Making Cents

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...

No pay rise? How to ask for benefits instead

11 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Fast Money with Jim Mora on Sunday Morning with RNZ. Chatting everything from cost-of-living savings, how to pay off debt faster, how to get a pay ris...

Side hustle mistakes that cost you time and money

10 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Side hustles can boost your money life, but only if you avoid the mistakes that tank most people early on.In this episode of Making Cents: Ask the Exp...

How to find a financial adviser you can actually trust (In NZ)

07 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Finding a financial adviser in New Zealand can feel both overwhelming, and risky.With so many options, how do you know who to trust with your money, y...

Small changes to beat the cost of living

04 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Whether you're hitting the supermarket, or paying your regular bills, here are some quick ways to tackle the cost of living in your daily life. France...

The KiwiSaver trap: why a common tactic can accidentally torpedo your nest egg

03 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Are you accidentally sabotaging your KiwiSaver?KiwiSaver is one of the most powerful tools New Zealanders have for growing wealth, but if you’re on ...

From Uber to dog poop: The side hustles people really get paid for

31 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Everyone wants a bit of extra cash, but are side hustles actually worth your time, or just another way to burn out?From driving for Uber to picking up...

Cheap reno wins vs expensive fails: What adds real value

27 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Small fixes for a big win: it’s time for renovations that actually add valueNot all renovations are created equal. Some upgrades could cost you thou...

Outsmart the cost of living: Here’s why your wallet feels empty

26 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Why does life still feel so expensive?In this webinar, we break down what’s really driving the cost of living in New Zealand, and why your grocery b...

How to quit the money guilt (without quitting your financial goals)

24 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Feeling guilty every time you spend money? You’re not alone, but it might be doing more harm than good.In this episode of Making Cents, we’re divi...

Why New Zealanders are scared of the sharemarket

21 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

A quick hit highlight clip from the April 2025 episode "Housing, KiwiSaver, and debt: Solving NZ’s biggest money issues with the Retirement Commissi...

How to stay motivated when your money goals feel too big

20 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Ever felt like your financial goals are just too far away?Whether you're dreaming of financial independence, planning for early retirement, or just tr...

When stage 4 cancer hit, financial independence gave her room to breathe

17 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

What if the worst happened, but you were financially ready?When Caroline Gordon was diagnosed with stage four bowel cancer, everything changed. But be...

How do banks decide if they'll lower interest rates - and are they going down more?

16 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

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 joi...

We love Lotto, but investing loves us back

14 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

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 conversa...

From broke to thriving: Money fixes for self-employed and side hustlers

13 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Are you enjoying the freedom of self-employment - or just underpaid, overworked, and financially stressed?Running your own business can give you freed...

“We sold everything and moved into a caravan” - creating financial freedom without the fat paycheck

10 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

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 inheritanc...

How to stop guilt sabotaging your money goals

07 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

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 TV...

Are house prices about to drop more? What you need to know in 2025

06 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

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...

Building FU money on an average income - "Enough is not a number, it's a decision"

03 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

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...

Major money changes you need to know: protect your savings account, KiwiSaver cuts, and grocery fights

31 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

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 KiwiSave...

The real estate standoff: Buyers, sellers, and the gap no one wants to close

30 Jul 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...

Being too polite could cost you $240,850

27 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

What if being polite was secretly draining your bank account?Welcome to Making Cents, the podcast for people who want financial freedom without giving...