Book: Money Secrets Of The Amish

[Tussiemussies]

This book was on my FB newsfeed and looked really interesting, how the Amish are thriving during a recession...


http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/10475080-money-secrets-of-the-amish

[Zoe Girl]

Oh I am totally going to read it, and get it from the library too.

It is good to know that simplicity will pay overall! Maybe I will give a copie to my mom who is out shopping today, I did exclaim yesterday what else she could possibly need to buy.

[goldensmom]

I would probably read the book but from what I've learned by simply interacting with the Amish that live around me is that they do not spend money on a lot of the things non-Amish spend money on; they borrow things that non-Amish usually buy; they trade services that non-Amish usually pay for. They save by not spending. Their lives are not that simple just different, most of the young Amish that I know had smartphones before I had one.

[frugal-one]

I read the book about a month ago. Nothing new to me. Checked it out from the library.

[Zoebird]

looks like an intresting read.

one of the things that my neighbors and I have started doing is pooling resources. Between 4 houses, we have one tool kit, and each of us put in to pay for it. It was purchased used, though a builder whom we know.

It's great because we store it in the one person's garage, send a note via FB and pick it up when needed.

We also now share a vacuum cleaner -- because we wanted to get an industrial, really good one, so we did as a group (also used).

We share a lot of kitchen equipment, too, and even each other's kitchens on occasion. Our one neighbor is out of town, and has a friend of ours house sitting. We asked if we could use this neighbor's kitchen (before she left), and then also asked the sitter. It's a nice, big, modern functional kitchen, great for making cookies. So, we'll be baking there, rather than in our little place all cramped up.

I wanted to do a car share, but we now do some ride-sharing which is helpful as one of our neighbors doesn't drive, and the other works near us. This helps us off-set gas/maintenance, and I did the math as a "per ride" amount to determine the basic cost, and then at the end of a given month, I just 'invoice' them for it (dates, rides, costs). It's been a nice way to offset our costs, help our neighbors, and so on.

We are also thinking of getting an internet bubble for our four homes. There is a *very expensive* unlimited plan, but with our four, and possibly 5, houses under one plan, we actually would each pay less than we do for our individual plans and get unlimited downloading. And, the bubble of wireless is large enough to cover the various homes in question.

And, we are also looking at sharing some CSA shares, as well as a garden plot at the community garden, and we already share cow shares.

[awakenedsoul]

Looks like a book I'd enjoy. I think I already do most of those things. It sure makes a difference.

[JaneV2.0]

The Amish don't inspire me much--they seem like a rigid, male-dominated sect--but what does interest me is that while I hear criticism of other immigrants for not assimilating fast enough (read "How dare you speak your native language in front of me!") we hold others in higher regard than they deserve. (How many generations have the Amish had to learn "our ways" now?) Just thinking out loud. Carry on.

[peggy]

The Amish don't inspire me much--they seem like a rigid, male-dominated sect--but what does interest me is that while I hear criticism of other immigrants for not assimilating fast enough (read "How dare you speak your native language in front of me!") we hold others in higher regard than they deserve. (How many generations have the Amish had to learn "our ways" now?) Just thinking out loud. Carry on.

I agree with this, and also think this way.
I also think like Zoebird with the sharing. This is the way neighborhoods should be, IMO. This is kind of the way they were when I was little, but then we knew all our neighbors and everyone knew what the other neighbors situations were. And really, a set of 5 or 6 neighbors really don't need more than one mower, or chain saw, or plumbers snake. Or the skills to use each tool.

[Zoebird]

I have no problem with immigrants choosing their ways (and in fact, support it), and likewise, I have no problem with the amish choosing their ways. There is no requirement that we all be the same, and intentionally choosing a specific way of life -- whether it's moving to a new country and maintainng some of your own cultural customs or choosing to live in an intentional religious community (born into it or not) -- is a perfectly valid choice.

I would say, too, that when I was growing up, we would often borrow tools from neighbors, but it was generally understood that most neighbors would eventually buy their own tools. That is, that eventually everyone would have a mower, and if yours broke and you took it to the shop, you could borrow their mower this week.

But, this idea of actually sharing the big ticket items is new to me, and it's been great because it means that you don't have 4 vacuums in less than a block radius when most of us only use it once or twice a week anyway. It's easy enough to schedule when it's going to be at your place. everyone knows i'm monday morning, so I pick it up on sunday afternoon sometime, and then return it to my neighbor (she's usually home and does her sweep daily becasue she has a dog) that afternoon. She and her husband keep most of our shared items, and it's honestly no big deal, perfectly great, etc.

It certainly works well.

Also, simple living in general -- having fewer 'things' and not needing to decorate and such (though they do decorate in their own way), is really, really nice. :)

[catherine]

(How many generations have the Amish had to learn "our ways" now?) Just thinking out loud. Carry on.

That's because they keep to themselves and are no threat to us in any way. In fact, we enjoy them as oddities, while we gawk during road trips to central PA and eat at their quaint restaurants with family style seating. They're not in-your-face, like making us listen to "for spanish, press #2" when we're making a call, or reminding us that living poor, ugly, hardscrabble lives is the first rung of the American Dream, or prodding our fear that the white Anglo-Saxons will soon be a minority in the US.

The Amish inspire me for their basic values. I admire their True North and the way they walk the walk.

[Florence]

Goodness knows, I could never be Amish but I do find them interesting. I put the book on my Goodreads To-read list. Thanks!