Money Secrets of the Amish
Book Description
Discover the money-saving and wealth-building secrets of America’s thriftiest people, the Amish.
Author, journalist, and descendant of the Amish, Lorilee Craker, was just like the rest of us, feeling the pinch from the financial fallout of 2008. As a freelancer, her income was going the way of the dodo—family dollars seemed like an extinct myth, the bank account some archeological evidence of past prosperity.
Then, inspired by a news segment covering her people, the Amish, and how they emerged from the economic crisis unscathed, she realized it was time to get back to her roots and learn a thing or two about their time-tested approach to personal finances. While the middle-class was wringing its hands over the family budget and the wealthy were weeping over their slashed portfolios, the Amish were content as always, spared from the cares of the world and worldliness. They not only had financial health to support their lives, they exuded a wholeness that eludes so many when the financial bottom drops out.
In Money Secrets of the Amish, readers go on an “Amish money makeover,” learning the choices, secrets, and disciplines that safeguarded the contentment and the coffers of America’s favorite plain folk by spending less, saving more, and getting happier doing it.
This Mom’s Review
Ouch! This book has really shown me how wasteful I am. Growing up, we didn’t have extras or fancy things. My parents bought the groceries they could afford and were creative with our meals. We had an Atari, but the family shared it and took turns. My mom even made some of my clothes. I didn’t feel deprived, by the way!
Today, each person in my home has a cell phone, we have three game consoles, and more than we actually need as a family unit. We also tend to waste food in the kitchen.
This book has sensible ideas in it to use what one already has and saying no to overindulgence, whether it’s being said to your children or to yourself. We have gotten ourselves into a financial jam, and this book is going to be a resource that is used in helping us examine our situation and getting the debt paid down.
I highly recommend this book to anyone, Amish or not.
I received a copy of this book from BookSneeze.com in exchange for my honest review. To purchase this book or read more about it, visit ThomasNelson.com.
I’d love to read this book. Whenever we visit Lancaster, Pa, I admire the Amish people and the way they live.
It is funny how every member of the family has to have a cell phone, but when we were kids, all we needed was a dime in our pocket in case we had to call home.
Thanks for the review!
@Jackie, The more the world offers, the more we seem to ‘need’…
This book looks interesting…I may have to borrow your copy sometime to browse before committing to purchase of the book. When I was a kid we went from living in the city and having everything we ever wanted to moving to a small rural town. We had to grow and pick our own food (this was quite a strain for a girl who honestly thought corn was made and canned!!) I learned a lot growing up in Sedan. We had meat butchered and bought milk from a dairy. The closest town where you could purchase clothes (or the closest Wal-mart) was 45 minutes away so we learned to do without a lot and my Mom made a lot of our clothes. I don’t think I wore a dress in my younger days that she didn’t make.
I love being 10 minutes from a Wal-mart. I have options available to me when I get in a rush or a hurry…but I miss many things from back home…like the ice cream social when everyone met at the park with freezers full of flavored cream and kids took turns turning the cranks until the cream was frozen…then we went from bucket to bucket sampling the different flavors. Or the watermelon feeds (and seed spitting competition) that were held at the park. The turnip field were free turnips grew (I hate turnips but as we were told we would never starve).
This year I grew my own garden and as I was weeding amongst the corn plants the scent of the husks took me back to days when all the family and friends would gather in chairs on the porch and we would shuck the corn. We put up a station wagon full of corn each year and the husks would be stacked layer upon layer on the porch. As a child as I got tired of shucking the corn I would sit in the husks and inhale the aroma as I played with the silks.
I think my parents had a choice to make when we were young and they made the right one by moving us to a little town and letting us experience all that a little town has to offer. I wish we had times here for ice cream socials, watermelon competitions and corn husking sessions!!
@Richelle, An ice cream social sounds wonderful!
I think there are so many good lessons that we can learn from the Amish for sure.
Being creative with what you buy and the meals you make is a fun way to save money. We buy things in bulk so that we can turn it into several meals which we either eat throughout the week, or freeze a few dishes for later.
I am facinated with other cultruals and how they are different than us. Everything has a different reason with a logistic explanation. Although I may not read this book (I am a fantasy reader) I do appreciate the review.
Isn’t it funny how quickly times have changed? Even in the past 10 years…! I didn’t get my own cell phone until I have a freshman in college. Now I am sure my now 2 year old daughter will have one by 1st grade (at least) even though I would rather her wait but it is for safety these days!!
Wooowwwwwww! I have a hate/love relationship with books like this. I’m like um no, I’m not giving up my stuff…but I could save SO MUCH MONEY if I did…! While I think a mobile phone is a necessity these days, you certainly don’t need one with Facebook and apps and all that junk! I hate being told that though haha. Thanks for the post!
I think I would enjoy this book. I have always been fascinated by the Amish’s simple way of life. I love visiting Amish markets and all their hand-made products.