Making Cents

What if the worst happened, but you were financially ready?

When Caroline Gordon was diagnosed with stage four bowel cancer, everything changed. But because she’d already built financial independence, she had something many people in crisis don’t: options.

In this episode of Making Cents, we dive into how financial freedom became Caroline’s safety net. She shares how it allowed her to:

- Self-fund private cancer treatment not available in the public system

- Travel overseas for surgery when time was critical

- Step away from a stressful job to focus on recovery

- Maintain her quality of life without financial panic

Whether you’re working towards FIRE (Financial Independence, Retire Early), building your first emergency fund, or just trying to create more security, this episode shows what financial freedom really means.

Caroline shares her investing strategy (including index funds and ethical investing), and what she wishes more people understood about money, health, and freedom.

It’s not about the money.

It’s about what the money makes possible, especially when life gets messy.

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.

Will your mortgage rate go down soon, or will banks keep them higher for longer?

In this episode of Making Cents, financial journalist Frances Cook joins RNZ’s Nights on 14 August, to break down everything you need to know about New Zealand interest rates right now.

We cover:

• How the Official Cash Rate (OCR) works and what it means for home loans
• The link between what savers get in their term deposit, and what borrowers are charged for their mortgage
• Whether banks are competing hard enough for customers
• Why banks cut or raise interest rates at different times

Whether you’re a homeowner, first-home buyer, or looking to grow your savings, this episode explains how bank decisions, Reserve Bank policy, and market competition all affect your wallet.

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.

Why we choose Lotto over investing, even when it’s irrational, and how to flip the script so investing feels just as exciting.

A replay of a conversation with Wallace Chapman on RNZ's The Panel, from 11 August.

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.

Are you enjoying the freedom of self-employment - or just underpaid, overworked, and financially stressed?

Running your own business can give you freedom, flexibility, and the chance to build something that truly works for you.

But without the right systems in place, it’s also easy to end up burnt out, broke, and completely unprepared for the future.

In this Ask the Experts episode of Making Cents, financial journalist Frances Cook is joined by Justin Gauci from EnableMe to unpack the money traps that trip up self-employed Kiwis.

Then? It’s how to fix them.

We cover the essential questions every freelancer, contractor, sole trader or small business owner needs to ask:

• Are you charging your true market value, or just making yourself a job that doesn’t pay properly?
• How should you really think about GST and tax deductions (hint: they don’t make things free)?
• What’s the smartest way to save for retirement when you don’t get KiwiSaver employer contributions?
• How can you smooth out cashflow, and prepare for big tax bills without panic?

This episode is full of practical financial advice for self-employed people who want to earn well, save smart, and run their business like a grown-up, without sacrificing their lifestyle or security.

Whether you’re just starting out or several years into your self-employed journey, this is your roadmap for building a solid financial foundation.

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.

She hit financial freedom at 51, by downsizing to a caravan and selling the family trade business.

It wasn’t a tech salary. It wasn’t an inheritance. It was good old-fashioned DIY thinking, property investment, and a whole lot of planning.

In this episode of Making Cents, you’ll meet Charmaine Hands, who “re-lifed” in her 50s and built a whole new life of travel, flexibility, and financial independence.

She ran a glazing and locksmithing business with her husband for over two decades, raising their family and carefully reinvesting in assets along the way.

Then, with the kids grown and the business ready to hand over, she took the leap.

Sold the business to a staff member. Turned their home into a rental. Bought commercial property for passive income. Moved into a caravan to travel New Zealand. Started living the life they’d always imagined.

No million-dollar pay cheque. Just smart money moves, DIY upgrades, and a relentless vision for something better.

We talk about:

- What it really takes to build financial freedom without a big income

- How to turn your home or business into long-term wealth

- The pros and cons of living in a caravan full-time

- Why imagination and stubbornness might be your best financial tools

If you're dreaming of more freedom, flexibility, and meaning in your next chapter, this episode is for you.

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.

The 1news Breakfast team have questions about how we can beat the guilt, and create systems to help us feel better about our money.

A replay of the TVNZ segment from 5 August.

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.

Are house prices about to drop more, or is this the bottom of the market?

In this episode of Ask the Experts, we dig into what’s really going on with New Zealand’s housing market in 2025.

Whether you’re a first home buyer, property investor, or current homeowner, understanding the true drivers behind NZ house prices is essential to making smart money choices.

House prices are flat or falling across much of the country. So what’s holding the market back, and what could trigger the next move?

Join Kiwibank economist Sabrina Delgado and host Frances Cook for a deep dive into:

• Why New Zealand house prices have stalled
• The impact of interest rates and the Reserve Bank’s OCR decisions
• What’s happening in the construction industry and how it affects housing supply
• Common myths about the NZ housing market
• What to expect for property prices over the next year
• The key factor buyers and sellers need to watch right now

If you’re wondering whether to buy now, sell soon, or wait it out, this is the expert insight you need to make confident property decisions in 2025.

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.

You don’t need a million dollars to reach financial freedom.

In this episode of Making Cents, we’re breaking down how Germano Gomes built lifestyle freedom on an average income. No lottery win. No six-figure job. Just smart money moves.

He paid off his mortgage in five years, lived simply, and built up enough FU money to say no to the traditional 9–5. All while still enjoying the things that matter most.

Now? He works part of the year, travels the world, and funds it with casual jobs on his terms.

This approach is sometimes called Barista FIRE. It’s a version of early retirement where you save and invest just enough to cover the basics, and use flexible work to fund the fun.

It means more freedom, sooner.

We talk:

- How he hit financial independence without a high income

- The exact strategy he used to pay off his house fast

- Why he walked away from property investing

- How much he actually spends now

- And the mindset shift that made it all possible

“Enough is not a number — it’s a decision.”

Hit play to find out how he made his.

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.

There’s a wave of major money changes rolling through New Zealand, hitting everything from where you keep your savings, to what’s in your KiwiSaver, to the price of your weekly groceries.

In this live Making Cents episode, Frances Cook is joined by Consumer NZ CEO Jon Duffy to break down what actually matters, and what you should do next.

We cover:

- The new bank protection rules, under the Depositor Compensation Scheme. What the $100,000 guarantee really means, and how to make sure you’re covered

- KiwiSaver contribution cuts. What’s changed, who loses out, and whether it’s still worth it

- Grocery price wars. Are the watchdogs finally growing teeth, or are we stuck with sky-high bills?

- The surcharge ban, and will that mean lower fees for you, or just higher prices everywhere else?

Whether you’re saving for a house, trying to retire, or just want to stop bleeding money at the checkout, this episode gives you the clear, practical info you need, so that you can stay savvy with your money.

Smart questions, straight answers, with one of New Zealand’s top consumer advocates.

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.

Welcome to Ask the Experts, where each week we talk to people in the industry to get the inside word on what’s happening right now, and what that means for the tactics that you should use to make the most of your money.

Buyers vs Sellers: What’s really happening in NZ’s housing market right now?

In this episode of Ask the Experts, we dive into the growing standoff between buyers and sellers in New Zealand’s property market.

House prices are falling across much of the country, but many sellers are refusing to budge, holding out for a rebound that may not arrive anytime soon.

While some homeowners can afford to wait, others are facing real pressure to sell in a soft market.

So what happens when seller expectations clash with property market reality? And is this a golden opportunity for buyers to make a move?

Frances Cook is joined by Vanessa Williams from realestate.co.nz to unpack:

• What’s happening with New Zealand house prices in 2025
• Why sellers are holding out, and what might force them to act
• How long most people can afford to wait before selling
• How often Kiwis actually sell their homes (and how that changes in a downturn)
• The smartest strategies for both buyers and sellers in the current market

If you’re trying to decide whether to buy or sell in 2025, this episode will give you the insight you need to make confident property decisions.

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.