Living On Bitcoin \ stacker news ~bitcoin

pull down to refresh

1178 sats \ 40 comments \ @LivingOnBitcoin 20h bitcoin

Hey Stackers!

I’ve officially rebranded my channel to "Living On Bitcoin".

I’m going all-in on helping more people learn how to live on a #Bitcoin standard—from the practical tools and apps I personally use, to real-life stories about spending, saving, and thriving with Bitcoin as money.

I’ve been documenting my journey on YouTube for a while, and now I want to bring that conversation here to Stacker News, where real Bitcoiners hang out and share ideas.

My channel: https://www.youtube.com/@LivingOnBitcoin

I’d love to hear from you:

Are you trying to live on Bitcoin too?
What’s the biggest challenge you face in spending or saving BTC?
Any tools or apps you can’t live without?

Let’s make #LivingOnBitcoin the norm!

Zap me if you find value—or just drop your thoughts below. Looking forward to chatting with everyone here! ⚡

view all related items

118 sats \ 3 replies \ @k00b 19h

Are you trying to live on Bitcoin too?

No, I don't really want to trade one intermediary for another more cumbersome one. So until more merchants accept bitcoin, or I have more free time, I probably won't.

What’s the biggest challenge you face in spending or saving BTC?

0.001% of merchants accept bitcoin as payment.

Any tools or apps you can’t live without?

Zeus is great. I'm glad you're using it and running your own node.

162 sats \ 2 replies \ @LivingOnBitcoin OP 19h

Thanks so much — and I totally hear you on the merchant adoption issue. It’s definitely the biggest hurdle for living on Bitcoin day-to-day.

I completely get not wanting to swap one middleman for another. For me, part of living on Bitcoin is experimenting with ways to avoid intermediaries entirely — but it’s definitely not seamless yet. The merchant adoption gap is still huge. That’s why I end up using tools like gift cards or bill pay services for places that don’t take BTC directly, but I admit it’s a workaround.

And yeah… I’m hoping the “0.001%” of merchants becomes at least 1% in the next few years. 🤞

Appreciate you jumping in on the discussion!

110 sats \ 1 reply \ @k00b 19h

Also, just a tip (take or leave it): chill on the AI writing a bit if you can. It tends to sound inauthentic and folks here won't zap it very hard. Writing is hard but you get what you work for (usually). Even if your grammar is bad or whatever, most of us would prefer to see the real you in writing.

0 sats \ 0 replies \ @LivingOnBitcoin OP 19h

Ha, you got me! Honestly, I prefer sharing my thoughts in my own personal way. AI 100% sucks the personality out of it. But, I cannot lie... AI makes my life (in many ways) so much easier.

48 sats \ 1 reply \ @Undisciplined 18h

I am trying to buy from vendors who accept bitcoin whenever possible, but that’s not much yet.

I’ve ordered from a couple of online sellers and enjoyed doing so. The shipping costs are prohibitive, though.

Alby Hub has become essential for me.

42 sats \ 0 replies \ @LivingOnBitcoin OP 17h

Hey, it doesn't hurt to ask nicely if they would ever consider accepting Bitcoin as a form of payment? Even if you send them a quick $5'er to get them started and intrigued...

I started exactly with ordering only online and found shipping costs very frustrating. Once I started finding other ways to spend in-person, thats when I made the switch.

I LOVE ALY HUB, folks can zap me and I can receive it self custodially to my node's wallet.

70 sats \ 1 reply \ @Kontext 17h

Awesome! Good luck on your journey and with you channel! Although I'd encourage posting that stuff also on Rumble, nostr, any other non-Google platforms as content creators seem to have constant problems with YouTube.

As for your questions: Are you trying to live on Bitcoin too? No, not yet. I do prefer spending BTC as opposed to fiat but I don't go out of my way in doing so. Part of the reason for that is, unfortunately, that I don't have a whole lot of disposable income at hand and it doesn't even make sense converting most of it to BTC in the first place due to volatility. What’s the biggest challenge you face in spending or saving BTC? Getting a reliable, constant, positive sats flow (without getting a normie fiat job that requires me to sacrifice my soul for something I don't really care about) Any tools or apps you can’t live without? Umm, nostr would come closest to that I guess. But really, I can probably live without any tools or apps if I wanted or had to

Also, even though I'm not trying to live on Bitcoin myself thus far, I am trying to build a business helping people do so. Feel free to check out SATOSH.EE - a new kind of a Bitcoin-based gift card reseller. It's all still very much a WIP and for the moment, I only have offers from other Bitcoin companies, but one of the main goals of the service is to onboard fiat-only companies and thus expand the number and variety of goods and services that people can acquire with BTC. Any feedback: reviews, suggestions, bug reports, etc. are more than welcome 🤠

10 sats \ 0 replies \ @LivingOnBitcoin OP 17h

Thank you for the encouragement! I am glad you mentioned that because I post my video content (besides vertical, short form) on Rumble and Nostr too.

Rumble: https://rumble.com/user/nittanycrypto Nostr: npub1gvrj8zlxkum8h5y0eu4f2ud2n8zktjn5y7nzqu6uhqqqek2x29zq7z7tfl

Bottom line, your current situation is normal. I would consider looking into getting your income up. You mention volatility and that was one of my fears too, however if you think about how far Bitcoin has come, just think where it will go in the next 5-10 years. Once you secure more income, your life will become easier and easier. It's obvious you're passionate about all things Bitcoin and it shows with your business ventures. So focus on what you want to do and the hard work will pay off.

I will definitely take a look at your business, thanks for replying and the thought provoking conversation.

100 sats \ 1 reply \ @TheWildHustle 16h

Yep, I receive direct deposits through cash app 100% in btc use a bitkey for short term savings and cold card for long term. For spending I sell into the cash app card when neccessary, but paying with bitcoin at more locations would be more convienent for me. For bills I usually sell into the card but should use strike instead but i'm a bit lazy in that regard.
Biggest challenge I face with spending is it not being accepted at physical merchants or for bills, but its a problem that I think time will solve.
I use Albyhub/Alby Go for my main lighting setup, but cash app and bitkey are a nice simple combo that gets the job done alright.

10 sats \ 0 replies \ @LivingOnBitcoin OP 15h

I have never met someone or thought about the Cash App stacking to a BitKey before! I love this idea, I could totally see this being implemented into my Bitcoin setup. I honestly love the idea of having to sell every time you want to buy something with the card. ColdCard is just the cherry on top, excellent choice my friend! It truly encourages you to save your Bitcoin. Kudos to you.

I will say, the more you go out to your local stores and talk about Bitcoin (within reason and while being respectful) the more it matures and thus increasing the accepting problem. It starts with us.

Lastly, regarding your main lightning setup... This has to be so great for you, I like how you use combos between Cash App and the BitKey hardware wallet and Alby Hub and the Go app. You're using those products and services how they were probably meant to be used.

0 sats \ 8 replies \ @Solomonsatoshi 6h

Biggest problem here in New Zealand is so few merchants accepting Bitcoin for payment.

7 sats \ 7 replies \ @LivingOnBitcoin OP 2h

You're not the only one and where I am located, no one within about 100 miles accepts Bitcoin p2p. That said, that doesn't mean I've put in work to get that changed. It takes time, but the more "normies" hear about Bitcoin, the more and more it will become naturally adopted.

0 sats \ 6 replies \ @Solomonsatoshi 2h

I hope you are right- there is a Bitcoin business (lightningpay.nz) set up here in New Zealand the last year or so who are actively trying to encourage and enable businesses to accept Bitcoin and they are based in Queenstown which is an international destination well suited to something like this but I have my doubts about how much Bitcoin merchant adoption governments and banks will allow before they outright close it down.

They have already made it extremely difficult for anyone to conveniently use Bitcoin for everyday purchases by imposing absurd tax recording and payment obligations- this will discourage most people from using Bitcoin as a payment option even if us few maxis are prepared to break tax laws in order to spend and zap.

Too many Bitcoin dismiss the obstructive potency of how Bitcoin has been framed by bankers and governments as a speculative commodity...thus preventing any substantial MoE adoption, while greatly increasing the ratio of the protocol held under the custody of corporate bankers via ETFs and as Treasuries.

I do not think it is a challenge that will be easy to overcome but definitely support anyone trying to increase adoption because if this challenge is not overcome Bitcoin will end up as a speculative commodity plaything.

0 sats \ 5 replies \ @LivingOnBitcoin OP 2h

The governments around the world will be forced, one way or another to have an "open arms" policy towards Bitcoin. Unless it wants to be stuck behind, HFSP.

At the end of the day, people want change, change will come. Never stop mining for that diamond my friend.

0 sats \ 4 replies \ @Solomonsatoshi 1h

This sort of absolutist hopium is I feel naive. Most people have already bought the FUD and do not want to have anything to do with Bitcoin. The few that do are mostly preoccupied with NGU hopium and disregard the true revolutionary intent and content of a P2P payments protocol- they have never used LN (and where can they use it if they had it anyway?!) or even a wallet- they buy ETFs and never hold the keys, giving the power, custody and control the the bankers who operate the ETFs. The sly but very effective obstruction of Bitcoin MoE utility is so nearly universal it is hard to see it being overcome. Perhaps if some jurisdiction where it is allowed experiences significant economic advantage it might happen, but the IMF and other fiat gangster fronts will do everything in their power to stop it, as they have done to El Salvador. I have tried, and failed to encourage several of my favourite merchants to accept Bitcoin (a burger bar and a coffee bean seller) but neither appears keen. The obstacles are in most cases too great and the rewards to slim, and given the momentum of the 'speculative commodity' narrative and the obstruction of MoE utility, I see limited hope of any change...just more gradual restriction of MoE utility...they don't need to outright ban it if they can continue to achieve what they have done already...which is near complete sly, obstruction.

7 sats \ 3 replies \ @LivingOnBitcoin OP 1h

I acknowledge the obstacles and have an appreciation of conversation. Please don't take this as me dismissing you as FUD. Like I've said in other replys, I know I may not change your opinion, and vice versa, mine won't change. However, what would need to happen for you to feel more optimistic?

view all 3 replies

0 sats \ 1 reply \ @siggy47 14h

@k00b posted your video about The Melville Deli on an old post I made about the place. Nice job! Next time ask Simon about his old mining days. I look forward to seeing if you can sniff out some more places in the NYC area that accept bitcoin.

36 sats \ 0 replies \ @LivingOnBitcoin OP 14h

I saw! Thank you so much for the kind words and insight. I’ll 121% ask Simon about his old mining days, that’s gotta be so cool to hear! Speaking in more merchants, oh don’t you worry… More content coming soon. :)

0 sats \ 1 reply \ @BlokchainB 15h

Absolutely! I tried get on zero last year with some pain points but for the most part I do!
Saving is easy. In quadruple long bitcoin so that isn’t an issue. It’s always spending. I get called a fiat maxi shit coiner because I use sats to purchase Visa prepaid cards.
Zeus Wallet! And NWC with alby

137 sats \ 0 replies \ @LivingOnBitcoin OP 14h

At least you tried. That’s a big step and proves to you that it’s possible. Maybe not today, but tomorrow.

Hey, if you buy Visa prepaid cards with Bitcoin, to me that still counts. As long as you understand where things are going, you’ll do just fine.

Zeus wallet is my go-to. I can happily say the same about Alby too. Good choices!

0 sats \ 5 replies \ @Scoresby 19h

Are you trying to live on Bitcoin? No. Toyed with the idea, but I'm not willing to put in the mental work necessary to make it all work.
What's the biggest challenge you face in spending or saving BTC? Using gift cards or other ways for spending btc at merchants who do not accept it directly.
Any tools or apps you can't live without? I use silent.link for esims and love it.

202 sats \ 3 replies \ @DarthCoin 15h

I'm not willing to put in the mental work necessary to make it all work.

0 sats \ 2 replies \ @Scoresby 15h

What is your best argument to go full bitcoin? (as opposed to stacking like mad, and using the fiat you get to pay fiat denominated bills)

202 sats \ 0 replies \ @DarthCoin 5h

Fuck govs and banks. Every time you ude bitcoin instead of fiat, you are plunging a dagger in their heart, making fiat even more weak and insignificant.
Individual empowerment. By surounding yourself with people using bitcoin as money, you create a strong circular economy that the state hate it and can never control it. The state will never have any power over p2p use of bitcoin as money.
Savings. Bitcoin is total opposite to fiat. Fiat means compulsive spending on all kind of bullshit things. Bitcoin means savings, you spend your sats wisely only on things that you really NEED (not wanted) and only when the time is right. That means you SAVE money for when are needed instead of being always in debt (fiat).

You will understand how powerful are these 3 points when you will start being PAID in bitcoin and not fiat anymore. That's why many people still fo not want to spend bitcoin and live on bitcoin, because thry still fo not earn only in btc, just dca crap.

202 sats \ 0 replies \ @LivingOnBitcoin OP 14h

I’m sure they’re better people out there who can answer this better than me. In my opinion, fiat currencies have lost most if not all their value and credibility. Mainly due to the endless printing and poor management from the different governments around the world.

I choose to go “full Bitcoin” because I believe in the future of Bitcoin and its core ethos. I believe in freedom, the ability to opt out of the current system whenever I want too. Having my net worth in Bitcoin has only provided me more and more opportunities, whether it’s being an inflation hedge, medium of account, and as my money. It’s only good things from here.

I understand I may not pursue you or change your opinion. But I hope it sheds a light on the impact Bitcoin has made thus far.

Sure, you can stack hard. Spend fiat, but you have to think about it like this… You could buy more Bitcoin with your fiat and just spend with Bitcoin as your actually money instead of fiat being your currency and Bitcoin as savings.

I hope this makes sense, it’s so difficult to express my thoughts through text. I don’t want to plug my channel but that’s where I go more in depth on topics like these. Cheers!

102 sats \ 0 replies \ @LivingOnBitcoin OP 19h

No worries, when I first started I was really on-edge. Not to fear, you're in the right spot to learn how you can "live on" a Bitcoin Standard.

Gift cards are a great way to ease your way into spending Bitcoin in the real world. I use them all the time for coffee, gas, groceries, even travel.

I've heard of silent.link but never took that second look at it. I would much rather try out that then use Bitrefill's esim offerings.

Lastly, I really hope you find value here. Thanks for the reply!

0 sats \ 1 reply \ @criptopanas 1h

One of the biggest challenge I face every now and then, is proving that I've enough funds.

For example, this week I had to renew some papers in Portugal and I need to prove that I have enough funds to live here...But, of course BTC is just Internet Magic money...

Also, to be able to rent a property was a big challenge. Most of the landlords prefer to see a good salary or a big bank account and I don't have any of them.

0 sats \ 0 replies \ @LivingOnBitcoin OP 1h

In America, they run your credit. Bitcoin doesn't contribute to your credit score actively. If I didn't have previous credit history, I can kiss goodbye low interest rates, loans, mortages, credit cards, etc.

I am trying to put myself in your shoes and understand how you feel... The simpliest way I see is having your Bitcoin stack and a traditional bank account where you pay those pesky "fiat only" bills and expenses. Focus your time and energy on increasing your monthly cash flow, once the extra income rolls in, you will be able to go from there. It's definitely going to be more work, harder (mentally, physically, and emotionally) but believe in yourself.

0 sats \ 0 replies \ @unboiled 6h freebie

Are you trying to live on Bitcoin too?

Yes.

We spend each year across multiple countries. Part of the year we spend in South Africa where we can buy a lot of things with Lightning at one of their major supermarket chains, Pick'n'Pay. That covers an incredible range of products, and even includes things like household water & electricity, as you can buy prepaid codes for those at PnP.

What’s the biggest challenge you face in spending or saving BTC?

Finding ways to pay for insurance and levies, finding merchants accepting bitcoin/lightning in the other locations (we spend significant time in Europe and every other year Asia).

Another, sort of challenge was the friction to stay on top of sats in and out to track CGT. But I gladly endured that friction, rather than the lazy approach which just means supporting fiat by leaving more cash in that system. We resolved the CGT challenge by leaving our jurisdiction, but I still keep track of the sats, cost-of-goods style.

Finally, my wife is only coming around slowly, but I need to pace myself to not alienate her. She is starting to see the light (see below for a prime example). But for now, we still have significant holdings in fiat (emergency fund) and a good old-fashioned ETF retirement portfolio - albeit we're adding very little to that these days, way more goes into BTC.

Any tools or apps you can’t live without?

In no particular order:

Bitrefill, I suppose I could live without it, but don't want to :)
Crypto debit cards
Lightning wallet & CryptoQR (the app to pay at PnP, it decodes then reroutes payment info to Lightning wallet)
Cold storage
My spreadsheet of sats in vs sats out, a modified FIFO cost-of-goods sheet to track how much I paid for the sats I am spending today

That last one is an invaluable tool in helping my wife - and also myself - understand the benefits of living on BTC. Prime example: We bought a cruise, and to thank her for her support and trust in me wrt. BTC, I told her I'd pay the remainder (deposit had to be paid immediately), by selling BTC - cruise operator only takes fiat, obv. She was delighted to see we got a "discount" of over 70% by using the sats that were next in line to be spent which I bought about 3 years earlier.

All the best of luck with your channel! I'm certainly going to follow.

I'm in the early process of starting a blog on the exact same topic as you: How to live on BTC with a mix of the motivation for it and practical examples from my own life. Hoping to help early stage bitcoiners in embracing a more self-sovereign monetary life. It's still early days, but I hope to have a pipeline of posts ready soon(tm).

I'm also sure I'll be able to refer to your work, so I'm looking forward to explore your content.

0 sats \ 1 reply \ @hasherstacker 18h

I love the idea of earning and spending sats. Any challenges? When it comes to spending Bitcoin, most services requires converting Bitcoin into fiat. That's not how it works. The 2 pizzas were bought with Bitcoin, without converting into fiat.

0 sats \ 0 replies \ @LivingOnBitcoin OP 17h

I totally get your point of view and respect it. However, sometimes joining the enemy is the most effective option to get to your goal. Don't get me wrong, maybe I am not the best at explaining my thoughts, but spending Bitcoin P2P is the ultimate goal.

I know I won't change your opinion, and that's okay... I would just keep an open mind to the idea of converting to fiat, for now. Whether that's through intermediaries, gift-cards, fiat, etc.

0 sats \ 3 replies \ @d680ecaa8e 18h

Are you trying to live on Bitcoin too? Bitcoin is to fund ByBit Credit Card to make some online purchases. Or sometimes Redotpay no more than that. What’s the biggest challenge you face in spending or saving BTC? Biggest challenge when spending saving BTC is bad internet connection. Any tools or apps you can’t live without? Blink wallet

100 sats \ 2 replies \ @LivingOnBitcoin OP 18h

Here in the States we have some credit card offerings that seem interesting, how is ByBit's? What I do is pay with my cash-back/miles/point earning credit cards and pay off those balances (in full) with Bitcoin via Strike's Bill Pay feature.

I am very luck to have a solid internet connection. However, that could change in a moments notice or when I travel across the county and or abroad. Definitely something to think and plan for. I actually think there are ways to pay lightning invoices with bluetooth technology. Think the Bolt Ring or NFC cards, etc.

Blink wallet would be awesome to try out, however its not allowed in the USA. Fingers crossed our offerings increase in the future!

0 sats \ 1 reply \ @d680ecaa8e 17h

Same concept, ByBit it is a wallet exchange and offers card to be top up with crypto.

0 sats \ 0 replies \ @LivingOnBitcoin OP 17h

Got it! That would be amazing as far as middleman services go. Just remember that your Bitcoin is their's while its on the exchange. But, I am sure you already knew that. Ha.

0 sats \ 0 replies \ @HighOfLot 6h outlawed

stackers have outlawed this. turn on wild west mode in your /settings to see outlawed content.

0 sats \ 0 replies \ @Macoy31 4h outlawed

stackers have outlawed this. turn on wild west mode in your /settings to see outlawed content.