Using your home to buy investment property: smart or risky?
Welcome to Ask the Experts, where each week we talk to people in the industry to get the inside word on what’s happening right now, and what that means for the tactics that you should use to make the most of your money.If you’re thinking about property investment, there’s one word that always comes up - leverage.It’s the strategy of using your home’s value to invest into something else, usually more property.When it works, it can supercharge your wealth.When it doesn’t? You’re putting your family home on the line.In this episode, we unpack how to use leverage the smart way, with financial strategist Katie Wesney from enableMe.We cover when it’s worth considering, the emotional and financial resilience you need, and how to avoid rookie mistakes that can cost you big.Whether you're already in the property game or just thinking about it, this one could save you serious money, and a lot of stress.LinksFollow Frances Cook on Facebook, Instagram and TikTok, or join the Money Memo newsletter for a free weekly money tip in your inbox each week. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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What it’s really like to quit work forever at 30, with Captain FI
It’s a fantasy many of us share: what if you could retire early, walk away from your job forever, and live life on your own terms by the age of 30?Would it be all freedom and fun… or would the reality look very different?In this episode of Making Cents, I talk to Captain Fi, one of Australia’s most well-known FIRE (Financial Independence, Retire Early) bloggers. He shares what it really takes to achieve financial independence at such a young age, and whether he would actually recommend it to others.Captain Fi started out as a pilot, a career that cost him over $300,000 in training. Determined to buy back his freedom, he focused on three strategies that define the FIRE movement:Earn as much as possible through a high-paying job and multiple side hustlesSpend as little as possible by keeping living costs low and avoiding lifestyle creepInvest everything left over into shares and growth assets to build wealth quicklyBy living on less than $40,000 a year, while sometimes saving up to 90% of his income, he was able to quit work in his early 30s.Today, Captain Fi lives on a hobby farm in Queensland with his wife and young daughter, raising bees, planting gardens, and building the family-focused life he always wanted. But his journey also included burnout, grief, and a surprising twist: after a short period of “retired life,” he realised it wasn’t fulfilling enough and pivoted into something new.In this conversation, we cover:How he built financial independence by 30The reality of early retirement versus the daydreamWhy he “un-FIRE’d” and bought a farmThe hidden challenges of extreme savings and burnoutHis advice for anyone chasing financial freedom todayIf you’ve ever wondered what early retirement really looks like, or how to use the FIRE movement to reshape your own career and lifestyle, this episode has the insights from someone who has lived it.LinksFollow Frances Cook on Facebook, Instagram and TikTok, or join the Money Memo newsletter for a free weekly money tip in your inbox each week. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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No pay rise? How to ask for benefits instead
Fast Money with Jim Mora on Sunday Morning with RNZ. Chatting everything from cost-of-living savings, how to pay off debt faster, how to get a pay rise or what to do next if a pay rise is turned down, and what's happening with the property market at the moment.LinksFollow Frances Cook on Facebook, Instagram and TikTok, or join the Money Memo newsletter for a free weekly money tip in your inbox each week. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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Side hustle mistakes that cost you time and money
Side hustles can boost your money life, but only if you avoid the mistakes that tank most people early on.In this episode of Making Cents: Ask the Experts, we’re breaking down the most common side hustle mistakes, and how to avoid them.From financial pitfalls to admin overload, we’re giving you real, practical advice to help you start a side hustle that actually works.I’m joined by Joanna Greaves, General Manager of Business Banking at Kiwibank, who’s seen thousands of small businesses and side hustles come through the system.She shares what works, what fails, and the one thing most people forget to do when turning a small idea into a successful income stream.We cover:• How to start a side hustle the smart way• Financial tips for side hustlers (before you even make your first dollar)• When to move from personal to business accounts• The hidden risks that catch beginners out• The one step that separates sustainable hustles from burnout trapsIf you want to start a business on the side, build up financial freedom, or just make a little extra income, this episode gives you the roadmap, minus the guru hype.LinksFollow Frances Cook on Facebook, Instagram and TikTok, or join the Money Memo newsletter for a free weekly money tip in your inbox each week. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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How to find a financial adviser you can actually trust (In NZ)
Finding a financial adviser in New Zealand can feel both overwhelming, and risky.With so many options, how do you know who to trust with your money, your KiwiSaver, your mortgage, or your retirement plan?In this episode of Making Cents, Frances Cook breaks down exactly how to find a financial adviser in NZ that you can actually rely on. We cover when you really need an adviser, what they can (and can’t) do for you, how they get paid (fees vs commissions), and the red flags that should send you running.Whether you’re buying your first home, setting up life insurance, planning for retirement, or investing a lump sum, this guide will show you how to:Check if an adviser is licensed and registered in New ZealandUnderstand their specialtiesAsk the right vetting questions before you sign anythingSpot common conflicts of interest and sales tacticsKnow the difference between real advice and a product pitchYour financial adviser should be a co-pilot, not the pilot. This episode will help you feel confident, avoid getting burned, and choose someone who puts your interests first.LinksFollow Frances Cook on Facebook, Instagram and TikTok, or join the Money Memo newsletter for a free weekly money tip in your inbox each week. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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, with someone who's done something interesting with their money. From paying off a mountain of debt, or investing for financial independence, or starting a new business, these are the ordinary people making the extraordinary possible.On Thursday we have Ask the Experts, where industry insiders answer your questions on the money world. From earning more in your career, to investing, or sticking to a budget, they'll help make money simple.Every now and then you'll get a bonus episode too, but the fun of those is that you never know when they're coming! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Australia