Mark Boyle (Moneyless Man)
Encyclopedia
Mark Boyle aka The Moneyless Man (born 8 May 1979) is a writer and activist best known for founding the online Freeconomy Community, and for living without money since November 2008. Boyle writes regularly for the Freeconomy Blog and British newspaper The Guardian
. His first book, The Moneyless Man: A Year of Freeconomic Living was published in 2010. Boyle currently lives near Bath, in South-west England
.
in Co. Donegal, in the North-West of Ireland. He took a degree in Business at the Galway-Mayo Institute of Technology
, before moving to the UK in 2002.
During the final year of his degree, Boyle watched the film Gandhi
, about the life of Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi. He has frequently cited this as the moment that changed his life.
and managed two organic food companies. In 2007, after a conversation with a friend during which they decided "money... creates a kind of disconnection between us and our actions", Boyle set up the Freeconomy Community.
in India, the birthplace of Gandhi. Inspired by the non-violent salt march led across India by Gandhi in 1930, and by America’s ‘Peace Pilgrim’, he set off in January 2008, carrying no money and only a small number of possessions. However, he was forced to turn back only a month into the trip, as language barriers halted his journey shortly after he arrived in Calais
.
Later in the same year, Boyle developed an alternative plan: to live without money entirely. After some preparatory purchases (including a solar panel and wood-burning stove), he began his first year of Moneyless living on Buy Nothing Day
2009.
Boyle has received considerable positive and negative publicity for his moneyless lifestyle, appearing on television, radio and other media in the UK, Ireland, Australia, South Africa, USA and Russia. Much of the attention has focussed on his day-to-day routine, including food, hygiene, and traditionally expensive aspects of life, such as Christmas.
Mark Boyle is one of a small number of individuals who has lived without money in recent times. These include Heidemarie Schwermer and Daniel Suelo
. However, Boyle frequently reminds his readers that a moneyless life is not a new idea; indeed it is the system of money itself that is the new development, having existed for only a small fraction of human history.
, Freegle
and Streetbank. The Freeconomy Community allows people to share, moving away from exchange economies towards a pay it forward
philosophy.
and London
hold Freeskilling sessions, where freeconomists take turns to pass on their skills in free one-off evening classes. Past topics have included subjects ranging from charity fundraising and anger management to bicycle maintenance, bread-making and campaigning skills.
. The book documents his first moneyless year, including many of the practical and philosophical challenges he faced. The author’s proceeds go to the Freeconomy trust, towards purchasing land for the foundation of the Freeconomy Community.
The Guardian
The Guardian, formerly known as The Manchester Guardian , is a British national daily newspaper in the Berliner format...
. His first book, The Moneyless Man: A Year of Freeconomic Living was published in 2010. Boyle currently lives near Bath, in South-west England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
.
Early life
Mark Boyle grew up in BallyshannonBallyshannon
Ballyshannon is a town in County Donegal, Ireland. It is located where the N3 and N15 cross the River Erne, and claims to be the oldest town in Ireland.-Location:...
in Co. Donegal, in the North-West of Ireland. He took a degree in Business at the Galway-Mayo Institute of Technology
Galway-Mayo Institute of Technology
Galway-Mayo Institute of Technology is a third level institute of education and is based at five locations in the west of Ireland.-Galway Campus:...
, before moving to the UK in 2002.
During the final year of his degree, Boyle watched the film Gandhi
Gandhi (film)
Gandhi is a 1982 biographical film based on the life of Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi, who led the nonviolent resistance movement against British colonial rule in India during the first half of the 20th century. The film was directed by Richard Attenborough and stars Ben Kingsley as Gandhi. They both...
, about the life of Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi. He has frequently cited this as the moment that changed his life.
Early career
During his first six years in the UK, Boyle lived in BristolBristol
Bristol is a city, unitary authority area and ceremonial county in South West England, with an estimated population of 433,100 for the unitary authority in 2009, and a surrounding Larger Urban Zone with an estimated 1,070,000 residents in 2007...
and managed two organic food companies. In 2007, after a conversation with a friend during which they decided "money... creates a kind of disconnection between us and our actions", Boyle set up the Freeconomy Community.
Moneyless lifestyle
A few months after creating the Freeconomy Community, Boyle set out on a two-and-a-half year trek from Bristol to PorbandarPorbandar
Porbandar is a coastal city in the Indian state of Gujarat, perhaps best known for being the birthplace of Mahatma Gandhi and Sudama...
in India, the birthplace of Gandhi. Inspired by the non-violent salt march led across India by Gandhi in 1930, and by America’s ‘Peace Pilgrim’, he set off in January 2008, carrying no money and only a small number of possessions. However, he was forced to turn back only a month into the trip, as language barriers halted his journey shortly after he arrived in Calais
Calais
Calais is a town in Northern France in the department of Pas-de-Calais, of which it is a sub-prefecture. Although Calais is by far the largest city in Pas-de-Calais, the department's capital is its third-largest city of Arras....
.
Later in the same year, Boyle developed an alternative plan: to live without money entirely. After some preparatory purchases (including a solar panel and wood-burning stove), he began his first year of Moneyless living on Buy Nothing Day
Buy Nothing Day
thumb|Buy Nothing Day demonstration in [[San Francisco]], November 2000Buy Nothing Day ' is an international day of protest against consumerism observed by social activists. Typically celebrated the Friday after American Thanksgiving in North America and the following day internationally, in 2011...
2009.
Boyle has received considerable positive and negative publicity for his moneyless lifestyle, appearing on television, radio and other media in the UK, Ireland, Australia, South Africa, USA and Russia. Much of the attention has focussed on his day-to-day routine, including food, hygiene, and traditionally expensive aspects of life, such as Christmas.
Mark Boyle is one of a small number of individuals who has lived without money in recent times. These include Heidemarie Schwermer and Daniel Suelo
Daniel Suelo
Daniel Suelo is a 50-year-old American man who stopped using money in the autumn of 2000, and forgoes conscious barter. He lives part time in a cave near Moab, Utah when he is not wandering the country....
. However, Boyle frequently reminds his readers that a moneyless life is not a new idea; indeed it is the system of money itself that is the new development, having existed for only a small fraction of human history.
Freeconomy Community
The Freeconomy Community has over 25,000 members in over 150 countries, and shares similarities with websites such as The Freecycle NetworkThe Freecycle Network
The Freecycle Network is a non-profit organization registered in the state of Arizona, USA, and separately registered as a UK charity, that organizes a worldwide network of "gifting" groups, aiming to divert reusable goods from landfills...
, Freegle
Freegle
Freegle is a British organisation that aims to reduce landfill by encouraging people to give things away instead of throwing them away.Freegle was formed on 11 September 2009 after many Freecycle groups in the UK decided to break away from the US parent organisation following disagreements on how...
and Streetbank. The Freeconomy Community allows people to share, moving away from exchange economies towards a pay it forward
Pay it forward
The expression "pay it forward" is used to describe the concept of asking that a good turn be repaid by having it done to others instead. In contract law, typically there are two parties but there is the concept of third party beneficiaries. Pay it forward merely applies this contract law concept...
philosophy.
Freeskilling
Alongside the online component of the Freeconomy Community, several areas including BristolBristol
Bristol is a city, unitary authority area and ceremonial county in South West England, with an estimated population of 433,100 for the unitary authority in 2009, and a surrounding Larger Urban Zone with an estimated 1,070,000 residents in 2007...
and London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
hold Freeskilling sessions, where freeconomists take turns to pass on their skills in free one-off evening classes. Past topics have included subjects ranging from charity fundraising and anger management to bicycle maintenance, bread-making and campaigning skills.
Freeconomy Blog
Boyle has been the primary author of the Freeconomy Blog since it was launched in 2007. Guest writers have recently included fellow moneyless people Heidemarie Schwermer, Daniel Suelo and Tomi Astikainen.The Freeconomy Village
Boyle is currently working with others to set up the UK’s first land-based Freeconomic community. Other founding members include Shaun Chamberlin, author of The Transition Timeline (2009), and Fergus Drennan, also known as the BBC’s Roadkill Chef.The Moneyless Man
Boyle’s first book, The Moneyless Man: A Year of Freeconomic Living, was published in June 2010 by Oneworld PublicationsOneworld Publications
Oneworld Publications is a British independent publishing firm founded in 1986 by Novin Doostdar and Juliet Mabey to publish non-fiction for general and academic markets. Based in Oxford, it publishes across a wide range of subjects, from history, current affairs, and religion to philosophy,...
. The book documents his first moneyless year, including many of the practical and philosophical challenges he faced. The author’s proceeds go to the Freeconomy trust, towards purchasing land for the foundation of the Freeconomy Community.