Hi Scott,   My parents ended up losing their jobs last year, and still had debts amounting up to a total of $80,000 (a mixture of credit cards and fixed-term loans). I have been making repayments for these and, by my calculations, I should be able to finish paying them off by October this year. I’m trying to figure out the best way to help them after this. They’re both receiving Centrelink retirement payments each month, which are minimal. I would like to supplement their income, though I am worried about how they’d be spending it. Is it advisable to open up a joint bank account with my p ..read more

Hi Scott   I was scrolling Instagram the other day and I came across a group called Unbiased Mortgage Brokers who have “Recommended by the Barefoot Investor” at the top of their page. Before I book an appointment, I just thought I’d check that you do actually recommend this home loan provider.   Jerry   Hey Jerry   Thanks for checking!   I’ve never heard of them. However, I am very happy to give you a recommendation: stay away from Unbiased Mortgage Brokers, and anyone else (other than financial counsellors from the National Debt Helpline) claiming that I recommend the ..read more

Hi Scott,   I’ve heard some talk lately (a lot more than the normal conspiracy theories) around the removal of coins and then notes from the Australian monetary system – moving Australia to a completely cashless society. The discussion between Linfox, the Government and the banks all revolves around how expensive it is to ‘move’ coins around the country for regional post offices, banks, corner shops, etc. The proposal is that the $1 and $2 coins will become notes again to reduce weight, and that later notes themselves will go. This whole concept is so very scary. It would mean a lot more ..read more

Hey Scott   We have – well had –  a much-loved receptionist. She was like a second mum to our child, even taking paid time off to go to the grandparent/important person day at her school. She was paid above award wages and has been looked after with bonuses and gifts for the last 17 years. Here is the kicker: I caught her stealing! Cash out of my wallet – on my birthday! The look on her face as I watched from the door was not one of guilt or fear of getting caught, but quiet intent, as if it was normal activity. I pretended not to notice, but I was shocked to my core. This was right ..read more

On Sunday night, after the kids were fast asleep (for the third time), I lay in bed and opened my calendar to check what I had on for the week ahead. And up popped my favourite ‘event’:   “Check your dividends, Big Boy!”   "OH YEAH!" I exclaimed, loud enough to startle my sleeping wife.   She squinted at me: “what is it?!”   “It’s dividend week!” I told her wide eyed.   “You’re … a weirdo,” she sighed, and rolled back over to sleep.   One hundred percent, though she knew that when she married me. Yet, I thought you might find it interesting to hear how I invest my ..read more

Hi Scott,   I’m 19, au pairing in the UK and preparing for a three-month backpacking trip around Europe. Living the dream, right! Except that by the time I get back to Australia I’ll have just about used up my savings. I have this little voice whispering in my ear that I should be working towards setting myself up for the future, and travelling definitely doesn’t feel like I’m doing that! I have an index fund and I save as much as possible, but I am having that classic existential crisis of what the bloody hell to do with my life now! And by ‘now’ I mean when I go back to Australia (and r ..read more

Hi Scott,   Last year I got caught in a romance scam and lost $240k. I was just so stupid to send money to the stranger, but I thought there were lots of signs to believe him. I haven’t told any of my family about this. I’m 56 years old, a single mother and working full time as a nurse. I didn’t have $240k, so I sold my house (making $100k profit) and then took out three loans for the rest. I also moved into my adult daughter's house, so my current expense is the bare minimum and I am so grateful. I would appreciate it if you could give me any advice on how to pay this off quickly.   ..read more

Last year, while I was fanging around France in an oversized motorhome with way too many kids, the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) ran its first ever large-scale survey to test the general public’s understanding of economics, by way of six multiple choice questions.   The results will SHOCK you.   The RBA found that “being male, older, of higher income, having a degree, having studied economics or finance, or being engaged with economic news are associated with higher scores”.   Well, slap me with a seasonally adjusted wet lettuce leaf, Guv’nor!   Then again, my 10-year-old ..read more

Scott,   You stuffed up last week in your column on higher education. The big headline from that report was that banks should NOT be allowed to take your HECS debt into account when you’re applying for a home loan. The report blasted this practice as unfair (as a young couple with HECS debt ourselves, I’d say greedy). You should have done so too! Louise   Hi Louise,   Nah.   I read the recommendation and I thought it was … daft.   Look, I’m no friend of the banks, but I’m on their side on this one.     After all, who are a bunch of academics to dictate a ban ..read more

Hey Scott,   I love your column and read it every time! I do have a question though: you’re extremely quiet on the global situation that’s been happening since the plandemic. WHO, WEF, global elitist groups calling the shots over health, food, money, energy, climate scams, digital currency, cashless societies, global vaccine passports. You get my drift, I’m sure. I would LOVE to hear your opinion! Is that why you took your family around Oz and overseas?   Mandy   Hi Mandy   You are right, I am extremely quiet about these things … and there’s a very good reason for it. Look ..read more