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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The Fortunate Son
I like reading your column, but last week’s hit me so very hard. I am currently having the exact experience with my 18-year-old son, who has lost some money through trading. He does not want any advice from his parents, yet still hopes to be a ‘trader’.
What’s the deal with zero interest credit cards?
When you’re doing my job, you just never know who’s going to walk through the door.
One day a woman in her sixties sat down in front of me ... and totally blew me away.
“Let’s start with your debts”, I said, pulling out a piece of paper.
“Well, I have a credit card”, she said.
My ‘Fake Rich’ Life
I started reading your book when I was lying by a five-star pool in Dubai, which I had booked on my credit card. I was living a ‘fake rich’ life, holding down a high-paid job but living week to week.
They’re Coming Out of the Woodwork
I’ve just read your article entitled “The Horses”. My wife was tricked into buying an almost identical funeral insurance policy from Insuranceline. We estimate we have paid $35,000 in premiums since 2007, with a payout cover of just $6,000 each.
An Unusual Request
I have an unusual request. Before reading your book, my husband Derek’s after-work hours were taken up largely by games on his phone and Netflix. Now he reads investing books every evening.
Dad Ditches Wife for Kids?
My lovely husband and I (both in our forties) are doing our wills. Unfortunately, this is a pressing matter as he has terminal cancer. When it comes to dealing with his illness he is a legend, but with finances he is a freaking nightmare.
My Doom and Gloom Dad
My dad and I are classic doomers. Dad would often speak around the dining table about the looming subprime mortgage crisis — among other things, like public debt, and the devil in credit cards — when I was a teen. Now I am a Millennial who turned 30 this year.
The multi millionaire and the $20 book
I’ve got a friend who is super successful, and very, very rich.He sold his business for $300 million, owns a resort, and hangs out with dignitaries.I was talking to him one day and he told me something that shocked me
cough, cough, cough
“Cough, cough, cough.”
My wife rolled over in bed and shot me a dagger: “What was THAT?”
For the next few minutes I successfully stopped myself from coughing, but it felt like my head was going to explode.
My Wife is too Spiritual to Work
My wife and I have been married almost 16 years and we have school-aged kids. I have always encouraged her to contribute to the family budget. And she has, but earns just a few hundred dollars a month with her holistic medicine business. She is a very spiritual person and does not believe in hard work.
Indigenous Woman, Hear Me Roar!
I am a young professional Aboriginal woman from Cape York. In the past I made some foolish investments, but a few years ago I picked up your book. I loved it, though I struggled to get my hubby to read it. So I played him your audio-book in the car. He was so excited, given how easy it is to follow.
The Horses
My mother-in-law took out funeral insurance way back in 2004. Since then she has paid approximately $29,000 ($72 per fortnight), but if she were to die the payout would be $17,700. I cannot find a legal way to get them to stop taking more of her money. They will stop when she is 90, but sadly she is 70 and has Parkinson’s. Any ideas?
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.
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%!
Jimmy the Gold-Digger Responds
Having my gold question answered by you just knocked me off my old sneakers, and I was not offended whatsoever! On the contrary, I was overjoyed and showed your reply to my wife.
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…
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…
Kochie Gets Into Bitcoin?
I have always liked David Kosch … and now he appears to be advertising Bitcoin trading. The ad promises, like other get-rich-quick schemes, instant wealth. My question is, though Bitcoin has recently crashed, is it OK now as the ad is saying?
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.