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Money talk is better with garlic bread and wine

Once a week, for the next five weeks, you and your partner are going to get dressed up, go out to dinner and put in place the Barefoot Steps — that is, actually do them: set up some accounts, and have the conversations while you munch on garlic bread and have a glass of wine.

What if you're single?

Well, you're in luck.

First, you can find a friend or family member you respect, give them this book and work your way through the steps together. However, I totally understand that you may not feel comfortable spilling your financial guts to someone.

If so, it's you and me, babe (or … dude).

Really?

Am I saying you should do a Scott No Mates and go on a Barefoot Date Night Han Solo?

Yep.

Don't believe me? It worked for Janine:

Dear Scott,

Three years ago I bought your book when I could least afford it, with sixfigure debts written on my fridge door. I took you and the book to dinner every week as I was dying inside and out.

I just wanted to say thank you for literally saving my financial life. I didn't go bankrupt. I made the calls. I cried with you. And screamed at you and learned from you. And formed a great relationship with my creditors. And survived. I began to live again. I educated myself and found a new kind of personal wealth. Thank you.

Janine

I have permission from my wife for you to take me out (well, my book) and sort your money.

And you don't even have to do it at a restaurant. It could be a coffee shop or it could be your bedroom, though it's much more fun to make a date of it. The important thing is that you intentionally carve out time one night a week for the next five weeks (and then monthly, forever).

There are three reasons you should stop what you're doing and schedule your first Barefoot Date Night immediately:

 First, because it'll make you happier.The only thing that psychologists are unanimous on is that spending time with your family and friends is a direct predictor of wellbeing — and hands down one of the best things you can do for your relationship.Liz and I do our Barefoot Date Night on the first Tuesday of the month (the same day that the Reserve Bank meets to decide on interest rates … how hot is that?). She gets dressed up, I comb my hair, and we go out for dinner and talk about our money.And let me tell you, it's a lot of fun.It's like kicking off tight shoes at the end of the day. The stresses and strains of life that buzz around your brain — work, the dishes, Facebook, the phone, the kids — fall away as you treat yourself for a few hours.You'll look forward to it, I promise.(And spending an evening with your partner talking about how committed you are to providing for your family — well, that's some good financial foreplay right there … mmm-hhmm, you know what I'm talk'n 'bout.)

 Second, because it's the two of you against the world.That's the way I look at our marriage. Yes, we're parents, uncles and aunties, friends and bosses, but at our core we're just two big kids doing our best to create a life for our kids that makes us proud.And if you're going to create an amazing life that isn't dictated by financial fears, you've got to work together and back each other up. There's no time for indecision — you're fighting for your family.There's no way around it: you need your partner on board. And years of experience has taught me that the way to get them on board is with nice food, a sprinkling of booze and a copy of my book.And if you're single, the good news is you don't have to play the partner mind games. You only have to look after yourself. This is going to be a snap.

 Third, because there's no such thing as ‘get rich quick'.Most people can get themselves financially sorted in one year, then go on to become financially successful in six years. Yes, those are rubbery figures. A guesstimate. But after helping thousands of people over many years, I've found them to be pretty much bang on.

In Step 4 you'll meet Danielle, a single woman from Melbourne in her early 30s who was on the bones of her backside, working in admin, with credit card debts. Fast forward six years and she owns her own home and has emergency savings and a share portfolio. Even better, she did it all on her own: no boyfriend, no rich parents — just my plan and grit.

Here's another thought: stop for a second and work out where you were six years ago.

Go on … do it.

It seems like yesterday, right? It's likely the next six will too.

But if you don't make a commitment to starting today, nothing will change.

The good news is that you can do astonishing things in six years, but only if you schedule your Barefoot Date Nights right now.

Yep, this is where my apple tree analogy comes in …

Plant the bloody tree now!

Your future self will thank you for it.

Truth is, most people totally overestimate what they can achieve in one year, but totally underestimate what they can do in six years.

So to reiterate: you're going to schedule five weekly Barefoot Date Nights — after which it's monthly, forever.

I don't care if you're in your 20s or your 70s, whether you're gay, straight, married or single. Making a ritual of focusing on your money is the most powerful thing you can do. Period.

Schedule your first five Barefoot Date Nights

Please pull out your phone, or go to your diary (or Facebook, or kitchen calendar, or whatever you use to track your schedule) and book in your Barefoot Date Night each week for the next five weeks.

I promise it will be worth it …

In just five ‘date nights' you and I are going to radically change your financial life.

(With a drink in your hand.)

Barefoot Date Night confessions

April Mac, NSW

I have never felt so financially secure as I am now … I feel excited about my future.

I was never under any great financial difficulty — I just never really had any money. I always had a job and earned enough to get by, but I spent everything I made each week.

My biggest problem was not thinking long term about my finances. I honestly just didn't think my husband and I could ever earn enough to be wealthy.

My sister got me onto Barefoot on the 1st of January 2014. I signed up in the middle of the night and read through everything I could. I was so excited to have a New Year's resolution that didn't involve dieting! I started by setting some simple goals to achieve by the 1st of January 2015.

Well, in 12 months I achieved everything I set out to achieve. And I did it all while earning half my regular salary, as I was on maternity leave.

Not only that — since joining Barefoot, I've managed to:

 pay $30 000 off our mortgage

 save another $30 000 for renovating our home

 take the family to Fiji, Hamilton Island and Noosa

 build a share portfolio worth $16 000

 save up a nice little emergency money account (‘Mojo') …

… all while not having to sacrifice my lifestyle (I am ashamed to say I eat breakfast out more than I do at home).

Barefoot helped me visualise the bigger picture. I could see myself in the success stories of others, and it made me determined to be the one to provide financial security for my family (not Oz Lotto).

The only problem is, I never shut up about Barefoot and everyone is sick of me mentioning it. But I will continue to try and convince everyone because I've seen how far it has taken me in two short years. I know I am nothing special, so I think it can work for anyone.

I have never felt as financially secure as I am now, even when I was earning twice as much and didn't have a child to take care of. I feel excited about my future.