If you’re hanging out on Side Hustle Sidequest, you’re probably not here for “GRIND 24/7” nonsense. You want small, realistic money wins that feel more like side quests than a second job.
These five books are basically skill books for your money build. Read one, equip a new perk, gain some XP, repeat.
(Quick note: some links to these books may be affiliate links. That means I might earn a small commission if you buy through them, at no extra cost to you. Think of it as tossing a few coins into the tavern tip jar.)
📘 Level 1: Mindset – The Psychology of Money (Morgan Housel)
This is your “understand the game engine” book.
Short chapters, little stories, and a lot of “ohhh that’s why I do that with money” moments. It’s not about picking funds; it’s about why we panic-sell, FOMO-buy, compare ourselves to other people’s paycheques, and generally self-sabotage.
Read this if:
- You’ve ever felt “bad with money”
- You’re nervous about investing
- You want to stop treating the market like a dragon that’s out to get you
XP gained: +10 Emotional Resilience, +5 Patience, +1 “Maybe I don’t need to panic.”
📗 Level 2: Core Quest – Live on Less, Invest the Rest (Andrew Craig)
This one is very Side Hustle Sidequest-coded: UK-based, practical, and focused on small changes that compound.
It walks you through:
- Clearing bad debt
- Freeing up some cash
- Building a buffer
- Then investing what’s left in a calm, sensible way
It’s not flashy. It’s a main story quest: do these steps, slowly, and your future self has more options.
XP gained: +10 Practical Know-How, +5 Monthly Surplus, unlocks “I actually have a plan now” perk.
📕 Level 3: Worldbuilding – Money: A User’s Guide (Laura Whateley)
This is your “how does this world even work?” handbook for UK money life.
It covers:
- Rent, bills, debt, credit scores
- Pay, pensions, saving, investing
- And the messy emotional bits around all of that
It’s chatty, non-judgy, and great if you feel like everyone else got a secret money lesson at school that you somehow missed.
XP gained: +8 Adulting, +7 Confidence, -5 “I’m probably doing everything wrong” anxiety.
📙 Level 4: Passive XP – The Simple Path to Wealth (JL Collins)
This is the “set up your AFK build” book.
Collins makes the case for:
- Low-cost index funds
- Regular contributions
- Then… leaving it alone
No stock-picking, no day trading, no 47-tab research spiral. It’s US-flavoured, but the core idea works fine in the UK: keep fees low, automate contributions, let time and compounding grind out the XP while you live your life.
XP gained: +12 Long-Term Strategy, unlocks “Boring But Powerful” investing build.
📒 Level 5: Ambitious Side Quest – Quit Like a Millionaire (Kristy Shen & Bryce Leung)
This is the “what happens if you push this build to max level?” story.
Kristy Shen goes from poverty to financial independence and early retirement, and actually shows the numbers and trade-offs along the way. It’s more intense than most people will want (you do not have to copy her life), but it’s brilliant for seeing what’s possible if you combine frugality, investing and time.
Read it less as “instructions” and more as “alternate ending” inspiration.
XP gained: +10 Long-Term Vision, +5 Motivation, unlocks “Oh, this can work in real life” insight.
You absolutely don’t need to blast through all five before doing anything. Pick the one that matches your current quest:
- Feeling chaotic with money? → The Psychology of Money
- Want a realistic UK plan? → Live on Less, Invest the Rest
- Need a basic money manual? → Money: A User’s Guide
- Ready to invest simply? → The Simple Path to Wealth
- Curious about early retirement? → Quit Like a Millionaire
Then grab one tiny idea from the book and turn it into a mini side quest: a new app, a tweak to your budget, a £25 monthly investment. That’s how you level up your money build – not with one epic boss fight, just lots of quiet XP.
Leave a Reply