THE MONEYLESS man who ditched modern technology to move off-grid has revealed he survives without day-to-day commodities including running water or a flushing toilet.

Mark Boyle planned on joining the rat race and graduated with a degree in business and economics until a life changing conversation.

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In 2007, Mark set out to accomplish living a year without money and sought a free campervan before volunteering at a farm in exchange for a plot of land to live off.

Making the site slightly more hospitable, he then added a wood-burner, compost toilet and homemade stove.

Not fully achieving his goal, he spent £360 on a solar panel to power his electronics including a phone which he could only receive calls on.

His philosophy became a lifestyle and soon after he was brushing his teeth with cuttlefish bone and fennel seeds.

Leftover newspapers cast aside in bins acted as Mark’s sustainable equivalent to loo roll and he kept an eye out for food thrown out by nearby restaurants too.

Mark even made the 36-mile round trip from his caravan to Bristol on his bike, only hand washed his clothes and found other essentials by scouring the contents of skips.

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One year turned into four, until Mark made his first official purchase in 2011 – a pair of shoes from a charity shop.

The self-proclaimed Moneyless Man wrote a book to share his experiences and used the proceeds to fund a new plot of land near Galway, Ireland.

His DIY shack even featured in Ben Fogle‘s New Lives in the Wild which aired on Channel 5 in 2021.

Mark previously told Galway Beo how his life in the city of Bristol was “quite simple” and made up of “thousands” of “complicated things”.

He added: “Now I create a rather cumbersome life where I have to do everything but they are simple and easy to find.

“I don’t romanticise the past or the future. I know which way of life brings me the most peace and satisfaction.”

Despite admitting he does not romanticise his life, Mark hopes to inspire other to live out their dreams of a similar lifestyle.

Having published a number of books and regularly sharing his thoughts with The Guardian, Mark has been vocal about his thoughts on consumerism.

He believes that if people grew their own food, sourced drinking water and hand-crafted furniture, the population would be more mindful over their waste.

Having lived in a bubble where instant meals and supermarket privileges are non-existent, Mark has found peace and an understanding that even food is “not a given thing in life“.

We abandonded our 9-5 jobs to live off-grid in a shack we built entirely from scratch

A COUPLE has revealed how they escaped the rat race and found their dream life by building their own off-grid paradise.

Hoppie and Tao took a leap of faith when they decided to construct their cabin home in the Lamass Ecovillage in North Pembrokeshire.

Despite a bitter planning war that has gone on for over a decade, the pair live on site where there are a “collective of smallholdings and eco-dwellings in Preseli hills”.

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Taking to their YouTube channel, FLORB, to share their lifestyle with others, the couple revealed that they hadn’t always rejected the convention of day-to-day living.

Previously, Tao admitted to growing up in the “mainstream, in suburbia” with his mum, a housewife, and dad, an accountant.

He said: “I had a very ordinary upbringing but I never really felt rooted. It wasn’t until I started living on the land that I discovered roots.

“You’re not constrained by heavy mortgages or nine-to-five jobs. You’ve just got a lot of space to explore.”

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Previously, Hoppie ran a therapy business before moving to the rural village.

She said: “One day out of the blue, around my 40th birthday, I just suddenly felt [something] like a bell, going ‘ding’, saying it’s time to go to Pembrokeshire.

“I don’t think I’ve ever felt more empowered. My supermarket is a garden and my pharmacy is my herb garden. I love that.”

Transforming the original plot from a “bunch of small fields” and three caravans to their main chalet-themed home, the pair’s determination has paid off.

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Their green thinking doesn’t end there, as the pair have found living essentials and furniture through searching on eBay and in charity shops.

They also source their water from a spring, grow fruit and vegetables and even drink milk from their pet goats.

The lifestyle might not be for everyone with slightly less glamourous aspects such as the toilet barrel which stores waste for two years at a time.

Now hoping to extend their project, Tao and Hoppie have decided to turn the outbuilding structure into The Lammas Earth Centre for Transformation and Healing.

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A DAD received the life-changing news he’d won the lottery – only to be forced to split the £1 million winnings with four other people.

Paul White learned this week he was one of the lucky winners in the Postcode Lottery.

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But, due to the number of other entrants within his postcode, he has now had to share the prize with four other neighbours – leaving him with just £200,000.

The neighbours live in Breaston, Derbyshire, with three of them living on the same tiny cul-de-sac.

Despite this unfortunate turn of events, the retired electrical contractor was excited to at least plan a Christmas holiday to Australia with the winnings.

Meanwhile, neighbours Paul Rowland, George Mounsey and Alison Browne were ecstatic about the win.

Dad-of-three Paul said: “There’s a lovely community spirit and it’s lovely to have three winners in a row.

“I was going to take my wife for a weekend away. Now it’ll be a fortnight away. What are the chances of this happening here?”

He added that he would be treating his wife Angie and daughters Lizzy and Charlotte on a luxury holiday in the Maldives.

He joked: “Both my daughters are nurses. Lizzy wants to go to the Maldives. They’ve already said to us, ‘Oh we can go to the Maldives – you can take all of us.’ You know what kids are like.”

George said: “We couldn’t believe it when the three houses won together.

“We didn’t know they were in it until we went round and banged on the door and asked, ‘Are you in the Postcode Lottery? Have you had a phone call?”

Speaking of him and his wife Margaret, he added: “We haven’t got a clue what we’re going to do. We’re not short of money, we’re very comfortable.

“Margaret would like a static caravan in Yorkshire somewhere. We’ll see, we may invest.

“We’ve travelled the world and seen a lot of places. We’ve got two Schnauzers and when you’ve got dogs, you’ve got to think about them all the time. World cruises are out.”

Music teacher Alison said: “I don’t know what to think. This is life-changing, it really is.”

Postcode Lottery players pay a monthly subscription to enter twenty draws along with their neighbours – including a weekly £1 million jackpot.

Money raised by the competition goes to charity.

ROSÉ lovers, prepare to raise your glasses as a major supermarket is selling a huge 1.5L magnum size bottle of La Vieille Ferme Rosé.

Affectionately dubbed “Chicken Wine“, the popular drink is priced at just £14 with Sainsbury’s Nectar Prices and is perfect for Christmas parties and festive gatherings.

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La Vieille Ferme Rosé, already a favourite among wine enthusiasts, has skyrocketed in popularity after going viral on Instagram and TikTok this past summer.

Its playful nickname, “Chicken Wine,” and light, refreshing taste have made it a social media sensation, driving an impressive 96% boost in sales at Sainsbury’s compared to the same time last year.

If you’re hosting this Christmas, the magnum-sized bottle is guaranteed to be a conversation starter.

Whether for gifting or for sharing at the table, this larger version of the viral rosé ensures there will be enough to go around.

Available in selected Sainsbury’s superstores from this Sunday, this magnum promises to be a must-have for rosé lovers looking to make a statement this holiday season.

Sainsbury’s new magnum of La Vieille Ferme Rosé not only brings a larger bottle for festive gatherings, but also a better deal.

The 1.5L magnum, priced at £14 with Nectar Prices (or £16 without), works out at £1.07 per 100ml.

This makes it a more affordable option compared to the standard 750ml bottle, which usually sells for £8.50, or £1.13 per 100ml.

Unless the smaller bottle is on offer, the magnum offers better value for money, making it an attractive option for anyone stocking up on wine for Christmas or other celebrations.

The magnum of La Vieille Ferme Rosé at Sainsbury’s not only offers convenience but also better value compared to standard-sized bottles across other supermarkets.

The regular 750ml bottle is priced at £8.50 in Tesco and Asda, £7.50 at Waitrose, and £9.50 at Co-op.

Meanwhile, parents are rushing to Sainsbury’s to get their hands on toys for sale, with a mega-shot rifle with foam bullets scanning at tills at 50 per cent off.

It’s one of the biggest pre-Christmas sales around, with loads of parents stocking up on bargain presents for their kids.

Many savvy savers recently spotted the cheap toys in their local branches and finished festive shopping for the children in their family.

The shoppers posted their find on the Extreme Couponing and Bargains UK Facebook group after snapping up various toys – with some half price.

One of the members who posted about their finds said that they’d have a “happy grandson at Christmas” after picking up a Zuru Xshot for £20 instead of £40 – a 50 per cent saving.

Another member gushed over their items, saying they “will have two very happy little girls at Christmas” after picking up various Barbie dolls and Bluey toys.

The savvy shoppers found the goods in Sainsbury’s highly-anticipated toy sale.

THOUSANDS of readers flooded our Winter Fuel SOS helpline looking for support last month.

We received thousands of calls from older people worried about paying bills and staying warm this winter.

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We connected them with our panel of experts from Age UK, Which?, Independent Age and uSwitch and have helped many successfully apply for pension credit, save on bills and access awards to which they didn’t realise they were entitled.

In some cases we have helped readers access thousands of pounds worth of additional help.

We launched our Winter Fuel SOS drive following the government’s decision to axe the tax-free benefit worth 300 pounds for 10 million pensioners.

But those on Pension Credit will keep the Winter Fuel Allowance, however there are approximately 800.000 of people who could claim but don’t.

They are among just some of those who called our special hotline.

Our panel received so many calls we are still calling readers back and investigating their cases – but we know many thousands more may still be eligible for help.

Here are some of the stories of those we have helped already.

• Additional reporting: James Flanders and Clare O’Reilly

‘I’m so pleased I took the time to reach out’

WE also assisted 98-year-old Arnold Walton, who lives in Wickersley, Rotherham, with his British Gas energy bill.

The former D-Day veteran and ex-car salesman, who served with the York and Lancaster Regiment in WW2, assumed he wouldn’t qualify for Pension Credit because he was already receiving Attendance Allowance, as he is blind in one eye and has limited mobility.

It meant that he struggled to get by on a £239 a week state pension and £5.25 a week (£21 a month) private pension.

To help with his living costs, British Gas has agreed to cover half of his energy bill for six months.

They are also looking at fixing the damp in his home and have offered to replace his 35-year-old washing machine and cooker.

Additionally, as part of its “random acts of kindness” initiative, the energy giant will give him a £100 supermarket voucher.

And he may also get a boost to his income as our checks indicate he could be eligible for pension credit too.

Arnold told The Sun: “I’m utterly astonished by the support available, and I’m over the moon.

“I’m so pleased that I took the time to reach out, and I’m immensely grateful for all the help and assistance they’ve provided as Christmas approaches.”

We also helped a 64-year-old reader from Stanwell, Middlesex with her Octopus bill.

She is not eligible for benefits but is on a low income and is struggling with her energy bill and worried about this winter.

The energy firm was able to credit her with £750 from its Octoassist fund which helps vulnerable customers.

‘I think a lot of people give up’

RETIRED pipe fitter Neil Dingwall, 80, from ­Balmullo, St Andrews, faces an agonising nine week wait to find out if he will get Pension Credit.

He is unsure whether he will receive the benefit, despite living in Scotland, one of the coldest parts of the country.

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His uncertainty – and a family member – are what prompted him to call in to our Winter Fuel SOS line.

“I honestly wouldn’t have called in if it wasn’t for my daughter being pretty sure I’d be able to get something,” Neil reveals.

“I don’t want handouts, but the Winter Fuel Payment last year made such a difference.

“I think with the phone lines taking so long, though, and not getting answers quicker, a lot of people give up.”

He added: “It’s been brilliant having The Sun’s help, I haven’t heard about it for sure, but I’m hopeful I’ll get Pension Credit and the other entitlements that opens up to me.

“None of it would have happened without the Winter Fuel SOS helpline and my daughter.”

‘I’d no idea we could be eligible’

JOHN SMITH, 77, a retired builder, has incurable prostate cancer and is facing selling his home.

But after a call to our Winter Fuel SOS helpline, he could be due an extra £6,888 a year.

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Despite getting just £95 a week in State Pension, John doesn’t qualify for Pension Credit because his wife Sitada, also on a low income, is only 45.

The couple, who live in North Hykeham, Lincoln, are struggling to pay their bills and often dipping into their savings — and they won’t qualify for this year’s £300 Winter Fuel Payment.

But a little-known loophole means that the couple could apply for Universal Credit instead, and may be due an additional £132 a week.

Crucially, this should make them eligible for the Winter Fuel Payment, too.

John said: “I had no idea we could be eligible for Universal Credit because I’m over the State Pension age. If it wasn’t for The Sun’s help, I would have never been aware.”

‘It’s outrageous I pay charges’

WE are fighting to secure Pension Credit for Douglas Gough, 72 – after benefits bosses warned he was not eligible.

Our experts reckon that the retired jeweller, from Dulwich, south east London – who gets by on £180 a week in State Pension –  should qualify due to sky-high service charges he pays.

Douglas, who lives in a two-bed flat, forks out £599 a month in fees despite buying his home from Lambeth Council back in 1970.

He said: “It’s outrageous that I have to pay these charges when I own my home.

“What’s even more absurd is that the service charge keeps increasing, despite the fact that the property is deteriorating and we’ve lost our reception porter.”

The outcome of a DWP investigation into Douglas’s case is pending.

Eligible OAPs have until December 21 to apply for Pension Credit but, crucially, they must ask for the claim to be backdated in order to get the Winter Fuel Payment.

Many face waiting until after Christmas to find out if their application is successful.

Meanwhile, other readers have told us they struggled to get through to the Pension Credit hotline.

The DWP says there is currently a nine week wait for applications.

And while the £300 Winter Fuel Payment is due to land in bank accounts from the end of November, it means that many will miss out.

‘I worried how I’d feed myself’

STRUGGLING to survive on her £800 a month pension, Jenny Ward, 74, began starving herself because she thought she had no other option.

“It got to a point where I couldn’t afford meat,” she explained.

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“I couldn’t afford fruit and oranges to get vitamin C, so I was using tomato juice to try and get the nutrients I needed. I was buying tinned kidney beans because they have a lot of protein in them.

“I started to get poorly.”

Jenny, from Wakefield, West Yorks, had no idea she was entitled to Pension Credit until Age UK, one of The Sun’s Winter Fuel SOS experts, stepped in.

She revealed: “I was so close to giving up and I tried to a lot of times, but Age UK kept persevering with me and for me, and it’s thanks to them I have it.”

Recalling how tough life was before she got the benefit, she added: “Every month was a challenge. I was sleepless with worry about what would happen to me, about how I’d feed myself and keep myself warm. It’s difficult, but a lot of people like me are in the same position.”

After a seven month wait for Pension Credit, Jenny is feeling less fearful.

She said: “I’m not looking forward to this winter, but I’m not as scared going into this one as I was last winter.”

ALIEXPRESS is an online retail service based in China which offers a wide range of different products.

It is comprised of smaller business and retailers, in China, Singapore and several other countries, who sell to an international market.

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World-wide company

The company is owned by Chinese multinational the Alibaba Group, which primarily focuses on computing and e-commerce.

AliExpress trades to international import buyers and does not trade within china.

In China, the Alibaba Group instead trades via a subsidiary named Taobao.

AliExpress was launched in 2010 and started off as a business-to-business portal, which has expanded to offer business-to-consumer and consumer-to-consumer sales.

It has websites in English, French, Spanish, Dutch, German, Polish, Turkish, Portuguese, Russian and Indonesian.

Questions over counterfeit goods

AliExpress is a legitimate business, but only has a Trustpilot score of 2.8 (as of October 2-24).

The brand has ran in to trouble when a report suggested there were concerns of counterfeit goods on AliExpress.

The report read: “Existing data shows a correlation between the use of forced labour and child labour in the global production of certain products and the types of products that are most commonly counterfeited.”

In response, Ambassador Katherine Tai added: “This illicit trade also increases the vulnerability of workers involved in the manufacturing of counterfeit goods to exploitative labor practices.

“Counterfeit goods can pose significant risks to the health and safety of consumers and workers around the world.”

AliExpress responded to the claims and said: “AliExpress is committed to protecting intellectual property rights and prohibits our merchants from listing items that infringe upon the IP rights of third parties, and has in place measures to combat counterfeits.

“Rights owners may contact our platform and submit their claims through our Intellectual Property Protection Platform to report cases of infringement.

“Sellers found to be in breach will be penalised according to our platform policies, which may involve fines, suspension or termination.”

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AliExpress’ products

AliExpress sells thousands of discounted products, which allow users to buy more of the clothes that they love.

However, some users have claimed that they have received products that look very different to the ones that they originally ordered.

One Instagram user, whose handle is @itsleaux_, ordered an engagement dress from the site but she described her order as a “fail”.

She had ordered a fitted gown with blue tuelle but received a pink dress in the most.

The online store says it does allow full refunds for products that arrive late or are damaged though.

ALDI is selling cosy bedding that’ll keep you warm all night without having to turn the heating on.

Summer duvets are being swapped with thicker sets to snuggle under – and for cheap.

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To start off your new bedding collection, the Teddy Fitted Sheet Double is the perfect place to start.

The soft fleece is perfect just in time for the winter months.

And you can choose from beige, green or grey – depending on what matches you room.

You can grab the bottom sheet for only £7.99 or grab the king sized version for an extra £1.

To match, you’ll want to get your hands on the Kirkton House Teddy Pillowcases that are only a shocking £3.99 each.

These pillowcases are so soft you may struggle to get out of bed in the morning.

You can also get your hands on the Kirkton House Teddy King Duvet Set, which includes the duvet cover as well as two pillow cases.

And, like the other collection, you can choose between beige, green or grey.

For this set, it will only set you back £16.99.

The supermarket giant are also selling a £1.99 gadget that can help to keep homes warm without putting the heating on.

Aldi is to stock a winter essential that could keep you from huddling by the radiator this season.

It’s safe to say summer has come to an end, with temperatures dropping down to single digits and Christmas food popping up in supermarket.

This year, millions of Brits may feel hesitant about turning on their heating due to high energy bills.

But with temperatures set to fall the closer we get to Christmas, now is the best time to prepare for those long winter nights.

Fortunately, there are is an Aldi product dropping soon that might help you steer away from a hefty heating bill.

The Workzone Adhesive Draught Excluder lines the gaps between your windows to prevent drauphts.

Heat often escapes through breaks in the window and can drastically change the temperature of a room.

The product description reads: “This accessory is great for keeping a room warm and keeping any chilling winds outside rather than in.”

By lining the window edges and blocking any temperature transfer, you’ll be less likely to whack those radiators on.

The soft-adhesive sticks to glass and window frames, fitting gaps from 2-5mm.

If you’re conscious of keeping your rooms stylish, as well as cosy, the draupht excluders come in three sets of colours to match your interior – white, brown and black.

For £1.99 you get two 5m lengths of adhesive which is long enough to cover most windows.

The draught excluder is available in stores from October 20.

How to save money when shopping

Sign up to the loyalty schemes of the brands that you regularly shop with.

Big names regularly offer discounts or special lower prices for members, as well as other perks.

Sales are when you can really bag a bargain.

Retailers often have promotions that tie into payday at the end of the month or Bank Holiday weekends, so keep a lookout and shop when these deals are on.

Sign up to mailing lists and you’ll also be first to know about special offers. It can be worth following retailers on social media too.

When buying online, always search for money off codes or vouchers that you can use.

Vouchercodes.co.uk and myvouchercodes.co.uk are just two sites that round up promotions by retailer.

Scanner apps are useful to have on your phone. 

Trolley.co.uk app has a scanner that you can use to compare the price of branded items when out shopping.

Bargain hunters can also use B&M’s scanner in the app to find discounts in-store before staff have marked them out.

And always check if you can get cashback before paying.

This in effect means you’ll get some of your money back or a discount on the item.