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. Buying a house is one of the biggest financial commitments most people ever make, and unless you’re one of the lucky few born into millions, chances are you’ll need a mortgage to do it. But here’s the part most people don’t realise: how you structure that mortgage can be the diff...
Jul 09, 2025•16 min
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 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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information....
Jul 08, 2025•9 min
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 entire budget, and for many Kiwis, it already has. In this episode of Making Cents, I’m joined by Chef Alice Taylor, the force behind @AliceTaylorEats, whose cheap, delicious, and realistic recipes have built a devoted following online. She’s also furious about how hard it’s become just to feed yourself well, and she’s doing something abo...
Jul 06, 2025•48 min
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 tactics that you should use to make the most of your money. Here’s a wild stat to kick things off: almost one in three New Zealanders have accidentally bought a house. Not just wealthy investors, we're talking first-home buyers too. So how on earth does that happen? And what does it tell us about the current New Zealand housing market, pro...
Jul 02, 2025•18 min
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 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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information....
Jul 01, 2025•4 min
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. Has the world gone mad, and is that why gold prices are hitting record highs? With inflation, war, and market instability making headlines, more people are asking the same question: Should I be investing in gold? It’s the classic “safe haven” asset. But is it actually sa...
Jun 29, 2025•24 min
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 prices, KiwiSaver balances, inflation pressure, and economic growth could all be impacted. What does this mean for your money? Host Frances Cook is joined by top financial minds to unpack what’s happening and what you can do about it: Jarrod Kerr, chief economist at Kiwibank Michael Gorin, wealth adviser at AdviceFirst Gareth Kiernan, chief...
Jun 26, 2025•46 min
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. I’m sure you’ve heard this one before: that you need to do everything possible to buy a house, right now, as soon as possible, because rent is dead money and you are falling behind every single day that you don’t own your own home. But is that true? Not necessarily. There’s a lot...
Jun 25, 2025•14 min
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 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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information....
Jun 24, 2025•8 min
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. If your hair really bothered you, to the point where you thought about it all the time, would you spend $20,000 on a permanent fix? Today’s guest did exactly that. And not only does he say it was worth it, he also says it was a good financial decision. That’s a bold clai...
Jun 22, 2025•44 min
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. Here’s a scary stat for you: there’s research that shows your money personality is already set, done, dusted, by the time you’re seven. Seven! That’s well before most parents start talking to their kids about money — let alone teaching them how to save, budget, or understand the ...
Jun 18, 2025•17 min
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 be investing in gold at a time like this? 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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information....
Jun 17, 2025•12 min
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. You’ll definitely recognise the name of today’s guest - Jay-Jay Feeney, who was on the airwaves across New Zealand for 33 years. A radio career that many would kill for, except she decided to chuck it all in, and launch a business instead. Taking all of that radio knowle...
Jun 15, 2025•51 min
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. Here’s a horrifying stat: economist Shamubeel Eaqub crunched the numbers and found that single people spend 14% more than couples. In some categories, it’s even worse. Housing? 53% more. Healthcare? 40% more. That’s not avocado toast. That’s basic survival. This episode is all ab...
Jun 11, 2025•18 min
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 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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information....
Jun 10, 2025•10 min
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. This episode is for anyone torn between living life and staying smart with money. Because you don’t have to choose just one. When Mireia Muller-Pallares decided to leave her 9–5 and move to Spain, she wasn’t willing to blow her savings or give up on her future goals. So ...
Jun 08, 2025•55 min
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Jun 05, 2025•10 min
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 means for the strategies you should use to make the most of your money. If you’re a first home buyer or property investor, you already know the stakes: house prices are high, and competition is fierce. We’ve recently covered how to get mortgage-ready and what to look for in a property, but today, we’re diving into the part that could lite...
Jun 04, 2025•19 min
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 starting to save or already scrolling property listings, this live expert panel has the insider tips you need to get in the door faster. Mortgage advisor Claire Williamson (My Mortgage) and Vanessa Williams (realestate.co.nz) join Frances Cook on Making Cents to break down everything first home buyers need to know, including: Where to buy in...
Jun 03, 2025•54 min
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. When it comes to investing, one question tops my inbox: how do you actually figure out if a company is worth your money? In this episode, we dive deep into how financial journalists read company financials, and the tactics retail investors can borrow to make smarter, mor...
Jun 01, 2025•46 min
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. The money world has been all over the place recently. While it does often like to keep us on our toes, recently, it's been even more than usual. Interest rates are heading down (yay!) but there are talks of recession (boo!) and the sharemarket is all over the place to say the lea...
May 28, 2025•16 min
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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information....
May 27, 2025•10 min
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 weekend getaway? Suddenly off the table. But what if you could still enjoy the good life, without wre...
May 25, 2025•47 min
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 actually mean for your pay and your future - Whether it’s still worth contributing (especially if you’re s...
May 22, 2025•50 min
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 is too important to fail. So what are mortgage lenders actually looking for? What red flags make the...
May 21, 2025•23 min
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 free weekly money tip in your inbox each week. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more info...
May 19, 2025•12 min
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. Imagine you’re the one people come to for career advice. A coach helping women land promotions, neg...
May 18, 2025•1 hr 6 min
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 to get distracted from your long-term financial goals. Never mind the locked in spending like groceri...
May 14, 2025•17 min
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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information....
May 13, 2025•11 min
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 money simple for you. Buying a house is one of the biggest financial moves most of us will ever make. Bu...
May 11, 2025•58 min
