Bitcoin Forum

Living On Bitcoin A Year Later

<< One year ago, I tried living on Bitcoin for a week. The tl;dr version: I lost 5 pounds and had to move out of my house, but I survived. Bitcoin was in the $90 to $130 range back then. Since then, Bitcoin has boomed, both in its value — surging to $1100 in November — and in the attention paid to it. There have been Congressional hearings about it, so much digital (and real) ink spilled on it, guidance from the IRS on how to treat it at tax time, venture capitalists pouring millions of dollars into start-ups around it, book deals given to New York Times and Wall Street Journal reporters to write about it, and a ticker awarded to it on Bloomberg terminals. There seems to be a Bitcoin conference or event every week, and I have been invited to quite a number of them to talk about what it was like living on the digital currency last year. Inevitably, people ask whether it would be easier now, thanks to Bitcoin’s penetration of the mainstream. I’m finding out. Yesterday, I dumped all my credit cards and cash and went out onto the streets of San Francisco with only my Bitcoin. >>

Day 1 - Will It Be Easier?

http://www.forbes.com/sites/kashmirhill/2014/05/06/living-on-bitcoin-a-year-later-will-it-be-easier/ (http://www.forbes.com/sites/kashmirhill/2014/05/06/living-on-bitcoin-a-year-later-will-it-be-easier/)

Day 2 - The Cryptocurrency's Youngest Miner?

http://www.forbes.com/sites/kashmirhill/2014/05/07/living-on-bitcoin-a-year-later-the-cryptocurrencys-youngest-miner/ (http://www.forbes.com/sites/kashmirhill/2014/05/07/living-on-bitcoin-a-year-later-the-cryptocurrencys-youngest-miner/)

Day 3 - Eating Like A Crypto-King

http://www.forbes.com/sites/kashmirhill/2014/05/08/living-on-bitcoin-a-year-later-eating-like-a-crypto-king/ (http://www.forbes.com/sites/kashmirhill/2014/05/08/living-on-bitcoin-a-year-later-eating-like-a-crypto-king/)

Day 4 - Where Ross Ulbricht Sold Bitcoins

http://www.forbes.com/sites/kashmirhill/2014/05/09/living-on-bitcoin-a-year-later-where-ross-ulbricht-went-to-trade-bitcoins/ (http://www.forbes.com/sites/kashmirhill/2014/05/09/living-on-bitcoin-a-year-later-where-ross-ulbricht-went-to-trade-bitcoins/)

Day 5 - Dropping Digital Dollars At A Strip Club

http://www.forbes.com/sites/kashmirhill/2014/05/11/living-on-bitcoin-a-year-later-all-grown-up-and-a-little-naughty/ (http://www.forbes.com/sites/kashmirhill/2014/05/11/living-on-bitcoin-a-year-later-all-grown-up-and-a-little-naughty/)

Day 6 - Getting Buzzed On Wine With Virtual Money

http://www.forbes.com/sites/kashmirhill/2014/05/11/living-on-bitcoin-a-year-later-why-are-people-just-sitting-on-their-bitcoin/ (http://www.forbes.com/sites/kashmirhill/2014/05/11/living-on-bitcoin-a-year-later-why-are-people-just-sitting-on-their-bitcoin/)

Day 7 - The All-Bitcoin Start-Up With No Bank Account

http://www.forbes.com/sites/kashmirhill/2014/05/12/living-on-bitcoin-a-year-later-the-all-bitcoin-start-up-with-no-bank-account/ (http://www.forbes.com/sites/kashmirhill/2014/05/12/living-on-bitcoin-a-year-later-the-all-bitcoin-start-up-with-no-bank-account/)

I have been following Kashmir Hill's stories this week (as well as last year) and find them enjoyable.  It is nice to see that it is easier living on Bitcoin a year later and that people seem more aware of what it is this year.

I wonder if she will do another series of stories next year?   

I hope so!
I  thought to repeat the experiment by myself, but I'm afraid :-[

Or in 10 years: 2024-05-11 Forbes - Living On Dollars for one week

I think this ia amazing idea! We could follow the evolution of Bitcoins 

Eventually the annual tradition would end just because there would be nothing of note any longer... living on Bitcoin will be no more difficult than living on dollars, possibly easier.

That's what we all are aiming for, at least.

thx for the summary.

(living on Litecoin is also possible but harder i guess  :P)

A year ago I would not have decided on such experiment. You are brave!

PS
I think this problem will be solved in a few years

ITA! I think it is necessary to conduct a public seminar about the basics of Bitcoin, cos  a lot of people don't understand how the system works and therefore they don't trust BTC.