Making Cents

Learning about money is one thing. Actually changing how you behave with it is something else entirely.In this special episode of Making Cents, I’m pulling together three powerful money psychology insights that genuinely changed how I handle my own money. It’s not just that they were clever tactics, but that they finally helped me put good intentions into action.Being “good with money” isn’t about deprivation or sitting on a pile of cash you’re scared to touch. It’s about deciding what kind of life you want, working backwards from there, and building money habits that actually fit how your brain works.You’ll hear highlights from three standout conversations with experts who reshaped how I think about fear, goals, habits, and motivation — and why so many of us keep doing things we know are holding us back.Claire Barnes, Ecoya CEO, on how the outside perspective of a coach helped her battle a fear of failure.James Blair, Lighthouse Financial financial advisor, on the gamechanger of values-based spending.And Dr Brad Klontz, psychologist and multiple times best-selling author, on the psychogical wiring that can hold us back, and how to change it.In this episode, we cover:– Why outside perspective (from a coach, adviser, or trusted third party) can unlock progress you’ll never see on your own– How fear, anxiety, and discomfort can be harnessed instead of fought, and used as fuel rather than friction– How values-based spending can stop money fights with your partner and make trade-offs feel intentional– Why knowing what to do with money is rarely the problem, and how your psychology sabotages you instead– How concepts like the hedonic treadmill and ancient “caveman brain” wiring shape modern money decisionsIf you’ve ever felt like you know what you should be doing with money, but still can’t seem to follow through, this episode is for you.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.

Fast Money with Jim Mora on Sunday Morning with RNZ. Talking the end of year GDP bounce, what a Santa Rally would tell us about 2026, how to control spending over the silly season, and the forecast for our Kiwisaver programme.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.

Hitting the milestone of $1 million in the bank should feel like financial freedom, but for many people approaching retirement, it’s the moment where the fear kicks in.When a term deposit matures and you’re suddenly responsible for a seven-figure lump sum, the pressure to “not mess it up” can feel overwhelming.That’s exactly the situation in today’s Ask the Experts episode. Our listener is 59, single, mortgage-free, and ready to retire soon, but unsure what to do with the $1 million they’ve worked their whole life to save.EnableMe strategic coach Katie Wesney joins me to break it all down:how to invest a $1 million lump sum safelycash vs managed funds vs shares in retirementhow long a million dollars really lastshow to structure money into short-, medium-, and long-term “buckets”and why doing nothing can sometimes be the biggest risk of allIf 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.

New Zealand banking just changed all the rules, and you could be forgiven for not having heard about it, despite the fact this could change everything about how you handle your money.Open banking is now officially live in New Zealand, slipping in right at the end of the year with very little attention. But this isn’t just a tech update. It’s a power shift over who controls your financial information, and how it can be used.That matters, because open banking has the potential to make huge parts of your money life easier. From budgeting and using a budgeting app, to comparing mortgage rates, switching banking products, and even making investing simpler.And frankly, we could all do with some help right now. There’s been growing criticism about whether the big banks in New Zealand are making it too hard, and too expensive, for customers to shop around and get a better deal. Open banking is designed to change that, by increasing competition and giving people more control over their own banking data.But it’s not all plain sailing.There are real questions around privacy, security, and how open banking will actually work in practice, especially in the early stages.So how do you make the most of this shift, to simplify your finances and improve your budgeting, without exposing yourself to unnecessary risks?In this episode of Making Cents, Frances Cook is joined by Jason Leong, CEO and co-founder of PocketSmith, to break down open banking in plain English. What’s changed, what it means for everyday people, and how to use it safely to feel more in control of your money.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.

2025 a strange year for money.AI shot up so fast it started giving people Dotcom Bubble flashbacks.Bitcoin lost more than a trillion dollars in value almost overnight.KiwiSaver turned into an election promise.Interest rates dropped, but didn’t truly soothe the money pain.So if your money felt a bit off this year, you weren’t imagining it.In this live edition of the Making Cents podcast, I’m joined by Stuff’s money editor Damien Venuto and AdviceFirst financial adviser Leon Leonardo to unpack why everything felt so unpredictable, and what actually matters for your KiwiSaver, mortgage, and investments as we head into 2026.We get into:• why AI looks a lot like the early 2000s tech boom• what triggered Bitcoin’s massive wipe-out• why KiwiSaver is suddenly political• the confidence crash in housing• the surprisingly good news with open banking• and how to take back control when the system gets weirdIf you want a clear, grounded look at what changed this year, and what to do about it, this one’s for you.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.