Beauty will save

Beauty in everything

Heidemarie Schwermer Experienced 16 years with no money

Heidemarie Schwermer Experienced 16 years with no money

54-year old resident of Dortmund, Heidemarie Schwermer Experienced 16 years with no money

Heidemarie Schwermer Experienced 16 years with no money
On May 1, 1996 a successful and wealthy 54-year old resident of Dortmund, Heidemarie Schwermer decided to change her life. A teacher and therapist by profession, she eliminated her bank account, handed out money and property to those in need and left the house. To the “free floating”, she moved with one suitcase, into which she put a few personal items and pictures. Initially, she planned to hold out without purse and bank account for one year. However, the experience was so successful that Heidemarie decided never to go back to the old “normal” life.

Heidemarie Schwermer

Experimental traveler. Heidemarie Schwermer Experienced 16 years with no money

Heidemarie Schwermer travels around Europe, moving from place to place, writing books, reading lectures, telling everyone about her experience. Meanwhile, for the necessities of life she pays with her labor, or “barter”. In particular, for a roof over her head, she pays working on the farm. And for food she cleans in supermarkets. For hairdressers she pays walking their dogs or providing other needed services – etc. Besides, when a European university or community association invited her to talk about her unique experience, together with an invitation to her they send transport tickets.

Heidemarie Schwermer

On the market. Heidemarie Schwermer Experienced 16 years with no money

Heidemarie realized that she could live without any money. The government pays to Heidemarie monthly pension of 800 euros as a former teacher, but she gives her money to familiar and unfamiliar people who need them more than her. Fee received from the publisher for her first book, Heidemarie also gives to the needy. The only insurance in case of emergency, which this brave lady allowes herself – bill of 200 euros, which she keeps in her purse. According to Frau Shvermer for the 15 years she has never appeared in need of this money.

Heidemarie Schwermer

Traveler Schwermer

The correspondent of “Calcalist” Itai Lahat found heroine in Hameln, where she lived for the last summer working on her new book. The Reporter saw a healthy, elegant and well-groomed woman with a constant smile on her face. She has nothing to worry and nothing to fear.

Heidemarie Schwermer

Former teacher, Schwermer

Heidemarie Schwermer Experienced 16 years with no money

Heidemarie Schwermer

Happy Schwermer

What is the meaning of this radical experiment? Heidemarie explains that she always asked herself: why in today’s society money’s role as the main measure values of all other? Why money measures human dignity and life itself? Heidemarie convinced that the experience of living without money, a temporary return to the natural exchange can expand people’s consciousness, to free them from irrational fears and deep strains in the system of values ​​that have accumulated in the interior of a modern capitalist civilization. Four years ago, “Deutsche Welle” talked about Heidemarie as European “curiosity”, an eccentric freak, who has found for herself an unusual cure from boredom.

Heidemarie Schwermer

In the garden

Heidemarie Schwermer says “we need a new point of view – individually, within society and also worldwide. Today when we want to make ourselves happy we go shopping. We buy something or go for a meal. We consume and allow ourselves to be distracted from the essential. My idea of ‘give and take’ is, on the contrary, based on more quality of life, joy and togetherness and activity towards each other as opposed to consumption and competition. Today we define ourselves especially through our performance and achievements, we must always function – and receive money for it. Obtaining money consumes all our energy. In my model of life without money, I have personally experienced how my focus has gradually shifted away from material values towards values like attention, creativity, liveliness, simplicity and trust within the flow of life”.

www.heidemarieschwermer.com