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!

  1. How to invest in silver and gold without getting wrecked, with financial adviser Darcy Ungaro

    HACE 3 DÍAS

    How to invest in silver and gold without getting wrecked, with financial adviser Darcy Ungaro

    Gold and silver prices are booming, and it’s being driven by something deeper: how people are feeling about their money. When trust starts to break down, investors don’t just talk about it, they move their money. Darcy Ungaro, a financial adviser and host of the NZ Everyday Investor, is seeing more New Zealanders actively asking about gold, silver, Bitcoin, and other alternatives. It’s not out of greed, but out of caution. In this episode we talk about: Why gold and silver prices are rising Whether silver is a good investment, or just dangerously volatile The real risks behind the silver price surge (and why it can “rip your face off” if you get it wrong) Gold vs silver: how they behave differently in uncertain markets How to invest in gold and silver ETFs in NZ, versus holding physical metal How to think about allocation, not hype, when markets feel unstable If you’ve been wondering whether gold or silver belongs in your portfolio - or why so many people are suddenly asking the question - this episode will help you make sense of it. Follow me everywhere! Facebook / https://www.facebook.com/FrancesCookNZ Instagram / https://www.instagram.com/francescooknz TikTok / https://www.tiktok.com/@francescooknz Join the Money Memo newsletter for a free weekly money tip in your inbox each week https://www.francescook.co.nz/subscribe This podcast was filmed & produced by Fanaticals Video editing & content production by Lana Byrne Audio engineering by Tash Chittock #MakingCents #FrancesCook #Silver #Gold #Bitcoin #AlternativeInvestments #PreciousMetals #Investment Chapters 00:00:00 Introduction 00:02:09 Meet Darcy Ungaro: financial adviser and everyday investor 00:04:04 The rise in precious metals: what's driving it? 00:15:02 Gold and silver during global instability 00:17:05 Silver: the volatile cousin of gold 00:27:14 Darcy's biggest mistake: trading silver with 50X leverage 00:30:15 Gold vs silver: similarities and differences 00:33:49 Bitcoin as digital gold: does the comparison hold up? 00:41:54 How to allocate: the 80/20 portfolio approach 00:48:03 Where to start: getting into gold and silver without losing your face 00:51:10 Outro

    52 min
  2. "I’m a saver, he’s a spender, how do we get on the same page?" Mailbag episode

    21 ENE

    "I’m a saver, he’s a spender, how do we get on the same page?" Mailbag episode

    Opposites attract, until it comes to money. This week’s listener says she’s a saver, her partner is a spender, and every attempt to “get serious” about their finances ends the same way: frustration, guilt, splurging out of spite, and a plan that falls apart by March. Instead of moving forward, they’re cancelling each other out, and it’s starting to wear them both down. In this Ask the Experts episode, EnableMe head strategic coach Katie Wesney breaks down why saver–spender dynamics are so common, and why money fights are usually about values, security, and behaviour, not just dollars. We talk about: Why saver–spender couples clash, even when they want the same life How different money personalities (savers, spenders, upholders, questioners, rebels) approach rules, goals, and plans Why behaviour matters more than the “perfect” financial strategy How starting with a shared vision changes the conversation Practical systems that reduce friction, including automation and separate “no-questions-asked” spending How couples can use their differences as strengths instead of sabotage If you have a letter you’d like us to answer, please send it through to ask@francescook.co.nz (mailto:ask@francescook.co.nz) and you might feature on our next episode! Follow me everywhere! Facebook / https://www.facebook.com/FrancesCookNZ Instagram / https://www.instagram.com/francescooknz TikTok / https://www.tiktok.com/@francescooknz Join the Money Memo newsletter for a free weekly money tip in your inbox each week https://www.francescook.co.nz/subscribe This podcast was filmed & produced by Fanaticals Video editing & content production by Lana Byrne Audio engineering by Tash Chittock #MakingCents #FrancesCook #SaverVsSpender #CouplesAndMoney #MoneyInRelationships #MoneyPersonalities #MoneyMindset #BudgetingAsACouple #JointAccounts #FinancialAccountability #MortgageTips #PayOffMortgageFaster #FinancialFreedom Chapters 00:00:00 Introduction 00:01:09 Listener letter: opposite money styles 00:01:48 "Money fights aren’t about money” (trust, values, security) 00:03:14 How to start the conversation: vision, numbers, timeframes 00:04:24 Money personality types: saver / shopper / plodder 00:05:34 Gretchen Rubin tendencies: upholder, obliger, questioner, rebel 00:11:08 Saver vs shopper 00:13:24 Systems for couples: joint vs separate money + autonomy 00:15:58 Where to from here? 00:16:19 Outro

    17 min
  3. Olympic psychology that works for your money

    18 ENE

    Olympic psychology that works for your money

    Why do so many smart, motivated people struggle to stick to money goals? You set the intention to save more, invest properly, or finally get organised, and then, a few weeks or months later, it falls apart. It’s not that you don’t care or don’t know what to do. It’s that your mindset and financial habits get in the way. In this episode of Making Cents, financial journalist Frances Cook is joined by Dom Vettise, a clinical and performance psychologist who specialises in helping people move from “pretty good” to world-class performance. Dom has worked in some of the most high-pressure environments imaginable, including with Olympic athletes, New Zealand Rugby, and the All Whites. These people who simply have to perform when the stakes are highest. What’s surprising is how directly that same psychology applies to everyday money decisions. The mental habits that determine whether an athlete performs under pressure are the same ones that shape your financial habits, from sticking to a savings plan, to following an investment strategy, to breaking the cycle of “I’ll start again next month.” In this conversation, we unpack: Why mindset matters more than motivation when it comes to money How stress and pressure sabotage financial decision-making The role of perfectionism in derailing progress Why self-sabotage shows up just as you’re starting to do well Practical ways to take control of your mental habits so your money goals actually stick Follow me everywhere! Facebook / https://www.facebook.com/FrancesCookNZ Instagram / https://www.instagram.com/francescooknz TikTok / https://www.tiktok.com/@francescooknz Join the Money Memo newsletter for a free weekly money tip in your inbox each week https://www.francescook.co.nz/subscribe This podcast was filmed & produced by Fanaticals Video editing & content production by Lana Byrne Audio engineering by Tash Chittock #MakingCents #FrancesCook #Investing #SavingMoney #GoalSetting #Mindset #HighPerformance #SportsPsychology #PerformancePsychology #NewZealand #Olympics Chapters 00:00:00 Introduction 00:02:12 Meet Dom Vittice: from forensics to Olympic psychology 00:03:20 What it's really like working with elite athletes 00:07:26 Success leaves clues: learning from what goes right 00:11:29 The framework: understand me, be me, stay me 00:13:32 Reframing pressure: distress vs eustress 00:16:44 Breathwork and staying present under pressure 00:22:45 Mental filtering and disqualifying the positive 00:24:09 Staying motivated on long-term goals 00:28:54 The MILK reflection tool: memory, improvement, learning, courage 00:31:22 Courage requires fear: normalizing the hard stuff 00:40:56 Radical self-responsibility without self-blame 00:43:57 Self-compassion vs self-criticism in setbacks 00:45:40 ACT framework: acknowledge, calm, towards 00:47:44 The number one skill: attention 00:50:06 Perfectionism and good enough 00:52:28 Outro

    53 min
  4. “I invested 100k by 25 - here’s how” with Jane Joo

    11 ENE

    “I invested 100k by 25 - here’s how” with Jane Joo

    They say that the first $100,000 invested is the hardest milestone, but also most important. Once you’re there, compounding starts to do more of the heavy lifting. But getting there, well, you’ll have to scrap for it. Today’s guest, Jane Joo, reached that milestone by age 25. So how did she actually do it? This episode cuts through the noise to unpack what works in the real world. No trust fund, no extreme deprivation, and no finance degree. Just consistent habits, deliberate choices, and a clear goal. Jane shares how she started investing while still a university student, why she focused on small, regular contributions instead of waiting to feel “ready,” and how she balanced earning more with spending intentionally. We talk about avoiding lifestyle creep, negotiating fixed expenses, side hustles, and what is really took to build her first $100k. We also dig into her investing approach - from early stock picking to a growing preference for index funds - plus the mindset shifts that helped her stay consistent through market ups and downs. Follow me everywhere! Facebook / https://www.facebook.com/FrancesCookNZ Instagram / https://www.instagram.com/francescooknz TikTok / https://www.tiktok.com/@francescooknz Join the Money Memo newsletter for a free weekly money tip in your inbox each week https://www.francescook.co.nz/subscribe This podcast was filmed & produced by Fanaticals Video editing & content production by Lana Byrne Audio engineering by Tash Chittock #MakingCents #FrancesCook #Investing #FinancialFreedom #CompoundInterest #IndexFunds #InvestingForBeginners #MoneyMindset #WealthBuilding #SideHustle #LifestyleCreep #SavingsHacks

    29 min

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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!

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