Lifestyle
10 must-read books about money
Whether you’re keen to expand your financial knowledge or looking for new ways to build your finances, best-selling author Allison Tait has a new addition (or 2) for your bookshelf.
By Allison Tait
How do you feel about your finances right now?
You might be trying to juggle a mortgage or family commitments. You might be thinking more about investing. You might be approaching retirement and wondering if you’ve got enough to sustain you. You might be thinking that you’d quite like to sort out a side hustle to keep you ticking along.
No matter where you’re at in life’s great financial journey, one thing’s for sure: expert advice is always useful.
Here’s why: Why paying for financial advice can leave you with more in your pocket
And where better to start than a book?
This collection has something for everyone, from tried-and true-volumes that have a place on every shelf, to newer titles to help out with everything from getting on top of your budget to making money while you sleep.
Getting started
There’s a good reason that these Australian titles turn up on ‘best Money books’ lists over and over again – for basic financial literacy and accessibility, they’ve earned the right to a spot on your bookshelf.
The Barefoot Investor by Scott Pape
Pape offers a simple and genuinely practical way to track and grow your money. A modern classic for a reason – it’s like having a money-savvy mate walk you through your finances over a cuppa.
She’s On The Money by Victoria Devine
Devine’s smart, sassy guide to personal finance speaks directly to younger women – but there’s still plenty of gold for anyone looking to take control of their money with confidence.
Money School by Lacey Filipich
A refreshingly practical guide to building financial independence, no matter your age or income. With clear advice and zero judgement, Filipich shows you how to make your money work smarter, not harder.
Making Money, Made Simple by Noel Whittaker
First written in 1987 and updated and reprinted many times since, Whittaker’s ability to explain complex concepts in a straightforward, accessible way has made this book a winner for more than one generation. Also check out his other titles:
Something new
The Quick-Start Guide to Investing by Glen James and Nick Bradley
A step-by-step guide to getting started with share investing, from the share market to ETFs to more. Glen James and Nick Bradley are hosts of the popular Money, Money, Money and This Is Investing podcasts and, in this book, they take you through apps and brokers, index funds, how ETFs and REITs work, and more. It’s all designed to give you the tools you need to take charge of a resilient investment portfolio.
Insufficient Funds by James Millard
What does the idea of ‘sufficient funds’ mean to you? That’s the core question at the heart of this book by financial advisor James Millard, and the answer will be different to everyone. Offering a simple framework for making better money decisions, the book encourages you to define your goals and then set about achieving them.
Six Figures While You Sleep by Kate Toon
If making money while you sleep is your dream, this may be the book for you. It’s a particularly interesting idea for those of us who want to opt out of the day to day work life, but would still like to use the skills and expertise we’ve built up over decades at work.
Kate Toon explains how you can transform your service-based skills into lucrative online products – from coaching and courses to digital downloads, memberships and masterminds.
Toon has a straightforward writing style and doesn’t hold back on sharing the reality of each step of the journey (spoiler: you still have to put work in), but she also shares an enormous amount of her hard-won knowledge.
Virgin Millionaire by Ben Nash
Who wants to be a millionaire? Ben Nash assumes we’ll all answer ‘yes’ to that question and then goes about sharing a step-by-step game plan to get you there. With small, manageable steps, Nash takes into account that most people don’t want to make drastic sacrifices today for a better tomorrow.
Instead, he takes readers through 5 smart money stages in a journey to financial independence and offers actionable strategies for money and investing at each stage.
Rich Woman, Poor Woman by Pascale Helyar-Moray
One in 6 women in Australia retires in poverty and Pascale Helyar-Moray argues that often the difference between a rich woman and a poor woman is financial literacy. With that in mind, she sets out to explain the ins and outs of Australia’s superannuation system in a way that’s easy to read and understand.
The book explains how regularly monitoring – and paying small amounts into – your super will increase savings, improve financial security and safeguard your financial future.
Top Stocks Special Edition – Ethical Sustainable Responsible by Erica Hall
If you’re thinking long-term with your investment choices, not just from a financial perspective but from a global impact perspective, this book is a great place to start. Sustainable investing expert Hall reveals the ethical and sustainable impact of top Australian companies, assisting you to make choices that will help you grow a profitable portfolio that aligns your investments with your values.
Offering clear explanations for key metrics on environmental, social and governance (ESG) criteria, as well as carbon emissions, you’ll learn how to evaluate risk and momentum for 60+ best-in-class companies.
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