Thrift
Thrift is an upbeat podcast focused on practical money-saving tips. It aims to help listeners navigate the rising cost of living. The show offers wise ways to stretch your budget and get the best value from your money.
Episodes
Building An Emergency Fund
What happens when your car breaks down or you suddenly need the dentist? We should all have an emergency fund to cover those unexpected bills but how many of us actually do? Katy Gosset looks at how to get started. Guest: Julie, Kingdom ResourcesGo to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details
Trailer: Thrift Season 8
Thrift is back and in Season Eight: could you cope with an expected bill? We've got tips on setting up your Emergency Fund. More people are batch cooking, saving time and money. We visit the kitchen of one woman who's got it down to an art. Then, how does the cost-of-living crisis affect younger family members? School children share their thrifty advice. We talk to a handyman about home maintenanc
Investing with Share Trading Apps
How do you take your first steps on the investment ladder? About a million New Zealanders now have a DIY share investing account. Katy Gosset meets some of them.
Guests:Cam Scott, Share Trading App InvestorRachel Pratt, Share Trading App InvestorSusan Edmunds RNZ Money CorrespondentGo to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details
Getting Frugal With Fuel
How are you dealing with the rise in fuel prices? Whether its jumping on a bike or choosing public transport, more people are trying to ditch their cars. Katy Gosset talks to a transportation engineer about different and thrifty ways to get around. Guest: Glen Koorey, Transportation EngineerGo to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details
Ready for Retirement?
Ready or not, here it comes. Forget your investment portfolios, what are the budget basics you need for a comfy retirement? Katy Gosset looks at what you need to tick off before you knock off.
Guests: Tracey O'Çallaghan, Retirement Coach, Madeleine Burdon, RetireeGo to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details
Pruning Petcare Costs
We love our pets, but they can be pricey. There's nothing like a flea infestation or a sudden surgery to throw out your weekly budget. Katy Gosset gets a vet's view on keeping pet costs down without compromising your animal's health.Guest: Elora Saha, Veterinarian, At The Vets Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details
Ditching the Lazy Tax
Are you paying a lazy tax? A lot of us stick with the same internet or phone providers out of habit. But not shopping around could be costing us money.
Katy Gosset asks, should we stay or should we go?
Guest: Ekant Veer, Marketing Professor, Canterbury UniversityGo to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details
Are Loyalty Cards Worth It?
How loyal are you and why? New Zealanders are signing up for more and more loyalty cards. In the first of a two-parter, 'Loyal or Lazy?', Katy Gosset asks: are they really saving us money?Guest: Ekant Veer, Marketing Professor, University of Canterbury Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details
Trailer: Thrift Season 7
Thrift is back with a new season of helpful hacks! We find out just how much money we can save with loyalty cards (or how little!) and look at how to trim our petcare costs. Also, are you paying a lazy tax by not shopping around for your power or internet? We learn about negotiating better deals and how to prepare for a comfortable retirement. Then we meet some of the many New Zealanders turning t
Buying a Home With Friends
Owning a home has long been part of the Kiwi dream. But these days people are having to get a bit more creative to stake their claim on the property ladder. Katy Gosset meets two friends who've pooled resources to co-own a property.
Guests: Claudia Gray, Co-homeowner Scarlet Bennett, Co-homeownerGo to this episode on rnz.co.n
Splurge and Save
Now for something different: Normally we're telling you how you can trim your costs but, in this episode, what can't, or won't you give up? Katy Gosset takes a look at that one indulgence that remains a priority and asks, what are you sacrificing to keep it?
Guests: Sharon Terrie  
Students, Style and Sustainability
Te Oraka is a secondhand shop and social enterprise run by students, for students and it operates a circular economy where all profits are fed back into the business. Katy Gosset visits the thriving hub at the University of Otago.Guests:Jes Triscott, Project Manager for Student Engagement, University of Otago Sustainability Office Maggie Craw, Student Lead, Te OrakaEmerson Kane, Volunteer, Te Orak
Making Ends Meat
As food bills rise, how do we keep meat on the menu? Katy Gosset visits one of Christchurch's oldest butcheries and talks cheap cuts and thrifty options. Guest: Lisa Willert, Christchurch ButcherGo to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details
Secondhand Styling
If you want to re-decorate, you shouldn't have to re-mortgage. In this second episode with an op shopping expert, Katy Gosset looks at home design and decor on a budget and tags along on a thrift shop mission.Guest: Anna Easton, Op Shopping ExpertGo to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details
Homely Hacks for Renters
About a third of New Zealanders don't own their own homes but a few cheap tweaks can help turn a rental into a home. In the first of two parts, we meet an op-shopping queen and regular renter whose homely hacks won't stretch the budget. Katy Gosset pops in for a visit.Guest: Anna Easton, Renter and Op-Shop QueenGo to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details
Thrifty Road Trip
Who doesn't love a road trip? But any kind of holiday can be pricey. Katy Gosset heads off on her own thrifty roadie, staying with friends. She gets their tips for a low-cost holiday and meets some seasoned travellers who've gone a long way on a shoestring. Guests:Mathilde O'SullivanJohn DavidsonBridget DavidsonHugh DavidsonNicky PorterGo to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details
Tips For a Smart Start in NZ
Juggling bills is hard, especially in a new country. As Ashburton's Pasifika community grows, they're sharing their hacks on heating, local resources and gardening. And Katy Gosset visits the new community plot where taro is surviving the Mid-Canterbury winter!
Guests:Semi Ratuniyauravu, Salvation Army MinisterPercy Tilialo, Pacific Outreach Navigator, Tangata Atumotu TrustIfereimi Ratuniyaurav
Feeding A Crowd
How do you feed a lot of people for not much money? Who better to ask than the folk at The Bowling Club, a Dunedin community eatery that serves up 700 low-cost meals every day. They've got cheap bulk cooking down to an art, so Katy Gosset headed south to pick their brains.
Liam Arthur, Co-Founder, The Bowling ClubMoana KyleAmye MartinValeska OliveraGabrielle Gosling-Walker Go to this episode on r
Thrifty Words from the Wise
They've lived through rationing and enjoyed a simpler life. So, what can our older community members teach us about eating and socialising on a budget? Katy Gosset takes a peek in an 80-year old's freezer and looks through his diary. Turns out they're both pretty full!
Guests: Neil Macandrew Betty LaingGo to this episode
Savvy Students: Prize Garden
We visit what might just be the best student flat garden in Dunedin. Katy Gosset meets the hunting, fishing lads who can also grow a mean cauliflower. She checks out their award-winning vege plot and gets their tips for a thrifty flat fit-out.
Kieran Halforty, Otago University StudentAngus Henry, Otago University StudentJake Corney, Otago University StudentCam Pooley, Otago University StudentA pr
Savvy Students: Healthy Eats
If you think student flats survive on beer and not much else, think again. Katy Gosset talks to savvy students who are debunking that stereotype. She learns some healthy hacks and meets one Dunedin student who's launched a budget nutrition guide.Guests: Renata Herrera Rojas, Otago University Student Kieran Halforty, Otago Uni
Thrift is back with more money saving hints and hacks!
Katy Gosset meets a savvy student who's teaching others how to eat better for less and visits an award-winning student flat garden. She gleans some thrifty wisdom from our older residents and meets the Pasifika community who are growing taro in the Mid-Canterbury winter. We head behind the scenes at a social enterprise to learn how they turn out 700 low-cost community meals each day. And Katy emba
The $20 Challenge
Three people, one week and just $20 each of disposable income. In the second part of Why We Spend, Katy Gosset embarks on a money saving experiment to test her own spending triggers. Joining her for the challenge: consumer behaviourist, Ekant Veer and RNZ News Presenter, Marama T-Pole. So how did they do?Guests: Ekant Veer, Consumer Behaviourist and Marketing Professor, Canterbury UniversityMarama
Why We Spend
Why do we spend more than we need to? Is it mood, FOMO, the desire to impress? Or maybe some tricky behavioural triggers we're not even aware of? Katy Gosset gets to the heart of the matter with a consumer behaviourist and learns some tips to stop us spending.Guest: Ekant Veer, Consumer Behaviourist and Marketing Professor, Canterbury University Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details
Let's Go Swapping
It's the shopping buzz without the budget blowout: More people are using clothing swaps to update their wardrobes without spending a cent. Katy Gosset gets an invite and learns the tips that make for a smooth swapGuests: Anthea Ibell Sarah Cragg Trina EdwardsGo to th
The Queen of Clean
Can we clean the house for less than a dollar? A lot of us buy commercial washing powder and spray cleaners but how much of that cost goes on packaging and fragrance? Katy Gosset gets a lesson in making her own cleaning products.
Guest: The Queen of Clean, Sonia BarrishGo to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details
Vegetable Box Virtuoso
A lot more of us are buying seasonal vegetable boxes now but we don't always know what we're getting. So, what's in them and how do we use it? Katy Gosset meets a vege box veteran and finds out what to do with those beetroot stems.
Guests: Joani Wilson, Vegetable Box Virtuoso Georgina Stanley, Manager, Smith Street Communi
Free Fitness
Have your New Year's resolutions to get fit fallen over? Sometimes we put off going to the gym just because we don't want to go. But sometimes it's the cost. Katy Gosset talks to a personal trainer about the best exercises to get bang for your buck and the free work out equipment that's sometimes right in front of us.
Guest: Personal Trainer, Kristina Wischnowsky.Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz
Trailer: Thrift Season 4
Thrift is back! We've got a bunch of new tips from free fitness hacks to how to make your own cleaning products. We find out how to get the best from our vege boxes and visit a clothing swap where people can update their wardrobes without paying a cent. Also, why do we overspend? We get some answers from a consumer behaviourist and Katy Gosset embarks on a money saving challenge. Go to this ep
Wallet-Friendly Wellbeing
Fancy a bit of pampering and self-care? It doesn't have to mean expensive beauty treatments. Katy Gosset talks to a public health specialist about simple, free ways we can all boost our well-being.
Guest: Ciaran Fox, Public Health Specialist, National Public Health ServiceGo to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details
Thrifty Christmas
Christmas Cheer that's not too dear! When the silly season hits, it doesn't mean being silly with our money. Katy Gosset talks to financial mentors about gift and food options that won't break the bank.
Guests: Julie and Jacinta, Financial Mentors at Kingdom Resources.Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details
Family Finances
What did you learn about money from your family? And how does that fit with your partner's financial values? Trying to trim costs only works when everyone in your household is on the same page. Katy Gosset looks at financial literacy for the whole family.Guest: Susan Edmunds, RNZ Money CorrespondentGo to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details
When To Wash
How often do you wash your clothes, and could you get away with doing it less?
Recent figures indicate New Zealanders use 39 billion litres of water every year just to do laundry. Katy Gosset looks into how we can trim our washing budget.
Guest: Tara Strangwick, Textile and Product Development Specialist Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details
Foraging For Food
When times are tight it is possible to supplement your food budget with some wild bounty from nature. But it definitely helps to know what you're looking for. Katy Gosset heads out with a foraging expert to get some tips.
Guest: Foraging Specialist, Peter LanglandsGo to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details
Buy Once, Buy Well
Too many clothes in your wardrobe? Don't worry you're not alone.
But how many wears are you getting out of each item? And could you ditch a few to make some extra money? Katy Gosset looks at how to shop mindfully.
Guests:Jacinta FitzGerald, Mindful Fashion New ZealandAli Millar, Time and Time Again, ChristchurchGo to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details
Different Voices and Cost Saving Choices
We're all trying to trim costs. What money-saving tips can we learn from some of New Zealand's diverse cultures? Katy Gosset joins a cooking class at Canterbury's Refugee Resettlement and Resources Centre.
A cross-over episode with RNZ's Here Now. For more about the journeys people make to New Zealand and their stores and perspectives, follow and listen to Here Now:https://www.rnz.co.nz/podc
Share and Repair
Why is our stuff always breaking and how can we avoid spending on new products?
Katy Gosset gets some tips on buying well to start with.
And she visits a Repair Cafe where volunteers fix items, saving them from the landfill and saving pennies at the same time. Guests:Zac Imhoof, Brigitte Sistig, Alan Liefting, Glenda Bills, Anne-Marie RoseThe Repair Network Aotearoa is running its Repair Festi
Self-Sustaining Gardens
You may have heard of Permaculture, how about Hügelkultur?
What are they and can they help you grow your own food without spending any money? Katy Gosset gets the answers at a community garden and learns how making the perfect compost can become a lifetime addiction.
Guest:Gavin HawkeGo to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details
DIY Car Maintenance
When the wheels come off the weekly budget, it's often car repairs that are to blame.
So, what kind of maintenance do we need to do and how much can we do ourselves?
Katy Gosset looks at how to avoid budget blowouts and keep our cars on the road.
Guest:Grant Waters, Southern Franchise Manager, Automobile Association Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details
The Preserving Queen
Our grandparents did it and now a whole new generation wants to learn to pickle and preserve. Pickling novice, Katy Gosset, meets the self- described Preserving Queen who's bringing back 'the old ways'.Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details
Good Cheap Fun
Whether you like dancing, drinking or hanging with friends - or even all of the above - everyone needs to cut loose sometimes. So how can we do it on the cheap? Katy Gosset finds out how people hit the town without spending a fortune.Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details
Stay Thrifty: Thrift Season 2 is coming!
A new season of Thrift is on its way! From pickling and fixing stuff, to self-sustaining gardens and partying on a budget, Thrift has you covered. Katy Gosset learns some cost-saving tips from a diverse range of New Zealanders.Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details
Starting to Save
How can we start to put money aside? And once we have, can we avoid dipping back into it? First time saver, Charlene, explains how she financed her children's Christmas presents and paid off a car. Her financial mentor, Linda Smith of Christchurch's Methodist Mission, tells Katy about the Incentive Saver Scheme that's making a difference.Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details
Energy Efficiency (Part 2)
Which side of the house should you sleep in? And are the beers in your garage fridge costing you more than you think? Senior Energy Advisor at Community Energy Action, Michael Begg, returns to discuss small appliances, home layouts and tells Katy where to hang her wet washing.Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details
Energy Efficiency (Part 1)
How can we control the humidity in our homes? And what's the best type of heating for each room? With power shortages already on the horizon, we need to make the most of what we've got. Senior Energy Advisor at Community Energy Action, Michael Begg, assesses Katy's home and helps her to finally use her bathroom extractor fan properly.Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details
Fighting Food Waste
Why are Kiwi households throwing away 130,000 tonnes of food each year ? Supermarkets rotate stock - why can't we? Kaitlin Dawson of NZ Food Waste Champions reveals the contents of her fridge and talks to Katy about food storage, compost and the bigger picture.Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details
Meal Planning
Could you eat and survive on just $40 a week per person? And how can you fit ice cream into that budget? In Episode Two student nurse and blogger, Jordyn Hammond, talks about how she does it, why she's helping others on a low-income and gives Katy a crash course in meal planning.Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details
Supermarket Strategies
Why shouldn't we choose a wine for its label? And what are "heuristics"? We all know there are techniques supermarkets use to get us spending money so this episode we take a deep dive into "loss-leading products" and the "compromise effect". Marketing professor and ''professional people watcher'', Ekant Veer, explains what it all means and teaches Katy how to buy a jar of artichoke hearts.Go to th
Introducing: Thrift
Need some ways to shrink your supermarket spend? Can't figure out which lightbulb burns the brightest but for the lowest cost? Want to know how to bulk up your meals and save time cooking? RNZ's new weekly podcast Thrift is here to help find ways to beat the cost-of-living crisis and get the best from your money. Hosted by award winning journalist Katy Gosset, Thrift is the place to get positive t
