Financial Autonomy

Rather than chasing the biggest bank balance, this book treats money as a tool for something larger: the freedom to decide how you spend your time. Its central idea is that getting your finances right gives you the room to pursue what matters most to you in every other part of life.

Think of the speakers and radio guests who describe crossing Tibet in a battered Land Rover, sailing around the world, skydiving in a wingsuit, or launching a business or charity powered by a strong urge to make a difference. Personal finance expert Paul Benson asks how those people arranged their lives so that such experiences were possible, and whether you could arrange yours the same way.

He identifies three routes to building enough wealth to make those choices: investing in shares, investing in property, and working for yourself through a side hustle or small business. Each is examined in detail, alongside budgeting and saving.

Throughout, the book sets out a range of strategies readers can adopt to succeed in these areas.