Making Cents

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

Here’s a wild stat to kick things off: almost one in three New Zealanders have accidentally bought a house.

Not just wealthy investors, we're talking first-home buyers too.

So how on earth does that happen? And what does it tell us about the current New Zealand housing market, property prices, and buying strategies?

For this episode I’m joined by Vanessa Williams from http://realestate.co.nz , who’s got the data to explain it all, and how you can be ready if an unexpected homeownership opportunity lands in your lap.

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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 highlight clip from the February 3rd episode, “From how I invest, to getting rid of the mortgage fast: A chaotic Ask Me Anything episode”, with Frances Cook

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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.

Has the world gone mad, and is that why gold prices are hitting record highs?

With inflation, war, and market instability making headlines, more people are asking the same question: Should I be investing in gold?

It’s the classic “safe haven” asset. But is it actually safe? And is now the right time, or are you already too late?

In this solo episode, I’m cutting through the hype to help you decide whether gold deserves a spot in your investment strategy, or if it’s just fear in a shiny wrapper.

We talk about:

– Why gold spikes during global chaos

– When it works… and when it really doesn’t

– The biggest gold investing mistakes to avoid

– How to actually buy gold (without getting scammed)

– Whether gold is right for your money goals

If you’ve ever wondered whether gold is a smart move or just investing FOMO, this episode’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.

I’m sure you’ve heard this one before: that you need to do everything possible to buy a house, right now, as soon as possible, because rent is dead money and you are falling behind every single day that you don’t own your own home.

But is that true?

Not necessarily. There’s a lot more nuance here, and both the numbers and lifestyle need to be part of the conversation.

In this episode, I’m breaking it all down with Katie Wesney from EnableMe:

• Is renting really a waste of money, or can it work with a different financial strategy?
• How to turn “dead money” into wealth by investing the rent gap
• The reality of renting in New Zealand vs countries like Germany
• Why homeownership often matters more in retirement
• Katie’s five-point financial plan for successful renting

Whether you’re a renter wondering if you’re falling behind, or a homeowner stressing about your mortgage, this episode is full of real talk and smart tactics to help you make 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 how being too polite could actually cost you thousands of dollars.

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 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.

If your hair really bothered you, to the point where you thought about it all the time, would you spend $20,000 on a permanent fix?

Today’s guest did exactly that. And not only does he say it was worth it, he also says it was a good financial decision.

That’s a bold claim, but he would know. Because he’s a financial adviser.

Now, you might be thinking, “That’s nice if you’ve got $20,000 to throw away on your hair.” But as he puts it, that’s the point.

The whole reason to pursue financial freedom is so that you can spend money on the things that really matter to you, without going into debt, and while still hitting your other long-term goals, like buying a house, saving for retirement, or investing to build wealth.

In this episode we talk about:

– Values-based spending

– Budgeting for major lifestyle expenses

– How to avoid financial guilt

– Tools for tracking your money

– And yes... does a hair transplant hurt?

It’s money, mindset, and spending without regret.

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.

Here’s a scary stat for you: there’s research that shows your money personality is already set, done, dusted, by the time you’re seven. Seven!

That’s well before most parents start talking to their kids about money — let alone teaching them how to save, budget, or understand the value of a dollar.

So what does that mean for your kids' financial future? And what can you do if you didn’t get a great financial education growing up?

In this episode, we tackle the big questions around raising money-smart kids, breaking bad money habits, and how to teach financial literacy at home, even if you’re still figuring it out yourself.

Kiwibank's Julia Jackson is a pro in helping families build stronger money habits. We dive into:

• How to teach kids about money at different ages, from pocket money to their first job
• Practical ways to build financial literacy at home (without needing to be an expert)
• The importance of age-appropriate money lessons, and how to tailor them to your child
• How kids absorb money behaviours from you (even if you never talk about it)

It's practical steps to raise financially confident kids — no spreadsheets required

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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 what's happening with the economy, will house prices go back up, and should you be investing in gold at a time like this?

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.

You’ll definitely recognise the name of today’s guest - Jay-Jay Feeney, who was on the airwaves across New Zealand for 33 years. 

A radio career that many would kill for, except she decided to chuck it all in, and launch a business instead. 

Taking all of that radio knowledge and channelling it into what she sees as the future for audio: podcasting. 

Problem being, she’s the first to admit that she’s not naturally a business-person. 

So she decided to team up with someone she trusted, her ex-husband, fellow former radio host Dom Harvey. 

The ex is not who most people would go into business with, but Jay-Jay and Dom are not like most former couples. 

They decided that trust, and their continuing friendship, was the most important foundation to build their business on. They’ve got practice because they’ve actually never really bothered to separate their finances, just the romantic relationship.

So, the business parts, they figured they could also work out together.  

This episode dives into the real behind-the-scenes of what it takes to reinvent your career, including:

• How Jay-Jay financially planned to leave her high-profile job
• The challenges of starting a bricks-and-mortar business in today’s economy
• The risks and rewards of entrepreneurship
• What happens if the business doesn’t become profitable, and how long she’s giving herself to find out

Whether you're thinking about quitting your job, launching a podcast, or starting a business with someone unexpected, this is a must-listen episode packed with honest insights on personal finance, career reinvention, and startup life in New Zealand.

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.