Making Cents

"I’m a saver, he’s a spender, how do we get on the same page?" Mailbag episode

Opposites attract, until it comes to money.This week’s listener says she’s a saver, her partner is a spender, and every attempt to “get serious” about their finances ends the same way: frustration, guilt, splurging out of spite, and a plan that falls apart by March.Instead of moving forward, they’re cancelling each other out, and it’s starting to wear them both down.In this Ask the Experts episode, EnableMe head strategic coach Katie Wesney breaks down why saver–spender dynamics are so common, and why money fights are usually about values, security, and behaviour, not just dollars.We talk about:Why saver–spender couples clash, even when they want the same lifeHow different money personalities (savers, spenders, upholders, questioners, rebels) approach rules, goals, and plansWhy behaviour matters more than the “perfect” financial strategyHow starting with a shared vision changes the conversationPractical systems that reduce friction, including automation and separate “no-questions-asked” spendingHow couples can use their differences as strengths instead of sabotageIf you have a letter you’d like us to answer, please send it through to ask@francescook.co.nz (mailto:ask@francescook.co.nz) and you might feature on our next episode!Follow me everywhere!Facebook / https://www.facebook.com/FrancesCookNZInstagram / https://www.instagram.com/francescooknzTikTok / https://www.tiktok.com/@francescooknzJoin the Money Memo newsletter for a free weekly money tip in your inbox each week https://www.francescook.co.nz/subscribeThis podcast was filmed & produced by FanaticalsVideo editing & content production by Lana ByrneAudio engineering by Tash Chittock#MakingCents #FrancesCook #SaverVsSpender #CouplesAndMoney #MoneyInRelationships #MoneyPersonalities #MoneyMindset #BudgetingAsACouple #JointAccounts #FinancialAccountability #MortgageTips #PayOffMortgageFaster #FinancialFreedomChapters00:00:00 Introduction00:01:09 Listener letter: opposite money styles00:01:48 "Money fights aren’t about money” (trust, values, security)00:03:14 How to start the conversation: vision, numbers, timeframes00:04:24 Money personality types: saver / shopper / plodder00:05:34 Gretchen Rubin tendencies: upholder, obliger, questioner, rebel00:11:08 Saver vs shopper00:13:24 Systems for couples: joint vs separate money + autonomy00:15:58 Where to from here?00:16:19 Outro

Olympic psychology that works for your money

Why do so many smart, motivated people struggle to stick to money goals?You set the intention to save more, invest properly, or finally get organised, and then, a few weeks or months later, it falls apart.It’s not that you don’t care or don’t know what to do. It’s that your mindset and financial habits get in the way.In this episode of Making Cents, financial journalist Frances Cook is joined by Dom Vettise, a clinical and performance psychologist who specialises in helping people move from “pretty good” to world-class performance.Dom has worked in some of the most high-pressure environments imaginable, including with Olympic athletes, New Zealand Rugby, and the All Whites. These people who simply have to perform when the stakes are highest.What’s surprising is how directly that same psychology applies to everyday money decisions.The mental habits that determine whether an athlete performs under pressure are the same ones that shape your financial habits, from sticking to a savings plan, to following an investment strategy, to breaking the cycle of “I’ll start again next month.”In this conversation, we unpack:Why mindset matters more than motivation when it comes to moneyHow stress and pressure sabotage financial decision-makingThe role of perfectionism in derailing progressWhy self-sabotage shows up just as you’re starting to do wellPractical ways to take control of your mental habits so your money goals actually stickFollow me everywhere!Facebook / https://www.facebook.com/FrancesCookNZInstagram / https://www.instagram.com/francescooknzTikTok / https://www.tiktok.com/@francescooknzJoin the Money Memo newsletter for a free weekly money tip in your inbox each week https://www.francescook.co.nz/subscribeThis podcast was filmed & produced by FanaticalsVideo editing & content production by Lana ByrneAudio engineering by Tash Chittock#MakingCents #FrancesCook #Investing #SavingMoney #GoalSetting #Mindset #HighPerformance #SportsPsychology #PerformancePsychology #NewZealand #OlympicsChapters00:00:00 Introduction00:02:12 Meet Dom Vittice: from forensics to Olympic psychology00:03:20 What it's really like working with elite athletes00:07:26 Success leaves clues: learning from what goes right00:11:29 The framework: understand me, be me, stay me00:13:32 Reframing pressure: distress vs eustress00:16:44 Breathwork and staying present under pressure00:22:45 Mental filtering and disqualifying the positive00:24:09 Staying motivated on long-term goals00:28:54 The MILK reflection tool: memory, improvement, learning, courage00:31:22 Courage requires fear: normalizing the hard stuff00:40:56 Radical self-responsibility without self-blame00:43:57 Self-compassion vs self-criticism in setbacks00:45:40 ACT framework: acknowledge, calm, towards00:47:44 The number one skill: attention00:50:06 Perfectionism and good enough00:52:28 Outro

What actually matters for your money in 2026 - WEBINAR REPLAY

Time to talk about what will actually move the needle for you in 2026, and help you feel more confident with your money.Whether it’s property, investing, KiwiSaver, or just feeling calmer about the decisions you’re making, we’re covering the things you actually need to know.We’ll be talking about what an election year really means for your money, how to think about the economy as it starts to turn, where people accidentally trip up during this phase, and how to set yourself up so your money feels easier, not harder, in 2026Frances Cook brings in her favourite experts to tackle the different areas of your money that you should know more about:realestate.co.nz's Vanessa Williams, to answer your burning questions about the property marketTVNZ business reporter Jason Walls, for the big picture on the economy and political forces in play this yearEnableMe head strategic coach Katie Wesney, for the investing and KiwiSaver insights you need to knowFollow me everywhere!Facebook / https://www.facebook.com/FrancesCookNZInstagram / https://www.instagram.com/francescooknzTikTok / https://www.tiktok.com/@francescooknzJoin the Money Memo newsletter for a free weekly money tip in your inbox each week https://www.francescook.co.nz/subscribeThis podcast was filmed & produced by FanaticalsVideo editing & content production by Lana ByrneAudio engineering by Tash Chittock

"We’re $8m richer overnight, now what?" Mailbag episode

Money panic doesn’t always come from not having enough. Sometimes it comes from suddenly having far more than you ever expected - $8 million more, to be exact. This week’s Ask the Experts letter comes from a couple who spent 40 years dairy farming, living with constant debt and tight cashflow. Now they’ve sold the farm and their financial reality has flipped overnight. A dream problem? Maybe. But sudden wealth is notoriously risky. Will White from Heartland Bank is in the expert hotseat, to talk about how you protect a huge cash balance, avoid rushing into bad decisions, and turn a once-in-a-lifetime payout into a secure, comfortable retirement. 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!Follow me everywhere!Facebook / https://www.facebook.com/FrancesCookNZInstagram / https://www.instagram.com/francescooknzTikTok / https://www.tiktok.com/@francescooknzJoin the Money Memo newsletter for a free weekly money tip in your inbox each week https://www.francescook.co.nz/subscribeThis podcast was filmed & produced by FanaticalsVideo editing & content production by Lana ByrneAudio engineering by Tash Chittock#MakingCents #FrancesCook #MoneyMindset #WealthManagement #RetirementPlanning #FinancialAdvisor #TermDeposit #Windfall #SuddenWealth #ScamAwareness

“I invested 100k by 25 - here’s how” with Jane Joo

They say that the first $100,000 invested is the hardest milestone, but also most important. Once you’re there, compounding starts to do more of the heavy lifting. But getting there, well, you’ll have to scrap for it.Today’s guest, Jane Joo, reached that milestone by age 25.So how did she actually do it?This episode cuts through the noise to unpack what works in the real world.No trust fund, no extreme deprivation, and no finance degree. Just consistent habits, deliberate choices, and a clear goal.Jane shares how she started investing while still a university student, why she focused on small, regular contributions instead of waiting to feel “ready,” and how she balanced earning more with spending intentionally. We talk about avoiding lifestyle creep, negotiating fixed expenses, side hustles, and what is really took to build her first $100k.We also dig into her investing approach - from early stock picking to a growing preference for index funds - plus the mindset shifts that helped her stay consistent through market ups and downs.Follow me everywhere! Facebook / https://www.facebook.com/FrancesCookNZ Instagram / https://www.instagram.com/francescooknz TikTok / https://www.tiktok.com/@francescooknz Join the Money Memo newsletter for a free weekly money tip in your inbox each week https://www.francescook.co.nz/subscribeThis podcast was filmed & produced by FanaticalsVideo editing & content production by Lana ByrneAudio engineering by Tash Chittock#MakingCents #FrancesCook #Investing #FinancialFreedom #CompoundInterest #IndexFunds #InvestingForBeginners #MoneyMindset #WealthBuilding #SideHustle #LifestyleCreep #SavingsHacks