Making Cents
Making Cents is a personal finance podcast hosted by Frances Cook, a best-selling author and award-winning journalist. The show aims to help listeners achieve financial freedom without sacrificing their daily coffee. Each Monday features an interview with someone who has accomplished something interesting with their money, such as paying off debt or investing for independence. Thursday episodes feature industry experts answering listener questions on topics like earning more, investing, and budgeting. Bonus episodes appear sporadically.
Episodes
The SpaceX IPO Needs a Bright Red Hype Warning
As SpaceX hits the share market in one of the biggest IPOs ever, Frances Cook breaks down how IPOs actually work, why retail investors are getting an unusually large slice this time and whether that is as generous as it sounds.Follow me everywhere!Facebook / Frances Cook - JournalistInstagram / Frances | Money | Investing (@francescooknz) • Instagram profileTikTok / Frances Cook on TikTokJoin the
Can I Actually Count on NZ Super Being There For Me?
Retirement planning is stressful enough without governments constantly threatening to move the goalposts.Means testing, wealth taxes, a rising retirement age; how much of it is real, and how much can you actually count on NZ Super?Katie Wesney, National Coaching Lead at EnableMe, joins us in the hot seat to cut through the noise.We get into whether the pension is a plan or just a foundation, what
The Investing Trap That Even the Experts Fall Into (And How to Avoid It)
Most investing mistakes don't look like mistakes when you're making them.Chris Walsh from MoneyHub joins us to break down the most common investing traps New Zealanders fall into, and the simple strategies that actually work long term.We get into why dollar cost averaging beats trying to time the market, what "invest in what you know" actually means (and how it gets misused), why borrowing to inve
HOLY SH*T WE WON
Best Business Podcast - NZ Radio & Podcast Awards 2026
You're On Your Own, Kid. Here's What That Means For Your Money
With the latest Budget signalling little relief for struggling Kiwis, Frances Cook joins the TVNZ Breakfast team to talk about what you can actually do to protect yourself financially when the recovery keeps getting pushed further down the road.Follow me everywhere!Facebook / Frances Cook - JournalistInstagram / Frances | Money | Investing (@francescooknz) • Instagram profileTikTok / Frances Cook
Are Shoebox Apartments About To Take Over NZ?
Could the home of the future be the size of a carpark? The government is talking about scrapping minimum apartment size rules, and one Making Cents listener wants to know if that's a housing fix or a housing trap.Vanessa Williams from http://realestate.co.nz has fresh data to help us figure this out.We get into whether micro apartments could actually ease the housing shortage, what banks will and
A Michelin-Trained Chef's Insider Secrets To Saving Money On Your Food
Adele Holland cooked for billionaires on private jets. Now she helps real people eat well for $50 a week, and she reckons the skills transfer better than you'd think.Adele is a Michelin-trained chef who spent years cooking in Swiss chalets and on superyachts before walking away from the waste and opulence of that world.Now, as the creator behind Dishes with Del, she's on a mission to make budget m
Are Small Homes A Bad Buy?
Apartments and townhouses are selling for less than people paid for them, and in record numbers. Frances Cook joins RNZ Nights to break down why smaller properties are taking a bigger hit than the rest of the property market and what it means for first home buyers, investors, and owners in negative equity.Follow me everywhere!Facebook / https://www.facebook.com/FrancesCookNZInstagram / https://www
The Money Timeline That Lets Normal People Build Wealth
If you've ever wondered why some people build real wealth on ordinary incomes, while others save for decades and still feel behind, this episode is the answer.Financial journalist Frances Cook breaks down the relationship between money and time, and why getting this right changes everything about how you invest, where your money goes, and how hard it can work for you.In this episode:The rule of 10
Why Overwhelmed Parents End Up Spending More Money, And How To Fix It
What if the chaos of parenthood is actually building your business brain?Renata Wiles was posting videos on the internet, with no business background, no tech background, and no real following.Now she's the founder of Roam with Kids, an app helping New Zealand parents find family-friendly places to go.In this episode, Frances talks with Renata about the messy reality of going from frustrated mum t
KiwiSaver Changes On The Cards Again - Are They Worth It?
Frances Cook joins the TVNZ Breakfast team to crunch the numbers on a proposed policy that would automatically enrol newborns into KiwiSaver with a $1,000 government contribution and what that could actually be worth by the time they retire.Follow me everywhere!Facebook / Frances Cook - JournalistInstagram / Frances | Money | Investing (@francescooknz) • Instagram profileTikTok / Frances Cook on T
NZ's Hottest Jobs in 2026… And How to Get Paid More in Any of Them
One in four young people in NZ can't find work. But some jobs are up 200% year on year.The job market hasn't collapsed - it's split. And if you're on the wrong side of that split, waiting for things to improve isn't a strategy.In this episode, we get into which jobs are actually booming right now, what the latest Stats NZ unemployment numbers really mean once you dig past the headline figure, and
The Lazy Investor's Guide To Building Real Wealth
Most of us assume that getting ahead financially means working harder, watching the markets, and making smart moves. The data says that’s wrong.In this episode, Frances talks with Sean Freer, Director of Global Exchange Indices at S&P Dow Jones Indices, about why passive investing consistently beats active fund management, and what that means for everyday investors.We talk about:Why 86% of pro
10 Pieces Of Advice I'd Give My 20-Year-Old Self
Frances Cook shares the ten money lessons she wishes she'd known at 20, including the mindset shifts, small habits, and easy wins that made the biggest difference to her financial life.Follow me everywhere!Facebook / Frances Cook - JournalistInstagram / Frances | Money | Investing (@francescooknz) • Instagram profileTikTok / Frances Cook on TikTokJoin the Money Memo newsletter for a free weekly mo
Spending Money the Right Way (Most Kiwis Miss This)
It's one thing to build financial stability, it's another to actually let yourself enjoy it. In this Ask the Experts episode, Frances Cook is joined by Katie Wesney from Enable Me to unpack a problem that's more common than you'd think: what happens when the scarcity mindset that helped you build financial security starts working against you? A listener wrote in with a $5 million net worth, and ge
Ali Mau: From TV Icon to Startup Founder at 60 (And How She Paid For It)
What does it actually cost to walk away from a successful career and build something that matters?Ali Mau is one of New Zealand's most recognised television faces, including Breakfast, Fair Go, Seven Sharp, One News.She was also made redundant five times along the way.Instead of treating each setback as a dead end, she used them as clarity. Now in her sixties, she’s co-founded Tika, a tech-for-goo
Why You Keep Buying Things You Don't Need Online
With six in ten Kiwis making impulse purchases from social media every month, Frances Cook joins the TVNZ Breakfast team to explain the manipulative tactics behind online shopping and how to take back control of your spending.Follow me everywhere!Facebook / Frances Cook - JournalistInstagram / Frances | Money | Investing (@francescooknz) • Instagram profileTikTok / Frances Cook on TikTokJoin the M
The 5 Levels of Financial Freedom: Which One Are You?
Financial freedom is a series of levels, and once you understand them, the whole thing stops feeling impossible and starts feeling like a plan.In this solo episode of Making Cents, Frances Cook breaks down the five levels of financial freedom, from knowing your numbers for the first time, to the point where work becomes genuinely optional.Each level builds on the last. Each one makes the next one
The Emotion Sabotaging Your Money (A Psychologist Explains)
You know what you should be doing with your money. So why aren't you doing it?You know you should ask for the raise. Start investing. Stop spending on things you don't care about. And yet, somehow, you don't.Counsellor and change therapist Charlotte Cummings has a name for what's stopping you, and it's not laziness or lack of discipline.It's your unbearable feeling.In this episode, Frances Cook si
War in Iran Is About To Hit Your Mortgage And Your Money - WEBINAR REPLAY
The war in Iran is already moving mortgage rates, and it's not done yet.Interest rates are moving, and this will change everything with your money. Beyond the mortgage, it’s also your savings, your investments, and even your job.So what's actually happening, and what should you do about it?Frances Cook is joined by Massey University’s Christoph Schumacher and EnableMe financial coach Katie Wesney
$54M Wiped From NZ Property: Here's What It Actually Means
The New Zealand property market is shifting, and the latest data from http://realestate.co.nz tells us exactly how.In just the last three months, sellers dropped their prices enough for a total of $54 million to be wiped off asking prices across New Zealand.But strangely, it could be good news, as it’s slowing from previous falls.So are we at a turning point?In this episode of Making Cents Ask the
Wendy Petrie Lost Her Dream Job at 50… Then Reinvented Her BEST Life
Made redundant in your 50s? It might just be the start of something.After decades as one of New Zealand's most recognised news presenters, Wendy Petrie was made redundant from the 6pm news. No warning, no plan B, just the sudden reality of starting over at a stage of life when most people assume the big career moves are behind them.So she bought a business. Built it from the ground up. And figured
Interest Rates Are Going Up, What To Do Next
With warnings that interest rates are heading up fast and soon, Frances Cook joins the TVNZ Breakfast team to break down what mortgage holders can do to avoid the squeeze.Follow me everywhere!Facebook / Frances Cook - JournalistInstagram / Frances | Money | Investing (@francescooknz) • Instagram profileTikTok / Frances Cook on TikTokJoin the Money Memo newsletter for a free weekly money tip in you
The Iran War Is Already Costing You, Here's What To Do About It
Petrol is up 43%. Diesel has nearly doubled. But the financial damage from the Iran war goes way deeper than what you're paying at the pump, and a lot of it is already locked in, whether there's a ceasefire or not.In this episode, Frances Cook breaks down exactly what this means for your groceries, your mortgage, your job, and your KiwiSaver. And most importantly, what you can actually do about it
How A ‘Personal Brand’ Gets You Paid More (Even If You’re Not An Influencer)
Your personal brand could be the most powerful, yet overlooked, career tool you have. Marketing expert Stanley Henry, founder of The Attention Seeker, believes everyone from tradies, to career professionals, to business owners, build visibility online. And when they do, they attract opportunities, and earn more, even without going viral or becoming a full-time content creator. Stanley specialises
How To Live The Good Life For Less
Five clever ways to live the good life without blowing the budget, because cutting lattes isn't the only answer. A replay of Frances Cook's column for Stuff.co.nz, read here with permission. Follow me everywhere!Facebook / https://www.facebook.com/FrancesCookNZInstagram / https://www.instagram.com/francescooknzTikTok / https://www.tiktok.com/@francescooknzJoin the Money Memo newsletter for a free
Should You Buy Property or Invest in Stocks? Most Kiwis Get This Wrong
Property vs shares. It’s one a big investing decision, and also an easy one to get stuck on.In this Ask the Experts episode, we’re tackling a question that comes up all the time: should you invest in property or the sharemarket?Frances Cook is joined by Katie Wesney from EnableMe to break down the real differences between property investing and sharemarket investing.We get into:– Is property still
She Went From 'Bad With Money' To Successful Investor: What Actually Worked
She used to think she was “bad with money.”Now she’s a confident, and unapologetically unconventional, investor.In this episode of Making Cents, Sophie Hallwright, co-founder of The Curve, is ready to unpack the messy path from financial self-doubt to building real confidence with money.Before helping thousands of women learn about investing, Sophie learned the hard way.This conversation digs into
The Quick Calculation To Know If Solar and EVs Are Right For You
With power prices and fuel costs climbing, Frances Cook joins the TVNZ Breakfast team to break down who solar panels and electric vehicles actually make sense for and how to run the numbers yourself.Follow me everywhere!Facebook / Frances Cook - JournalistInstagram / Frances | Money | Investing (@francescooknz) • Instagram profileTikTok / Frances Cook on TikTokJoin the Money Memo newsletter for a
Breakup reset: how to rebuild financially in your 40s and 50s
A breakup doesn’t just end a relationship. It can blow up the entire financial plan you built together.For many people in their 40s and 50s, that means suddenly having to make huge money decisions alone, about the house, retirement, and what rebuilding your life actually looks like from here.In this episode of Ask the Experts, Will White from Heartland Bank is in the hot seat to help a listener fa
How to eat better food, spend less, and feel good about it - with Michal Garvey from Foodprint
You can cancel subscriptions, ditch takeaway coffee, and trim your budget… but you still have to eat. And the way most of us shop for food? It’s costing us more than it should.In this episode of Making Cents, Frances Cook talks to Michal Garvey, founder of Foodprint, the app that’s redirected millions of dollars’ worth of surplus food from cafés and restaurants into the hands of everyday Kiwis, at
I Spent $89,000 on Solar And Electric Car In NZ… Was It Worth It?
I spent $89,000 on solar power and an electric car… and it has a better return on investment than the sharemarket.With electricity prices rising fast, more Kiwis are asking whether solar panels, home batteries, and electric vehicles are worth it.So in this episode of the Making Cents podcast, I break down exactly what happened when I overhauled my home energy setup, including the real costs, the s
Iran, Oil, and Your Money: Why Everything Is More Expensive And Your Investments Are Tanking - WEBINAR REPLAY
A conflict in the Middle East is already showing up in Kiwi bank accounts, after sending shockwaves through the global economy. From food to petrol, daily essentials are becoming more expensive. Interest rates and mortgages could be going up. The sharemarket, and therefore your KiwiSaver, is looking wobbly. So what’s actually going on, and what should you do about it? In this live Making Cents web
From $30,000 Debt to Financially Free and Travelling the World: The Shift That Changed Everything
Emma Healey knows about financial transformation - she went from debt and financial stress to building passive income, investing, and designing a life that includes long-term family travel and early retirement goals.Now known for her practical money advice at mumsmoney.co.nz, Emma didn’t get there through deprivation. Instead, she used behavioural finance strategies, including gamifying her debt p
Fast Fixes for Rising Costs: Fuel, Food, and Finances
As the Iran conflict keeps pushing up the costs of daily essentials, Frances Cook joins the TVNZ Breakfast team to talk about how you can save money on food, fuel, and even your KiwiSaver.Follow me everywhere!Facebook / Frances Cook - JournalistInstagram / Frances | Money | Investing (@francescooknz) • Instagram profileTikTok / Frances Cook on TikTokJoin the Money Memo newsletter for a free weekly
"Is Politics About To Ruin My First Home Buying Plans?" - Mailbag Episode
Is politics about to derail your house buying plans?With an election looming, talk of capital gains taxes, housing policy changes, and the possibility of government interference is everywhere. And if you’re trying to buy your first home, it’s enough to make you wonder… should you rush in, or wait it out?In this episode of Ask the Experts, Frances Cook is joined by Vanessa Williams from http://real
Supermarket Tricks, Insurance Hacks & Subscription Traps: How to Stop Overpaying
Why does it feel like you’re always spending more than you meant to?No, you’re not imagining it. Modern consumer life is full of supermarket tricks, subscription traps, hidden fees, dark patterns, and pricing tactics designed to get more money out of you.Luckily Consumer senior investigative journalist Chris Schulz knows all the psychological tricks companies use to drive overspending, and the pra
How To Save Your Cash When The Price Of Everything Is Going Up
Just as we were hoping for a break in the cost of living, fuel and food prices are heading up again. So how can you protect your cash, and find savings everywhere from insurance, to KiwiSaver, to your subscriptions? A replay of the conversation with Jesse Mulligan on RNZ’s Afternoons.Follow me everywhere!Facebook / https://www.facebook.com/FrancesCookNZInstagram / https://www.instagram.com/frances
KiwiSaver Is Changing, Here’s Everything You Need To Know
KiwiSaver is changing, and you need to know what that means for your money.The Government has changed the rules, and they’re coming in to force now.Your own contribution rates, government contribution rules, and employer payments are all shifting. And depending on your income, age, or how your salary package works, the impact on your take-home pay could be very different.In this episode of Ask the
After Financial Freedom: A Year Off & A Career Reboot
What would it take to quit your job, take your kids out of school, and spend a year travelling Australia in a caravan?For Kellie Dawson, it took years of careful planning, property investing, budgeting, and building enough financial freedom to press pause on normal life and ask a bigger question: what do we actually want?In this episode, Kellie shares:- how they planned a year of family travel aro
The Anxiety Premium: How to Stay Calm with KiwiSaver and Investments
Frances Cook joins the TVNZ Breakfast team to talk about why "playing dead" is the best response when your money is hit by a global crisis. Follow me everywhere!Facebook / Frances Cook - JournalistInstagram / Frances | Money | Investing (@francescooknz) • Instagram profileTikTok / Frances Cook on TikTokJoin the Money Memo newsletter for a free weekly money tip in your inbox each week Newsletter si
NZ Money Advice That Sounds Smart But Ruins Your Life
Some of the most praised money advice is also some of the worst - depending on your stage of life.Buy a house as soon as possible. Never sell an investment. Stop wasting money on coffee, drinks, and fun. Always chase the biggest return. Always chase the next pay rise.Sounds responsible, right?Except real life is messier than that. And if you follow these rules too blindly, you can end up making yo
These Investing Mistakes Cost Kiwis Millions, with Glen James
Investing can transform your financial future, but many avoid starting because it’s too intimidating.Markets go up and down, there’s endless advice online, and the fear of making a costly mistake keeps many stuck on the sidelines for years.So what actually goes wrong when people start investing? And more importantly, how do you avoid those traps?Author, and host of the Money Money Money podcast Gl
Cost of Living Hacks You Haven't Heard 300 Times Before
Frances Cook joins the TVNZ Breakfast team to talk about the ways to save money on daily life, and maybe even earn some extra cash, to get through the cost of living crunch.Follow me everywhere!Facebook / https://www.facebook.com/FrancesCookNZInstagram / https://www.instagram.com/francescooknzTikTok / https://www.tiktok.com/@francescooknzJoin the Money Memo newsletter for a free wee
NZ Investment Planning: How to Invest A Lump Sum in Your 50s
Losing a partner is devastating. Then on top of the grief, there’s paperwork, big life changes, and financial decisions that feel urgent and overwhelming.In this episode of Ask the Experts, we’re answering a listener question from a woman in her early 50s who recently lost her husband. They had just finished putting their kids through school and were about to ramp up retirement savings. Instead, s
NZ Career Survival Guide 2026: How to Get Paid More In A Bad Economy
When you’re working hard, ticking the boxes, doing everything “right”, yet still not getting the promotion or pay rise? It’s easy to feel stuck.You’re not imagining it.New Zealand’s job market has cooled. Job listings are down. Businesses are cautious. Pay rises are harder to secure. Career progression can feel slower.But when things get tight, that’s when strategy matters the most.Enter Jarrod Ha
The Mortgage Hacks That Actually Work in New Zealand
A small change to a payment strategy can save hundreds of thousands of dollars and years of repayment time from your mortgage, cutting one of the biggest expenses most people will face.A replay of Frances Cook's column for Stuff.co.nz, read here with permission. Follow me everywhere!Facebook / https://www.facebook.com/FrancesCookNZInstagram / https://www.instagram.com/francescooknzT
"Our house value dropped $250k - should we sell anyway?" Mailbag episode
What do you do when you’re stuck between two bad options?Sell a home you bought near the peak of the market, even though it’s now worth hundreds of thousands less, or stay put in a house that no longer fits your life?That’s the dilemma facing this week’s listener. They bought in late 2020, welcomed kids, watched their house value fall by around $250,000, and now feel trapped: too much mortgage pre
Is the age of property investment over?
For decades in New Zealand, property wasn’t just an investment, it was THE investment.The safest bet. The biggest capital gains. Often tax-advantaged. And for many households, the clearest path to building long-term wealth.But that narrative is starting to shift.House prices remain high. Debt is expensive. And a growing number of New Zealanders are questioning whether residential property is still
How your subscriptions and KiwiSaver can change the world (from little old NZ)
In this episode of Making Cents, Frances Cook joins the TVNZ Breakfast team to talk about the growing "resist and unsubscribe" movement, how everyday New Zealanders can use their wallets to make a statement, and why your KiwiSaver might be one of the biggest votes you'll ever cast.Follow me everywhere!Facebook / https://www.facebook.com/FrancesCookNZInstagram / https://www.instagram.com/
How To Get Ahead In NZ Without Earning More
What if you genuinely can’t earn more? Are you stuck financially?In this Ask the Experts mailbag episode of Making Cents, we tackle a question that so many teachers, nurses, and public sector workers quietly wrestle with: what do you do when your income is capped?Today’s letter writer is a teacher. She’s hearing the usual advice, to “earn more”, “start a side hustle”, “increase your income”, but h
How Everyday Kiwis Can Become Financially Free with Bronwyn Candish
If you want the truth about retiring early as a regular person, it doesn’t come from highlight reels or motivational posts. It comes from the numbers.When you strip away the vibes, hacks, and hot takes, the numbers show what actually works, what doesn’t, and how real people build passive income that gives them real choice over their time.That’s where Bronwyn Candish comes in.Bronwyn is a chartered
The 4 money personalities that shape how you save, spend, and fight about money
Money fights aren’t really about money. They’re about expectations, and how differently we respond to them.In this episode of Making Cents, I’m breaking down the four money personalities that shape how you save, spend, budget, and argue about money. Get ready to finally understand why financial advice works brilliantly for some people and completely falls apart for others.Based on Gretchen Rubin’s
What's going on with markets? Shares, gold, crypto, and the wild ride ahead with RNZ's Jim Mora
From the real risks behind AI hype and whether we're heading for a crash, to the surprising weakness hiding inside Big Tech's profits, and why digital advertising might be the canary in the coal mine that nobody's watching… it’s time to make sense of the chaos.Fast Money with Jim Mora on RNZ’s Sunday Mornings, it’s time for the money update you need.Follow me everywhere!Facebook / https://www.face
NZ Mortgage Myths That Cost You Years On Your Mortgage: With Aaron Cattell (The Mortgage Man)
There is a lot of mortgage advice out there that is confidently wrong.And the cost of following it isn’t just money, it’s time. Sometimes years of your life spent under pressure you didn’t actually need.In this episode of Making Cents, we’re cutting through the biggest mortgage myths that trip people up both before they buy a home and long after they’ve signed the papers.From “cleaning up” bank st
How to fix your finances in February before you fall off the wagon
If you're feeling the February slump and wondering how to get back on track without starting from scratch, this one's for you!A replay of Frances Cook's column for 1 News, read here with permission, on 7 science-backed ways to get your money back under control.Follow me everywhere!Facebook / https://www.facebook.com/FrancesCookNZInstagram / https://www.instagram.com/francescooknzTikTok / https://w
7 mental traps to avoid when you’re investing
This episode was originally part of the Market Memo newsletter, where you learn about sharemarket investing every week. You can subscribe to that, here https://marketmemoweekly.substack.com/It’s never been easier to start investing. And that’s both brilliant, and part of the problem.Between constant headlines, market swings, hot takes on social media, and apps that let you trade with a swipe, inve
How to build wealth like the 1% (on a normal income)
If you’ve ever wondered what’s actually going on behind the scenes of the 1%, beyond the headlines, Instagram posts, and glossy business profiles, this episode pulls back the curtain.Because beneath the public image of wealth is usually a highly deliberate money strategy. And it doesn’t have to be exclusive to the ultra-rich.In this episode of Making Cents, Frances Cook speaks with Andrew Clements
How to invest in the sharemarket in 2026 - WEBINAR REPLAY
Everyone says you should start investing in the stock market, but how do you actually do that? Time for a quick roadmap to get you started. Whether you’re starting from scratch, or you’ve been investing for a while but you’re not sure you’re nailing it, this is the live session to help you feel like the confident investor you should be. With top industry experts -Kernel chief executive Dean An
"Is renovating my home an investment, or am I fooling myself?" Mailbag episode
Are home renovations actually an investment, or just an expensive way to make your house nicer to live in?In this Ask the Experts mailbag episode, it’s time to answer the question many are scared of: have I overcapitalised my home?Which renovations genuinely add value, and which ones don’t?Is your own home an investment, or a lifestyle choice?And if you’ve already spent the money, should you even
A quick new year money reset
Quick-fire tips and tricks for feeling more in control of your money in 2026.Frances Cook joins the TVNZ Breakfast team to talk about it, replayed here with permission.Follow me everywhere!Facebook / https://www.facebook.com/FrancesCookNZInstagram / https://www.instagram.com/francescooknzTikTok / https://www.tiktok.com/@francescooknzJoin the Money Memo newsletter for a free weekly money tip in you
How to invest in silver and gold without getting wrecked, with financial adviser Darcy Ungaro
Gold and silver prices are booming, and it’s being driven by something deeper: how people are feeling about their money.When trust starts to break down, investors don’t just talk about it, they move their money.Darcy Ungaro, a financial adviser and host of the NZ Everyday Investor, is seeing more New Zealanders actively asking about gold, silver, Bitcoin, and other alternatives. It’s not out of gr
"I’m a saver, he’s a spender, how do we get on the same page?" Mailbag episode
Opposites attract, until it comes to money.This week’s listener says she’s a saver, her partner is a spender, and every attempt to “get serious” about their finances ends the same way: frustration, guilt, splurging out of spite, and a plan that falls apart by March.Instead of moving forward, they’re cancelling each other out, and it’s starting to wear them both down.In this Ask the Experts episode
Olympic psychology that works for your money
Why do so many smart, motivated people struggle to stick to money goals?You set the intention to save more, invest properly, or finally get organised, and then, a few weeks or months later, it falls apart.It’s not that you don’t care or don’t know what to do. It’s that your mindset and financial habits get in the way.In this episode of Making Cents, financial journalist Frances Cook is joined by D
What actually matters for your money in 2026 - WEBINAR REPLAY
Time to talk about what will actually move the needle for you in 2026, and help you feel more confident with your money.Whether it’s property, investing, KiwiSaver, or just feeling calmer about the decisions you’re making, we’re covering the things you actually need to know.We’ll be talking about what an election year really means for your money, how to think about the economy as it starts to turn
"We’re $8m richer overnight, now what?" Mailbag episode
Money panic doesn’t always come from not having enough. Sometimes it comes from suddenly having far more than you ever expected - $8 million more, to be exact. This week’s Ask the Experts letter comes from a couple who spent 40 years dairy farming, living with constant debt and tight cashflow. Now they’ve sold the farm and their financial reality has flipped overnight. A dream problem? Maybe. Bu
“I invested 100k by 25 - here’s how” with Jane Joo
They say that the first $100,000 invested is the hardest milestone, but also most important. Once you’re there, compounding starts to do more of the heavy lifting. But getting there, well, you’ll have to scrap for it.Today’s guest, Jane Joo, reached that milestone by age 25.So how did she actually do it?This episode cuts through the noise to unpack what works in the real world.No trust fund, no ex
“Rental property vs. index funds: should we switch?” Mailbag episode
An investment property to fund retirement is part of the Kiwi dream to many - but what if it’s not the smartest move?In this Ask the Experts mailbag episode, a listener in 50s asks, should we keep our rental property, or sell up and invest in index funds instead?So how do you compare property vs shares in real life?EnableMe head strategic coach Katie Wesney is in the expert hot seat, ready to help
5 things I wish I knew before investing
If you’ve ever put off investing because the sharemarket felt scary or “not for people like you,” this episode is your shortcut to getting past that.I’m sharing the five things I wish I knew before I started investing: the mindset shifts, the beginner mistakes, and the $5 habit that changed everything for my financial future.We’ll talk about why starting small is a superpower, why you don’t need t
“We’ve saved $80k, is it enough for our first home?” Mailbag episode
Saving $80,000 should feel like a major milestone. But when you’re trying to buy your first home, it can leave you asking a very real question: is this actually enough?In this Ask the Experts episode, a listener who’s fed up with renting wants to know whether they’re genuinely ready to buy, or about to take on more than they can afford.They’ve built a solid deposit, but recent spending has shaken
Three money psychology shifts that changed how I handle money
Learning about money is one thing. Actually changing how you behave with it is something else entirely.In this special episode of Making Cents, I’m pulling together three powerful money psychology insights that genuinely changed how I handle my own money. It’s not just that they were clever tactics, but that they finally helped me put good intentions into action.Being “good with money” isn’t about
What could a Santa Rally mean for our money?
Fast Money with Jim Mora on Sunday Morning with RNZ. Talking the end of year GDP bounce, what a Santa Rally would tell us about 2026, how to control spending over the silly season, and the forecast for our Kiwisaver programme.Follow me everywhere!Facebook / https://www.facebook.com/FrancesCookNZInstagram / https://www.instagram.com/francescooknzTikTok / https://www.tiktok.com/@francescooknzJoin th
“I’ve got $1 million in the bank, what do I do with it?” Mailbag episode
Hitting the milestone of $1 million in the bank should feel like financial freedom, but for many people approaching retirement, it’s the moment where the fear kicks in.When a term deposit matures and you’re suddenly responsible for a seven-figure lump sum, the pressure to “not mess it up” can feel overwhelming.That’s exactly the situation in today’s Ask the Experts episode. Our listener is 59, sin
NZ banking just changed all the rules, are you ready? Open banking with Pocketsmith CEO Jason Leong
New Zealand banking just changed all the rules, and you could be forgiven for not having heard about it, despite the fact this could change everything about how you handle your money.Open banking is now officially live in New Zealand, slipping in right at the end of the year with very little attention. But this isn’t just a tech update. It’s a power shift over who controls your financial informati
Why investing got weird in 2025 - Webinar REPLAY
2025 was one of the strangest years in money we’ve seen for a long time.
AI shot up so fast it started giving people Dotcom Bubble flashbacks.
Bitcoin lost more than a trillion dollars in value almost overnight.
KiwiSaver turned into an election promise.
Interest rates dropped, but didn’t truly soothe the money pain.
And a lot of New Zealanders quietly admitted they’ve given up on buying a ho
“Do I really need a million dollars to retire?” Mailbag episode
Nothing spikes the heart rate quite like seeing a headline claiming you need a million dollars to retire.This week’s Ask the Experts listener is 47, the kids are nearly out the door, and retirement planning in New Zealand has suddenly stopped feeling like a ‘one day’ problem.Which means the recent run of articles about retirement savings, retirement villages, or aged care costs are sending her str
Jenny-May Clarkson on leaving TVNZ, reinvention, and career pivots
Jenny-May Clarkson is one of the most recognisable faces in Aotearoa, from her years as a Silver Fern to fronting the TVNZ Breakfast couch every morning.She’s also living proof that starting over and reinventing your career is now incredibly common. And sometimes, incredibly public.After quite quickly leaving the TVNZ Breakfast team, Jenny-May is now facing the same reality so many Kiwis deal with
Use the bank's money to pay off your mortgage? You bet.
A quick and dirty update of mortgage tricks to get rid of the debt faster. Including using the bank's money, instead of yours!Frances Cook joins the TVNZ Breakfast team to talk about it, replayed here with permission. LinksFollow Frances Cook on Facebook, Instagram and TikTok. Join the Money Memo newsletter for a free weekly money tip in your inbox each week, or become a confident sharemarket inve
“Are those ‘mortgage-free in five years’ hacks for real?” Mailbag episode
Ever wondered whether those “mortgage-free in five years” hacks you see online are real, or just clever marketing?With so many mortgage “shortcuts” floating around social media, it’s hard to know what actually works, especially in New Zealand’s property market.In this Ask the Experts episode, we break down the truth behind mortgage-freedom shortcuts: the strategies that genuinely speed up your rep
How nine years in a tiny home bought freedom
If you’ve ever wondered whether living in a tiny home can genuinely change your life, this is a story worth hearing.
After nearly nine years in her tiny house, Kasia Morrison has rebuilt her entire life from the ground up - financially, personally, and professionally.
Downsizing didn’t just cut her cost of living. It gave her the freedom to start over when everything else collapsed: her marriage
