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. 18 HR AGO

    NZ Money Advice That Sounds Smart But Ruins Your Life

    Some of the most praised money advice is also some of the worst - depending on your stage of life. Buy a house as soon as possible. Never sell an investment. Stop wasting money on coffee, drinks, and fun. Always chase the biggest return. Always chase the next pay rise. Sounds responsible, right? Except real life is messier than that. And if you follow these rules too blindly, you can end up making your life smaller, more stressful, and sometimes even worse financially. In this episode of Making Cents, Frances Cook breaks down 7 “bad” money decisions that can actually be smart, depending on your goals, your lifestyle, and the season of life you’re in. From renting instead of buying, to paying for childcare, outsourcing chores, switching careers, selling investments that are ruining your sleep, and keeping cash on hand instead of forcing every dollar into growth, this is a myth-busting episode about building wealth without losing the plot. Because being good with money is not about hoarding cash and never enjoying your life. It’s about using money to build a life you actually want. 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 Become a confident sharemarket investor by signing up to the Market Memo newsletter https://www.francescook.co.nz/invest #MakingCents #FrancesCook #MakingCentsPodcast #InvestingPodcast #MoneyPodcast #FinancialFreedom This podcast was filmed & produced by Fanaticals Video editing & content production by Lana Byrne Audio engineering by Tash Chittock

    24 min
  2. 3 DAYS AGO

    These Investing Mistakes Cost Kiwis Millions, with Glen James

    Investing can transform your financial future, but many avoid starting because it’s too intimidating. Markets go up and down, there’s endless advice online, and the fear of making a costly mistake keeps many stuck on the sidelines for years. So what actually goes wrong when people start investing? And more importantly, how do you avoid those traps? Author, and host of the Money Money Money podcast Glen James is on the podcast to break down the biggest investing mistakes beginners make, and the simple systems that help you build wealth over time. Glen calls himself a “reformed spender” who had to learn money the hard way. From losing money on risky penny stocks as a teenager to building a disciplined investing strategy using index funds and automation, he shares the real lessons that helped him become a smarter investor. In this episode you’ll learn: The biggest investing mistakes beginners makeWhy waiting for the “perfect time” can cost you thousandsHow to start investing even if you’re nervousThe power of diversification and index fundsWhy systems and automation make investing easier This episode of Making Cents is proudly supported by Odoo. Go to https://www.odoo.com/r/hpl now and try it for free, for 15 days. 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 Become a confident sharemarket investor by signing up to the Market Memo newsletter https://www.francescook.co.nz/invest

    38 min
  3. NZ Investment Planning: How to Invest A Lump Sum in Your 50s

    4 MAR

    NZ Investment Planning: How to Invest A Lump Sum in Your 50s

    Losing a partner is devastating. Then on top of the grief, there’s paperwork, big life changes, and financial decisions that feel urgent and overwhelming. In this episode of Ask the Experts, we’re answering a listener question from a woman in her early 50s who recently lost her husband. They had just finished putting their kids through school and were about to ramp up retirement savings. Instead, she’s now navigating life solo, with a $500,000 lump sum from a payout and the sale of the family home. Will White from Heartland Bank is in the Expert hot seat, ready to talk through: Where to start when you’re grieving and facing big financial decisionsKiwiSaver vs managed funds – the pros, cons, and access rulesHow to think about timeframes when retirement is 10–15 years awayBuilding a safety buffer before you investRisk tolerance, and how grief and life changes can affect how much volatility you can handle 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 #MakingCentsPodcast #Investing #MoneyPodcast #FinancialFreedom Chapters00:00:00 Introduction00:00:56 The letter: navigating grief and sudden financial responsibility00:01:50 Don't rush: give yourself time to grieve and think clearly00:02:28 Diversification matters: don't put all your eggs in one basket00:05:30 Short, medium, and long-term priorities: working backwards from retirement00:07:41 Investing in your 50s: you can't afford too many market shocks00:08:36 Get a financial advisor: half a million dollars deserves professional advice00:09:24 Emotional safeguards: when are you ready to make big decisions?00:12:09 Invest in your mental well-being too: grief counseling is just as important00:13:39 Wrapping up: take your time and lean on support

    14 min
  4. NZ Career Survival Guide 2026: How to Get Paid More In A Bad Economy

    1 MAR

    NZ Career Survival Guide 2026: How to Get Paid More In A Bad Economy

    When you’re working hard, ticking the boxes, doing everything “right”, yet still not getting the promotion or pay rise? It’s easy to feel stuck. You’re not imagining it. New Zealand’s job market has cooled. Job listings are down. Businesses are cautious. Pay rises are harder to secure. Career progression can feel slower. But when things get tight, that’s when strategy matters the most. Enter Jarrod Haar, Professor of Management and Māori Business at Massey University, to tell us what actually works when you want to earn more, get promoted, or completely reinvent your career. If you’ve been wondering: “How do I get a pay rise in this economy?” “Is it time to change jobs?” “Do I need more qualifications to earn more money?” “How can I reinvent my career without starting over?” This episode is for you. This episode of Making Cents is proudly supported by Odoo. Go to https://www.odoo.com/r/hpl now and try it for free, for 15 days. 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 #MakingCentsPodcast #InvestingPodcast #MoneyPodcast #FinancialFreedom Chapters00:00:00 Introduction00:02:35 Meet Jarrod: Professor of Management on the state of burnout00:06:13 The post-COVID hangover: why the job market feels so tough right now00:07:44 Start with what you can control: upskilling and staying relevant00:09:40 Social capital: why being a nice person actually pays off00:19:17 Should you stay or should you go? Voting with your feet00:21:51 The power of saying yes: building skills through work experience00:24:35 The skills that matter across industries: human connection over credentials00:29:22 Future-proofing your career: keep your finger on the pulse00:34:07 Wrapping up: hustle smarter, not just harder

    35 min
  5. "Our house value dropped $250k - should we sell anyway?" Mailbag episode

    25 FEB

    "Our house value dropped $250k - should we sell anyway?" Mailbag episode

    What do you do when you’re stuck between two bad options? Sell a home you bought near the peak of the market, even though it’s now worth hundreds of thousands less, or stay put in a house that no longer fits your life? That’s the dilemma facing this week’s listener. They bought in late 2020, welcomed kids, watched their house value fall by around $250,000, and now feel trapped: too much mortgage pressure, not enough flexibility, and no clear “right” move. Vanessa Williams from realestate.co.nz is in the expert hot seat, to tell us about the shocking number of New Zealanders in this situation, and what they can do about it. We talk about: What selling in a down housing market really means for your money Whether holding on longer could help, or just prolong the stress How life changes (kids, cashflow, burnout) should factor into property decisions Why feeling “stuck” is common, and how a clear plan can restore control If you’re weighing up sell or stay, worried about selling your house at a loss, or feeling trapped by a house that no longer works for your family or finances, this episode has the tactics you need to be thinking about. 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 #NZProperty #WellingtonRealEstate #NZHousingMarket #HousePrices #NegativeEquity #LowEquity #SellOrStay #propertyadvice Chapters00:00:00 Introduction00:01:12 Listener letter: bought at the peak, now stuck00:03:43 How common is this situation?00:07:47 First steps: get a realistic valuation00:08:33 Talk to a mortgage advisor or financial advisor00:09:15 Could you wait it out? Considering 202600:09:57 Creative options: students, Airbnb, and short-term solutions00:11:49 What if you've lost your deposit?00:13:33 The power of having a plan00:15:05 Outro

    16 min
  6. Is the age of property investment over?

    22 FEB

    Is the age of property investment over?

    For decades in New Zealand, property wasn’t just an investment, it was THE investment. The safest bet. The biggest capital gains. Often tax-advantaged. And for many households, the clearest path to building long-term wealth. But that narrative is starting to shift. House prices remain high. Debt is expensive. And a growing number of New Zealanders are questioning whether residential property is still the best way to build wealth. In this episode of Making Cents, Frances Cook speaks with BusinessDesk journalist Dileepa Fonseka about New Zealand’s housing market, property prices, and long-term investment trends. Together, they explore whether New Zealand’s decades-long property obsession is beginning to crack. Why has property been such a dominant wealth-builder in NZ for so long? Are we reaching a ceiling on house price growth? Is this just a market cycle, or a structural turning point? If you’ve ever wondered whether buying property is still the smartest investment strategy, or whether it’s time to rethink the traditional path to wealth, this conversation will challenge your assumptions. 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  Chapters00:00:00 Introduction00:02:38 Meet Dileepa Fonseka: tracking the winds of change in property00:03:12 The land myth: why property prices can't rise forever00:05:50 The COVID property mania and the crash that followed00:17:10 Is there a ceiling on house prices?00:06:48 The political shift: capital gains tax enters the conversation00:10:17 From share market skeptics to everyday investors00:23:35 The rise of accessible investing: apps, Kiwisaver, and the new generation00:26:04 Property's hidden costs: climate change, insurance, and rising rates00:28:13 Election year battlegrounds: where is money going next?00:31:36 Outro

    33 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!

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