Quite possibly one of the most useful guides I have ever read — it speaks to everyone
Feature image credit: Allen & Unwin
What makes Twelve Months to Financial Freedom different from simply reading about personal finance is that it encourages you to actually do something with what you have learnt. The authors understand that financial behaviour is emotional and social. Each month gives you something practical to work on, so you aren’t just gaining more financial knowledge without changing anything. The format of each chapter works well for this. It starts and ends with a conversation between the two authors, gives the information in chunks, and then provides a handy checklist at the end with practical steps to work on.
Twelve Months to Financial Freedom is a realistic book that acknowledges the actual behaviours of people, meeting them where they are at. I would highly recommend it to everyone, even teenagers or young adults just starting out. Quite often, financial advice books give people these amazing millionaire dreams and provide heavy-handed tips that can feel very top-down and irrelevant to people’s actual lives, which is not actually what they need or want. The authors understand that people don’t change their financial behaviour simply because someone tells them what they should do and acknowledges the emotional and social aspects of our lives by providing advice that actually feels achievable.
The month-by-month approach works well as you can focus on one area at a time and then take a break from thinking about finances whilst this new habit forms. It ensures the whole process isn’t overwhelming for those starting from scratch. And if you already have good financial habits, don’t let that put you off as the themed monthly topics offer different layers of suggestions so there is something here even for the financially astute, making finances fun.
Perhaps this is because the authors Canna Campbell and Michael Thompson have built this book from their podcast How Do They Afford That? and have already developed that skill of adapting their style to reach different people. Their financial expertise also helps, but the approach means you never feel like you are being lectured. Canna Campbell is a financial planner, author, and the founder of SugarMammaTV, and Michael Thompson is a journalist, podcaster, and author who specialises in business.
The 12 topics are sequenced as required for building financial freedom, so I think it is important to read this book in order, no matter when you start it. January is about goals and budgets, February is the go-frugal challenge, March is about taking control and seeing rewards, and April to June focus on earning more and spending less. July to November are more about financial tools that you can use such as insurance, passive income, superannuation, and investments. December is about acknowledging your work and rewarding yourself for a job well done!
Reviewed by Rebecca Wu
The views expressed in this review belong to the author and not Glam Adelaide, its affiliates, or employees.
Distributed by: Allen & Unwin
Released: September 2026
RRP: $34.99
