A honest review of I Will Teach You to Be Rich by Ramit Sethi
There’s something deeply untrustworthy about a bright yellow book that promises to teach you how to be rich. I side-eyed it in the audio app. It looked like it might yell at me about crypto. But I was in a mood—one of those “I should really get my life together” spirals—so I hit play on the audiobook version while folding laundry.
Thirty minutes in, I was giggling. The references were great. The advice wasn’t shame-y or preachy. Ramit Sethi sounded less like a finance bro and more like that one surprisingly cool cousin who tells you to stop budgeting for £10.34 of clothes a month and just buy a damn jacket when you need one.
Wait… Budgeting Isn’t the Answer?
This was the first surprise: Ramit openly says budgeting is “for suckers.” Instead, he offers something called conscious spending, which basically means: automate your essentials, invest early, and then go wild on whatever you actually enjoy.
It felt like someone had opened a window in my slightly stale, spreadsheet-loving brain. I’d been tracking every pound like I was preparing for a financial audit, and suddenly, this guy was saying, “Spend money on the things you love. Guilt-free. Just don’t waste it on stuff you don’t care about.” Revolutionary.
10 Years of following the advice – was on the mark
The big win? After reading, I actually did it. Set it up. Automated. Moved on with my life.
Ramit’s step-by-step plan made it feel less like climbing Everest and more like setting up direct debit for your future self. Boring? Maybe. But deeply satisfying. The step by step is the most valuable lesson I have learnt for my financial list.
Okay Yes, It’s American. But You’ll Survive.
Is it US-centric? Definitely. I did feel like a part-time financial translator Googling terms like “Roth IRA” and muttering, “what’s the UK version of this?” But the core advice travels well.
NOTE: I read the 2nd edition recently – this had a UK translation and I was offended for M&S – no one can talk about the creators of Percy the Pig or Colin the Caterpillar like that.
So… Is This Book Worth It?
Solid: 8 out of 10
Affiliate Links:
- First Edition – the OG one that I read
- 2nd Edition – up dated version
If you’re in your 20s or 30s and want a simple, practical, non-cringey way to actually feel better about money — yes. Especially if you’ve ever felt overwhelmed by budgeting, guilty about spending, or just frozen by the sheer number of money decisions adulthood throws at you.
It’s not about getting rich quick. It’s about designing a life where money supports what actually matters to you. For me? That’s the freedom to buy bougie £3 canned drinks every week without spiraling into budget guilt.
Your Turn: What’s your version of a “rich life”?
A guilt-free takeaway? A standing massage appointment? A nap you don’t have to earn?
Start there. Your money’s just a tool — might as well make it work for the life you want.