Making Cents

It’s a fantasy many of us share: what if you could retire early, walk away from your job forever, and live life on your own terms by the age of 30? Would it be all freedom and fun… or would the reality look very different? In this episode of Making Cents, I talk to Captain Fi, one of Australia’s most well-known FIRE (Financial Independence, Retire Early) bloggers. He shares what it really takes to...

Fast Money with Jim Mora on Sunday Morning with RNZ. Chatting everything from cost-of-living savings, how to pay off debt faster, how to get a pay rise or what to do next if a pay rise is turned down, and what's happening with the property market at the moment. Links Follow Frances Cook on Facebook , Instagram and TikTok , or join the Money Memo newsletter for a free weekly money tip in your inbox...

Side hustles can boost your money life, but only if you avoid the mistakes that tank most people early on. In this episode of Making Cents: Ask the Experts, we’re breaking down the most common side hustle mistakes, and how to avoid them. From financial pitfalls to admin overload, we’re giving you real, practical advice to help you start a side hustle that actually works. I’m joined by Joanna Greav...

Finding a financial adviser in New Zealand can feel both overwhelming, and risky. With so many options, how do you know who to trust with your money, your KiwiSaver, your mortgage, or your retirement plan? In this episode of Making Cents, Frances Cook breaks down exactly how to find a financial adviser in NZ that you can actually rely on. We cover when you really need an adviser, what they can (an...

Whether you're hitting the supermarket, or paying your regular bills, here are some quick ways to tackle the cost of living in your daily life. Frances Cook talks to the TVNZ Breakfast team about the ways to fight the price rises. 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.

Are you accidentally sabotaging your KiwiSaver? KiwiSaver is one of the most powerful tools New Zealanders have for growing wealth, but if you’re on autopilot, you could be losing tens of thousands of dollars without realising it. In this episode of Ask the Experts, we reveal the common KiwiSaver mistakes that are quietly shrinking your nest egg, and the easy fixes that could supercharge your long...

Everyone wants a bit of extra cash, but are side hustles actually worth your time, or just another way to burn out? From driving for Uber to picking up dog poop, side hustles in New Zealand range from the weird to the wonderful. Some can bring in fast money to help with the cost of living crisis, while others might grow into a full-time business or a path to financial freedom. In this episode of M...

Small fixes for a big win: it’s time for renovations that actually add value Not all renovations are created equal. Some upgrades could cost you thousands without adding a cent to your resale value. In this Ask the Experts episode of Making Cents, financial journalist Frances Cook is joined by Vanessa Williams from realestate.co.nz to reveal which home improvements genuinely increase property valu...

Why does life still feel so expensive? In this webinar, we break down what’s really driving the cost of living in New Zealand, and why your grocery bill, rent, and power costs keep climbing while tech and travel seem cheaper. You’ll learn: - The hidden forces pushing up the price of essentials - Smart ways to save on food and bills without giving up life’s small joys - Budgeting strategies that ac...

Feeling guilty every time you spend money? You’re not alone, but it might be doing more harm than good. In this episode of Making Cents, we’re diving into why money guilt is one of the biggest mindset traps stopping people from saving, investing, or sticking to a budget. I’ll break down the psychology behind guilt and spending, and show you how to shift your habits without giving up the things tha...

A quick hit highlight clip from the April 2025 episode "Housing, KiwiSaver, and debt: Solving NZ’s biggest money issues with the Retirement Commissioner", with Jane Wrightson. Making Cents is supported by Kiwibank. 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.

Ever felt like your financial goals are just too far away? Whether you're dreaming of financial independence, planning for early retirement, or just trying to build up a decent savings buffer, staying motivated over the long haul can be tough. In this Ask the Experts episode of Making Cents, we're talking about how to stay on track with your biggest financial goals, even when progress feels slow....

What if the worst happened, but you were financially ready? When Caroline Gordon was diagnosed with stage four bowel cancer, everything changed. But because she’d already built financial independence, she had something many people in crisis don’t: options. In this episode of Making Cents, we dive into how financial freedom became Caroline’s safety net. She shares how it allowed her to: - Self-fund...

Will your mortgage rate go down soon, or will banks keep them higher for longer? In this episode of Making Cents, financial journalist Frances Cook joins RNZ’s Nights on 14 August, to break down everything you need to know about New Zealand interest rates right now. We cover: How the Official Cash Rate (OCR) works and what it means for home loans The link between what savers get in their term depo...

Why we choose Lotto over investing, even when it’s irrational, and how to flip the script so investing feels just as exciting. A replay of a conversation with Wallace Chapman on RNZ's The Panel, from 11 August. Making Cents is supported by our friends at Kiwibank. Links Follow Frances Cook on Facebook , Instagram and TikTok , or join the Money Memo newsletter for a free weekly money tip in your in...

Are you enjoying the freedom of self-employment - or just underpaid, overworked, and financially stressed? Running your own business can give you freedom, flexibility, and the chance to build something that truly works for you. But without the right systems in place, it’s also easy to end up burnt out, broke, and completely unprepared for the future. In this Ask the Experts episode of Making Cents...

She hit financial freedom at 51, by downsizing to a caravan and selling the family trade business. It wasn’t a tech salary. It wasn’t an inheritance. It was good old-fashioned DIY thinking, property investment, and a whole lot of planning. In this episode of Making Cents, you’ll meet Charmaine Hands, who “re-lifed” in her 50s and built a whole new life of travel, flexibility, and financial indepen...

The 1news Breakfast team have questions about how we can beat the guilt, and create systems to help us feel better about our money. A replay of the TVNZ segment from 5 August. Making Cents is supported by our friends at Kiwibank. 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.

Are house prices about to drop more, or is this the bottom of the market? In this episode of Ask the Experts, we dig into what’s really going on with New Zealand’s housing market in 2025. Whether you’re a first home buyer, property investor, or current homeowner, understanding the true drivers behind NZ house prices is essential to making smart money choices. House prices are flat or falling acros...

You don’t need a million dollars to reach financial freedom. In this episode of Making Cents, we’re breaking down how Germano Gomes built lifestyle freedom on an average income. No lottery win. No six-figure job. Just smart money moves. He paid off his mortgage in five years, lived simply, and built up enough FU money to say no to the traditional 9–5. All while still enjoying the things that matte...

There’s a wave of major money changes rolling through New Zealand, hitting everything from where you keep your savings, to what’s in your KiwiSaver, to the price of your weekly groceries. In this live Making Cents episode, Frances Cook is joined by Consumer NZ CEO Jon Duffy to break down what actually matters, and what you should do next. We cover: - The new bank protection rules, under the Deposi...

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. Buyers vs Sellers: What’s really happening in NZ’s housing market right now? In this episode of Ask the Experts, we dive into the growing standoff between buyers and sellers in New...

What if being polite was secretly draining your bank account? Welcome to Making Cents, the podcast for people who want financial freedom without giving up their coffee. I’m Frances Cook, a financial journalist and fellow financial freedom seeker who makes money simple for you. In this episode of Making Cents, I'm breaking down how to negotiate better rates, reduce your cost of living, and stop ove...

Hate paying for insurance? What if you didn’t have to? 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. Insurance is one of those financial to-dos that’s easy to ignore, until it’s suddenly urgent. It can be confusing, expensive,...

The 1news Breakfast team have questions about the good and bad of rentvesting. A replay of the segment from 22 July. Making Cents is supported by our friends at Kiwibank. 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.