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. 6H AGO

    How to eat better food, spend less, and feel good about it - with Michal Garvey from Foodprint

    You can cancel subscriptions, ditch takeaway coffee, and trim your budget… but you still have to eat. And the way most of us shop for food? It’s costing us more than it should. In this episode of Making Cents, Frances Cook talks to Michal Garvey, founder of Foodprint, the app that’s redirected millions of dollars’ worth of surplus food from cafés and restaurants into the hands of everyday Kiwis, at a fraction of the price. But this isn’t just about cheaper meals. Michal shares a different way to think about food, money, and the cost of living, including the common food budgeting mistake most people don’t realise they’re making, and why it’s leaving money on the table. We also get into the link between your grocery bill and the survival of small businesses, how much food cafés are actually throwing away each year, and what that waste is really costing them. Not to mention, what all of this says about New Zealand’s food system, supply chains, and long-term food security? If you want to spend less on food, eat well, and understand what’s really driving food prices, this episode is for you. In this episode, we cover: How to save money on food without cutting qualityThe biggest food budgeting mistake most people makeHow surplus food apps like Foodprint workWhy cafés throw away so much food (and what it costs them)The link between cost of living and small business pressureWhat’s really going on with food supply and security in New Zealand 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

    47 min
  2. 4D AGO

    I Spent $89,000 on Solar And Electric Car In NZ… Was It Worth It?

    I spent $89,000 on solar power and an electric car… and it has a better return on investment than the sharemarket. With electricity prices rising fast, more Kiwis are asking whether solar panels, home batteries, and electric vehicles are worth it. So in this episode of the Making Cents podcast, I break down exactly what happened when I overhauled my home energy setup, including the real costs, the savings, and whether solar power in New Zealand actually stacks up financially. In this episode, we cover: The true cost of installing solar panels and a home battery in NZHow much I’m saving on power (and why my bills are sometimes negative)Whether solar can actually make you money, or just save itHow green loans (as low as 0–1%) can change the investment mathsWhy timing your power usage matters more than selling it back to the gridHow to do this cheaper and smarter than I did Plus, the practical realities, from power price trends to choosing the right system, avoiding common traps, and figuring out if solar is right for your home. This isn’t a “go green” pitch. It’s a real-world breakdown of whether solar and EVs are a good financial decision, and how to make the numbers work in your favour. If you’re trying to cut rising power costs, invest smarter, or future-proof your household expenses, this episode gives you the data and strategy to decide. 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

    30 min
  3. MAR 29

    From $30,000 Debt to Financially Free and Travelling the World: The Shift That Changed Everything

    Emma Healey knows about financial transformation - she went from debt and financial stress to building passive income, investing, and designing a life that includes long-term family travel and early retirement goals. Now known for her practical money advice at mumsmoney.co.nz, Emma didn’t get there through deprivation. Instead, she used behavioural finance strategies, including gamifying her debt payoff, to stay consistent and motivated. In this conversation, she explains how she: Paid off $30,000 of debt using the debt snowball methodRewired her spending habits by replacing the dopamine hit of spending with savingBuilt savings and started investing, even on a modest incomeTransitioned from property investing to shares and index fundsDesigned a values-based money system that prioritises travel, family, and flexibility Once the debt was gone, everything changed, not just financially, but mentally. Structure created freedom, and financial control opened up options. That’s how Emma and her family were able to spend a year travelling through Europe, the US, and Southeast Asia, funded not by endless sacrifice, but by intentional money decisions. 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

    40 min
  4. MAR 25

    "Is Politics About To Ruin My First Home Buying Plans?" - Mailbag Episode

    Is politics about to derail your house buying plans? With an election looming, talk of capital gains taxes, housing policy changes, and the possibility of government interference is everywhere. And if you’re trying to buy your first home, it’s enough to make you wonder… should you rush in, or wait it out? In this episode of Ask the Experts, Frances Cook is joined by Vanessa Williams from http://realestate.co.nz to cut through the noise and focus on what actually matters. We’re talking: what election years have historically meant for the property marketwhy uncertainty can stall buyers (and when that can backfire),what’s really happening in the property market right now, from supply levels to buyer behaviourand what political announcements you should keep an eye on, because they could truly move the market. Plus, the key policy changes worth paying attention to (and the ones that are mostly just headlines), including KiwiSaver rules, lending restrictions, and what a capital gains tax could realistically mean. If you have a letter you’d like us to answer, please send it through to 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 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

    18 min
  5. MAR 22

    Supermarket Tricks, Insurance Hacks & Subscription Traps: How to Stop Overpaying

    Why does it feel like you’re always spending more than you meant to? No, you’re not imagining it. Modern consumer life is full of supermarket tricks, subscription traps, hidden fees, dark patterns, and pricing tactics designed to get more money out of you. Luckily Consumer senior investigative journalist Chris Schulz knows all the psychological tricks companies use to drive overspending, and the practical ways you can fight back. From supermarket layouts and loyalty pricing, to hard-to-cancel subscriptions, hidden online fees, insurance costs, and power bills, this episode breaks down why saving money now can feel like a full-time job, and where you can actually make real gains. We’re talking: what “dark patterns” are, and how online shopping traps you into spending morehow subscription traps and hard-to-cancel services cost you moneythe best ways to compare supermarket prices and cut your grocery billhow to review your insurance and avoid overpayingwhy almost everyone could save money on their power bill 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

    40 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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