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

Barefoot Admin 5/17/21 Barefoot Admin 5/17/21

This is How to Get a Job

Something to brighten your day. My almost 15-year-old recently applied for (and got) her first job at a local ice-cream store. She based her application on your example in The Barefoot Investor for Families. Now my 11-year-old believes she should also be allowed to get a job at the ice-cream store.

Barefoot Admin 3/22/21 Barefoot Admin 3/22/21

Teenage Terms and Conditions

Recently my 13-year-old son received a letter from the ANZ bank with a new debit card and the promise of a PIN to follow. The problem is, his mum and I knew nothing about it!

Barefoot Admin 3/1/21 Barefoot Admin 3/1/21

Shares for Kids

“Dad, do you own shares in … Woolworths?”

“Yes.”

“What about Coles?”

Barefoot Admin 11/30/20 Barefoot Admin 11/30/20

I’ve been waiting to write this piece for years

I’ve been waiting to write this piece for years.No, really. My very first Barefoot Investor column 16 years ago campaigned for practical financial education to be taught in schools! And that’s why the Victorian Government’s decision to ban school banking and replace it with practical, independent school-led programs is a massive step forward.

Barefoot Admin 11/23/20 Barefoot Admin 11/23/20

Switched On

Just wanted to show you a pic of my son’s Spend jar purchase. He saved $300 to buy himself a Nintendo Switch Lite — by buying and selling stuff from the recycling centre (!) and using his pocket money.

Barefoot Admin 10/26/20 Barefoot Admin 10/26/20

Daughter Teaches Mum

Scott Pape 8/25/20 Scott Pape 8/25/20

Message in a Bottle

I have $10,000 in a bottle buried for my only granddaughter, who is two. I want to buy her a car when she turns 18, but I may not be here by then as I am nearly 68, and I also realise it will not be worth much by then. I would like to know how I could grow it better.

Scott Pape 8/20/20 Scott Pape 8/20/20

The Big Purchase

My little boy’s ‘Save’ jar just got emptied for this little beauty! He paid for it with six months of chores plus selling some old toys on Gumtree — a ‘Money Challenge’ that was in your book The Barefoot Investor for Families. He managed to save $143 in small change…

Scott Pape 8/11/20 Scott Pape 8/11/20

The 12-Year-Old Miner

My 12-year-old son wants to become a Bitcoin miner. He wants to purchase a special device for $120 and believes he will earn around $30 a day.

Scott Pape 7/22/20 Scott Pape 7/22/20

He’ll Be Okay

My youngest did average at school…He is now 21, has a full-time job, rents a room in a share house, pays his own bills, is paying me back the money he ‘borrowed’, and has plans for his future. Now he shouts me lunch.

Scott Pape 7/13/20 Scott Pape 7/13/20

My Son has a Problem

My 18-year-old son has no value for money and thinks I am a human ATM!

Guest User 6/17/20 Guest User 6/17/20

Kids Say the Darndest Things

Dear Scott, My wife and I have been doing the Jam Jars with our two girls for a bit over a year now. I just wanted to let you in on a conversation I overheard this morning:

Guest User 5/24/20 Guest User 5/24/20

Student Super

Hi Scott, EmmaI am 18 years old and have just landed two casual jobs, so I need to set up a super account (after finding out that all of my past super from a part-time summer job in 2016 was reduced to $0.14 and then taken by the ATO!

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 3/3/20 Guest User 3/3/20

My Son is a Thief

Hi Scott, Today my 8-year-old son stole $40 from my 10-year-old daughter’s purse, and then shouted all his friends at the school canteen. I am not sure how to deal with this one correctly so that both of my kids learn a lesson.

Guest User 12/5/19 Guest User 12/5/19

A 12 Year-Old Steals The Show

Hi Scott, I am 12 years old and I have dysgraphia and ADD. My dad has been doing Barefoot for 12 months and now we are able to go to Bali for a holiday ...

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

Sleepless Barefooters

Hi Scott, My wife and I recently welcomed our first child, a boy. While at the hospital, I noticed your book was in the hospital library with the caption ‘Great Books to Read Aloud to Babies’.

Guest User 11/4/19 Guest User 11/4/19

Complexity Killed the Cat

Hi Scott, I just wanted to say that I completed your survey about school banking. I found the questions really long-winded and complex!

Guest User 10/29/19 Guest User 10/29/19

I Am Adrian’s Mum!

Hi Scott, In response to your column last week about the Commonwealth Bank’s school banking program, I am “Adrian’s mum from Year 4” and I’m also the school banking co-ordinator for the primary school. Yes, I am a volunteer.

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

Sounds ... Spriggy

Hi Scott, I have just finished a call with a friend who was telling about a money app for kids called ‘Spriggy’. As far as I can tell, it pays no interest, has a yearly joining fee, and only allows access by a custom, kid-friendly Visa card (decorated with a cute cartoon pig).