also here are the finance books I found helpful after i went on a wild finance reading spree, from most to least. most of these books cover the basics of: budgeting, getting out of debt, saving, investing, and growing wealth.
my main focus was how to invest safely and long-term. but i was also curious about money mindsets and if i needed to change mine.
'The Barefoot Investor' by Scott Pape (this is kind of the Go-To investment guide for NZ and Aussie, but it's by a middle aged white dude so I was putting it off. but it was actually a genuinely fun and informative and even inspiring time. even if his middle aged white dudeness does shine through a few times.)
'Friends That Invest' by Simran Kaur (originally named 'Girls That Invest', and this was a comprehensive, simple guide on investing that i needed, and the book that got me to invest for the first time. would recommend. I really tried to focus on finance books by women because they Get It more than men do.)
'The Childfree Guide to Life and Money' by Jay Zigmont (i think this book should be more widely read! children are a huge financial investment, of course your finances will be different if you don't have them. i don't need to get life insurance! woohoo!)
'Your Money, Your Future' by Frances Cook (new zealand-focused but applicable anywhere. i love this author! i have 2 of her books on this list! inspirational, compassionate, comprehensive and understanding.)
'Tales from a Financial Hot Mess' by Frances Cook (THIS was the one i enjoyed the most as a book, for the same reasons as her above book. love her writing! read this one if you want to get your finances sorted.)
'Die with Zero: Getting All You Can from Your Money and Your Life' by Bill Perkins (this one made me think maybe I want to do something with my money that isn't just... saving it??? maybe i can have fun with my money??? maybe i should invest in experiences instead of just saving saving saving???)
'Financial Feminist' by Tori Dunlap (also a fun and informative time! a little girlboss-y but not in an insufferable way. she gets that hustle culture is fucked, but she also loves to work, work, work, build wealth, etc.)
'Broke Millennial Takes On Investing' by Erin Lowry (i'm gonna be honest, some of these finance books started to blur together after reading one a day for over a week, BUT i remember i enjoyed this one and i did learn stuff!)
'Money Diaries with She’s on the Money' by Victoria Devine (this one was fine. I mostly read it because I was nosey about stranger's money stories. i probably picked up some useful information along the way.)
'We Should All Be Millionaires: A Woman’s Guide to Earning More, Building Wealth, and Gaining Economic Power' by Rachel Rodgers (mmmm. yikes. this is the kind of book that put me off reading finance books for so long. it wasn't THAT bad, and i can get where she's coming from re: women building wealth is feminist, but the 'you should be RICH RICH RICH' put such a bad taste in my mouth. i don't need to be shitting cash and getting 12 different side hustles and always earning More More More, bro. i just want to live a decent life.)
anyway i started doing fixed term investments this year BUT now i also invest in sensible (as much as any investment can be sensible) index funds for long-term growth, with more money going in every month, and i'm NOT going to look at it more than once every few months or touch that money for at least 5 years, hopefully.















