Getting It Together (The Complete Money Guide For Young People):

Simon and Schuster Australia Publishing (1992)

Written By Noel Whittaker

Australia

Review 4 Stars – Excellent Read

How the blurb describes the book:

Simple ways to wealth and happiness!

Noel Whittaker came from a poor farming background to become one of Australia’s most respected financial advisers with weekly columns in most of Australia’s leading newspapers.

In Getting it Together, he gives young people simple techniques to discover and use their true potential.

The magic formula – Budgeting– Principles of wealth– Building a better you– Credit Cards– The universal laws– The miracle of compound interest – Give it a try! – Staying away from trouble – Changing your self image – How to earn more money – Why “most people” fail – Investments for the young people – Setting goals – Making interest work for you – Re-framing your life – The law of sowing and reaping – Going into business – Avoiding the debt trap.

Mr Home Budget’s Review: If you have not heard of the author, Noel Whittaker is a well-known Australian. However, in financial circles he is a legend. He has been around forever, giving out advice guaranteed to make your bank balance bigger. And he has even written 15 plus books. He has sold over two million copies in Australia and internationally.

While Noel’s best known book is probably Making Money Made Simple. This is similar, however, it is written more for young people, but the advice has merit for people of all ages.

One of the lessons Noel keeps repeating throughout the book is that you reap what you sow. One of the great lines which I must share with you from the book is, “You may think this is obvious but you, like most people don’t appreciate it. They want the degree without the study and the wealth without the hard work.”

Noel also challenges you by getting you to believe you have the ability by setting clearly defined goals, understanding failure, and keeping a positive mental attitude.

But unlike so many other home budgeting books, Noel doesn’t just say to have a great attitude and think positive. He also holds your hand and shows you how to set up a budget. He explains why compounding interest is so important and how to go about getting a promotion at work. All the getting down to business things which really help your money grow.

In one chapter, “The realities of money” he says in plain English how money came into existence. Also why you should accumulate money? A question most people, even rich ones, never think about.  Plus he explains why money alone will not make you happy.

Noel is smart enough to understand most people who get money, earn it. One of my favourite lines from the book is, “People seldom succeed or fail in one great, earth shattering event. Rather it is a succession of small things done, or not done, that makes a difference. Mark saves 10 percent of each pay and Charles spends a little more than he gets each pay by booking up goods on credit cards. That mightn’t sound much, but after two years Mark has $5000 in the bank and Charles is $5000 in debt. They are now $10,000 apart.”

Noel, throughout the whole book preaches hard work, but more than hard work he wants people to use their money wisely. As he states in the book that all the little things do add up.

While this is only one review of the many books Noel has brought out, you should definitely make room for this book on your bookshelf. And if his other books are half as good, you should make room for them too.

Pros: He doesn’t just talk about goals and dreams, but he shows you step by step how to start moving towards them.

At the start of each chapter there is an inspirational quote to keep you on track.

This book was written in 1992 but stands the test of time very well.

Cons: While this book is written for young people, I don’t think it would be suitable for kids 15 or under.

Some chapters could have been made a bit longer.