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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My (brief) time in jail
The prisoner walked into the jail meeting room, sat down in front of me, and stared into my soul. “Hello”, I said nervously. Silence.
Wine-O Needs Help
I have a dream. I want to start my own vineyard. I love wine! We live on 20 acres in Gippsland (Victoria) and I want to add 4 hectares of vines. I always thought it was a pipe dream but last year I got an inheritance of $250,000 from my grandmother.
The man with no balls
Federal Health Minister Mark Butler wants you to know that he has balls of steel. You see, each year private health insurers must go cap in hand to him to increase their prices. And this year they wanted to deliver their biggest premium hike in six years – but he rejected it.
You’re a Dick, Barefoot
I'm a hairdresser, and I didn’t appreciate you starting your column last week with the idea that your wife was embarrassed about you being mistaken for a hairdresser. It just made you sound like a dick. Don't alienate the people you are trying to help. Do better.
The Greens Party Listens
You seem to be singing from the Greens playbook. This week they are shrewdly threatening to not pass the government’s Help to Buy scheme unless they agree to stop negative gearing and freeze rents.
Help! My Hubby Won’t Retire
My husband of 43 years has his own small business and it’s his identity, but I would like him to retire. Thanks to modest living, saving, superannuation and an inheritance, we have $2 million under our belt.
The 23 year old window washer … making $165k a year
Today I want to talk to you about what I genuinely believe is the opportunity of a lifetime. No, it’s not becoming an AI expert. The cyborgs are getting exponentially smarter and will soon view us as golden retrievers (and leave us to sniff each other’s butts while they do the heavy analytical and computational work. Good boy!).
You Have 60 Seconds to Do This NOW
My good friend wants to invest $100,000 into a crypto-style investment strategy called GsPro. They say in 18 months you will 10 x your investment. What advice do you have for her as she feels she needs to take a risk to make some money.
In 81 Days I’m Walking Away from Millions
I’ve been married for 35 years, and I am scared. I’m only 81 days away from accessing my super balance, which is $30,000. I need to take that money and escape from my husband.
My secret side hustle as a hairdresser
“You’re not wearing that, are you?” sighed my wife, Liz.
We were heading out to a party and I was wearing my standard uniform: boots, jeans, and the next clean T-shirt that was in my cupboard that morning .
2024 Will Bring The Biggest Crash of Our Lifetime
A question for you if you wouldn’t mind commenting – is there any truth to economist Harry Dent’s latest dire warning of doom for shares and property in Australia?
You’re Nothing but a Bag of %$#^&, Barefoot
Many people who earn a lot are miners. We sacrifice our lives without family and friends to make higher wages while giving tax cuts to people who choose to earn less but won’t make a sacrifice to earn more.
AMEN, Barefoot!
I love your position on the tax cuts! I’m in the highest tax bracket, and you won’t catch me moaning about getting a bit less of a still giant tax cut when we are in a cost of living crisis that I am immune from due to my high income.
Could you ... would you?
Thank you so much for your amazing money concept for kids. I am a School Chaplain at a low socio-economic school in Tamworth, NSW.
Rethink the six-berth motorhome!
I’ve loved your advice and guidance over the years. You’ve gotten me from knowing nothing about money management, and having a crappy Westpac account charging $5 monthly account fees, all the way to having $30,000 in index-based ETFs.
Eat, pray, panic
Late last year we got back from our latest family adventure. We spent three-and-a-half months travelling through Europe in a motorhome. Just writing that last line makes it sound very … Instagram influencer … #bestlife!
Barefoot Christmas Books!
Here are the three books that will be in my Santa sack this year (apart from Barefoot Kids, of course):
A tough Christmas?
Last week I did an (unpaid!) gig for Australia’s largest mental health support organisation, Beyond Blue.
Unbeknown to me, an eager beaver from their comms team went ahead and entitled the presentation “Take the pressure down: A guide to navigating end-of-year stress with Beyond Blue and the Barefoot Investor.”