It’s a fantasy many of us share: what if you could retire early, walk away from your job forever, and live life on your own terms by the age of 30?

Would it be all freedom and fun… or would the reality look very different?

In this episode of Making Cents, I talk to Captain Fi, one of Australia’s most well-known FIRE (Financial Independence, Retire Early) bloggers. He shares what it really takes to achieve financial independence at such a young age, and whether he would actually recommend it to others.

Captain Fi started out as a pilot, a career that cost him over $300,000 in training. Determined to buy back his freedom, he focused on three strategies that define the FIRE movement:

• Earn as much as possible through a high-paying job and multiple side hustles
• Spend as little as possible by keeping living costs low and avoiding lifestyle creep
• Invest everything left over into shares and growth assets to build wealth quickly

By living on less than $40,000 a year, while sometimes saving up to 90% of his income, he was able to quit work in his early 30s.

Today, Captain Fi lives on a hobby farm in Queensland with his wife and young daughter, raising bees, planting gardens, and building the family-focused life he always wanted. But his journey also included burnout, grief, and a surprising twist: after a short period of “retired life,” he realised it wasn’t fulfilling enough and pivoted into something new.

In this conversation, we cover:

• How he built financial independence by 30
• The reality of early retirement versus the daydream
• Why he “un-FIRE’d” and bought a farm
• The hidden challenges of extreme savings and burnout
• His advice for anyone chasing financial freedom today

If you’ve ever wondered what early retirement really looks like, or how to use the FIRE movement to reshape your own career and lifestyle, this episode has the insights from someone who has lived it.

Links

Follow Frances Cook on Facebook, Instagram and TikTok, or join the Money Memo newsletter for a free weekly money tip in your inbox each week.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Fast Money with Jim Mora on Sunday Morning with RNZ. Chatting everything from cost-of-living savings, how to pay off debt faster, how to get a pay rise or what to do next if a pay rise is turned down, and what's happening with the property market at the moment.

Links

Follow Frances Cook on Facebook, Instagram and TikTok, or join the Money Memo newsletter for a free weekly money tip in your inbox each week.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Side hustles can boost your money life, but only if you avoid the mistakes that tank most people early on.

In this episode of Making Cents: Ask the Experts, we’re breaking down the most common side hustle mistakes, and how to avoid them.

From financial pitfalls to admin overload, we’re giving you real, practical advice to help you start a side hustle that actually works.

I’m joined by Joanna Greaves, General Manager of Business Banking at Kiwibank, who’s seen thousands of small businesses and side hustles come through the system.

She shares what works, what fails, and the one thing most people forget to do when turning a small idea into a successful income stream.

We cover:

• How to start a side hustle the smart way

• Financial tips for side hustlers (before you even make your first dollar)

• When to move from personal to business accounts

• The hidden risks that catch beginners out

• The one step that separates sustainable hustles from burnout traps

If you want to start a business on the side, build up financial freedom, or just make a little extra income, this episode gives you the roadmap, minus the guru hype.

Links

Follow Frances Cook on Facebook, Instagram and TikTok, or join the Money Memo newsletter for a free weekly money tip in your inbox each week.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Finding a financial adviser in New Zealand can feel both overwhelming, and risky.

With so many options, how do you know who to trust with your money, your KiwiSaver, your mortgage, or your retirement plan?

In this episode of Making Cents, Frances Cook breaks down exactly how to find a financial adviser in NZ that you can actually rely on.

We cover when you really need an adviser, what they can (and can’t) do for you, how they get paid (fees vs commissions), and the red flags that should send you running.

Whether you’re buying your first home, setting up life insurance, planning for retirement, or investing a lump sum, this guide will show you how to:

• Check if an adviser is licensed and registered in New Zealand
• Understand their specialties
• Ask the right vetting questions before you sign anything
• Spot common conflicts of interest and sales tactics
• Know the difference between real advice and a product pitch

Your financial adviser should be a co-pilot, not the pilot. This episode will help you feel confident, avoid getting burned, and choose someone who puts your interests first.

Links

Follow Frances Cook on Facebook, Instagram and TikTok, or join the Money Memo newsletter for a free weekly money tip in your inbox each week.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Whether you're hitting the supermarket, or paying your regular bills, here are some quick ways to tackle the cost of living in your daily life.

Frances Cook talks to the TVNZ Breakfast team about the ways to fight the price rises.

Links

Follow Frances Cook on Facebook, Instagram and TikTok, or join the Money Memo newsletter for a free weekly money tip in your inbox each week.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Are you accidentally sabotaging your KiwiSaver?

KiwiSaver is one of the most powerful tools New Zealanders have for growing wealth, but if you’re on autopilot, you could be losing tens of thousands of dollars without realising it.

In this episode of Ask the Experts, we reveal the common KiwiSaver mistakes that are quietly shrinking your nest egg, and the easy fixes that could supercharge your long-term savings.

Whether you're using KiwiSaver for retirement, your first home deposit, or both, it’s time to stop treating it like a passive savings account.

Frances Cook is joined by Kristin Sutherland from EnableMe to break down:

• The risks of “set and forget” with KiwiSaver
• How to rebuild your account after using it for a first home deposit
• Why your KiwiSaver fund type (growth vs conservative) matters more than you think
• How often you should review your KiwiSaver settings
• The first step to take if you've ignored your KiwiSaver until now
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It only takes a few small tweaks to get your KiwiSaver working harder, and fixing it might take less time than listening to this episode.

Listen now to protect your future wealth, and make sure every dollar is doing the most for you.

Links

Follow Frances Cook on Facebook, Instagram and TikTok, or join the Money Memo newsletter for a free weekly money tip in your inbox each week.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Everyone wants a bit of extra cash, but are side hustles actually worth your time, or just another way to burn out?

From driving for Uber to picking up dog poop, side hustles in New Zealand range from the weird to the wonderful.

Some can bring in fast money to help with the cost of living crisis, while others might grow into a full-time business or a path to financial freedom.

In this episode of Making Cents, financial journalist Frances Cook explores which side hustle ideas are worth it in 2025, and which ones are a waste of your time and money.

Done right, a side hustle can boost your income, help you start investing, or give you the chance to test a new business idea.

Done wrong, it can leave you exhausted with nothing to show for it.

We dig into the myths, the money traps, and the side hustles that really do work. From tutoring, to service-based gigs like cleaning and gardening, through to the online hustle trends that promise passive income but rarely deliver.

If you’ve ever wondered how to make money online, what the best side hustles in New Zealand actually are, or how to bring in extra income without burning out, this episode gives you the strategies to get the cash without the crash.

Links

Follow Frances Cook on Facebook, Instagram and TikTok, or join the Money Memo newsletter for a free weekly money tip in your inbox each week.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Small fixes for a big win: it’s time for renovations that actually add value

Not all renovations are created equal. Some upgrades could cost you thousands without adding a cent to your resale value.

In this Ask the Experts episode of Making Cents, financial journalist Frances Cook is joined by Vanessa Williams from realestate.co.nz to reveal which home improvements genuinely increase property value, and which ones are a total waste of money.

Whether you’re preparing to sell or just want to be smart about where you invest in your home, understanding the return on renovation is crucial.

A $50,000 kitchen revamp might look stunning, but will buyers actually pay for it?

We cover:

• Kitchen and bathroom renovations: high impact or high risk?
• The low-cost power of painting, decluttering, and deep cleaning
• Pools: luxury feature or long-term liability?
• Do outdoor upgrades like decks and landscaping pay off?
• Simple layout changes that boost value more than cosmetic tweaks
• Best renovations for a $5K–$10K budget

If you want to increase your home’s value without overcapitalising, this episode is your essential guide to renovation decisions that make a real difference.

Links

Follow Frances Cook on Facebook, Instagram and TikTok, or join the Money Memo newsletter for a free weekly money tip in your inbox each week.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Why does life still feel so expensive?

In this webinar, we break down what’s really driving the cost of living in New Zealand, and why your grocery bill, rent, and power costs keep climbing while tech and travel seem cheaper.

You’ll learn:

- The hidden forces pushing up the price of essentials

- Smart ways to save on food and bills without giving up life’s small joys

- Budgeting strategies that actually work in today’s economy (no “just skip coffee” advice here)

- How to take back control, even when the headlines say you shouldn’t be struggling

Whether you’re renting, paying a mortgage, or just trying to stretch your pay further, this is your chance to get practical, realistic tips to help your money go further, without guilt or judgment.

Links

Follow Frances Cook on Facebook, Instagram and TikTok, or join the Money Memo newsletter for a free weekly money tip in your inbox each week.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Feeling guilty every time you spend money? You’re not alone, but it might be doing more harm than good.

In this episode of Making Cents, we’re diving into why money guilt is one of the biggest mindset traps stopping people from saving, investing, or sticking to a budget.

I’ll break down the psychology behind guilt and spending, and show you how to shift your habits without giving up the things that make life fun.

We’ll talk:

• Why guilt-based budgeting usually backfires

• How to enjoy your money while staying on track with financial goals

• The science-backed way to build better money habits (without relying on willpower)

• What behavioural economists like Richard Thaler and psychologists like Brad Klontz say about shame and self-sabotage

• How to set up systems that make saving, spending, and financial planning easier

• Why small wins and values-based spending matter more than you think

Whether you’re dealing with debt, trying to grow your savings, or just want to stop feeling anxious every time you tap your card, this episode is your guide to dropping the shame and taking control.

Because being good with money shouldn’t mean punishing yourself.

Making Cents is supported by our friends at Kiwibank.

Links

Follow Frances Cook on Facebook, Instagram and TikTok, or join the Money Memo newsletter for a free weekly money tip in your inbox each week.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.