UNITED STATES
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

                                    FORM 10-Q

(Mark One)

[X] QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES
    EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

                For the Quarterly Period Ended September 27, 1997

                                       OR

[ ] TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE
    SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934



                          Commission file number 0-6633

                             FOR BETTER LIVING, INC.
             (Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)

                 Delaware                                  95-2598411
      (State or other jurisdiction of                   (I.R.S. employer
        incorporation or organization)                  identification no.)

          13620 Lincoln Way, #380                         95603-3236
             Auburn, California                           (Zip code)
      (Address of principal executive offices)


                                 (916) 823-9600
              (Registrant's telephone number, including area code)



Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant (1) has filed all reports required
to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during
the preceding  twelve months (or for such shorter period that the Registrant was
required  to file  such  reports),  and  (2) has  been  subject  to such  filing
requirements for the past 90 days. Yes  X   No
                                      -----    -----

Indicate the number of shares outstanding of each of the Registrant's classes of
common stock as of November 7, 1997:

                 Common Stock, $.05 par value - 877,616 shares.



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                    FOR BETTER LIVING, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
                                      INDEX





Part I.  Financial Information                                          Page No.

 Item 1. Financial Statements
 
         Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets, September 27, 1997, and        3
         December 28, 1996
 
         Condensed  Consolidated  Statements  of  Operations  for the Three    4
         Months Ended  September  27, 1997 and  September 28, 1996 and for
         the Nine Months Ended
         September 27, 1997 and September 28, 1996
 
         Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the Nine          5
         Months Ended September 27, 1997 and September 28, 1996
 
         Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements                  6
 
 
 Item 2. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and       7
         Results of Operations
 
 
Part II.  Other Information

 Item 6.  Exhibits and Reports on Form 8-K                                     8



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<PAGE>
<TABLE>
                                          PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION
                                           Item 1. Financial Statements

                                     FOR BETTER LIVING, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
                                      CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

<CAPTION>
                                                                                    September 27,   December 28,
                                                                                         1997          1996
                                                                                    ------------   ------------
<S>                                                                                 <C>             <C>
ASSETS
CURRENT ASSETS:
  Cash and cash equivalents                                                         $  3,742,000    $  1,518,000
  Accounts receivable - trade (less allowance for doubtful accounts of $1,102,000
    and $847,000 at September 27, 1997 and December 28, 1996 , respectfully)          18,173,000      17,259,000
  Inventories                                                                         11,810,000       9,978,000
  Deferred income taxes                                                                1,480,000       1,873,000
  Other                                                                                3,353,000       2,483,000
                                                                                    ------------    ------------
    Total current assets                                                              38,558,000      33,111,000
                                                                                    ------------    ------------
PROPERTY:
 Property at cost                                                                     46,198,000      40,379,000
  Less accumulated depreciation and amortization                                     (29,289,000)    (29,271,000)
                                                                                    ------------    ------------
    Property - net                                                                    16,909,000      11,108,000
                                                                                    ------------    ------------
AVAILABLE-FOR-SALE SECURITIES                                                               --           164,000
                                                                                    ------------    ------------
OTHER ASSETS                                                                           3,017,000       2,633,000
                                                                                    ------------    ------------
    TOTAL                                                                           $ 58,484,000    $ 47,016,000
                                                                                    ============    ============

LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
CURRENT LIABILITIES:
  Current portion of long-term debt and capital lease obligations                   $  1,876,000    $  1,624,000
  Accounts payable - trade                                                             5,033,000       4,647,000
  Accrued salaries and wages                                                           2,188,000       2,976,000
  Deferred income                                                                      2,251,000       2,009,000
  Other                                                                                3,045,000       2,273,000
                                                                                    ------------    ------------
     Total current liabilities                                                        14,393,000      13,529,000
                                                                                    ------------    ------------
LONG-TERM DEBT AND CAPITAL LEASE OBLIGATIONS                                          26,756,000      15,565,000
                                                                                    ------------    ------------
OTHER LIABILITIES (primarily deferred compensation)                                      786,000         893,000
                                                                                    ------------    ------------
STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY:
  Preferred stock - par value $1.00 per share (authorized, 150,000 shares;
    outstanding, none)
  Common stock - par value $.05 per share (authorized, 2,500,000
    shares; outstanding, 877,616 shares)                                                  44,000          44,000
  Additional paid-in capital                                                           1,083,000       1,083,000
  Treasury stock, at cost, 200 shares                                                     (3,000)           --
  Unrealized net gains and losses on available-for-sale securities                          --            33,000
  Retained earnings                                                                   15,425,000      15,869,000
                                                                                    ------------    ------------
    Total stockholders' equity                                                        16,549,000      17,029,000
                                                                                    ------------    ------------
    TOTAL                                                                           $ 58,484,000    $ 47,016,000
                                                                                    ============    ============
<FN>
 See the accompanying notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.          
</FN>
</TABLE>


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<TABLE>
                                        FOR BETTER LIVING, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

                                     CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS


<CAPTION>
                                                     Three Months Ended              Nine Months Ended
                                                 --------------------------    ----------------------------
                                                 September 27, September 28,   September 27,   September 28,

                                                     1997            1996           1997           1996
                                                ------------     ------------  ------------    ------------
<S>                                              <C>            <C>            <C>             <C>
NET REVENUES                                     $ 28,316,000   $ 24,126,000   $ 75,959,000    $ 71,437,000
                                                 ------------   ------------   ------------    ------------
COST AND EXPENSES:
  Cost of sales                                    18,801,000     15,646,000     50,052,000      46,627,000
  Selling, general and administrative expenses      9,244,000      7,927,000     26,674,000      22,859,000
  Interest expense                                    589,000        396,000      1,472,000       1,161,000
                                                 ------------   ------------   ------------    ------------
Total cost and expenses                            28,634,000     23,969,000     78,198,000      70,647,000
                                                 ------------   ------------   ------------    ------------

OTHER INCOME                                        1,643,000           --        1,643,000            --
                                                 ------------   ------------   ------------    ------------
INCOME (LOSS) BEFORE PROVISION FOR TAXES            1,325,000        157,000       (596,000)        790,000

PROVISION (BENEFIT) FOR TAXES                         534,000         63,000       (239,000)        317,000
                                                 ------------   ------------   ------------    ------------
NET INCOME (LOSS)                                $    791,000   $     94,000   $   (357,000)   $    473,000
                                                 ============   ============   ============    ============

NET INCOME (LOSS)  PER COMMON SHARE:             $       0.90   $       0.11   $      (0.41)   $       0.54
                                                 ------------   ------------   ------------    ------------
WEIGHTED AVERAGE NUMBER OF
 COMMON SHARES OUTSTANDING                            877,749        877,816        877,794         877,816
                                                 ============   ============   ============    ============

CASH DIVIDENDS PER COMMON SHARE                  $       0.00   $       0.00   $       0.10    $       0.10
                                                 ============   ============   ============    ============


<FN>
 See the accompanying notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.          
</FN>
</TABLE>


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<TABLE>
                                       FOR BETTER LIVING, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

                                     CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS


<CAPTION>
                                                                               Nine Months Ended
                                                                         -----------------------------
                                                                         September 27,   September 28,
                                                                              1997            1996
                                                                          ------------    ------------
<S>                                                                       <C>             <C>
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES:
   Net (loss) income                                                      $   (357,000)        473,000
   Depreciation, depletion and amortization                                  1,406,000       1,223,000
   Other                                                                    (3,197,000)     (5,110,000)

NET CASH USED IN OPERATING ACTIVITIES                                     $ (2,148,000)   $ (3,414,000)
                                                                          ------------    ------------
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
   Purchases of property                                                    (7,108,000)     (1,917,000)
   Purchases of available-for-sale securities                                     --          (373,000)
   Proceeds from the sale of property and available-for-sale securities        175,000       3,714,000
                                                                          ------------    ------------

NET CASH (USED IN) PROVIDED BY INVESTING ACTIVITIES                         (6,933,000)      1,424,000
                                                                          ------------    ------------
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
   Proceeds from long-term borrowings                                       12,086,000       3,071,000
   Proceeds from short-term borrowings                                         250,000            --
   Payment of long-term debt and capital lease obligations                    (940,000)     (1,219,000)
   Dividends paid                                                              (88,000)        (88,000)
   Purchase of treasury shares                                                  (3,000)           --
                                                                          ------------    ------------
NET CASH PROVIDED BY FINANCING ACTIVITIES
                                                                            11,305,000       1,764,000
                                                                          ------------    ------------

NET INCREASE (DECREASE) IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS                         2,224,000        (226,000)

CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS AT BEGINNING OF PERIOD                             1,518,000       1,528,000
                                                                          ------------    ------------

CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS AT END OF PERIOD                                   3,742,000       1,302,000
                                                                          ============    ============
 CASH PAID (REFUNDED) DURING THE PERIOD FOR THE FOLLOWING:
   Interest                                                               $  1,378,000    $  1,028,000
                                                                          ============    ============

   Income taxes                                                          ($    326,000)   $     46,000
                                                                          ============    ============

<FN>
 See the accompanying notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.          
</FN>
</TABLE>


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                    FOR BETTER LIVING, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
              NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS



1.       The accompanying  unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements
     have been prepared in accordance with the instructions to Form 10-Q and, in
     the opinion of the Company,  include all  adjustments  (consisting  only of
     normal  recurring  accruals)  necessary  to present  fairly  the  financial
     position, results of operations and changes in cash flows of the Company as
     of the dates and for the periods  indicated.  All significant  intercompany
     transactions have been eliminated.  Certain amounts as previously  reported
     have been reclassified to conform to the current period presentation.


2.       The  results of  operations  for interim  periods  are not  necessarily
     indicative of the results to be expected for the full fiscal year.


3.       Inventories consist of the following:

                                          September 27,       December 28,
                                             1997                1996
                                        ----------------    ----------------
         Finished Products              $   6,585,000       $   6,550,000
         Work-in-process                      346,000             398,000
         Raw Materials and supplies         4,914,000           2,995,000
                                        ----------------    ----------------
         Total Inventories              $   9,978,000       $  11,810,000
                                        ================    ================



         3.  The  Company  received,  in  prior  periods,  notices  of  proposed
     assessments  from the California  Franchise Tax Board ("CFTB")  relating to
     its  1978-1981 tax years.  The Company paid the assessed  taxes of $379,000
     and associated  interest of $946,000 in 1992. The Company  prevailed at the
     California  Court of Appeal  and  received a  $2,036,000  return of tax and
     interest in September 1997,  recognizing $1,643,000 as other income and the
     remainder as an adjustment to its tax provision.

         Deductions  similar to those  disallowed  by the CFTB for the 1978-1981
     tax years were also taken by the Company in its subsequent  tax years.  The
     CFTB has recently examined those subsequent periods and, as a result of its
     examination, has issued a notice of proposed assessment of additional taxes
     for tax  years  1982-1987.  The  proposed  assessment  is for  $272,000  in
     additional  taxes  which would  result in  associated  interest  expense of
     approximately  $599,000  through the third quarter of 1997. In light of the
     ruling in the 1978 through 1981 tax years the Company  believes  that these
     assessments will be dismissed.

5.       In August 1997 the Company amended its loan and security agreement with
     its lender to provide  for:  (i) a  seven-year  term loan in the  principal
     amount of $6,000,000  used to finance  equipment and repay  existing  debt,
     (ii) a five-year  revolving  credit facility in an amount up to $30,000,000
     used to refinance the Company's  previously existing credit facility and to
     provide working capital, (iii) an eight-year real property term facility in
     an  amount  up to  $4,500,000,  and (iv) a  five-year  capital  expenditure
     facility not to exceed $3,000,000 (collectively, the "Quikset Loans").

         The Quikset Loans provide $30,000,000 maximum credit availability, bear
     interest at rates equal to the prime rate plus .25% to prime plus 1.00% and
     are secured entirely by assets of The Quikset Organization.


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                    FOR BETTER LIVING, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
        NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)



6.       In September 1997 the Company  purchased the approximately 43 acre site
     of the  Quikset  Associated  Concrete  Products  Santa  Ana  plant for $3.8
     million plus costs.  The Company  financed the purchase  through a new loan
     agreement using the site as collateral.  The Company intends to continue to
     operate the Quikset  manufacturing  facility at current  capacity  and will
     evaluate options for any land surplus to its concrete manufacturing needs.



            ITEM 2. MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL
                       CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS


Liquidity and Capital Requirements

     Over  the  first  nine  months  of  1997  $2,148,000  of cash  was  used by
operations.  Cash generated from  financing and investment  activities  included
$7,586,000  proceeds  from the  Quikset  Loans,  $4,500,000  mortgage  proceeds,
$250,000 of  short-term  borrowings  and $175,000  from the sale of property and
available  for sale  securities.  These funds were used to support  cash used by
operations,  $7,108,000 of capital expenditures,  $940,000 of debt payments, and
$88,000 of dividend payments.

     The Company's  management believes that its liquidity position at September
27, 1997,  together with funds  anticipated  to be generated from its operations
and  available  under its  revolving  credit,  real  estate  term and  equipment
financing  facilities  will  provide  sufficient  cash  resources to finance its
operating activities.


Results of Operations

     For Better  Living's net revenues for the nine months ended  September  27,
1997 increased $4,522,000, or 6.3%, compared to the same period last year. Third
quarter revenues  increased  $4,190,000,  or 17.4%. The increase in year to date
and third  quarter  revenues was largely due to increased  demand at The Quikset
Organization's  California  concrete  operations and its plastics operations and
continued  growth in advertising  and newsstand  revenues at the  Communications
Group.

        For the nine months ended September 27, 1997, For Better Living's
income before taxes decreased $1,386,000, or 175.4%, compared to the same period
last year. Third quarter  earnings before taxes increased  $1,168,000 or 743.9%,
compared  to the same period last year.  The  decrease in year to date  earnings
before taxes was due primarily to increased selling,  general and administrative
expenses at both The Quikset  Organization  and the  Communications  Group.  The
Quikset Organization increased its selling,  general and administrative expenses
to support  continued  growth in its  revenue  base.  The  Communications  Group
continued  to increase the level of spending in its new  magazine,  Inside Golf,
and in Bike Magazine in an effort to increase  circulation growth and the demand
for  advertising  space.  These  investments  are  reflected in higher  selling,
general  and  administrative  expenses.  Settlement  of  the  dispute  with  the
California  Franchise  Tax Board in September  1997  resulted in other income of
$1,643,000 and was the primary  contributor to the earnings  growth of the third
quarter.

          The Communications Group decided, in October 1997, to suspend
publication of its new magazine, Inside Golf.



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            ITEM 2. MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL
                 CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS (CONTINUED)



         Interest  expense  increased  in 1997  primarily  due to an increase in
     borrowings under the line of credit  arrangement from the comparable period
     of the prior year.

         Net  gains   recognized  on  the   disposition  of   available-for-sale
     securities  for the nine months ended  September 27, 1997 and September 28,
     1996 were $52,000 and $318,000, respectively.





                           PART II. OTHER INFORMATION



                    Item 6. Exhibits and Reports on Form 8-K


  (a) The following Exhibits are filed as part of this Report: The numbers refer
      to the Exhibit Table of Item 601 of Regulation S-K.

      3.1    Certificate of Incorporation.  Incorporated by reference to Exhibit
             3.1 of the  Registrant's  Amended  Form  10-K  for the  year  ended
             December 30, 1995.

      3.2    By-Laws of the Registrant. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.2
             of the  Registrant's  Amended Form 10-K for the year ended December
             30, 1995.

      10     Amended  and  Restated  Loan and  Security  Agreement  with the CIT
             Group/Credit Finance, dated August 14, 1997.

      27     Financial Data Schedule

  (b) There  were no  reports  on Form 8-K filed  for the  three  months  ended
      September 27, 1997.



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                                   SIGNATURES


Pursuant  to the  requirements  of the  Securities  Exchange  Act of  1934,  the
Registrant  has duly  caused  this  report  to be  signed  on its  behalf by the
undersigned thereunto duly authorized.



                                                 FOR BETTER LIVING, INC.



DATE:    November 7, 1997                        BY: Karl M. Stockbridge
       -----------------------                       -------------------
                                                     Karl M. Stockbridge
                                                     Executive Vice President



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