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. 14H AGO

    After Financial Freedom: A Year Off & A Career Reboot

    What would it take to quit your job, take your kids out of school, and spend a year travelling Australia in a caravan? For Kellie Dawson, it took years of careful planning, property investing, budgeting, and building enough financial freedom to press pause on normal life and ask a bigger question: what do we actually want? In this episode, Kellie shares: - how they planned a year of family travel around Australia - what financial freedom means to them in real life - how they used property investing helped build financial freedom - why they came home rethinking money, careers, and what matters most If you’ve ever dreamed of quitting the grind, creating passive income, travelling with your family, or building financial independence in a way that supports your real life, 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 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

    48 min
  2. 4D 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
  3. MAR 8

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

    MAR 4

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

    MAR 1

    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

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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