What They Don't Teach You About Money: Seven Habits to Unlock Financial Independence

by Claer Barrett

**The Instant Top Ten Bestseller**

MoneyWeek's Top Money Books 2024

'Utterly indispensable.' Lorraine Kelly

'A must-read.' Tim Harford

TV and radio money-agony-aunt Claer Barrett is the voice of reason in the cost of living crisis, teaching us what we need to know about money, in an accessible way that anyone can understand.

By unpicking our emotional relationship with money, she gets to the heart of how our financial habits are formed - and reveals seven powerful yet easy ways to transform how we manage our money for good.

If you struggle to understand where you're going wrong with your money but don't know where to start, What They Don't Teach You About Money has all the answers you've been searching for. There's no shaming finger-wagging or headache-inducing jargon, just hundreds of practical tips showing how to get money working for you.

The financial world can be an intimidating place, but Claer will banish any lack of confidence, demystifying money matters to help you regain control of your finances - and she'll even make you laugh along the way.

You will
- why your 'financial personality' is key to unlocking your money habits
- the secrets of successful budgeting (takeaway coffee is still allowed)
- how to deal with your debts, and understand student finance
- how to harness the power of digital banking to make your life easier, and save more
- how to plan for your financial future and set yourself achievable goals along the way
- how to talk about money and make uncomfortable conversations a thing of the past
- easy lessons to help everyone understand tax, pensions and investing (yes, really!)
- what you need to know before you buy your first property
- how to grow your income and get that pay rise

Claer expertly debunks the myths that keep us stuck in financial paralysis.

It's time to regain control of your bank balance and get your money working for you!

The Instant Top Ten Bestseller, Sunday Times, April 2023

Genres: Nonfiction, Finance, Money, Personal Finance, Self Help, Economics, Audiobook

282 pages, Kindle Edition

Published March 16, 2023

Reviews

[Tom Newbigging · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely brilliant book with well written, practical tips on personal finances. Quite a dry topic made interesting and amusing, authors personality really shone through. I finished the book with 5 actions I can take to improve my relationship with money, which you don’t often get from this type of book - would definitely recommend to anyone trying to get to grips with their money!

[Charly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Highly recommend this to anyone that wants a better understanding of budgeting, ISAs, pensions and smart investing. Felt like I've always been a bit in the dark about it all and now I've got a better understanding, enough to make my own money choices with confidence.

[Nate · Rating 4 out of 5]

Entertaining and full of practical financial advice but keep in mind the second half is focused on tax laws and other specifics for England. It’s also a bit female centric as it touches quite a bit on maternity leave, gender pay gap ect. Can’t fault a book on those points.

[Gijs Limonard · Rating 4 out of 5]

3,5 stars; concise and sound financial advice

[Layo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Would highly recommend. I “read” as an audiobook and it was so well written and explained. The author is clear and concise and gives great advice. She uses examples you may have come across on financial content creators but also breaks things very well. Give good well information on so many financial topics we come across on a daily basis.

[Ted · Rating 3 out of 5]

First few chapters were interesting but it then focused on the British and lost me as I don't live there.

[Tony Dúbravec · Rating 3 out of 5]

Objektivne dobra kniha s kvalitnymi informaciami. Subjektivne pre mna nic nove ani zaujimave. Nastastie svoje financie mam uz nejaky cas nastavene, moj jediny dlh je hypoteka, pravidelne investujem. Ak napriklad pocuvate podcasty Finaxu, tato kniha vam nic moc navyse neda. Okrem toho je cela pisana na zaklade lokalnych zakonov a pravidiel v UK, co pre citatelov z inych krajin tiez nema hodnotu.

Co by som vyzdvihol, je cast o investiciach, o dlhoch, o archetypoch ludi pokial ide o vztah k peniazom. Je to fakt taky zaklad, ktory by mal ovladat kazdy dospely clovek. Pre mna vsak iba 260 pripominania toho, co uz par rokov konzumujem inde.

[Jeremias Burch · Rating 4 out of 5]

Entertaining book with many good points of view about our relationship with money. For me, who has already dealt a little with finance and investment, there were no big surprises or groundbreaking tips. Nevertheless, I found the description of the different characters in the relationship with money interesting and also the reasoning why one should really work with money without emotions. Also an insight into the financial system in the UK (the author is British) was interesting, but therefore the chapter on ISAs was not very helpful for non-Brits. The book is therefore more recommended for readers who have little or no experience with it. My personal take-away: whenever possible, work with money rationally and without emotion.

[Fabi · Rating 5 out of 5]

A short and indispensable guide for people willing to learn about money habits and literacy and how to unlock financial independence in the UK! Especially England and Wales (tax laws/ student loan rules/ pensions in other countries might vary).

The book covers: money spending habits, budgeting, increase income, student loans, pensions, mortgage, tax, self employment, how to talk about money in relationships.

This is an amazing guide for those starting out! For those with more knowledge on basic finance this book can still add some great advice.

More complex concepts are explained without technical jargon.

Should be a must read for people in their ealry 20s!

[Hem · Rating 4 out of 5]

It’s a good, educational and digestible book. I really wish we were taught all this in school. First half of the book was difficult read for me as a I had to face my financial fears and work through it along the book but also was so liberating. I really enjoyed the second half of the book which was so much info on pension, ISA’s, investing etc. it really taught me a lot about money which is what I was seeking from it. I would recommend people this book if you are stuck on your finances or want to know more on the subject.

[Ellis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Abesolutely 5/5 for this book, basically read it in one sitting, very clear actual steps to achieve financial independence and financial security, glad I read it when I did, very beginner friendly, literally have given this book to friends

[Gabi · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5/5 actually & I liked it but sooooo British!! half of it is not applicable if you don’t live in the UK

[Courteney Fletcher Boden · Rating 3 out of 5]

Definitely a good read for those at the start of their financial literacy journey rather than those a little further along.

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Financial information easily explained with tonnes of helpful advice. Perfect for anyone feeling overwhelmed or lost when it comes to money.

[Abbi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Listened as an audiobook ✨

[Matthew Humphreys · Rating 5 out of 5]

A really easy read that is well written and flows. Plenty of advice in there that will be more than useful to many many people!

[Diogo Silva · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting and well written but basic and too broad

I enjoyed reading this book and learnt one or two new things I did not know about managing money.
The book is well written and follows the best practices on how to manage your financial life. Having said this there aren’t a lot of new ideas compared to lots of other books and websites. Start early , invest regularly, have a long term outlook , maximise use of tax allowances etc.
I found it a bit basic and really think the gap in this type of book is something more intermediate or advanced for people that are already familiar with the basic concepts.
I also found the book to be too broad and would have preferred a narrower focus on investments. Most people don’t need to read about how to ask for a salary raise or negotiate rent with their landlord. The narrative falls too much into the “for dummies” camp and sometimes almost seems to assume that readers are complete losers that are unable to manage anything in their financial lives.
Would recommend to someone who is interested in the topic but has very limited knowledge of it, as an introductory book

[Hanna Mohseni · Rating 4 out of 5]

نویسنده در ابتدا نوشته: اگر شما هم حاضر نیستید کتابی درباره پول بخوانید این کتاب مخصوص شماست!
موضوع کتاب مدیریت مالی شخصی هست و از جنبه ی روانشناسی به پول هم نگاه می‌کنه.باورهای اشتباه درمورد پول رو زیر سوال می‌بره و اصلاح‌شون می‌کنه. ده فصل داره و توی ده فصل به شما ۷ عادت مالی مهم رو یاد می‌ده.
ابتدا شخصیت‌ مالی آدمها براساس رفتارمالی‌شون رو تعریف می‌کنه و برای هر شخصیت یک عادت مناسب میگه.
یه نکته ی مهم اینه که تقریبا ۳۰ درصد مظالب کتاب توی ایران قابل اجرا نیستند چون نویسنده در مورد مسائل و قوانین مالی کشور بریتانیا نوشته.
نثرش روان و قابل فهم برای همه‌ است.
کتاب خوبی بود برای منی که از مدیریت مالی فراری بودم خیلی مفید بود. کنجکاوم کرد بیشتر راجع به پول، پس انداز،وام و دیگر مسائل مالی بدونم و حواسم بیشتر به پولم باشه.
به نظر من ارزش چند بار خوندن رو داره! به همه پیشنهادش می‌کنم.
بعد از خوندن این کتاب میتونم بگم سواد مالی‌م بالاتر رفته و دیگه صفر نیست.😅

[Hengam]

در این کتاب یاد می گیریم عادت های بدمان در زمینه مالی چطور شکل می گیرند و چگونه می توانیم
راه حلهایی برایشان پیدا کنیم کمی هم در گذشته غور می کنیم بلکه بتوانیم در آینده احساساتمان را در تصمیمات مالی دخیل نکنیم این کتاب برای تمام کسانی است که اصلاً و ابداً حاضر نیستند کتابی درباره پول بخوانند .
این متن رو از پشت جلد نوشتم. بنظر من کتاب خوبیه و ارزش خوندن رو داره
برای خرید کتاب آنچه نمی خواهند درباره پول بدا��ید می تونید به سایت سی بوک سر بزنید تخفیف هم داره.
https://www.30book.com/book/149405/%D...

[Firat Fidan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Parayla ilgili bize öğretilmeyenlerin özeti haline getirilmiş bir kitap. Ben çok şey öğrenemedim açıkçası ama değişiklik olsun diye okuyabilirsiniz. İnsanın finansal özgürlüğünün olması için çalışırken biriktirmesi gerektiğini, ihtiyacı olmayan şeyleri almamasını, mecbur kalmadıkça harcamamasını ve en önemlisi de mutlaka yatırım yapmasını anlatan bölümlerle dolu. İçinde yaşadığımız kapitalist düzenin hepimizi iyi bir tüketiciye döndürmesi ve tükettikçe mutlu olduğumuzu zannedip hep daha fazlasını istediğimiz bir döngüye girdiğimizi güzel bir şekilde özetlemiş. Yazar sürekli mutlu bir yaşam için lüks yaşamamıza gerek yok diye okuyucuya sosyal içerikli mesajlar da veriyor.

[Avi Poje · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was drawn to this book both because I’m not the best with money and because I work in the financial industry. I stayed for the fantastic Britishisms, curiosity to the British financial system, and an enduring loyalty toward finishing the book out just to be a completionist.

It’s a mix of good, basic advice, some completely inapplicable chapters to Americans, and some mediocre advice. I don’t need to know how to repay a British student loan. I really don’t think her recommendation about asking for a pay raise is effective advice.

Overall, a “meh” from me.

[Vic · Rating 5 out of 5]

Valuable roadmap for beginners in personal finance management! Clear, concise, compassionate, practical, wise, human. Excited to apply the tips and strategies to become more responsible in stewarding the resources given to me.

[Emily Johns · Rating 2 out of 5]

Just boring (and I love personal finance stuff) - would be easier to Google some stuff relevant to you instead.

[Khansa · Rating 4 out of 5]

A practical, reflective, and slightly confronting read—money talks, and this book really talks back.

Not my usual genre (I’m more of a self-help/psych girlie), but I’m glad I picked this up. Claer Barrett managed to make finance feel approachable, even though some parts made me want to pause, stare into space, and question my life choices (in a good way?).

This book is super practical—especially for UK readers. I do wish someone in Indonesia would write something similar: easy-to-understand explanations on tax, pensions, and other grown-up stuff, minus the intimidating tone. Claer nails that balance perfectly—no jargon, just straight talk.

Some of my favorite parts:

In the Spend, Spend, Spend chapter, she introduces Tiffany Aliche’s framework: Need, Love, Like, Want. Such a simple but powerful filter for spending—I'm definitely trying to stick to “Needs” and “Loves” now.

A wonderfully liberating truth: many people didn’t save up for their first home—it was inheritance or family help. Honestly? So validating.

That reality check about lifestyle creep hit hard. But also a good reminder: always invest in brain development because I am my biggest money-making asset.

And my absolute favorite: how deeply money is tied to emotions—security, power, confidence, masculinity, femininity. It’s not just about the numbers; it’s about what they mean. Being aware of this emotional layer is a huge step in healing and improving your relationship with money.

Final verdict? It’s not a breezy read for your Sunday chill. It challenges you, calls you out, and makes you reflect. I had to take breaks mid-chapter because it pushed me—but that’s what made it so valuable.

[Nicholas · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 Stars // Not my cup of tea

This is not a bad book per se - I guess it just wasn’t made for me.

The author uses a very simple and straight-forward language (like as if she would meet you in the Pub over a couple of beers, as per her own words) to explain topics and concepts surrounding the broad spectrum of money and finance which are usually not taught in school. Due to this rather simplistic approach and the books short length, she can only touch on each subject in a fairly superficial manner - hence there was nothing new in here for me. It is also predominantly written for the perspective of a full-time employee, only vaguely does she cover the same concepts (such as pensions and taxes) for Freelancers. Understandably so, as we make up a much smaller percentage of the work force, but as I’ve said in the beginning: I guess this just wasn’t made for me.

The recently reviewed ‘How to Own the World’ by Andrew Craig is a much more rounded version of the same concept and he goes into much further detail in the topics that both books overlap in. ‘What They Don’t Teach You About Money’ is not bad as a very, very first starting point for someone who lacks any financial literacy, but it doesn’t go above and beyond your typical Pub chatter.

[Oscar Romero · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love her question: What is financial independence?
There are so many different definitions, all of them according to the person saying it and or believing it. And most likely, they are all right on. We all have a different perspective about what being financially independent means...according to our culture, age, and experience. And I guess one of the hardest things to do is indeed to talk about money--with anyone, but especially to the people you care about or the people who care about you.

Maybe we need to develop that skill--learn how to talk about money and learn from each other. But, we really need to focus on teaching finances to the next generations. Somehow, my own two cents--we create a monster when it comes to our kids. As we do so much for them, sometimes. They need to do just about everything for themselves. Especially when it comes to how to care about money and why.

Although this book applies to the UK--we need a similar book that applies to our country--our culture. That is good homework to think about--creating that book. Humm.

[Oscar · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love her question: What is financial independence?
There are so many different definitions, all of them according to the person saying it and or believing it. And most likely, they are all right on. We all have a different perspective about what being financially independent means...according to our culture, age, and experience. And I guess one of the hardest things to do is indeed to talk about money--with anyone, but especially to the people you care about or the people who care about you.

Maybe we need to develop that skill--learn how to talk about money and learn from each other. But, we really need to focus on teaching finances to the next generations. Somehow, my own two cents--we create a monster when it comes to our kids. As we do so much for them, sometimes. They need to do just about everything for themselves. Especially when it comes to how to care about money and why.

Although this book applies to the UK--we need a similar book that applies to our country--our culture. That is good homework to think about--creating that book. Humm.

[Adelina Simion · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's great to finally have a book on taxes & finance written specifically for the UK. Claer herself says a lot of concepts don't translate well across the ocean, so a dedicated book is a godsend to those of us not from the UK.
Here are some of my favourite parts:
- The book includes clear breakdown of tax and NICs for the different tax brackets. This was done in a really accessible way with pence/pound and hotness scale.
- Claer explains the emotions behind money and why finances are such a challenging topic to talk about. I was surprised to learn that learn our money habits from our parents by the age of 7.
- The book covers ISAs and pensions as important tools to reduce our tax amount. I found this very useful as these instruments work in a very particular way in the UK.

All in all, I would recommend this book to anyone. I am quite literate with money, but I still learned quite a few things from it. Claer, I hope you write another book, as I'll certainly be buying it! ⭐️

[Sal1997 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Unlike many other money related books I have started but not finished cause of how awfully boring they are, this one was pretty easy! I enjoyed the little humour in between, using real examples and some useful references for the money habits recommended. It has range of tips from easy to some more on harder side and lot of good tips when it comes to taxes (with the cost of living crisis this is much needed in UK right now).
It can be read by anyone, a person who is considering to get their finances together finally , someone like me who has some idea of what they are doing (which is confirmed when I some of my current habits are part of this book which made me feel proud!) or someone who has no clue what’s going on financially but wants to sort it out one day.

Highly recommend for people from early twenties to early thirties.

[Joshua · Rating 3 out of 5]

What They Don't Teach You About Money is a fantastic foray into your relationship with money. Claer Barrett is financial aunty we all needed as we were becoming adults.

I'm a fairly financially literate person - an avid user of YNAB, your average mix of Spendy Wendy and Spreadsheet Slave -- and walked in not really expecting to gain all that much out of this book, but was pleasantly surprised how much I had to learn about longer-term saving avenues and all the common sense that comes with managing money.

I wish there'd have been further depth about how the modern corporate world influences our buying decisions, but I take it that Barrett wanted to keep this book as straight forward as possible. It does this really well, and gives you the financial insights you needed yesterday, to enable you to make a better financial plan for tomorrow.