It’s 2019 and it’s about time we stopped complaining about being perennially broke. As the saying goes, if you want to be a leader, you’ve got to be a reader. Well, there’s a classic book on how to get rich that was written in 1926, but still has relevance decades later.

George Clason’s ‘The richest man in Babylon’ is a sure way to start your journey to a richer 2019. Here are 6 lessons from the book:

1. Setaside 10% of your earnings for the sole purpose of saving: You can do it! Stop spending your whole weekend at the club and focus on getting rich.

2. Reduce your expenses to a level where they are less than earnings: Stop living beyond your means and trying to keep up with socialites, many who live fake lives. Make the 10% you put away as savings multiply. That is through compound interest. The book says:

3. Saving is good, but if the savings are not put to work to produce more earnings, you may take a very long time to get wealthy or not get wealthy at all. Factors such as inflation mean that the Sh500 you put away today will not have the same value a year down the line

 4. Guard your treasures from loss. Avoid gambling, and pyramid schemes. They may look like a way to earn easy cash, but you are more likely to lose more than you gain.

 5. Insure your future income. Make sure your investments will earn you a substantial amount that can take care of you in the future, even when you retire. It might seem far away, but it’s never too early to plan your life. 6. Increase your ability to earn. This can be done by increasing your skills through online courses or going back to school. The new world requires multi-skilled people so brush up.