Making Cents

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 across much of the country. So ...

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 matter most.

Now? He works part...

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 Depositor Compensation Scheme. W...

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 Zealand’s property market.

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 overpaying on bills, with simple ...

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, and way too easy to shove...

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 without giving up their coffee.

I’m Frances Cook, a financial journalist and fellow financial freedom seeker who makes money simple for you.

Today we’re diving into “rentvesting”, the strategy where you rent in the lifestyle location you love, and invest in property somewhe...

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 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.

Pocket money seems simple, but it can actually be one of the most powerful tools to shape a child’s long-term relationship with mo...

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 prices are down, and how to get the best mortgage rate.

Links

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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.

Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies are no longer just for tech bros and Reddit threads. As crypto edges closer to the mainstream, new ways to invest are opening up, including through fully regulated, tax...

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 mos...

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...

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 doe...

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 go...

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 ...

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...