A word for: The ability to go without, or thrive with less of, something

Is there a single word that captures the ability of an individual to go without, or thrive with less of, or function with less sophisticated versions of, something that others might depend on?

Near synonyms might be "resilient", "robust", "low-maintenance", "independent", or "self-reliant", but I'm not sure any of them quite capture the full connotations (feel free to disagree, though).

Examples of types of people who might be described this way:

  • A carpenter who is skilled with basic hand-tools, who could build quality products even if he didn't have power tools.
  • A person experienced with fasting (like a monk or fitness guru), who could function better than others in a situation where food is scarce.
  • Someone who maintains a healthy relationship with their phone and technology, who can remain perfectly happy even if their electricity goes out.
  • Prepper types of people, who supposedly can maintain a functioning household even in a scenario of civilizational disruption.
  • Someone skilled in mental arithmetic, who can do useful calculations even if a calculator or computer is not available.
  • Someone very skilled in meditation, who can maintain their wellbeing even with the absence of any worldly pleasures or stimulation.

I'd really love something that captures the general vibe of all this, if there is such a word. Thanks!


Solution 1:

You could call them ascetic. This means that the person tries not to engage in indulgence and lives independently. I can see how this could be a stretch though.