Richest Man in Babylon: 7 Money Lessons (UK)
A book written in 1926, set in ancient Babylon. Its seven cures are still what any decent UK planner would tell you in 2026. The vocabulary is older. The arithmetic is not.
Clason's seven cures, translated for the UK in 2026
| # | Clason 1926 | UK 2026 equivalent |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Start thy purse to fattening | Standing order to ISA/SIPP on payday |
| 2 | Control thy expenditures | Cap lifestyle inflation, 50/30/20 split |
| 3 | Make thy gold multiply | Global tracker inside ISA or SIPP |
| 4 | Guard thy treasures from loss | Emergency fund plus FSCS-covered accounts |
| 5 | Make of thy dwelling a profitable investment | Buy where the rent-vs-buy maths supports it |
| 6 | Insure a future income | State Pension plus workplace pension and SIPP |
| 7 | Increase thy ability to earn | Career and skills investment |
The wrappers changed. The cures did not.
Key takeaways
The richest man in Babylon lessons are George S Clason's seven cures for a lean purse, written in 1926 and still the cleanest summary of personal finance.
The cures are: save a tenth of your income, control your spending, invest the savings, protect them from loss, own your home, plan a future income, and increase your earning power.
In UK terms that maps to ISA and SIPP automation, lifestyle inflation discipline, low-cost global trackers, FSCS protection, mortgages, pension contributions and skills investment.
The mechanics have changed since Babylon. The behaviours have not - bend the curve at the income side and the rest of the system does most of the work.