The Teenager's Guide to Money

On average most graduates leave university with a debt of some £10,000, so one can only applaud Quercus for publishing a simple guide to managing money for a teenage audience. ‘The only boring thing about money is not having enough of it’, we are told at the outset. Author Jonathan Self acknowledges the general conspiracy to make money as complicated as possible, combined with a general attitude that it is rude to talk about money in this country. He simplifies the whole business of looking after money into four simple areas – saving and investment, borrowing, insurance and money management. There is plenty of advice for those about to go to university or college, on how to budget, traps to avoid, as well as straightforward tips for those starting work. Charts set out how to read a bank statement or a payslip, with a simple explanation of income tax. There is also a useful section on keeping money safe when travelling. An excellent guide, full of practical advice, simply presented and clearly laid out.