A 48-year-old mother has opened up about why she walked away from her comfortable life to live a cashless lifestyle.
Jo Nemeth, from New South Wales, has survived more than two years without spending a cent since she embarked on a low-impact life in April 2015.
And she has been living self-sufficiently in a wagon-turned-home on wheels her parents helped her build from recycled building materials.
Nestled on a friend’s farming property in Lismore, the frugal woman escaped the commercial world after she quit her job as a community development officer.
Jo Nemeth, from New South Wales, has survived more than two years without spending a cent
She has been living self-sufficiently in a wagon-turned-home on wheels her parents built
‘I’d be lying if I said it was always easy, it’s not,’ she told New Idea magazine.
After throwing away her credit cards and moving out of her rental property, she went on to embark a low-impact life.
‘I decided to live off other people’s waste and excess resources,’ she said.
‘The upside for me is I now live a life based on my ethics, values and morals. I live by my own rules.’
So how does she do it?
Ms Nemeth grows her own vegetables, showers from a rainwater tank and cooks on a stove fuelled by twigs she collects from the natural surroundings.
She still has her old clothing – and her friends have donated their garments to her.
Nestled on a friend’s farming property in Lismore, the frugal woman escaped the commercial world after she quit her job as a community development officer
The woman set up her makeshift home on her friend’s farm after agreeing she would maintain their garden.
Opening up about her money-free life, Ms Nemeth made it clear she does not get any welfare benefits from the government – she works for her food.
She offers her time painting her friends’ homes, gardening and working at organic markets in exchange for vegetables or eggs.
Ms Nemeth said she doesn’t see herself going back to her old lifestyle ever again.
She set up her home on her friend’s farm after agreeing she would maintain their garden
The mother turned to a stress-free lifestyle after her 21-year-old daughter moved out of the family home after she wrapped up school
‘It’s amazing how little we need to actually be happy,’ she said.
The mother turned to a stress-free lifestyle after her 21-year-old daughter moved out of the family home after she wrapped up school.
Speaking to Today Tonight in August, Ms Nemeth revealed how she has refused to accept money for helping others out.
‘People have tried to give me money and I have turned them down very politely, I want to live without money,’ she said.