Making Cents
264 episodes — Page 1 of 6
Your Income Cheat Code: How Buying a Business Changes Everything
How to Invest for Financial Freedom - WEBINAR REPLAY
Why "Being Normal" Is The Most Expensive Thing You Can Choose
How One Kiwi Got $15,000 Back From the IRD
Why Being a Loyal Customer Costs You Thousands
Selling Your House? The Change That Gets 200% More Buyers.
When Will The NZ Economy Actually Get Better?
The SpaceX IPO Needs a Bright Red Hype Warning
Can I Actually Count on NZ Super Being There For Me?
The Investing Trap That Even the Experts Fall Into (And How to Avoid It)
HOLY SH*T WE WON
You're On Your Own, Kid. Here's What That Means For Your Money
Are Shoebox Apartments About To Take Over NZ?
A Michelin-Trained Chef's Insider Secrets To Saving Money On Your Food
Are Small Homes A Bad Buy?
The Money Timeline That Lets Normal People Build Wealth
Why Overwhelmed Parents End Up Spending More Money, And How To Fix It
KiwiSaver Changes On The Cards Again - Are They Worth It?
NZ's Hottest Jobs in 2026… And How to Get Paid More in Any of Them
The Lazy Investor's Guide To Building Real Wealth
10 Pieces Of Advice I'd Give My 20-Year-Old Self
Spending 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
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 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
"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://realestate.co.nz to cut through the noise and focus on what actually matters.We’re talking:what election years have historically meant for the property marketwhy uncertainty can stall buyers (and when that can backfire),what’s really happening in the property market right now, from supply levels to buyer behaviourand what political announcements you should keep an eye on, because they could truly move the market.Plus, the key policy changes worth paying attention to (and the ones that are mostly just headlines), including KiwiSaver rules, lending restrictions, and what a capital gains tax could realistically mean.If you have a letter you’d like us to answer, please 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
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 practical ways you can fight back.From supermarket layouts and loyalty pricing, to hard-to-cancel subscriptions, hidden online fees, insurance costs, and power bills, this episode breaks down why saving money now can feel like a full-time job, and where you can actually make real gains.We’re talking:what “dark patterns” are, and how online shopping traps you into spending morehow subscription traps and hard-to-cancel services cost you moneythe best ways to compare supermarket prices and cut your grocery billhow to review your insurance and avoid overpayingwhy almost everyone could save money on their power billThis 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
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/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
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 Experts, Kristin Sutherland, strategic coach at EnableMe, helps us figure out what these changes mean in reality.We’re talking:The key KiwiSaver rule changes you need to knowHow higher contribution rates could affect your take-home payWhether the employer contribution changes are actually a boost or just a reshuffleWhy higher earners lose the government contributionThe biggest KiwiSaver mistakes people make during rule changesHow to review your fund, fees, and settings so your KiwiSaver works harder for youIf you have a letter you’d like us to answer, please 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
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 around Australia- what financial freedom means to them in real life- how they used property investing helped build financial freedom- why they came home rethinking money, careers, and what matters mostIf you’ve ever dreamed of quitting the grind, creating passive income, travelling with your family, or building financial independence in a way that supports your real life, this episode is for you.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 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 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
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 your life smaller, more stressful, and sometimes even worse financially.In this episode of Making Cents, Frances Cook breaks down 7 “bad” money decisions that can actually be smart, depending on your goals, your lifestyle, and the season of life you’re in.From renting instead of buying, to paying for childcare, outsourcing chores, switching careers, selling investments that are ruining your sleep, and keeping cash on hand instead of forcing every dollar into growth, this is a myth-busting episode about building wealth without losing the plot.Because being good with money is not about hoarding cash and never enjoying your life.It’s about using money to build a life you actually want.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
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 Glen James is on the podcast to break down the biggest investing mistakes beginners make, and the simple systems that help you build wealth over time.Glen calls himself a “reformed spender” who had to learn money the hard way. From losing money on risky penny stocks as a teenager to building a disciplined investing strategy using index funds and automation, he shares the real lessons that helped him become a smarter investor.In this episode you’ll learn:The biggest investing mistakes beginners makeWhy waiting for the “perfect time” can cost you thousandsHow to start investing even if you’re nervousThe power of diversification and index fundsWhy systems and automation make investing easierThis 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