Living on Less: The Alternative Economies

Some people get into the economics of living on less because they don’t have much of a choice. Others get into alternatives because they believe our living-beyond-our-means lifestyles are harmful both to ourselves and to the environment. Either way, it’s good to know that there are alternatives, and plenty of room for people to invent their own levels of participation.

The ‘Money Economy’ is the one most people live in here in the modern world. It causes us to trade our lives – our time, our talents, our energy – for a certain valuation calculated in cash, and in that economy different people have different value placed on their lives. Women are still worth less than men, even in the same jobs with the same responsibilities. Women also tend to have to work more hours than men do, despite also being saddled with most of the housekeeping, child-rearing and food preparation jobs.

Minority workers are also valued poorly, as are teen workers and entry-level jobs in all sectors are notorious for paying less than it takes to live, eat, and repay student loans for that semi-worthless college degree.

Many people living on little in cities have figured out that getting a part-time second or third job waiting tables in a restaurant or tending bar offers a system work-around providing daily cash income (useful for daily cash expenditures) as well as a way to avoid tax “bracket creep” that hits so many these days when April comes around and they find the raise they got last year not only didn’t pay for the increase in health care insurance, but also got eaten up entirely by new income taxes. Very frustrating.

Many others who live in smaller towns or in rural environments by choice have learned to master some ways of working whole new ‘systems’ of trade for goods and services, effectively dropping out of the ‘Money Economy’ almost completely.

I’ve talked a little about Thrifting for clothing, household goods, materials for ‘making your own’ gifts and crafts for sale or trade. Also discussed was using the renovation and recycling industry for durable consumer goods and major appliances, which avoids hefty credit charges and the most frustrating aspect of such purchases – the fact that about half of them will break down or wear out before you’ve paid for them.

Words of advice for living on less include:

Localize:
Buy locally whenever you can. Your friends and neighbors offer many of the food items, recycled appliances and furniture, etc. that your family may need. You’ll get to know them, they’ll get to know you, and you’ll find that often your neighbors are more than willing to engage in barter with you for what you have to offer. Even better, as your circle grows you’ll find that much of value comes around free, when they’d just as soon give you the item than have to haul it somewhere to sell for a few bucks.

Reduce & Reuse:
Reduce the sheer amount of junk you accumulate, and think up ways to reuse things when they do become junk – these can be valuable barter items for you. An old treadle sewing machine cabinet can be refinished into an very nice homework desk, houseplant stand, or even cabinet for a brand new (portable) sewing machine. Salvage the good wood from old furniture and cabinets, to recycle into new shelving. And whatever you do, don’t forget that aluminum cans, old copper wiring and tubing, old metal roofing, etc. brings cash (and gets out of your way) if you simply take it to a scrap metal yard to sell.

Make Stuff:
Whatever you can make for yourself is something you don’t have to buy. Of course this is important for meals, putting up garden harvests, clothes (learn how to sew!), etc. It also works for art and craft projects, that can either be sold or bartered. These can be as simple as painting rocks as animals or flowers (great garden accents), producing clocks with sports team motifs, pressing and decoupaging herb and wildflowers for wall hangings, etc. Someone out there will want what you make, and be happy to trade for it.

Stay out of Debt:
This is a hard one, but by keeping your eyes open and spending a little time tracking things down, it’s really not that hard to avoid debt for most things. Housing and utilities are always a chunk out of an income, whether you work outside the home or not, whether you rent or own. Avoid cable television (what good is it?), first-run movies, eating out, and the desire to wander aimlessly around the electronics store at the mall building up desire for huge flat-screen televisions, monster stereo systems and other such expensive consumer ‘stuff’. If you’ve lived this long without it, you probably don’t need it. Keep reminding yourself of that.

Check out your local and regional weekend flea markets, second hand stores, and farmers’ markets. Attend some of your area’s local artisan festivals, get to know folks and what they do. If you drive an older vehicle, find out who the area’s most reliable shade-tree mechanic is, and show him some respect. You’ll need him on a semi-regular basis, it’s always good to be on his friend-list.

When you trade the ‘Money Economy’ for your own freedom, you’ll have a lot more time to do with as YOU please. Just bear in mind that you’ll still have to use a big chunk of that time – and as many of your talents as you can put to work – obtaining the things you need to live. It can be an immensely rewarding and enriching experience even if you only end up spending a few years of your life learning how “the other half” lives.

Links:

Voluntary simplicity versus poverty

Penny Pincher’s Almanac

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