How To Forage Safely And Responsibly

If you want to try foraging, there are a few important things to keep in mind so that you can forage sustainably and perhaps even help the environment in the process.

Why forage?

-Many edible wild plants have more nutrients than anything you could ever buy in a shop.
-Your food is always fresh, because it doesn’t need to be transported halfway across the country (or the world!) and it doesn’t need to lay around in the shop for a while either.
-You get a chance to connect with nature and with the natural resources you use
-It helps you think about how plants grow and how you can help nature thrive (e.g. by eating ‘weeds’ first, by helping plants spread their seeds, etc).
-If you are careful about where you pick, then it’s organic!
-If you adhere to foragers’ etiquette, then you can keep coming back for more year after year. Nature will replenish itself! (sometimes with a bit of help from you – the harvester… Now here’s something positive you can contribute to the earth!)
-You sharpen all your senses! Common sense, sense of smell, eye for detail, touch and taste.

Safety:

1. Make sure the plant you are about to eat is identified correctly and is not poisonous. When in doubt, don’t eat it. Some plants look very similar!
2. Also, know how the plant grows and reproduces, and how common it is in the area (some plants are endangered!). Does it need its flowers or seeds of the berries to reproduce? If so, leave some behind. If you want the plant to continue to grow after harvesting and you are eating the leaves of the plant, make sure you don’t strip the plant of all its leaves.
3. Beware of man-made poisons that are lurking everywhere (pesticides and such). Picking on or close to agricultural land, railroads, lawns and foot paths (neat looking hiking trails) may be hazardous because these places may have been sprayed with dangerous chemicals.
4. And for other creatures’ safety: Watch out for bugs and take care not to squash any. Try to get all insects off your harvest while you are picking for optimal efficiency.

Foragers' guidelines:

-Don’t take more than you need, i.e. what you are going to use that day.
-Only forage plants that are plentiful and thriving.
-Don't pick protected or endangered plants, but do help them thrive or grow your own at home! Google how to do that, as it differs per plant.
- Don’t go to the same place every time. Allow your favorite spots to recover.
-Make sure you know which part of the plant is needed for it to reproduce, and if that part is harvested, then it is especially important to leave a lot of them behind.
-If possible, do not forage in a way that kills the plant/tree: do not pick all the leaves from one plant (leave some behind), take fallen bark rather than cutting bark off a tree, etc. Rules differ depending on the type of plant that is being harvested.
-Don’t step on your food! When you are foraging, take care you are not crushing any plants in the process.

How to get started

If you are not sure where or how to get started, it is a great idea to do the following:
1. Find an organic farm in your area.
2. Ask the farmer if you can assist them with weeding (and whether you can harvest some of the weeds for consumption). May, June and July are your best bets.
3. The farmer can explain to you which plants are weeds and which are not, and how best to remove them. Perhaps they can also tell you which ones are edible, and if not then just look them up on Google. You can share the news with the farmer as well and perhaps harvest some for them too!
4. Help out with weeding while harvesting your veggies (weeds only!). Make sure you help out with weeding regularly and not just to pick weeds. There are usually a lot more weeds than any of us can eat at one time, so perhaps some will end up as compost too.
5. This is a great way to interact with your local community in a win-win! You will learn more about common wild plants (edible weeds) while making some space for the other plants to thrive!

FAQ - Frequently Asked Questions

Here are some of the questions that I have been asked most frequently by readers of the blog or whenever I posted articles from this blog on Facebook pages, or when others shared my posts.


Feel free to ask another question if yours is not yet listed or insufficiently answered!

N.B: Recently I have decided that 'rewilding' is a better term to use to describe this way of life than 'moneyless' because living without money (as much as possible) is only a very small aspect of this way of life. So this FAQ is not entirely relevant anymore, although I have made some changes to my answers. I might write an updated version as new questions come up.
 
1. I am just one person among billions. Why would it matter what I do? Can I really make a difference?
2. What are the benefits of living moneyless? Why would anyone do it?
3. How do you get <insert random “need”> for free?
4. What motivates you to do what you are doing? 
5. How can you say you live moneyless when you are using other people's facilities that cost them money?
6. Are there exceptions to your moneyless life?
7. If you want to be free full-time and live completely moneyless, then why don’t you quit your job?
8. What do you do for fun?
9. What will you do with all that money you have saved while living moneyless and also earning a salary? 
10. What if everyone would live like you? Would society as we know it still exist? Would we still have the comforts we have today?
11. But what about things that are mass produced? Will we still be able to have things like computers and such? 
12. Are you against money? If it were up to you, would you ban money? 
13. What if the majority of people just doesn’t want to risk losing what we have and want to keep things the way they are? 
14. What about healthcare?
15. What if you get old/sick/etc?
16. How can I support a moneyless world? How can I best inspire others to change?
 
1. I am just one person among billions. Why would it matter what I do? Can I really make a difference?
The short answer is YES, you can make a difference! Not just for yourself, but also for others.
You'd be surprised of how much one person can do, and if you make it your mission to create change you will continue to discover new ways in which you can help your cause and make changes in the world that go beyond the scope of the personal / individual level. As long as your intentions and motivations go beyond personal rewards and benefits, then your reach will, too.
For example, your life mission to support the environment and the ecosystems through targeted actions may inspire many other people to make similar changes and to start working towards this common goal. You may even create a social movement in the process of reaching out to others and sharing your personal story. Every single action counts, and it is impossible to see the reach of the outward ripples that even one single action can create.
Once you have made steady changes to your life, you will see that you can't help but affect others differently also, perhaps inspiring them to change without even trying (in fact, it only works as long as you don't try): they will notice how you respond differently, how your vibe is different, that you are a happier person and that you express yourself differently. They will notice how you choose your words and actions more carefully and how they are more aligned, because your actions (as well as your words) are now directly guided by your values and beliefs. They will notice how your new way of life works much better for you and everyone around you. They will notice you live your life with more integrity, and how your life seems somehow more meaningful for that reason. They also notice how they could do the same thing and start living within their values instead of doing what everyone else is doing. All of this is contagious; it is inspiring.

2. What are the benefits of 'rewilding', or living moneyless? Why would anyone do it?
 There are so many benefits to the moneyless life that it is difficult to list them all. Let's look at some of them:
-Overall:
One of the biggest benefits to the moneyless lifestyle (or what I now like to call 'rewilding') is that it promotes freedom, in every sense of the word.This includes having more options for how you want to live your life, having more time, being more in control of your health and what you eat, and increasing your own skills for survival instead of relying on others. It puts you back in control of your own life and you no longer have to participate in society's obligations such as jobs, consumerism and taxes.
- Physical:
Rewilding is also likely to get you in a better physical shape because you are solely responsible for your own health once you quit money. Rewilding also leads you to de-clutter your life, which is a huge contributor to a more relaxed and happier life, because you have so much less to worry about (and you realize you didn't really need all that stuff in the first place!).
- Emotional:
Rewilding can make you a happier person, because it encourages living life from a place of gratitude at all times. It also gives your life instant meaning and purpose, and therefore you will experience a sense of fulfillment more of the time. Living with integrity helps you become more balanced and remain centered through most of your experiences in life.
- Cognitive:
Your mindset changes for the better when you focus less on money and simplify your life. It helps you to get back in touch with the reality of being part of an ecosystem and to live in harmony with the beings around you. It also stops the calculated type of mindset that money teaches, which promotes conditional giving rather than unconditional living. Unconditionality is another key to happiness. Having more time will create necessary space for you to reflect more and integrate new experiences. This also helps you stay grounded and equanimous. More about the moneyless mindset in this post.
- Social:
Rewilding (and living without money) promotes independence (from the system and others) as well as collaboration with others. This means your relationships with others will also improve. As with all aspects of life, you will no longer be looking for what others can do for you, but more for what you have to offer and how your relationships with others can be as meaningful as possible.
-Benefits beyond yourself:
Rewilding has also many positive impacts on the environment in that it helps other beings thrive, it halts the destruction that we are doing to the earth (mainly driven by money, ownership and our loss of connection with nature), it brings your focus back to supporting the ecosystem you live in and brings you more in touch with the natural resources you use, which promotes efforts to protect and help replenish them.

3. How do you get <insert random “need”> for free?
When your main focus is contribution (instead of just getting everything for free) and you start getting creative, you will see that there are many ways to get things for free. Of course you can work your way towards living completely for free in steps/ stages, as I have done (that is: without using money). You may also discover along the way that you no longer need certain things, even if you really believed you needed them in the past. So it is best to just get started somewhere and see how far you can take it, without anticipating too much on things you might think you need. You can simply eliminate one cost after another and deal with each need as it arises. I have to add though that 'getting something for free' is a misleading way to describe this way of life and it puts the focus in the wrong places. Contribution and giving is always the main focus. All needs should therefore be questioned in the process of simplifying life.
Some ideas about how to find basics for free can be found here, how I found my first free home is explained in this post and some ideas on what to do for fun can be found here.

4. What motivates you to do what you are doing?
When I started the challenge, it was mostly about saving money and doing something practical to help the environment besides just studying environmental psychology and doing research. However, very soon into the challenge the other benefits mentioned above took over, or rather supplemented these initial goals. This helped me to keep going, and turn my vision into a mission; a way of life. The journey became self-rewarding. This last year my life has felt more meaningful than ever before. Also I have felt happier and healthier than I have felt in a long time. And I have definitely felt more focused, determined and successful than ever. All that is left now is for me to gain total freedom after I finish my final job (the PhD degree) in 2017. Then I will be completely free. I am very much looking forward to taking this last step towards personal freedom.

5. How can you say you live moneyless when you are using other people's facilities that cost them money?
This question has come up a lot. So much so, that I decided to write a post about how I see it. You can read more about it here. The bottom-line is that living moneyless requires a different mindset, which will develop once you get started on the path. It is therefore difficult to describe, but perhaps with some imagination it can be understood from the post that I just mentioned. Money can create a mindset of exchange and a focus on calculating cost and value in all our interactions with others, which makes our relationships less personal and less rewarding.
In addition, the distinction between what costs money and what doesn't is completely artificial and made up. In the end everything comes from the earth and returns back to the earth. What is free and what costs money has changed over the years and will keep changing. So why would we even make that distinction?
When you live moneyless, you are no longer constantly thinking about exchange. People don't give to me conditionally, and I don't give to them conditionally. All interactions are unconditional. This is what happens when money is taken out of the equation, and that is the point of 'moneyless living' for me. The focus is on what you can give instead of how much you can get.
In this context I also think it is important to remember that not paying money does not mean that one does not contribute. The contribution just happens in a different form, which is more focused on serving others directly and serving the ecosystem that we are all a part of than on "financial contribution" (which sounds rather vague and unspecific in comparison, doesn't it?). Read more about that here.
One final point is that the answer to this question ultimately doesn't matter, because living without money is not actually the goal of this way of life. The goal is to get more in touch with nature: to increase awareness and consciousness. I would like to call it 'rewilding'. That is freedom. Read more about that here.

6. Are there exceptions to your moneyless life?
When I say I am living moneyless, it means that I am not spending any money, without exceptions so far this year and with a few exceptions last year. However, I still have a job at the moment (until October 2017) so I still receive an income and I still have some indirect payments (automatic taxes). Also, I use office supplies that are paid for by the university and I get some incentives to use for traveling and costs while traveling. This means there are occasions where I am still indirectly 'consuming'; mostly through my job.
However, after October 2017 I am planning to retire completely and then I will be completely money-free. Then I will no longer burden the earth directly nor indirectly by using valuable resources for valueless reasons. This will be the final step in the process of my personal liberation; the final step towards freedom. It is what I am preparing for right now with the foraging challenge.
However, remember that living without money (or with less money) is only a tool to help me in what my way of life is really about: rewilding - getting more in touch with nature and raising awareness/consciousness.

7. If you want to be free full-time and live completely moneyless, then why don’t you just quit your job?
I have considered quitting my job, but eventually decided against it. I seriously considered quitting my job at the end of last year and with any other job I would have. So this last step of giving up everything is taking a bit longer than I hoped and ideally it would have come sooner. But I do treat my job more like a hobby now (I take it less seriously) and definitely don’t let it dictate my choices and priorities. As a consequence I enjoy it more too, and I am probably even more productive. I used to take my work way too seriously to the point where I would often stress myself and others out (I suffered from burnout a couple of times in my life).
However, a couple of points have made me decide against quitting this job. I started the job before I started this challenge and my job provided me with the ideal circumstances to try out moneyless living to decide if it was right for me. Also, it is a temporary job so it won’t be much longer and it gives me exactly enough time to prepare all my next steps in detail, before starting the nomadic journey. The job also gives me a lot of freedom: I can work from home whenever I want and can even include writing this blog as part of it. It is almost as good as being entirely free, and a great step in-between.
In a way this job helped me discover the moneyless life, because it gave me the final push to take environmental action (with the topic of my PhD being about interventions to promote behavior change to mitigate climate change). So I feel some loyalty towards the people who made this possible (my supervisor mostly, who has been very supportive of my personal efforts with this moneyless project from the very start). I have also found that it works much better to take on this challenge in steps rather than throw myself into the deep end straight away. The process of freeing yourself from society (and changing/ re-building your mindset) takes time. And because at the start I still had my connections with society (through my job) I was able to test the waters first with some peace of mind.
Nowadays my mindset is so different that it is hard to imagine that I was so obsessed with getting a job in the first place. And it is hard to imagine that I would have felt like I needed a job at all. But I did. And I found one. Luckily I also took up the moneyless challenge, because now I know I don't need a job, which frees me up for the future. So in part, I have my job to thank for the idea to go moneyless and for supporting me through this process of transitioning from being trapped in the system and slowly freeing myself. I am very grateful for this and I believe that some loyalty from my side is in order to complete this project. So all of this made me decide to finish what I started.
If I would have been unable to find this  particular job, perhaps I would have tried to go moneyless anyway. It is difficult to say in hindsight. It may have seemed more difficult with the old mindset of not feeling good enough and being so focused on the need to find a job and to be part of society and to ‘contribute’ in the traditional sense of the word. Having said that, others have shown that this way is also possible. But perhaps it is reassuring to know that you don't have to take the plunge right away, and that you can make small changes on this journey and still reach the same destination. I think this makes moneyless living appear much more attainable to many people. For most people, it is much easier to oversee one change at a time than to just changing everything overnight.
You don't have to give up everything right away. You can work your way towards it and just let go whenever you are ready. In the meantime you can just work on preparing yourself.

8. What do you do for fun?
When you follow your passions in life you will notice you don’t need so much ‘fun’ anymore, because your life is already fun and joyful. Fun can be an escape people need when they take life too seriously too much of the time, or when they don't want to face the reality of their lives somehow. However, fun and enjoyment of life is important and I did write a post on how to do certain things that most would consider fun. Read more about things to do for fun here.

9. What will you do with all that money you have saved while living moneyless and also earning a salary?
At the start of the challenge, the plan was to save up a lot of money and then buy some land in France or Spain (or somewhere else with a good climate) to start an ecofarm or even a small ecovillage, where I could grow my own food and live a happy, peaceful life, enjoying nature and all it has to offer. But now I am not so sure what I will do. If I buy land, then it brings more worries into my life and it is putting me back into the system that I have learned to reject and have come to detest (the money-grid), as having land means having to pay property taxes in most countries (yes, there are exceptions). And that means I am yet again no longer 100% free. At the same time I also have the urge to settle down after so much moving around and living a ‘rootless’ kind of life (although definitely not in Norway as I find the cold and dark winters absolutely unbearable).
So I am not sure what I will do. Perhaps I will live the nomadic, moneyless life for a while and travel from Norway to Spain on a horse or hiking, and then I can just see where the road takes me. I can see what I find and if I find a beautiful location where I want to settle, I can do that with or without buying land. Perhaps there is some land that is not used where I can live. It is hard to predict this kind of stuff. We will see what the universe has in store for me. I am sure that I will know what to do once the time comes. In the meantime, as always, it is good to have options. Freedom is mostly about creating options.

10. What if everyone would live like you? Would society as we know it still exist? Would we still have the comforts we have today?
Many people seem to worry that if everyone would live like this, there would be a lot they have to ‘give up’. Of course it is difficult to imagine what a moneyless world would look like now, because we have made a lot of technical advancements since the stone age (and understandably, not everyone wants to go back to that). I do know that when we all live moneyless, a few things will start to happen:
1. We would all have a lot more time, because none of us would need to work anymore.
2. Our collective environmental footprint will be reduced significantly, because a lot of damage is done in the name of employment (‘just doing my job’), profit and (economic) growth (things some like to call ‘progress’).
3. Everyone will take responsibility for their basic needs, which means that everyone will invest time in learning how to grow their own food and purify water. Cities will probably be rebuilt to be more sustainable; more in line with keeping water, air and food clean and accessible. People will do this voluntarily (without payment) because they have the time and it is their home.
4. People will uphold and maintain societal structures they deem important, such as health care. So a moneyless society will demonstrate what people think is important and where efforts should be directed. I imagine that structures like the military will disappear almost instantly, as they benefit no one when money is no longer involved. So will politics and other unnecessary societal structures. I imagine that things like education (mainly of survival and other self-help/life skills), the arts and health services will flourish.
5. Natural resources will once again be valued, protected and cherished rather than exploited and depleted for all they are worth.

11. But what about things that are mass produced? Will we still be able to have things like computers and such?
Many people who believe in a moneyless world fail to take action because they fear that they have to make (big) sacrifices. This is not the case. In my case, I have not had to sacrifice anything. I have my own little home on a farm with plenty of space, I have access to enough food to feed several families and I have all the stuff that I need and more (I am still downsizing even though I didn't have that much to begin with). Each time I simplify my life more or get rid of more stuff, it feels liberating (and not like a loss or sacrifice at all).
But what if we would all live this way? Would I still have the computer that I am using to type?
Well, if the answer would be no, then does that mean that ‘slave labor’ is the price for our luxuries? Or at least the fear of losing those things is keeping us all tied to the current system. Is that worth it? And is it even an option, realistically, for the long term? I’d say no. It is not sustainable and we will destroy the planet this way, probably sooner rather than later. Again, is that worth it? If all is destroyed, would you regret not making changes and taking the chance of perhaps being even happier than you are now? Would you feel like you had done enough to prevent this from happening once major catastrophes start to happen that affect all of us? (And yes, they have already started, but perhaps none of them have affected you personally yet; at least not as far as you realize.)
Although it may not be possible to keep comforts in the form they are in right now when forced labor falls away, I do believe that production of things that people really want and need will still happen even without the use of money, if it is something people value. Perhaps a different kind of product will be invented, from different materials (that are easier to produce on a smaller scale) and one that lasts much longer because then the aim will be sustainability rather than consumerism (for more information on the purposeful speedy expiry of products, see this video (the end of ownership), which explains the basics of a resource based economy.  You can also watch the Story of Stuff (very insightful!), which puts everything in perspective and explains the circular economy. For more about a circular economy see this TED talk by Thomas Rau).
It is impossible to describe with certainty exactly what the future would look like. But the fact remains that what it would look like is totally up to us. We can create the future the way we want it to be, in total freedom. If we miss something, it is our responsibility to (re-)create it; this time in a more sustainable way. If we don’t like something, it is up to us to change it. This new paradigm is the kind of world that stimulates and rewards innovations and initiative, instead of laziness and complacency.
So to come back to the question: is it possible to keep all the luxuries we have right now? The answer is, I don’t know (although the future is in our hands and I do believe that people are capable of creating anything if it is important enough for them, with very limited resources). But let me ask you this: Is it possible to sustain human life without making radical changes to the way we do things? Is the way we live now, collectively, in any way sustainable? And here I know for sure that the answer is no. And that is all I need to know. It makes the above question completely irrelevant.

12. Are you against money? If it were up to you, would you ban money?
At the start of my challenge, I had nothing against money. I was neutral to money. I did not feel the need for others to change. My journey was purely personal. I didn’t see money as good or bad, just as a tool. But now, through my experiences and reflections, I have seen the links between money and so many forms of destruction. And I would like to see humanity move beyond this ancient (and debilitating) construct.
In a world without money, would natural resources get exploited? Would hierarchies exist in the same way as they do now? Would nature be destroyed or protected? Would we live in harmony with nature or go against it? Would we cherish other beings or carelessly drive them to extinction? Would people still work jobs and would they still work the same type of jobs, or would they do something more constructive with their time on earth? Would people live to support the system, or themselves, each other and the earth? When you really get into it, you will see that many things are directly related to money, consumption and our habits of exchange. We can all move beyond it by getting back in touch with nature.
However, I have also come to realize that money is not the cause but rather the consequence of our dysfunctional way of thinking. So banning money would not work: the root cause is in the mind so we need to change (evolve) our way of thinking first and foremost.

13. What if the majority of people just don’t want to risk losing what we have and want to keep things the way they are?
At the very least it would be great to have some part of the world where this type of society could be trialed: one that does not rely on money and that produces everything on a small scale. This gives people who do not believe in money anymore the chance to opt out and it gives people who do not believe in moneyless societies an example of how it could work. I understand if people do not share my ideas. I don’t want to force them to change. But I also do not want to be forced to remain in a system where I don’t belong.
Additionally, as mentioned previously: if we don't start making changes now, the world will be headed for destruction sooner rather than later. I do not want to wait here and watch it happen. I want to do what I can to contribute to a solution before it is too late. Time is running out. Nature doesn't care whether you believe in climate change or not, and while we are debating this and other pointless topics, the window of opportunity is closing.

14. What about healthcare?
Ultimately everyone is responsible for their own health. Yes, some health problems may be caused by genetic makeup, but the majority of health problems stem from the ways we live our lives (not enough nutrients, not enough oxygen/clean air, not enough movement). The current trend of making others responsible for our health does not promote self-care and healthy decisions.
However, as mentioned under question number 10, I believe that health care will still be accessible in a moneyless society. Until we reach that point, we need to learn to support ourselves in the best way possible. Learn about natural medicine and learn about plants. All the cures in the world are out there, and prevention is the best cure of all. That means living a healthy lifestyle with healthy food (foods from the earth) and natural activities (NOT sitting in an office all day).
Most likely, the same system that offers you health care is also making you sick.
Read more about my views on health here.

15. What if you get old/sick/etc?
Well, we all get old and eventually we all die. This is an inescapable fact of life. And so for me it is illogical to sacrifice my freedom for something like health care (which I may never need, and have not needed in a long time). Why would I sacrifice my whole life (and the freedom to live it as I choose) in exchange for something that I may or may not need some time in the future (i.e. health care)? It doesn't make sense.
So yeah, if I get sick I may die, someone may help me, or I may find a natural cure. If I do end up dying, it is called natural selection. It is how nature keeps its populations clean. And when I get old, I die as well. But I will die a free person, and that's what's important.

16. How can I support a moneyless world? How can I best inspire others to change?
Actions are the foundations for change, because they speak louder than words. Words are only a supplement. On top of that it feels better too, because actions are empowering and can redirect and strengthen the energy generated by having a vision. Doing something therefore always beats doing nothing.
When you want others to change, it must start with you. You cannot get others to change first. If you feel and see that change is necessary and possible, then you must take that first step. I sometimes see people out there desperately trying to change the world, but they forget to take those first steps. Instead they try to change the world before they change themselves by trying to convince others to change first. But how can we expect others to change when we are not even willing or ready to do so ourselves? If you are in this situation and find yourself promoting change to others but are not consistently taking the necessary practical steps that are involved, then you have a wonderful opportunity. Obviously something is still holding you back, and it is likely that that very same thing is keeping others from changing too. So if you explore what it is and figure out how to overcome your personal barriers, then you can lead the way for others to follow in your footsteps, even more effectively than if you would have had no barriers to overcome. After all, how can you be a teacher or mentor if you never had to learn anything?
If you fail to walk the talk, nobody will take you seriously and you won't be able to offer anyone any guidelines on how to get started. Also, you might implicitly contribute to the myth that it is okay to talk about the need for change without taking actual action; that talking about it and being offended by the state of the world is a form of taking action. It is not. We need real actions to create lasting, structural change. On the other hand, if you have walked the path yourself, then you can give specific guidelines on how people can get started, and you can demonstrate to the world that change is possible and beneficial (to yourself and to the world). Inspiring real structural and societal change can only come from personal change.
(See also question 1).



This page may be updated if new questions come in or as my views on life (and hence answers to the questions) evolve.

What It Takes To Live Moneyless

With this post I would like to debunk the myth that jobless or moneyless living equals lazy, or that it mostly involves sitting around all day and profiting from other people's hard work. I will outline here what it takes to live and maintain the moneyless lifestyle, so that you can check for yourself whether you could fit the bill.

Characteristics, qualities and skills required to live the moneyless lifestyle

I call it a lifestyle for a reason: to be successful living moneyless, you need to develop certain qualities. This is the main reason the experience has been so valuable to me; it has encouraged me to be the best version of myself that I can be, and I am still learning and evolving. No personal development course or training could ever have given me the skills and experience I gained so far from living this way. Here are some things I have found to be of paramount importance in this way of living:

1. Contribution (Unconditional giving)
Contribution is the cornerstone of the moneyless lifestyle. This means contributing in some way to anything beyond yourself (other people, animals, plants, the earth, etc). It helps if you also have a vision; some theme to work on that guides and shapes your actions. For me, it is the environment: supporting the earth and all of life on earth. I did not have a clear vision when I started my challenge, but I developed one quite quickly and naturally into the process, because my experiences broadened and refined my perspective on life. Living moneyless I experienced very clearly that none of us can live in a bubble: every being on earth depends on many other beings in some way.  This is why we need to collaborate and look after each other (not just humans, but all parts of the ecosystem). Life supporting life.
When you have a cause you support that goes beyond yourself, it also makes it easier for others to get to know you and understand what you are about, because you have a story that explains instantly who you are and what is important to you. You may even restore others' faith in humanity by sharing -and demonstrating- that you care about something other than just personal gain. The demonstrating part is obviously very important: actions speak louder than words.
After living moneyless for a while, you will notice that contribution starts to become second nature. It is no longer about getting something in return (like it is with money). Step by step you will move away from the exchange mindset. Exchange can be useful, but in many cases it tends to detract from the experience of giving and can make the receiver feel uncomfortable. Unconditionality also helps you to live in the moment and thus enjoy life more.
(Read more about my thoughts on contribution here.)

2. Being a reliable, trustworthy person
It doesn't matter how much fun you are to be around, or how much you give to other people on certain occasions: if you break promises for no good reason or miss appointments, then people are not going to want to collaborate with you. And collaboration is key to success with this way of life. So it is important that you do what you say and say what you do. I try to communicate as clearly and truthfully as possible and always stick to my word to the best of my ability.
Another aspect of being a reliable person is having principles (integrity). This requires being aware of all the consequences of what you do and having strong moral guidelines to steer your actions. Some of the most important guidelines I live by are: 1. Always support life/creation over death/destruction (on a global scale and across all species). 2. It is okay to harm the (societal) system, but never the individual. 3. Loyalty is the basis of friendship that is present at all times: not just when you need them and also in the person's absence.
When people say they trust me, or when I notice that an animal trusts me, to me that is the biggest compliment in the world. Trustworthiness, loyalty and integrity are not just a very important focus in my relationships with others, but also essential aspects I look for in other people. It is far more important than being beautiful, popular, rich, smart or anything else.

3. Being attentive/ Thoughtfulness
When you live moneyless, you will soon discover you have much more to give than you ever thought. This is why you will quickly learn to be more attentive to others' wants and needs. You will develop a natural interest in others and remember their likes, dislikes, hopes, dreams, wishes and desires. This is because giving is your new purpose.
If you know what people need, want and like, then you can give them exactly that when the opportunity presents itself. You can create ripples of joy and it won't cost you anything other than paying attention to what people say and do, and perhaps investing some time. Life is just much more worthwhile when you have others around you with whom to share your blessings.

4. Resourcefulness / Creativity
Along with a belief in yourself and a belief that it is possible for you to make your dreams come true, you need to develop your resourcefulness so that you can in fact make them happen. There is always a way; you just have to find it. You will not survive if you refuse to think outside the box. You won't even be able to get started. So question everything and try to think outside the norm at all times. It is a skill all of us can learn. Most of us rely too much on assumptions and presuppositions. There is so much more to explore!

5. Patience and perseverance
When making things happen, you also often need patience and perseverance. Things do not always work out instantly. It may take a couple of tries. When I was searching for my first free home, I sent out approximately 60-100 emails to homeowners before getting a positive response. Some things take time, so give it time. And over time you will learn to trust that all will work out, because it always does.
When things do not work out instantly, that also provides a wonderful opportunity for you to contemplate alternative ways to do things and thus practice resourcefulness. The best ideas usually appear in the quiet times when nothing seems to be happening. Brainstorming and thinking outside the box are just about sitting comfortably in the space of "not knowing". So having a way to make everything happen in an easy and straightforward way (e.g. money) actually robs us of the opportunity to practice resourcefulness and learn to think outside the box.

6. Gratitude
Gratitude is not really a requirement to live moneyless, but it is rather a natural consequence of moneyless living. This lifestyle teaches gratitude because you learn to take nothing for granted. Everything is given and yet you never know whether it will be there again tomorrow, or how or where it will show up. Of course this is always the case in life, but it is easier to forget when you use money on a daily basis, because it gives us the illusion of security, stability, continuity and control.
Gratitude is also a consequence of living life according to your highest principles and living life with integrity. You get the opportunity to give as much as you can (and you get a lot back in return, but that is just a bonus at that point). Life becomes a flow of give and take - not in the sense of exchange, but as a blended concept. It is impossible to live life without receiving and it is also impossible to live without giving. You can only shape the form it takes to some degree. So purposeful exchange  (especially involving money) seems pointless and artificial, as giving and receiving are essential elements of each moment of existence. It is what life is made of.

It is difficult to put all the changes and qualities you will develop into words because it is hard to understand for those who have not experienced it. But these changes will come naturally and automatically as you gradually change your perspective on life and stop relying on money.

Are you aware of all you are giving and all you are given in each moment?
I invite you to notice.

Why I Don't Donate Money To Charity

I often get asked the question whether I donate money to charity. Many people seem to view this simple act as a sign or as proof that someone is a generous, loving person. If you don't donate to charity, people may label you as greedy, selfish or stingy. But there are several reasons why I, and many others with me, don't donate money to charity and none of them have anything to do with being an ungenerous person.

Here are some of my reasons. 

It is unclear where the money goes
When you make a donation to your favorite charity, it is often unclear what the money will be used for, especially if you are donating to a large organization. I don't like these vague structures, because then you never know if you made any difference and what kind of difference you made. You don't get any direct feedback. Therefore it can give you a -possibly false- sense of accomplishment when you made a relatively big donation, or a misguided sense of insignificance when you could only afford to donate a relatively small amount.
If, on the other hand, you donate your time, energy and skills to a particular cause instead of donating money (and not just in an organized sense but also in your daily lifestyle), then the results of your efforts are a lot more transparent. Often you see exactly what you have accomplished, which is a tangible reward for your efforts and a very important part of the 'exchange'. It is also what motivates most people to keep on giving, or something that can help you discover your giving nature if you haven't already. 

The use of money can have detrimental side-effects
A more recent additional reason for me not to donate money to charity is of course the moneyless lifestyle, as I am not spending any money on anything at the moment (with only a few exceptions). This new way of life has also given me a lot of insights. I no longer feel that I need money to make a big difference; in fact, there is more progress to be made by not paying for certain things. The only difference anyone can make is with their personal choices, in everything they do (including financial matters): the things we do and the things we choose not to do. All you need is an open mind and awareness to find out what is right for you in each situation.
Unfortunately, money can easily get in the way of this process of self-discovery. It can contribute to two of the most obstructive mindsets in the quest for freedom: entitlement and obligation. Entitlement can lead to destruction because you feel you have more right to something than others, and obligation can lead to destruction because you believe that you have no say in the choices you make and you have to do certain things just because others tell you to, or because others do the same things, or because someone thinks they have more right to make a decision about something than you do. Both mind-traps are equally dangerous, and these two mental constructs tend to go together in societies that are founded on principles of ownership. Unfortunately, this concept also seeps through in our personal relationships.

Money in itself is not a solution - Taking positive action is 
In the end, what any cause needs most is more people to support and live by its principles. No cause needs more money. Endangered species do not need our money. They need their habitats and they need to be left alone. They need to be protected from hunters who kill for profit. In order to have clean drinking water, we don't need more money. We need to consume less so that we pollute less. And we need to get back to nature so that we use water more sparingly and regain our appreciation of natural resources instead of taking them for granted.
I am not saying money is inherently bad; money is neither good nor bad. And I am sure that sometimes big things can be achieved with fundraising campaigns and collective financial efforts. But even then, in the end what matters most is the efforts and intentions of the individuals to set the goals and make them happen. I aspire to be one of those first and foremost. 

Conclusion
I am not saying that donating money to charity is a bad thing in and of itself and I might even start doing it myself someday. What I am saying is that your individual actions are your biggest contributions. The best way to change the world we live in is to start there. Become aware of what you are supporting with your spending habits, what you are contributing to through your lifestyle choices, and even what the consequences are of the beliefs and ideas you have about the world and other beings. This is where we can all make the biggest impact.

What To Do For Fun (Living The Moneyless Lifestyle)

Some people wonder what I do in my spare time and how it is possible to have fun with friends or do something romantic with a partner while living the moneyless lifestyle. For me this is a difficult and easy question at the same time, because living moneyless has become so automatic for me that I hardly ever feel like it is limiting me in any way. I also don't really desire doing things that cost money (even though I used to enjoy some of them), and I enjoy doing more with what is freely available. But whenever I do want something that costs money, it is an enriching experience because I get the opportunity to practice my creativity and out-of-the-box thinking, which is fun in itself.
So the basic idea is to list things you enjoy doing and then get creative and find ways to do them for free.

How to enjoy your spare time by yourself or with friends
Depending on what you like to do, there are probably several ways to get it for free (or at least to try). You can try to get it sponsored if you combine it with doing something good for the world and telling people about it (free publicity). Or you can donate your time, skills or other goods in exchange for what you want (trade). And finally, you may just get things for free for no reason (or because people like you), because there are still plenty of kindhearted people out there who are not afraid of helping their fellow humans, even when there is no obvious personal gain. Here are some activities you may enjoy with some suggestions of how to realize them without spending money:
If you enjoy reading, make sure you keep an eye out for Amazon's free kindle books. You can find books on any topic there for download. If you enjoy the outdoors, you can go for walks in nature. If you enjoy watching movies, there are plenty of them to watch for free on YouTube (such as this brilliant film: The Peaceful Warrior). Perhaps you can even trade some of your time in exchange for watching movies at the cinema or at a Film Festival. Film Festivals often look for volunteers to help organize the event, who can then watch as many movies as they like (when not working). If you enjoy horse riding, you can volunteer at a riding school, become a trail ride guide or volunteer at a local farm. Sometimes horse owners need help in taking care of their horse(s) too. If you enjoy retreats and meditation, you can join a free Vipassana course and give back by serving as a volunteer a couple of times (cooking, cleaning, organizing). This way of giving back even gives you free food, housing and personal development in the meantime! If you want to travel abroad, but you don't like camping or couchsurfing and want to stay at hotels, you can even try to organize that. Travel by biking, walking or hitchhiking there and ask hotels if you can stay in their simplest room in exchange for an extensive review on major websites or other types of free publicity. And of course make sure you enter into competitions where you can win trips abroad and other things (plus improve your creative skills even further whilst coming up with catchy ideas that stand out).
Obviously there are many ways to get things for free that would normally cost money. But personally, I have found that I get most enjoyment from experiences that do not involve a third person who is trying to make money. A walk in nature, a picnic in the forest or on the beach, swimming in a lake, playing with a dog, enjoying a good conversation with friends, meditating, or helping others are some of my favorite things to do. And they don't cost any money.
Oh, and if you enjoy treasure hunting (and who doesn't?), then make sure to take your friends on a dumpster dive or collect some edibles in the forest. Afterwards, you can share a great meal with what you found.

And in winter, don't forget to go sleighing with your friends!

If there is no winter where you live, just enjoy the sun.

Watch the stars, lightning and dance in the rain. Or just dance.

How to spend romantic time with your partner
What could be more romantic than a picnic somewhere in a beautiful, natural setting? Or a romantic candlelit dinner at home? Unless you prefer going to a restaurant. In that case, I would suggest you befriend some restaurant owners and tell them about your challenge. Ask them how you could get a meal for two in exchange for helping out in other ways than payment. Make sure you give some suggestions to avoid confusion: Perhaps you can source some ingredients for them (from dumpsters or farms); ingredients they need on a regular basis. Or you can help with washing dishes in busy times and earn a dinner coupon instead of a wage. Or maybe you can train the staff and give helpful tips on customer service. Whatever your skills may be, think about what might be an interesting proposition from the perspective of the restaurant owner. And try to stick with smaller (non-chain) restaurants, where the manager is usually also the owner and therefore fully in charge. Also, don't blog about it without their permission, so be clear about offering anonymity if this is important to them. Some restaurants may not be particularly keen on being known as one where people can get meals for free.

The rewards of the moneyless exchange
You might wonder: What is the difference between volunteering my time in exchange for experiences and getting a steady job and working for money? The difference is that the exchange is much more direct, which makes the experience much more valuable. You have literally "earned" this experience through a voluntary act of giving, and the other person has voluntarily responded to this by giving you the experience. The agreement is one of mutual trust, respect and completely voluntary for both parties. Money brings an element of force and control, which takes away from the experience of giving and receiving. When money is involved, there is often no risk of getting rejected; there is no personal exchange involved. You don't have to explain your drive and tell your story if you use money. You don't have to show anything of yourself other than your cash. You don't even need to put in any effort. You can be the most horrible person in the world, or the most kindhearted person in the world, but the price would still be the same (at least in many countries and stores). If you have enough money, you can get what you want no matter what else you bring to the table. You don't have to be a nice person or have any kind of skills.
However, if you trade with anything other than money, then all of those other things become very important. Your personality, drive, knowledge and skills become your currency. So every exchange becomes rewarding, because it is direct proof that you are valued as a person and as a member of society. When you give it a try, you will notice the difference. The experience will be more rewarding and it will be much easier to experience gratitude, because you put a direct effort in with a particular intention. And the reward is very clear throughout and is usually instantly given after you put in the effort.
Also, you add the fun factor of creativity and thinking outside the box when not using money. And after a few successful attempts, you will start to believe that anything is possible (because it is). It removes the boundaries that we may have put on our thinking. It opens our minds (and hearts). And it makes us much more aware of what really matters. You will find yourself becoming more selective of what you really want to experience and what really matters to you. And you will focus more on experiences than on stuff, because even though nothing lasts, experiences can change you and expand you; they can make you a better, happier person. Even if you lose all your stuff, you can never lose your experiences.

Money and meaning
Remember: The less you need, the more freedom you have. And more freedom means more happiness. This doesn't mean you should deny yourself things you want in life (on the contrary), but be open to the possibility that the things you think you need have been ways to fill a void; and that void can only be filled with true meaning and purpose. Meaningful relationships and purposeful living is what life is all about, and those are not for sale. With money no longer clouding your view, this will get very clear.

How To Live A (Mostly) Moneyless Life

Here is a more detailed how-to guide on finding everything for free. But before we go into the details, the most important and fundamental rule concerning your attitude to life should be made clear first and foremost:

* Be A Generous Person *
You can't expect to get things for free if you are not also a giving and generous person yourself. In life, you really do get back what you give; and sometimes in very unexpected ways. This doesn't mean that you always have to give things in return for other things. In fact, there is a lot of power in just giving or just receiving. Firstly, it makes the act more pure, especially for the unconditional giver, because there is no 'hidden agenda' of wanting to please or just following rules. This makes the experience so much more fulfilling and rewarding. Also, when you receive something for free and the other person doesn't expect anything in return, you can give the biggest gift of all, which is sincere gratitude.
A sincere thank you and a description of how you were affected by the kindness of someone else in that moment, is one of the most precious things you can give someone. This does not mean you can't also show your appreciation in other ways later on, but definitely don't skip the heartfelt gratitude. In fact, in my own life it has been this giving and receiving of sincere gratitude that has been most rewarding and transforming, especially since I started my moneyless journey.
While practicing being grateful and generous, you will discover that there are many ways to give gifts to others, other than money. Money makes people lazy, because we don't have to get creative in what we give to others. We can pay our way through life, without ever giving anything else. But without money, you discover that you can give your time, your attention, share your skills, or just share how you feel about someone. Even just being with someone can be a great gift, to both people.
Without money, the connection with others becomes more of a priority. You notice you will slow down. You may even discover that those new-found gifts are more valuable than any amount of money, and that - through your moneyless journey - you end up feel richer and wealthier than ever before.

Now, let's go into the details of getting creative and living for free.

* (Be willing to) Simplify and learn to let go *
In the process of finding ways to ban money from your life, it is important to keep an open mind and not be too attached to a certain outcome or holding on to a specific way of life. If living (for) free is really your priority, you may have to consider doing things a little bit differently than what you were used to. It helps to frequently ask yourself the following question, and ponder it carefully: "Do I really need this? (Or is there a different way of doing this?)"
When you do this every time you think you may need something, you will discover that you need a lot less stuff than you may have previously thought. Most of the time, there are alternative ways to live your life so that you don't need as much stuff. It just requires a bit of resourcefulness, creativity and the willingness to embrace new ways of living. It is more fun and adventurous too! So in the process of reducing your dependency on money, you will automatically simplify your life, learn to let go and open your mind.
Next, I will go into how you can get specific needs met without the use of money, or at least while drastically reducing the amounts you spend. With all of these following categories, remember that society's waste can be a huge resource! Waste is a huge global issue, threatening and polluting our earth, and a lot of useful stuff is thrown away every day. Remember that next time you want to buy something: that product you want to buy is probably about to be thrown away by someone somewhere on earth, at that very moment. And it may be somewhere near you!

1. Food and water
Of course food/water is one of the most important things we need. Luckily, food is plentifully available if you know where to look. You can try dumpster diving, or if you don't want to eat from dumpsters you can set up a food rescue program to collect food waste directly from the supermarkets and set up a community kitchen where you use the rescued food to prepare free meals for anyone who wants to join, or agree on (=with the supermarket's permission!) using a small portion (1-5%) for yourself and donate the rest to people in need. Another option is to go into nature and learn about edible wild plants. You will discover that there is a lot of nutritious food growing all around you! (that is if you live in a reasonably green place).

Found foods

Drinking water can be found in mountainous areas with streams and waterfalls. The higher you collect your water, the cleaner it will be. Just follow the stream upwards. Of course you can also collect rainwater, filter it and drink that. Also inform yourself about viruses, bacteria and chemicals that may lurk in your water and what you can do about it. Sometimes just boiling the water can be enough to purify it. There may also be springs or wells in your area, where you can find clean (or reasonably clean) drinking water. Unfortunately a lot of water sources have become polluted now, so if you live a nomadic lifestyle then you may have to resort to sourcing water in public buildings in some places. Sometimes you may also find outdoor taps (in town squares, or on pilgrim roads) where you can fill up your water bottle with clean water.

Clean freshwater from the mountains in Norway

2. (Temporary) Shelter
Where do you live if you really want to live the moneyless lifestyle? Again, there are several options. If you are living in a pleasant climate, then living in a tent or building your own shelter is an option. But if you live in a cold climate (like me), or if you don't want to live in a tent or self-built home, then you can try to find a free place to live in exchange for something that you have to offer, like food or skills. Everyone has unique skills to contribute. And of course, a pleasant personality will also help. Check out how I found a free place to live here.
For getting land and building a more permanent home, check out number 9.

3. Stuff
If you choose to live in a tent, then how will you get a tent? Or if you want to build your own house/ shelter, where do you get materials? And where do you get pans, cutlery, scissors and other helpful stuff? Well, here in Norway it is very easy. There is a website (Finn.no) where people give away everything for free (even complete kitchens and tiny homes). The site even has an app so that you can see new ads immediately and have a better chance of getting the items you need. So it is very worthwhile to check if there is a website like that for your area. Craigslist (USA) also has a 'free' section.
Remember that a lot of useful stuff ends up in landfills somewhere, just because people get new stuff or no longer want it. This is bad news for the environment, unless you can stop it from ending up there, and/or prevent a new purchase. So reusing stuff that others are about to throw away is a good thing. And if you discover you no longer need the item (and you will discover you need less and less stuff over time), make sure you also give it away to someone who thinks they need it.
Another option is bartering. Offer something valuable in return for what you need and explain why you feel that you really need the item(s) and how your life can be enriched if someone can help you out (this is 'gratitude in advance'). Also explain that you are doing a challenge and are trying to live without money. Many people actually find that very inspiring and feel compelled to help out. I have met a lot of kind and very generous people through my challenge. It really brings out the best in everyone, including myself.

I got these bike trailers for free

If you can't find something for free and you still believe you really need it, you can also get creative and try to make an alternative from things you find. You will be surprised what you can make if you really need something and challenge yourself not to buy it. It is very empowering and it is a great way to train your resourcefulness! You can do research online or in your local library. Or perhaps you can just borrow the item! If you only need to use it occasionally, then why buy your own?
A final option is birthdays. Some people will always insist on giving birthday presents (even if  you say you no longer participate in the tradition, such as I have), so then you can ask them for practical stuff that you couldn't find for free, instead of useless things that just take up space.

4. Clothes
How often do you really need new clothes? And how many pairs of shoes do you really need? Turns out, not that many. I have had the same two pairs of shoes for at least 5 years now and they still look great. And I haven't needed new clothes for about the same amount of time. I have had some of my clothes for at least 15 years! Meanwhile they have gone in and out of fashion several times. By the way, if you wash your clothes by hand, they last even longer.
Having said all that, if you do need new clothes, there is definitely an abundance of clothes in most countries, so they shouldn't be hard to find at all. If they are not given away freely by individuals where you live, you could learn to make clothes yourself. You can also try organizations that collect and redistribute donated clothes (and other things). Usually they have so much supply that they even have to throw a lot away themselves, so you probably wouldn't be disadvantaging anyone who may need it more than you do. But if this is a worry for you, you can ask them if they have an oversupply, just to make sure. Personally I have never had to go to charity organizations for clothes, because there are so many people who think they always need to comply with the latest fashion trends and only wear their clothes for one season. There are also groups of people (usually women) who organize clothing-swaps where they get together and give away items they no longer want to wear and in exchange take someone else's unwanted clothes.
It definitely helps if you have no (or little) sense of style or make your own style, and have no interest in the latest fashion. Luckily I totally fit this description, which is very freeing in itself. It allows me to wear anything that is available and still feel absolutely wonderful. As long as my clothes are warm and comfortable (and look/fit reasonably well), I am happy. And, as stated before, relying on gifts and exchanges for clothes doesn't mean that you can't look stylish if you wanted to. People give away all sorts of clothes, sometimes even (nearly) new (for example because they don't fit anymore), so don't worry you'll have to look like a slob. Looking fashionable is just not one of my personal priorities, so I don't really spend much time on this.

5. Internet
This is very easy. There are so many places with free WiFi, that it really doesn't make sense to have your own connection. Most cafes, petrol stations, public buildings and libraries have free internet. Also, whenever you don't have internet, learn to appreciate the stillness. Enjoy meditation, knowing that you will not be interrupted by incoming emails, Whatsapp messages (if you still have a phone), and the like.
If you enjoy calling people, you can simply use Skype. Whenever I want to speak with someone, I find a place with internet and send a message via Facebook or iMessage, or if they don't have that I call their number and hang up after two tones. They know that this is a signal that I am on Skype and that they can connect with me if they are available. And it doesn't cost anything.
Of course my phone has a prepaid sim card that I never top up. My phone credit lasts a lifetime, because I never use it. Sometimes it can be tempting to use it, when someone sends me a text and they seem to have forgotten about my challenge, or when they don't know about it at all. But with a bit of practice, it becomes easier to just let it be and let go. Again, this is another important life skill to practice!

6. Health care
First of all: be responsible for your own health. If you smoke, consume alcohol (even in moderation), use medication (even if it is a contraceptive pill), live a largely indoor lifestyle, don't exercise much, eat a lot of meat / dairy / fish / processed foods, then you are more likely to get sick. If you get stressed easily, have a tendency to worry, or don't spend enough time in meditation or in nature (balancing yourself), then you are more likely to get sick. If you use a lot of toxic products, such as deodorants containing aluminum, toothpaste containing fluoride, or makeup, then you are more likely to get sick. If you eat a lot of GMOs, food with a lot of pesticides and additives, or drink contaminated water (with fluoride or other harmful chemicals or heavy metals), then you are more likely to get sick.
So find out what you put into and onto your body. Find out how to balance yourself. Get a daily dose of relaxation and spend time in nature. Move. Balance your body, mind and spirit. Keep yourself well.

Second, teach yourself about natural medicine. Learn how to do self-care in the wilderness. Learn about medicinal properties of plants and trees. Learn about holistic healthcare. Get educated about detoxing. And learn about health foods you can eat / drink to prevent illness. For example, if you know that cancer runs in your family (although the general advice is the same for any other type of disease as well), make sure to keep your body alkaline: drink water with a few drops of lemon juice throughout the day. Drink green tea or herbal teas (preferably fresh). Eat mostly vegetables. And stress less. Meditate. Appreciate nature. Learn to let go.
When it comes to replacing the contraceptive pill with natural alternatives, consider using natural methods (which requires you to be very in touch with yourself and quite dedicated, but it is free), or the Ladycomp (a small device which costs money, but may be worth the investment). Sterilization is of course the safest method and definitely something to seriously contemplate, considering the state of the earth and the decreasing space and resources of the planet, not just for humans but for all other species as well. This procedure may be free in some places of the world.

Camomile tea: anti-inflammatory, antibacterial and anti-fungal. Also calming. Source: Edible wild plants by Fleischhauer, Guthmann and Spiegelberger.

7. Power / Energy
One of the more difficult things to find for free without relying on other people or on the excesses of society, is power. Of course the sources for solar, wind and hydro power are free, but the equipment to generate it is not free. I will look into free energy a bit more in the future, but until then, there may be places where you can charge your laptop/phone in exchange for skills/service, food or stuff that you have found along the way. For example, if you donate food to families every day, such that they don't have to go shopping anymore, then I am sure they wouldn't mind if you charge your laptop at their house sometimes. Having said that, it is nice to be fully self-sufficient, so a small solar charger might really be worthwhile to have.
You could also consider getting rid of your phone and your laptop (and other equipment that requires power), and instead just use public computers (e.g. in the library) and online storage. The less you have, the less there is to worry about, so getting rid of stuff is a very freeing experience. It is all about priorities. My priorities are freedom (in the widest sense) and peace of mind, so I may get rid of my phone and laptop eventually (after I complete my PhD).
For light and heat, you can use candles and fire. Knowing how to make a nice fire (without causing the whole forest to burn down) is of course an essential skill.

8. Hygiene
How do you keep clean without spending money? You can actually keep your body clean without using any products;  using only natural water sources. The rain provides free showers all the time. Swimming in the sea is a great way to get clean. You could also use a cloth to scrub yourself, but if you bathe often enough then this is not necessary.

Wash your clothes in a bucket of salty water or find a plant that has disinfecting properties.
Soap can also be made from natural materials, although I haven't done this yet. I have found plenty of soaps in dumpsters, so I won't run out anytime soon. But I will definitely start making my own once I go more nomad and start to rely less on dumpsters. If you Google natural soaps you can probably get a lot of ideas for making soaps and other cleaning products. For example, you can make detergent from common ivy (Hedera Helix).
You will find that as you start to eat healthier foods, your need for toilet paper will diminish. So instead of toilet paper, you can start using leaves, family cloth, or just a little water. But if you really think you can't live without TP (yet), just go to the dumpsters of big hotels, or other places that have those huge toilet rolls. They have a lot of leftovers, because when the rolls start to run out, they often replace them and throw away the small leftover part.

9. Land
Most people who want to live self-sustainably, eventually want to have their own block of land so that they can build an ecohome and grow their own food (well, at least that is what I want at some stage :P).
I believe it is a basic human right to have a place to live and settle down, as long as you live responsibly and in harmony with the earth and the other creatures (after all, we are all animals; and no other animal pays rent or taxes), but this has proven difficult for humans to accomplish. Money and greed are important reasons for this.
There are several difficulties to take into account when trying to find land without spending money. An option is to move to a country where they give away free land (yes, they still exist!), or just 'claim' a piece of land somewhere in the wilderness. You can also try trading your way to acquiring land.
Keep in mind that most countries (but not all!) have land tax, so make sure you choose your location wisely. Also, building codes may prohibit the building of an eco-friendly, self-sustainable home, so not all land or all countries are suitable, unless you are willing to risk eviction for the sake of justice. Building materials are easier to come by (depending on building codes again). Pallets are available for free in most places; just go to any kind of large store and ask. And just use as many natural materials as possible.
Until you find the perfect block of land, you can always choose to live the nomad lifestyle, foraging for food along the way and simply calling the earth 'home'.

10. Travel / Transport
Hitchhike, get yourself a free or nearly free bike, borrow a horse, rescue a horse from slaughter, build a boat, or simply walk. Yes, it will probably take a bit longer, but not being stressed to get anywhere fast you will be able to savor every moment of your journey (and you know what they say: the journey is more important than the destination). If you have all the above skills, then travel is probably the easiest to do for free, as you can devote all of your time to your travels and overcoming any obstacles along the way.

My friend Jay Randle's lovely horse Splendacrest Zafire

Final thoughts
If making the above changes seems a bit intimidating because it feels like you would have to rely on others for fulfilling some of your needs (especially in the beginning when you are still in the process of simplifying your life and training your own creativity and resourcefulness) without being able to 'pay' them, remember that you can contribute to other people's lives in so many other ways than just through money, and most of these ways to give back are much more valuable and enriching, for both parties. People may even remember you for a lifetime, because you gave them something so meaningful and unusual, even if it is just something seemingly simple like sincere gratitude, genuine interest and care, inspiration to see or do things differently, valuable life lessons, or validation of their self-worth.
You will discover that money is a very unnecessary construct, even though most of us have come to believe in it and depend on it for survival. But if you allow yourself the opportunity to stop believing in money by experiencing the alternatives, then you will see it has no inherent value. If money would cease to exist, then people would still want to keep on creating, sharing and giving to others, because that is our nature. But if there was no money, people would simply do it for different reasons. This is what my moneyless challenge is about: finding alternative ways to live and give back to others in a different way. By giving people other (and in my opinion more important) reasons to help each other out, we can eliminate the need for money, one step at a time, and transform our world.

How I Found A Free Place to Live

If you want to live the moneyless lifestyle in a colder climate, one of the biggest challenges may be to find free housing. But here is something you can try, which has worked for me.

Since it was not free to advertise for a place to live, I decided to send an email to everyone who had a room or apartment for rent. I got notifications for all rooms and apartments that came up for rent and just sent my story to everyone. I figured that someone might give me a positive response at some point, which is exactly what happened.

This is the email I sent out:

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Hello,

I am interested in the room / apartment you have for rent.

I am doing a one year challenge to see if I can live entirely without spending any money (i.e. only trading things and finding free stuff). After getting quite creative, I have been able to live comfortably without spending anything since December 2014. Now, I want to take it one step further and see if I can do the same thing with the last expense I have left, which is housing!

In exchange for housing, I can offer:
* All the food the other roommates / you and your family and/or pets will ever need. I get a lot of left-over food from supermarkets: a big part of it I also donate to charities. You will never need to go shopping again! I get lots of fruits, vegetables and some meat, fish and dairy products. And practically everything else you may need.
* I can teach about saving much money and living a more environmentally friendly lifestyle
* Shared cooking
* I can teach meditation and Reiki, or give Reiki
* I can look after your house / pets / farm animals when you are on holiday or away on trips
* I can look after horses or teach horse riding/horse care
* I am a certified English teacher (TEFL) and translator
* I can do occasional chores around the house / property such as gardening
* ...

I am a tidy and quiet person (I don’t party or socialize much, and enjoy silence), very reliable and I don't smoke / drink. I also use water and electricity very sparingly, because I am very environmentally conscious. I am currently doing a PhD at Dragvoll in Environmental Psychology. I am from the Netherlands originally.

Of course we should meet beforehand and talk over the details, or even schedule a trial period. I live in Steinan at the moment.

If you are intrigued by or interested in what I do and have to offer, I would love to hear from you! Feel free to send me a message if you want to meet with me, or if you have any questions or suggestions :)

Kind regards,
Liselotte (or Lisa)

PS: I have good references too! My landlord says I am her favorite renter, because I am very quiet and easygoing.
Pps: I am learning Norwegian at the moment, so hopefully i will be able to talk with you in Norwegian soon :)
Ppps: for more information, see robgreenfield.tv/liselotte and liselotteroosen.blogspot.com 

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Feel free to use this email as a concept if you also want to find a free place to live! Of course make sure to sign off with your own name, list your personal skills and link to your blog. Another option is contacting the local newspaper and getting an article published on your lifestyle, including a request for free housing.

The family who has lovingly offered me a room in their house, said they didn't even want anything in return for my stay with them. They were just really inspired by the way I live and wanted to somehow be a part of it. It shows there are still people who are willing to help others for other reasons than money or other material forms of personal gain. I am extremely grateful that I get to experience this directly, often on a daily basis.