Adopt Without Debt: Creative Ways to Cover the Cost of Adoption [Paperback]

Julie Gumm (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 19, 2011

In 2000, Julie and her husband, Mark, declared war on their debt credit cards, student loans, cars and the house. Seven years later, as they wrote the check for their last mortgage payment, God called them to adopt two children from Ethiopia. A few months later, with their income unexpectedly cut by two-thirds, they wondered if they could finish the adoption without crossing back over into the red.

When they brought Wendemagegn and Beza home 12 months later, Julie and her husband proved debt-free adoption is possible!

Passionate about helping others achieve their adoption dream, Julie shares how to find extra money in your household budget, apply for grants, and fundraise in order to build your family without saddling it with debt.

With over $80,000 worth of creative fundraising ideas from more than 30 adoptive families, the second edition of Adopt Without Debt shows you how to fulfill your adoption dream without signing away your financial freedom.

Editorial Reviews

Review

I receive calls on my show all the time about how you have to go into debt to adopt. Julie Gumm is living proof & a testament to the fact you can adopt without ANY debt. I highly recommend reading "Adopt Without Debt" if you are considering adoption." --Dave Ramsey, Best-selling author & nationally syndicated radio host

I've been waiting for a book like this for almost a decade. The reality has been that finances are often the biggest obstacle to adopting a child. Thanks to Julie Gumm that reality is going to change. --Dan Cruver, Director of Together for Adoption

I highly recommend Adopt Without Debt as a must-read for any adoptive parent looking to discover creative ways to afford their adoption. The ideas in this book work! --Carolyn Twietmeyer, Founder & Executive Director of Project Hopeful

About the Author

Julie is married to her high-school sweetheart and the mother of four children from two continents. She and her husband Mark finished pay off $235,000 in debt, including their house, in 2008. They have been dreaming and living God-sized, debt-free dreams ever since. Julie blogs about their crazy, fun-filled life at fourplusmore.com.

She loves networking with other adoptive parents and speaking to groups on adoption, global orphan care and financial freedom.

Product Details

• Paperback: 152 pages
• Publisher: Black Boot Publishing; Second edition (October 19, 2011)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0983539820
• ISBN-13: 978-0983539827
• Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 5.2 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (30 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #156,793 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #17 in Books > Biographies & Memoirs > Family & Childhood

More About the Author

Julie is married to her high-school sweetheart and the mother of four children from two continents. She and her husband Mark finished pay off $235,000 in debt, including their house, in 2008. They have been dreaming and living God-sized, debt-free dreams ever since.

She loves networking with other adoptive parents and speaking to groups on adoption, global orphan care and financial freedom.

Julie blogs on family life, financial freedom and how to pay for adoption at her blog - http://juliegumm.com

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

27 of 31 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars No silver bullet October 19, 2011

By A. Neff

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

I'm conflicted on how to rate this book. We have had children biologically and hope to adopt, and of course, finances are concern. I've seen plenty of people who are far from wealthy adopt, so I know it can be done, but wasn't sure how they all did it. So I had high hopes for this book.

I want to rate this book very favorably, because I think many people are in our same boat - considering adoption, but unsure how to afford the steep costs associated with the adoption process. I think this book could be a major help in encouraging people to think unconventionally about how to raise money for adoption. There were lots of examples of ways families raised money and were successful.

The reasons I can't give it a five star review:
1. I think this would be helpful if someone had no concept of budgeting and had some fat to cut. We had very little money to trim in our budget, so advice like cutting an $800 monthly grocery budget just seemed ridiculous and unhelpful.
2. I don't have any problem with people raising money for adoptions through fundraisers, but I'm just not sure that it's a good fit for our family. We're private and ever going to be a rah-rah poster child sort of family. If you aren't comfortable soliciting donations for fundraisers, this probably isn't the book for you.
3. Perhaps this is outside of scope of the book, but I wish that they addressed some of the touchy issues surrounding fundraising for adoption. Questions I have like: Do people who contribute in some way to fundraising efforts ever feel a sense of ownership over your child who their efforts, time, donation, or purchase helped bring home?... How do you handle any additional scrutiny fundraising might bring to your family - such as people evaluating your lifestyle making conclusions about your finances (for instance, is an smartphone a necessity or a luxury?)? How do teenage or adult children brought home through adoption feel about being the focus of a fundraiser? I don't claim to know answers to these sorts of questions, and would have loved to see them addressed.

Like I said, perhaps my complaints outside the scope of the book. If you want a quick read with a crash course on budgeting, a summary of grants and several different ideas on fundraisers, this is a good source. If you want much more than that, it's not the best fit. Read more ›

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Affording adoption isn't as hard as you think! May 6, 2011

By Mary Ostyn

Format:Paperback

In this book the author shares stories of ordinary families who were able to adopt, debt free, using a variety of creative ideas. I'm an experienced adoptive mom of 6, and the book provided me with ideas I had never considered. If you have a passion to adopt, but don't quite see how the money would work out, don't miss this book. Where there's longing and resolve, there's usually a way to accomplish your dreams!

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent resource May 6, 2011

By emilyalex

Format:Paperback

This is an excellent book and resource for anyone considering adoption. Julie tells her personal story of how her family climbed out of debt and then adopted internationally without going into debt at all. She shares many helpful tools and fundraising ideas that anyone could implement into their own adoption journey. Finances tend to be a main reason many never actually pursue an adoption, but this book will help make that desire to adopt a reality! I really enjoyed how she weaved their personal story and practical tips for how to apply them to your own life. Well worth the read!

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars ESSENTIAL ADOPTION BOOK May 18, 2011

By Deanna Rene Jones

Format:Paperback

Julie Gumm's book "Adopt Without Debt" is an essential resource for any family considering adoption. There are excellent ideas for fundraisers illustrated in the book and combined with Julie's own personal story, "Adopt Without Debt' is a book I see as a mainstay in the adoption community for years to come..

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars A Wonderful Resource May 13, 2011

By Future Mama

Format:Paperback

We are a family just beginning this roller-coaster journey of adoption, and for the sake of full disclosure, we are featured in this book. When I got it in the mail, we were thrilled to see all the fresh ideas we found inside! This book is filled with practical, fun, and (perhaps most importantly) successful ways to raise money for an adoption. Totally worth it, in my opinion. I found this book to be an easy and quick read, too.

11 of 14 people found the following review helpful

2.0 out of 5 stars not much help October 17, 2011

By Jessica Delashmutt

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

really this book is full of ideas that we all learned in High School fundraising that i am really not very comfortable doing for a private adoption. also, the budget cutting ideas for the house hold were no help at all. i already do cut all of the things that they suggested so there was no money hiding in my budget that i could cut.
if i were a upper middle class two parent household that did not have a budget this book would have been helpful i guess.

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars New motivation for adoption fundraising! May 28, 2011

By Jennifer Kooshian

Format:Paperback

This book is an excellent resource for families who are even just starting to think about the adoption process. Too many people who are otherwise very willing to consider adoption walk away from the idea because the cost seems so insurmountable. This book will give them hope enough to take that next step. For those of us who are in the thick of the process, it is a fantastic treasure trove of ideas and encouragement to persevere! As someone who is also a Dave Ramsey fan, it was just the book I've been looking for to combine what I believe about finances with what I believe about adoption. Highly recommended!!

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Hope and Help for Your Adoption Journey June 18, 2011

By GraceAmazing

Format:Paperback

I have been following Julie's blog for quite some time, knew about this book, but didn't want to get it because I thought our family wasn't "ready". I read the book in one sitting, captivated by her personal journey and so encouraged by ALL of the different ways she helps families "find money" to adopt! My husband saw the book sitting on my nightstand and now he's trying to figure out what ideas will work for us so we can get started! This book gives us HOPE and encouragement unlike any other adoption resource we have encountered yet. We are so grateful for the Gumm family and for this book!!