Making Cents

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 being gifted $100K from family.They’ve got a big mortgage, no savings, and a long wish-list that includes home repairs, maternity leave, and some breathing room in the budget.The question: how do you use a windfall like this without wasting it?Frances Cook talks to Katie Wesney, head strategic coach at EnableMe, about how to turn a one-off gift into long-term financial security.They unpack how to prioritise between paying down the mortgage, building an emergency fund, and improving your home, plus smart ways to use a revolving credit account to keep flexibility while cutting interest.If you’ve ever wondered what to do after receiving a cash gift, inheritance, or bonus, this episode will show you how to make every dollar count, avoid the “easy come, easy go” trap, and set yourself up for the future.If you have a letter you’d like us to answer, send it through to ask@francescook.co.nz and you might feature on our next episode!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.This podcast was filmed and produced by FanaticalsVideo editing & content production by Lana Byrne Audio engineering by Tash Chittock

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 every single day. And like it or not, where that money goes can be more powerful than voting or any $5 consumer boycott.The problem? Most of us have no idea what we’re actually investing in.Weapons investing is up 40 per cent. Fossil fuels are on the rise. And some of the world’s biggest corporations are still getting a slice of your retirement savings.In this episode, financial journalist Frances Cook talks to Barry Coates from Mindful Money about how to find out exactly where your KiwiSaver cash is going, and how to shift it somewhere better.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.This podcast was filmed and produced by FanaticalsVideo editing & content production by Lana Byrne Audio engineering by Tash ChittockIt’s easier than you think, it doesn’t hurt your returns, and it could be your most powerful vote yet.Because you really can get rich without selling your soul.

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-hour rule, the cost per use rule, or the fun budget work better?LinksFollow Frances Cook on Facebook, Instagram and TikTok. Join the Money Memo newsletter for a free weekly money tip in your inbox each week, or become a confident sharemarket investor by joining the Market Memo newsletter.

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 listener who wants to invest but feels locked out of the residential market.With house prices still sky-high in many areas, this listener asks if commercial property could be the secret path to becoming an investor, or if it’s just a riskier bet in disguise.Frances Cook talks to Vanessa Williams from http://Realestate.co.nz about what first-time investors need to know before diving into commercial property.They break down how the commercial property market compares to residential, what really drives returns and risk, and why things like tenant quality, lease length, and economic trends matter far more than location or school zones.This episode shows you how commercial property investing works in New Zealand, what it costs to get started, and whether it could actually be your next move.If you have a letter you’d like us to answer, send it through to ask@francescook.co.nz and you might feature on our next episode!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.This podcast was filmed and produced by FanaticalsVideo editing & content production by Lana Byrne Audio engineering by Tash Chittock

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 of failure so strong it followed her for nearly two decades, even as she rose to lead one of New Zealand’s most successful lifestyle brands.In this episode of Making Cents, Frances Cook talks to Claire about what it takes to rebuild after financial loss, how to turn failure into a learning curve, and why she now believes fear is proof you’re on the right path.Claire shares the hard-won lessons behind her career; from driving boxes of candles around the country, to running Ecoya, and now launching Bowie, an at-home microneedling and skincare startup she funded after selling her family home.This conversation covers:Overcoming the fear of failure in business and lifeRebuilding confidence after losing moneyInvesting in yourself and starting againEntrepreneurship and leadership in New ZealandTurning anxiety into action and using fear as motivationEven after a $100k setback, you can still build back stronger.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.This podcast was filmed and produced by FanaticalsVideo editing & content production by Lana Byrne Audio engineering by Tash Chittock

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 how to find a good side hustle, and do it without tanking your finances.LinksFollow Frances Cook on Facebook, Instagram and TikTok. Join the Money Memo newsletter for a free weekly money tip in your inbox each week, or become a confident sharemarket investor by joining the Market Memo newsletter.

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 living costs, and no full-time second income, the numbers don’t add up.Their savings are shrinking fast, and the stress is rising even faster.In this week’s Ask the Experts, Frances Cook and EnableMe’s head strategic coach Katie Wesney unpack what really causes wealth to feel fragile, even when you’re technically “doing well.”They dig into why cash flow, not just net worth, determines your financial stability, and how to fix a lifestyle that’s quietly burning through your safety net.From whether to sell shares or take out a mortgage again, to tough calls around private school fees and property priorities, this episode gets real about trade-offs, structure, and sustainability.If you’ve ever wondered how people with big assets still end up broke on paper, or you’re feeling the pinch of a high-cost lifestyle yourself, this one’s essential listening.If you have a letter you’d like us to answer, please send it through to ask@francescook.co.nz and you might feature on our next episode!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.This podcast was filmed and produced by FanaticalsVideo editing & content production by Lana Byrne Audio engineering by Tash Chittock

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 money decisions you’re most curious about, including:What my actual investment portfolio looks like (and why lazy wins)How to set up your bank accounts to kill money stressWhether to pay off debt, boost KiwiSaver, or start investing firstWhen to sell your shares, and when to hold your nerveHow to rebuild financially after hitting resetPlus, the truth about credit card rewards, lifestyle creep, and my own financial freedom numberPerfect for anyone juggling mortgages, investments, or just trying to make smarter everyday money moves.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.This podcast was filmed and produced by FanaticalsVideo editing & content production by Lana Byrne Audio engineering by Tash Chittock

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 the pinch. Business confidence is down, unemployment is up, and core cost-of-living measures such as food and power prices don’t look good. Interest rates are now falling, but house prices are staying flat. So is there hope for an economic comeback, or is there the possibility of a deeper crash? Time to bring in the experts, with: Simplicity chief economist Shamubeel EaqubInterest.co.nz economics and politics reporter Dan BrunskillANZ senior economist Miles Workman. They’re ready to break down what’s actually going on, and what you need to know to protect your money, and ride out the storm. We’ll debate:The Reserve Bank’s "shock therapy" OCR cut, and whether more is comingWhether NZ’s housing market is bouncing back or still heading down.The truth about job security and the real state of the labour market.The smartest money moves right now, for mortgages, savings, and KiwiSaver.LinksFollow Frances Cook on Facebook, Instagram and TikTok. Join the Money Memo newsletter for a free weekly money tip in your inbox each week, or become a confident sharemarket investor by joining the Market Memo newsletter.This podcast was filmed and produced by FanaticalsVideo editing & content production by Lana Byrne Audio engineering by Tash Chittock