Episodes 189
Avg. Duration 28m
Activity Highly Active
Since Aug 2024
Latest Episode Jan 2026

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Schedule
Every Few Days
Format
Episodic
Consistency
77%
Hosting
feeds.acast.com

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About This Podcast

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!


Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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Recent Episodes

5 things I wish I knew before investing

Jan 04, 2026 18m

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 that.I’m sharing the five things I wish I knew before I…

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

Dec 31, 2025 19m

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 this actually enough?In this Ask the Experts…

Three money psychology shifts that changed how I handle money

Dec 28, 2025 29m

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 pulling together three powerful money psychology…

What could a Santa Rally mean for our money?

Dec 25, 2025 16m

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 spending over the silly season, and the forecast…

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

Dec 24, 2025 16m

Hitting the milestone of $1 million in the bank should feel like financial freedom, but for many people approaching retirement, it’s the moment where the fear kicks in.When a term deposit matures and…

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

Dec 21, 2025 35m

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 about how you handle your money.Open banking is…

Why investing got weird in 2025 - Webinar REPLAY

Dec 18, 2025 41m

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 almost overnight.KiwiSaver turned into an…

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

Dec 17, 2025 17m

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, the kids are nearly out the door, and retirement…

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

Dec 14, 2025 59m

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 morning.She’s also living proof that starting over and…

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

Dec 11, 2025 8m

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 TVNZ Breakfast team to talk about it, replayed…

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

Dec 10, 2025 19m

Ever wondered whether those “mortgage-free in five years” hacks you see online are real, or just clever marketing?With so many mortgage “shortcuts” floating around social media, it’s hard to know…

How nine years in a tiny home bought freedom

Dec 07, 2025 36m

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 tiny house, Kasia Morrison has rebuilt her entire…

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

Dec 03, 2025 17m

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 out what’s actually happening.A listener from…

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

Nov 30, 2025 39m

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 started Money Sweetspot because, in her own words, she…

How to take the first steps into investing

Nov 27, 2025 8m

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 you've been wanting to dip a toe into the…

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

Nov 26, 2025 19m

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 life looks like at 70… where do you even begin?That’s…

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

Nov 23, 2025 19m

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 mine.With just a small repayment, years…

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

Nov 20, 2025 56m

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 felt confused by the options, this is the live…

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

Nov 19, 2025 16m

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 Cents mailbag episode, a listener in their 70s…

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

Nov 16, 2025 43m

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 crisis.In this episode of Making Cents, financial…

Frequently Asked Questions

How many episodes does Making Cents have?

Making Cents has published 189 episodes since August 2024, covering topics in Business, Education.

Is Making Cents still active?

Making Cents is currently highly active with new episodes every few days. Average episode length is 28m.

How do I contact Making Cents for sponsorship or guest appearances?

Sign up on Grep.FM to access contact details for Making Cents, including email and social media links.

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