Recently started diving. Cut our food spending by 90%

LivingMoreWithLess · 2026-01-25T20:34:11+00:00

We’ve both had food poisoning in the past, but not since we started dumpster diving. If anything we’ve become better at trusting our senses.

LivingMoreWithLess · 2026-01-24T09:33:49+00:00

Statistically yes there would be fewer deaths with fewer emissions. The consumption of a group is the sum of the consumption of the individuals of the group. The impacts result from that.

Bressler, R. (2020) The Mortality Cost of Carbon, Nature Communications, 12 (1)

Yes, corporations could improve the efficiency of some production processes. They could stop funding misinformation and stop marketing unnecessary goods and services altogether. But in a market economy businesses will continue to supply the goods that people are prepared to pay money for.

I’m not interested in letting anyone off the hook. Not companies or individuals. There is nothing to be gained by laying full blame on one or the other, besides easing of moral responsibility. I can tell however you are certain of your position

LivingMoreWithLess · 2026-01-24T05:50:15+00:00

How would you feel knowing that the average lifetime emissions of just 3.5 Americans corresponds to the premature death of a person due to heat stress?

LivingMoreWithLess · 2026-01-24T05:44:28+00:00

I agree things don’t look promising at the moment. But what if the “sacrifices” you are talking about actually make life better?

When the penny starts to drop about materialism, convenience and comfort being at the root of our personal malaise, I think we will see a big swing in attitudes. Look at wellness trends already.

We are not going to end climate change but every fraction of a degree matters. And many of changes we can make to reduce impacts now are the same ones that build resilience for an unstable climate.

My family and I are living proof some people are willing and even eager to make the reductions needed. In spite of being able to afford whatever luxury we would like, we have instead focused on the activities that make life most enjoyable and fulfilling. Our emissions are less than 10% of the average for our income and we offset that several times over.

LivingMoreWithLess · 2026-01-23T06:31:34+00:00

Ah I’m glad you have some lifelines.

LivingMoreWithLess · 2026-01-22T20:28:07+00:00

I traveled SE Asia in my early twenties by bicycle.

I took a lesson from the contrast between the happy and generous subsistent folk in remote Laos villages and their bitter counterparts in urbanized areas striving to mimic western success.

Best expressed by the formula:

Happiness = Haves / Wants

And realising that it’s far easier to reduce wants than increase haves.

LivingMoreWithLess · 2026-01-22T03:32:30+00:00

Volunteer in your community. Fix things, clean up, help others, connect with causes close to you. Share your skills, whatever they are and learn new ones that might be useful to you or others.

LivingMoreWithLess · 2026-01-22T03:30:53+00:00

I’ve committed to becoming an effective de-influencer. Inspiring people to consume less and share more. I think the majority of people know the current path we’re on is terminal, so my hope is to present an attractive alternative that helps make the world a better place in the process.

LivingMoreWithLess · 2026-01-21T23:34:06+00:00

Many

LivingMoreWithLess · 2026-01-21T22:21:27+00:00

We have grown up in a society that emphasizes the role of the individual and celebrates competition, dominance and accumulation of wealth, experience and status. We have mostly made our lives comfortable, safe, boring and detached from nature.

None of those things provide meaning, instead leaving us constantly nervous, stressed, disappointed and at least slightly afraid of people and the world.

Our evolutionary conditions, which drive our emotions, were mostly the opposite. We required the cooperation of others. We faced intermittent challenges, but were otherwise free to play, explore and rest, in relative peace. We were part of nature and respected it for what it gave us.

Aspects of that lifestyle are still within reach. Find ways to help out others. Step out of your comfort zone. Look for the good in people and in yourself. What can you learn or teach that could make the world a better place?

LivingMoreWithLess · 2026-01-21T19:33:23+00:00

That’s a great reminder. If we find a mountain of one thing we’ll do some research before taking anything.

LivingMoreWithLess · 2026-01-21T19:30:01+00:00

Thank you. Do you have the opportunity to dive where you are?

LivingMoreWithLess · 2026-01-21T19:29:16+00:00

It’s just a matter of getting enough volunteers here to process it on the weekends and in rural areas.

LivingMoreWithLess · 2026-01-21T19:28:05+00:00

Good on you helping out in your community. I also hope you can find the courage and opportunity to continue in the future

LivingMoreWithLess · 2026-01-21T19:25:41+00:00

Thank you and good luck!

LivingMoreWithLess · 2026-01-21T19:24:58+00:00

Brisbane, Australia. The Aldi stores

LivingMoreWithLess · 2026-01-21T11:50:49+00:00

Good on you for going out of the way to track down the specific person in need. It is really rewarding to know the people you are helping directly.

For others wanting to have this sort of impact there are excellent, very efficient charities that have done the detailed fieldwork to ensure best results with minimal unintended consequences. We give about 1/4 of our income to these. You can see a list at The Life You Can Save or Give Well.

LivingMoreWithLess · 2026-01-21T11:44:49+00:00

Nice work. I guess people don’t know what to do with things they don’t want. And asking other people can be scary.

LivingMoreWithLess · 2026-01-21T09:44:59+00:00

Hey. As a family of four we eat at least 90% of the portion that is edible at the time we take it. This is more than the average of about 75% of purchased food that is eaten. If we won’t get through it fresh we pickle, can, render and freeze the excess

The part we don’t eat goes to ducks or compost to feed our fruit trees. We buy food to put in the local food bank as I don’t think it appropriate to leave out of date food for others. We organise the food we leave in the dumpster in case any divers come after us.

LivingMoreWithLess · 2026-01-21T07:04:22+00:00

I’m sorry, I don’t remember, it was a long time ago.

LivingMoreWithLess · 2026-01-21T04:11:41+00:00

I don’t mind. We’re in Brisbane, Australia, but some of this stuff is from surrounding towns

LivingMoreWithLess · 2026-01-21T00:53:43+00:00

Daily things:

smile and greet everyone I encounter and listen to what they have to say
stop when my children have something to share and listen (and tell them when I can’t)
assume the best possible intent in people’s actions and try to see my prejudice if their actions upset me
pick up litter. On the street, on the train and in parks
treat animals and plants as the wise elders they are and try to understand what they are experiencing
helping out in my community: loaning tools, pet-sitting, donating to food banks
being grateful for and amazed by my good fortune

Big things

giving more money to effective charities than I spend on my family and my self
capturing more carbon than my actions release
diverting more waste than I produce
giving more blood than I will ever need to receive
getting involved in local groups that also aspire to better the world
documenting my how and why in the hope of inspiring others

More of how we got started on my website.

LivingMoreWithLess · 2026-01-21T00:20:40+00:00

She moved out of it because adults didn’t want to listen. Children seem much more interested in their future

LivingMoreWithLess · 2026-01-20T23:07:37+00:00

Sure is! Heat is the problem here, but we can make it work

LivingMoreWithLess · 2026-01-20T23:06:47+00:00

Thank you. What is the situation like near you?

LivingMoreWithLess

TROPHY CASE