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Making Cents

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

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

PublishesDailyEpisodes255Founded2 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
InvestingEducationHow ToBusiness

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Artwork for Making Cents

Latest Episodes

Most investing mistakes don't look like mistakes when you're making them.

Chris Walsh from MoneyHub joins us to break down the most common investing traps New Zealanders fall into, and the simple strategies that actually work long term.

We get into... more

Best Business Podcast - NZ Radio & Podcast Awards 2026

With the latest Budget signalling little relief for struggling Kiwis, Frances Cook joins the TVNZ Breakfast team to talk about what you can actually do to protect yourself financially when the recovery keeps getting pushed further down the road.

Fol... more

Could the home of the future be the size of a carpark? The government is talking about scrapping minimum apartment size rules, and one Making Cents listener wants to know if that's a housing fix or a housing trap.

Vanessa Williams from reales... more

Key Facts

Accepts Guests
Accepts Sponsors
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

Adele Holland
Michelin-trained chef turned budget-cooking educator
Dishes with Del
Episode: A Michelin-Trained Chef's Insider Secrets To Saving Money On Your Food
Renata Roaming
Creator of Roam (App for parents)
Roam
Episode: Why Overwhelmed Parents End Up Spending More Money, And How To Fix It
Sean Freer
Director of Global Exchange Indices
S&P Dow Jones Indices
Episode: The Lazy Investor's Guide To Building Real Wealth
Ali Mau
Founder of Tika, tech-for-good entrepreneur and survivor advocate
Tika (tech platform)
Episode: Ali Mau: From TV Icon to Startup Founder at 60 (And How She Paid For It)
Charlotte Cummings
Counselor with two decades of experience in change therapy
Episode: The Emotion Sabotaging Your Money (A Psychologist Explains)
Christoph Schumacher
Professor of Innovation and Economics
Massey University
Episode: War in Iran Is About To Hit Your Mortgage And Your Money - WEBINAR REPLAY
Wendy Petrie
Former TVNZ news anchor, reinvention entrepreneur
Self / Speedy Signs (franchise ownership)
Episode: Wendy Petrie Lost Her Dream Job at 50… Then Reinvented Her BEST Life
Stanley Henry
Founder of the Attention Seeker, a marketing agency
Attention Seeker
Episode: How A ‘Personal Brand’ Gets You Paid More (Even If You’re Not An Influencer)
Sabi J
Creator of Bougie on a Budget
Episode: How To Live The Good Life For Less

Host

Frances Cook
Host of Making Cents

Reviews

4.9 out of 5 stars from 353 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 Zealand5 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.

Ali Mau: From TV Icon to Startup Founder at 60 (And How She Paid For It)
Q: What advice would you give to someone considering a major career pivot into purpose-driven work?
Downgrade expectations financially, ensure a separate income stream, build a strong support network, and be willing to ask for help and raise funds with honesty about what you don't know.
Ali Mau: From TV Icon to Startup Founder at 60 (And How She Paid For It)
Q: What is the reality of building this kind of platform in terms of funding and time?
Ali explains that they worked for years mostly without pay, relied on a lean approach, and only secured seed funding in mid-2024, which enabled them to continue development and move toward launch.
Spending Money the Right Way (Most Kiwis Miss This)
Q: So someone comes in, where would you start with them?
First, we map out their numbers to understand what they need to live happily, then model how their current asset position supports or risks running out of money, and finally build a plan that aligns lifestyle goals with finances.
$54M Wiped From NZ Property: Here's What It Actually Means
Q: What should buyers do to navigate the current market effectively?
Buyers should keep options open, consider long-term suitability (family needs, work-from-home considerations), and leverage the abundance of stock to find well-priced, well-presented homes while allowing time for careful consideration.
$54M Wiped From NZ Property: Here's What It Actually Means
Q: How should sellers adjust their expectations in this environment?
She advises partnering with a knowledgeable local agent, ensuring the property is well presented and marketed to reach the right buyers, and avoiding secretive or undersold pricing by setting realistic expectations aligned with current market data.

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. Keep The Change
2. The Property Academy Podcast
3. Shared Lunch
4. The Curve
5. Grey Areas with Petra Bagust

How many episodes of Making Cents are there?

Making Cents launched 2 years ago and published 255 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. Adele Holland
2. Renata Roaming
3. Sean Freer
4. Ali Mau
5. Charlotte Cummings
6. Christoph Schumacher
7. Wendy Petrie
8. Stanley Henry

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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