THE MONEY MERRY GO ROUND
Money makes the world go round - or so they say. Yet the ride's not much fun for those with no money and no means of getting any. However, there are alternative ways to sustain a free lifestyle by gifting, charity and off the land without requiring any money at all - you just have to learn how.
Thankfully, there's brave people out there like Mark Boyle, who have shown us that it is possible to live frugally and away from the 9-5 grind and they've helpfully written blogs and books on their experiences that offer us manageable solutions for getting free from the rat race.
The Gift Economy
Acquiring stuff for free is a lot easier these days through channels like Freecycle, Craigslist and through many other barter websites - and even Gumtree has the odd freebie on their site too. Streetbank is a great new service for offering time and services for free and reciprocated in turn with gifts through other members. The idea being that it is the act of giving that forms stronger bonds with strangers from within your local community, who then become your friends.
For specifics like getting around or places to stay, there are also sites for sharing transport and letting people stay in your home or for volunteering in exchange for getting 'thanks' credits that in turn can be exchanged for receiving other items and services that you may need.
Community is key
Connecting with localised communities to form groups and to help build sustainable living in city centres as well as the rural areas has already taken off in the UK with LILAC. This is very encouraging for others who are struggling to keep up in an increasingly unaffordable climate as the powerful corporations take over the buying up of land mass and property in our cities - and show us how we can make this possible in our communities too.
