economy. The individual may never condone the direct harm done to other people or the environment, but to maintain our current “way of life” we are indirectly causing great harm. And your organic cotton blue jeans count.
Even when it comes to “necessities,” we are spending and accumulating more than truly necessary. Indeed, compared to what’s consumed elsewhere, our kitchens can look like tiny grocery stores! I find an overstocked fridge just as stress-inducing as a near empty one and I still have to avoid the temptation to stop at the grocery store to “pick up a few things” for a certain recipe when I actually have plenty of food already at home in the kitchen (and even outside).
What Mark gave up in convenience, he gained in practical skills and community—and yes, sometimes that meant communal dumpster-diving adventures. What started out as an experiment ended up as a completely new way of living with the world (Mark has been living moneyless for over two years now). The only necessity in a moneyless world is a willing, supportive community—without community it is far too easy to fall back on modern conveniences. At least that is the main message I gathered from the book, and it’s probably the main thing stopping or preventing most of us from doing it.
Whether or not you agree with the philosophy of freeconomic living or believe “green” capitalism and technology will completely change the playing field as we know it, “The Moneyless Man” should be on your must-read list. Get it from the library (although in my case that still required driving to pick it up).
I read an interview by this man a year or so ago, I think it was in the Guardian, and I haven't forgotten about it since. I will be reading this book.
ReplyDeleteAnd I think you are right, experiences can be as much about status as possessions. I encountered this several times while in New Zealand recently, listening to other travelers boasting about where they'd been and where they were going next and how much they'd spent skydiving and how drunk they'd been here and how much drunker they'd been there . . . blah, blah, blah . . it was as boring as being at home listening to my neighbours brag about their RVs and quads and kitchen renos. How does a person get away from the insanity? Maybe this book will shed some light.
I think what Mark Boyle is doing is interesting, even admirable, and makes a point. But it's not for most of us. However most of us can take smaller and less extreme steps - and these small, cumulative actions can make a big difference (eg we can source fresh and local, grow some of our own food, examine labels critically, be aware of where our clothing has come from and who's been exploited in the manufacture of it, reject all 'instant' packet meals, not throw away food, recycle etc).
ReplyDeleteWhat worries me is that if everyone (not that it's likely to happen!) pulled out of the economy of addiction all at once, whole nations would implode simultaneously!
This is an interesting film about switching to a moneyless economy:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.zeitgeistmovingforward.com/
Now let's see if blogger lets me post this comment.