I read Rich Dad, Poor Dad by Robert Kiyosaki (Amazon £5.49) several years ago. That and The Money Diet by Martin Lewis (Amazon £6.99) have formed many of my attitudes towards personal finance. I’ve revisited them both recently.

Rich Dad tells you to invest in income generating assets and avoid liabilities. For most people it is often a long term game but is a sure route to breaking the link between the hours you work and the income you generate.

Money Diet tells you how to spend wisely. It teaches you how to get the best deal in almost every aspect of perosnal spending. Depending on your financial awareness it is likely that your investment in the cover price will be returned several hundred times over.

The basics of personal finance, like personal relationships, aren’t taught at school in the UK. Both books are packed with useful lessons for the current economic climate and should be required reading.