Making Cents

With the election ramping up, promises to change KiwiSaver are flying thick and fast. Time to break down what each party is suggesting, what the experts think is missing from the debate, and what it could all mean for your retirement savings. 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

With petrol prices spiking to record highs, hitting $3.52 a litre, switching to an electric or hybrid car can look like the ultimate way to wipe out a massive daily living cost. But is it actually the right financial move for your lifestyle, or could hidden ownership costs end up costing you more? Financial journalist Frances Cook breaks down the real numbers on petrol, hybrid, and fully electric cars. From real-world running costs and road user charges to battery lifespan facts and a brutal warning on vehicle depreciation, Frances shares the exact maths you need to know before making a move. In this episode: The real cost to charge an EV: running the numbers on off-peak power vs $3/litre petrol Factoring in NZ Road User Charges: what EV driving actually costs per 450km The hybrid trap EV insurance and servicing costs: the trade-off between higher premiums and lower maintenance Will the battery die and bankrupt you? Real-world data on EV battery degradation and warranties The depreciation rule: why buying a…

Election season is here, and every political party is lining up to promise fixes for your wallet. But behind the political promises on KiwiSaver, grocery prices, and power bills, are any of their proposed solutions actually going to fix the real problems? Independent financial journalist and founder of The Kaka, Bernard Hickey, joins Frances Cook on Making Cents to pull back the curtain on the economic realities facing New Zealand. From the truth about making KiwiSaver compulsory to why a food-producing nation has a million people relying on food banks, Bernard breaks down the big structural flaws and the radical changes needed to actually move the dial. In this episode: Why making KiwiSaver compulsory without tax breaks is effectively a tax on everyday workers The overseas investment problem: why 60% of KiwiSaver funds head offshore instead of building NZ infrastructure The first-home buyer dilemma: why using KiwiSaver as a deposit fund pumps up house prices How Australia built the world’s third-largest…

While global sharemarkets are booming, New Zealand is sitting quietly near the bottom of the table. I break down why our market is built differently, what that means for your returns, and how to think about whether you should be investing here or looking overseas. 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

AI can build you a full financial plan in 30 seconds flat, but what happens when that plan meets the real world? Chatbots sound confident, use big words, and can make you feel completely sorted with your money. But generic tools don't know what questions to ask, often affirm whatever you tell them, and can easily ignore massive blind spots like debt, emergency buffers, or market risk. Katie Wesney from EnableMe joins Frances Cook on Ask the Experts to break down the reality of running your finances through AI. Together, they look at where AI tools are genuinely helpful, where they act as an overconfident trap, and how to stress test your money plan so it survives bad weather. This episode covers: The danger of AI financial plans: why "garbage in, garbage out" leaves out debt and bad assumptions Why AI chatbots are designed to be agreeable, and why that makes them terrible financial advisers The real difference between feeling confident and actually being financially prepared The foundational numbers AI…

There’s a new person setting the rules for our retirement savings, so are we going to see changes for KiwiSaver? David Boyle has just stepped in as New Zealand’s Retirement Commissioner, bringing decades of experience helping people navigate wealth, funds management, and financial education. He joins Frances Cook on Making Cents to break down what’s really working, what’s broken, and where our retirement policy needs to go next. From the hidden trap of hiking contribution rates to why simple consistency beats chasing the "perfect" fund, David shares the practical tools and honest insights everyday Kiwis need to build a nest egg they can genuinely rely on. In this episode: Why KiwiSaver hardship withdrawals have tripled in five years The launch of the Buffer Builder Why increasing contribution rates could actually hurt lower-income earners Where KiwiSaver fails: contractors, sole traders, and bridging the gender retirement gap Can we actually rely on NZ Super in the future? Regularity vs perfection: the #1…

Frances Cook joins the TVNZ Breakfast team to bust the mortgage myths that are putting people off buying a home, from the 20% deposit rule to whether your Uber Eats habit will tank your application. 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

If you have ever felt like the world is designed to drain your bank account, you are not imagining it. Online shopping and digital services are full of sneaky money traps - known as dark patterns - built to make spending effortless and canceling nearly impossible. This week on Ask the Experts, Jan Verberne, Senior Legal Counsel at Revolut, pulls back the curtain on how these manipulative online checkout tactics work and the exact tools you can use to outsmart them. 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.* This episode covers: What dark patterns are and how online retailers use them to manipulate your spending How to escape subscription traps, cancel free trials, and avoid forced cancellation phone calls The hidden cost of drip pricing and checkout fee sneakiness How foreign…

When the job market feels completely stuck, what if you could create your own job by owning a business? And instead of starting from scratch and hoping it works, what if you bought an established business with a proven track record? Buying a business isn't just buying yourself a job - run properly, it’s an asset you can grow, earn from, and eventually sell. Jess Shaw, Director of Vesta Finance joins Frances Cook on Making Sense to break down how everyday people can buy a business like an asset class. From borrowing options that don’t require a million dollars in cash to red flags in business and knowing what to look for under the hood, Jess shares the practical tools you need to take the leap. In this episode: Buying a business vs starting from scratch How to view a business as an asset class rather than just an income How to fund a business purchase Why you don’t need $1 million in cash to buy a $1 million business The "build your own boardroom" rule: the four key experts you need on your side The hidden…

Frances Cook and Lighthouse Financial wealth director James Blair dig into values based spending, and how to create a financial plan that isn't about hoarding cash but about making sure your money is working toward the life you actually want, now and in the future. 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

Time for a raw, unfiltered Ask Me Anything episode of Making Cents! Financial journalist Frances Cook sits down to tackle your biggest money questions. From practical strategies to break out of feeling stuck in a cost-of-living squeeze, to whether you should pay off your mortgage or invest in shares, Frances breaks down the plain-English rules of the money game. In this episode: Why trying to prioritise every money goal at once leads to burnout, and how to pick one achievable target The reality of FIRE (Financial Independence, Retire Early) Moving from "average" to actually getting ahead: the two levers that make or break your money What to do when you feel stuck, overwhelmed, and can't see a clear way forward financially Should you invest in your employer’s share scheme? The risks of having all your eggs in one basket How to get a reluctant partner on board with money goals without fighting Mortgage vs Shares The shifting risks around Airbnb investments vs traditional long-term rentals Why index funds…

When headlines scream about the worst property downturn in 30 years, is it time to panic - or is it the buying opportunity you’ve been waiting for? Prices are down, listings are flooding the market, and buyers have more choice than they’ve seen in years. But picking up a bargain isn’t as simple as buying any cheap property and hoping the market does the heavy lifting. Ilse Wolfe, property investor and founder of Wolfe Property Coaching, joins Frances Cook on Making Cents to explain why market freezes are when seasoned investors make their move. From dodging identical new build traps to adding instant equity through smart cosmetic renovations, Ilse shares how to create your own safety buffer in a tricky economic climate. In this episode: Why a buyer's market creates an abundance of opportunity for prepared buyers The "Sunday hangover" effect: navigating negative cash flow and high borrowing costs Why identical new builds carry hidden risks for value and rent control The three big structural red flags to watch…

Frances Cook joins the TVNZ Breakfast team to talk about the AI deepfake scam using her likeness to lure people into dodgy investment groups, and the red flags that can help you tell the difference between genuine financial advice and someone trying to take your money. 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

What do you do when your home is worth less than what you paid for it, and the layout no longer works for your family? Can you actually renovate your way out of negative equity, or does pouring six figures into an extension just dig a deeper financial hole? This week on Ask the Experts, Vanessa Williams from http://realestate.co.nz breaks down the real property data on what buyers are paying for, which renovations actually add resale value, and how to balance lifestyle needs against cold, hard financial decisions. It’s a dilemma many Kiwi homeowners will recognise: should you renovate, cut your losses and sell, or reset your property goals entirely? This episode covers: - How the post-boom property correction is affecting Kiwi homeowners - Why "renovating your way out of a loss" can be a dangerous financial trap - The real property value change of adding bedrooms vs. adding bathrooms - Why general home maintenance costs ($5k–$10k/year) shouldn't be counted as value-adding renovations - The "devil you know…

It seems everyone is using AI to make life quicker and easier - and apparently, fraudsters are too. From doctored bank statements and inflated income to fake paperwork that used to take serious skill to forge, AI is making mortgage and insurance fraud easier to pull off in minutes. The Financial Markets Authority (FMA) is actively investigating, and honest borrowers are the ones left competing against fake applications. Josh Daniell, co-founder of open banking platform Akahu, joins Frances Cook to break down how the finance industry is fighting back, how open banking protects your data, and what the rise of AI chatbots means for everyday money decisions. In this episode: How AI is fueling mortgage and insurance fraud, and why the FMA is cracking down What open banking actually is, and how directly sharing bank data cuts out fake documents The truth about data privacy: why regulated open banking is safer than emailing PDF statements Using ChatGPT or AI chatbots for money questions: the benefits, privacy…

Frances Cook breaks down low beta investing, the middle ground between hiding your money in a bank account and braving the full volatility of the share market, including the real cost of playing it safe and whether the gentler ride is actually worth it. 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 Join the Money Memo newsletter for a free weekly money tip in your inbox each week https://www.francescook.co.nz/subscribe #MakingCents #FrancesCook #MakingCentsPodcast #InvestingPodcast #MoneyPodcast #FinancialFreedom

Five minutes could be enough to add hundreds of thousands of dollars more to your KiwiSaver. There are simple, low-hanging fruit changes that can mean serious money landing in your account - but simple changes cut both ways. There are costly traps to avoid, and easy tweaks to your settings that can make a massive difference to your balance over time. This week on Ask the Experts, Katie Wesney from EnableMe joins Frances Cook to answer your KiwiSaver questions, from splitting funds to self-employed strategies and tax checks. In this episode we’re talking: Why you don't have to be all-or-nothing: how splitting across multiple funds protects your money and matches your personal timeline Why getting caught up in scary economic news headlines hurts your long-term growth The three questions you must ask yourself before choosing or switching a KiwiSaver fund Why waiting for "perfect market timing" to switch providers is a trap Smart KiwiSaver and retirement strategies for self-employed people who don't get employer…

What if the home buying rules you think are holding you back don't actually exist anymore? Between outdated advice, myths about needing massive deposits, and the fear of trying to buy on a single income, it is easy to assume you are locked out of the property market before you even start. The truth is that many old lending rules have expired, and with the right strategy, getting into your first home might be much closer than you thought. Claire Williamson is the Director of My Mortgage and 2025 Regional Mortgage Adviser of the Year. She specialises in helping people who thought they were completely out of the home buying game find a way in. In this episode: - Why you do not always need a 20% deposit to buy a house - How Kāinga Ora First Home Loans and 5% deposit options work - How buying solo on a single income is possible - How to buy property with friends or family, and the agreements you need to protect everyone - How everyday debts, like a small credit card limit, can shrink your home loan budget by tens…

Frances Cook joins the TVNZ Breakfast team to explain excuseflation, the trend of businesses using wall to wall inflation headlines as cover to hike their own prices, and what you can actually do to fight back. 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

Is your Afterpay habit hurting your financial future and stopping you from hitting big life goals like buying your first home? Every financial decision leaves a digital footprint, and banks and mortgage lenders use that data to check your creditworthiness, spending habits, and loan affordability. But with so much scaremongering and myths around credit scores in New Zealand, it's easy to panic. This week on Ask the Experts, Jessica O’Hare, Head of Lending at Revolut, breaks down the truth about what lenders actually care about, what gets flagged on your credit report, and how to set up simple money systems that stick. 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. This episode covers: - How lenders check your credit score, payment history, and loan affordability in New Zealand - What happens…

What if financial independence is something you could build for yourself, before you even hit 40? Katie and Alan Donegan did exactly that. No lottery win, no trust fund, just a determination to live simply, stack their cash, and build a life where they didn't have to answer to anyone else. They retired at 35 and 40, and now travel the world while running Rebel Finance School, a free money course that's helped thousands of people worldwide sort out their finances. Financial journalist Frances Cook sits down with the Donegans on the Making Cents podcast to find out what it actually takes for normal people to reach financial independence and retire early. In this episode: The three financial levers they pulled at once - spend less, earn more, invest - and how that took them from $0 to $1 million in about ten years Why friends and family thought their frugal lifestyle meant they'd lost the plot, and how to be financially disciplined without being miserable The one investing move Alan says he'd make from day one…

Frances Cook joins the Seven Sharp team to unpack a coin flip experiment that reveals how Kiwis think about risk and money, and why we will happily put it all on red but get nervous about the kinds of risk that actually build wealth. 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

Renovating to add value is the dream, but overcapitalising is the nightmare that can turn your dream reno into a costly mistake. So how do you tell the difference before you've spent a single dollar? This week's Ask the Experts letter comes from a homeowner who badly needs more space and is weighing up an extension to their house. Vanessa Williams from realestate.co.nz joins Frances to pull back the curtain on what actually pays off from a reno. In this episode we’re talking: How to choose between lifestyle and money factors when you renovate your home Why bedrooms and bathrooms are the big winner on value, but have a hidden downside The areas where people waste money on renovations, without realising it 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…

Time to fact-check the mortgage advice taking over social media, and see what actually holds up. Mortgage adviser Aaron Cattell (aka The Mortgage Man) is ready to go myth-by-myth through the mortgage advice doing the rounds online, and find out what actually survives contact with someone who does this for a living. We cover: The "pay a dollar a day" trick, the viral claim that resets your mortgage interest. Weekly vs fortnightly vs monthly repayments; does paying more often actually shave years off your mortgage in New Zealand, or is that a US myth that doesn't translate? The "buy two houses, one each" couple strategy Credit scores, and how much they really matter for a NZ mortgage application Rent vs buy, and how to figure out the numbers for the NZ context 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…

Frances Cook joins the TVNZ Breakfast team to share her favourite apps and websites for cutting power bills, saving on groceries, eating out for less and upskilling for free, all with as little effort as possible. 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

"Excuseflation" is the secret reason your groceries, petrol and power keep going up. Why did butter come down a third in global price... and only drop two cents on the shelf? Why does petrol rocket up in a day but crawl back down for months? There's a name for this: excuseflation, when real inflation gives businesses cover to hike prices for no real reason at all. In this episode, financial journalist Frances Cook breaks down: The real numbers behind headline inflation for NZ The "rockets and feathers" effect: why petrol prices jump instantly but fall painfully slowly The on-the-record quote from a US CEO who admitted he "prays for inflation" because it "expands margins" Brand-new Reserve Bank of New Zealand research showing when businesses raise prices, and when they cut them The 4-question "sniff test" to tell a genuine price rise from a cynical one Practical ways to fight back against inflation, and excuseflation If you've ever felt like prices only go one way, this episode explains why, and what you can…

You sent in your KiwiSaver questions, time for us to answer them. KiwiSaver is one of the biggest financial tools most New Zealanders have, but just a few changes can mean tens of thousands of dollars more for you. Personal finance journalist Susan Edmunds, author of the new book Your KiwiSaver Questions, Answered, is on the Making Cents podcast and ready to sort it out. In this episode: The most common KiwiSaver mistakes people make, and how to avoid them How to get more money from your KiwiSaver What changes are coming for KiwiSaver in the future, and the politics that could change your money What actually happens to your KiwiSaver when you die Whether you can trust putting your money into KiwiSaver, Ethical investing options Whether the government could ever take your KiwiSaver Whether you're just starting out or trying to optimise years of contributions, this episode breaks down exactly what you need to know about KiwiSaver. This episode of Making Cents is proudly supported by Odoo. Go to…

Frances Cook joins Jim Mora on RNZ Sunday Mornings to talk through whether financial independence is actually achievable for ordinary people and how to make it work on your own terms, followed by a run through the latest money news including the AI bubble, rising rates and what is happening in the housing market. 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

Most parents want to give their kids a softer landing than they had. But what if the soft landing is the problem? This week's letter writer has done everything right, on paper. Bills covered. Kids never stressed about money. An investment account quietly building in the background, for a nice surprise one day. But with the kids about to fly the nest, they're rethinking whether thiswas the right tactic. Because maybe protecting them from money stress means they've never actually learned to handle it. Katie Wesney, national coaching lead from EnableMe has answers. Together with Frances Cook, they talk about: How to talk to kids about money without making it a source of stress Whether a secret investment account is a gift, or a missed lesson The right age to start involving kids in money decisions Should you give your kid an allowance at university, or let them work for it What financial independence should actually look like for a teenager leaving home If you've ever wondered whether doing everything for your…

It’s time for the ultimate budget hacks to save money on food, petrol, and life. Because a good budget should help you keep your cash for the fun stuff. Today we’re pulling together the best tips and tricks from past Making Cents guests, so you get just their best moment on how to save money, from groceries, to apps, subscriptions, banking, food costs. Chris Schulz breaks down the money-saving apps and budgeting apps that actually work, and the sneaky tactics shops use to take your cash. Full episode, 22 March: Supermarket Tricks, Insurance Hacks & Subscription Traps: How to Stop Overpaying. Hannah Koumakis went viral for the budgeting system she built after nannying for billionaires on her OE — money habits that create financial security without the status symbols. Full episode, 11 Oct 2025: I Nannied for Billionaires, It Changed My Entire Money Outlook. Jason Leong, CEO of Pocketsmith, reveals the hidden money leaks and subscription traps quietly draining your spending. Full episode, 20 Dec 2025: NZ…

Frances Cook breaks down why the most popular index fund strategy in the world may not be spreading your risk the way you think, what history tells us about industries that have dominated the market before and what to do if the current AI concentration concerns you. 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

The difference between long-term travel being the best decision you ever make and a very expensive mistake usually comes down to one thing: whether you had a plan. This week on Ask the Experts, Frances Cook and Georgia Grange, head of Revolut NZ, answer a letter from a twenty-something who wants to take a couple of years to travel properly, but without going into debt or derailing their finances. This episode covers: How much money you actually need saved before you go The hidden costs of international travel that drain your budget without you noticing How to manage money across multiple countries and currencies on a long trip Simple ways to make your budget last longer when you're travelling on a limited amount Earning money while you travel, including the choice between bar work, remote work, and the digital nomad lifestyle 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! This episode of Making Cents is proudly…

There's a belief that's almost a religion to some people: buy a home, hold onto it, pay off the mortgage, and you're financially sorted. More often than not, it's not true. And if you let that belief guide you, you could miss real opportunities for building wealth, because you feel like you're ahead when you're actually not. Janika ter Ellen knows this better than most. She's a property reporter for Stuff, covering these issues every day. So when she finally sat down and ran the actual numbers on her own home, what she found surprised her, and not in a good way. Turns out there are hidden costs to owning a home, and missed opportunities while you're paying off that mortgage, that change the story we've all been sold. So if your home isn't quite the investment you thought it was, what is it? And does that change whether you should buy at all? In this episode: Is buying a house a good investment in New Zealand, and what happened when she ran the numbers on 11 years of home ownership Why city and regional…

If it feels like getting a pay rise is harder than ever, you're not imagining it. But even in a tough market, there are strategies that work, and people using them to get ahead. Frances Cook is joined by University of Auckland senior lecturer Dr Kenny Ching, MyCareerBrand career coach Kaela Hindle, and Side Hustles NZ founder Rachel Mills to break down how to actually earn more in this environment. We're covering: – Which skills are gaining value right now, and which are losing ground – How AI is reshaping the job market, and how to protect your career from it – The script and tactics that actually work when asking for a pay rise – How to find your most monetisable skill and turn it into a side hustle that pays properly – Whether a portfolio career beats going all-in on one thing You can't control the wage stats. But you can control your strategy. Follow me everywhere! Facebook / https://www.facebook.com/FrancesCookNZ Instagram / https://www.instagram.com/francescooknz TikTok /…

The highest number of June listings just hit the NZ property market, since 2020. But the impact isn’t what you would think. Despite the flood of listings, prices haven't moved. Nationally, prices have barely moved in three and a half years, even as listings pile up. The picture also varies sharply depending on where in New Zealand you're looking, with wide swings across regions, within that national average. Vanessa Williams from http://realestate.co.nz is ready to break down the story behind the numbers: - NZ property market update June 2026: why listings are rising while national house prices stay flat - Regional house prices vs national average NZ: which areas are outpacing the rest of the country, and why - OCR interest rate rise 2026: what it means for mortgage holders, first home buyers, and savers - How to sell a house in a slow market NZ: pricing and marketing strategy for a stock-flooded market - First home buyer tips NZ: avoiding overwhelm and knowing your non-negotiables when house hunting Follow…

There’s nothing quite like starting young. But most of us don’t build a business before we can vote. Never mind several of them. Hamish Sutherland is 17 and already on his fourth business. He felt the spark to get ahead early on but turns out it’s hard to get a job when you’re eight. Rather than let a tricky thing like employment law hold him back, he just started his own business instead. By 13, that was a lawn mowing and water blasting business. At 15, he wrote a Kindle book that made $60,000. Then he moved into a property investment project. Now he’s building AI-focused businesses, fresh off an entrepreneurship intensive in Malaysia. The world of work is changing fast, and it’s easy to freeze when you’re not sure where you fit into that change. Hamish isn’t freezing. He’s looking for the opportunity in it. In this podcast we talk about: • How to start a business as a teenager with no money or experience • Making money on Kindle direct publishing, and how his book made $60,000 • Investing in property young…

With the OCR on the rise and inflation heading up again, Frances Cook joins the TVNZ Breakfast team to explain why the safest place for your money depends entirely on when you need it and why bank accounts are not always the answer. 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

Free Power Forever? The Real Cost, Payback Time, and Battery Truth on Solar in NZ 18 months ago, I spent $89,000 on home solar and an electric car. I told you about it, and was flooded with questions on how this could work for other people. (You can listen to the previous episode from 1 April, titled "I Spent $89,000 on Solar And Electric Car In NZ… Was It Worth It?") This episode is the follow-up, answering every question from the practical (does my roof even work?) to the financial (do I actually need a $10,000 battery?). I’ll break down: Would solar work on your house, and what it takes to make solar power work How to run the numbers to find out how long solar would take to pay itself off. I’ve got a three-figure back-of-envelope calculation anyone can do with last year's power bills Do you need a battery to make solar power worthwhile? What to do if money's tight, or you rent Where solar power is heading next, including balcony solar and virtual power plants Follow me everywhere! Facebook /…

Why do so many high performers end up exhausted and burned out? Mindset coach Sarah Robb has spent years working in this area, and says that unfortunately, many of us burn ourselves out, usually trying to prove we're good enough. At 26, Sarah had lost both her parents, in difficult circumstances. What she built afterwards became the foundation for how she now coaches high achievers, business owners, and ambitious women through burnout, imposter syndrome, and self-doubt - without losing their drive. In this episode: How to stop burnout without giving up ambition Why energy management matters more than time management The hidden reasons we hold onto limiting beliefs How to set boundaries and say no without guilt How to build self-compassion (not just self-love) Why presence, not productivity, is the antidote to overwhelm If you've ever felt successful on the outside but exhausted on the inside, this conversation is for you. This episode of Making Cents is proudly supported by Odoo. Go to…

Frances Cook joins the TVNZ Breakfast team to talk through one of her favourite money hacks, using the second hand market to both clear out the clutter at home and score serious bargains on everything from furniture to kids clothes. Follow me everywhere! Facebook / Frances Cook - Journalist Instagram / Frances | Money | Investing (@francescooknz) • Instagram profile TikTok / Frances Cook on TikTok 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

Are there still good property deals in New Zealand right now? Here's where to actually look. A listener wrote in with the question everyone's asking: prices are technically down, but they still feel expensive. Interest rates aren't friendly. Rents don't cover the mortgage. So is property investment still worth it, or has the window already closed? On this episode of Ask the Experts, Katie Wesney from EnableMe is ready to talk about what changes the calculations on whether property investment is worth it. In this episode: New builds vs. existing homes: which one actually protects your money The real relationship between rental yield and capital gains Why buying outside your own city can be a smart risk-mitigation move Which parts of New Zealand currently have the strongest property fundamentals How to use equity in your own home instead of waiting to save a deposit The difference between a genuine bargain and a property that's "cheap for a reason" The one question to ask before buying ANY investment property…

There's actual behavioural science behind why we freeze up around money, and it's the same science that Mark White-Robinson has built a business around solving. Mark is the co-founder of Feijoa, an app that rounds up your everyday purchases and tips that spare change straight into your KiwiSaver. Seven months in, his users are on track to build millions in retirement savings. The trick to money is usually small habits, over a long time. That's it. But there's a real science to making them stick. In this episode we get into: Why doing nothing is usually the worst financial decision you can make The three things that stop people taking action with money (and how to get around them) Why 1 million eligible New Zealanders are missing out on over a billion dollars a year in free KiwiSaver contributions The behavioural tricks built into Feijoa, and how to steal them for your own money life What open banking has changed for everyday Kiwis This episode of Making Cents is proudly supported by Odoo. Go to…

Frances Cook joins Jim Mora on RNZ Sunday Morning to cover the latest in money news, from why the job market feels so tough right now and where the work actually is, to the AI investment boom, social media spending traps and whether nicking the hotel soap counts as a financial strategy. 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

Your side hustle is making real money. Now what? Because when the income is real, things are growing, you can suddenly realise the whole operation is held together with sticky tape and good intentions. Income from a job, income from side work, all of it landing in the same personal account with no clear picture of what's coming in, what's going out, or what any of it means for tax time. This week on Ask the Experts, James Gibson, head of Revolut Business, walks through exactly what to do when a side hustle outgrows its informal beginnings. It’s a question that a lot of self-employed New Zealanders will recognise: how do you set up your finances properly when your side hustle starts making serious money? This episode is proudly supported by Revolut Business. Sign up online and get a one-month free trial at this link https://get.revolut.com/e9Jc/makingcents1 T&Cs apply, subscription fees will apply at the end of the trial, see website for details. Revolut Payments New Zealand Pty Ltd. This episode covers: When…

There’s a wealth transfer ready to happen right now, but only if you know where to look for it. A generation of baby boomers built their businesses over decades. Now they're ready to retire. But they can't find buyers. Which means there are businesses out there right now, with existing customers, existing income, existing systems, waiting for the right person to take them over. Jeremy Pak has a ringside seat to all of it. He's a chartered accountant and managing director of Velocity Capital, who spends his days helping New Zealanders buy and sell businesses worth millions. What he's learned about how wealth actually gets built in this country might change how you think about your own options. In this episode we cover: When to buy a business, vs starting one from scratch How to fund a business purchase even if you don't have cash sitting around (including vendor finance) What Jeremy is seeing in the market, and why he's forecasting a threefold increase in business sales next year How to stress test a business…

Financial freedom sounds great in theory, but what does it actually take to get there as a normal person? In this webinar, Frances Cook is joined by Sheppard & Ormsby chartered accountant Bronwyn Candish and EnableMe national coaching lead Katie Wesney to break down what financial freedom really means, how to find the money to invest, the biggest mistakes people make along the way, and one thing you can do this week to get started Follow me everywhere! Facebook / Frances Cook - Journalist Instagram / Frances | Money | Investing (@francescooknz) • Instagram profile TikTok / Frances Cook on TikTok 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

Being weird with money is the smartest thing you can do, to get financial freedom. Most of us are following the same money playbook, and it’s not working. Around 30% of New Zealanders don't have $1,000 in savings, and over 60% couldn't cover a real emergency. Frances Cook, financial journalist and host of Making Cents, shares exactly how embracing "weird" money habits helped her build financial freedom, and how you can do the same. In this episode: Why the standard approach to money keeps so many of us stuck, and what to do instead The hedonic treadmill: the psychology trick that's draining your wallet How to figure out what actually makes you happy (it's probably cheaper than you think) The secondhand challenge that changed Frances's finances Why a cheaper daily life and big one-off experiences beats an expensive lifestyle every time How to stop spending on what other people want, and start spending on what YOU want Follow me everywhere! Facebook / https://www.facebook.com/FrancesCookNZ Instagram /…

Many New Zealanders are overpaying tax, missing refunds they're entitled to, and leaving money on the table, simply because the system is confusing and nobody explained the rules. In this episode of Making Cents, chartered certified accountant Baqir Hussain, founder Finex Accounting, breaks down exactly how to stop losing money to the tax system and start making it work in your favour. We talk: The single biggest mistake Kiwis make with the IRD, and how it turns small issues into massive tax debt How New Zealand's progressive tax system actually works (and why you should always take that pay rise) Surprise tax bills: the most common causes and how to avoid them What salary earners can legitimately claim back, including income protection insurance, donations, and investment costs Working for Families: who qualifies, how to backdate claims up to four years, and how one family recovered $15,000 they didn't know they were owed Home office deductions for self-employed workers and contractors Why tax threshold…

Frances Cook joins the TVNZ Breakfast team to explain the loyalty tax costing New Zealanders hundreds of dollars a year on power, insurance and banking, and the simple habit that can win it back without even switching providers. Follow me everywhere! Facebook / Frances Cook - Journalist Instagram / Frances | Money | Investing (@francescooknz) • Instagram profile TikTok / Frances Cook on TikTok 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

You're about to spend thousands getting your house ready to sell. Professional staging. A photographer. Maybe a lick of paint on the fence. But in a buyer's market with interest rates climbing, how do you know what actually moves the needle for getting the house sold? Vanessa Williams from http://realestate.co.nz is back in the hot seat with the actual data on what's working right now. We get into whether professional staging shows up in the sale price, which presentation upgrades are genuinely worth it and which ones aren't, what http://realestate.co.nz sees in listing performance when photos are good versus average, and whether the ROI on all of this changes when buyers have more choice. If you're about to list and wondering where to spend and where to save, this one's for you. In this episode: Does professional staging actually increase your property sale price? Which house upgrades are worth it, and which aren't? Does better photography get more home buyers through the door? How to sell a house in a…