Daniel Suelo went off on an adventure many years ago and gave his possessions and relied on gift economy.
For many people, living without money seems impossible. But, for this man, money means nothing and he actually lived without it for more than 15 years.
In 2000, when he was 39-years-old, he came up with an idea to give up on all of his material possessions. He left his last $30 in a phone booth and headed into the Moab dessert in Utah.
He started to live on the so-called gift economy for 15 years. However, in 2016, he had to take care of his elderly parents so he came back home.
Soon enough, people began to know him as the ‘man who quit money’.
How Did Suelo Manage to Live without Money for 15 Years?
Suelo didn’t have any money and had no food stamps or help from the government. His philosophy is to only use what’s discarded or someone gives it to him freely.
He got rid of his passport and driving license and began to camp outdoors. He actually lived one period in a cave.
Sometimes, he would stay in communes and spent several nights at a stranger’s home. He lived in a cage off a cliff in the Utah Arches National Park.
He remained there for couple of years. He bathed in the creek and drank spring water and carved out a bed from rocks in the cave. He also made a make-shift stove to prep food.
Sometimes, he hunted animals and cooked them on the stove.
He also welcomed hikers to stay in his improvised home-he cooked them food and offered them books to take with them to read.
Where Is Daniel Suelo Today & What Happened with Him?
Today, he’s still with his elderly parents in Fruita in Colorado and helps them on the daily. However, he had to get his driver’s license reinstated in order to drive his parents where they needed.
He is also the manager of the Zero Currency blog where he writes about his experiences and some of his posts are often discussing environmental change and capitalism.
Sources:
