Making Cents

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 often fails (and what to do...

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 strategies too. In this episode, I t...

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 stint on The Edge, or maybe when 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 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 early, whether it’s for good, or ...

Live replay from a YouTube listener mail question.

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 mone...

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 about a digital helper? An app, tha...

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 get ahead, by putting that new i...

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.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more ...

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 should be doing with your money?&nb...

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 of numbers hold us back from those dr...

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.

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...

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 believe in anymore?

That’s the question that ...

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.

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 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 partnered up with realestate.co.nz, ...

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 gone on a journe...

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 need to know your numbers... but ho...

Retirement Commissioner Jane Wrightson explains some of the biggest money mistakes she sees, and how we can all do something to fix them.

Money can be frustrating, and all of us have had at least once or twice when we’ve wondered, why isn’t someone trying to make this a bit easier for me? Why does it have to feel like such an uphill battle? 

Well, there are actually some people whose job it is to work away behind the sc...

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 Kiwibank, who has kindly leant us their expert fraud specialist Alyssa Charles-Green, and we’re talking about the fraudsters and scammers who want to get you, and how you can bea...