The Rules of Wealth: A Personal Code for Prosperity and Plenty

Richard Templar is the author of the international bestselling Rules books. Over 2 million people around the world have enjoyed and now play by Richard Templar's Rules. The complete list of titles is as follows: The Rules of Life, The Rules of Work, The Rules of Management, The Rules of Wealth, The Rules of Parenting, The Rules of Love, The Rules to Break, The Rules of People, The Rules of Thinking, and The Rules of Living Well.

Thinking wealthy 
1 Anybody can be wealthy – you just need to apply yourself 
2 Decide on your definition of wealth 
3 Set your objectives 
4 Keep it under your hat 
5 Most people are too lazy to be wealthy 
6 Get a reality check 
7 Understand your money beliefs and where they come from 
8 Understand that wealth is a consequence, not a reward 
9 Decide what you want money for 
10 Understand that money begets money 
11 Calculate the net return 
12 If you see money as the solution you'll find it becomes the problem 
13 You can make lots of money, you can enjoy your job, and you can sleep nights 
14 Don't make money by being bad 
15 Money and happiness – understand their relationship 
16 Know the difference between price and value 
17 Know how the wealthy think 
18 Don't envy what others have 
19 It's harder to manage yourself than it is to manage your money 

Getting wealthy 
20 You've got to know where you are before you start 
21 You've got to have a plan 
22 Get your finances under control 
23 Insurance pays someone, and odds are it's not you 
24 Only by looking wealthy can you become wealthy 
25 Speculate to accumulate (no, this isn't gambling) 
26 Decide your attitude to risk 
27 Think through the alternatives to taking a risk 
28 If you don't trust someone, don't do business with them 
29 It's never too late to start getting wealthy 
30 Start saving young (or teach your kids this one if it's too late for you) 
31 Understand that your financial needs change at different stages of your life 
32 You have to work hard to get rich enough not to have to work hard 
33 Learn the art of deal making 
34 Learn the art of negotiating 
35 Small economies won't make you wealthy but they will make you miserable 
36 Real wealth comes from deals not fees 
37 Understand that working for others won't necessarily make you rich – but it might 
38 Don't waste time procrastinating – make money decisions quickly 
39 Work as if you didn't need the money 
40 Spend less than you earn 
41 Don't borrow money – unless you really, really have to 
42 Consider consolidating debts 
43 Cultivate a skill and it'll repay you over and over again 
44 Pay off your loans and debts as a priority 
45 Don't be too busy earning a living to make some money 
46 Save in big chunks – or should you? 
47 Don't rent, buy 
48 Understand what investing really means 
49 Build a bit of capital then invest it wisely 
50 Understand that property, in the long run, will not outpace shares 
51 Master the art of selling 
52 See yourself as others do 
53 Don't believe you can always win 
54 Don't pick stocks yourself if you don't know what you're doing 
55 Understand how the stock market really works 
56 Only buy shares (or anything) you can understand 
57 Use your head 
58 By all means, use the investment professionals (but don't be used by them) 
59 If you are going to get financial advice, pay for it 
60 Don't fiddle  
61 Think long term  
62 Have a set time of day to work on your wealth strategy  
63 Pay attention to detail  
64 Create new income streams  
65 Learn to play ‘What if?'  
66 Control spending impulses  
67 Don't answer ads that promise get-rich-quick schemes – it won't be you who gets rich quick  
68 There are no secrets  
69 Don't just read this – do something  
  Getting even wealthier  
70 Carry out a finance health check regularly  
71 Get some money mentors  
72 Play your hunches  
73 Don't sit back  
74 Get someone to do the stuff you can't  
75 Know yourself – solo, duo or team player  
76 Look for the hidden asset/opportunity  
77 Don't try to get rich too quickly  
78 Always ask what's in it for them 
79 Make your money work for you 
80 Know when to let go of investments  
81 Know your own style  
82 Know why you should be able to read a balance sheet – and how  
83 Be one step ahead of your tax collector  
84 Learn how to make your assets work for you  
 85 Don't ever believe you're only worth what you are being paid  
 86 Don't follow the same route as everyone else  
Staying wealthy  
87 Shop for quality  
 88 Check the small print  
 89 Don't spend it before you've got it  
 90 Put something aside for your old age – no, more than that! 188 
 91 Put something aside for emergencies/rainy days – the contingency fund  
 92 You paid what for it? How to shop around  
 93 Never borrow money from friends or family (but you can allow them to invest)  
 94 Don't surrender equity  
 95 Know when to stop sharing your wealth  
 96 Use your wealth wisely  
 97 Never lend money to friends or family unless you are prepared to write it off  
 98 Don't lend, take equities  
 99 You really, really can't take it with you  
100 Know when/how to say no – and yes  
101 Find ways to give people money without them feeling they are in your debt  
102 Don't over-protect your children from the valuable experience of poverty  
103 Know how to choose charities/good causes  
104 Spend your own money because no one will spend it as wisely as you  
105 Take responsibility before you take advice  
106 Once you've got it, don't flaunt it  
107 What's next? Pacts with the devil?  
The Rules of other people's wealth  
 1 Don't judge  
 2 Don't envy it  
 3 Other people's money belongs to them  
 4 They can give it all away if they like  
5a Once they've gone, you can't ask questions  
5b Once they've gone, you can't ask questions  
 6 Blood comes before money  
 7 Your children owe you nothing  
 8 Don't make money taboo  
 9 If they give it to you, it's yours