Personal finance isn’t a topic I like to openly speak about.
It’s a sensitive subject for most and at best, no one else’s business.
Growing up, I always wanted to be rich. My parents were working class and they made the best out of every situation. It wasn’t until a traumatic setback that I began to realize the reality of our situation and the power of money.
Money didn’t just buy food, clothes, or cars.
It provided peace and opportunities.
I was always a stickler for saving. It didn’t matter if it was $5 or $20 — I didn’t like to spend my own money. By the time I was 17, I began educating myself on financial literacy. There were a handful of entrepreneurs in my family, but none of them were rich. I wanted to be rich.
By the time I was 23, I possessed thousands of dollars from working my 9–5 job where I was only paid $14.50 an hour.
I was on a roll and never wanted to go broke again.
So I wanted to learn how to maintain wealth — not just make money. But the world was in the middle of a pandemic and there was no one around to mentor me.
That’s when I started reading personal finance books again.
And the five books that helped me with my mindset and behavior when it came to building and maintaining wealth were:
1) Rich dad, Poor Dad — Controversial, but still useful. It taught me the difference between liabilities and assets and the importance of owning a business.
2) The Millionaire Next Door — Great for understanding how wealthy people actually spend their time and money. This book was very detailed when it came to explaining the types of cars millionaires purchase, how their children behave, gift-giving, and more.
3) The Power of Broke — Teaches the value of resourcefulness and creativity. It reminded me of how I would make pop filters out of tights and wired hangers as a kid rapper. You can’t teach grit or passion.
4) The Gym System: How to Shape Your Fitness & Personal Finance Mindset — Practical tips for improving both your health and finances. I love that this book covers two major areas of life that people have the most control over.
5) I Will Teach You How to be Rich — One of the most actionable personal finance books I’ve read. I appreciated the step-by-step process and the psychology involved.
I read these books during different periods of my journey, but it was always at the right time.
My biggest takeaway from all of them:
Building wealth requires an immeasurable sense of self-belief and a system that enables consistency regardless of circumstances.
Wealth doesn’t always look the way people. expect it to. A high earner is not necessarily a wealthy person, and someone with a lower income may have a higher net worth. In the end, habits and mindset make all the difference.
Image credits: Shiromani Kant on Unsplash
