Show overview
Making Cents has been publishing since 2024, and across the 2 years since has built a catalogue of 243 episodes, alongside 1 trailer or bonus episode. That works out to roughly 110 hours of audio in total. Releases follow a several-times-a-week cadence.
Episodes typically run twenty to thirty-five minutes — most land between 14 min and 45 min — with run-times ranging widely across the catalogue. None of the episodes are flagged explicit by the publisher. It is catalogued as a EN-language Business show.
The show is actively publishing — the most recent episode landed yesterday, with 55 episodes already out so far this year. The busiest year was 2025, with 158 episodes published. Published by Frances Cook.
From the publisher
The podcast for people who want financial freedom, without giving up their coffee. That means it's time to make the money world make cents. Join Frances Cook, best-selling author and award-winning journalist, to talk about the proven ways to invest your way to financial independence, buy your first home, or just get your spending under control. Every Monday we have the week's feature interview, with someone who's done something interesting with their money. From paying off a mountain of debt, or investing for financial independence, or starting a new business, these are the ordinary people making the extraordinary possible. On Thursday we have Ask the Experts, where industry insiders answer your questions on the money world. From earning more in your career, to investing, or sticking to a budget, they'll help make money simple. Every now and then you'll get a bonus episode too, but the fun of those is that you never know when they're coming!
Latest Episodes
View all 243 episodesSpending Money the Right Way (Most Kiwis Miss This)
Ali Mau: From TV Icon to Startup Founder at 60 (And How She Paid For It)
Why You Keep Buying Things You Don't Need Online
The 5 Levels of Financial Freedom: Which One Are You?
The Emotion Sabotaging Your Money (A Psychologist Explains)
War in Iran Is About To Hit Your Mortgage And Your Money - WEBINAR REPLAY
$54M Wiped From NZ Property: Here's What It Actually Means
Wendy Petrie Lost Her Dream Job at 50… Then Reinvented Her BEST Life
Interest Rates Are Going Up, What To Do Next
The Iran War Is Already Costing You, Here's What To Do About It
How A ‘Personal Brand’ Gets You Paid More (Even If You’re Not An Influencer)
How To Live The Good Life For Less
Should You Buy Property or Invest in Stocks? Most Kiwis Get This Wrong
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 reality behind that shift. The trial and error, the risks, and the lessons that actually stick.Because for many people, getting “good with money” doesn’t come from following a perfect plan. It comes from trying, failing, and figuring out what works.In this episode:The financial mistakes that shaped Sophie’s approach to moneyLessons from investing in shares and propertyThe reality of buying property with someone you met three weeks earlierWhat it’s really like to start a business with a friendPractical insights on building confidence and momentum with moneyListen to more from Sophie @thecurveplatform or anywhere you listen to podcasts.This episode of Making Cents is proudly supported by Odoo. Go to https://www.odoo.com/r/hpl now and try it for free, for 15 days.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 your inbox each week https://www.francescook.co.nz/subscribeBecome a confident sharemarket investor by signing up to the Market Memo newsletter https://www.francescook.co.nz/invest#MakingCents #FrancesCook #MakingCentsPodcast #InvestingPodcast #MoneyPodcast #FinancialFreedomThis podcast was filmed & produced by FanaticalsVideo editing & content production by Lana ByrneAudio engineering by Tash Chittock
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 free weekly money tip in your inbox each week Newsletter sign upBecome a confident sharemarket investor by signing up to the Market Memo newsletter Newsletter sign up#MakingCents #FrancesCook #MakingCentsPodcast #InvestingPodcast #MoneyPodcast #FinancialFreedomAudio engineering by Tash Chittock
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 facing exactly that situation.After a 10-year relationship ends, our listener is trying to decide whether to buy their ex-partner out of the family home, sell and downsize, or walk away and start again somewhere new. The numbers are tight. The lifestyle trade-offs are real. And with retirement getting closer, the stakes feel higher than ever.In this episode, Frances and Will cover:The biggest financial pressure points after a breakup in your 40s or 50sWhether buying out an ex-partner is a smart move, or a financial trapWhen selling and downsizing might actually put you in a stronger positionThe hidden financial risks of stretching your mortgage too farLifestyle trade-offs: space, pets, privacy, and quality of lifeWhether getting a flatmate or AirBnB could make the numbers workHow to rebuild financial stability when retirement is closer than you plannedIf you have a letter you’d like us to answer, send it through to [email protected] and you might feature on our next episode!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 your inbox each week https://www.francescook.co.nz/subscribeBecome a confident sharemarket investor by signing up to the Market Memo newsletter https://www.francescook.co.nz/invest#MakingCents #FrancesCook #MakingCentsPodcast #InvestingPodcast #MoneyPodcast #FinancialFreedomThis podcast was filmed & produced by FanaticalsVideo editing & content production by Lana ByrneAudio engineering by Tash Chittock
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 a fraction of the price.But this isn’t just about cheaper meals.Michal shares a different way to think about food, money, and the cost of living, including the common food budgeting mistake most people don’t realise they’re making, and why it’s leaving money on the table.We also get into the link between your grocery bill and the survival of small businesses, how much food cafés are actually throwing away each year, and what that waste is really costing them.Not to mention, what all of this says about New Zealand’s food system, supply chains, and long-term food security?If you want to spend less on food, eat well, and understand what’s really driving food prices, this episode is for you.In this episode, we cover:How to save money on food without cutting qualityThe biggest food budgeting mistake most people makeHow surplus food apps like Foodprint workWhy cafés throw away so much food (and what it costs them)The link between cost of living and small business pressureWhat’s really going on with food supply and security in New ZealandThis episode of Making Cents is proudly supported by Odoo. Go to https://www.odoo.com/r/hpl now and try it for free, for 15 days.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 your inbox each week https://www.francescook.co.nz/subscribeBecome a confident sharemarket investor by signing up to the Market Memo newsletter https://www.francescook.co.nz/invest#MakingCents #FrancesCook #MakingCentsPodcast #InvestingPodcast #MoneyPodcast #FinancialFreedomThis podcast was filmed & produced by FanaticalsVideo editing & content production by Lana ByrneAudio engineering by Tash Chittock
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 savings, and whether solar power in New Zealand actually stacks up financially.In this episode, we cover:The true cost of installing solar panels and a home battery in NZHow much I’m saving on power (and why my bills are sometimes negative)Whether solar can actually make you money, or just save itHow green loans (as low as 0–1%) can change the investment mathsWhy timing your power usage matters more than selling it back to the gridHow to do this cheaper and smarter than I didPlus, the practical realities, from power price trends to choosing the right system, avoiding common traps, and figuring out if solar is right for your home.This isn’t a “go green” pitch. It’s a real-world breakdown of whether solar and EVs are a good financial decision, and how to make the numbers work in your favour.If you’re trying to cut rising power costs, invest smarter, or future-proof your household expenses, this episode gives you the data and strategy to decide.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 your inbox each week https://www.francescook.co.nz/subscribeBecome a confident sharemarket investor by signing up to the Market Memo newsletter https://www.francescook.co.nz/invest#MakingCents #FrancesCook #MakingCentsPodcast #InvestingPodcast #MoneyPodcast #FinancialFreedomThis podcast was filmed & produced by FanaticalsVideo editing & content production by Lana ByrneAudio engineering by Tash Chittock
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 webinar, Frances Cook is joined by Infometrics economist Brad Olsen, Stuff Money editor Damien Venuto, and Kernel CEO Dean Anderson to break down what the Iran conflict could mean for your money. We’re talking about: Why petrol, groceries, and everyday costs are under price pressure What rising energy prices can mean for inflation and interest rates Why sharemarkets often wobble during global crises And most importantly, how to make smart financial decisions in all these areas Because global events might be outside your control, but how you respond with your money, isn’t. Join us live for a clear, practical conversation about what’s happening now, what could happen next, and how to protect your finances.
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 payoff, to stay consistent and motivated.In this conversation, she explains how she:Paid off $30,000 of debt using the debt snowball methodRewired her spending habits by replacing the dopamine hit of spending with savingBuilt savings and started investing, even on a modest incomeTransitioned from property investing to shares and index fundsDesigned a values-based money system that prioritises travel, family, and flexibilityOnce the debt was gone, everything changed, not just financially, but mentally. Structure created freedom, and financial control opened up options.That’s how Emma and her family were able to spend a year travelling through Europe, the US, and Southeast Asia, funded not by endless sacrifice, but by intentional money decisions.This episode of Making Cents is proudly supported by Odoo. Go to https://www.odoo.com/r/hpl now and try it for free, for 15 days.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 your inbox each week https://www.francescook.co.nz/subscribeBecome a confident sharemarket investor by signing up to the Market Memo newsletter https://www.francescook.co.nz/invest#MakingCents #FrancesCook #MakingCentsPodcast #InvestingPodcast #MoneyPodcast #FinancialFreedomThis podcast was filmed & produced by FanaticalsVideo editing & content production by Lana ByrneAudio engineering by Tash Chittock