Register For Our Mailing List

Register to receive our free weekly newsletter including editorials.

Home / 72

The richest man in Babylon also lives in Australia

The Richest Man in Babylon* is one of the greatest books on accumulating wealth ever written. Its basic premise is that part of all you earn is yours to keep.

Make sure you pay yourself

Most people work hard at their jobs, yet at the end of the week they pay everybody but themselves. Heaps of dollars go to places like the bank and the supermarket, but the workers get to keep precious little.

What is the point of working for 50 years if most of what you earn ends up in somebody else's pocket? Too many people pay rent all their lives and have no money invested for retirement. When they retire they have no hope of buying a home so are dependent on rented accommodation and the pension for survival. They are never in control of their lives.

Wealth is like a huge tree that grows from a tiny seed. It takes a long time to grow but, provided it is watered and fertilised regularly, it will slowly but surely grow at a faster and faster rate.

If you go to the Gordon River area you will see magnificent Huon pine trees. Then you see little straggly ones that are no more than two metres tall and it may come as a surprise to discover these tiny specimens are already nearly 100 years old. Everything that is worthwhile – whether it be a good marriage, a huge tree, or a sound financial position – takes time to develop.

The problem with financial losers is that they can never wait for anything. They are like a child who plants seeds and then digs them up every day to see how much progress they have made. Of course the seeds never progress at all and the child soon loses interest.

Remember the miracle of compound interest and how it can sensationally increase the amount of money we can accumulate. Our savings are the ‘seed corn’ for our money tree and compound interest (plus added investments) is the fertiliser that causes the fast, lush growth. If you wish to travel down the road of financial independence you will need to start, and then maintain, a money tree.

Where does the money go?

Consider what material things the average couple has to show for a lifetime of working. If fortunate, they probably own their own home and have some superannuation. Both of these were acquired on the principle of keeping something out of each pay packet. If they had not practised that rule, unconsciously or otherwise, they would own nothing but a few clothes, a car and some household appliances.

The house was probably purchased on a small deposit and paid off over many years. Although the initial payments were mainly interest, a tiny portion went to reduce their loan. That was the foundation of their money tree. Think of the interest as rent and the small debt reduction as compulsory savings. As the years went by the loan got smaller so the interest portion of each payment reduced. Because the interest was less, the debt reduction part automatically increased. Without necessarily knowing it, they were practising one of the rules of becoming wealthy.

Their superannuation is there because employers are required by law to put money into superannuation on behalf of their staff. The amount was small at first, but grew faster and faster due to a combination of employer contributions and super fund earnings. Smart employees topped it up with their own money. That was the next limb of their money tree.

The only way we can exist if we stop work is by having our own money working for us, or by accepting government benefits. If our money tree is planted early enough, and helped to grow quickly by frequent mulching with savings, it will bear more dollars than we are likely to need when we wish to retire.

 

* This book is now in the public domain and can be sourced from many websites by googling the title.

Noel Whittaker is the author of Making Money Made Simple and numerous other books on personal finance. His advice is general in nature and readers should seek their own professional advice before making any financial decisions.

 

RELATED ARTICLES

Rethinking how retirees view the family home

Set yourself to benefit from compounding

Superannuation and our growing wealth

banner

Most viewed in recent weeks

The nuts and bolts of family trusts

There are well over 800,000 family trusts in Australia, controlling more than $3 trillion of assets. Here's a guide on whether a family trust may have a place in your individual investment strategy.

Welcome to Firstlinks Edition 581 with weekend update

A recent industry event made me realise that a 30 year old investing trend could still have serious legs. Could it eventually pose a threat to two of Australia's biggest companies?

  • 10 October 2024

Welcome to Firstlinks Edition 583 with weekend update

Investing guru Howard Marks says he had two epiphanies while visiting Australia recently: the two major asset classes aren’t what you think they are, and one key decision matters above all else when building portfolios.

  • 24 October 2024

Preserving wealth through generations is hard

How have so many wealthy families through history managed to squander their fortunes? This looks at the lessons from these families and offers several solutions to making and keeping money over the long-term.

A big win for bank customers against scammers

A recent ruling from The Australian Financial Complaints Authority may herald a new era for financial scams. For the first time, a bank is being forced to reimburse a customer for the amount they were scammed.

The quirks of retirement planning with an age gap

A big age gap can make it harder to find a solution that works for both partners – financially and otherwise. Having a frank conversation about the future, and having it as early as possible, is essential.

Latest Updates

Planning

What will be your legacy?

As we get older, many of us start to think about how we’ll be remembered by those left behind. This looks at why that may not be the best strategy to ensure that you live life well and leave loved ones in good stead.

Economy

It's the cost of government, stupid

Australia's bloated government sector is every bit as responsible for our economic worries as the cost of living crisis. Grand schemes like the 'Future Made in Australia' only look set to make it worse.

SMSF strategies

A guide to valuing SMSF assets correctly

SMSF trustees are required to value all fund assets, including property, at market value when preparing the fund's financial statements each year. Here are some key tips to ensure that you get it right.

Economics

Australia is lucky the British were the first 'intruders'

British colonisation's Common Law system contributed to economic prosperity, in contrast to Latin America's lower wealth under Civil Law. It influenced capitalism's success in former British colonies, like Australia.

Economics

A significant shift in the jobs market

The expansion of the 'care sector' represents the most profound structural change to Australia's job market since the mining boom. This analyses how it's come about and the impact it will have on the economy.

Shares

Searching for value in tech stocks

Just because a stock is cheap doesn't necessarily make it good value. This uses case studies in the tech sector to help identify when stocks trading on 30x earnings may be inexpensive and when others on 10x may be value traps.

Investing

Are more informed investors prone to making poorer decisions?

Finance Professor Michael Finke recently discussed the double-edged sword of taking an interest in your investments, three predictors of panic selling, and why nurses tend to be better investors than doctors.

Sponsors

Alliances

© 2024 Morningstar, Inc. All rights reserved.

Disclaimer
The data, research and opinions provided here are for information purposes; are not an offer to buy or sell a security; and are not warranted to be correct, complete or accurate. Morningstar, its affiliates, and third-party content providers are not responsible for any investment decisions, damages or losses resulting from, or related to, the data and analyses or their use. To the extent any content is general advice, it has been prepared for clients of Morningstar Australasia Pty Ltd (ABN: 95 090 665 544, AFSL: 240892), without reference to your financial objectives, situation or needs. For more information refer to our Financial Services Guide. You should consider the advice in light of these matters and if applicable, the relevant Product Disclosure Statement before making any decision to invest. Past performance does not necessarily indicate a financial product’s future performance. To obtain advice tailored to your situation, contact a professional financial adviser. Articles are current as at date of publication.
This website contains information and opinions provided by third parties. Inclusion of this information does not necessarily represent Morningstar’s positions, strategies or opinions and should not be considered an endorsement by Morningstar.