Making Cents

Frances Cook answers the questions that you sent in, in a solo episode covering the best investing strategies, revolving mortgages, and what's up with her weird accent? Questions in this episode: I want to know more about your accent! There is more than one in there, right? I love it, I’m just curious. Is sharesies ok for a short term savings account or too risky? EG $10k for a holiday in 6 months...

Welcome to Ask the Experts, where each week we talk to people in the industry to get the inside word on what’s happening right now, and what that means for the tactics that you should use to make the most of your money. This week we’ve partnered up with EnableMe, which has kindly leant us their expert Katie Wesney, a head strategic coach. We're talking debt and how to control it, so that it doesn'...

A highlight clip from the November 4th episode, “The no BS strategy for budgeting, investment, and ditching debt”, with Glen James, author of The Quick-Start Guide to Investing and host of the Money Money Money podcast. Links Follow Frances Cook on Facebook , Instagram and TikTok , or join the Money Memo newsletter for a free weekly money tip in your inbox each week.

Nick Gentle, buyers agent, property coach, and a self-described “frugality geek”, shares how he managed to become financially independent by 30. Picture this: it’s 2.30 on a Wednesday afternoon, and you’re not in the office.  Instead, you’re coaching your son’s latest sports team. This time it’s soccer, other days, it’s chess.  This is the reality for one dad, who quit corporate life at...

Welcome to Ask the Experts, where each week we talk to people in the industry to get the inside word on what’s happening right now, and what that means for the tactics that you should use to make the most of your money. This week we’ve partnered up with KiwiBank, which has kindly leant us their expert Hayley Tito, senior product manager for everyday banking, and we’re talking savings, and how to a...

A highlight clip from the December 16th episode, “The hidden psychology that helps you build wealth”, with Dr Brad Klontz. Links Follow Frances Cook on Facebook , Instagram and TikTok , or join the Money Memo newsletter for a free weekly money tip in your inbox each week.

Shang Saavedra, now a work-optional financial coach, shares how she 'turbocharged' her finances in order to create time freedom. When it comes to building towards a good financial future, you’ll need some spare cash in order to hit your goals, whether that’s paying off debt, investing, or whatever else.  In order to get there, there’s basically two options.  You need to earn more, or spe...

Welcome to Ask the Experts, where each week we talk to people in the industry to get the inside word on what’s happening right now, and what that means for the tactics that you should use to make the most of your money. This week I’ve partnered up with realestate.co.nz, who has kindly leant us their expert Vanessa Williams, and we’re talking about how you can learn to read the tea leaves of the pr...

A highlight clip from the December 2nd episode, “I regret paying off my mortgage early”, with financial analyst Nick Carr. Links Follow Frances Cook on Facebook , Instagram and TikTok , or join the Money Memo newsletter for a free weekly money tip in your inbox each week.

Shell Shields, who runs the page Christchurch Deals, shares how she finds a good bargain, which community is the secret weapon, and what she'd never cut back on. I will die on this hill - one of the best ways to manage your money is to be around people with similar values to you, who are part of your team, and cheering you on.  This is particularly the case when it comes to trying to cut back...

Welcome to Ask the Experts, where each week we talk to people in the industry to get the inside word on what’s happening right now, and what that means for the tactics that you should use to make the most of your money. This week we’ve partnered up with EnableMe, which has kindly leant us their expert Katie Wesney, a head strategic coach. We’re talking the different types of mortgage you can get,...

A highlight clip from the October 28th episode, "How financial freedom can lead to a career change", with Natasha Etschmann, also known as Tash Invests . Links Follow Frances Cook on Facebook , Instagram and TikTok , or join the Money Memo newsletter for a free weekly money tip in your inbox each week.

Clarissa Hirst, professional coach and marketing consultant, shares how a panic attack and burnout led to quitting the corporate world and launching her own business. It’s something we’re often encouraged to do when we’re establishing our careers – work hard, take on extra projects, join networking groups and do extra with them too. The problem is, there’s only so much of us to go around, and some...

A highlight clip from the December 2nd episode, “I regret paying off my mortgage early”, with financial analyst Nick Carr. Links Follow Frances Cook on Facebook , Instagram and TikTok , or join the Money Memo newsletter for a free weekly money tip in your inbox each week.

A highlight clip from the November 4th episode, "The no BS strategy for budgeting, investment, and ditching debt", with Glen James from the Money Money Money podcast. Links Follow Frances Cook on Facebook , Instagram and TikTok , or join the Money Memo newsletter for a free weekly money tip in your inbox each week.

A highlight clip from the September 30th episode, "How house sitting with alpacas turned into a digital nomad dream", with Sarah Kelsey from the OneUp Project. Links Follow Frances Cook on Facebook , Instagram and TikTok , or join the Money Memo newsletter for a free weekly money tip in your inbox each week.

Kellie Dawson, financial freedom seeker and mum, shares how her family were able to quit work and hit the road in Australia, for a year of nomad life in a van. There’s a tension when we talk about money.  Often creating financial security for the future can mean giving things up now… but life is also for living, and you could get hit by a bus tomorrow.  So how do you balance it?  By...

Welcome to Ask the Experts, where each week we talk to people in the industry to get the inside word on what’s happening right now, and what that means for the tactics that you should use to make the most of your money.  This week we’ve partnered up with Kiwibank, which has kindly leant us their expert MJ Vergara, senior economist, and we're talking the economy. Is it good, is it bad, and wha...

Dr Brad Klontz, co-author of the new book Start Thinking Rich: 21 Harsh Truths to Take You from Broke to Financial Freedom, shares how money beliefs can hold you back. Most of us have been there - you know what you should be doing with money, but you’re not doing it. Why? Well there’s a whole bunch of wiring deep in our brains that can trip us up and sabotage us. That doesn’t mean it’s all a lost...

Welcome to Ask the Experts, where each week we talk to people in the industry to get the inside word on what’s happening right now, and what that means for the tactics that you should use to make the most of your money. This week I’ve partnered up with realestate.co.nz, who has kindly leant us their expert Vanessa Williams, and we’re talking about house versus apartment. There are some key differe...

Pepper Raccoon, artist and merch designer, shares her tactics for creating a proper living out of being an artist. There’s a common belief that when you’re making career choices, you have to choose between doing what you love, or making money. While that’s sometimes true, it’s doesn’t have to be true. Even creatives, the ones most famous for becoming starving artists, can find systems to make a li...

Frances Cook shares listener tips for being money smart over Christmas, for everything from presents, to food, and bringing in extra cash to fund it all. Links Follow Frances Cook on Facebook , Instagram and TikTok , or join the Money Memo newsletter for a free weekly money tip in your inbox each week.

Nick Carr, financial analyst from Your Money Blueprint, shares why he regrets paying off his mortgage early, and the numbers behind why he would have invested into shares instead. Paying off the mortgage early is a good thing… right? Well, one New Zealander worked hard to do that, and then decided, he’d actually shot himself in the foot. When a big accident happened, the money he’d sunk into the m...

Welcome to Ask the Experts, where each week we talk to people in the industry to get the inside word on what’s happening right now, and what that means for the tactics that you should use to make the most of your money. This week we’ve partnered up with AMP, which has kindly leant us their expert, client adviser Devon Walen, and we’re talking about if there are times when putting more into your Ki...

Frances Cook talks kids and money with Chris Chang, on TVNZ's Breakfast. Last week I was on TVNZ’s Breakfast, talking to Chris Chang about some strategies to talk to your kids about money. Particularly with Christmas coming up, can it be a present? What’s the best way to go about it? I get these questions in my inbox all the time, and the Breakfast team were nice enough to say I could put the audi...