Living Well On Practically Nothing [Illustrated] [Paperback]

Edward H. Romney (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 1992

If you have been fired, demoted, retired, divorced, widowed, bankrupted or swindled, this book is for you. Stocked with proven methods for saving money on shelter, food, clothing, transportation, health care, entertainment and more. Learn to live happily, comfortably and with complete financial freedom - the author has done so since 1969!

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

The late Edward H. Romney, the author and publisher of a popular series of books on repairing cameras, grew up in the 1930s, part of an old New England family that lost their money in the Great Depression. Before leaving his job in 1969 to live as a self-employed entrepreneur, he taught electronics, psychology, sociology and education at the college level.

Product Details

• Paperback: 160 pages
• Publisher: Paladin Press; illustrated edition edition (November 1992)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0873646940
• ISBN-13: 978-0873646949
• Product Dimensions: 10.7 x 8.4 x 0.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (29 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,713,207 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

126 of 133 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Interesting, but maybe not Practical, January 15, 2005

By 

Kelly "kelly" (United States) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Living Well on Practically Nothing: Revised and Updated Edition (Paperback)

I've enjoyed this book and found it an interesting read. The author does offer some good "thrifty living" advice throughout the book as well.

However, some of this book is more radical than most people might be willing to follow. We are a family with several young children - we aren't really up for moving away from all family, Church, and friends to live in a remote rural location. Nor would we be willing to convert an old bus into a home for our family. We aren't willing to give up basic utilities either. And as far as squatting on someone else's land and hiding our camp... well, let's just say that's not very practical with toddlers. :)

So, I think this book may be somewhat useful to families who are trying to live a thrifty existence and avoid the consumer trap. But at the same time, much of the advice may be too extreme for most people.

Its worth reading though, and I found the author's wry, conversational style writing entertaining and easy to read.

65 of 67 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A book that's like a toolbox filled with money-saving resources and techniques!!, July 11, 2006

By 

Stephen Pletko "Uncle Stevie" (London, Ontario, Canada) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Living Well on Practically Nothing: Revised and Updated Edition (Paperback)

+++++

"If you have lost your job or expect to, or had to take a much lower-paying job, or if you have ever wondered how you would survive if you were [without much money then] this book is for you. It is based upon the experiences of real people known to the author--and do very well at it. Teachers, preachers, retired members of the military, people on small inheritances, country people, old people who survived the Great Depression, farmers, writers, artists--all have contributed their know-how on economical living...the author comes from a whole family of [money-concious] New Englanders whose unique...lifestyle is detailed in this book. He remembers the 1930's Depression as a small boy. In later years his father never let him forget it...he has learned to [watch his money] with the best of them--and enjoy doing it. He has used [many of] the methods described in this book and been successful enough so that he is no longer [without money]...This book will help you if you have been fired, demoted, retired, divorced, widowed, bankrupted, or swindled."

The above is from the introduction to this book by Ed Romney. It pretty well sums up this book succintly. I should also mention one more thing that the author says:

"[This book] is not puffed up and padded like many [other] books. I have digested and condensed it to save paper and save your time reading it."

As a person who has thoroughly read this book, I can validate what Romney says in the above quotations. What he does not mention is that this book is, above all, practical.

Readers of this book might get the impression that they have to do everything that Romney suggests. NO. This book is for a wide spectrum of people even for people in extreme circumstances. The idea is to pick and choose. Even Romney admits that he hasn't done everything he suggests but mentions them only because he knows other people who have done them.

There is no index included with this book. Why? Because it doesn't need one. The chapter titles cut straight to the point of each chapter. My favorite chapters have the following titles:

(1) Save money on food
(2) Save on clothing
(3) Save on shelter
(4) Save on transportation
(5) Save on education, entertainment, and vacations
(6) Save on health and medical care
(7) Save up to $37,500 a year and live on $12,000 a year.

Each chapter is divided into sub-sections with a sub-title. This makes the book very easy to read. Here are some of the sub-titles for the first chapter:

(1) How to stay out of debt
(2) Credit cards are addictive
(3) Make things last
(4) There is no real status in spending
(5) Fighting consumer mentality
(6) The anti-spendthrift checklist
(7) Why do people work so hard for nothing?
(8) Don't be one of the apparently wealthy.

There are other good books on this same subject that I recommend:

(1) Your Money or Your Life (by Dominguez and Robin)
(2) How to Survive Without a Salary (by C. Long)
(3) The Joy of Not Working (by E. Zelinski)

I also recommend any movie version of "Death of a Salesman."

Finally, I found that some sections of this book had the author's opinions on various matters (such as on politics and education) that may offend some readers. (Personally I was not offended.) I felt the author could have made his point without these opinions.

In conclusion, this is a book for people who need to live on a lot less money. If this describes you, then you must read this book!!

(first published 1992; revised edition published 2001; introduction; 17 chapters; conclusion; main narrative 190 pages)

+++++

71 of 74 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars redneck vs millionaire econonics, July 28, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: Living Well On Practically Nothing (Paperback)

I love this book. The author just died this year 2003, the day after Easter. I wish I could have met him.

Every page is filled with neat ideas. I especially love his "redneck vs millionaire economics."

He describes how his son started a business recycling used pallets and built it into a million dollar business.

One chapter is "How to save $37,500 and live on $12,000 a year."

This book does not have the typical frugal ideas of turning down the thermostat and collecting coupons. There are plenty of other books to describe those ideas.