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 :)