How They Get You: Sneaky Everyday Economics and Smart Ways to Hold on to Your Money

by Chris Kohler

Have you ever felt like your wallet has a slow leak you can’t find?

In this sharp, funny and empowering guide, journalist Chris Kohler takes you through the rigged carnival of modern life, where the games are broken, the prizes are fake and somehow you’re paying $28 to park near the entrance.

From loyalty schemes to late fees, gift cards to sneaky supermarkets, How They Get You pulls back the curtain on how the systems work and how to outsmart them. Written for anyone who has ever looked at their bank account and thought, I swear I didn’t buy anything, this is the ultimate handbook to understanding how the game is played – and how you don’t have to lose every single time.

You’ll laugh, you’ll groan and you’ll probably cancel a few subscriptions. But most of all, you’ll walk away with the clarity and confidence to make better choices about how to spend and save your hard-earned money.

Genres: Nonfiction, Economics, Audiobook, Finance, Business, Money

284 pages, Trade Paperback

Published November 11, 2025

About the author

Chris Kohler is Finance Editor across the 9News network (Australia). You'll see Chris nightly in all states and territories covering financial markets, interest rates, property markets and household finance issues. Before joining Nine, Chris was a reporter and presenter for Sky News Business and Your Money, and has extensive experience as a property and financial markets journalist with The Australian, and with The Age and Sydney Morning Herald newspapers via Domain. He also has a large following on social media @chriskohlernews.

Reviews

[Amber]

This guy's instagram is clever, informative and funny so his book should be well worth a read.

[Lucy Dwyer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reading this in public felt like a performance of sorts because I was actively shaking my head, grimacing, and occasionally looking up to ponder at the other suckers around me stuck in the same economic cycle I was learning about.

I consider this required reading for any Australian, regardless of tax bracket. But especially us plebs. It’s always shitty to learn all the ways the system is rigged against you, but I promise you’ll have fun doing it.

[Bianca · Rating 4 out of 5]

The title says it all. This was a quick listen. I was familiar and in the know of most issues discussed, given I've been following the author on social media.

This kind of book, at least where I'm concerned, triggers me into action: to make the call, unsubscribe from memberships, reassess if I need certain things etc.

The more people know how they get us, the more they can avoid being got. :-) Infuriatingly, in many cases, there are no options, Australia is lacking real competition in many areas and our regulators and the government are not on top of things as they should be. But we don't complain, don't take action, nothing will change.

[Ryan Bartok · Rating 5 out of 5]

The game is rigged and Chris Kohler is here to show you exactly how.

In How They Get You, Kohler pulls back the curtain on the systems we interact with every day, exposing how the “rules” are often hidden, constantly shifting, or designed to work against us.

Just like his online skits, Kohler’s humour keeps the pages turning, and his clear, engaging explanations make complex ideas feel accessible without ever dumbing them down. It’s the kind of book you devour in a sitting and then spend days thinking about.

[Gnaeus Agricola · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good book, which truely highlights the status quo (rightly) of the industries in Australia that we have become slaves to. The chapters on the various ways cars eat into most people’s finances all to be stuck in traffic really made me laugh because, while Chris offers good financial advice for the reality of most Australians’ lives (many of us are forced to drive to get anywhere), Australians voted to be slaves to the auto-industry. Just know that there are others ways to avoid these traps like public transport, which Chris mentions, or riding a bike, which Chris mentions only once and in passing. I know people might say that I cannot ride a bike because it is unsafe, know that there are people fighting to make it less uncomfortable and dangerous with proper infrastructure. If you do not what to be a slave to the petrol prices, toll roads, car loans, insurance costs maybe think about voting to install that bike lane or approving of new public transportation when it is proposed near you. All of these things are not mentioned by Chris, but they will help to improve your financial situation in the above categories: viable alternatives to driving.

[Tyler Shellenberg · Rating 5 out of 5]

Everyone needs to hear what is in this book. Only took me two days to read it through - I was so hooked!

Chris tells you how you’re getting ripped off and robbed blind and keeps it funny and light in spite of the pretty dark and depressing reality. I hope these ideas take hold and consumers and companies make positive changes. This is a good foundation for people to start taking notice.

[Leith · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this in two sittings, but found it so hard to put down. The entire book feels like Chris has shouted me a jug of beer so he can warn me about all the ways we are ‘gotten’ as consumers. Even for the few chapters that made me go “I knew that already”, it serves as an important reminder to stop and acknowledge it, speak up about it being wrong, and to find an alternative rather than being complacent. Even better, it’s funny, friendly and a really easy read.

[Adam · Rating 5 out of 5]

Chris is awesome. He and I share the same sense of humour, so I think his YouTube channel some of the best internet anywhere. You may know most of what’s in this book already, but even if you do, it’s a great read. Sometimes you need to have a laugh about how fucked everything is, and Chris is world class at that.

[Ellen · Rating 4 out of 5]

honestly not much new info, like i was very familiar w all the topics but it was a quick and easy read and chris kohler has a great audiobook voice, and also the attempts at humour were actually genuinely fun and not cringe, so big win

[Liam Daly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Big ups. Bit boring in the middle but overall message it great, mostly fuck big corporations

[Robyn Smyth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved the stats and examples to reinforce better money habits.

[Kath Rob · Rating 5 out of 5]

Finance, humour and Chris Kohler’s voice. It’s basically indecent and I love it!

[mitchwd · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you like Chris’ social media videos, you’ll enjoy this book. Broken up into easily digestible chapters, this was an easy read.

[Peter Newman · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve been chuckling at his sketches on Instagram all year and to meet them again in book form was like unexpectedly bumping into an old friend who has lots of informative and interesting stories to tell. Loved it and learned a lot 🥰

[Leon Jane · Rating 4 out of 5]

How They Get You by Chris Kohler was my first audio book and it was quite enjoyable. It's brought to life by the narration of the author Chris Kohler, who is confident and at times humorous in his delivery. You can tell from his journalism background that he is quite an apt spokesperson and his knowledge of the subject matter is well researched.

He does drop a few expletives here an there, but for me it wasn't offensive.

I can see this book being turned into a docuseries, as the narrative has a Craig Reucassel 'War on Waste' type of vibe.

Although I didn't learn anything shocking or groundbreaking I did learn a few things along the way. If anything, and as he says, if you learn just to question corporate motives and methods - to keep them honest - you'll be moving in the right direction to improve your everyday economics.

[Atul Maurya · Rating 5 out of 5]

How They Get You by Chris Kohler is a fantastic book that goes in deep details telling us about the various ways the society, the system and various corporations work to extract every penny from you, with our without giving you equivalent returns. Chris is a business journalist based in Australia and tell us the ways of the world in a funny way. I started following him on Instagram and found his reels very informative and also funny ( and also sad).


As we start growing up and have a sense of the world, we are told of the grand bargain. That you work hard, get good grades, go to top colleges, get a nice job and everything else would work out for you. You can then eat at restaurants, buy a car, get a house, get married and have 2.5 kids. That system worked well for the First World until the 20th century but doesn't so anymore. The basic needs of food and shelter are getting expensive and increasingly out of reach for most of the people. Even then you do not feel sufficient all thanks to social media which is happy to show you someone your age (or younger) doing better, working 4 hours a week, chilling in Bali and making much more than you. There is a sense of disquiet and unhappiness in everyone as we mindlessly scroll through the reels.


All across the world there is a housing crisis but why is that so. Economics 101 tells us about demand and supply. If the house prices are so high and there is a demand then the supply should come up to fulfill the demand and reduce the price. Well we do not see that happen. Why is that so? For most of the people, an overwhelming majority of their wealth is tied to their primary home. If the house prices fall then their wealth will fall too. In Australia 2/3rd of people own house and 1/3rd live of rent. The house owners are in majority and they do not want the real estate prices to fall. So naturally all the politicians make policies to ensure that the house prices not stay up but keep rising up and up.


Then even if you can afford a house you have to deal with realtors and get a bank loan. These things are almost compulsory and there isn't much you can do about it. They will tack additional fees and charges from which there is no escape. It all make living quite a hell despite having all the ease and comfort never seen before in human history.


All this is true for a first world country like Australia. In Mumbai, where I live, things are worse. For a majority of people even getting a simple apartment is out of reach. The rules are not stringent and enforced well. So the builders take you for a ride most of the times.


Chris writes all of this in a very funny way. I really liked reading this book and it was great way to end 2025.

[Assaph Mehr · Rating 5 out of 5]

An important read for everyday people.

Kohler has a flowing style, making financial concepts easy to grasp. The book focuses on all the myriad ways modern business (and others) 'get you' in terms of extracting more money out of you, more than the value they provide.

Each chapter deals with a different problem area: from insurance to supermarkets, from gaming to crypto. He provides a bit of a backstory of things got that way, what those business are doing that's wrong, and what you might be able to do about it. All in a funny, conversational tone that helps grasp the concept and leave you feeling empowered (at least a little bit more - you can't fight everything).

Some things are obvious (pokies are bad for you and crypto is a scam), some are good advice that's been around for ages (shop around and loyalty programs are anything but), and some are illuminating in the level of details he goes into (like how supermarkets and petrol stations make it hard for you, and the reasons behind it).

But all are great, and an important read to help you take just a little bit more control of your finances.
Highly recommended, even if you're out of Australia (a lot would apply world-wide, even if specific examples don't).

Assaph Mehr, author of Murder In Absentia: A story of Togas, Daggers, and Magic - for lovers of Ancient Rome, Murder Mysteries, and Urban Fantasy.

[Ryan Olsen · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found much of How They Get You to be familiar territory, but presented in a simplified, bite-sized, and very manageable way. That made me wonder: Is this only “common knowledge” because I already take an interest in where my money goes, or is this information everyone should know?

Either way, despite covering topics I felt broadly aware of, I still came away with plenty of valuable takeaways. The book does a great job of highlighting just how strategic everyday pricing and systems really are, and it prompted me to reflect on — and take action with — parts of my own finances.

The topics I learned the most from, or enjoyed the most, were:


Supermarkets & loyalty programs – a bit of work bias here, but the imbalance between the data we give away and what we get back in return is striking… and usually amounts to peanuts.


Mobile data – this really resonated as a parent, especially with the rise of cloud storage for photos. Deleting memories is hard, and companies know it.


Insurance – insurance creep, the myth of loyalty (spoiler: it gets you nothing), and the ongoing impact of rising build and replacement costs.


Petrol pricing – cyclical and varied pricing that can be optimised but is generally too complex or time-consuming for most people to fully take advantage of.


Drip pricing – I’m looking at you, airlines and Ticketek.


Microtransactions – how gaming companies now earn more from loot boxes and cosmetic upgrades than from selling the game itself… some of which are “free” to start.


Overall, it’s a solid reminder that many of the financial decisions we think we’re making freely are heavily influenced — and that a little awareness can go a long way.

[Kel’s Books]

I’ve been following Chris Kohler on Instagram for a while and I like his content. He’s very good at breaking down or explaining complex economic, political and market principles or concepts in a simple and comedic way. Hearing him explain the complex policies, market forces and economic drivers underpinning Australia’s current housing dilemma is actually interesting 🤔

Books like this one are important to read. I think it’s important to understand how behavioural economics and psychology are used to manipulate people into spending money. Now that I understand common sales tactics better, I can be more informed and savvy about how I spend my money.

After reading this book, I have made a personal promise to stop buying my nephews Roblox gift cards. I now better understand how video games are designed to develop or foster gambling behaviours in young people through in-game purchasing and other tactics. I’m also going to review my superannuation and I’m considering canceling my Netflix subscription after reading this book.

I recommend the audio book. You get a real sense of Chris’s style of humour and dry wit through listening to his narration of the book.

I’m not giving this book a rating because I don’t rate non-fiction books or memoirs. I learned a lot from this book so for this reason, I recommend it

[Carole · Rating 5 out of 5]

Not all books about financial matters are entertaining but How They Get You: Sneaky Everyday Economics and Smart Ways to Hold on to Your Money by journalist Chris Kohler is smart and sometimes laugh-out-loud funny. There is so much information here. Millions are lost by so many of us because charges are well hidden and we get poorer and corporations get richer. The author covers a lot of ground in this short book. He discusses mortgages, gift cards, mutual funds, home buying, renting, everyday spending for necessities. There is a hand in our pocket and it doesn’t belong to us. This book makes you think about how often we are essentially robbed of our own hard-earned money. It was a rude awakening for me and from now on I intend to PAY more attention to my spending (pardon the pun). I listened to the audiobook edition read by the author, with a lovely Australian accent. Highly recommended.

[Cory · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve always enjoyed Chris’ skits, so when this book was announced, ordering this book online from Australia to be shipped to me in the US was a no brainer.

The book adds a lot of humor to the frustrating truths of the capitalistic society we live in. As he mentions in the conclusion though, it doesn’t make the scary truths feel too overwhelming. He humorously gives us, as consumers, tools to identify the systems that are designed to take advantage of us. As I read this book, I found myself noticing and sharing with people around me ‘This is exactly what Chris was talking about in his book’ on more than one occasion.

It is a good reflection as a consumer to slow down and ask myself, what is this system doing? Is it helping me, or am I being lazy and playing into something I don’t need?

Well worth the read.

[Kevin Parkinson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love his social media posts. It can sometimes be a gamble to purchase a book by someone you know from social media (just because they can make excellent short-form content doesn't mean they can write a book). But because I knew Chris was a journalist, I figured he could write an excellent book, and I was not disappointed. It's equal parts practical / informative and entertaining. I learned a bunch of interesting facts, and love his overall thesis (that asking "how are they getting me" is the most important approach consumers can take). Chris is Australian, and parts of this book are geared towards the Australian economy (i.e. supernnuation and auctions to purchase homes), but the vast majority is applicable in the U.S., and even the portions that seemed uniquely Australian were nonetheless entertaining to read.

[Fillip M · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quite a strong 4 stars.
This book is applicable everywhere, some chapters (like literally a couple of them) were Australia-specific, but generally the wisdom is universal.
Listened through audible, loved the guy, love the idea. I guess the template of the chapter really wears on you 10 chapters in and that might be the biggest downside of the book. And mostly the core idea of those strategies to rip you off are similar, just different wrappings. I loved the chapter about mobile data.

Overall, this book gets a recommend from me. Super happy that Chris Kohler makes his content fun and educational!

[Kathryn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I accidentally found the author on IG and immediately followed. His reels are hilarious. I didn’t realize they were all based in fact until reading the comments on one of his reels. Holy cow! I now listen for not just the humor but the education and demystifying. Granted this is Australian based in some aspects, and I live in the USA, but it still works. Nice breakdown of unknowable financial facts and how things work. I listened to this on Audible; I would still like to get a hard copy of the book but it wasn’t available in the US at the time the Audible was. I still will find and purchase a hard copy, it needs to be in my library.

[ERIC KAMINETSKY · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book is good, not great. Nothing revolutionary here but presented in an entertaining format. Good introduction to money management for people in their 20’s.

It is a bit focused on Austrialian issues but still enjoyable to this American reader.

If you like audiobooks, the audiobook is well narrated by the author. Very similar to his Instagram account.


Note: I might have rated it 3.5 stars if rating systems were actually valid. See the chapter in this book on rating systems for an explanation of that joke.

[Michael · Rating 4 out of 5]

After a confounding and unnecessary acknowledgement of country (in a book on personal finance?) the actual book was entertaining and in some cases, enlightening. You're probably well aware of most of these gotchas but hearing them all laid out like this, so plainly and amusingly, you're likely to be encouraged into action. The big reveal for me was the reason behind why my wife randomly received a small air purifier from Amazon that we hadn't ordered. Oh, and give Chris a follow on your social media platform of choice, his skits are great.

[Joao · Rating 5 out of 5]

Although many of the examples are from Australia, which may be harder to relate to for someone from elsewhere, Chris Kohler does an excellent job describing numerous situations in which a consumer is exploited. With a light tone, very similar to his videos, he talks about subscriptions, car loans, loyalty programs, gift cards, shrinkflation, Black Friday, among many others. A quick read but very informative.

[David Farrugia · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great book to read.

It is informative, witty, funny, sad, educational and Chris is doing a great public service by writing it.

If everyone read it there would be fewer companies trying to "get us" and more being upfront and respectful of their customers.

It is an easy read, I'm looking forward to another one with more meat and graphs!

In the spirit of this book I borrowed it from the library (sorry Chris!).

Everyone should read it, it's worth your time investment. Do it!

[Rhys Tiivel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Chris Kohler’s success on social media is built on his no nonsense approach to calling it as it is. He does a fantastic job of bringing that same style to the pages of this book, all while keeping it a fun read.

The key takeaway is how to be a smarter consumer and applying basic lessons to making your dollar go further, and preventing unnecessary waste.
Apply these lessons to your weekly budget, and you’ll be thanking Chris over and again.

[Allyssa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Australia-focused but largely applicable to the US as well. Like the title suggests, the book covers several ways that companies squeeze money out of you and offers some tips on how to claw some of that money back. Or at least to help you recognize what's going on.

I love that Chris Kohler narrates the book himself. I appreciate the humor injected into what can otherwise be an un-funny topic.