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Brighter / / Barry Du Bois on the most expensive lesson he’s ever learnt

Barry Du Bois on the most expensive lesson he’s ever learnt

Building pro and TV host Barry Du Bois reflects on career challenges and the valuable money lessons he's learnt along the way.

  • Barry shares a financial lesson from early in his building career, when turning down a strong offer cost him thousands and taught him the value of knowing when to let go.
  • Despite a successful TV career, Barry remains careful with money, although admits it’s hard to say no to his family and believes in balancing future planning with living in the moment.
  • He reflects on a youthful credit card blowout and a lifetime of learning, emphasising the need for financial curiosity at any age, especially in today’s unpredictable market.

Barry Du Bois has worn a lot of different hats over the years. The designer, building expert, television host, author and Leukaemia Foundation and RUOK ambassador has learnt many lessons over the course of his career—many of which connect to money. Here, he speaks with Brighter about the speedbumps that have taught him life-changing lessons and the benefit of remaining curious.

How would you describe your spending style?

I think I’m a pretty conservative guy but I also have a wonderful wife and two beautiful children who I find it very difficult to say no to. I believe that while it’s really important to have money for the future, we also have to live in the moment a little bit as well. Moving into a TV career had no real effect on my spending style but it did give me a platform to be able to do the things that I really love, which is work with charities and not-for-profits.

What’s the best money lesson you’ve ever learnt?

The best money lesson I ever got was way back. I was doing really well financially, buying blocks of land, building houses and selling them. I bought a block of land and built a house I wanted to sell for $130,000. In that street, the highest-priced house had sold for $125,000 but I had built this house with my own hands and I thought it was something really special. A guy offered me $128,500 and I said no. Then, 18 months later, after paying up to 17 per cent interest rate, I sold that house for $107,000. That was a really expensive lesson and I’ve never made that mistake again. If I’m selling something, I sell it.

What do you wish you’d known when you first started earning money?

I started working in 1976 and there was no such thing as a mainstream credit card in those days. The first one that came along was called a Bankcard and I got one with a $300 limit. That was spent within a week. I think I just let it go and didn’t look at the account again for many months. 

Eventually, my mum and dad had to bail me out for the $1200 that I owed—and that was a considerable amount of money back then. I was a spending maniac early on. I’ve since learnt that the best time to save is from as young as possible. 

What’s something you’re still figuring out when it comes to financial fitness?

I’m 65 years old and I learn every day. The market we’re in right now, we’re learning more each day about how unpredictable it is. I’ve been in the market for more than 45 years. If I can’t pick it, I don't know how anybody can. You have to remain curious and you have to be careful. 

What does success look like to you?

That’s a great question. Success looks like having the time to live in a way that meets the desired criteria of happiness for you. And to be remembered as a good and kind person. 

To learn more about Barry’s story, stream The Brighter Side on 10.

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Published: 17 October 2025

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