Comments on: Weekly Roundup – Living On Nothing Edition

By: The Lost Art Of Self Reliance | Frugal Dad

The Lost Art Of Self Reliance | Frugal Dad — Sat, 01 Aug 2009 10:01:39 +0000

[...] those living a caveman-like existence, or a life tucked away in a remote stretch of New Zealand, rely on others for their land, food, and [...]

By: tall girl

tall girl — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 17:40:01 +0000

Living on zero dollars a day definitely is extreme and not very safe. But maybe people will pay attention to it and realize what is really important in life…

By: Kevin@OutOfYourRut

Kevin@OutOfYourRut — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 16:30:39 +0000

Realistically this isn’t a lifestyle anyone would aspire to, and certainly not something we’d want to imitate in any way.

Yet I think that living that way for a couple of months–and finding how little we really need to survive–might help us to let go of some of the stuff we like to surround ourselves with.

Maybe there needs to be a camp offering this lifestyle, kind of like a detox for the consuming/suburban lifestyle. People could go there, detox, be forced to look inside themselves (heck, they’ll have nothing else to do in between searching for food) and when they come back they’ll have a new appreciation for life, without being so dependent on the things money can buy.

Just a guess, but were this to happen on a large scale, a lot of mental health experts and drug companies would probably be out of business. That was actually the point behind the movie City Slickers.

By: Super Amazing Savings

Super Amazing Savings — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 03:25:37 +0000

I am going to have to check that out about the guy in the cave! That’s pretty interesting.

I’ve thought about putting up a line to dry some of my clothes as well. I remember when I was living at home with my mom as a teenager and getting the clothes off the line in the summer time. It smelled so nice. I didn’t much like doing it, but it does save money and it is green!

By: yw

yw — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 02:50:29 +0000

i really enjoyed this roundup, particularly the article about contentment.

thx frugal dad!

By: Money Funk

Money Funk — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 19:04:47 +0000

That is a really interesting life for Suelo. I have to say though, that he lived with some really great people around the world. Not many can claim all that he has done for the Peace Corps.

I recently went camping and wouldn’t mind living somewhat off the grid. But, I would still need electricity and a running toilet. Yes, definitely.

By: Lisa

Lisa — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 18:21:46 +0000

Daniel reminds me of that story of the kid who went to Alaska to live in a bus. That story bugged me too, he was basically mooching but I had relatives who heralded his journey as about “freedom”. True pioneers back in the 1800s really did rely solely on themselves. Read some of the “Little House” books to see just how people lived entirely self-sufficiently.

Good for you FD on the clothesline! I don’t use mine nearly enough. That whole “not allowing a closeline” thing bugs me to no end. And don’t think just getting out of a neighborhood will get you away from it! Even on 10 acres I still have to deal with an HOA and it is a nightmare. In my opinion, HOAs and the like have outlived their welcome. A good set of property covenants are all one needs to protect a property investment without all the hassles an HOA brings to the table. I have never heard anyone speak of an HOA fondly.

By: Pam McCormick

Pam McCormick — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 17:32:33 +0000

Frugal Dad I was shocked at how much I loved the article about Daniel.It made me think not something I am encouraged to do working as a nurse for an insurance company.And yes a bit uncomfortable with somethings like no bathrooms and rodents or bugs but none the less I found it to not be the same boring info on how to live frugal.Alittle sad with the idea of if a person chooses such a radical diversion on lifestyle we consider mental health when if someone else lived in 4000sq ft for 2 people or had hundreds of pairs of shoes we don’t question mental health.. . I’m just saying any way loved the brain stimulation THANK you

By: mike

mike — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 17:30:58 +0000

I read the article about Daniel. Pretty interesting. I can’t really say he’s avoiding consumerism since he “forages” the benefits of a consumerist society by dumpster diving and he’s squatting on land supported by the US taxpayer 0(I’m assuming he’s on public land). The library he uses to support his blog/internet access is certainly funded from some form of taxation on somebody. While his “natural selection” comment shows the naivety of the healthy- when he’s sick will he be treated at a publicly funded hospital, his bills paid for by others or passed on as a cost to everyone else?

I don’t think he’s rejected consumerism entirely- I think he’s just found out how not to pay for it while relying on its benefits. Admittedly his lifestyle choice reveals a standard of living far below what most Americans would consider normal, but I wouldn’t say he’s rejected consumerism entirely.

By: Frugal Dad

Frugal Dad — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 16:51:43 +0000

@IRG: I called the story “amusing” for its entertaining/diverting qualities. Didn’t mean to suggest it was a cheerful article. I would agree with you that there are elements of the story that are a little disturbing. But, as far as I can tell, this man isn’t hurting anyone by living the lifestyle of his choosing.