Making Cents

• I cut 8 years off my mortgage with $20 - here's how

  A simple $20 tweak can dramatically cut down the life of your mortgage, so now it’s time to talk about the strategy I used to shave eight years off mine.With just a small repayment, years disappeared. So here’s how, and why, it works.I’ve used my experience as a financial journalist to change my money, so get an inside look at my finances, then why extra repayments are so powerful in the early years of a home loan, how interest is actually structured, and the practical ways you can use that to get mortgage-free faster to make it work for you.Time to talk about the main mortgage repayment strategies available in New Zealand, and how to figure out which one works for your lifestyle and spending habits.Plus: how to automate extra payments, how to use falling interest rates to your advantage, why fortnightly repayments sneak in an extra payment each year, and when to throw windfalls at the loan for maximum impact.If you’re trying to get ahead on your mortgage without sacrificing your entire life to it, this episode gives you the simple tactics that make the biggest difference.Tune in for a realistic, NZ-specific breakdown of what actually works, and how small changes can save you years.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.This podcast was filmed and produced by FanaticalsVideo editing & content production by Lana Byrne Audio engineering by Tash Chittock Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  --------  

  19:58

  --------

  19:58
• Smart, simple, sharemarket investing, get your money strategy ready for 2026. WEBINAR REPLAY

  Cash funds, bonds, index funds, shares… what’s the difference, and how do you figure out which mix is right for you?If you want to invest but have felt confused by the options, this is the live session for you.In this live edition of the Making Cents podcast, Frances Cook is joined by some of New Zealand’s top investing experts to break down simple, smart sharemarket strategies to help you get your money ready for 2026.We cover:The real differences between cash funds, bonds, and sharesHow to figure out what type of investment suits your goalsWhat to look for (and avoid) when comparing fundsHow to see what’s actually inside your investmentsWhy fees matter more than you think, and how to check yoursIt’s everything you need to start investing with confidence, no spreadsheets, no jargon, just smart strategies that actually work.LinksFollow Frances Cook on Facebook, Instagram and TikTok. Join the Money Memo newsletter for a free weekly money tip in your inbox each week, or become a confident sharemarket investor by joining the Market Memo newsletter. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  --------  

  56:06

  --------

  56:06
• "My kids want me to get a reverse mortgage, will it ruin their inheritance?” Mailbag episode

  You’ve worked your whole life to pay off the mortgage. The house is finally yours. But somehow, the money worries haven’t gone away.In this Making Cents mailbag episode, a listener in their 70s writes in after becoming mortgage-free, yet still feeling anxious every time they spend a dollar.Living on the pension with little savings, they want to enjoy retirement but are scared of running out of money.Their children think a reverse mortgage could be the answer, but will unlocking home equity today destroy their inheritance tomorrow?Frances Cook talks to Will White, General Manager of Retail & Reverse Mortgages at Heartland Bank, about how modern reverse mortgages in New Zealand actually work, what protections exist, and how to decide whether using your home equity makes sense.They cover the emotional side too, including the guilt many retirees feel about spending their own money, and how to find balance between financial security and quality of life.If you’ve ever wondered how to free up cash in retirement, whether a reverse mortgage is safe, or how to enjoy your hard-earned home without risking the kids’ inheritance, this episode breaks it all down.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!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.This podcast was filmed and produced by FanaticalsVideo editing & content production by Lana Byrne Audio engineering by Tash Chittock Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  --------  

  16:42

  --------

  16:42
• Chef Alice Taylor on budget recipes that actually work: $1.50 loaf, 20c noodles

  Supermarket total making your stomach drop? You’re not imagining it, food prices have become one of the biggest pain points of the cost-of-living crisis.In this episode of Making Cents, financial journalist Frances Cook sits down with chef Alice Taylor, creator of the Cheap and Realistic Eats Cookbook (available at https://www.alicetayloreats.com) to talk about how to eat well without overspending.From $1.50 loaves of bread and 20 cent noodles, to clever ingredient swaps that make baking cheaper and better, Alice shares practical, tested ways to feed a family for less.She explains how to:Build a staple pantry that cuts costs and wasteUse budget-friendly substitutes that actually workCook healthy, affordable meals that still feel specialSwap food guilt for pride and progress in the kitchenThis is real-world advice for anyone trying to stretch a grocery budget without sacrificing flavour or enjoyment.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.This podcast was filmed and produced by FanaticalsVideo editing & content production by Lana Byrne Audio engineering by Tash Chittock Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  --------  

  43:59

  --------

  43:59
• Boost your savings without living a boring life

  Create a savings buffer without that nagging feeling of deprivation. Frances Cook joins the TVNZ Breakfast team to talk about the savings tips that help you build a better money life, without cutting everything fun. LinksFollow Frances Cook on Facebook, Instagram and TikTok. Join the Money Memo newsletter for a free weekly money tip in your inbox each week, or become a confident sharemarket investor by joining the Market Memo newsletter. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  --------  

  6:36

  --------

  6:36

More Business podcasts

Trending Business podcasts

About Making Cents