Living Well on Practically Nothing: Revised and Updated Edition is for people who need to live on a lot less money. If you have been fired, demoted, retired, divorced, widowed, bankrupted or swindled - or you just want to quit your job and remain financially self-reliant - this book is for you. In it are hundreds of tips, secrets and necessary skills for living well on little money. Chapters include: Save Up to $37,000 a Year and Live on $12,000 a Year; Low-Cost Computers for Fun, Profit, and Education; Some Ways to Live on No Money at All; A Day of Cheap Living; A New Career or Business for You; Fix Things and Make Them Last; and Protect Your Investments and Make Them Grow. From cover to cover, this book is stocked with proven methods for saving money on shelter, food, clothing, transportation, entertainment, health care and more. The author left the "system" in 1969 and has worked for himself ever since. Let him show you how you, too, can live happily, comfortably and with complete financial freedom.
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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.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
127 of 134 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
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.
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.
68 of 70 people found the following review helpful
Format: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)
+++++
"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)
+++++
74 of 77 people found the following review helpful
Format: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.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
Excellent book
This was an excellent book, I originally read it back in 1999. I found the book to be very insightful in regard to showing the reader how to cut down on their expenses. Read more
Published 12 months ago by John J. Ubele
I Love this friggin' book!
So many great ideas. Living in a boat for instance. I'm moving into a boat this month. Food ideas, alternative housing, alternative transportation, etc. Read more
Published 13 months ago by noiseyboy
Torn
I am torn 50/50. Half of me loved this book, but half of me felt very ripped off by the incongruency between price and quality of content. Read more
Published 19 months ago by Not Pleased
It wasn't all that ...
It's not like me to write a negative review about a book because, after all, we can find good in anything if we look, right? Read more
Published on February 14, 2010 by zendog57
Good HOW TO Guide
I read this book in about two nights. It's very interesting.
Allthough, most of the information is dated*, the principles** remain the same. Read more
Allthough, most of the information is dated*, the principles** remain the same. Read more
Published on January 15, 2010 by W. Lord
Important Lesson for All You Busy-Bodies
He gets a bit extreme at times, and its mainly for people heading out into the country (he also talks about how to hide undetected on government lands). Read more
Published on April 8, 2009 by OtherWorlds&Wisdom
Not so practical, but very inspirational
Edward H. Romney advocates (advocated?) a lifestyle based on voluntary simplicity and self-reliance, and here he gives a whole lot of ideas for achieving this. Read more
Published on August 3, 2008 by Curmudgeon
Don't waste your money
I found Mr. Romney's self-satisfied ode to living the life of a small-town scrooge/tight-wad to be arrogant, self-righteous and bordering on out-right offensive in places. Read more
Published on July 21, 2008 by Spartan5000
kind of bizarre
I'm a sucker for any book that tells me how to live a more frugal life. I think we're much too consumer oriented, so I like the idea of living a more simple life. Read more
Published on March 26, 2008 by J. Coulthurst
Living like a pauper.
The author was older. He had lived during the depression. If you hate hearing your parents and/or grand-parents belittling you because you did not survive the depression you will... Read more
Published on February 8, 2008 by G. C. Picchetti
Inside This Book
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First Sentence:
The hardest part of losing your wealth may be when you also lose the respect of friends and relatives. Read the first page Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
New Hampshire, New Mexico, South Carolina, West Virginia, North Carolina, New England, New York, United States, Rust Belt, Uncle John, Cape Cod, Great Depression, Country Ham, Dow Jones, New Jersey, Salvation Army, Lining Well, Social Security New!
Concordance | Text Stats Browse Sample Pages:
Front Cover | Table of Contents | First Pages | Back Cover | Surprise Me!
The hardest part of losing your wealth may be when you also lose the respect of friends and relatives. Read the first page Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
New Hampshire, New Mexico, South Carolina, West Virginia, North Carolina, New England, New York, United States, Rust Belt, Uncle John, Cape Cod, Great Depression, Country Ham, Dow Jones, New Jersey, Salvation Army, Lining Well, Social Security New!
Concordance | Text Stats Browse Sample Pages:
Front Cover | Table of Contents | First Pages | Back Cover | Surprise Me!
Citations (learn more)
This book cites 6
books:
See all 6 books this book cites
5
books
cite this book:
- Great Smoky Mountains (Natural Wonders) by Jason Cooper on page 25
- Hillary Clinton: The Inside Story: Revised and Updated by Judith Warner on page 174
- New Hampshire: An Explorer's Guide (Explorer's Guides) by Christina Tree on page 10
- The Swiss Family Robinson by Johann Wyss on page 10
- Walden Two by B. F. Skinner on page 160
See all 6 books this book cites
- Surviving Personal Bankruptcy: Your Guide to the Personal, Legal, and Financial Issues by Nora Raum on page 54, and Back Matter
- Cover Your Tracks Without Changing Your Identity: How to Disappear Until You WANT to Be Found by B. Wilson on page 64
- Ragnar's Action Encyclopedia by Ragnar Benson on page 200
- The Truth Behind the Mommy Wars: Who Decides What Makes a Good Mother? by Miriam Peskowitz on page 151
- Time Off! The Leisure Guide to San Francisco by Dean LaTourrette on page 47
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