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. Sell Your Home At A $250k Loss Or Stay Miserable?

    1 DAY AGO

    Sell Your Home At A $250k Loss Or Stay Miserable?

    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 Chapters 00:00:00 Introduction 00:01:12 Listener letter: bought at the peak, now stuck 00:03:43 How common is this situation? 00:07:47 First steps: get a realistic valuation 00:08:33 Talk to a mortgage advisor or financial advisor 00:09:15 Could you wait it out? Considering 2026 00:09:57 Creative options: students, Airbnb, and short-term solutions 00:11:49 What if you've lost your deposit? 00:13:33 The power of having a plan 00:15:05 Outro

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

    4 DAYS AGO

    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  Chapters 00:00:00 Introduction 00:02:38 Meet Dileepa Fonseka: tracking the winds of change in property 00:03:12 The land myth: why property prices can't rise forever 00:05:50 The COVID property mania and the crash that followed 00:17:10 Is there a ceiling on house prices? 00:06:48 The political shift: capital gains tax enters the conversation 00:10:17 From share market skeptics to everyday investors 00:23:35 The rise of accessible investing: apps, Kiwisaver, and the new generation 00:26:04 Property's hidden costs: climate change, insurance, and rising rates 00:28:13 Election year battlegrounds: where is money going next? 00:31:36 Outro

    33 min
  3. How To Get Ahead In NZ Without Earning More

    18 FEB

    How To Get Ahead In NZ Without Earning More

    What if you genuinely can’t earn more? Are you stuck financially? In this Ask the Experts mailbag episode of Making Cents, we tackle a question that so many teachers, nurses, and public sector workers quietly wrestle with: what do you do when your income is capped? Today’s letter writer is a teacher. She’s hearing the usual advice, to “earn more”, “start a side hustle”, “increase your income”, but her reality is strict salary bands, long hours, and family commitments. So if climbing the income ladder isn’t straightforward, what’s the next best move? In the hot seat is Kristin Sutherland, financial advisor at EnableMe, and we break this down properly: – Are you really “stuck” in a capped-income career, or is there more wiggle room than it feels like? – If a pay rise isn’t coming anytime soon, what should you focus on instead? Investing, spending strategy, debt reduction, or something else? – Does investing still make sense when your income is flat? – How to think strategically about promotions, specialisation, or changing employers – Whether side hustles are worth it (and how to avoid burnout) – Navigating relationship dynamics when one partner is aggressively pursuing higher income and the other offers stability Listen now to learn how to move forward — even when your income doesn’t. 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

    24 min
  4. How Everyday Kiwis Can Become Financially Free with Bronwyn Candish

    15 FEB

    How Everyday Kiwis Can Become Financially Free with Bronwyn Candish

    If you want the truth about retiring early as a regular person, it doesn’t come from highlight reels or motivational posts. It comes from the numbers. When you strip away the vibes, hacks, and hot takes, the numbers show what actually works, what doesn’t, and how real people build passive income that gives them real choice over their time. That’s where Bronwyn Candish comes in. Bronwyn is a chartered accountant who specialises in working with everyday people who want to retire early. It’s not the theory of it, but the messy, real-life version. By digging into people’s finances, she sees the patterns others miss: the spending leaks, the mindset traps, and the systems that move the needle over time. In this episode, Bronwyn shares what she’s seen behind the scenes, including the common mistakes that hold people back, the simple tactics that actually stick, and why automation beats motivation every time. She’s not just advising from the sidelines either. Bronwyn is building her own retire-early plan, using the same investing strategies, income levers, and intentional spending choices she recommends to her clients. This is a grounded, honest look at how normal people really make progress, from passive income through shares, to optimising KiwiSaver, to getting your partner on the same page, and using community as a secret weapon. 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 #FinancialIndependence #FIREmovement #PassiveInvesting #PassiveIncome #FIRE #RetireEarly #Retirement Chapters 00:00:00 Introduction 00:02:32 Meet Bronwyn: the accountant for people pursuing financial independence 00:05:14 Bronwyn's financial independence journey: divorce, debt, and discovery 00:07:23 COVID, parenthood, and purchasing a practice 00:09:10 Who Bronwyn works with: from lazy balance sheets to FIRE enthusiasts 00:13:00 Is financial independence accessible for normal people? 00:14:43 Best tactics for regular people: business as a bank account and expense awareness 00:15:45 The power of increasing income and self-employment 00:18:48 Black Friday: building community and brainwashing partners 00:27:23 Bronwyn's personal tactics: index funds, automation, and intentional spending 00:30:00 Mindset shifts: from deprivation to appreciation 00:33:45 The debt-free journey and the power of teamwork 00:35:50 Advice for skeptics and where to find Bronwyn

    39 min
  5. The 4 money personalities that shape how you save, spend, and fight about money

    11 FEB

    The 4 money personalities that shape how you save, spend, and fight about money

    Money fights aren’t really about money. They’re about expectations, and how differently we respond to them. In this episode of Making Cents, I’m breaking down the four money personalities that shape how you save, spend, budget, and argue about money. Get ready to finally understand why financial advice works brilliantly for some people and completely falls apart for others. Based on Gretchen Rubin’s Four Tendencies framework, these personalities explain why: You can know what to do with your money… and still not do it Your partner’s approach makes perfect sense to them, but drives you mad Discipline isn’t the issue, but mismatched systems are. You’ll learn how the Upholder, Questioner, Obliger, and Rebel money personalities actually behave with money, where each one thrives, where it goes wrong, and what strategies genuinely work for each type. We also dig into how different money personalities clash (and connect) in relationships. Why money is such a common source of tension, and how to design shared systems that don’t leave one person feeling controlled, rushed, unsupported, or sabotaged. 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 #moneypersonality #moneymindset #financialpsychology #financialfreedom #FourTendencies #Upholder #Questioner #Obliger #Rebel Chapters 00:00:00 Introduction 00:03:11 The upholder: the goody two shoes who follow all the rules 00:05:58 The questioner: research everything, customize everything 00:10:54 The obliger: brilliant for others, terrible at prioritizing themselves 00:13:51 The rebel: identity over obligations 00:17:33 Why most money advice is written for upholders 00:18:27 Money personalities in relationships: why couples fight about expectations 00:20:49 Wrapping up: stop fighting yourself and design systems that fit 00:21:08 Outro

    22 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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