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The Barefoot Investor $9.47 (RRP $32.95) + Delivery ($0 with Prime / $39 Spend) @ Amazon AU

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SCOTT PAPE is the Barefoot Investor. Since 2002, he has reached millions of Australians through his email newsletter, national weekend newspaper columns and appearances on TV and radio. In 2014 Scott and his family lost everything in a bushfire?but what they did next?that?s the real story.

This Classic Edition has been updated for 2022 and beyond

Price History at C CamelCamelCamel.

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closed Comments

  • +2

    When is the 2023 book dropping? Worth waiting for?

    • After the budget has passed both houses

  • +17

    Best book for pillow advice 10/10

    • +1

      Best enjoyed via Audiobook to get the full enthusiasm for pillows.

  • +40

    The author invests in updating the book every year to get more profit in his lifetime, and that is truly genius.

    • +12

      Don’t forget the different versions within that year. Barefoot investor, kids version, families version and so on

      • +5

        And the updates only amount to "this has now changed, do you own research!".

        Good book though.

        • +4

          Well he does recommend you borrow it from a library or do a trial on Amazon to get the audio version lol.

  • +10

    Bit of an oxymoron seeing this on ozbargain

    • +10

      I don't really think so? It makes sense to me that financially conscious people spend money to learn to be better financially conscious. If we constantly post about banks with highest interest rate in this site, this book fits right in.

    • +4

      I once heard a quote:
      Being tight is not wanting to pay for anyone's dinner. Being frugal is wanting to pay for everyone's dinner at a restaurant you can afford.

  • +42

    Still the go to book for the majority of Australians wanting to take control of their finances. A great first book to read in this space and I've recommended it to a bunch of people. Very easy reading. Books to continue with after that (and also Australian) 1 Motivated Money - Peter Thornhill, 2 Money School- Lacey Filipich, 3 The Joyful Frugalista (for something a bit different).

    • +1

      Noted thanks!

    • +1

      Motivated Money - highly recommended read.

      • +2

        I thought MM wasn't all that great.

        LICs are an obsolete product (compared to ETFs). Also - Peter Thornhill was able to invest in shares thanks to property (his house in England which has grown in value). He hates property wholeheartedly.

        I would suggest Investopoly as a much better book for follow-up.

    • another recommendation from me would be Pyscology of money.

  • +5

    Just wondering how much he makes from selling this book than making profits from investments.

    Does he advice you to write a similar book to compete with him?

    • +27

      He isn't one of those scummy guys selling unrealistic dreams of easily becoming a multi-millionaire, with little actual real world advice. He is just teaching basic financial literacy that could actually help people.

      No doubt he has made most of his money selling books, but I don't see a problem in that.

    • +8

      That's not the tone of this book at all. There is nothing in this book which isn't a common sense approach to managing your money. There are no "get rich quick tips" and no "you too can be rich like me" Ponzi schemes.

      All he's saying (in a nutshell) is build up some savings, pay more in to your super and don't waste money on junk you don't need. Not sure how you could object to that.

      • +3

        but I like my junk. Oh self emptying roomba, Never leave me.

    • +1

      No. Just sound practical advice. No Ponzi, Pyramid, Multi Level stuff at all. There are American authors doing the same things and there is some repetition in this space as the concepts are simple but it is an easy read about something that can be complex so extra points for being able to pull that off. David Koch "Kochie" similarly is an effective communicator and has similar books.

  • +1

    Is it a better move to buy the kindle version so you always get the updated version?

    • +1

      Good question. I assume you dont

      • each new addition has a new ISBM number so I suspect not.

  • +21

    Because he brings out a new version regularly and because he's popular your local library would have several copies (including Audiobooks and ebook). 99% of the info would be the same so if you're on the fence just grab an older version from your library.

    • +4

      That’s what I do get it from my local library

  • +6

    Good book for the basics

    • +10

      If you read the book you would know why.

      His goal isn't to make billions infact he has given up quite profitable subscription businesses so he can help others as a financial counsellor.

        • +6

          Read the book it should take you about an hour well it might take you personally a bit longer.

          The guy isn't trying to make billions his trying to make money yes but his genuinely trying to help people.

    • +3

      the book really isn't about making money, it's about getting the basics right first and living within your means.

    • +1

      You saying he's poor and doesn't invest money? Statements need proof

    • +32

      AFAIK the book isn't a guide to investment, more of a "here is a clear and structured method to stop SUCKING with money". The book does so well because so many people clearly do suck with money and it provides tons of help with that

    • +2

      Have you read the book?

      • +1

        I haven't, but excuse those of us that think it's about investment, considering "investment" is half the title.

        • Buffalo wings arent from a buffalo, considering half the words…

    • +6

      It’s not about investing. Mostly it’s about “stop for a moment and think what you do with your money”. And most people don’t think about money, money controls them while people think that they control their money.

  • -5

    Stonk investing book for smooth brains

    • +6

      Lots of clueless people commenting on this deal.

  • +1

    With the current financial situation and banks going under, not sure if the investment is as easy as Mr Pepe make it sound like. Good read to learn basics though

    • Australian banks are not going under they have some of the highest regulation in the world.

      • +1

        Market is fluctuating a lot and we cant ignore whats happening in the rest of the world. Lets hope we can avoid the R word

        • R word probably going to happen but the banks themselves are solid.

    • +1

      Don't let the headlines fool you. Now is a great time to invest imo

    • Well firstly, Australian banking is highly regulated, and your savings are guaranteed by the government up to $250K per account. So unless you think the RBA is going bust (technically impossible as a lender of last resort) then your savings are 100% secure.

      As for investments, this book quite clearly suggests not to invest in individual stocks but rather indexed funds (i.e. you are betting on the performance of the stock market itself not any one company). So again, although in the short and medium term markets do go down as well as up, over the long term it's a safe investment.

      And finally, to paraphrase Warren Buffet, the time to invest is when the economy is doing badly. An investment should be something you hold for many years, so the cheaper you can buy it the more profit you'll ultimately make.

      • Every ozbargainer has more than $250k in bank accounts through all the savings here

  • +9

    Waiting for the barefoot crypto investor.

    Oh @rektrading, where art thou?

  • +1

    Everyone on ozbargain (and possibly Australia) needs to read this

    • +1

      It’s a good read for effective basics. It’s also free at libraries.

    • Nah, it's basic online research. Which can be found for free online on finance websites or subs on Reddit.

      • +4

        This is better then most of them because it structures the information and puts a timeline on it similar to a course. It also does it in a fairly entertaining writing style and the author is very relatable to most Aussies. There is a reason the book has done so well.

        Also lots of shit advice on Reddit's, and finance is one of those things where consistent average advice is better then brilliant advice with a bit of shit advice.

        • There's better guides on online for free. Best savings accounts, what ETfs to invest into etc.

          • +2

            @Griffindinho: But you miss the point. The Barefoot Investor is a book for people who don't go online reading articles about which EFTs are best (ie. 99% of the population).

  • +5

    I'll save you $9.47.

    Spend less then you earn.

    • +12

      You are pretty much explaining the purpose of libraries in general, same goes for most books are available in libraries.

    • +4

      You could say that about pretty much any book

    • +1

      What a ridiculous reason to downvote

    • +2

      some library books even have free 8 year old gum inside

    • +1

      What a bizarre neg

  • -2

    FYI only for undisciplined noobs who don't know how to save. Not particularly useful if you're already saving money and investing it

    • +10

      This book isn't intended for those people, nor is it marketed as such.

      • It's not, but how it's presented is. When you already have a house in Brighton with over $2m invested you don't need it;)

        • I wish I noticed your comment before

    • +4

      The book is good for anyone, it's like a checklist of personal finance. You can read the book very quickly it's simply written. I reread it every couple of years encourages me to do the basic financial health check stuff like check utilities are still competitive, check insurance is still competitive, get the bank to knock off a bit interest of the mortgage etc.

      There is a reason even in advanced medicine with doctors with 8 years of education still use a basic flow chart or check list when performing.

      I literally copy and paste a page of it and email it to my bank every year and they knock a bit off my interest rate. However after doing this for a few years the amount they knock off is getting smaller every time 🤣

      • -1

        My broker does it for me every few months. If you did the first level maths in year 11 or 12 you shouldn't need this book. Pape teaches noobs how to be average, not well off

        • I think you overestimate the average person. A large proportion of people are carrying credit card debt for example

  • +5

    It’s more like a beginner guide to personal finance. I wouldn’t really call this an investment book and a lot of it is just common sense.

    • +6

      Common sense is not so common after all..

    • +2

      Do things now to reap the rewards later.

      Sounds like investment to me.

  • +1

    Easy to read, clear explanations. Good basic guide to learn how to stop being bad with your money.

    Not sure about buying the revised version every year, but I'm also not sure you're meant to.

  • +6

    I've read a bit of it. There were no real takeaways and nothing really I don't know about.

    He needs to have an advanced version. Or like a volume 2.

    I guess it is amazing for people who don't know how to invest or save.

    • +1

      you could probably get most of the same info free on youtube or just reading in the forums.

  • +1

    Just gonna wait for the movie.

  • He tells you to invest in shares like Bunnings?

  • If you want to manage your finances better, you wouldn’t waste your money on this book.

  • +1

    Personally I recommend finding yourself written into the will of a wealthy but recently deceased relative and saving yourself $9.47, but to each their own.

  • +1

    For total tightwads like myself, it should still be possible to do a free trial on audible and get a free audio book version of this.

    • +1

      I wonder how different it would be… I have the 2019 one I think…

      The advice seems to be very general (and good!)

      • +1

        I think they're all very similar. I flicked through the latest version. He updates some of the commentary but it's still practically the same book.

  • +1

    I thought the best way to save money was to gamble, buy lots of takeout and go to restaurants. Who'd have thought being frugal, saving and investing were the key!?!? Thank you stinkyfooted investor!!!

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