Making Cents

Making Cents

By 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 jo... more
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Best of Making Cents

The most played episodes among Podcast App listeners.

  1. Number 1: How Ilse Wolfe Built A $20 Million Property Portfolio

    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 buyersThe "Sunday hangover" effect: navigating negative cash flow and high borrowing costsWhy identical new builds carry hidden risks for value and rent controlThe three big structural red flags to watch out for during property due diligenceWhy DIY "sweat equity" might cost you more than hiring a trusted trade teamWhat happens to house prices around election time and why waiting on the sidelines can cost you Whether you're looking for your first home or weighing up an investment, this episode breaks down the practical strategies you need to take control of your property decisions in any market. 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 Production and video editing by Lana Byrne Audio engineering by Tash Chittock Filmed by Fanaticals

    33min
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  2. Number 2: What Do You Do When Your House Is Worth Way Less Than When You Bought It?

    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 vs. devil you don't" dilemma of selling an older home to buy another fixer-upper If you have a letter you’d like us to answer, send it through to [email protected] 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 Production and video editing by Lana Byrne Audio engineering by Tash Chittock Filmed by Fanaticals

    18min
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  3. Number 3: I Got Deepfaked. Here's How To Spot A Scammer.

    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

    7min
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  4. Number 4: What KiwiSaver Actually Needs to Change, According to an Adviser

    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 timelineWhy getting caught up in scary economic news headlines hurts your long-term growthThe three questions you must ask yourself before choosing or switching a KiwiSaver fundWhy waiting for "perfect market timing" to switch providers is a trapSmart KiwiSaver and retirement strategies for self-employed people who don't get employer contributionsThe 3-letter tax setting (PIR) you need to check today so you don't accidentally overpay taxBig policy changes that could make KiwiSaver fairer for everyday New Zealanders If you have a letter you’d like us to answer, please send it through to [email protected] 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 Production and video editing by Lana Byrne Audio engineering by Tash Chittock Filmed by Fanaticals

    19min
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  5. Number 5: From 0 to $1 Million And Financial Freedom - In 10 Years

    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 yearsWhy friends and family thought their frugal lifestyle meant they'd lost the plot, and how to be financially disciplined without being miserableThe one investing move Alan says he'd make from day one if he could go backWhy fees are one of the only proven predictors of how well an investment fund performs, and what to check on your own KiwiSaver or index fundsWhy getting on the same page with your partner about money can matter more than any spreadsheet, budget or savings planHow to keep spending on what you actually value while cutting everything else, so you save without feeling like you're missing out Whether financial independence feels like a pipe dream or you're already working towards it, this episode breaks down real, practical steps for building wealth, investing for the long term, and designing a life 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

    1h 3min
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How many episodes does Making Cents have?

The podcast currently has 306 episodes available.