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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Are You Okay?
“Are you okay? If you need a hand with anything, call.”
I stared at the text while I stood ankle-deep in a kiddie pool, orange juice in hand.
My Mother Is Acting Like a Teenager
I’m nearly 18 and the only one bringing in money for my family. Mum’s been out of work for 17 years – tried a job but quit due to bullying.
My Boyfriend’s Addiction Has Cost Us $30,000
I’m 25, and I’m really worried about how much my partner has lost on cars. He loves them, and I used to love that too – until his latest purchase, a $30,000 sporty luxury car (bought with a personal loan), turned into a financial nightmare.
Swedish Death Cleaning
It’s been an emotional week.
Eleven years ago, a fire tore through our farm and took everything we owned. We were left with just the clothes on our backs. Our baby? Just his nappy.
My Bag Men
Here is a picture of my boys with their bags full of toys to donate. They saved just under $250 this year, and I let them loose in Kmart. They had a ball and put so much thought into the presents.
I’m on FIRE
I’m 27 and I’m currently aiming to achieve dividend FIRE (Financial Independence Retire Early, i.e. living off income from dividends in the future).
You're Out of Touch, Barefoot
I read your latest column and wasn’t that impressed with your ‘forget about it’ number of $100. Even though I earn $175,000 a year, I’m the type who hunts for bargains even if it’s just saving a few bucks.
About that rate cut
Let’s talk about interest rates.
Watching Reserve Bank Governor Michele Bullock announce the first rate cut in four years reminded me of my kids when I let them watch TV.
The Fairy Floss Boss
Hi, my name is Theo. I want to start a fairy floss business. I’ve done a business plan but my mum called the insurance people and they said that they don’t give 10-year-olds insurance.
My Brother-in-Law is a Parasite – Help!
My brother-in-law has it sorted – he has a mail-order bride, kids, and he’s living rent-free with my mother-in-law. Every Christmas and birthday, they expect us to buy them top-tier Apple gear (we once got their 10-year-old a $2,000 iPad Pro).
What are your Money Rules?
“Jeez, mate … what the hell happened to you?” I said to Benny, an old farmhand I once employed.
He’d shed so much weight since I last saw him that he looked like he’d been kidnapped by a pack of Pilates instructors.
I’m Absolutely Traumatized
While I was away for two weeks, a packet of chicken thigh fillets somehow ended up under the driver’s seat of my car (from a grocery shop before I left). I came back to an exploded packet of horrific, rancid, smelly chicken, maggots, and an absolute disaster.
Can you trust AI to research investments?
Love your work! Do you have any advice on using Microsoft AI Copilot for investing?
My summer romance
Dave shook my hand, sat down, and placed his phone between the two of us.
With a twinkle in his eye, he leaned toward his phone, and began:
I finally got into crypto
My bank manager, Colin, was stressed.
I know this because I could see beads of sweat collecting on his bald head.
We were standing in the middle of the branch while customers and other bank staff tried really hard to act like they were not listening in on our conversation.
Best Christmas Present Ever!
Last year we got a Christmas gift that changed everything: The Barefoot Investor. And what a year it’s been. My 20-year-old son is now the proud owner of his first piece of land, having already paid off half the loan while keeping his emergency fund intact.
An 11-Year-Old With a BIG Problem
I’m 11 years old and I’m trying to invest, but I’m having a problem. Every investing app I try has monthly fees up to $10 a month! Can you please help give me some advice on how to find the right investing app.
My Heroin Junky Neighbours
The other day I was at my local playground pushing my kids on a swing while two blokes shot up heroin less than five metres from the gate entrance. This sort of behaviour is pretty common in my area (median house price is over $1 million). Actually, it’s pretty common everywhere these days. Did you know Australia has the highest use of meth per capita in the world?
Here’s one for the renters
You always hear some real estate rooster crowing about how smart they were when they bought a joint in 2018 for $480,000, and then flipped it three years later for $1.3 million.
Here’s what’s in my Santa sack this year
Many years ago, I solved the Christmas gift-giving game: I buy people books.
A book says, “I think you’re the sort of person who has an attention span longer than 30 seconds and enjoys learning about something. In other words, I think you’re smart.”
Here are the books I’ll be putting in my Santa sack this year