Making Cents

A highlight clip from the February 10th episode, “Viral mortgage hacks debunked: Separating clickbait from real advice”, with Dan Bell, financial adviser and co-founder of Colab Mortgages. 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.

Welcome to Making Cents, the podcast for people who want financial freedom without giving up their coffee. I’m Frances Cook, an independent financial journalist and fellow financial freedom seeker who makes money simple for you. Let’s be honest - with the cost of living going up and pay packets staying still, even small treats can start to feel out of reach. That cheeky brunch, nice skincare, or w...

KiwiSaver’s been cut, so what should you do now? In this special live episode of Making Cents, we unpack the 2025 Budget and what it means for your money. Spoiler: the government just halved the KiwiSaver contribution. And if you’re earning over $180k? You’ll lose it entirely. There’s a lot of noise out there, but this is where we get to the real talk. We cover: - What the KiwiSaver changes actual...

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. Going in to ask for a mortgage is enough to make anyone a bit sweaty, even if you’re usually the calm and confident type. The process is a bit mysterious, and frankly, a test that...

Money world update, with Jim Mora on Sunday Morning with RNZ. Chatting everything from possible changes to KiwiSaver, whether renters can get ahead right now, whether the property market is about to bounce back, and how worried should we be about the brain drain and everyone fleeing to Australia? Links Follow Frances Cook on Facebook , Instagram and TikTok , or join the Money Memo newsletter for a...

Claire Wasserman, founder of Ladies Get Paid, shares how she went from 'having it all' to suffering burnout, and how that's changed the advice she gives as a career coach. Welcome to Making Cents, the podcast for people who want financial freedom without giving up their coffee. I’m Frances Cook, an independent financial journalist and fellow financial freedom seeker who makes money simple for you....

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. FOMO is sneaky — it slides in to lighten your wallet while you're just trying to live your life. From social media comparison to impulsive late-night purchases, it's all too easy t...

A highlight clip from the Janury 27th episode, “Financially free at 30: How this dad quit the corporate world”, with Nick Gentle, buyers agent and property coach. 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.

Jackson Hapeta, co-founder of Lenda, shares the moment he realised he was overpaying for his mortgage, and how that inspired him to found a business that helped everyone negotiate better. Welcome to Making Cents, the podcast for people who want financial freedom without giving up their coffee.. I’m Frances Cook, an independent financial journalist and fellow financial freedom seeker who makes mone...

Want to save more money without relying on willpower? You might need a moodboard. In this live episode of Making Cents, financial journalist Frances Cook dives into the unexpected psychology behind saving money — and how a tool usually reserved for Pinterest weddings might actually be your biggest financial secret weapon. Don't believe me? Here's what you need to know: Why traditional budgeting of...

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. We talk a lot about how to buy property — but what if you’re renting? With rental prices rising and housing taking up a huge chunk of the average budget, renters need smart strateg...

Sharyn Casey, radio, TV, and podcast personality, shares why she quit what was once her dream job, and how she's handled that financially. You can have the dream job. The big career. The success everyone else envies. And still realise; this isn’t the life you want. That’s exactly what happened to Sharyn Casey, who you probably already know from listening to her on the radio during her long st...

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, who has kindly leant us their expert Devon Walen, a client adviser, and we’re talking about when you can crack into your KiwiSaver a little e...

After years of living paycheck to paycheck, a Making Cents listener has received a substantial inheritance. But now she's frozen, worried about making the right choice, and torn between buying a first home for her family, or investing the money. There's also a layer of emotional pressure to not waste the gift her beloved dad left her. Frances Cook lays out the best money options for this situation...

Roy Chowdhury, founder of Homely, shares how he created an AI tool to make home lending easier, and the dangers of letting AI take part in your financial decisions. The property journey can be a frustrating one, and frankly, a bit intimidating.  We’re talking big numbers, lots of jargon, and people in suits who are in charge of telling you yes or no to your dream.  Lovely.  So what...

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. Interest rates are finally coming down, and so many of us breathe a sigh of relief, especially all the people with a mortgage. But how do you make the most of that, and maybe even...

A highlight clip from the February 10h episode, “Viral mortgage hacks debunked: Separating clickbait from real advice”, with Dan Bell, financial adviser and co-founder of Colab Mortgages. 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.

Welcome to Making Cents, the podcast for people who want financial freedom without giving up their coffee, supported by our lovely friends at Kiwibank.  I’m Frances Cook, an independent financial journalist and fellow financial freedom seeker who makes money simple for you.  Have you ever wished you could hack your brain, so that you can actually do all of that good stuff you know you sh...

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 Xero, which has kindly lent us their expert GM Sustainability and Impact Tam Somers, and we’re talking about how we shouldn’t let the fear o...

With tariffs flying, interest rates falling, and the job market looking a little rough... how do you survive? Here's a survival plan, and an Ask Me Anything session, so that you can feel more confident with your cash in 2025. Follow me everywhere! ` Facebook / https://www.facebook.com/FrancesCookNZ/ Instagram / https://www.instagram.com/francescooknz/ TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@francescooknz J...

Welcome to Making Cents, the podcast for people who want financial freedom without giving up their coffee, supported by our lovely friends at Kiwibank.  I’m Frances Cook, an independent financial journalist and fellow financial freedom seeker who makes money simple for you.  How much money would it take for you to abandon your morals?  Or sell something that you didn’t really believ...

A replay of the live webinar version of Making Cents, answering audience questions on tariffs, how to invest when the market is down, what to do about KiwiSaver, best strategies for the mortgage while interest rates are falling, and whether your job is safe. Follow me everywhere! Facebook / https://www.facebook.com/FrancesCookNZ/ Instagram / https://www.instagram.com/francescooknz/ TikTok https://...

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.  We’ve been talking a lot about a buyer’s market in property, which has led to my DMs filling up with hopeful first home buyers, saying, is it our time? So this week I’ve part...

There’s investing, and then there’s "Capital I Investing", the one that comes with big risk, and if it works, big reward. Today’s guest Rowan Simpson is someone who’s flown under the radar in that scene for a while, first working at some of our iconic tech startups, and then investing in them. Rowan Simpson started out by saving up $10,000 to create his own tech company, Flathunt.co.nz. He’s since...

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 Xero, which has kindly leant us their expert Mere Teinaki, from Northland Chartered Accountants, and we’re talking about how everyone says you nee...