Free Daily Podcast Summary
Making Cents: Daily Summaries Delivered
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 journalist, to talk about the proven ways to invest your way to financial independence, buy your first home, or just get your spending under control. Every Monday we have the week's feature interview, with someone who's done something interesting with their money. From paying off a mountain of debt, or investing for financial independence, or starting a new business, these are the ordinary people making the extraordinary possible. On Thursday we have Ask the Experts, where industry insiders answer your questions on the money world. From earning more in your career, to investing, or sticking to a budget, they'll help make money simple. Every now and then you'll get a bonus episode too, but the fun of those is that you never know when they're coming!
Latest Episodes
The most recent episodes — sign up to get AI-powered summaries of each one.
- 3 days ago36 min
Why Kiwis Are Quitting to Go Solo, And How To Succeed
Even the worst economy can still have winners - if you figure out the lay of the land, and have the courage to bet on yourself.Sarah Davies, founder of Sweet Spot Business Coaching, joins Frances Cook on Making Cents to share the roadmap to ditching employment and thriving as a solopreneur or independent consultant. From her "proof first" validation method to avoiding the feast-and-famine trap, Sarah pulls back the curtain on how to build a business that gives you your time back.In this episode:Why being good at what you do and running a business require two different skill setsThe biggest mistake new business owners make: building on guesswork instead of evidenceThe "proof first" validation method: how 5 conversations can save you 2 years of trial and errorWhy tough economic downturns create massive opportunities for fractional consultantsThe pricing trap: factoring in taxes and overheads so you don't work for less than minimum wageEscaping the feast-and-famine cycle: how to build marketing systems that fit your strengthsWhy niching down makes you referable, while being a generalist leaves you overlookedHow New Zealand business owners can access up to 50% government co-funding through Regional Business PartnersAs mentioned in the episode, take Sarah’s free 2-minute "Win More Work" quiz to spot the gaps and get your custom action report: https://win-more-work.scoreapp.com/Whether you're facing redundancy, craving freedom over your calendar, or ready to turn your professional skills into an independent business, this episode breaks down practical steps to help you take the leap on your own terms.This episode is supported by Tiger Fintech (NZ) Limited.Sign up through my link to get an extra NZ$100 Stock Discount Voucher. You can also scan the QR code on screen, or enter FRANCESCOOK (all one word, no space) as your Invitation Code https://www.tigersecurities.com/signup?&invite=FRANCESCOOK®ion=NZL&lang=en_USTo qualify, your Net Deposit also needs to reach NZ$2,000 within 14 days of your first deposit.This is not financial advice. Investing carries risk. Terms and conditions apply to each campaign. See tigerbroker.nz for more.T&C’s https://www.tigerbrokers.nz/activity/forapp/rules?id=COOK2628Follow me everywhere!Facebook / https://www.facebook.com/FrancesCookNZInstagram / https://www.instagram.com/francescooknzTikTok / https://www.tiktok.com/@francescooknzJoin the Money Memo newsletter for a free weekly money tip in your inbox each week https://www.francescook.co.nz/subscribeBecome a confident sharemarket investor by signing up to the Market Memo newsletter https://www.francescook.co.nz/invest#MakingCents #FrancesCook #MakingCentsPodcast #InvestingPodcast #MoneyPodcast #FinancialFreedomProduction and video editing by Lana ByrneAudio engineering by Tash ChittockFilmed by Fanaticals
- 6 days ago5 min
Nobody Is Talking About Property This Election. Here Is Why That Is Actually Good News
With election day almost here, I join the TVNZ Breakfast team to look at what the financial promises actually tell us, why the KiwiSaver focus is welcome but incomplete, and what it means that property has barely come up this campaign.Join the Money Memo newsletter for a free weekly money tip in your inbox each week https://www.francescook.co.nz/subscribeBecome a confident sharemarket investor by signing up to the Market Memo newsletter https://www.francescook.co.nz/investFollow me everywhere!Facebook / https://www.facebook.com/FrancesCookNZInstagram / https://www.instagram.com/francescooknzTikTok / https://www.tiktok.com/@francescooknz#MakingCents #FrancesCook #MakingCentsPodcast #InvestingPodcast #MoneyPodcast #FinancialFreedom
- 1 weeks ago19 min
Want a Promotion? Make or Save Your Boss Money (A CEO Explains)
How far you get in your career isn't always down to how hard you work. Sometimes, what you really need is someone in your corner.Sarah Wood left school at 17. Today, she is the CEO of http://realestate.co.nz - New Zealand’s longest-standing property site - and heads a business named our number one small workplace two years running.Sarah Wood joins Frances Cook on Making Cents to share the real-world career moves that get you noticed and promoted. From learning how to make or save a business money to building a personal board of directors and navigating leadership with a family, Sarah shares practical steps to help you back your ambition and step into senior roles.In this episode:The best early career rule: learning how to make a company money or save it moneyWhy understanding commercial numbers matters more than job titlesHow to build a "personal board of directors" to guide your next career stepHow to ask someone for coffee without feeling awkwardVetting workplace culture and team fit during the interview processThe reality of managing a big leadership role alongside three teenagersWhy career mistakes are really just continuous learningWhether you want to move up the ladder, pivot industries, or build the confidence to back your own voice, this episode breaks down practical steps to help you build your career on your own terms.Follow me everywhere!Facebook / https://www.facebook.com/FrancesCookNZInstagram / https://www.instagram.com/francescooknzTikTok / https://www.tiktok.com/@francescooknzJoin the Money Memo newsletter for a free weekly money tip in your inbox each week https://www.francescook.co.nz/subscribeBecome a confident sharemarket investor by signing up to the Market Memo newsletter https://www.francescook.co.nz/invest#MakingCents #FrancesCook #MakingCentsPodcast #InvestingPodcast #MoneyPodcast #FinancialFreedomProduction and video editing by Lana ByrneAudio engineering by Tash ChittockFilmed by Fanaticals
- 1 weeks ago43 min
Is The Worst Over For NZ? Simplicity’s Sam Stubbs on Housing, NZ Super & More
The money world feels like it’s falling apart, but underneath the doom and gloom, is New Zealand’s economy actually on the brink of its best 30 years?Between high petrol prices, food bills, and a housing downturn, everyday life feels tough. Yet for the first time in modern history, house prices have dropped 30% in Auckland without dragging the wider economy into a deep recession. We are moving from a country that borrows to an economy that saves and invests - and that changes the game.Sam Stubbs, founder of Simplicity, joins Frances Cook on Making Cents to challenge the story we've been telling ourselves about our money. Sam shares why New Zealand is at a major turning point, how KiwiSaver is quietly transforming our wealth, and the simple shifts we need to make to stop copying a poverty mindset.In this episode:Why Auckland house prices dropped 30% without crashing the economyBorrowing vs investing: why saving our way to prosperity beats debtThe Australia comparison: how a $1 trillion KiwiSaver pool could wipe out our infrastructure deficitWhy KiwiSaver must become compulsory with rising contributionsThe side-pocketing rule: unlocking billions of KiwiSaver funds for local startups and high-growth businessesWhy the best investment you can ever make during tough times is in yourselfWhether you are feeling squeezed by the cost of living or wondering where the New Zealand economy is really heading, this episode breaks down what you need to know to take control of your financial future on your own terms.
- 1 weeks ago54 min
NZ Election 2026: What It Means for Your Money. LIVE WEBINAR REPLAY
Election day is almost here, and money is top of mind for a lot of us.In this special live edition of Making Cents, I’m joined by:Claire Matthews from Massey UniversityMichael Gorin from EnableMeDean Anderson, Founder and CEO of KernelGeorgia Grange, Head of NZ at RevolutWe dig into the financial issues on the table, what the parties are promising, and whether those fixes could actually work.KiwiSaver: is the political focus deserved, and what should change as it nears its 20th birthday?The cost of living squeeze: record fuel prices, rising unemployment and inflation, and what you can do now Investing through uncertainty: are there opportunities amid the chaos?Competition in banking and supermarkets: will the proposed policies move the needle?The property market: Auckland’s average price dips under $1m for the first time since 2020, and what a two-speed economy means for building wealth What the politicians are getting right, and the missed opportunities.Join the Money Memo newsletter for a free weekly money tip in your inbox each week https://www.francescook.co.nz/subscribeBecome a confident sharemarket investor by signing up to the Market Memo newsletter https://www.francescook.co.nz/investFollow me everywhere!Facebook / https://www.facebook.com/FrancesCookNZInstagram / https://www.instagram.com/francescooknzTikTok / https://www.tiktok.com/@francescooknz#MakingCents #FrancesCook #MakingCentsPodcast #InvestingPodcast #MoneyPodcast #FinancialFreedom
- 2 weeks ago17 min
How Much Do You Really Need to Retire in NZ?
Do you really need $1 million to retire? Scary headlines say so, and that falling short means facing cold, miserable years ahead.But for most people, that massive benchmark is unhelpful, daunting, and causes people to give up before they even start.Katie Wesney, Head Strategic Coach at EnableMe, joins Frances Cook on Making Cents to dismantle the $1 million retirement myth and help you find your actual number.In this episode:The $1 million retirement myth: why one-size-fits-all numbers cause people to freezeFinding your baseline: how to audit three months of bank statements and strip out temporary costsThe cost of kids and mortgages in retirement: why paying down debt early unlocks your planCash flow leaks: how cutting $10,000 of yearly waste saves you $250,000 across retirementSavings vs investing: why KiwiSaver and growth assets are essential to bridge the gapWhy 65 isn't a financial cliff: using investment buckets to keep your money growingFollow me everywhere!Facebook / https://www.facebook.com/FrancesCookNZInstagram / https://www.instagram.com/francescooknzTikTok / https://www.tiktok.com/@francescooknzJoin the Money Memo newsletter for a free weekly money tip in your inbox each week https://www.francescook.co.nz/subscribeBecome a confident sharemarket investor by signing up to the Market Memo newsletter https://www.francescook.co.nz/invest#MakingCents #FrancesCook #MakingCentsPodcast #InvestingPodcast #MoneyPodcast #FinancialFreedomProduction and video editing by Lana ByrneAudio engineering by Tash ChittockFilmed by Fanaticals
- 2 weeks ago46 min
NZ Food Prices: What The Supermarket Debate Is Missing
We grow enough food in New Zealand to feed 40 million people - eight times our own population. So why does your weekly grocery bill feel like it’s eating your entire paycheque?Angela Clifford, CEO of Eat New Zealand, joins Frances Cook on Making Cents to unpack why our food model feels broken and how everyday eaters hold the power to fix it. Living on a North Canterbury permaculture farm where her family produces roughly 80% of what they consume, Angela explains why "community sufficiency" beats pure self-reliance, and what simple shifts we can make this week to cut costs and take back control of our food.In this episode:Feeding 40 million vs food insecurity: why a third of Kiwi families are struggling to put food on the tableThe financialisation of food: how a system meant to feed us became focused on shareholder returnsWhy Kiwi farmers are price-takers, not price-makers, and why the current model doesn't work for growers eitherOffshoring our staples: the reality of shipping local fish overseas to be crumbed and sent backWhy fresh food from farmers' markets, local butchers, and green grocers is often cheaper than the supermarketResisting the convenience trap: why frictionless delivery apps and supermarket AI cost you moreHow to "find your food people"Why New Zealand needs a dedicated Food Minister and a national food security strategyWhether you are trying to trim your grocery budget or want to know where your food actually comes from, this episode breaks down practical steps to help you take control of your plate and your money 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/FrancesCookNZInstagram / https://www.instagram.com/francescooknzTikTok / https://www.tiktok.com/@francescooknzJoin the Money Memo newsletter for a free weekly money tip in your inbox each week https://www.francescook.co.nz/subscribeBecome a confident sharemarket investor by signing up to the Market Memo newsletter https://www.francescook.co.nz/invest#MakingCents #FrancesCook #MakingCentsPodcast #InvestingPodcast #MoneyPodcast #FinancialFreedomProduction and video editing by Lana ByrneAudio engineering by Tash ChittockFilmed by Fanaticals
- 2 weeks ago4 min
The 80% Rule: Why I Turn Down Most Sponsors
Two years into running Making Cents as an independent business, I sit down with the TVNZ Business Breakfast team to talk about what I got right, what went wrong, and what I wish I had known before I jumped.Join the Money Memo newsletter for a free weekly money tip in your inbox each week https://www.francescook.co.nz/subscribeBecome a confident sharemarket investor by signing up to the Market Memo newsletter https://www.francescook.co.nz/investFollow me everywhere!Facebook / https://www.facebook.com/FrancesCookNZInstagram / https://www.instagram.com/francescooknzTikTok / https://www.tiktok.com/@francescooknz#MakingCents #FrancesCook #MakingCentsPodcast #InvestingPodcast #MoneyPodcast #FinancialFreedom
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About Making Cents
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 journalist, to talk about the proven ways to invest your way to financial independence, buy your first home, or just get your spending under control. Every Monday we have the week's feature interview, with someone who's done something interesting with their money. From paying off a mountain of debt, or investing for financial independence, or starting a new business, these are the ordinary people making the extraordinary possible. On Thursday we have Ask the Experts, where industry insiders answer your questions on the money world. From earning more in your career, to investing, or sticking to a budget, they'll help make money simple. Every now and then you'll get a bonus episode too, but the fun of those is that you never know when they're coming!
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Frequently Asked Questions
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