Making Cents

What if being polite was secretly draining your bank account?

Welcome to Making Cents, the podcast for people who want financial freedom without giving up their coffee.

I’m Frances Cook, a financial journalist and fellow financial freedom seeker who makes money simple for you.

In this episode of Making Cents, I'm breaking down how to negotiate better rates, reduce your cost of living, and stop overpaying on bills, with simple phrases that could save you $240,850.

This is your guide to asking for more (without being a diva).

You’ll learn:

• How to save money on everyday expenses
• What a 0.5% interest rate discount could really save you
• The best phrases to use when negotiating with banks, power companies, or phone providers
• How to build lifelong money-saving habits
• Why “being nice” doesn’t have to mean paying more

Change your mindset on this, and watch it change every area of your life. This is one of those episodes that could literally change your financial future.

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.

Hate paying for insurance? What if you didn’t have to?

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.

Insurance is one of those financial to-dos that’s easy to ignore, until it’s suddenly urgent.

It can be confusing, expensive, and way too easy to shove to the bottom of your priorities list. But here’s the thing: New Zealanders are underinsured, with coverage rates well below the OECD average.

So what’s actually worth paying for? What can you skip?

And… is there a way to get someone else to pay for your insurance?

In this episode, I’m joined by Willie Moala, national insurance lead at AdviceFirst, to break down the smart ways to cut insurance costs, the underrated workplace perks you might be missing, and the cover you’ll be grateful to have when life throws you a curveball.

If you're looking to save money, protect your income, or just finally get insurance sorted, this episode is your guide.

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 the good and bad of rentvesting. A replay of the segment from 22 July.

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.

What if renting your dream home and building long-term wealth weren’t opposites?

Welcome to Making Cents, the podcast for people who want financial freedom without giving up their coffee.

I’m Frances Cook, a financial journalist and fellow financial freedom seeker who makes money simple for you.

Today we’re diving into “rentvesting”, the strategy where you rent in the lifestyle location you love, and invest in property somewhere more affordable to grow your wealth.

It’s a smart workaround for high-price areas like Auckland or Queenstown, and a growing trend for first-home buyers and seasoned investors alike.

This episode’s guest, Ilse Wolfe from Wolfe Property Coaching, shares why she left homeownership in one of New Zealand’s most expensive suburbs, and how rentvesting let her move her family to the beach without adding to their debt.

We break down how to crunch the numbers, how to spot a good rental opportunity, and what rentvesting changes about school zones, security, and even your relationship with your landlord.

Whether you're stuck in an expensive city or just want more freedom, this episode is packed with the real-life tips you need to make it work.

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.

Should kids get pocket money, and what’s the best way to teach them to use it?

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.

Pocket money seems simple, but it can actually be one of the most powerful tools to shape a child’s long-term relationship with money. So… should you pay kids for chores? Give it freely? Or skip it altogether?

In this episode of Ask the Experts, Kiwibank’s Julia Jackson to explore the latest research on kids and money, including how to raise financially confident children in a world of tap-and-go spending.

We unpack:

• The pros and cons of giving pocket money
• Why some parents tie it to chores (and others avoid it completely)
• How to talk to kids about money without stressing them out
• Creative ways to make money feel tangible, even in a digital world
• Tools and apps that help kids safely experiment with spending and saving

If you want the next generation to avoid the financial mistakes you learned the hard way, this one’s essential listening.

Hit play, and get ready for some 'aha' moments.

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.

Fast Money with Jim Mora on Sunday Morning with RNZ. Chatting everything from why your groceries are so expensive, how to save money on insurance, why house prices are down, and how to get the best mortgage rate.

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 Making Cents, the podcast for people who want financial freedom without giving up their coffee.

I’m Frances Cook, an independent financial journalist and fellow financial freedom seeker who makes money simple for you.

Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies are no longer just for tech bros and Reddit threads. As crypto edges closer to the mainstream, new ways to invest are opening up, including through fully regulated, tax-efficient managed funds.

In this episode, I’m joined by Anthony Edmonds, the investment manager behind New Zealand’s first regulated Bitcoin PIE fund.

We break down why he created it, who it’s for, and how it lets everyday investors access Bitcoin without needing to mess around with exchanges, wallets, or tracking capital gains tax.

We cover:

- How regulated Bitcoin PIE funds work (and why they matter)

- Why crypto is shifting from a fringe asset to being part of serious portfolios

- What risks still exist (even in a “boomer-friendly” version of Bitcoin)

- How fund structures like PIEs make investing simpler, especially for high earners

- Whether other coins like Ethereum could follow

If you’re crypto-curious but cautious, this one’s 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.

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.

Buying a house is one of the biggest financial commitments most people ever make, and unless you’re one of the lucky few born into millions, chances are you’ll need a mortgage to do it.

But here’s the part most people don’t realise: how you structure that mortgage can be the difference between paying it off decades from now… or shaving years (and tens of thousands of dollars) off your loan.

In this episode, I’m joined by financial strategist Katie Wesney from EnableMe, who breaks down the biggest mortgage structure mistake people make, and how to fix it.

We unpack how your money personality should shape your strategy, why flexibility can matter more than the lowest rate, and when tools like split loans or revolving credit can supercharge your repayments.

Whether you’re a first-home buyer or already deep into your mortgage journey, this episode is packed with tips to help you build a plan that actually works for your life.

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.

A replay of a conversation with the 1News Breakfast team, on the best tips to save money from your food budget.

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.

Grocery prices have gone off the rails. Butter costs more than brunch, olive oil feels like a luxury item, and meat? Don’t even ask.

It’s enough to derail your entire budget, and for many Kiwis, it already has.

In this episode of Making Cents, I’m joined by Chef Alice Taylor, the force behind @AliceTaylorEats, whose cheap, delicious, and realistic recipes have built a devoted following online.

She’s also furious about how hard it’s become just to feed yourself well, and she’s doing something about it.

We get into:

• The cost-saving kitchen hacks that actually work
• Why she’s calling out politicians over food prices
• How to build a staple pantry that saves you time, money, and stress
• Tips for feeding picky kids, eating with allergies, and still getting the occasional treat

Because while some things are out of our control, there’s still power in what we can do, especially when we share what’s working.

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.