This Book Simplified Money For Me and Made Me Feel Confident About My Finances

I wouldn't say I'm terrible with my money. I have a spreadsheet, I try to save as much as I can and I keep tabs on my spending. I even face my dreaded bank account balance as a grounding activity for a self-proclaimed shopaholic (thanks TikTok). But when you get down to the gritty bits, like how to save and make your money and time worthwhile, or what you'll actually be paying when you buy your first home, I am embarrassingly clueless.

I tried listening to finance bros breaking down investing on Thursday nights at the pub, and I've tuned in to Martin Lewis' fast-paced money show, but still, nothing has really stuck. Let's not even talk about the overwhelming financial minefield over on TikTok.

I usually say ignorance is bliss with money, until one evening, when I joined my mum for the weekly shop at Tesco. Browsing through the book section for a new read, Laura Whateley's bright orange, Monzo card-looking book "Money: A User's Guide" (£10), popped out to me. To be honest, the size of this book made me think: "Ah, this is going to be a quick read." And right there, on the shop floor, I delved in.

"Money: A User's Guide" is a pocket-sized guide made up of three parts. Part one covers the basics of saving, renting, buying a home, budgeting, investing, pensions, taxes, bills and even your rights at work, so it's safe to say the bases are covered. In part two, Whateley discusses how money can make you feel and to start, how money can impact love, whether that's the relationship with a partner or the relationship with your friends and family. You'll read about everything from joint accounts and cohabiting, to starting the "uncomfortable" conversations about money with a loved one or friends. Then, Whateley encourages us to look inward to assess how money can affect wellbeing. Here, debts, overspending and mental health make their way to the playing field.

Part three is short but sweet and covers ethical finances and essentially highlights your power in deciding where your money goes. Sustainable options like choosing a greener energy company or opting for an environmentally-friendly mortgage (something I had never heard of before) are presented, before Whateley ushers you into the big wide world, with all this new financial knowledge.

The last time I had a book that was this helpful and insightful, was aged 12, when my mum gave me "The Girls' Handbook: Essential Skills a Girl Should Have", which taught me essential life skills, like how to pack a suitcase or how to efficiently tidy my room. Like "The Girls Handbook", Whateley's guide is one I still refer to despite finishing the book months ago. The selling point is how easy to grasp and bite-sized the financial information is. There's no dancing around the question, each and every tip, hack or explanation is plainly and simply written, in such a way that it feels like a conversation between friends, rather than a non-fiction money book.

As the cost of living crisis worsens, my chances of owning a home before I'm 30 get closer to nil and the constant mental battle between saving and living my best life intensifies, "Money: A User's Guide" has become my bible. For the first time since embarking on adulthood, things sort of feel like they're in check, and if I'm ever in doubt, I reach for this book (with bookmarked pages and highlighted quotes galore). I've even started preaching the teachings, like a money pastor, to my friends, so Martin Lewis might have some competition for that 'Money Saving Expert' title.

One thing that stood out to me is her assertion that no-one knows what they're doing, so don't be intimidated or feel like you're failing. Despite the floods of TikTok money experts, Whateley reassures the readers that no one truly knows what they're doing. According to the FCA, 24 per cent of UK adults have little or no confidence in managing their money. So don't worry, we're all in the same boat.

Money education has never been more important, and there's a sea of misinformation around finances and how to deal with them, so I'm glad to have found some peace with this book.

Lauren Gordon is the editorial coordinator at PS UK, where she creates lifestyle and identity content. Lauren has a degree in journalism from University of the Arts London and previously worked as a showbiz and TV reporter at The Mirror US. Lauren specialises in pop culture, hair and beauty, focusing on trends, sharing in-depth tutorials, and highlighting hidden gems in the beauty industry.