Share

cover art for Making Cents

Making Cents

with Frances Cook

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

Latest episode

  • The four levels of FU money - and how to build them

    32:52|
    If you've ever wondered, what is FU money, and could you ever have enough to quit your job? In this episode Frances breaks down what FU money is, and the four levels that make it easier to achieve, from basic survival funds to true financial independence. Then it's into an Ask Me Anything, for your burning questions including how investment funds work, and the benefits of rentvesting as an alternative to buying a home. LinksFollow Frances Cook on Facebook, Instagram and TikTok, or join the Money Memo newsletter for a free weekly money tip in your inbox each week.

More episodes

View all episodes

  • How to invest in 2025: Predictions, risks, and strategies to sleep easy

    22:35|
    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. This week we’ve partnered up with AMP, which has kindly leant us their expert Aaron Klee, General Manager, Investment Management. We’re talking how it feels like the world is falling apart at the moment, and how to invest through volatility, uncertainty, and a rollercoaster ride of a stock market.LinksFollow Frances Cook on Facebook, Instagram and TikTok, or join the Money Memo newsletter for a free weekly money tip in your inbox each week.
  • Quick Hit: How to turn a creative career into a real business

    11:55|
    A highlight clip from the December 9th episode, “The secret to making money doing what you love”, with Pepper Raccoon, artist and merch designer.LinksFollow Frances Cook on Facebook, Instagram and TikTok, or join the Money Memo newsletter for a free weekly money tip in your inbox each week.
  • “Screw it, just try” – how to turn your side hustle into the main hustle

    50:20|
    Beth Vickers, vocal coach, singer, doula, gardening influencer, shares how motherhood led to changing everything about her career. It can be really hard to make life and work fit together, and that’s particularly the case when kids come along. Time becomes scarcer than ever, but you also very much need to keep paying the bills. Now you might not think that that’s the ideal time to launch your own business… but that’s what one mum did. She took the leap into the self-employed life, and found that with a bit of planning she was actually working less, earning more, and enjoying life a lot more. Here’s the unusual way she made it work. LinksFollow Frances Cook on Facebook, Instagram and TikTok, or join the Money Memo newsletter for a free weekly money tip in your inbox each week.
  • The smart house seller's guide: Winning tactics for a changing property market

    25:25|
    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.This week I’ve partnered up with realestate.co.nz, who has kindly leant us their expert Vanessa Williams, and we’re talking about what you need to know before you sell your house, so that you can be the smartest seller out there.LinksIf you want to join the Money Bootcamp course, click here https://www.francescook.co.nz/money-bootcampFollow Frances Cook on Facebook, Instagram and TikTok, or join the Money Memo newsletter for a free weekly money tip in your inbox each week.
  • Quick Hit: How to boost your money motivation

    04:29|
    A highlight clip from the November 4th episode, “The no BS strategy for budgeting, investment, and ditching debt”, with Glen James, author of The Quick-Start Guide to Investing and host of the Money Money Money podcast.LinksIf you want to join the Money Bootcamp course, click here https://www.francescook.co.nz/money-bootcampFollow Frances Cook on Facebook, Instagram and TikTok, or join the Money Memo newsletter for a free weekly money tip in your inbox each week.
  • "You can be a good Muslim and be rich" - the world of halal investing

    47:27|
    Muhammad Lambat, content creator and founder of @musliminvesting, shares how halal investing works, and some of the barriers for Muslim people becoming confident with their money. There are lots of issues that can hold people back from learning about their money, and one of them is just feeling like it could all be a bit complicated and hard.So add in a layer of religion, and what works and doesn’t work for your faith, and you have a recipe for people getting confused, and giving up. Enter Muhammad Lambat from Muslim Investing. He’s dedicated himself to figuring out halal investing, and what that means, from whether you can get a mortgage, to when crypto is ok, or not. There are also lots of grey areas, where even people in the know disagree. So let’s jump in to figure it out.  LinksIf you want to join the Money Bootcamp course, click here https://www.francescook.co.nz/money-bootcampFollow Frances Cook on Facebook, Instagram and TikTok, or join the Money Memo newsletter for a free weekly money tip in your inbox each week.