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. 3d ago

    Want a Promotion? Make or Save Your Boss Money (A CEO Explains)

    How far you get in your career isn't always down to how hard you work. Sometimes, what you really need is someone in your corner. Sarah Wood left school at 17. Today, she is the CEO of http://realestate.co.nz - New Zealand’s longest-standing property site - and heads a business named our number one small workplace two years running. Sarah Wood joins Frances Cook on Making Cents to share the real-world career moves that get you noticed and promoted. From learning how to make or save a business money to building a personal board of directors and navigating leadership with a family, Sarah shares practical steps to help you back your ambition and step into senior roles. In this episode: The best early career rule: learning how to make a company money or save it moneyWhy understanding commercial numbers matters more than job titlesHow to build a "personal board of directors" to guide your next career stepHow to ask someone for coffee without feeling awkwardVetting workplace culture and team fit during the interview processThe reality of managing a big leadership role alongside three teenagersWhy career mistakes are really just continuous learning Whether you want to move up the ladder, pivot industries, or build the confidence to back your own voice, this episode breaks down practical steps to help you build your career on your own terms. 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 Production and video editing by Lana Byrne Audio engineering by Tash Chittock Filmed by Fanaticals

  2. 6d ago

    Is The Worst Over For NZ? Simplicity’s Sam Stubbs on Housing, NZ Super & More

    The money world feels like it’s falling apart, but underneath the doom and gloom, is New Zealand’s economy actually on the brink of its best 30 years? Between high petrol prices, food bills, and a housing downturn, everyday life feels tough. Yet for the first time in modern history, house prices have dropped 30% in Auckland without dragging the wider economy into a deep recession. We are moving from a country that borrows to an economy that saves and invests - and that changes the game. Sam Stubbs, founder of Simplicity, joins Frances Cook on Making Cents to challenge the story we've been telling ourselves about our money. Sam shares why New Zealand is at a major turning point, how KiwiSaver is quietly transforming our wealth, and the simple shifts we need to make to stop copying a poverty mindset. In this episode: Why Auckland house prices dropped 30% without crashing the economyBorrowing vs investing: why saving our way to prosperity beats debtThe Australia comparison: how a $1 trillion KiwiSaver pool could wipe out our infrastructure deficitWhy KiwiSaver must become compulsory with rising contributionsThe side-pocketing rule: unlocking billions of KiwiSaver funds for local startups and high-growth businessesWhy the best investment you can ever make during tough times is in yourself Whether you are feeling squeezed by the cost of living or wondering where the New Zealand economy is really heading, this episode breaks down what you need to know to take control of your financial future on your own terms.

  3. Oct 29

    NZ Election 2026: What It Means for Your Money. LIVE WEBINAR REPLAY

    Election day is almost here, and money is top of mind for a lot of us. In this special live edition of Making Cents, I’m joined by: Claire Matthews from Massey UniversityMichael Gorin from EnableMeDean Anderson, Founder and CEO of KernelGeorgia Grange, Head of NZ at Revolut We dig into the financial issues on the table, what the parties are promising, and whether those fixes could actually work. KiwiSaver: is the political focus deserved, and what should change as it nears its 20th birthday?The cost of living squeeze: record fuel prices, rising unemployment and inflation, and what you can do now Investing through uncertainty: are there opportunities amid the chaos?Competition in banking and supermarkets: will the proposed policies move the needle?The property market: Auckland’s average price dips under $1m for the first time since 2020, and what a two-speed economy means for building wealth What the politicians are getting right, and the missed opportunities. 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 Follow me everywhere! Facebook / https://www.facebook.com/FrancesCookNZ Instagram / https://www.instagram.com/francescooknz TikTok / https://www.tiktok.com/@francescooknz #MakingCents #FrancesCook #MakingCentsPodcast #InvestingPodcast #MoneyPodcast #FinancialFreedom

  4. Oct 28

    How Much Do You Really Need to Retire in NZ?

    Do you really need $1 million to retire? Scary headlines say so, and that falling short means facing cold, miserable years ahead. But for most people, that massive benchmark is unhelpful, daunting, and causes people to give up before they even start. Katie Wesney, Head Strategic Coach at EnableMe, joins Frances Cook on Making Cents to dismantle the $1 million retirement myth and help you find your actual number. In this episode: The $1 million retirement myth: why one-size-fits-all numbers cause people to freezeFinding your baseline: how to audit three months of bank statements and strip out temporary costsThe cost of kids and mortgages in retirement: why paying down debt early unlocks your planCash flow leaks: how cutting $10,000 of yearly waste saves you $250,000 across retirementSavings vs investing: why KiwiSaver and growth assets are essential to bridge the gapWhy 65 isn't a financial cliff: using investment buckets to keep your money growing 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 Production and video editing by Lana Byrne Audio engineering by Tash Chittock Filmed by Fanaticals

  5. Oct 25

    NZ Food Prices: What The Supermarket Debate Is Missing

    We grow enough food in New Zealand to feed 40 million people - eight times our own population. So why does your weekly grocery bill feel like it’s eating your entire paycheque? Angela Clifford, CEO of Eat New Zealand, joins Frances Cook on Making Cents to unpack why our food model feels broken and how everyday eaters hold the power to fix it. Living on a North Canterbury permaculture farm where her family produces roughly 80% of what they consume, Angela explains why "community sufficiency" beats pure self-reliance, and what simple shifts we can make this week to cut costs and take back control of our food. In this episode: Feeding 40 million vs food insecurity: why a third of Kiwi families are struggling to put food on the tableThe financialisation of food: how a system meant to feed us became focused on shareholder returnsWhy Kiwi farmers are price-takers, not price-makers, and why the current model doesn't work for growers eitherOffshoring our staples: the reality of shipping local fish overseas to be crumbed and sent backWhy fresh food from farmers' markets, local butchers, and green grocers is often cheaper than the supermarketResisting the convenience trap: why frictionless delivery apps and supermarket AI cost you moreHow to "find your food people"Why New Zealand needs a dedicated Food Minister and a national food security strategy Whether you are trying to trim your grocery budget or want to know where your food actually comes from, this episode breaks down practical steps to help you take control of your plate and your money on your own terms. This episode of Making Cents is proudly supported by Odoo. Go to http://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 #MakingCents #FrancesCook #MakingCentsPodcast #InvestingPodcast #MoneyPodcast #FinancialFreedom Production and video editing by Lana Byrne Audio engineering by Tash Chittock Filmed by Fanaticals

  6. Oct 21

    Kiwis Want Time More Than Money: Here’s Why

    What matters more to you, money or time? Nearly half of us would accept getting paid less just to get more time back in our lives. Not more stuff, not a bigger house - just time. Yet in reality, we are getting squeezed on both fronts with less money and less time. New research from Revolut and YouGov shows 44% of Kiwis would take a pay cut for a four-day work week, while six in ten are working overtime - and nearly a third get nothing extra for it. To make matters worse, budgeting and managing money has become the single biggest drain on our free time. Georgia Grange, Chief Operating Officer at Revolut New Zealand, joins Frances Cook on Making Cents to break down how to take back control of our hours. From the generational divide between Gen Z and management to practical automations that kill off the "Sunday scaries," Georgia shares how to simplify your money so you can get your life back. This episode of Making Cents is proudly supported by Revolut, the card and app for everyday spending in NZ, and smarter money on your travels. Use this link https://get.revolut.com/e9Jc/makingcents7 to try them out, spend, and Revolut will give you $40 to get started.* In this episode: - The four-day work week reality: why 44% of Kiwis would trade pay for time - The generational divide: why 65% of young workers want shorter weeks while older bosses hold back - Why overtime and "always-on" digital tools are driving burnout and unpaid work - How budgeting became the #1 free-time drain for 32% of New Zealanders - The Sunday scaries test: why spending hours on spreadsheets is a red flag - How to automate your income, bills, and wealth building so money management takes 10 minutes a week - Using disposable virtual cards and spend limits to kill unwanted subscriptions and overspending - Moving from presenteeism to output: what workplaces need to change Whether you're feeling burnt out by the daily grind or spending way too much of your weekend stuck in spreadsheets, this episode breaks down real, practical steps to help you take control of your time and your money on your own terms. 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 Production and video editing by Lana Byrne Audio engineering by Tash Chittock Filmed by Fanaticals

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!

You Might Also Like