Making Cents

Frances Cook

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, or investing for financial independence, or starting a new business, these are the ordinary people making the extraordinary possible. On Thursday we have Ask the Experts, where industry insiders answer your questions on the money world. From earning more in your career, to investing, or sticking to a budget, they'll help make money simple. Every now and then you'll get a bonus episode too, but the fun of those is that you never know when they're coming! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  1. 1 DAY AGO

    “We were gifted $100K, how do we not blow it?” Mailbag episode

    A $100,000 gift should feel like freedom, so why does it come with so much pressure? In this Making Cents mailbag episode, a listener writes in after being gifted $100K from family. They’ve got a big mortgage, no savings, and a long wish-list that includes home repairs, maternity leave, and some breathing room in the budget. The question: how do you use a windfall like this without wasting it? Frances Cook talks to Katie Wesney, head strategic coach at EnableMe, about how to turn a one-off gift into long-term financial security. They unpack how to prioritise between paying down the mortgage, building an emergency fund, and improving your home, plus smart ways to use a revolving credit account to keep flexibility while cutting interest. If you’ve ever wondered what to do after receiving a cash gift, inheritance, or bonus, this episode will show you how to make every dollar count, avoid the “easy come, easy go” trap, and set yourself up for the future. If you have a letter you’d like us to answer, send it through to ask@francescook.co.nz and you might feature on our next episode! 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. This podcast was filmed and produced by Fanaticals Video editing & content production by Lana Byrne  Audio engineering by Tash Chittock Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    16 min
  2. 5 NOV

    “I can’t buy a house, is commercial property a better investment?” Mailbag episode

    What if the smartest way to get into property investing isn’t a house at all? That’s the question in this week’s Making Cents mailbag, from a listener who wants to invest but feels locked out of the residential market. With house prices still sky-high in many areas, this listener asks if commercial property could be the secret path to becoming an investor, or if it’s just a riskier bet in disguise. Frances Cook talks to Vanessa Williams from http://Realestate.co.nz about what first-time investors need to know before diving into commercial property. They break down how the commercial property market compares to residential, what really drives returns and risk, and why things like tenant quality, lease length, and economic trends matter far more than location or school zones. This episode shows you how commercial property investing works in New Zealand, what it costs to get started, and whether it could actually be your next move. If you have a letter you’d like us to answer, send it through to ask@francescook.co.nz and you might feature on our next episode! 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. This podcast was filmed and produced by Fanaticals Video editing & content production by Lana Byrne  Audio engineering by Tash Chittock Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    17 min
  3. 29 OCT

    “We’re paying for private school, two dream homes, and we’re out of cash.” Mailbag episode

    On paper, today’s listener has it made. Two multimillion-dollar homes, no mortgage, and investments on the side. But with private-school fees, high living costs, and no full-time second income, the numbers don’t add up. Their savings are shrinking fast, and the stress is rising even faster. In this week’s Ask the Experts, Frances Cook and EnableMe’s head strategic coach Katie Wesney unpack what really causes wealth to feel fragile, even when you’re technically “doing well.” They dig into why cash flow, not just net worth, determines your financial stability, and how to fix a lifestyle that’s quietly burning through your safety net. From whether to sell shares or take out a mortgage again, to tough calls around private school fees and property priorities, this episode gets real about trade-offs, structure, and sustainability. If you’ve ever wondered how people with big assets still end up broke on paper, or you’re feeling the pinch of a high-cost lifestyle yourself, this one’s essential listening. If you have a letter you’d like us to answer, please send it through to ask@francescook.co.nz and you might feature on our next episode! 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. This podcast was filmed and produced by Fanaticals Video editing & content production by Lana Byrne  Audio engineering by Tash Chittock Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    19 min

About

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, or investing for financial independence, or starting a new business, these are the ordinary people making the extraordinary possible. On Thursday we have Ask the Experts, where industry insiders answer your questions on the money world. From earning more in your career, to investing, or sticking to a budget, they'll help make money simple. Every now and then you'll get a bonus episode too, but the fun of those is that you never know when they're coming! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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