Making Cents

The Easiest Shortcuts To Save Money

Frances Cook joins the TVNZ Breakfast team to share her favourite apps and websites for cutting power bills, saving on groceries, eating out for less and upskilling for free, all with as little effort as possible.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/subscribeBecome a confident sharemarket investor by signing up to the Market Memo newsletter https://www.francescook.co.nz/invest

Get Ready For ‘Excuse-flation’ - That’s About To Drive Up Cost Of Living Even Further

"Excuseflation" is the secret reason your groceries, petrol and power keep going up.Why did butter come down a third in global price... and only drop two cents on the shelf? Why does petrol rocket up in a day but crawl back down for months? There's a name for this: excuseflation, when real inflation gives businesses cover to hike prices for no real reason at all.In this episode, financial journalist Frances Cook breaks down:The real numbers behind headline inflation for NZThe "rockets and feathers" effect: why petrol prices jump instantly but fall painfully slowlyThe on-the-record quote from a US CEO who admitted he "prays for inflation" because it "expands margins"Brand-new Reserve Bank of New Zealand research showing when businesses raise prices, and when they cut themThe 4-question "sniff test" to tell a genuine price rise from a cynical onePractical ways to fight back against inflation, and excuseflationIf you've ever felt like prices only go one way, this episode explains why, and what you can actually do about it.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/subscribeBecome a confident sharemarket investor by signing up to the Market Memo newsletter https://www.francescook.co.nz/invest#MakingCents #FrancesCook #MakingCentsPodcast #InvestingPodcast #MoneyPodcast #FinancialFreedomProduction and video editing by Lana ByrneAudio engineering by Tash ChittockFilmed by Fanaticals

Simple KiwiSaver Mistakes That Cost You Thousands (And How To Fix Them)

You sent in your KiwiSaver questions, time for us to answer them.KiwiSaver is one of the biggest financial tools most New Zealanders have, but just a few changes can mean tens of thousands of dollars more for you.Personal finance journalist Susan Edmunds, author of the new book Your KiwiSaver Questions, Answered, is on the Making Cents podcast and ready to sort it out.In this episode:The most common KiwiSaver mistakes people make, and how to avoid themHow to get more money from your KiwiSaverWhat changes are coming for KiwiSaver in the future, and the politics that could change your moneyWhat actually happens to your KiwiSaver when you dieWhether you can trust putting your money into KiwiSaver,Ethical investing optionsWhether the government could ever take your KiwiSaverWhether you're just starting out or trying to optimise years of contributions, this episode breaks down exactly what you need to know about KiwiSaver.This episode of Making Cents is proudly supported by Odoo. Go to https://www.odoo.com/r/hpl now and try it for free, for 15 days.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/subscribeBecome a confident sharemarket investor by signing up to the Market Memo newsletter https://www.francescook.co.nz/invest#MakingCents #FrancesCook #MakingCentsPodcast #InvestingPodcast #MoneyPodcast #FinancialFreedomProduction and video editing by Lana ByrneAudio engineering by Tash ChittockFilmed by Fanaticals

How to Build Financial Independence Without Living on Instant Noodles

Frances Cook joins Jim Mora on RNZ Sunday Mornings to talk through whether financial independence is actually achievable for ordinary people and how to make it work on your own terms, followed by a run through the latest money news including the AI bubble, rising rates and what is happening in the housing market.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/subscribeBecome a confident sharemarket investor by signing up to the Market Memo newsletter https://www.francescook.co.nz/invest

Have I Set My Kids Up, or Set Them Back?

Most parents want to give their kids a softer landing than they had.But what if the soft landing is the problem?This week's letter writer has done everything right, on paper. Bills covered. Kids never stressed about money. An investment account quietly building in the background, for a nice surprise one day.But with the kids about to fly the nest, they're rethinking whether thiswas the right tactic. Because maybe protecting them from money stress means they've never actually learned to handle it.Katie Wesney, national coaching lead from EnableMe has answers. Together with Frances Cook, they talk about:How to talk to kids about money without making it a source of stressWhether a secret investment account is a gift, or a missed lessonThe right age to start involving kids in money decisionsShould you give your kid an allowance at university, or let them work for itWhat financial independence should actually look like for a teenager leaving homeIf you've ever wondered whether doing everything for your kids is setting them up, or setting them back, this is the one to listen to.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/subscribeBecome a confident sharemarket investor by signing up to the Market Memo newsletter https://www.francescook.co.nz/invest#MakingCents #FrancesCook #MakingCentsPodcast #InvestingPodcast #MoneyPodcast #FinancialFreedomProduction and video editing by Lana ByrneAudio engineering by Tash ChittockFilmed by Fanaticals