Making Cents

A listener letter asks if you can really find an undervalued suburb, or is it all luck?

Host Frances Cook is joined by Vanessa Williams from http://realestate.co.nz to unpack whether you can actually spot an up-and-coming suburb before it booms.

Sure, one clever buy could mean your net worth booms, but how do you play that game to win?

This episode digs into:

• How to use real estate data to compare suburbs and spot growt...

We all like to think we’re making smart money decisions… but half the time it’s actually our unconscious brain calling the shots.

The result? Accidental self-sabotage, money guilt, and financial myths that keep us stuck.

In this episode of Making Cents, Frances Cook is joined by financial coach and commentator Amanda Morrall to bust the biggest money myths holding people back, and show how to break free.

We dig into:

• Why mo...

"Financial flashpoints" are the moments that can take over you subconscious, and quietly derail the best of money plans. They can push smart people, to make some bad choices.

Frances Cook talks to the TVNZ Breakfast team about how to spot them, and stop them taking over.

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.

Old vs new: Which property strategy builds more wealth?

When you're deciding whether to buy a house or build one, you're not just choosing a home, you're making one of the biggest financial decisions of your life.

In this Ask the Experts episode of Making Cents, financial journalist Frances Cook is joined by Kirsty Healey from EnableMe to unpack the pros and cons of buying an existing home vs building new. And importantly, wh...

What really happens when you burn everything down and start over in your late 30s?

In this episode of Making Cents, Frances Cook shares the raw reality of leaving a high-profile media job, building a business from scratch, and creating financial freedom on her own terms.

This episode dives into the money lessons, business mistakes, and mindset shifts that come with starting over later in life.

From learning how to begin im...

Buying a house in New Zealand? Don’t get caught out by hidden costs.

In this episode of Ask the Experts, we reveal the true cost of buying a home, beyond the sale price.

From legal fees to building inspections or surprise repair bills, these are the extra expenses that can seriously derail your property plans if you’re not prepared.

We break down the most common hidden costs that first home buyers overlook, how much they t...

Think shares are too risky or too complicated? Think again.

In this live webinar, Frances Cook is joined by Ruth Henderson from The Happy Saver, independent financial journalist and founder of The Bottom Line, Paul McBeth, and Dean Anderson, founder of investing platform Kernel.

Together they’re going to break down how investing really works, without the jargon, hype, or Wall Street bros.

You’ll learn:

- Why the sharem...

Most of us don’t just make money mistakes, we repeat them.

Why? Because our money beliefs and money psychology are quietly running the show.

In this episode of Making Cents, financial journalist Frances Cook dives into how financial self-sabotage happens, with guest Nick Alcock, a tax debt coach and chartered accountant who uses financial therapy techniques.

From compulsive buying and gambling, to financial enabling, money...

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.

If you’re thinking about property investment, there’s one word that always comes up - leverage.

It’s the strategy of using your home’s value to invest into something else, usually more property.

When it wor...

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 achieve financial independen...

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 each week.

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 Greaves, General Manager of Bus...

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 (and can’t) do for you, how ...

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.

Host...

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-term savings.

Whether you...

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 Making Cents, financial jo...

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 value, and which ones are a total...

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 actually work in today’s ec...

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 that make life fun.

We’ll tal...