Reviewed by Anne Boling for Readers' Favorite

I received a lot of books in my mail box. The title of this one caught my eye immediately. I attempt to review books in the order they arrive but this one kept calling to me. It reminded me of several relatives. I won’t mention them by name. The introduction of this book describes freeloader. Remember someone cannot take advantage of you if you do not allow them. This book is broken down into 18 chapters.

Sister Renee Pittelli defines several types of freeloaders including a Schnorrer. A schnorrer often feels superior to others. They are professionals of some type. They brag about their degrees. A schnorrer feels certain things are beneath them, such as waiting tables, pumping gas, washing dishes. They are entrepreneurs just needing to get their business off the ground and they can do it with your money. Or they have health problems the keeps them from working but they can do anything else they want to do….ummmm one of these lives right down the road from me. An emergency is always hitting a schnorrer and they are never prepared.

Pittelli points out church families are no different than biological families. There are always those who manage to get tears in their eyes as they woefully tell they have no Christmas money. Again someone came to mind. The person always had an emergency. She moved from one church to another asking for a helping hand. People were kind and generous to her and her children. After a while they began to catch on. Instead of giving her money for gas, they would take her to a gas station and pay for the gas. We learned quickly never to give her money. Once people figured her out she would find a new church. After going through all the churches in a community she would move on to a different community. They are “geniuses at making you WANT to give them money.”

Eventually you will catch a freeloader contradicting themselves. As I read the section where Pittelli discusses the “miracles from God” I remembered the motor cycle story. S was once again down on her luck. She was telling how a child sold her a raffle ticket. It was S’ last $2.00 but she bought the ticket and forgot about it. A few weeks later, she was informed that she had won a motorcycle. She told the person calling that she really didn’t need a motorcycle; she needed a refrigerator and a van. The story was drug out for another twenties minutes. The moral of the story was the motorcycle was a miracle from God. Yes she ended up with a refrigerator and a van.

Then there is the “handyman”. The person has never held a hammer before but they are going to work hard for you and yada yada yada. People end up giving the person money and saying forget it don’t come back. Don’t forget the woman that decides to sell door to door. Relatives finally give her money to get her to leave them alone. They never see the money or the merchandise again.

A few years ago I was working for a very nice gentleman. He did fund rising. It was a legitimate business. He contracted with the schools for fund raisers. One lady from church came to me, needing to make e money for a particular program. She wanted the parents to sell candy bars. The owner told her not to order but x amount. He did not expect to make a profit. He wanted his cost and she could keep the rest. He was kind hearted and it was a good cause. The woman insisted on ordering two times what he recommended. She never paid him a penny. I was so embarrassed. When I confronted her, “The parents ate them instead of selling them.” I suggested she was responsible for paying the owner. “I don’t have 1800 dollars.” The owner didn’t either after working with her. She was and is a free loader.

Pittelli continues her book with examples and scriptures. She reminds us that we are saved by Grace not by deeds. We do not have to be door mats for family or friends. We do not have to allow ourselves to be taken advantage of. For no matter what we do it will never do enough. I enjoyed the list in the last chapter. Read it carefully for you will learn the words. “IT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH ME.”

I love this book and read it in one setting. Yes I laughed more than a little but I also learned a lot. I highly recommend this book. While I spent a lot of time smiling, it has a strong message for all of us. Pittelli encourages readers to cast off the guilt that others place on us and to remember only we can allow them to place it there. This is a very important book and should be read by all. This is one of those books that you know will do well. This is what I want in a book high quality writing and message.