Money dominates most conversations—whether it’s about status, power, or survival. But what happens when you take money out of the equation? The idea behind dismoneyfied challenges traditional thinking around success and value. On the surface, it’s a radical concept, but dig deeper and you’ll find a practical reframe of modern living. For a stronger breakdown of this perspective, check out dismoneyfied, which explores the philosophy and real-world applications behind it.
What Does It Mean to Be Dismoneyfied?
At its core, being dismoneyfied means removing money as the dominant motivator or metric in your life. It’s not necessarily about rejecting currency entirely but about deprioritizing it in decision-making. This could look like choosing to work fewer hours to spend more time with your family, prioritizing communal living, or seeking alternative economic models centered around barter, mutual aid, or minimalism.
It’s a response to what many see as an over-financialized society, where self-worth, success, and fulfillment are measured in dollar signs. Dismoneyfied thinkers ask: What if we measured quality of life differently?
The Problems With a Money-First Mindset
Money does a lot of good—it provides shelter, healthcare, education, and freedom. But at some point, the chasing can take over. A money-first mindset often leads to burnout, anxiety, poor relationships, and ecological damage.
Many people:
- Sacrifice passion for paycheck.
- Postpone happiness until “after I make X amount.”
- Feel trapped in highly monetized lifestyles they can’t sustain or enjoy.
Dismoneyfied principles push back against this idea. They suggest that while money is useful, it’s not everything—and shouldn’t be treated as such.
Small Shifts Toward Becoming Dismoneyfied
Going entirely money-free isn’t practical for most people. But dismoneyfied living doesn’t require extremism. You can apply it incrementally in your own life:
1. Redefine Success
Start by asking some hard but enlightening questions:
- What kind of life would I live if money weren’t an issue?
- Am I pursuing goals for intrinsic or financial reasons?
- Would I still do this job if the paycheck were a bit smaller?
Success doesn’t have to mean a six-figure income or home ownership. It can mean autonomy, creativity, or time with people you love.
2. Embrace Time as Currency
Your time is invaluable, and once it’s gone, it’s gone. Many dismoneyfied advocates frame their decisions around time instead of dollars. Choose experiences, moments, and relationships over material accumulation. Give more attention to the things that genuinely matter to you—even if they generate no profit.
3. Practice Mutual Aid
Mutual aid is a dismoneyfied practice that focuses on reciprocity and support without a profit motive. Offering to help friends with child care, sharing tools in the neighborhood, or engaging in free skill swaps are great examples.
This builds stronger communities while reducing dependence on transactional systems.
How the Dismoneyfied Lifestyle Impacts Wellbeing
Studies consistently show that after a certain income threshold (often cited around $75,000–$100,000 USD), additional money has a diminishing return on happiness. Meanwhile, meaningful work, social connection, adequate rest, and physical health contribute far more.
Living dismoneyfied may lead to:
- Less financial anxiety.
- Stronger relationships.
- Healthier boundaries between work and life.
- More contentment from day-to-day living.
It’s not about avoiding money, but realigning your relationship with it.
Challenges of Living Dismoneyfied
Let’s be clear—it’s not for everyone. And even if you’re fully on board philosophically, some practical barriers remain:
- Systemic constraints: In most places, you still need money to survive—rent, groceries, and healthcare won’t pay themselves.
- Cultural pushback: Going against capitalist norms can confuse or upset those who see money as the ultimate measure of success.
- Internal rewiring: It takes time to break away from money-centered validation. Old habits die hard.
But these challenges don’t make it unworthy. They just mean a more mindful, balanced approach may work better than going cold turkey.
Real-World Examples of Dismoneyfied Thinking
Want to see dismoneyfied approaches in action? Here are a few real-life interpretations:
- Tiny Houses & Minimalism: People choosing smaller living spaces and fewer belongings to lower their cost of living—and increase peace of mind.
- Worker-Owned Co-Ops: These businesses distribute profits fairly and emphasize democratic control over a traditional profit-maximization model.
- Time Banking: A system where hours worked are exchanged—regardless of the job being done—rather than pegging time to dollar value.
- Digital Nomads Working Fewer Hours: Intentionally trading income for more flexible, less stressful lifestyles.
Each one pushes back on monetization and suggests that value doesn’t only come from profit.
Taking the First Step
If the dismoneyfied conversation resonates with you, there’s no need to overhaul your life overnight. Start with one small experiment:
- Turn down one project done purely for money.
- Spend a full day offline—cost-free joy only.
- Set up or join a community swap or skill share.
As you build trust in non-monetary sources of satisfaction, your perspective shifts. The hold money has over your choices begins to loosen.
Final Thoughts
Dismoneyfied living isn’t about poverty or deprivation—it’s about rethinking the role money plays in our definitions of success and joy. It’s about being more intentional, less anxious, and more values-driven in how we show up every day.
And whether you’re curious, skeptical, or fully onboard, the idea of becoming at least a little dismoneyfied is proving to be more practical than radical.