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

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 5/10/20 Guest User 5/10/20

My mother saved my life

Anna Jarvis was by all accounts a ferocious lady. In the spring of 1908, she held a ceremony to honour her late mother ...

Guest User 5/4/20 Guest User 5/4/20

A Hole in My Heart

Hi Scott, Last March I came across your book in a store in New Zealand. Since then, it has completely changed how my husband and I use our money.

Guest User 5/4/20 Guest User 5/4/20

If We Are Heading into a Depression, Do This

Hi Scott, I have been reading people saying that all this stimulus (especially in the US, where the Federal Reserve is printing trillions of dollars) will soon lead to massive inflation, and then recession. Even the world’s biggest hedge fund manager, Ray Dalio, says we are heading for a depression.

Guest User 5/4/20 Guest User 5/4/20

I tell you, I’ve never seen anything like it

I’ve never seen anything like it.Last week my inbox was overflowing, and this email, which l received from reader named James, summed up the reaction to my column on 93-year old gardening guru Peter Cundall: “Thanks for writing about Peter Cundall.

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

Newsflash: CommBank Sucks

Scott, I have just received an email from the Commonwealth Bank that has left me furious. Without my consent they have reduced my home loan repayments to the minimum amount, to ‘help’ me during COVID-19.

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

My Husband Is After My Super

Scott, I need your help. I am 31 years old, earning $60,000, and my husband wants me to pull $20,000 out of super (which I can do because of the coronavirus situation) and put it on our mortgage to reduce our interest payments.

Guest User 4/26/20 Guest User 4/26/20

How to survive the coming crisis

The old man leaned in and whispered:“I’ve been preparing for a crisis like this for years.”I was talking to none other than Peter Cundall, the 93-year-old former star of the ABC’s Gardening Australia.

Guest User 4/21/20 Guest User 4/21/20

Flattening the Financial Crisis Curve

You may think Australia has flattened the curve. You are wrong.

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

This Government Spending Is Crazy!

Dear Scott, This isn’t going to be very popular, but I am going to say it anyway: as someone who has worked my entire life (I’m 67), I’ve never asked for a handout from the Government and I am a self-funded retiree. I am very annoyed the Government has embarked on this historic and idiotic spending spree.

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

The true story of two alpacas

I picked a tough time to change careers:Last year I went back to study so I could become a community-based financial counsellor.In January I was sent off to help survivors on the bushfire frontlines.

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

I Lost My Job This Week, But I Got This

Hi Scott, I wanted to get in touch with you to say thank you. I lost my job this week.

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

Super Strange at Hostplus

Scott I’m a 27-year-old with my super in Hostplus. I got an email from them talking about ‘unlisted assets’ which to be honest made no sense at all.

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

Starting in the Share Market … By Raiding My Super

Hi Scott, Now that we can take money out of our super, can I run a plan past you? I am thinking of taking out the maximum $20,000 from my super and using it to buy a mixed bag of shares, since the market has fallen so much.

Guest User 3/30/20 Guest User 3/30/20

Kindness Goes Viral

Hi Scott After watching the news this week I am feeling stressed about the whole virus thing (though not financial stress, thanks to you!).

Guest User 3/30/20 Guest User 3/30/20

There’s Always Someone Doing it Tougher

Hi Scott, I’m a flight attendant who has just been laid off. It’s a bit scary not knowing when or if I’ll get my job back, but thanks to you we’re okay for now — we have Mojo enough to last us for several months.

Guest User 3/30/20 Guest User 3/30/20

Are the Banks Going to Collapse?

Hi Scott,Do you think any of the banks could collapse? I've heard people saying we should remove our savings.

Guest User 3/30/20 Guest User 3/30/20

The Payday Lending Pandemic

Hi Scott As instructed I sent an email to the Honourable Mr Michael Sukkar about putting a muzzle on payday lenders. I’ve never told anyone this because it’s embarrassing, but I once fell victim to these predators when I was struggling financially.