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Artwork for Making Cents

Making Cents

Frances Cook
Kiwisaver
Financial Independence
New Zealand
Financial Freedom
Inflation
Real Estate
Interest Rates
Investing
Financial Planning
Retirement Planning
Property Investment
Investment Strategies
Home Ownership
Budgeting
Savings
Debt Management
Side Hustles
Cost Of Living
Mortgages
Food Prices

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

PublishesDailyEpisodes317Founded2 years ago
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Artwork for Making Cents

Latest Episodes

Election day is almost here, and money is top of mind for a lot of us.

In this special live edition of Making Cents, I’m joined by:

• Claire Matthews from Massey University

• Michael Gorin from EnableMe

• Dean Anderson, Founder and CEO of Kernel

• ... more

Do you really need $1 million to retire? Scary headlines say so, and that falling short means facing cold, miserable years ahead.

But for most people, that massive benchmark is unhelpful, daunting, and causes people to give up before they even start... more

YouTube

We grow enough food in New Zealand to feed 40 million people - eight times our own population. So why does your weekly grocery bill feel like it’s eating your entire paycheque?

Angela Clifford, CEO of Eat New Zealand, joins Frances Cook on Making Ce... more

YouTube

Two years into running Making Cents as an independent business, I sit down with the TVNZ Business Breakfast team to talk about what I got right, what went wrong, and what I wish I had known before I jumped.

Join the Money Memo newsletter for a free ... more

Key Facts

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Contact Information
Podcast Host
Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

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Recent Guests

Georgia Grange
Chief Operating Officer at Revolut New Zealand
Revolut
Episode: Kiwis Want Time More Than Money: Here’s Why
Andrew Clements
Private wealth and succession lawyer
Grayson Clements
Episode: How Some Kiwi Families Keep Their Wealth for Generations
Jim Mora
Guest, Presenter of RNZ Sunday Mornings
RNZ
Episode: Overtime, Property Prices, AI Shopping and $608 Billion in Debt: Your Money News Roundup
Vanessa Williams
Data queen from realestate.co.nz
realestate.co.nz
Episode: Auckland House Prices Just Hit a 6-Year Low - But The South Island Is Booming
Sarah Murray
Editor-in-Chief, Publisher, and Owner of Fashion Quarterly
Fashion Quarterly
Episode: From Employee To Owner: How She Bought The Magazine She Worked For
Bernard Hickey
Independent financial commentator
Independent financial commentary
Episode: KiwiSaver Is An Election Bidding War
David Boyle
Retirement commissioner
Office of the Retirement Commissioner
Episode: KiwiSaver Is An Election Bidding War
Katie Wesney
Financial advisor
Enable Me
Episode: KiwiSaver Is An Election Bidding War
Jan Verberne
Senior Legal Counsel at Revolut
Revolut
Episode: Dark Patterns: How to Escape the Subscription Trap

Host

Frances Cook
Host of Making Cents

Reviews

4.9 out of 5 stars from 374 ratings
  • Ev review please

    Ep on solar was great - would really appreciate a similar one on evs - pros and cons for different budgets 👍🏽

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    qux35
    New Zealand3 months ago
  • 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 Zealand10 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 Zealand2 years ago

Listeners Say

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

A minority describe the tone as smug or challenging to new financial literacy learners.
Many reviews highlight motivation and empowerment to take control of finances.
A few listeners wish for faster pacing or simpler explanations on some topics.
Listeners praise clear, relatable money guidance and practical steps to implement immediately.
Some find the host very knowledgeable and credible with a strong journalism background.

Chart Rankings

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

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

How Some Kiwi Families Keep Their Wealth for Generations
Q: If someone's listening to this and thinking, I would like to start having this conversation, I would like to start board planning actually, like making this happen, setting my kids up. What is something that you talk about with almost every client, and that someone could probably put into action this week?
He suggests writing down the family's priorities and rules, both positive and difficult, then deciding to shape the family's future intentionally rather than leaving it to chance.
How Some Kiwi Families Keep Their Wealth for Generations
Q: When you start talking to people about money, about their family, where do you even start that conversation?
Clements recommends beginning with purpose and values so the family can understand who they are and design a succession approach that fits them.
Kiwis Want Time More Than Money: Here’s Why
Q: If you had to drill it down to just one, that could really help move the dial for people this week, what do you think is a big thing that a lot of people overlook?
Grange recommends automating savings, including building emergency savings and long-term wealth, while managing bills and discretionary spending separately.
Kiwis Want Time More Than Money: Here’s Why
Q: What was the big headline takeaway from it for you?
Grange says the research found that six in ten Kiwis work beyond their contracted hours, 30% of them receive no extra pay, and 32% spend most of their spare time budgeting and managing finances.
The 3 Things That Decide Your KiwiSaver Balance (In Order)
Q: Given that and the different conversations you must have had with people in those different roles, is there an overarching thing that you think a lot of New Zealanders get wrong with their money?
A key theme is underestimating the value of time and planning for long-term outcomes, including how compounding, longevity, and habit formation affect retirement readiness. The conversation emphasizes creating a holistic, well-informed plan that links KiwiSaver with NZ Super and other savings so people are not priced out by aggressive changes.

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?

The collection centers on practical personal finance, investing, and money mindset, with a strong emphasis on real-world strategies for building financial independence while maintaining quality of life. Episodes frequently feature guests who blend data-driven insights with actionable tips—covering topics like FIRE basics, budgeting systems, travel budgeting, housing costs, investing in fintechs, career upskilling, and side hustles. A notable thread is the balance between prudent money management and living well, often illustrated through NZ-specific context, open banking tools, and real-world budgeting tactics. A standout aspect is the mix of expert guidance, founder perspectives, and relatable stories from everyday people pursuing financia... 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. Shared Lunch
4. The Curve
5. The Property Academy Podcast

How many episodes of Making Cents are there?

Making Cents launched 2 years ago and published 317 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on Making Cents?

Recent guests on Making Cents include:

1. Georgia Grange
2. Andrew Clements
3. Jim Mora
4. Vanessa Williams
5. Sarah Murray
6. Bernard Hickey
7. David Boyle
8. Katie Wesney

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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