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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I Turned $30,000 into $900,000 — Now What?
Many years ago when I was single I invested $30,000 into Apple shares, and this has grown to just over $900,000. I have a young family, and a mortgage, and due to COVID my work has dried up.
I’m in trouble with Racial Discrimination Act, apparently
You really do have a way with you to regularly throw backhander insults at mainly ageing, bald white males. Last week you wrote: “Secondly, you’re 71, mate — where are you getting your income to pay for things from?”
Really! Be careful, young Scott…
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.
Crash Landing
My wife and I live in regional Australia, earning good dough. Our problem is our rental in Brisbane. Our tenants (no problem up to this point) have been stood down due to COVID.
I Used My Mojo to Buy a $10,800 Handbag
I am a long-time Barefooter and, overall, have made money decisions I think you would be happy with: I have a good job ($110,000 a year), have paid off my bad debts, have started maxing out my super, own my car, pay extra on my mortgage, and have started a share portfolio. Most importantly, I have three months of Mojo — until yesterday, that is…
Should I Buy Gold?
Uh-oh.
I’ve caused a fight with Jimmy and his missus.
All the poor bloke wants to do is to buy his lovely wife some gold … but it turns out she’s not having a bar of it.
The Broke Accountant
I am a single parent of two kids and, financially, I am hemorrhaging. I have been trying to domino my debts for three years, often paying off too much and leaving myself struggling (then ending up in more debt).
Life-Changing Money
I am currently listening to a crowd who are selling a trading program to get into ‘call’ and ‘put’ options. I do not understand a thing about the stock market…
Nor Way! My Mother-in-Law is a Thief!
We have had a bit of a shocker the past few days. My mother-in-law, who was visiting us from Norway, was arrested for shoplifting.
Are You Like Chickens?
Questions flood in from people all over the country, giving me a good insight into what the man on the street in a mask is thinking.
You’d think that people would be asking about COVID, JobKeeper or JobSeeker.
You’d be wrong.
From the Depths of Despair
I sat in my GP’s office crying my heart out, feeling suffocated by my $27,000 debt, feeling depressed like there was no way out. My GP listened to every word I said (in between sobs) and finally said, “I think we need a longer appointment”, and asked me to come back the next day.
Hell’s Kitchen
My wife and I are in our early 30s and are both nurses. She has decided she wants to put our money into starting a restaurant. I think it is a terrible idea…
Issue a Retraction, Now!
Firstly, love your work. You’ve changed our financial lives in a significant and very positive manner. But secondly, and more importantly, I hate to tell you but your article about weighted blankets is actually very risky.
The people who are really getting screwed in this downturn (it's not who you think)
My editor emailed me with a request on Thursday:
“Can you do a piece on the Treasurer’s economic update to the nation?”
My answer?
Sure, and I can do it in one line:
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.
Should I Get a Marginal Loan?
There is a lot of uncertainty at the moment and share prices (particularly for the banks) are very low. So I thought of getting a marginal loan for $100,000 and dropping an even spread across the Big 4.
I’m Angry With You, Barefoot
Being a Barefooter, I am pretty disappointed with how you treated 22-year-old Tina with her question last week about her boyfriend investing $1,000 on her behalf.
The NutriBullet of the Bedroom?
Today I’m going to talk to you about something really weird: investing in sleep.
Here’s the thing: you probably spend, at best, two hours a day in your car, but eight hours a day in the sack … yet you’re likely still sleeping on the equivalent of a Datsun 180B, right?
We Hit the Jackpot!
This month, my husband and I will finally be debt free! We owe nothing (though we also own nothing). My hubby used to have an addiction to gambling and a $120,000 debt on credit cards.