Making Cents

The 5 Levels of Financial Freedom: Which One Are You?

06 May 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Financial freedom is a series of levels, and once you understand them, the whole thing stops feeling impossible and starts feeling like a plan.In this...

The Emotion Sabotaging Your Money (A Psychologist Explains)

03 May 2026

Contributed by Lukas

You know what you should be doing with your money. So why aren't you doing it?You know you should ask for the raise. Start investing. Stop spending on...

War in Iran Is About To Hit Your Mortgage And Your Money - WEBINAR REPLAY

30 Apr 2026

Contributed by Lukas

The war in Iran is already moving mortgage rates, and it's not done yet.Interest rates are moving, and this will change everything with your money. Be...

$54M Wiped From NZ Property: Here's What It Actually Means

29 Apr 2026

Contributed by Lukas

The New Zealand property market is shifting, and the latest data from http://realestate.co.nz tells us exactly how.In just the last three months, sell...

Wendy Petrie Lost Her Dream Job at 50… Then Reinvented Her BEST Life

26 Apr 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Made redundant in your 50s? It might just be the start of something.After decades as one of New Zealand's most recognised news presenters, Wendy Petri...

Interest Rates Are Going Up, What To Do Next

23 Apr 2026

Contributed by Lukas

With warnings that interest rates are heading up fast and soon, Frances Cook joins the TVNZ Breakfast team to break down what mortgage holders can do ...

The Iran War Is Already Costing You, Here's What To Do About It

22 Apr 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Petrol is up 43%. Diesel has nearly doubled. But the financial damage from the Iran war goes way deeper than what you're paying at the pump, and a lot...

How A ‘Personal Brand’ Gets You Paid More (Even If You’re Not An Influencer)

19 Apr 2026

Contributed by Lukas

tbcThis episode of Making Cents is proudly supported by Odoo. Go to https://www.odoo.com/r/hpl now and try it for free, for 15 days.Follow me everywhe...

How To Live The Good Life For Less

16 Apr 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Five clever ways to live the good life without blowing the budget, because cutting lattes isn't the only answer. A replay of Frances Cook's column for...

Should You Buy Property or Invest in Stocks? Most Kiwis Get This Wrong

15 Apr 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Property vs shares. It’s one a big investing decision, and also an easy one to get stuck on.In this Ask the Experts episode, we’re tackling a ques...

She Went From 'Bad With Money' To Successful Investor: What Actually Worked

12 Apr 2026

Contributed by Lukas

She used to think she was “bad with money.”Now she’s a confident, and unapologetically unconventional, investor.In this episode of Making Cents,...

The Quick Calculation To Know If Solar and EVs Are Right For You

09 Apr 2026

Contributed by Lukas

With power prices and fuel costs climbing, Frances Cook joins the TVNZ Breakfast team to break down who solar panels and electric vehicles actually ma...

Breakup reset: how to rebuild financially in your 40s and 50s

08 Apr 2026

Contributed by Lukas

A breakup doesn’t just end a relationship. It can blow up the entire financial plan you built together.For many people in their 40s and 50s, that me...

How to eat better food, spend less, and feel good about it - with Michal Garvey from Foodprint

05 Apr 2026

Contributed by Lukas

You can cancel subscriptions, ditch takeaway coffee, and trim your budget… but you still have to eat. And the way most of us shop for food? It’s c...

I Spent $89,000 on Solar And Electric Car In NZ… Was It Worth It?

01 Apr 2026

Contributed by Lukas

I spent $89,000 on solar power and an electric car… and it has a better return on investment than the sharemarket.With electricity prices rising fas...

Iran, Oil, and Your Money: Why Everything Is More Expensive And Your Investments Are Tanking - WEBINAR REPLAY

31 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

A conflict in the Middle East is already showing up in Kiwi bank accounts, after sending shockwaves through the global economy. From food to petrol, d...

From $30,000 Debt to Financially Free and Travelling the World: The Shift That Changed Everything

29 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Emma Healey knows about financial transformation - she went from debt and financial s...

Fast Fixes for Rising Costs: Fuel, Food, and Finances

26 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

As the Iran conflict keeps pushing up the costs of daily essentials, Frances Cook joins the TVNZ Breakfast team to talk about how you can save money o...

Is politics about to ruin my first home buying plans?

25 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Is politics about to derail your house buying plans?With an election looming, talk of capital gains taxes, housing policy changes, and the possibility...

Supermarket Tricks, Insurance Hacks & Subscription Traps: How to Stop Overpaying

22 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Why does it feel like you’re always spending more than you meant to?No, you’re not imagining it. Modern consumer life is full of supermarket trick...

How To Save Your Cash When The Price Of Everything Is Going Up

19 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Just as we were hoping for a break in the cost of living, fuel and food prices are heading up again. So how can you protect your cash, and find saving...

The KiwiSaver Change that could save you $21,500

18 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

KiwiSaver is changing, and you need to know what that means for your money.The Government has changed the rules, and they’re coming in to force now....

After Financial Freedom: A Year Off & A Career Reboot

15 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

What would it take to quit your job, take your kids out of school, and spend a year travelling Australia in a caravan?For Kellie Dawson, it took years...

The Anxiety Premium: How to Stay Calm with KiwiSaver and Investments

12 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Frances Cook joins the TVNZ Breakfast team to talk about why "playing dead" is the best response when your money is hit by a global crisis. Follow me ...

NZ Money Advice That Sounds Smart But Ruins Your Life

11 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Some of the most praised money advice is also some of the worst - depending on your stage of life.Buy a house as soon as possible. Never sell an inves...

Biggest Mistakes NZ Investors Make, with Glen James

08 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Investing can transform your financial future, but many avoid starting because it’s too intimidating.Markets go up and down, there’s endless advic...

Cost of Living Hacks You Haven't Heard 300 Times Before

05 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Frances Cook joins the TVNZ Breakfast team to talk about the ways to save money on daily life, and maybe even earn some extra cash, to get through the...

Widowed in my 50s: how do I invest what we have left?

04 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Losing a partner is devastating. Then on top of the grief, there’s paperwork, big life changes, and financial decisions that feel urgent and overwhe...

How Kiwis Can Earn More In A Bad Economy w Jarrod Haar

01 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

When you’re working hard, ticking the boxes, doing everything “right”, yet still not getting the promotion or pay rise? It’s easy to feel stuc...

The Mortgage Hacks That Actually Work in New Zealand

26 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

A small change to a payment strategy can save hundreds of thousands of dollars and years of repayment time from your mortgage, cutting one of the bigg...

Sell Your Home At A $250k Loss Or Stay Miserable?

25 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

What do you do when you’re stuck between two bad options? Sell a home you bought near the peak of the market, even though it’s now worth hundred...

Is the age of property investment over?

22 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

For decades in New Zealand, property wasn’t just an investment, it was THE investment. The safest bet. The biggest capital gains. Often tax-advan...

How your subscriptions and KiwiSaver can change the world (from little old NZ)

19 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode of Making Cents, Frances Cook joins the TVNZ Breakfast team to talk about the growing "resist and unsubscribe" movement, how everyday ...

How To Get Ahead In NZ Without Earning More

18 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

What if you genuinely can’t earn more? Are you stuck financially? In this Ask the Experts mailbag episode of Making Cents, we tackle a question t...

The real numbers on how to become financially independent, with chartered accountant Bronwyn Candish

15 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

If you want the truth about retiring early as a regular person, it doesn’t come from highlight reels or motivational posts. It comes from the number...

The 4 money personalities that shape how you save, spend, and fight about money

11 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Money fights aren’t really about money. They’re about expectations, and how differently we respond to them. In this episode of Making Cents, I’...

What's going on with markets? Shares, gold, crypto, and the wild ride ahead with RNZ's Jim Mora

09 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

From the real risks behind AI hype and whether we're heading for a crash, to the surprising weakness hiding inside Big Tech's profits, and why digital...

The mortgage mistakes that cost you years of your life, with Mortgage Man Aaron Cattell

08 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

There is a lot of mortgage advice out there that is confidently wrong. And the cost of following it isn’t just money, it’s time. Sometimes year...

How to fix your finances in February before you fall off the wagon

05 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

If you're feeling the February slump and wondering how to get back on track without starting from scratch, this one's for you! A replay of Frances Co...

7 mental traps to avoid when you’re investing

04 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

This episode was originally part of the Market Memo newsletter, where you learn about sharemarket investing every week. You can subscribe to that, her...

How to build wealth like the 1% (on a normal income)

01 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

If you’ve ever wondered what’s actually going on behind the scenes of the 1%, beyond the headlines, Instagram posts, and glossy business profiles,...

How to invest in the sharemarket in 2026 - WEBINAR REPLAY

29 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Everyone says you should start investing in the stock market, but how do you actually do that? Time for a quick roadmap to get you started. Whethe...

"Is renovating my home an investment, or am I fooling myself?" Mailbag episode

28 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Are home renovations actually an investment, or just an expensive way to make your house nicer to live in? In this Ask the Experts mailbag episode, i...

A quick new year money reset

27 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Quick-fire tips and tricks for feeling more in control of your money in 2026. Frances Cook joins the TVNZ Breakfast team to talk about it, replayed h...

How to invest in silver and gold without getting wrecked, with financial adviser Darcy Ungaro

25 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Gold and silver prices are booming, and it’s being driven by something deeper: how people are feeling about their money. When trust starts to bre...

"I’m a saver, he’s a spender, how do we get on the same page?" Mailbag episode

21 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Opposites attract, until it comes to money. This week’s listener says she’s a saver, her partner is a spender, and every attempt to “get seriou...

Olympic psychology that works for your money

18 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Why do so many smart, motivated people struggle to stick to money goals? You set the intention to save more, invest properly, or finally get organise...

What actually matters for your money in 2026 - WEBINAR REPLAY

15 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Time to talk about what will actually move the needle for you in 2026, and help you feel more confident with your money. Whether it’s property, inv...

"We’re $8m richer overnight, now what?" Mailbag episode

14 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Money panic doesn’t always come from not having enough. Sometimes it comes from suddenly having far more than you ever expected - $8 million more, t...

“I invested 100k by 25 - here’s how” with Jane Joo

11 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

They say that the first $100,000 invested is the hardest milestone, but also most important. Once you’re there, compounding starts to do more of the...

“Rental property vs. index funds: should we switch?” Mailbag episode

07 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

An investment property to fund retirement is part of the Kiwi dream to many - but what if it’s not the smartest move? In this Ask the Experts mai...

5 things I wish I knew before investing

04 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

If you’ve ever put off investing because the sharemarket felt scary or “not for people like you,” this episode is your shortcut to getting past ...

5 things I wish I knew before investing

04 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

If you’ve ever put off investing because the sharemarket felt scary or “not for people like you,” this episode is your shortcut to getting past ...

“We’ve saved $80k, is it enough for our first home?” Mailbag episode

31 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Saving $80,000 should feel like a major milestone. But when you’re trying to buy your first home, it can leave you asking a very real question: is t...

“We’ve saved $80k, is it enough for our first home?” Mailbag episode

31 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Saving $80,000 should feel like a major milestone. But when you’re trying to buy your first home, it can leave you asking a very real question: is t...

"We’ve saved $80k, is it enough for our first home?" Mailbag episode

31 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Saving $80,000 should feel like a major milestone. But when you’re trying to buy your first home, it can leave you asking a very real question: is t...

Three money psychology shifts that changed how I handle money

28 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Learning about money is one thing. Actually changing how you behave with it is something else entirely.In this special episode of Making Cents, I’m ...

What could a Santa Rally mean for our money?

25 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Fast Money with Jim Mora on Sunday Morning with RNZ. Talking the end of year GDP bounce, what a Santa Rally would tell us about 2026, how to control s...

“I’ve got $1 million in the bank, what do I do with it?” Mailbag episode

24 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Hitting the milestone of $1 million in the bank should feel like financial freedom, but for many people approaching retirement, it’s the moment wher...

NZ banking just changed all the rules, are you ready? Open banking with Pocketsmith CEO Jason Leong

21 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

New Zealand banking just changed all the rules, and you could be forgiven for not having heard about it, despite the fact this could change everything...

Why investing got weird in 2025 - Webinar REPLAY

18 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

2025 a strange year for money.AI shot up so fast it started giving people Dotcom Bubble flashbacks.Bitcoin lost more than a trillion dollars in value ...

“Do I really need a million dollars to retire?” Mailbag episode

17 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Nothing spikes the heart rate quite like seeing a headline claiming you need a million dollars to retire.This week’s Ask the Experts listener is 47,...

Jenny-May Clarkson on leaving TVNZ, reinvention, and career pivots

14 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Jenny-May Clarkson is one of the most recognisable faces in Aotearoa, from her years as a Silver Fern to fronting the TVNZ Breakfast couch every morni...

Use the bank's money to pay off your mortgage? You bet.

11 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

A quick and dirty update of mortgage tricks to get rid of the debt faster. Including using the bank's money, instead of yours!Frances Cook joins the T...

“Are those ‘mortgage-free in five years’ hacks for real?” Mailbag episode

10 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Ever wondered whether those “mortgage-free in five years” hacks you see online are real, or just clever marketing?With so many mortgage “shortcu...

How nine years in a tiny home bought freedom

07 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

If you’ve ever wondered whether living in a tiny home can genuinely change your life, this is a story worth hearing.After nearly nine years in her t...

“How to find an affordable first home in an expensive city - maybe with a llama?” Mailbag episode

03 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

If property prices are doing your head in and you’re starting to wonder whether buying a first home is even possible anymore, it’s time to figure ...

Angry at credit card debt? Here’s how to fight back, with Sasha Lockley from Money Sweetspot

30 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Plenty of us get angry about the money world being unfair. But few people get angry enough to actually change something.Sasha Lockley did.Sasha starte...

How to take the first steps into investing

27 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Become an investor with less stress, and no finance degree.Frances Cook joins the TVNZ Breakfast team to talk about how to get out of your own way if ...

“Single mum at 46, how do I avoid poverty at 70?” Mailbag episode

26 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

If you’ve pushed money aside for years, only to wake up in your mid-40s with a toddler, a tiny KiwiSaver balance, and a creeping fear about what lif...

I cut 8 years off my mortgage with $20 - here's how

23 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

A simple $20 tweak can dramatically cut down the life of your mortgage, so now it’s time to talk about the strategy I used to shave eight years off ...

Smart, simple, sharemarket investing, get your money strategy ready for 2026. WEBINAR REPLAY

20 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Cash funds, bonds, index funds, shares… what’s the difference, and how do you figure out which mix is right for you?If you want to invest but have...

"My kids want me to get a reverse mortgage, will it ruin their inheritance?” Mailbag episode

19 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

You’ve worked your whole life to pay off the mortgage. The house is finally yours. But somehow, the money worries haven’t gone away.In this Making...

Chef Alice Taylor on budget recipes that actually work: $1.50 loaf, 20c noodles

16 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Supermarket total making your stomach drop? You’re not imagining it, food prices have become one of the biggest pain points of the cost-of-living cr...

Boost your savings without living a boring life

13 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Create a savings buffer without that nagging feeling of deprivation. Frances Cook joins the TVNZ Breakfast team to talk about the savings tips that he...

“We were gifted $100K, how do we not blow it?” Mailbag episode

12 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

A $100,000 gift should feel like freedom, so why does it come with so much pressure?In this Making Cents mailbag episode, a listener writes in after b...

KiwiSaver weapons investing is up 40% - how to invest ethically and still make money, with Mindful Money’s Barry Coates

09 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

One of the biggest tools you’ve got for creating change is already in your pocket - your KiwiSaver.It quietly funds companies, industries, and ideas...

Is the 0.01% rule the secret to guilt-free spending?

06 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Fast Money with Jim Mora on Sunday Morning with RNZ. Does the 0.01% rule help us spend in a smarter way? And if you really hate maths, does the 24-hou...

“I can’t buy a house, is commercial property a better investment?” Mailbag episode

05 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

What if the smartest way to get into property investing isn’t a house at all?That’s the question in this week’s Making Cents mailbag, from a lis...

Overcoming a $100k fear of failure, with Ecoya CEO Claire Barnes

02 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

When Ecoya CEO Claire Barnes was 23, she lost $100,000 of her dad’s life insurance money on a failed business. The experience left her with a fear o...

Smart side hustle strategies for when work isn't paying enough

30 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

If you're looking to earn more money on the side, here's the guide to doing it more successfully.Frances Cook joins the TVNZ Breakfast team to explain...

“We’re paying for private school, two dream homes, and we’re out of cash.” Mailbag episode

29 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

On paper, today’s listener has it made. Two multimillion-dollar homes, no mortgage, and investments on the side.But with private-school fees, high l...

My lazy investing strategy, account hacks, and what real financial freedom looks like: Your questions, answered

26 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

You sent in a flood of money questions, and I’m ready to answer them all.In this Ask Me Anything episode, I’m going unfiltered to talk through the...

Jobs, interest rates, and real strategies for surviving New Zealand's ‘grumpy’ economy WEBINAR REPLAY

23 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

If you feel like you’re doing it tough, you’re far from alone. The New Zealand economy has been struggling, and regular New Zealanders are feeling...

Mailbag: “How much should I save, when my job is shaky?”

22 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

How much should you actually have in savings to feel safe?In this week’s Ask the Experts, it’s a listener letter from someone worried about layoff...

Financiallly free in just 11 years, with The Happy Saver

19 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

What if financial freedom didn’t take a lifetime, but just 11 years?Ruth Henderson,also known as The Happy Saver, proves it’s possible.She’s nev...

Why 'perfect balance' can wreck your finances

16 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Your bank balance might be looking rough, but don’t panic.Frances Cook joins the TVNZ Breakfast team to explain why it’s normal for your money to ...

The $1 trillion time bomb: Why Kiwi families are blowing the inheritance conversation

15 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

New Zealand is in the middle of a $1 trillion inheritance wave, and most families are walking into it completely unprepared.As Baby Boomers move into ...

"I nannied for billionaires, it changed my entire money outlook”: building a business on your own terms, with Hannah Koumakis

12 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

What if the 9-5 is over?The idea of a steady job and one career path for life is becoming rarer, and maybe even unrealistic.In this episode of Making ...

"Shock therapy" OCR cut, job pain, mortgage gain? Here's what's really going on

09 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The Reserve Bank has slashed the Official Cash Rate, so what does that mean for how bad the economy is, and what is coming next?Frances Cook talks to ...

Mailbag: “Can I find an undervalued suburb, or was my parents’ success just luck?”

08 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

A listener letter asks if you can really find an undervalued suburb, or is it all luck?Host Frances Cook is joined by Vanessa Williams from http://rea...

“Consumerism is just filling a void” - how to stop money myths from draining your bank account

05 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

We all like to think we’re making smart money decisions… but half the time it’s actually our unconscious brain calling the shots.The result? Acc...

Why "financial flashpoints" hold you back, and how to fix it

02 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

"Financial flashpoints" are the moments that can take over you subconscious, and quietly derail the best of money plans. They can push smart people, t...

Buying vs building: Which property strategy builds more wealth over time?

01 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Old vs new: Which property strategy builds more wealth?When you're deciding whether to buy a house or build one, you're not just choosing a home, you'...

What I learned from starting over in my 30s

28 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

What really happens when you burn everything down and start over in your late 30s?In this episode of Making Cents, Frances Cook shares the raw reality...

The hidden costs of buying a home (and how to avoid nasty surprises)

24 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Buying a house in New Zealand? Don’t get caught out by hidden costs.In this episode of Ask the Experts, we reveal the true cost of buying a home, be...

How to start investing, and go from $5, to financial freedom. Webinar REPLAY

22 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Think shares are too risky or too complicated? Think again.In this live webinar, Frances Cook is joined by Ruth Henderson from The Happy Saver, indepe...

Why we financially sabotage ourselves, and how to stop

21 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Most of us don’t just make money mistakes, we repeat them.Why? Because our money beliefs and money psychology are quietly running the show.In this e...

Using your home to buy investment property: smart or risky?

17 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

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 me...

What it’s really like to quit work forever at 30, with Captain FI

14 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

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?W...