3 Australian financial literacy books you need to read now
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- As a financial literacy expert, I’m often asked for recommendations on books about money.
- 3 of my favourite Australian books about money are the Barefoot Investor, Money School, and The Joy of Money.
- Here’s what you’ll learn from each book and who would benefit from reading it.
What finance book would you recommend?
That’s a question I’m often asked as a financial literacy expert. And I have countless book recommendations to give you. Seriously, my shelves are so stuffed full of financial literacy books, I’m thinking of opening a library.
If you want to learn about money, sitting down to enjoy a good finance book is a great way to start.
And I want to say upfront, that this list is not exhaustive. I have so many friends whose books I still want to shout about from the rooftops. This list is a great starting point for books that would be useful for people living in Australia who want to read more about finance.
Here’s 3 Australian financial literacy books you need to read now:
1. Money School by Lacey Filipich
Now not only is Lacey a good friend of mine, but she’s also written this brilliant book. Thanks to the guidance of her mother Fran, Lacey started saving half of every dollar. The death of her sister at a young age made her reconsider her career options and the merits of working herself to the point of mental and physical burnout. Lacey’s book shows how she gained financial independence at 31 so that she can afford to be financially independent and time rich.
- What you’ll learn: Retiring early isn’t about sitting on a beach drinking cocktails. Instead, you’ll learn how to be financially independent and time rich so you can work when you want to.
- You should read this book: If you’re interested in retiring before 70 via the Financial Independence, Retire Early movement or the FIRE movement as it’s also known. Typically, that means buying less stuff, saving that money to buy assets, and have enough to retire early.
2. The Barefoot Investor by Scott Pape
If you live in Australia, chances are that you’ve heard of this book before. The Barefoot Investor is one of Australia’s best-selling books and got people talking about money. Scott Pape wrote this book to share the basics of how to manage your money with the 10 Barefoot Steps.
- What you’ll learn: How to manage your money according to Scott. This includes scheduling a monthly date night to discuss your finances with your partner, using his barefoot bucket strategy, and learning to domino your debts to become debt-free.
- You should read this book: If you’re brand new to managing money. Many read the Barefoot Investor book and feel like they’ve joined a cult and sign up for the products he recommends. Don’t forget to think critically about what you’ve read and what to do next.
3. The Joy of Money by Kate McCallum and Julia Newbould
This book is a collaboration between two female finance writers. It focuses on women because the authors identified that women viewed money and investing decisions as stressful. It’s written by and for women to bring more joy back into how we discuss and think about money.
- What you’ll learn: The authors give you tools and tips to take the negative emotions out of financial chat. This includes identifying what matters to you, your goals, and priorities to put your money towards.
- You should read this book: If you’re a woman earning an income who wants to gain financial independence in the future. You might also find the real-life stories of women the book has helped solid motivation to take action.
There’s nothing better than curling up and disappearing into a good book.
Reading financial literacy books can be one of the best ways to learn about money. If you’ve been looking to learn more about money, these books by and for Australians are a great place to start.