Money doesn’t usually disappear in one dramatic moment, it leaks out in tiny, well-designed ways. In How They Get You, Australian journalist Chris Kohler pulls back the curtain on the everyday systems built to separate you from your cash, without you noticing until it’s too late.
You’ll see how subscriptions make quitting harder than joining, why food delivery can turn a simple meal into a fee-fest, and how loyalty programs often “reward” you with pennies while harvesting your data. Kohler also breaks down modern classics like drip pricing, shrinkflation, digital payment fees, and high-pressure sales environments like real estate auctions and Black Friday.
This summary isn’t about hating business. It’s about spotting the traps, understanding why they work, and learning a few simple habits that keep you in control—especially when inflation makes every decision feel blurry.
