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!
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Wait, 300k Qantas points are worth how much?
"The mortgage wars are back — and banks are bribing you with everything from Qantas points to cash", read the front page of the newspaper this week.
Romantic Comedy Gone Wrong
Dear Scott,
A financial advisory group keeps hounding me with promises of paying off my mortgage faster, using my tax, and retiring early. I’ve hung up on them multiple times, but I finally caved and booked a meeting. Is there any merit in what they’re selling, or is this just another costly sales pitch in disguise?
I Don’t Want to Adult Anymore
My husband and I are in our twenties. We have just gotten our first mortgage and have had a real shock at how much it costs to be adults, and frankly we don’t like it. After living with my parents for three years, and two kids later, we are finding it tough.
Barefoot-Approved Home Loans?
I was scrolling Instagram the other day and I came across a group called Unbiased Mortgage Brokers who have “Recommended by the Barefoot Investor” at the top of their page.
How to Earn $6,000 in One Hour
My wife and I are fiercely trying to pay down our home loan. After trying to negotiate down our rate with our lender last year, we decided it was time to switch to what was, at the time, the best variable rate we could find.
The Seven Stages of Grief
My fiancé and I purchased our house in December 2021 and had a fixed rate for two years at 2.59%.
How to Get a 30-Year Home Loan Fixed at 2%
I’m an Australian expat living in the United States. In the US the vast majority of people have either 15-year or 30-year fixed-interest-rate mortgages, with most of these loans having very few restrictions or prepayment penalties.
Dr Seuss Gives Financial Advice
I’ve been seeing so many ads on Facebook from people spruiking ways to pay off your mortgage in 7 to 10 years. Is there some secret I’m not aware of?
The Reality of the Budget
I really need advice. I’m a single mum of three (14, 12 and three years old). I bought a townhouse when rates were low, and locked in a fixed rate at 1.9%. It was already tight with my budget.
Tarzan Feeds Six People
My 58-year-old husband is the sole breadwinner, and we have six adults at home. We have a beautiful new house built on the site of our old home and a mortgage of about $350,000, which is currently interest only and consequently never seems to reduce.
Bullying the Banks
With more equity in the house this year, I built up the courage to contact our bank, CBA, and request a better deal. With little hassle they dropped their rate by 0.15%.
Your biggest financial worry right now
My long-suffering editor, Wally, loves to joke that you can tell the financial pulse of the nation from a glimpse at my inbox. After all … thousands of people of all ages, from all across the country, write to me about what’s stressing them out.
Barefoot Blows Renters an Air Kiss
I’ve read your newsletters religiously over the past few years (and generally loved them), but this is the first time I’ve been compelled to write back. I am frustrated with your take on OwnHome last week
Stuck in Reverse
My daughters swear by your advice and said I should run our problem past you. My husband and I are in our eighties and have had a reverse mortgage for 12 years, without paying anything back.
Fixed or Variable?
I am wondering, given current home loan interest rates, whether you still recommend a variable home loan with no frills and extras. Fixed-term home loan now rates are as low as 1.9%, so they are very tempting!
Mortgage Wars
I just had to email you to say thank you and that I love your book. I have just rung my bank and followed your script, and was able to get a 0.49% discount on my home loan.
Dodgy Banks, Dodgy Accounting
So I thought I’d do the Barefoot thing and ask my bank for a better rate than the 3.97% I am currently being slugged with. Yet when I called them to review my loan, they said that because my house price has fallen (I live in Perth) they now consider my LVR to be 120%!
NAB CEO says ‘get out now’
“Get out now.”
That’s the advice the CEO of NAB has given to homeowners who are struggling to make their repayments.
Yes, in his quarterly trading update last week, NAB’s new-ish chief, Ross McEwan, warned…
Mortgage Wars
After reading ‘Mortgage Month’ in Step 3 of your book, I apprehensively (as I avoid confrontation) called the bank and stuck to your script. Our rate was dropped from 4.03% to 2.74%, no questions asked.