Teenage takeover 15 - reviewing a my first finance book
Hi all, it’s been awhile, I haven’t exactly been living the blogger life over the past few months, but I have been to some new places and seen some new things. I’ve been diving in Malta, had a city break to Berlin, spent a few weeks in France and been on camp with my friends, And with results due in the morning I have just 1 trip to Cornwall left before the whole “I just gotta make it to Friday” routine starts again.
So that was a long way of saying there haven’t been any blogs over the last few months, I took my foot off the gas – the last one was released with just a few exams still to go. And since I last published a blog the world has changed…
What's happened in the world since then?
There was a general election in the UK with Keir Starmer being elected and labour coming to power. The riots all over the UK, the southport attack, The Banksy artworks appearing. The Olympics have happened. Interest rates are still dropping slowly but surely. More recently, the A level grade boundaries have been some of the highest yet in some subjects. So it’s fair to say a lot has been going on.
And the teenage takeover is building a home of its own
I have been a little bit busy… and am delighted to share with you that I’ve been building a new home for the teenage takeover… watch this space for the launch. Although if you’re reading this… you’re getting a sneak peak. It’s a work in progress.
A summer of freedom?
It’s supposed to be the summer of freedom, right? On holiday I did some reading,I read a book by Robert Gardner. Fr££dom, a book about making the most of your money, How to earn money, how to keep the money you earn and how to grow your money. It covers things such as, asking for raises, expanding your skill set and, avoiding tax in the best possible way, getting tax incentives (such as investing in a LISA where the government matches a percentage of the money you put in). And finally how to grow your money, investments in the stock market, crypto currency and NFTs, things like that.
Here’s my key takeaways:
- Earning: financial success isn’t just about how much you earn, but how you manage your earnings. Gardner offers strategies to increase your earning potential, such as negotiating better pay from your employer and turning skills and hobbies into money.
- Keeping: earning your money is only half the story though, you need to protect it. Gardner advises on budgeting, managing debt, and using tax-efficient saving methods to help you keep more of what you earn.
- Growing: but the crux of it is making your money work for you. Gardner explains the importance of investing to grow your money over time. He covers essential concepts like compounding, diversification, and responsible investing.
My impression
The book was great, when mum suggested reading a finance book I thought it’d be pretty dull, but in reality Gardner’s use of quotes, anecdotes, and making the book feel more like a story rather than a textbook. What I really liked is that the book covers more than just building wealth, it’s about creating sustainable habits. More than just financial security, Gardner links to broader societal impacts and really makes you think about how your financial choices can benefit you and the planet.
The book is honestly really engaging, entertaining and educational (for a finance book). That said, tomorrow I hope to get good enough results so I can do economics A’level so maybe I should get used to more finance books?
See you again soon?
Because I have missed a few months, mum has suggested for me to write a few blogs in quick succession, so your next teenage takeover fix might be sooner than a month, but next time you see me, I’ll have my results and be starting sixth form imminently.
