Articles & Questions

Every week I publish a fun new article on a money topic I think you’ll find interesting. I also answer a handful of reader questions. Subscribers to my newsletter get to see everything first — but you can browse some of my past articles & questions on this page.

My Best Articles

Not sure where to start? Below I’ve handpicked a few of my favourites. And if you like what you see, don’t forget to subscribe to my free newsletter to get new issues before anyone else!

What I Really Think of Hostplus’s Index Balanced Fund

About the Barefoot Blueprint

How to Sort Your Insurance

Do I still use the ING Orange Everyday account?

What I Think of AFIC

Search Articles

Scott Pape 9/6/26 Scott Pape 9/6/26

Regrets

My five-year-old jumped out of the ute and nearly toppled over under the weight of his school bag.

A backpack almost as big as him.

Then he stopped and held out his hand, waiting for me to take him in.

“Mate, I’ve got a meeting”, I said. “Surely you can walk in on your own.”

Scott Pape 10/27/25 Scott Pape 10/27/25

This Will Get Me in Trouble

Today’s column is brought to you by short-term lender MoneyMe.

Scott Pape 10/13/25 Scott Pape 10/13/25

Trust Fund Kids Blow Up

Scott,

I’m 72 and have had hard-won success in business. I’ve got four adult kids aged between 23 and 35.

Scott Pape 6/2/25 Scott Pape 6/2/25

The $30,000 Pussy

Barefoot,

Our cat got bitten by a snake. $30,000 later she’s alive and well and having a great life. Pets, to some, are their family. They’re not replaceable. The 30 grand I spent wasn’t just for a cat’s life …

Scott Pape 5/26/25 Scott Pape 5/26/25

Mouldy, Desperate Parents

Hi Scott,

We’ve spent the last seven years stuck in a financial and emotional loop, paralysed by fear of making the wrong decision for our family. Here’s our situation: we have five young kids, two of whom have special needs.

Barefoot Admin 6/6/22 Barefoot Admin 6/6/22

Bill Now, Pay Later?

As I was scrolling through my Facebook newsfeed drinking my morning coffee, I spotted an ad for Deferit. There are lots of ‘buy now, pay later’ schemes these days, but this is the first I’ve spotted for paying bills and splitting them into instalments.

Barefoot Admin 7/19/21 Barefoot Admin 7/19/21

Pressing Problems

I am a single mum of five children and I started my own ironing business one year ago. I would like your advice on how to stay on top of things, as all the money I make goes towards paying bills or buying groceries.

Barefoot Admin 7/19/21 Barefoot Admin 7/19/21

I’m 19 and Have Already Blown My Credit Rating

I am 19 years old. When I turned 18, I applied for multiple loans, not knowing that doing so would affect my future. I have recently tried to get a phone plan through Optus in my own name but they rejected me because of my history.

Barefoot Admin 12/7/20 Barefoot Admin 12/7/20

Here’s what could happen in 2021

Let’s discuss what could go wrong in 2021, and what you can do about it. Of course, newspapers are chock-full of experts making predictions about “what’s in store for the next year”, so, before I throw my hat in the ring, let me shake the sauce bottle:

Guest User 6/2/20 Guest User 6/2/20

My Financial Planner Hates You

Scott, We’ve just come back from seeing our financial planner, and I am a little rattled! Our super fund is competitive in terms of earnings but its fees are 2% pa.

Guest User 5/17/20 Guest User 5/17/20

How a Teenager Works 5 Hours … and Gets $1,500

Hi Scott, I am an 18-year-old and have been laid off from my job at a swim centre because of the coronavirus. The company had applied for the JobKeeper payment, which I have tagged along on.

Guest User 4/29/20 Guest User 4/29/20

Pilot Gets Grounded

Hey Scott, Last time I emailed you, I had a well-paying job as an international pilot, the share market was at a record high, my super was doing brilliantly, I was investing every month and we were planning a holiday to Greece. I wrote to thank you for changing our lives.

Guest User 4/12/20 Guest User 4/12/20

Should I Pause My Repayments?

Hi Scott, I haven’t lost my job due to the coronavirus (I have a stable public service job), but I’ve seen an option from my bank to freeze my home loan repayments. Would it be a good idea to build up a bit of extra cash in this uncertain climate?

Guest User 11/26/19 Guest User 11/26/19

Help! I'm with 28 Banks

Hello Scott, I am with 28 different banks (including credit unions). Some charge monthly, some are purely online.

Guest User 11/19/19 Guest User 11/19/19

The $32,000 Couch

Hi Scott, Ten years ago I got a ‘buy now, pay later’ $4,000 ‘living room package’ at a retailer (couch, TV, coffee table). Actually, the deal was that they gave me a GEM Visa with a $6,000 limit … so another $2,000 credit, which I stupidly spent.

Guest User 10/21/19 Guest User 10/21/19

I Spent $2,000 on Powerball Last Night

Hi Scott, I spent $2,000 on Powerball last night and apparently did not even win my tickets back. I feel pathetic.

Guest User 9/1/19 Guest User 9/1/19

My Baby Sent Me Broke

Hi Scott, Over the last two-and-a-half years we have had two babies and a wedding. Our first baby came earlier than planned so it wasn’t covered by private health, and we made the silly choice to pay for it out of pocket.

Guest User 8/19/19 Guest User 8/19/19

Cancer Can’t Beat Me

Dear Scott, One minute I was living the high life at a business awards night in Cairns – two weeks later I was diagnosed with breast cancer. I heard the big ‘C word’ and felt the walls come crashing in around me.

Guest User 8/10/19 Guest User 8/10/19

He Threatened to Kill Me

Hi Scott, I read your column on scams and wanted to share my story. I got a call a couple of years ago and knew straight away that it was a scam due to the guy’s funny accent, but I decided to play along for fun.

Guest User 7/20/19 Guest User 7/20/19

How to Find a Great Accountant

Scott, I am 51 and newly divorced, and for the first ever I feel the need to get some tax advice from an accountant. But how do I find one who is trustworthy and not just after as much of my money as they can get?