The Old Money Book: How To Live Better While Spending Less: Secrets of America's Upper Class

I really enjoyed this book. It is full of so much great advice that should be on the national curriculum for young adults prior to entering "the real world". It's the type of book that you wish you'd have read years ago - I certainly wish I'd had this in my arsenal 15 years ago, it would have saved me from so many pitfalls (mainly financial). Tully's writing style is very friendly and agreeable, like an old trusted pal pulling you aside to give you some welcome tidbits that you need to hear. Title aside (I know many liberals who would probably balk at this title), it pulls secrets from the lifestyles of some of the most well-rounded, grounded, financially and socially successful sub-cultures around today. The Old Money Book both affirmed many things I have felt about my lifestyle and personal countenance for a long time, but also highlighted a few areas I still would like to refine. A very worthy read and I enjoyed it so much immediately ordered Tully's book on marriage (already half-way through and enjoying it also).

I was pleasantly surprised with this purchase and I finished it all in one sitting. The book offers indispensable insights into the value system of America's Upper Class (such as their perspective on education, vocation, choice of spouse and finances), as well as the way of living that stems from those values (choice of dwelling, ways of socializing, travel, attire, ettiquette, etc.). This is not a personal finances/investment tips guide, but rather a presentation of value sytem centered around a well-rounded and full life, part of which is financial independence. If you belong to the Upper class you' ll probably identify with many of the notions presented here. If not, this is a concise (150 pages packed with information: the writer abhors waste and so do I) and highly practical guide that sheds light into the habits of the Upper Class, habits that ultimately contibute to their success in life. I'll be purchasing the 'Old Money Guide to Marriage' quite shortly.

This was interesting to read, some lifestyle tips to live a refined lifestyle. However, if you are already money savvy, this will not provide any new information. Do not expect this to give you any ideas about how to create inter-generational wealth. That is an entirely different book altogether.

Wow, love this book and its’ classy, self-assured ways. I grew up in Great Britain and my father did pass down to me some of these techniques; and some not mentioned. Through reading this I have realised I am OMG. What a thrill! I just thought they were common sense. A paced, independent life - well lived. Wonderful.

This is an excellent book. The author evidently knows how to write well and vaptivate his readers. It is a truly entertaining read and have read it twice already. I was especially impressed by the author's references to other cultures, including those from Asia.

Well thought out golden fundamentals of life and style. Broad and encompassing in subject yet precise and conclusive in it's experience. Filled with quote worthy truths and wisdoms. I would have preferred a print version if it was available, but nethertheless thoroughly enjoyed it on kindle. I suspect OMGs would also appreciate an addition to the bookcase. But not a new bookcase of course...

Short but packed with valuable tips, it’s not padded out for the sake of it. Much like the Old Moneyed, it’s about quality over quantity

Admittedly I only struggled through a few chapters of this before I couldn't take it any more. It's a smug, patronising book which purports that the life you wish for will emerge (quite probably alongside money) if you only embody the habits of 'old money' families. No evidence is given that any of the author's assertions actually relate to 'old money' at all - however, he depicts old money families as paragons of virtue, who live abstemious lives in which they only spend on useful things and place a higher value on education, health and charity than on anything else. They live modestly and invest sensibly. This is horrible political propagandist nonsense. It is akin to saying that anyone can be thin if they only eat healthily. Forget the effects of poverty, disability, genetics, and emotional or mental health issues - one could do it if one really tried. The truth is that poverty, social exclusion, poor educational attainment, poor health outcomes, social mobility and financial stability are all predicated by many factors, not least the circumstances of your birth, the region you were born in, the educational attainment of your parents, luck, race, community and a thousand other things. You know the great secret of old money? They inherited it, mainly from ancestors who exploited other races, natural resources, or controlled the economy. There is no rule that says old money families have less drug addiction or mental health problems or unhappy marriages than anyone else. We just don't hear about it because they have the money to buy the best treatment and privacy, neither of which is affordable to most people. This is a smug book which oversimplifies the world, its challenges and the solutions but could be summed up in one sentence: make the smartest choices you can with your money, balancing immediate need with long term goals and you will stand a better chance of keeping your head above water. That's it. Many people who work two jobs and see it all go on school shoes and rent will, of course, have very little chance of making any significant decisions which are going to change much, although I'm sure they will be glad to read the preposterous assertions that it's OK to hit babies but not children, and that learning to play an instrument makes your child more intelligent. The only thing you can learn from old money (if you really want to) is that they tend to marry within their own group of obscenely wealthy people because that consolidates power and assets in the hands of the few, not the many. It doesn't dilute the assets. The British aristocracy used to do the same thing. The insidious thing about a book like this is it pantomimes the great American lie: that what you achieve in life is entirely down to your individual hard work and choices, and not at all to do with the societal, economic and political structures in which you were born. Absolute poppycock. Stick some old money matron in the position of a typical blue collar worker with three kids to raise and see how far her supposed 'values' get her. Really: don't buy this book, save your money. It's what a rich person would do :)

What if you had plenty of money, and had gotten used to having it for many years? Better yet, what if your family had plenty of money going back multiple generations? What would your values and lifestyle be? This book purports to provide the answers by telling us how Old Money thinks and lives, and suggests that we can experience the benefits of thinking and living like Old Money even if we have middle-class money. Since I'm neither Old Money nor New Money, I've had limited exposure to these worlds, but I do find that the author's advice makes sense and resonates with my values, so I can highly recommend this well-written book to anyone who senses that the treadmill of consumerism is shallow and pointless, and wants to instead live a truly better life. Here's a summary of the main points: (1) Old Money is defined as three or more generations of wealth. (2) Personal reality matters far more than public perception. (3) The main purpose of money is freedom, not consumption. Live below your means in order to save, invest, and preserve capital. Don’t be seduced by advertising or wanting to ‘keep up’ with the consumption of others. Teach your kids to manage money and don’t spoil them. Purchases should emphasize things which will be used frequently rather than infrequently. The general idea is to preserve money so that it will securely be there throughout your life, and possibly future generations. (4) In terms of values, emphasize enjoyment of life, personal growth, learning about the world, work, social contribution, and family, rather than material possessions or social status. The priority is ‘quality of life’, including self-development, rather than ‘standard of living’. (5) Health is vital, so eat properly and exercise regularly. (6) Lifelong education, including a quality university, is essential. Turn off the TV and video games and read quality materials, and read to your kids when they’re young. ‘Education’ also includes extracurricular activities such as sports, music, theater, debate, etc. (7) Do work which you feel passionate about, work hard at it, and strive to excel. Laziness and wasting time are unacceptable, and don’t complain about doing the tedious aspects which come with all work. When working, be disciplined, avoid distractions, and be in the moment. (8) Be discrete, modest, and polite toward others. Never talk about how much money you or others have. Maintain your privacy and respect the privacy of others. Be articulate, but not pompous or loud. (9) Avoid electronic devices and spend more time face to face with family and friends. Eat meals as a family. Have plenty of good conversations, and be tolerant of diverse political and religious views. (10) Don’t waste time dating people you know you wouldn’t marry, don’t marry too early, choose your partner carefully based on shared values and goals, have a long engagement to make sure the two of you are compatible, don’t have too many kids or have them too early (use birth control), and keep your marital issues and sex life private. (11) Wear quality clothing which has understated timeless style and will last many years, rather than the latest fashion. Avoid jewelry other than a wedding band and decent watch. (12) Buy a home you can easily afford in a good neighborhood. Don’t make it bigger than it needs to be. Auctions are a good way to find quality furnishings at low cost. To free up your time, hire help for services such as cleaning the house. (13) Buy a reliable car and keep it for a long time. It shouldn’t cost more than 10% of your annual income, and used cars are often the best value. (14) Travel and see the world. It’s part of your education. When traveling, see more by walking more.

Lectura interesante, con buenos consejos prácticos.

Ein Augenöffner. Bekam tolle Tipps. Es war perfekt für mich.

Si vous souhaitez en savoir plus sur le mode de vie et les valeurs qui régissent l'existence des vieilles fortunes alors ce livre est tout indiqué. On y apprend qu'il ne suffit pas d'être riche pour avoir les codes des gens biens et fortunés. Encore faut-il embrasser certaines valeurs ( éthique du travail, dépenses parcimonieuses, savoir-être, et humilité). Pour toute personne qui aspire à vivre telle une personne fortunée, ce livre est un excellent guide . Vous serez surpris.e de constater à quel point tout n'est que ( essentiellement) question de mentalité et de discipline.

Very useful