I’m not sure how it started, maybe driving through the nearby Amish community, but I’ve had an interest in the Amish lifestyle for a long time. Since I was a teenager I’ve enjoyed reading the Amish books by Beverly Lewis. Knowing those are fiction, I’ve also spent time reading non-fiction books about the Amish and watching documentaries.
It’s a life so different than most of ours, a step back in time while living close by. While I couldn’t live that way and it’s not my faith, I do find it just so fascinating. And Ibelieve we can gain wisdom from their lifestyle.
For the last several years my mom and I have attended the nearby Amish school auction. Every time we look at the beautiful hand-stitched quilts we are amazed by the craftsmanship. We have made the comment that if we didn’t have the internet we could have time to make beautiful things like that. There is a lot oftruth to that. It’s very easy to waste a lot of time online.
The Amish also can teach us skills that help us to be more frugal and live a more simple life. There are many things I’ve picked up on from the Amish over the years I have spent learning about their lifestyle that I feel most of us can benefit from adding to our lives. Here are some of the things I’ve learned.
Be Happy With Less
Amish homes are simple. They don’t always need the newest things, they live a very minimalistic life. While being a minimalist is not something that would bring me joy, I do feel it’s important to value the things you have and be content. I love hunting for vintage treasures and I like a cozy home but being content where you are and with what you currently have is important. It also helps keep you from buying things you can’t afford.
Grow and Preserve Your Own Food
This is something I’m still trying to add to my life but can really save you so much money. It’s also better for the environment and our health. Right now I feel like I’m in the learning stage for this one. I love to see all of the things A Modern Homestead is growing and preserving. Her blog is teaching me so much.
Cook From Scratch
I know in the Amish community near me they don’t always cook from scratch or use natural ingredients. However, in many communities, it’s still the norm and they still cook from scratch far more than the average population. Cooking from scratch helps save us money and is generally better for our health. It also doesn’t always have to mean more work. Click here to learn how to make a homemade baking mix that will save you time and money. It can be used in a lot of recipes and will seem like you are taking a shortcut using a mix but you will know it has good, healthy ingredients.
Use a Clothes Line
You won’t see me washing my clothes by hand like many Amish women do but they are very wise to use a clothesline. Line drying your clothes doestend to be easier on our clothes, better for the environment, and help us cut our electricity costs. Many also find hanging clothes on a line to be relaxing and most of us could use the vitamin D.
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Buy in Bulk
The Amish often have large families making buying in bulk a necessity but it’s also often more frugal. Your local stores may have bulk options and you also often buy things in bulk through Amazon. Just be sure to check the per unit cost and be sure you will really use all of the product before it goes bad.
Learn New Skills
The Amish learn new skills from members of the community. Things like sewing, knitting, and woodworking. They are usually passed down through generations. This is not as common in the modern world. You can still learn these useful skills though. I’ve signed up for some sewing classes on Craftsy, a site with great online classes to learn many useful skills. You can also often find classes in your own community. Many of these skills help you save money by not having to hire someone or buying an already made product. If you find you are very talented at one of these skills you can even sell some of your goods to bring in extra income.
Reduce Screen Time
When we reduce the amount of time spent watching TV, browsing the internet, and getting sucked into social media, we are left with a lot of free time. That free time can be used doing the things above which can help us save money. We would likely be happier and healthier as well.
Want more frugal tips? Check out the Money Saving Grocery Guide it’s packed full of tips to help you save money.
The tract that contains the most Amish is far from uniform, however. The distribution shows a significant number of families with incomes below $49,000. Twenty three percent of households living in this Census Tract have average incomes of about $42,000. More fascinating is the emergent mode at $75,000.
If you've ever been to an Amish store then you know they sell everything in bulk. As long as you don't let it go to waste, buying in bulk saves money. A 50 lb bag of oats is going to be cheaper per oz than a small canister from the grocery store. Also, things like oats, flour, etc.
In summer, conservative Amish tend to bathe at least twice weekly to eliminate dirt and sweat. The women may bathe more frequently and keep the home clean as well. New Order Amish may bathe more frequently than the Swatzentruber order, taking advantage of running water for showers or baths.
Not only do the Amish not actively practice polygamy, they certainly don't believe in it. They view polygamy as adultery. Although the various Amish settlements may interpret certain rules slightly differently, there is no deviation from this law. The Amish believe in traditional marriage between one man and one woman.
Walmart's grocery section offers a variety of bulk food items that are essential for the Amish kitchen. Items like flour, sugar, oats, and other staples are commonly purchased.
Some Amish people depend on Amish-run lending funds, which seek to provide capital to fellow Amish members at favorable rates. Due to their commitment to craftsmanship and sustainable construction practices, the Amish prefer to build their own homes using locally sourced materials.
While the Amish are governed by the law, they don't want to have social security numbers. However, they do get one when they join the church as an adult.
Each person sleeps on their side of the bed, with a board in between them to prevent any physical contact. The couple is allowed to talk to each other during the night, but they're not allowed to touch each other.
The Black Box Phone is a landline phone with an attachment (a "black box") that connects the phone to the local cellular network. The whole contraption is powered by plugging it into an automobile's cigarette lighter (making it a mobile telephone).
New Order Amish prohibit alcohol and tobacco use (seen in some Old Order groups), an important factor in the original division. Different from the Old Order, the New Order actively suppress the use of tobacco and alcohol and do not allow bed courtship (bundling), which was an important factor in the original division.
The Amish, known for their simplicity, strong work ethic, and traditional lifestyle, have a unique approach to money. They thrive in agriculture and small businesses. As a self-sufficient community, they've accumulated wealth for centuries and continue to defy the odds in today's modern world.
The only time an Amish person might use a credit card is to purchase a farm. Negotiating for such a huge purchase necessitates dealing with a banker. In these cases, the Amish turn to local banks for assistance.
But how long do Amish people live? The average life expectancy of the Amish is similar to the national average, with many living into their 70s and 80s. Research on the Old Order Amish of Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, revealed an average lifespan of 70.7 years.
The Amish typically avoid discussing financial matters and wealth. They have an alternative money system, a hybrid model of dollars, real property and commodities. The median annual household income for Amish families is $42,000.
While the Amish are governed by the law, they don't want to have social security numbers. However, they do get one when they join the church as an adult.
Congress exempted the Amish from Social Security in 1965 because they believe that church members should care for each others' physical and material needs and not depend on what they call "government handouts." Thus, most do not pay into Social Security or receive payments from it.
Hobby: Web surfing, Rafting, Dowsing, Stand-up comedy, Ghost hunting, Swimming, Amateur radio
Introduction: My name is Virgilio Hermann JD, I am a fine, gifted, beautiful, encouraging, kind, talented, zealous person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.
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