But have you ever wondered what life would be like if you completely abandoned money?
It may seem utterly unthinkable, yet German psychotherapist Heidemarie Schwermer demonstrated that it can be done.
Schwermer, who passed away in 2016, managed to live without spending a single cent… for17 years.
How to Live Without Money
At age 53, Schwermer made the radical choice to give up money and most possessions for an entire year.
After setting aside 200 euros (roughly $226) as a contingency fund, she terminated her lease and donated virtually all her belongings, keeping only a few everyday items and a spare set of clothes.
“After my apartment was emptied, I jumped around for joy,” Schwermer recalled.
She then adopted a barter-based existence, trading psychotherapy sessions, window washing and other household assistance for food and lodging in various private homes.
When the year concluded, the experiment was still thriving — and she appreciated the liberty her new way of living offered her.
So she continued.
By the time she was 70 she still hadn’t touched that 200-euro emergency reserve.
Can Money Buy Happiness?
Schwermer kept herself occupied giving talks and counseling people curious about a money-free lifestyle.
In return for sharing her experience, she often received shelter, meals and sometimes complimentary travel.
Her life became the focus of the 2010 documentary “Living Without Money,” which has been shown more than 300 times across 30 countries.
Schwermer’s journey serves as a striking illustration that ultimately, money is merely a tool — a means that enables you to travel, relocate, or make purchases.
But if you take time to clarify what you truly value and what brings you genuine joy, you might find you don’t require money to attain what really matters in life.
