If you’re like me, household bills have a way of creeping up on you. A few dollars here, a subscription there…and a year later your monthly tab has ballooned – without any big obvious things having changed. I’m always careful not to recommend “just copy what the Amish do.” There are plenty of problems with that advice, broadly speaking, and Amish communities and families can…
To generalize for a moment: Amish children tend to leave a positive impression. Visitors come away remarking how well-behaved they are, how respectful they are when around adults, even how they can seem older than they actually are. The explanation you often hear is strictness. There’s something to that. Amish parents use traditional forms of discipline. But that’s not the whole story. There are other…
Grocery prices are on a lot of people’s minds lately, and for good reason. The USDA’s moderate-cost food plan has a family of four at around $1,385 a month as of this writing. Scale that up to a household of ten mouths to feed, and you’re well past $2,500. Why do I say ten? Well, that’s an average-sized Amish family – two parents and eight…
In an age of smart appliances and one-click shopping, it’s easy to forget the household skills that once kept families well-fed, well-clothed, and financially sound. But in Amish communities across America, many of these time-tested traditions are still part of daily life—especially among Amish women, the “keepers of the home”. These aren’t just quaint old habits—they’re practical skills that save money, build resilience, and foster…
What we can learn from Plain thrift and homemaking wisdom When you think of Amish life, you might picture the obvious, external things like buggies, bonnets, and barns. But behind many Amish homes is something less visible: smart, steady financial stewardship—especially by the women who run the household. While the Amish man is ostensibly the “head” of the household, within the home, many if not…
What if the secret to a calmer, more connected life isn’t in the next app—but in putting the phone down altogether? While the rest of the world races to keep up with the latest digital tools, the Amish live differently. They don’t completely reject technology—rather, they slow down and choose carefully. Instead of letting every new invention into their lives, Amish communities pause, evaluate, and…
Practical simplicity from America’s plain people—no buggy required. In a world driven by convenience, consumption, and credit, the Amish live by a radically different code: simplicity, frugality, and self-reliance. And while most of us aren’t ready to give up electricity or ride a buggy to work, we can learn a lot from the habits that help Amish families thrive—often on a single income. Here are…