Shows / Making Cents
Making Cents
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…
Episodes
Making CentsCheap reno wins vs expensive fails: What adds real value
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…
Making CentsOutsmart the cost of living: Here’s why your wallet feels empty
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…
Making CentsHow to quit the money guilt (without quitting your financial goals)
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…
Making CentsWhy New Zealanders are scared of the sharemarket
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…
Making CentsHow to stay motivated when your money goals feel too big
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…
Making CentsWhen stage 4 cancer hit, financial independence gave her room to breathe
What if the worst happened, but you were financially ready? When Caroline Gordon was diagnosed with stage four bowel cancer, everything changed. But because…
Making CentsHow do banks decide if they'll lower interest rates - and are they going down more?
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…
Making CentsWe love Lotto, but investing loves us back
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…
Making CentsFrom broke to thriving: Money fixes for self-employed and side hustlers
Are you enjoying the freedom of self-employment - or just underpaid, overworked, and financially stressed? Running your own business can give you freedom…
Making Cents“We sold everything and moved into a caravan” - creating financial freedom without the fat paycheck
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…
Making CentsHow to stop guilt sabotaging your money goals
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…
Making CentsAre house prices about to drop more? What you need to know in 2025
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…
Making CentsBuilding FU money on an average income - "Enough is not a number, it's a decision"
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…
Making CentsMajor money changes you need to know: protect your savings account, KiwiSaver cuts, and grocery fights
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…
Making CentsThe real estate standoff: Buyers, sellers, and the gap no one wants to close
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…
Making CentsBeing too polite could cost you $240,850
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…
Making CentsHow to get your boss to pay for your insurance
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…
Making CentsRentvesting: A fast look at pros and cons
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…
Making Cents"Why I gave up my dream home to rentvest instead" - Ilse Wolfe
What if renting your dream home and building long-term wealth weren’t opposites? Welcome to Making Cents, the podcast for people who want financial freedom…
Making CentsThe pocket money debate: Should kids earn it or just get it?
Should kids get pocket money, and what’s the best way to teach them to use it? Welcome to Ask the Experts, where each week we talk to people in the industry to…
Making CentsCould you save on insurance, or should you cancel it? As well as grocery prices, house values, and how to survive NZ's money madness
Fast Money with Jim Mora on Sunday Morning with RNZ. Chatting everything from why your groceries are so expensive, how to save money on insurance, why house…
Making CentsBitcoin made boring: How crypto going mainstream is changing how we invest into it
Welcome to Making Cents, the podcast for people who want financial freedom without giving up their coffee. I’m Frances Cook, an independent financial…
Making CentsThe mortgage mistake that’s costing you thousands (and how to fix it)
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…
Making CentsMore food tips that'll save your budget (fast edition)
A replay of a conversation with the 1News Breakfast team, on the best tips to save money from your food budget. Making Cents is supported by our friends at…
Making Cents“Food shouldn’t be this expensive” - chef Alice Taylor on eating well for less
Grocery prices have gone off the rails. Butter costs more than brunch, olive oil feels like a luxury item, and meat? Don’t even ask. It’s enough to derail your…
Making CentsOne in three NZers 'accidentally' bought a house? Here's how
Welcome to Ask the Experts, where each week we talk to industry insiders to get the inside word on what’s happening in the market, and what that means for the…
Making CentsQuick Hit: Is a revolving credit mortgage worth it?
A highlight clip from the February 3rd episode, “From how I invest, to getting rid of the mortgage fast: A chaotic Ask Me Anything episode”, with Frances Cook…
Making CentsShould you invest in gold?
Welcome to Making Cents, the podcast for people who want financial freedom without giving up their coffee. I’m Frances Cook, an independent financial…
Making CentsThe US-Israel-Iran conflict shows chaos is the new normal - LIVE replay
In a live episode of Making Cents, it's time to decode the tension still simmering in the US-Iran-Israel conflict, and the reaction from the money world. Oil…
Making CentsIs renting really throwing money away?
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…
Making CentsWhy being too polite, costs you
A replay of a conversation with the 1News Breakfast team, on how being too polite could actually cost you thousands of dollars. Making Cents is supported by…
Making CentsI spent $20,000 on my hair - and I'm a financial advisor
Welcome to Making Cents, the podcast for people who want financial freedom without giving up their coffee. I’m Frances Cook, an independent financial…
Making CentsBy age 7, your money personality is locked in — can you change it?
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…
Making CentsWill property bounce back, should you invest in gold?
Fast Money with Jim Mora on Sunday Morning with RNZ. Chatting everything from what's happening with the economy, will house prices go back up, and should you…
Making CentsWhy Jay-Jay Feeney started a business with ex Dom Harvey, and went from radio star to startup life
Welcome to Making Cents, the podcast for people who want financial freedom without giving up their coffee. I’m Frances Cook, an independent financial…
Making CentsThe hidden cost of being single: How to beat the ‘singles tax’ and build wealth anyway
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…
Making CentsInvesting red flags to watch out for
A replay of a conversation with the 1News Breakfast team, on red flags to watch out for if you're investing in the sharemarket. Making Cents is supported by…
Making CentsSpain, sun, and investing: The real way to move overseas and keep building wealth
Welcome to Making Cents, the podcast for people who want financial freedom without giving up their coffee. I’m Frances Cook, an independent financial…
Making CentsHouse buying negotiation mistakes that cost you thousands (and how to avoid them)
Welcome to Ask the Experts, where each week we talk to people in the industry to get the inside word on what’s happening in the market right now, and what that…
Making CentsThe ultimate first home buyer's guide (NZ edition) - LIVE REPLAY
A special live edition where we look at what is happening with NZ property right now, and what that means for hopeful first home buyers. Whether you're just…
Making CentsThink like a financial journalist: how to research stocks like a pro
Welcome to Making Cents, the podcast for people who want financial freedom without giving up their coffee. I’m Frances Cook, an independent financial…
Making CentsThe investing shift that builds wealth (even in a recession)
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…
Making CentsQuick Hit: Can you mix money and family?
A highlight clip from the February 10th episode, “Viral mortgage hacks debunked: Separating clickbait from real advice”, with Dan Bell, financial adviser and…
Making CentsHow to be "boujee on a budget"
Welcome to Making Cents, the podcast for people who want financial freedom without giving up their coffee. I’m Frances Cook, an independent financial…
Making CentsMaking Cents of the Budget: What KiwiSaver changes mean for you, and could you get a pay rise? LIVE REPLAY
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…
Making CentsWhat the bank wants to know before it approves your mortgage
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…
Making CentsKiwiSaver changes, renters get a break, and should we worry about the brain drain? BONUS episode
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…
Making Cents"You can have it all, but at what cost?" How to beat burnout with Claire Wasserman from Ladies Get Paid
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…
Making CentsFOMO vs financial goals: How to stay focused when everything’s a temptation
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…
Making CentsQuick Hit: The reality behind early retirement
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…
Making CentsHow to negotiate a killer mortgage
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…
Making CentsWhy a moodboard is the secret to mastering your money: LIVE REPLAY
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…
Making CentsRenting doesn't have to suck - how to outsmart the housing market to get the best deal
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…
Making CentsSharyn Casey on quitting the 'dream job'
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…
Making CentsWhen can you crack into your KiwiSaver early?
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…
Making CentsListener mail: Buy your first home or invest? LIVE REPLAY
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…
Making CentsAI vs human mortgage advice: Why 77% now prefer the robot
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…
Making CentsHow to crush your mortgage while rates are low
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…
Making CentsQuick Hit: Mortgage hacks that don't work
A highlight clip from the February 10h episode, “Viral mortgage hacks debunked: Separating clickbait from real advice”, with Dan Bell, financial adviser and…