BY JOHN ELLIS, FINANCIAL ADVISOR
Summer is here and whether it is sunny or pouring (typical Irish weather!), it is the perfect time to dive into a good book about your finances. You do not need to be a financial expert to enjoy these. They offer straightforward, practical ideas that can really help you get a better handle on your money.
So, grab a comfortable chair in the garden or down at the beach and have a look at my top summer reading picks this year.
One book that has made a huge impression on so many people is The Psychology of Money by Morgan Housel. Instead of complicated charts and formulas, Housel looks at why we make the financial decisions we do. Through real-life stories, he shows how our emotions, habits and upbringing often matter far more than raw intelligence or complicated strategies. It is one of those books that quietly changes the way you think about your own saving and spending.
If you have ever wondered how the world’s top investors built their wealth, Richer, Wiser, Happier by William Green is brilliant. Green spent years talking to people like Warren Buffett and Charlie Munger. He pulls out the simple habits and mindsets they share – patience, long-term thinking and living below your means – and shows how anyone can apply them, whether you are investing seriously or just want more peace with money.
Your Money or Your Life by Vicki Robin and Joe Dominguez is a classic that still feels fresh. The big idea is that every euro you spend is really an hour of your life you have traded away. Once you start looking at purchases that way, it completely shifts what you consider worth buying. It gives nine clear steps to help you align your spending with what matters to you and your family.
For Irish readers, Money Doctor 2026 by John Lowe is still the one to reach for. Now in its 21st edition, this guide is packed with up-to-date, no-nonsense advice on mortgages, pensions, tax and saving, all written for the Irish market. What I like is how practical it is. You can open it at any page and walk away with something useful, no matter your age or budget.
Eoin McGee’s How to Achieve Financial Freedom goes a step further than basic budgeting. The well-known Irish expert shows how small, consistent choices can build real wealth over time so that eventually work becomes something you choose rather than something you must do. What works well is that the steps are simple enough to actually stick with.
If investing has always seemed confusing or overwhelming, try The Simple Path to Wealth by JL Collins. Collins explains in plain English how to save regularly, avoid bad debt and put your money to work in low-cost index funds. It is probably one of the easiest investing books to follow if you are new to the subject.
Finally, Mindful Money by Kel Galavan (Mrs Smart Money) brings a very relatable Irish voice to the table. After dramatically cutting her own family’s spending for a full year, Kel shares the seven habits and mindset shifts that helped her gain more freedom and happiness. Kel mixes her own experience with practical advice, which makes the book feel very relatable.
Any one of these books could give you a fresh way of thinking about money this summer. Even reading just one can make a real difference to how confident you feel about your finances.
Happy reading.
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