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Making Cents

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

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

PublishesDailyEpisodes298Founded2 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
InvestingBusinessEducationHow To

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Artwork for Making Cents

Latest Episodes

Time for a raw, unfiltered Ask Me Anything episode of Making Cents! Financial journalist Frances Cook sits down to tackle your biggest money questions.

From practical strategies to break out of feeling stuck in a cost-of-living squeeze, to whether y... more

When headlines scream about the worst property downturn in 30 years, is it time to panic - or is it the buying opportunity you’ve been waiting for?

Prices are down, listings are flooding the market, and buyers have more choice than they’ve seen in y... more

Frances Cook joins the TVNZ Breakfast team to talk about the AI deepfake scam using her likeness to lure people into dodgy investment groups, and the red flags that can help you tell the difference between genuine financial advice and someone trying ... more

What do you do when your home is worth less than what you paid for it, and the layout no longer works for your family? Can you actually renovate your way out of negative equity, or does pouring six figures into an extension just dig a deeper financia... more

Key Facts

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

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Recent Guests

Josh Daniell
Co-founder of Akahu
Akahu
Episode: AI Is Making Mortgage Fraud Easier. Here's What Changes
Claire Williamson
Director of My Mortgage and 2025 Regional Mortgage Advisor of the Year
My Mortgage
Episode: Biggest Mortgage Myths: What Banks Are Actually Checking In 2026 (It's Changed)
Jessica O'Hare
Head of Lending at Revolut
Revolut
Episode: Why Your Money Disappears (And The Fix That Actually Works)
Katie Donegan
Co-host/guest who built financial independence with Alan
Donegan family / Rebel Finance School
Episode: From 0 to $1 Million And Financial Freedom - In 10 Years
Alan Donegan
Co-host/guest who built financial independence with Katie
Donegan family / Rebel Finance School
Episode: From 0 to $1 Million And Financial Freedom - In 10 Years
Aaron Cattell
The Mortgage Man, mortgage advisor and guest expert on mortgages and property
The Mortgage Man
Episode: The Mortgage Advice That Fails in NZ: With Aaron Cattell (The Mortgage Man)
Susan Edmunds
Personal finance journalist, author of Your KiwiSaver Questions, Answered
RNZ; Author
Episode: Simple KiwiSaver Mistakes That Cost You Thousands (And How To Fix Them)
Chris Schulz
Journalist who tested money-saving apps and discussed consumer tricks
Consumer NZ / journalist
Episode: I Interviewed Dozens Of Money Experts - This Was The Best Advice
Jason Leong
CEO of Pocketsmith
Pocketsmith
Episode: I Interviewed Dozens Of Money Experts - This Was The Best Advice

Host

Frances Cook
Host of Making Cents

Reviews

4.9 out of 5 stars from 369 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 Zealand2 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 Zealand9 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

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.

You Sent Me 14 Money Questions. Here Are My Honest Answers
Q: What are the next big plans for your family or life that you're saving for or investing in?
Experiences and lifestyle upgrades are prioritized (e.g., Bluey World trip, family time), while maintaining core financial goals like housing, savings, and investing to support long-term security.
You Sent Me 14 Money Questions. Here Are My Honest Answers
Q: What's the best piece of advice to get a reluctant partner on board with money goals?
Make sure money goals align with both partners' values and start with small, non-threatening conversations about money to establish shared priorities and reduce resistance to change.
You Sent Me 14 Money Questions. Here Are My Honest Answers
Q: Are you aiming for fire or coast fire or what?
There are multiple variants of FIRE (lean fire, fat fire, barista fire, etc.); the choice depends on lifestyle goals and desired level of work for income in retirement. Frances emphasizes understanding personal values and choosing a path that aligns with a feasible, meaningful life rather than a one-size-fits-all approach.
You Sent Me 14 Money Questions. Here Are My Honest Answers
Q: First question, jumping straight into it, how do I prioritize all the things?
Choose one top priority that will deliver the biggest impact or be achievable in the near term, focus on it until it becomes a habit, then add the next goal. You can still contribute a small amount to other goals, but avoid spreading yourself too thin to prevent burnout and ensure milestones are reached.
Prices Are Going Up. But Not Always for the Reason You Think
Q: Excuseflation. Explain please.
Frances describes excuse-flation as a marketing tactic where companies use inflation headlines as cover to push price increases, often employing fear-based messaging to persuade consumers that higher prices are inevitable and urgent, even when the underlying costs may not justify a hike.

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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To see how many followers or subscribers Making Cents has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

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 298 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. Josh Daniell
2. Claire Williamson
3. Jessica O'Hare
4. Katie Donegan
5. Alan Donegan
6. Aaron Cattell
7. Susan Edmunds
8. Chris Schulz

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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