How to Survive Without a Salary: Learning How to Live the Conserver Lifestyle

by Charles K. Long

Have you ever wished you could . . . . . . quit your boring job? . . . take a year off to travel the world? . . . own your own home? . . . move to the country? . . . retire early? . . . have more joy and contentment in your everyday life? Stop wishing and start reading How to Survive Without a Salary. Since its first publication over 20 years ago, this book has helped many make their dreams come true through the "Conserver Lifestyle." Author Charles Long shows that by changing from consumers to conservers, we can regain control over the way we live. Conservers don’t worry about losing their jobs or not having enough for their retirement. They do work that they love instead of settling for whatever pays the rent. They have discovered that it is possible to survive, and even thrive, without a regular salary. How to Survive Without a Salary shows you how you can create your own practical plan for leaving the world of wages by -avoiding consumer traps -earning casual income -budgeting effectively -finding alternatives to high retail prices -saving on taxes and insurance. If you want to leave the rat race behind, have been forced to leave it behind, or simply want to get away from it all for a while, How to Survive Without a Salary offers a valuable combination of inspiration and practical advice that will show how you can survive economically without compromising your values or your happiness.

Genres: Finance, Nonfiction, Self Help, Personal Finance, Money, Business, Philosophy

232 pages, Paperback

First published October 1, 1986

Reviews

[KJ · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm not exactly sure why but I always get a kick out of these books. I don't want to live 'off the grid' or in extreme retirement but I always find the clever ways people manage to do as much very fascinating. Frugal living/environmental daily living practices have become such a hobby of mine that I look forward to books like these.

[Marjorie Elwood · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this manual and found a great deal of useful information in it. It was much more practical than many of the other "live without a salary" books and the writing was pretty humorous as well. As an added bonus (since I'm Canadian) the author is Canadian and some of the information was geared specifically to those living in Canada.

[Jessica · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was very informative. I liked it, but it lacked the 'spark' that could have made it motivational as well. It made me decide that I don't actually want to live cheap. I want to be rich. But not accumulate stuff. But I think it's a positive way to live one's life, and worth a read if you think you might be interested in living on less.

[Gina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Written in the mid-1990s. Yeah, it's dated --- all the reviews here say so -- but, you know, it's pretty simply mentally updated. A great basic primer on how not to be a slave to consumerism.

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was entertaining and made me think about my spending. It was recommended on the Tim Ferriss podcast. I'm not quite salary free just yet.

[Meg · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really great Canadian-written book about not getting wrapped up in the rat-race and the my-career-defines-me lifestyle. Not as much info for the young and starting out as I'd have liked but still really informative and inspiring. Thought-provoking read. Great!

[CJ Flynn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Charles covers a lot of good topics in this book I like his ideas about casual employment and just trying to minimize your expenses and really understand your place in the economy your contribution and how everything kind of interconnects but giving you more control over your life and your expenses

[Christina Aguilar · Rating 2 out of 5]

too much emphasis on going to auctions and yard sales, like that's the most important way to save money. also, when I read "6% interest on savings account," I knew I shouldn't take the book seriously. but it's old, what can I do?

[Dan]

I won't have a salary soon, so how does that work?

[Janna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review coming. This was my... I dunno... fifth? Sixth? time through. I love this book.

[Caryn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great information on free-lancing, getting out of debt, shopping for bargains - but he goes farther, too. Really loving this one.

[Lori · Rating 2 out of 5]

If only.

[Laura]

Great information, I would like to read more books by this author

[JimZ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Think it can't be done? Take a look. A great contribution to human welfare.

[Deb · Rating 3 out of 5]

Dreaming of living even simpler and this lends further inspiration.