Stop Worrying about Money

WINNER of the Chanticleer International Book Awards Harvey Chute Grand Prize for Business, Enterprise & Finance
1st Place for Instructional and Insightful Nonfiction, Chanticleer International Book Awards
Runner-up BEST BOOK at the Money Awareness & Inclusion Awards 2025

Take control of your money, avoid common financial pitfalls, and prepare for whatever life throws at you

In Stop Worrying about Money, Jacqui Clarke, Australia’s best-kept money secret, delivers smart and sure-fire guidance that will see you through life’s financial ups and downs. You’ll learn to clarify your values, set goals, and be upfront and honest about your money—both with yourself and with others.

Fact: Money comes in and goes out. The cost of living is ever increasing, big changes can come as big surprises and sometimes you’re stuck just trying to keep on top of everything. It’s time to hit pause on the distractions and get wise with your finances. With Stop Worrying about Money, you’ll re-assess what financial independence and freedom mean to you. This is the guide that will help you build a less stressful, more empowering relationship with money, starting today.

You’ll discover how to:

• Build financial security for yourself and your family
• Set meaningful (and within-your-means) money goals
• Combat expense creep and avoid other typical money traps
• Overcome setbacks and become a master planner

A practical and hands-on guide to dealing with life’s most common and challenging financial obstacles, Stop Worrying about Money is the energising, no-nonsense financial wake-up call that you’ve been waiting for.

About the author vii

Introduction ix

An important note xiii

Part I: Getting your house in order 1

1 Understand your money story 3

2 Set meaningful, within-your-means, goals 23

3 Get to grips with, and in control of, mistakes 33

4 Build a trusted personal finance village 47

5 Aim to be financially free-er 65

6 Plan for your death (seriously!) 85

Part II: Dealing with worry 97

7 Attend to relationship dramas and divorce 99

8 Watch for and address money cheating 111

9 Know when it’s money abuse 123

Part III: Planning for the future 133

10 Schedule a sabbatical or break 135

11 Set up a side hustle or business successfully 153

12 Consider a sea-change, tree-change or move 167

13 Give and gift to causes bigger than yourself 183

14 Educate the next generation 199

What next? 219

Connect with me 221

Acknowledgements 223

Where to go for help 225

Sources 227

Index 231

Jacqui Clarke is a trusted advisor, board member, executor and veteran business executive. For decades she has worked with some of Australia's wealthiest families to help them preserve, protect and grow their wealth, and navigate the challenges that money brings.

Face your money challenges head on

Stop Worrying About Money delivers smart, sure-fire money advice to help you prepare for life’s ups and downs. From Jacqui Clarke, trusted advisor to some of Australia’s wealthiest families, this book is your answer to the question: how can I build a more confident relationship with money?

Inside, you’ll find a practical and hands-on guide to dealing with life’s most common and challenging financial obstacles; you’ll learn how to build financial security for yourself and your family as you take control of your spending and set meaningful and realistic money goals; and you’ll discover how to pay down debt, become a master planner and handle unexpected money emergencies.

Discover how to:

• understand your money story
• build your support team—your personal finance village
• create a resilient retirement nest egg
• combat expense creep and avoid other typical money traps
• make empowered, wise money choices.

Stop Worrying About Money is the energising, no-nonsense financial wake-up call that you’ve been waiting for. Stop worrying about money, and start living, today.