Making Cents

I spent $89,000 on solar power and an electric car… and it has a better return on investment than the sharemarket.
With electricity prices rising fast, more Kiwis are asking whether solar panels, home batteries, and electric vehicles are worth it.
So in this episode of the Making Cents podcast, I break down exactly what happened when I overhauled my home energy setup, including the real costs, the savings, and whether solar power in New Zealand actually stacks up financially.
In this episode, we cover:
The true cost of installing solar panels and a home battery in NZ
How much I’m saving on power (and why my bills are sometimes negative)
Whether solar can actually make you money, or just save it
How green loans (as low as 0–1%) can change the investment maths
Why timing your power usage matters more than selling it back to the grid
How to do this cheaper and smarter than I did

Plus, the practical realities, from power price trends to choosing the right system, avoiding common traps, and figuring out if solar is right for your home.
This isn’t a “go green” pitch. It’s a real-world breakdown of whether solar and EVs are a good financial decision, and how to make the numbers work in your favour.
If you’re trying to cut rising power costs, invest smarter, or future-proof your household expenses, this episode gives you the data and strategy to decide.

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This podcast was filmed & produced by Fanaticals
Video editing & content production by Lana Byrne
Audio engineering by Tash Chittock

A conflict in the Middle East is already showing up in Kiwi bank accounts, after sending shockwaves through the global economy.
From food to petrol, daily essentials are becoming more expensive. Interest rates and mortgages could be going up. The sharemarket, and therefore your KiwiSaver, is looking wobbly.
So what’s actually going on, and what should you do about it?
In this live Making Cents webinar, Frances Cook is joined by Infometrics economist Brad Olsen, Stuff Money editor Damien Venuto, and Kernel CEO Dean Anderson to break down what the Iran conflict could mean for your money.
We’re talking about:
Why petrol, groceries, and everyday costs are under price pressure
What rising energy prices can mean for inflation and interest rates
Why sharemarkets often wobble during global crises
And most importantly, how to make smart financial decisions in all these areas
Because global events might be outside your control, but how you respond with your money, isn’t.

Join us live for a clear, practical conversation about what’s happening now, what could happen next, and how to protect your finances.

Emma Healey knows about financial transformation - she went from debt and financial stress to building passive income, investing, and designing a life that includes long-term family travel and early retirement goals.
Now known for her practical money advice at mumsmoney.co.nz, Emma didn’t get there through deprivation. Instead, she used behavioural finance strategies, including gamifying her debt payoff, to stay consistent and motivated.
In this conversation, she explains how she:
Paid off $30,000 of debt using the debt snowball method
Rewired her spending habits by replacing the dopamine hit of spending with saving
Built savings and started investing, even on a modest income
Transitioned from property investing to shares and index funds
Designed a values-based money system that prioritises travel, family, and flexibility

Once the debt was gone, everything changed, not just financially, but mentally. Structure created freedom, and financial control opened up options.
That’s how Emma and her family were able to spend a year travelling through Europe, the US, and Southeast Asia, funded not by endless sacrifice, but by intentional money decisions.

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/FrancesCookNZ
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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/subscribe

Become a confident sharemarket investor by signing up to the Market Memo newsletter https://www.francescook.co.nz/invest

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This podcast was filmed & produced by Fanaticals
Video editing & content production by Lana Byrne
Audio engineering by Tash Chittock

As the Iran conflict keeps pushing up the costs of daily essentials, Frances Cook joins the TVNZ Breakfast team to talk about how you can save money on food, fuel, and even your KiwiSaver.
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Audio engineering by Tash Chittock

Is politics about to derail your house buying plans?
With an election looming, talk of capital gains taxes, housing policy changes, and the possibility of government interference is everywhere. And if you’re trying to buy your first home, it’s enough to make you wonder… should you rush in, or wait it out?
In this episode of Ask the Experts, Frances Cook is joined by Vanessa Williams from http://realestate.co.nz to cut through the noise and focus on what actually matters.
We’re talking:
what election years have historically meant for the property market
why uncertainty can stall buyers (and when that can backfire),
what’s really happening in the property market right now, from supply levels to buyer behaviour
and what political announcements you should keep an eye on, because they could truly move the market.

Plus, the key policy changes worth paying attention to (and the ones that are mostly just headlines), including KiwiSaver rules, lending restrictions, and what a capital gains tax could realistically mean.
If you have a letter you’d like us to answer, please send it through to [email protected] and you might feature on our next episode!
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/subscribe

Become a confident sharemarket investor by signing up to the Market Memo newsletter https://www.francescook.co.nz/invest

#MakingCents #FrancesCook #MakingCentsPodcast #InvestingPodcast #MoneyPodcast #FinancialFreedom

This podcast was filmed & produced by Fanaticals
Video editing & content production by Lana Byrne
Audio engineering by Tash Chittock