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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A Mother’s Tragedy
My son tragically took his life earlier this year and I need help sorting out his estate. Nick was 30 and was fighting for custody of his two children, aged seven and three, as their mother is an ice addict (as is her new partner). Her mother is now fighting her own daughter for custody!
My Husband Took a Secret to His Grave
When my husband died in 2007 I was left with nothing, because he had gambled everything away secretly. Since then I’ve managed to raise our three children and keep a roof over our heads, even though I’ve had to rent.
Money Meals
I recently sent a thankyou email to your team for the amount you’ve helped my family save on our life/income/TPD insurance. We saved $132,690 up to the age of 65! So then we phoned our home insurance.
I just called … to say … I WANT ALL YOUR MONEY
I got a random call from a financial advisor that I have never dealt with before. I have been meaning to get some advice for a while now, so the timing was great.
Our Kids Don’t Know How Broke We Are
My family is in a highly stressful situation. Currently our children all go to private schools that cost us a combined $35,000 a year, yet we are struggling because I am the only one working, as my husband has been out of work for over six months. I can’t tell my children that they will need to leave their school because we can’t afford it!
You can taste the danger in the air
Right before a bushfire, you can taste the danger in the air.You can smell the smoke.You can often see the flames flickering way off in the distance.
All Clear from COVID
We stupidly made the decision to withdraw the maximum $20,000 from my husband’s super when it was on offer due to Covid. Now we want to give it back. Is it as simple as depositing it back into his super account?
We need to talk about your job
Years ago I employed a kid fresh out of uni, mainly as a favour for his dad, who said he needed some work experience.
The Young (and Miserable) Multimillionaire
My partner and I have followed your advice to a ‘T’ for the last 10 years. We started our own business, worked full time, flipped properties as our side hustle, and aggressively paid down our debt. And it’s worked — we now have $3.5 million dollars, all from nothing.
Barefoot Blows Renters an Air Kiss
I’ve read your newsletters religiously over the past few years (and generally loved them), but this is the first time I’ve been compelled to write back. I am frustrated with your take on OwnHome last week
The Bonking Fund Manager
One of the funds I invest in is the Magellan Global Fund. I’ve since found out that the guy who was running it was bonking someone he shouldn’t have been and now the company has turned south. Do I hold tight or jump ship with everyone else?
I’m a Grown Man, and I’m Scared
I’m worried about what to do with my superannuation. I want to retire in the next twelve months as I turn sixty-six in July. My question is that I’m scared that if Russia or China invade, what impact would this have on the share market which will directly impact super fund?
Am I a Greedy Landlord?
I own an investment property in an area where rent prices have basically doubled during covid. Do I keep my good tenant of nearly 10 years who is now on very very low rent, or chuck him out to cash in on the double dollars with new tenants? The tenant could actually be making money as he has 2 rooms to sublet, and these could exceed the entire rent price. The rent is actually so low now that is embarrassing me because I feel stupid.
I’m All Ears
My 9-year-old daughter started a business making earrings and hair ties last year during lockdown. It’s grown so much in the last year she now has a few thousand dollars in her bank account!
How you can move into a million dollar dream home, today
He doesn’t buy craft beers. She sips Nescafe blend 43 from a tin.
They live in a feral sharehouse, all so they can save $623 a week to put towards their house deposit.
And here’s the kicker:
While they scrimp and save … the prices of properties around them are going up $1,990 a week.
Stuck in Reverse
My daughters swear by your advice and said I should run our problem past you. My husband and I are in our eighties and have had a reverse mortgage for 12 years, without paying anything back.
So My Husband Spent my Redundancy on Grog
I just discovered that my husband of seven years, and the father to my children, has spent half of my $40,000 redundancy on grog and other rubbish. I suppose it’s my fault for trusting this man (a former accountant!) with our family finances.
This could change everything
Let me tell you about Mark Zuckerberg’s favourite book … and how it could change your world. It’s a science fiction novel, written in the nineties, called Snow Crash. And it’s actually become an underground cult hit in Silicon Valley, for reasons you’ll soon understand.
Update: ‘Rich Girl Loses it All’
We met five years ago at a book signing at Dymocks in Melbourne. I told you that I felt like Barefoot was the financial parent I never had. I admitted to you that I was extremely spoiled, always getting whatever I wanted, whenever I wanted. That changed when I was 14 and my father died, and I found myself on the streets, where I had $1.92 in my bank account, and was at a crisis point … when I found you.
Anti-Vaxxer Worries About Getting Sick
I have been fired due to vaccination mandates. I wonder how this will impact my insurance within my superannuation? Will I lose my insurance? Or will it affect my permanent disability insurance? What advice do you have for those of us out of work?