Upstream | October 02, 2009 | 93 comments

48 year-old blogger has gone 9 years without spending money

source: http://www.treehugger.com/files/2009/10/48-year-old-blogger-gone-9-years-without-money.php

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Daniel Suelo wasn't poor, a victim of bad luck, mentally ill, or even uneducated. He just decided that he wanted to have nothing to do with money. So he gave up consumer culture altogether, and for the last 9 years, he's survived by living in a cave in Utah, and dumpster diving, foraging, fishing, and occasionally hunting for food. He spends his time in the great outdoors--and in the public library, where he blogs about it all.

Suelo must have the lowest carbon footprint of any blogger in the United States. And he's never taken food stamps or other government assistance, and despite what his lifestyle may lead you to believe, he's certainly not crazy. He's just got an aversion to money.

According to MatadorChange, he was working in South America when he was first moved to consider a money-free, zero impact lifestyle:

While in Ecuador on a Peace Corps mission, he witnessed a rural community acquire increased monetary wealth through farming and shift their traditional lifestyle towards a diet of unhealthy, processed food and a newfound addiction to television ... He made the conscious decision to return home, quit his job, and carve out a life without money.

Suelo himself writes "I've been living without a cent to my name since the autumn of 2000 (with a month's exception during my first year)" on the front page of the website he runs from the public library.

It's interesting to look at Suelo's nearly decade-long dedication to anti-consumerism in contrast to the recent 'eco-stunts' that essentially promote similar ideals: sure, No Impact Man learned how hard it is to walk up six flights of stairs to get to his apartment for a year, but he got a film and book deal out of it. Suelo's got no cameras following him around, and he mostly just uses his blog to wax poetic about his living philosophy.

Of course, few would be willing to take such a plunge into a moneyless, ultra-low impact life. But simply knowing that Suelo has should be enough to make us think a long hard minute about all the stuff we heedlessly buy. Reverend Billy may be the head of the Church of Stop Shopping, but Daniel Suelo is its patron saint.
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93 comments // 48 year-old blogger has gone 9 years without spending money

  • N00B_Pwn3r12349
  • N00B_Pwn3r12349
  • Curtis_Wright
  • N00B_Pwn3r12349
  • zack
  • SteviMay_isa_robot
  • asherp
  • SteviMay_isa_robot
  • krush_productions
  • SteviMay_isa_robot
  • krush_productions
  • morirjedi
    • 0
      morirjedi  

    • Man if he can do it...........I can't. There is no way I could do that. More power to him and i hope things continue to go great for him. I like a/c, power, cable and home wifi.

    • 2 years ago
  • stevieuk
    • 0
      stevieuk  

    • everyone knows how hard life can be for some of us and we moan how skint we are (well i do) ..yet it just shows how well off (i wish) we are if this guy can live without any cash all this time...i say well done mate , if you are happy and not a problem to anyone then good on you

    • 2 years ago
  • sue4e3
    • 0
      sue4e3  

    • I under stand that there is a shift in the way people see some lifestyles that were once aspired to as wasteful at best and planet killing at worst.the thing is that i still would not wish this for my children as a matter of fact i want to change so that they do not end up in caves with survival the only thing on thier mind.if this is the answer than it is not a solution

    • 2 years ago
  • NotFooled
  • love_is_my_religion
  • s0uthc0ast
    • 0
      s0uthc0ast  

    • An interesting story and a bit hypocritical. Nice that he blogs on the public's dime about an aversion to money.
      I would have a bit more respect for the guy if he took some monetary responsibility for himself. He conveniently lives off of society's efforts even if it is waste. Most rats do that anyway.

    • 2 years ago
  • blink180
  • VideoArtistryNC
    • 0
      VideoArtistryNC  

    • He's really gone to the extreme here...it's inconceivable that society would ever agree to live like this. But, I commend him for his effort. Americans live in abundant excess, and whether the public is aware of it of not, most of America's abundance comes at the expense of the poor and unfortunate people in other parts of the world. This guy is trying to show us that we don't need all of the things we've grown to believe we can't live without.

    • 2 years ago
  • letlhogonolo
  • krush_productions
  • savee419
    • 0
      savee419  

    • How inspiring! What a challenge! What if you want children? I mean, if I don't happen to have a friend or family member that I could curry favor to and give birth in a cave (which sounds pretty sexy in a Clan of the Cave Bear way), then what do I do?

      I think that doing this is more possible than some may think, it just takes some policy and culture changing. The importance of money is something that has been built up buy us and has to be brought down by us. Giving freely is really the way to go.

    • 2 years ago
  • corndog67
    • 0
      corndog67  
    • savee419:

      I'll bet he doesn't have a whole lot of people coming by to say hi or buy him a cup of coffee. How about dating (now that you mentioned having kids)? Probably not a line of chicks that want to date a guy living out of dumpsters.

      As for the Amish, they have relationships, they have their goals, their kids, their lives. I don't see a life living in a cave, selling "relics" that he finds, never mind the smell.

      Of course, some would say that I don't have a life either, but I'm having a good time, and take care of my wife, kids, and dogs.

    • 2 years ago
  • ampersand
    • 0
      ampersand  
    • savee419:

      Come to think of it, I did live in a cave once, and it was great. A big beautiful sunny space with a waterfall out front. If I hadn't one day got the notion I should go visit my Granny to say hi, I might still be there.
      Strange the life paths that we take with such small nudges...

    • 2 years ago
  • ampersand
    • 0
      ampersand  

    • Gee, I'm almost there. I'm off-grid and grow a lot of my own food---just have to liquidate my stock portfolio and stop traveling, I guess...wait a minute,...what?

    • 2 years ago
  • Ebony_Aiken
  • Gorbachev
    • 0
      Gorbachev  

    • i admire this guys dedication. also i'd like to say, only ignorant people call others names. there are respectful ways to express disagreement, or disapproval. pleeeeeease spread positivity.

    • 2 years ago
  • Incredulous
    • 0
      Incredulous  
    • Gorbachev:

      Awwww, come on. A little negativity is good for the soul too, and it clears the air.

      I do not want to live in a world without sarcasm, the dark side, off-color humor and negative energy...you know...it really is all good.

    • 2 years ago
  • Kenneth_Schlatmann_III
  • asherp
  • Incredulous
  • asherp
  • zack
  • jfill
  • lordsbassman
  • jfill
    • 0
      jfill  
    • jfill:

      true but you dont often see those that are living off welfare blogging about it and getting internet props for doing so.

      i'm just saying i dont think its that impressive. for how "anti-consumerism" he is supposed to be he is still benefiting from everyone else spending money.

      i mean i get his point, we are an excessive and wasteful species but what is he proving by living off of that wastefulness? if everyone adopted a similar lifestyle whose garbage would we pick through?

    • 2 years ago
  • corndog67
    • 0
      corndog67  

    • Let's see. I own a house. I have a good late model truck. I have a good job. I have a bunch of motorcycles. I've got a pretty good ole lady, and a couple of good kids. I do pretty much anything I want, including seeing Dick Dale a couple of months ago, and going to see Bob Dylan next week. I eat out about once or twice a month. If my shoes have holes in them, I buy new ones. I've never eaten out of a dumpster. If I'm sick I go to the Doctor. If I want to go to Vegas or even just trail riding in the Sierras, I just fucking go. I've been homeless. I've been broke and destitute. This guy is broke and destitute.

      Being off the grid sounds a bit overrated to me.

    • 2 years ago
  • Incredulous
    • 0
      Incredulous  
    • corndog67:

      maybe it is, but the Amish are off the grid too, and they work hard at it, and seem to enjoy their lives. Course they don't take too many trips to Vegas, trail riding or head off to see Bob Dylan (geez...he's still trying to sing) but I don't think they mind.

    • 2 years ago
  • J_Jammer
  • Manatee_man
  • misfitme
  • EclecticBadger
  • SparkShark16
  • knelled_kismet
    • 0
      knelled_kismet  

    • i became homeless in key west ten years ago, worried about my stuff until it was gone, then the freedom, and relief sunk in, and realised the only practical things in life are what you can carry( think of katrina victims). i played guitar for money because i dont trust botchulism (sp?) from dumpsters. im back on the grid questioning this thing we call materialism, status, dead presidents, falling dollars, and the happiness its supposed to bestow. i am not my job, im just a soul whose intentions are good, please dont let me be misunderstood. but hey jerry garcia would be proud that someone was a friend of the devil, and chose to spend nights in utah in a cave up in the hills....smiles and peace to all

    • 2 years ago
  • TheBigBeefy
  • Incredulous
  • Agent_Alpha
  • lizheir
    • 0
      lizheir  

    • I agree about individual carbon footprints are nothing compared to larger companies. Golf courses and lawns here in Florida are un-naturaly pristine. Except for my lawn,(depending on how you look at it) the worse in the neighborhood because we do not use any kind of chemicals on it, but the insects, birds, and butterflies sure like it! I also plan on growing my own food within this short season of cooler weather. One cannot change the world but they can change their world. The earth will eventualy shake us all off the grid when its had enough.

    • 2 years ago
  • pakazak
  • zueisonfire
  • emarston
    • 0
      emarston  

    • i dream of going off grid all the time, spending a year with myself and my paints and just creating. i feel i would come back with some real interesting work and a great new take on how things work. but for now i'll live and work in the city and when i figure it out i'll disappear.

    • 2 years ago
  • ii386
    • 0
      ii386  

    • For all the of FAQ, check the link to his blog. He's gay so he doesn't have a girlfriend, he doesn't get sick often at all and if he does then someone might volunteer to help him, he gets better, or he dies...pretty straight forward. As far as him living off everyone who pays taxes...uhm I guess you could say his website is surviving off the tax money and public library, but his lifestyle is off people's waste, foraging, and scavenging. So that's a bit of an overstatement.

      I wonder if he attempts to grow some of his food.

    • 2 years ago
  • blaino
    • 0
      blaino  
    • ii386:

      Yea I would grow my own food, there is no way I would be dumpster diving for food.

      It really isnt that hard to grow your own food anyway I wonder why he chose to dumpster dive rather than becoming completely self-sufficient.

    • 2 years ago
  • lordsbassman
    • 0
      lordsbassman  
    • ii386:

      dumpster diving isn't all that bad.. especially and Bakeries and supermarkets.. bakers usually get rid of day old bagels and breads.. and supermarket usually get rid of merch about a week before they "need to"

    • 2 years ago
  • blaino
    • 0
      blaino  

    • I have a lot of respect for what he is doing, I admire it.

      I would love to do something just like it, however I don't think I will ever get a chance.

    • 2 years ago
  • primalscreamer
    • 0
      primalscreamer  

    • Also I'd like to mention. Everyone needs to stop worrying about their and others' personal carbon footprint so much, this is just the big guys trying to guilt trip us. It's industrial factories who not only began but continue to lead the serious destruction of the earth. Taking short showers and driving a prius isn't going to save our planet. We need a RADICAL CHANGE in our society.

      Ever think about how much water a golf course needs? It's ridiculous. Now think about how many golf courses we have in america. They alone challenge OUR water use. Imagine how much food we can grow in your local course(which we really don't need since dumpsters are full of it)...

      And whats the deal with front lawns? How about you grow food for yourself and friends instead.

    • 2 years ago
  • thecoyote23
  • aid616
    • 0
      aid616  
    • primalscreamer:

      I understand what you're saying but you can't just snap your fingers and have everyone understand the environmental problems we face. In my opinion the best way is to educate the people on the issue and as long as the government works like it should (and that's a long shot nowadays) the people can get the government to do what is right for the planet.

    • 2 years ago
  • bonemachine
    • 0
      bonemachine  

    • that guy took my idea! Totally inspiring...this just shows that all one really needs is shelter, some smarts on acquiring food, and a library card! This guys rad!

    • 2 years ago
  • primalscreamer
  • NotFooled
  • thecoyote23
  • aid616
    • 0
      aid616  
    • primalscreamer:

      Then why bother posting a resonse at all? It's not like you gave us a link to other people who have done this in the past or anything. Just curious but was the entire point of your post just to frustrate people?

    • 2 years ago
  • mcjk
    • 0
      mcjk  

    • You have to keep in mind that his lack of consumerism feeds off of someone else. If it weren't for people throwing food and clothes away, he wouldn't make it. Nor could he blog if it weren't for the public library buying computers and using electricity. He's more of an ultimate recycler.

    • 2 years ago
  • bombastinator
  • Incredulous
  • EclecticBadger
    • 0
      EclecticBadger  

    • But the electricity the computer in the library he uses isn't free, someone has to pay for it (and should be taken into account for any CO2 footprint).

      The library is a public service, and public services and its supplying utilities are paid for by government taxing the employed - so in effect he is living off everyone who has ever paid tax. Also he is profiteering from a currently wasteful society. If all society wasn't wasteful he would have to rely entirely on Nature - wildlife for food and clothes, wood for his fires etc, etc, and would certainly not be able to blog about it.

      Unfortunately there isn't enough land on the planet per person to be able to support a global lifestyle like this, therefore Mr Suelo's choice to drop off the grid will always be one of the minority and not the majority.

    • 2 years ago
  • Incredulous
  • monsieurturtle
    • 0
      monsieurturtle  
    • EclecticBadger:

      "Unfortunately there isn't enough land on the planet per person to be able to support a global lifestyle like this..."

      I'm trying to think of what you mean by this. There is certainly many, many times more area than is needed to support the population- supposedly, the population of the world could live within the boundaries of Texas with 1,217 square feet per person.

      I can assume you might be referring to natural resources (read: foraged or hunted food), and this I've heard before. From a different approach, it would seem that agricultural communes could exist in the absence of money, with shared labor being the exchange for produce.

    • 2 years ago
  • boywhocould
  • Soap
    • 0
      Soap  

    • I wonder what happens when he gets seriously sick or injured. I don't think hospitals accept dumpster relics.

    • 2 years ago
  • Gorbachev
    • 0
      Gorbachev  
    • Soap:

      hospitals don't turn anyone away. i'm a nurse, i know. and hes not a "dumpster relic" he's a man doing something he believes is right. it's not nice to name call, if everybody found ways to respectfully disagree with others there would be less fighting. spread positivity.

    • 2 years ago
  • Soap
    • 0
      Soap  
    • Soap:

      I meant paying for his bills using RELICS he gets from DUMPSTERS. "...he's survived by living in a cave in Utah, and dumpster diving, foraging..."

    • 2 years ago
  • simguy665
  • pakazak
  • CalgarC
  • ColossalView
  • lizheir
    • 0
      lizheir  

    • Gone without using a credit card for month of September, that was hard enough! But adjusting...
      Hats off to Daniel; not for what he is doing, but for a valuable lesson in less!

    • 2 years ago
  • MirrorLake
  • photi
  • SteviMay_isa_robot
  • jenuribe
  • mendokusai
  • maneatingrobot
  • thecoyote23
  • sue4e3
  • blknight
  • sue4e3
  • Sam_the_Wizer
  • lordsbassman
  • pakazak
  • alivein85
  • jmsrmy
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