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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Bailing Out My Boyfriend
Hi, I’m a huge fan! My boyfriend is currently working overseas, and we plan to ‘go Barefoot’ when he gets back so we can tackle our debts.
The Best Thing I Ever Saved For
Dear Mr Pape, I bought your book while in severe financial difficulty — I actually had to save money for six weeks just to buy it! Anyway, I am 10 months in and will never look back, having managed to pay off $25,574.
The Giving Game
Hi Scott, My daughter would like to donate the contents of her money box to a charity. I really want to take her to one in person, rather than doing it online, so she can be a part of the process.
The Dollarmite Rebel
Hi Scott, I purchased your latest book, The Barefoot Investor for Families, and gave it to my nine-year-old son, who has taken to it like a duck to water. He is enthusiastically helping with cooking, and has set up his three jam jars.
The 3 books I’m giving for Christmas this year
Christmas shopping sucks, right? Not for me.
Why Afterpay is the marijuana of credit
I think of Afterpay as the financial equivalent of marijuana. Young people absolutely love it, and old people are doing a lot of finger-waving about the dangers of getting hooked on the newest financial drug to hit the streets.
Southern Cross Travel Insurance
Hi Scott, This question is for my brother. After being diagnosed with serious bone cancer in March 2017, he proceeded to apply to his travel insurer -- Southern Cross Travel -- for a refund on his overseas trip, planned for April 2017.
Does Renting Now Make Sense?
Hi Scott, I would like your thoughts on something that is bothering me. Forecasters think that house prices are set to fall at least 5% over the next year.
Boost My Super Just By Shopping? SuperSuper!
Hi Scott, I am hearing a lot of advertising for SuperSuper ‒ a shopping rewards program that pays rewards directly to your super account with GuildSuper. It’s targeting women, enabling us to boost our super balances by doing nothing different ‒ we are shopping anyway!
Buffett’s Secret Aussie Share Play?
Hi Scott, I know you’re a fan of Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway. Well, there’s a relatively small listed investment company (LIC), called Global Masters Fund Limited (ASX: GFL), that invests in Berkshire Hathaway, UK shares and cash.
19-Year-Old Girl Wins the Lottery
Hi Scott, I am 19 and was given your book last Christmas. I am not the greatest saver — I like to splurge a little too often.
Don’t Raise a Tightarse
Hi Scott, Loving your new book, but I have a question. If a child does not want to spend their accumulated ‘Splurge’ money, isn’t that effectively another form of savings?
Eat, Pray, Dump
Hi Barefoot, So I get a message from my wife at 2am while she is in Morocco (finding herself): “I think I’m going to move to Morocco, I’m so sorry.” This really was not expected, nor in my plan for the future.
Is AMP Heading South?
Hi Barefoot, On advice from our financial adviser, my wife and moved our super from Australian Super to AMP MyNorth Super a year ago. We have generally been happy with the advice we have received and, like all funds, in the past year MyNorth has had its ups and down.
Super Stressful
Hi Scott, I am 27 and earn $95,000 a year, so my super is adding up. But I received my annual superannuation statement and found I am being charged three separate fees: administration fees (0.
Randy Andy
Scott Today I called my bank to negotiate after seeing a special home loan rate advertised on their website. I followed your script and asked for the new rate.
The three questions my financial advisor couldn’t handle
A woman I’ll call Lynne emailed me with the subject line “Devastated”. Here’s what she wrote: Scott, Over the past three years I had become increasingly anxious about the state of my finances, which have been controlled by my ‘trusted’ financial advisor of seven years.
My Aunty Has 15 Credit Cards
Hi Scott, My aunty has got herself into trouble with credit cards. She is not savvy with money and I really do not think she understood what she was doing.
Is your money in one of these ‘fat cat’ funds?
2018’s Top 10 ‘Fat Cat Funds’ I once knew a very rich guy in his sixties who prided himself on ‘calling a spade a spade’. “You’re fat!
High Income Earners Completely Out of Control
Scott, We are what many would consider ‘high income earners’, earning $255,000 a year ‒ and yet we are completely out of control. Our five years of DINK (Double Income No Kids) lifestyle came to a halt when we had three kids in two years, and we are now floundering month to month.