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Artwork for Making Cents

Making Cents

Frances Cook
Kiwisaver
Financial Independence
Financial Freedom
New Zealand
Interest Rates
Investment Strategies
Investing
Inflation
Real Estate
Financial Planning
Property Investment
Retirement Planning
Debt Management
Kiwibank
Budgeting
Savings
Home Ownership
Property Market
Financial Advice
Mortgages

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, wi... more

PublishesDailyEpisodes273Founded2 years ago
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How ToEducationBusinessInvesting

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Artwork for Making Cents

Latest Episodes

There’s nothing quite like starting young. But most of us don’t build a business before we can vote. Never mind several of them.

Hamish Sutherland is 17 and already on his fourth business.

He felt the spark to get ahead early on but turns out it’s ... more

With the OCR on the rise and inflation heading up again, Frances Cook joins the TVNZ Breakfast team to explain why the safest place for your money depends entirely on when you need it and why bank accounts are not always the answer.

Follow me everyw... more

Free Power Forever? The Real Cost, Payback Time, and Battery Truth on Solar in NZ

18 months ago, I spent $89,000 on home solar and an electric car. I told you about it, and was flooded with questions on how this could work for other people.

(You ca... more

Why do so many high performers end up exhausted and burned out?

Mindset coach Sarah Robb has spent years working in this area, and says that unfortunately, many of us burn ourselves out, usually trying to prove we're good enough.

At 26, Sarah had l... more

Key Facts

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Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

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Recent Guests

Sarah Robb
Mindset coach and speaker
Spring with Sarah
Episode: How to Embrace Ambition Without Burnout, with Mindset Coach Sarah Robb
Mark White-Robinson
Co-founder of Feijoa, a rounding-up savings app
Feijoa
Episode: The $2 Daily Habit That Could Be Worth $419,000 at Retirement
Jim Mora
Host of RNZ Sunday Mornings
RNZ
Episode: Jobs, Mortgages, AI Investing and Extreme Saving Hacks: Your Money News Roundup
James Gibson
Head of Revolut Business
Revolut
Episode: The New Rules of Running a Side Hustle in New Zealand
Jeremy Pak
Chartered accountant and managing director of Velocity Capital
Velocity Capital
Episode: Your Income Cheat Code: How Buying a Business Changes Everything
Bronwyn Candish
Chartered Accountant at Sheppard & Ormsby, advisor on financial freedom strategies
Sheppard & Ormsby
Episode: How to Invest for Financial Freedom - WEBINAR REPLAY
Baqir Hussain
Chartered certified accountant, founder of Finex Accounting
Finex Accounting
Episode: What Accountants Wish You Knew About the IRD
Chris Walsh
Co-founder of MoneyHub
MoneyHub
Episode: The Investing Trap That Even the Experts Fall Into (And How to Avoid It)
Frances Cook
Independent Financial Journalist
Independent
Episode: You're On Your Own, Kid. Here's What That Means For Your Money

Host

Frances Cook
Host of Making Cents

Reviews

4.9 out of 5 stars from 361 ratings
  • Good, just not great

    Frances has some good observations and is clearly accomplished and intelligent. Her work is just not for me. Still well worth a listen.

    Apple Podcasts
    4
    Lunaandhope56
    New Zealand7 months ago
  • Great for early investors

    I love the way Frances manages to give me the confidence to makes changes to how I use my money and also know what I’m doing is working. Knowing you don’t need massive sums to make a difference key messaging that’s consistent

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    lifelonglover
    New Zealanda year ago
  • Money tips made easy

    Frances knowledge experience and passion is transmitted in her words. She’s so relatable and approachable when she talks money. Simple and easy to understand. Broken down into simple steps so that we can apply whatever is shared. Best financial podcast in my experience.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Nancyska33
    New Zealanda year ago
  • Great podcast

    Great podcast especially for those who have little financial literacy. Frances helps us peek behind the curtain and get a better understanding of how our money can work for us.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Jubru21
    New Zealanda year ago
  • Timely and sound

    I’ve been listening to Frances Cook podcast for many months now and being following her on instagram for longer. Her podcast is so informative, timely and based on sound knowledge and market insights. The budgeting and money insights are great! Thanks Frances for bringing good “cents” back into the conversation !! Ka pai

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Melscoelho
    New Zealanda year ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Strong, credible host with real-world experience and data-driven insights.
Some find the pace or tone less fits their style, but the majority praise clarity and usefulness.
Listeners appreciate practical, actionable guidance that's easy to implement.
Frances is clearly knowledgeable and relatable, making money topics feel accessible.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

The New Rules of Running a Side Hustle in New Zealand
Q: At what point do you need to treat the side hustle as a real setup instead of winging it, and how do you structure it?
The guest suggests creating a formal structure early, starting with a separate business account, integrating with accounting software, and gradually adopting automation to handle growing complexity as the business scales.
How to Embrace Ambition Without Burnout, with Mindset Coach Sarah Robb
Q: What does it look like now to operate from scars rather than wounds, and how does that affect your work and life?
Sarah explains that operating from scars means working from lessons learned, with intentional choices and energy awareness, which allows for ambitious goals while maintaining rest and self-trust; it changes how she shows up for clients and manages growth.
The Hidden Areas Of NZ Where Houses Don't Cost As Much
Q: Hi Frances, what should I look at first when evaluating a potential investment property?
Start with your own investment criteria: what cash flow does it need to deliver, how will it contribute to your overall wealth plan, and what does it do for your retirement goals. Don't ask how much you can spend; ask what it needs to deliver for you.
The Truth About NZ's Economy Right Now
Q: What role should the government play in enabling resilience without encouraging dependency?
Create an environment for productivity growth, reduce unnecessary compliance costs, and support strategic investment while avoiding broad handouts, thereby encouraging individual responsibility and long-term sustainability.
The Truth About NZ's Economy Right Now
Q: What could help the average person cope with the cost of living and slow growth?
Focus on prudent spending, build a buffer, and consider shifts toward more productive, scalable sectors; recognize that government handouts may be limited and emphasize personal financial resilience.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About Making Cents

What is Making Cents about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A practical personal-finance show that blends actionable money strategy with real-world stories. Across analyzed episodes, listeners hear hands-on guidance on investing (especially ETFs and index-based strategies), mortgage and housing decisions, budgeting, and building financial resilience, all framed around NZ and global contexts. Guests range from finance pros to self-made founders, with discussions often centering on behavior, planning, and measurable steps to reach financial independence. A standout feature is the mix of data-driven insights, life-and-money stories, and practical tools for navigating rates, real estate, and retirement—delivered in a clear, relatable voice that makes complex topics feel accessible for everyday financial... more

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Which podcasts are similar to Making Cents?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Making Cents:

1. The Happy Saver Podcast - Personal Finance in New Zealand
2. Keep The Change
3. The Curve
4. The Property Academy Podcast
5. Shared Lunch

How many episodes of Making Cents are there?

Making Cents launched 2 years ago and published 273 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact Making Cents?

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What guests have appeared on Making Cents?

Recent guests on Making Cents include:

1. Sarah Robb
2. Mark White-Robinson
3. Jim Mora
4. James Gibson
5. Jeremy Pak
6. Bronwyn Candish
7. Baqir Hussain
8. Chris Walsh

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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