Personal Finance Book List: Edition 5

It has definitely been awhile since I posted my last personal finance booklist, which makes sense considering I’ve spent less time reading finance books in the past year, and more time expanding my circle of competence in various areas. 

Today I’m serving up three fairly new releases (well from the past two years that is) that I’ve enjoyed, that range from finance for beginners to making better decisions, which I hope you enjoy. Let’s dive in…

Sort Your Money Out & Get Invested - Glen James

You need to reach a point where you decide that debt is negative, self-limiting and that it should have no place in your life from now on. There is no point starting to get out of debt unless you are aware of the fact that debt is a terrible thing that has not really brought you any blessings this far.

Well known Aussie podcast host of My Millennial Money, Glen James, launched his personal finance book in 2021, and it serves as a relatable guide for millennial's when it comes to their money. 

Glen’s got a very down to earth way of speaking and writing about money, and shares his thoughts quite frankly on everything from getting out of debt to building wealth the right way. We’re so used to having everything we want immediately and easily, that we get caught up in the idea that we can get rich quick.

Getting wealthy is possible, but you’re going to need to work for it and be patient.

I really appreciated Glen’s thoughts on side hustles, they’re not for everyone, consume a lot of your time and aren’t strictly necessary to get ahead financially. Think about why you really want to start one, how you’re going to use the money purposefully and whether there’s a more effective use of your time (think up-skilling in your career).

Slow down, do things in the right order, and you will have longevity and peace in your (financial) life.

How I Invest My Money - Brian Portnoy

Money is personal, and it’s helpful to understand the reasons why people make the financial decisions they do. No one is going to manage their finances the exact same way…the complexity of life and our emotions make sure of that. 

That’s one of the reasons I enjoyed this book so much. It gives you a look behind the curtains at how 25 different financial experts manage their own money and deal with a myriad of different financial situations.

How To Decide - Annie Duke

Annie’s book provides a fantastic ground in improving your decision-making skills, which are critical when managing your own finances. 

One of my favourite ideas from her book was on the issue of resulting. Resulting happens when we evaluate the quality of our decisions based on the outcome. This is a widespread occurrence, however, the issue is we often learn the wrong lessons by using this method to evaluate our decisions. 

Some financial decisions we make will be among the most important decisions we make in our lifetime, so it’s critical to focus on ways to make those decisions as effectively as possible. 

Even if you outsource your finances to financial advisers, accountants and lawyers, you’re still going to have to pick your professionals, answer questions regarding strategy and ultimately authorise the execution of anything proposed. 

So whichever way you look at it, you don’t get to escape making decisions regarding your finances.

Feel free to let me know your favourite personal finance books in the comments below.

Until next time,

Kate