Money & Mindset - Book of the Month August 2025
- meliaprojectsau
- Aug 29
- 3 min read
I’m a big believer that the best investors are lifelong learners. Each month, I share a book that’s made me stop and think - whether it’s a new strategy, a fresh perspective, or just a better way to look at money and investing.
My goal? To help you learn from the wins (and mistakes) of others so you can invest smarter, with more confidence. Think of this as your shortcut to sharper thinking and better decision-making, one book at a time.
Money for Life: A Roadmap to Financial Freedom
When most people think about wealth, they focus on income. But in Money for Life: A Road Map to Financial Freedom, Jon Giaan and Dymphna Boholt make a compelling case that lasting wealth isn’t about how much you earn, it’s about how you think about money, the systems you build and the assets you own.
Why This Book Matters
Many Australians are stuck in the cycle of working harder, saving a little, and hoping superannuation will be enough to retire on. Giaan and Boholt make the argument that this approach is not working for a majority of Australians. Instead, they show how it’s possible to move from simply working for money to getting your money to work for you.
Both Giaan and Boholt are prominent figures in the wealth and property education space in Australia with both of them having made their considerable fortunes primarily through property and business. Their combined expertise creates a practical and inspiring guide for anyone ready to build true financial freedom.
Key Lessons from Money for Life
1. Climb the Hierarchy of Income
Not all income is created equal. Job income is capped by your time and energy while business income can scale but still requires effort. Investment income is where true freedom lies. The goal is to steadily move up this hierarchy until more of your income becomes passive.
2. Know Your Money Type
Everyone has a natural money tendency ie. you are a spender, saver, accumulator, or risk-taker. Recognising which is your money type helps you avoid blind spots that are holding you back and put systems in place that keep your finances on track.
3. The Golden Rule of Money
“Control money, don’t let money control you.” That means automating savings, setting up strong asset protection structures and separating lifestyle spending from investment spending. When money is managed well, it can become a tool for freedom rather than stress.
4. Challenge the Myths
The book busts common money myths such as: pay off your home before investing, all debt is bad and superannuation will be enough. Instead, Giaan & Boholt highlight how good debt can accelerate wealth creation when used to acquire income-producing assets.
5. Property as the Wealth Engine
Both authors credit property as the cornerstone of their wealth. Their strategy is clear: buy quality property with growth potential, use tax advantages wisely, leverage equity and always maintain buffers to ride out downturns.
6. Mindset is Everything
Financial freedom is less about numbers and more about perspective. The real question isn’t “How much do I earn?” but “What assets can give me money for life?” This shift, from earner to asset owner, is the foundation of long-term wealth.
How can you apply their teachings in real life?
Audit your income sources: how much is active vs. passive?
Identify your money type and create 'guardrails'.
Put strong financial structures in place.
Use good debt to buy income-generating assets.
Build sufficient buffers for peace of mind.
Keep shifting your mindset towards ownership and freedom.
Final Thoughts
Money for Life is a practical and eye-opening guide for anyone serious about building financial independence. It’s not just about making more money, it’s about creating systems, shifting your mindset and leveraging property to secure wealth that lasts a lifetime.
The question isn’t “Can I afford to start?” but rather “Can I afford not to?”
Have you read this one already? Tell me what you think!
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