Money-Saving Tips From the Amish Lifestyle (2024)

FAQs

How do the Amish save money? ›

The Amish possess certain skills which naturally save them money. They know how to sew and mend their own clothes, preserve their own food, knit their own mittens, construct their own buildings, take care of their own livestock, bale their own hay, make their own furniture, etc.

Earning renown as skilled entrepreneurs, the Amish generate income from a diverse array of businesses, ranging from carpentry and construction to retail shops and restaurants. While the Amish are most well-known for farming, community members also provide a variety of services including lodgings and furniture-making.

The Amish community governs itself strictly and baptized members are morally committed to church rules. For them, life is a spiritual activity, and they demonstrate their religious beliefs daily through their own actions of discipleship, plainness, nonresistance, forgiveness, and non-violence.

Due to religious purposes, Amish do not take advantage of government benefits or aid.

The Amish, however, don't ascribe to this way of life. Most Amish pay cash for things to avoid debt. While it is true that some Amish will indeed use credit cards for the reward points and convenience, the number who actually carry a credit card is only about 20%.

Loans and Borrowing

Traditional bank loans are a common way that Amish people finance a home purchase or fund a new business. Amish clients are generally considered to be very attractive banking customers due to their reputation for hard work and dependability. However, the Amish also have other sources of funding.

The Amish, known for their simple and traditional lifestyle, do shop at Walmart for practical needs. They choose items that align with their values of simplicity and practicality, such as bulk foods, fabrics, and farming supplies, while avoiding luxury or high-tech products.

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. Because the Amish come from the Anabaptist tradition, they believe that you should be baptized as an adult when you're fully able to consent.

The Amish bedroom rules contain what is known as bundling. This is the practice of sleeping in the same bed with someone of the opposite sex while fully clothed. Bundling is not considered sexual in nature.

Dating among the Amish typically begins around age 16 with most Amish couples marrying between the ages of 20 and 22. To find a prospective date, the young adults socialize at functions such as frolics, church, or home visits. One of the most popular activities is the Sunday night singing.

How many times a week do Amish bathe? ›

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.

There is a common misconception that Amish people do not pay taxes, this is false. Yes, they pay income tax. Yes, they pay school and property taxes.

While they're not likely to have a modern scope almost every Amish home has a rifle or two, and at least one shotgun. Most people who live near them know they're extremely well armed communities and leave them alone, so they rarely need to use them, but they're protected by the presence of many firearms.

Alcohol consumption isn't prohibited in all Amish communities, and neither is it encouraged. It doesn't play a big role in Amish youth culture, either. However, it often becomes more of a feature during Rumspringa.

They don't use credit cards, instead paying for everything with cash or check. About the only time the Amish use credit is when they buy a farm. Such a large purchase requires bargaining, and means working with a banker. There are no Amish bankers, no Amish-owned banks, so they turn to local banks for help.

They believe saving money for the future is important, so they save as much as possible in an Amish bank: a bank that understands their culture and needs. They also save money by buying used items whenever possible instead of purchasing new ones.

The bulk of these businesses produce wood products—household and outdoor furniture, gazebos, small barns, and lawn ornaments—although quilt shops, greenhouses, and bakeries have also been very successful. Small home-based shops tend to be very profitable.