Each week BusinessDesk and the NZ Herald’s Cooking the Books podcast tackles a different money problem. Today, it’s how to spot the true ethical investments that aren’t greenwashing. Hosted by Frances Cook. If you have a question about this podcast, or a question you'd like answered in the next one, come and talk to me about it. I'm on Facebook here, Instagram here, and Twitter here.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Each week BusinessDesk and the NZ Herald’s Cooking the Books podcast tackles a different money problem. Today, it’s the shift in how bitcoin is treated by the mainstream finance world. Hosted by Frances Cook. If you have a question about this podcast, or a question you'd like answered in the next one, come and talk to me about it. I'm on Facebook here, Instagram here, and Twitter here.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Each week BusinessDesk and the NZ Herald’s Cooking the Books podcast tackles a different money problem. Today, it’s the best strategy to take to actually make an ethical impact. Hosted by Frances Cook. This episode is brought to you by Milford Asset Management. If you have a question about this podcast, or a question you'd like answered in the next one, come and talk to me about it. I'm on Facebook here, Instagram here, and Twitter here.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Each week BusinessDesk and the NZ Herald’s Cooking the Books podcast tackles a different money problem. Today, it’s whether truly passive income is possible. Hosted by Frances Cook. If you have a question about this podcast, or a question you'd like answered in the next one, come and talk to me about it. I'm on Facebook here, Instagram here, and Twitter here.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Each week BusinessDesk and the NZ Herald’s Cooking the Books podcast tackles a different money problem. Today, it’s how to be boujee on a budget. Hosted by Frances Cook. If you have a question about this podcast, or a question you'd like answered in the next one, come and talk to me about it. I'm on Facebook here, Instagram here, and Twitter here.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Each week, BusinessDesk and the NZ Herald’s Cooking the Books podcast tackle a different money problem. Today, it’s how “impact investing” is taking over the ethical space. Hosted by Frances Cook. This episode is brought to you by Milford Asset Management.  If you have a question about this podcast, or a question you'd like answered in the next one, come and talk to me about it. I'm on Facebook here, Instagram here, and Twitter here.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Each week BusinessDesk and the NZ Herald’s Cooking the Books podcast tackles a different money problem. Today, it’s a live event brought to you by the New Zealand Shareholder's Association featuring women talking about how they used the sharemarket to create independence. Hosted by Frances Cook. If you have a question about this podcast, or a question you'd like answered in the next one, come and talk to me about it. I'm on Facebook here, Instagram here, and Twitter here.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Each week BusinessDesk and the NZ Herald’s Cooking the Books podcast tackles a different money problem. Today, it’s how sole traders can still protect their future finances, in a tough economic environment. Hosted by Frances Cook. If you have a question about this podcast, or a question you'd like answered in the next one, come and talk to me about it. I'm on Facebook here, Instagram here, and Twitter here.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Each week BusinessDesk and the NZ Herald’s Cooking the Books podcast tackles a different money problem. Today, it’s how to help your kids feel confident in the money world. Hosted by Frances Cook. If you want to join the Investing Made Simple course for April, you can find out more at Frances Cook's website here If you have a question about this podcast, or a question you'd like answered in the next one, come and talk to me about it. I'm on Facebook here, Instagram here, and Twitter here.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Each week BusinessDesk and the NZ Herald’s Cooking the Books podcast tackles a different money problem. Today, it’s how economics becomes the engine room behind your money. Hosted by Frances Cook. If you have a question about this podcast, or a question you'd like answered in the next one, come and talk to me about it. I'm on Facebook here, Instagram here, and Twitter here.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Each week BusinessDesk and the NZ Herald’s Cooking the Books podcast tackles a different money problem. Today, it’s what you can do to manage stress levels at work. Hosted by Frances Cook. This episode is brought to you by AIA New Zealand. What do you do if you love your job, but it’s stressing you out? That’s the question many financial advisers seem to be asking themselves, after wellbeing research showed 50% say they feel burned out or stressed, and 52% saying they feel as though they can never keep up. That’s from the New Zealand Financial Advisers Wellbeing Report 2023, supported by AIA New Zealand. The issue being only 10% of them say they aren’t happy in their job. So when there’s a lot happening, but you don’t want to quit, how do you manage it all? For the latest episode I talked to Sharron Botica, Chief Distribution Officer at AIA New Zealand.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Each week BusinessDesk and the NZ Herald’s Cooking the Books podcast tackles a different money problem. Today, it’s first home tricks that can help you over the line. Hosted by Frances Cook. If you have a question about this podcast, or a question you'd like answered in the next one, come and talk to me about it. I'm on Facebook here, Instagram here, and Twitter here.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A highlight clip from the August 2018 episode "What's the best investment for your life stage?", with Mark Lister from Craig's Investment Partners. If you have a question about this podcast, or a question you'd like answered in the next one, come and talk to me about it. I'm on Facebook here, Instagram here, and Twitter here.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Each week BusinessDesk and the NZ Herald’s Cooking the Books podcast tackles a different money problem. Today, it’s first home tricks that can help you over the line. Hosted by Frances Cook. If you have a question about this podcast, or a question you'd like answered in the next one, come and talk to me about it. I'm on Facebook here, Instagram here, and Twitter here.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Each week BusinessDesk and the NZ Herald’s Cooking the Books podcast tackle a different money problem. Today, it’s how mortgage rule changes will impact everyone from first-home buyers to investors. Hosted by Frances Cook. If you have a question about this podcast, or a question you'd like answered in the next one, come and talk to me about it. I'm on Facebook here, Instagram here, and Twitter here.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A highlight clip from the July 2019 episode "How to fix a bad credit history", with Dan York from Harmoney. If you have a question about this podcast, or a question you'd like answered in the next one, come and talk to me about it. I'm on Facebook here, Instagram here, and Twitter here.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Each week BusinessDesk and the NZ Herald’s Cooking the Books podcast tackles a different money problem. Today, it’s how to find the best KiwiSaver options for a wealthy retirement. Hosted by Frances Cook. If you have a question about this podcast, or a question you'd like answered in the next one, come and talk to me about it. I'm on Facebook here, Instagram here, and Twitter here.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Each week BusinessDesk and the NZ Herald’s Cooking the Books podcast tackles a different money problem. Today, it’s how a couple retired early for more family time. Hosted by Frances Cook. Retiring early while your kids are still young enough to actually want to hang out with you? A dream, surely. Well this couple managed it, through a combination of property investing, and very frugal living, hitting their goal number in their early 30s. They don’t feel as though they missed out on life though, far from it – so here’s what they decided to keep and cut, as they raced to early retirement. For the latest podcast I talked to Aleisha Rutherford.  If you have a question about this podcast, or a question you'd like answered in the next one, come and talk to me about it. I'm on Facebook here, Instagram here, and Twitter here.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A highlight clip from the August 2021 episode "The argument against maximising your KiwiSaver contributions", with David Boyle from Mint Asset Management. If you have a question about this podcast, or a question you'd like answered in the next one, come and talk to me about it. I'm on Facebook here, Instagram here, and Twitter here.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Each week BusinessDesk and the NZ Herald’s Cooking the Books podcast tackles a different money problem. Today, it’s why investors are turning away from meme stocks, to more traditional investing methods. Hosted by Frances Cook. It’s been a wild few years on the share market. When interest rates were so low, other types of investments didn’t seem too interesting, so investors flooded to shares.That led to a sugar rush on the market, sky rocketing values, and trends like meme stocks taking over social media. Well as anyone can tell you after a binge on junk food, sometimes you’re left craving a salad, and it seems that’s what investors are feeling now. The more boring side of investing is making a comeback, along with other types of investments like bonds, and even savings accounts. So here’s what to know as we head into another fun year of making the most of our money. For the latest podcast I talked to Dean Anderson from Kernel. If you have a question about this podcast, or a question you'd like answered in the next one, come and talk to me about it. I'm on Facebook here, Instagram here, and Twitter here.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A highlight clip from the February 2020 episode "How to tell an ethical KiwiSaver from a greenwashed one", with Mindful Money founder and CEO Barry Coates. If you have a question about this podcast, or a question you'd like answered in the next one, come and talk to me about it. I'm on Facebook here, Instagram here, and Twitter here.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Each week BusinessDesk and the NZ Herald’s Cooking the Books podcast tackles a different money problem. Today, it’s the hidden tricks to a successful AirBnB listing. Hosted by Frances Cook. With life more expensive by the day, plenty of people are looking for ways to bring in more money. One popular option I’ve seen people go for is using AirBnB, whether it’s just a room in their house, or renting out the whole thing, while they go and stay with family members for a holiday. The problem with AirBnb is that it can be trickier than it looks at first. Customers can be fussy, and a lot depends on getting some gorgeous photos to really sell the place. There are some tricks to make that listing pop though, and they don’t have to cost much, either. For the latest podcast I talked to Kellie Richardson, from Kurved by Design. If you have a question about this podcast, or a question you'd like answered in the next one, come and talk to me about it. I'm on Facebook here, Instagram here, and Twitter here.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A highlight clip from the November 2018 episode "How to successfully make money from your hobbies", with Xero's then-Managing Director for New Zealand and Pacific, Craig Hudson. If you have a question about this podcast, or a question you'd like answered in the next one, come and talk to me about it. I'm on Facebook here, Instagram here, and Twitter here.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Each week BusinessDesk and the NZ Herald’s Cooking the Books podcast tackles a different money problem. Today, it’s the longterm planning that can make a big difference to your finances. Hosted by Frances Cook. Having kids is a joy and delight, but often also a big hit to the finances, and even the career. It’s a busy new schedule, and as parents try to figure it out, there’s a particular pattern that often crops up. In a heterosexual couple, often the pair look at who’s earning more, and do a bit of ‘couple maths’, deciding that if the woman earns less it’s her who should go down a gear in her career. But this can have big impacts on future earnings, as well as planning for the future, such as your KiwiSaver. So how do you figure it out, so that it’s a deal everyone is happy with? For the latest interview I talked to Ellen Hooper, career coach and co-founder of the Growth Collective. If you have a question about this podcast, or a question you'd like answered in the next one, come and talk to me about it. I'm on Facebook here, Instagram here, and Twitter here.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A highlight clip from the February 2020 episode "How to tell an ethical KiwiSaver from a greenwashed one", with Mindful Money founder and CEO Barry Coates. If you have a question about this podcast, or a question you'd like answered in the next one, come and talk to me about it. I'm on Facebook here, Instagram here, and Twitter here.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Each week BusinessDesk and the NZ Herald’s Cooking the Books podcast tackles a different money problem. Today, it’s how the push to work from home changed the commercial property game. Hosted by Frances Cook. When you think about investing into property you probably think about buying a house, renting it to someone, and acting as a landlord. But an area that’s often overlooked is commercial property, such as shops, or office buildings. They’re more expensive, but become achievable for the everyday investor when they’re part of something like a fund. Just like investing in shares, you pool your money with other investors, and then get a slice of the profits. But with the work from home revolution, insurance costs going up, and interest rates still high, is commercial property still the cash cow it once was? For the latest podcast I talked to Scott McKenzie, CEO of PMG Funds.  If you have a question about this podcast, or a question you'd like answered in the next one, come and talk to me about it. I'm on Facebook here, Instagram here, and Twitter here.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A highlight clip from the August 2019 episode "the NZ couple who paid off $566k of debt in three years", with Bradie Claydon. If you have a question about this podcast, or a question you'd like answered in the next one, come and talk to me about it. I'm on Facebook here, Instagram here, and Twitter here.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Each week BusinessDesk and the NZ Herald’s Cooking the Books podcast tackles a different money problem. Today, it’s the likely good and bad in the year ahead. Hosted by Frances Cook. New year, new us, new money problems. After a 2023 where we battled falling house prices, rising interest rates, and eye wateringly expensive cost of living… what’s next? I rallied the troops to help us peer into the crystal ball and predict the good, bad, and in between that could be heading our way for 2024. For the latest podcast I talked to Pattrick Smellie, editor at BusinessDesk, and Liam Dann, business editor-at-large for the New Zealand Herald. If you have a question about this podcast, or a question you'd like answered in the next one, come and talk to me about it. I'm on Facebook here, Instagram here, and Twitter here.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A highlight clip from the June 2023 episode "from living paycheque to paycheque, to mortgage free, in just seven years", with Cathy Anderson from Curated Money. If you have a question about this podcast, or a question you'd like answered in the next one, come and talk to me about it. I'm on Facebook here, Instagram here, and Twitter here.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A highlight clip from the February 2023 episode "Is it still worth investing in property?" with Ed McKnight from Opes Partners. If you have a question about this podcast, or a question you'd like answered in the next one, come and talk to me about it. I'm on Facebook here, Instagram here, and Twitter here.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Each week BusinessDesk and the NZ Herald’s Cooking the Books podcast tackles a different money problem. Today, it’s how fake sales can lead to a overspend, and debt spiral. Hosted by Frances Cook. Christmas is an expensive time of year, which can leave us vulnerable to tricky sales tactics, and getting pulled into a debt spiral. Figures out from PriceSpy show some shops even indulge in ‘fake sales’ – the recent Black Friday sales saw 15% of products actually have a price increase before the sale was announced, so that the shop could claim a bigger percentage drop, and trigger our love of a bargain. Meanwhile 16% of products had a price increase so steep, they were actually more expensive than before, even with a supposed sale going on. I’d like to think we won’t be repeating that on Boxing Day sales, but the cynical side of me feels it’s likely. The push to spend alongside these types of tactics can lead to some of us swiping our credit cards to make it all happen. So how can we reduce the need for debt in the first place, and what do we do if we’ve already racked some up? For the latest podcast I talked to Money Sweetspot co-founder and CEO Sasha Lockley. If you have a question about this podcast, or a question you'd like answered in the next one, come and talk to me about it. I'm on Facebook here, Instagram here, and Twitter here.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A highlight clip from the February 2023 episode "How to baby-proof your finances… kind of", with Cat Emerson from Kernel. If you have a question about this podcast, or a question you'd like answered in the next one, come and talk to me about it. I'm on Facebook here, Instagram here, and Twitter here.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Each week BusinessDesk and the NZ Herald’s Cooking the Books podcast tackles a different money problem. Today, it’s how to fight back when fraud is committed in your name. Hosted by Frances Cook. It’s the sort of thing that makes for a good scary headline, but you might never think could happen to you. Having your identity stolen, so that people can commit fraud and dodgy financial dealings in your name, while you suffer the consequences. Well you might be surprised to learn just how easily it can happen, and just how hard it is to stop. One New Zealander has discovered exactly that, but as he’s battled the issue, found techniques that stopped the debt collectors in their tracks. For the latest podcast I spoke to Keith Ng. If you have a question about this podcast, or a question you'd like answered in the next one, come and talk to me about it. I'm on Facebook here, Instagram here, and Twitter here.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A highlight clip from the December 2019 episode "how other NZers stay on budget over Christmas", with Tom Hartmann, from the Commission for Financial Capability. If you have a question about this podcast, or a question you'd like answered in the next one, come and talk to me about it. I'm on Facebook here, Instagram here, and Twitter here.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Each week, BusinessDesk and the NZ Herald’s Cooking the Books podcast tackle a different money problem. Today, it’s how your KiwiSaver could be working harder for you. Hosted by Frances Cook. Let’s start with the good - I’m a huge fan of KiwiSaver. It helps you save up for a first home or retirement, when it can be daunting to do so by yourself. It’s also full of little sweeteners, such as the employer contribution and Government contribution, which can double your money from the start. But now on to the bad, and look, there are some dark clouds. When you look at KiwiSaver compared to other countries, it could be doing more for us. The amount you put in is quite low, so you could think you’re dutifully saving for retirement and still come up short once you hit the golden years. The Government contribution is nice and all, but you do still get taxed on the money going in, while other countries give much higher tax breaks to help your savings go further. For the latest podcast, I talked to Sharesies co-founder and co-chief executive Leighton Roberts. If you have a question about this podcast, or a question you'd like answered in the next one, come and talk to me about it.  I'm on Facebook here, Instagram here, and Twitter here.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Each week BusinessDesk and the NZ Herald’s Cooking the Books podcast tackles a different money problem. Today, it’s how to sell your business for a tidy profit. Hosted by Frances Cook. Even the most successful business owner at some point faces the decision to step back, and let someone else take over. If handled right, exiting the business can mean a sale for a tidy profit, and an easier retirement. But it does take preparation to make the most of it. For the latest podcast, I talked to Andrew Martin, regional director for the Strategic Specialists Group. If you have a question about this podcast, or a question you'd like answered in the next one, come and talk to me about it.  I'm on Facebook here, Instagram here, and Twitter here. This podcast contains general information only, not professional advice. BNZ and NZME are not liable for any losses resulting from this podcast. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Each week BusinessDesk and the NZ Herald’s Cooking the Books podcast tackles a different money problem. Today, it’s how a bit of personal marketing can land you the dream job. Hosted by Frances Cook. It’s never been more needed, but more difficult, to get a pay rise. The cost of living is shooting up, making it difficult for many people to pay the bills. But the economy is also fairly rough, and businesses aren’t handing out fat pay packets just because you ask nicely. That doesn’t mean it’s impossible, though. Often you know that you have the skills, the work ethic, and the results to justify being paid well. The problem is how you communicate that to the people in charge of the purse strings. For the latest podcast I talked to Rosie McCarthy, founder and CEO of Badass Careers. If you have a question about this podcast, or a question you'd like answered in the next one, come and talk to me about it. I'm on Facebook here, Instagram here, and Twitter here.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A highlight clip from the September 2019 episode "the most successful ways to travel on a budget", with Herald travel editor Stephanie Holmes If you have a question about this podcast, or a question you'd like answered in the next one, come and talk to me about it. I'm on Facebook here, Instagram here, and Twitter here.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Each week, BusinessDesk and the NZ Herald’s Cooking the Books podcast tackle a different money problem. Today, it’s how to check if your KiwiSaver is working as hard for you as it should be. Hosted by Frances Cook. It’s the things we know we should do, but never quite get around to, that can be killers in the money world. So I winced, but wasn’t all the surprised, when new research rolled across my desk showing that ignoring your KiwiSaver could mean you have $88,000 less in there by the time you retire. That’s from the new KiwiSaver Value for Money report, from National Capital. Even if you’ve figured out what type of fund you should be in, such as growth or conservative, different providers can give you a better return. Sticking with a provider that isn’t doing so well could cost you big time, or in this case, an average of $88,000. Retirement can feel so far away that it’s easy to ignore - you tell yourself you’ll get around to it soon. Then there’s a panic on at the finish line when you realise you’ve run out of time to make the easy changes that could have saved you tens of thousands of dollars. The good news is that it can be quite easy to make a few tweaks to your KiwiSaver, then sit back and reap the rewards. For the latest podcast, I talked to National Capital director Clive Fernandes.For the interview, listen to the podcast here. If you have a question about this podcast, or a question you'd like answered in the next one, come and talk to me about it. Here is a link to the audience survey: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/DRF9TBG I'm on Facebook here, Instagram here, and Twitter here.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Each week BusinessDesk and the NZ Herald’s Cooking the Books podcast tackles a different money problem. Today, it’s all about staying successful in challenging times. Hosted by Frances Cook.  It’s been a rough time for business lately, with a maybe yes maybe no recession that appeared and then disappeared just as quickly.  But in reality, there are always challenges in the business world.  The key is how you tackle them.  For the latest podcast, I talked to Liam Dann, Herald Business editor at large.  If you have a question about this podcast, or a question you'd like answered in the next one, come and talk to me about it.  I'm on Facebook here, Instagram here, and Twitter here. This podcast contains general information only, not professional advice. BNZ and NZME are not liable for any losses resulting from this podcast. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Each week BusinessDesk and the NZ Herald’s Cooking the Books podcast tackles a different money problem. Today, it’s how one family managed to travel the world on a shoestring budget. Hosted by Frances Cook. Many of us will have thought of chucking in the day job and travelling the world, but it’s not always so easy to turn into reality. Particularly if you have children – you obviously have to consider their schooling, extra costs from extra people, and also just whether they’ll be able to handle it. Well, this family did it, and managed to make it work permanently. They decided to quit the 9-5 when the kids were teenagers, and take off on a year long trip around the world. It went so well, they decided it was time to become nomads permanently, setting up their own business to allow them to earn money remotely while they travelled. For the latest podcast I talked to Liz Deacle, host of the NZ Ahead podcast. If you have a question about this podcast, or a question you'd like answered in the next one, come and talk to me about it. Here is a link to the audience survey: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/DRF9TBG I'm on Facebook here, Instagram here, and Twitter here.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Each week BusinessDesk and the NZ Herald’s Cooking the Books podcast tackles a different money problem. Today, it’s the ways to make a boring budget a bit happier. Hosted by Frances Cook. Let’s start with the elephant in the room, nobody likes the idea of a budget.It immediately makes you think of cutting back, restricting, losing the little things that make life enjoyable. But there’s also the reality that times are tough, and creating financial security means knowing where your money is going, and taking control of it so that you can have savings, and even investments. So how do you take control of your money, while still having a fun life? We’ve got some techniques to help. For the latest podcast I talked to Jessica Irvine, personal finance expert, and author of four books including the latest, The Money Diary. If you have a question about this podcast, or a question you'd like answered in the next one, come and talk to me about it. Here is a link to the audience survey: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/DRF9TBG I'm on Facebook here, Instagram here, and Twitter here.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Each week BusinessDesk and the NZ Herald’s Cooking the Books podcast tackles a different money problem. Today, it’s all about the tricks to boost your cashflow. Hosted by Frances Cook. One of the biggest killers for business is the pure and simple reality of cashflow. So, today’s quick hit is all about getting to the heart of this problem, with four factors that can get that money coming into your business. For the latest podcast, I talked to BNZ head of business development Matt Carnell.  If you have a question about this podcast, or a question you'd like answered in the next one, come and talk to me about it. Here is a link to the audience survey: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/DRF9TBG I'm on Facebook here, Instagram here, and Twitter here. This podcast contains general information only, not professional advice. BNZ and NZME are not liable for any losses resulting from this podcast. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Each week BusinessDesk and the NZ Herald’s Cooking the Books podcast tackles a different money problem. Today, it’s why interest rates have changed the favoured investment types. Hosted by Frances Cook. Interest rates have rocketed up both in New Zealand and around the world, and it’s safe to say, it’s changed the maths for a lot of investors. While savings accounts, term deposits, and bonds were all a bit miserable for a while there, now they’re making more money. You may well be watching this trend and thinking hmm, I’d like to dabble. But what’s the best option for you, and how should you weigh it up against other money priorities? For the latest podcast I talked to Stuart Williams, managing director of Nikko Asset Management New Zealand. If you have a question about this podcast, or a question you'd like answered in the next one, come and talk to me about it. I'm on Facebook here, Instagram here, and Twitter here.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A highlight clip from the April 2018 episode "How to stop emotions hurting your finances", with Martin Hawes, Authorised Financial Advisor. If you have a question about this podcast, or a question you'd like answered in the next one, come and talk to me about it. I'm on Facebook here, Instagram here, and Twitter here.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Each week BusinessDesk and the NZ Herald’s Cooking the Books podcast tackles a different money problem. Today, it’s the reliability (or not) of AI and your money. Hosted by Frances Cook. • Check out Frances Cook’s new money course, Money Made Simple, at francescook.co.nz, for a masterclass on everything from setting goals, creating a spending plan that works, mastering debt, beginning to invest, and understanding your KiwiSaver. Everyone is abuzz about AI, and of course, that means people are hunting for ways to use it to make money.Some obvious benefits spring to mind – pulling information quickly, and cheaply, to help guide your decisions.But there are obvious drawbacks, too.AI has a reputation for pulling some sometimes, rather funky information. Depending on what system you’re using, ask the wrong question, and the computer will just plain old make something up.So what does the money world make of AI developments, and can we use it in a way that helps us, not hinders?For the latest podcast I talked to Charlie Meaden, co-founder of Gembot.ai If you have a question about this podcast, or a question you'd like answered in the next one, come and talk to me about it. I'm on Facebook here, Instagram here, and Twitter here.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Each week BusinessDesk and the NZ Herald’s Cooking the Books podcast tackles a different money problem. Today, it’s all about expanding your customer base by going international. Hosted by Frances Cook. When you’re on the hunt for customers, you usually would like as many as possible. One way to increase those numbers is to increase the size of your hunting ground, by taking your business international. Of course, that is better suited to some businesses than others, and you might need to change tactics in order for it to work. For the latest podcast, I talked to David Downs, CEO of the New Zealand Story. If you have a question about this podcast, or a question you'd like answered in the next one, come and talk to me about it. I'm on Facebook here, Instagram here, and Twitter here. This podcast contains general information only, not professional advice. BNZ and NZME are not liable for any losses resulting from this podcast. T&Cs apply to BNZ products and services.    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Each week BusinessDesk and the NZ Herald’s Cooking the Books podcast tackles a different money problem. Today, it’s the changes coming from open banking law changes, and a Commerce Commission investigation. Hosted by Frances Cook. • Check out Frances Cook’s new money course, Money Made Simple, at francescook.co.nz, for a masterclass on everything from setting goals, creating a spending plan that works, mastering debt, beginning to invest, and understanding your KiwiSaver. Your bank account is a fairly central part of your money life, and it’s currently undergoing changes from many different angles. The Commerce Commission is investigating whether our big banks are overcharging, and whether there’s enough competition. There are problems with fraud and scams, and questions over whether the banks are doing enough to stop it happening. And there is change underway for open banking, to let you take control of your own data, and use your banking information to help your financial life run more smoothly. It’s a lot, and you will start to see changes in how you interact with your bank because of it. How to figure it out? Well it’s a fairly complicated area, but I’ve found someone who has the know-how to actually make it interesting. Local boy done good Adrian Smith spent years with the big banks in the UK, learning how some of the best in the business get it done, and is now back in NZ, as one of those at the forefront of the change makers in our financial sector. For the latest podcast I talked to Adrian Smith chief product officer and co-founder of Blinkpay. If you have a question about this podcast, or a question you'd like answered in the next one, come and talk to me about it. I'm on Facebook here, Instagram here, and Twitter here.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A highlight clip from the January 2018 episode "could you retire at 30?", with Alpha Leung.  If you have a question about this podcast, or a question you'd like answered in the next one, come and talk to me about it. I'm on Facebook here, Instagram here, and Twitter here.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Each week BusinessDesk and the NZ Herald’s Cooking the Books podcast tackles a different money problem. Today, it’s how it works if you’re interested in riskier investments should as margin lending or crypto. Hosted by Frances Cook. • Check out Frances Cook’s new money course, Money Made Simple, at francescook.co.nz, for a masterclass on everything from setting goals, creating a spending plan that works, mastering debt, beginning to invest, and understanding your KiwiSaver. If you pay attention to the money world long enough, you’ll hear about some interesting investments that give you a walk on the wild side.There are plenty of money gurus who’ll tell you you just need to be courageous, dive in, and you’ll be rich in no time.It’s easy to wonder, if you’re serious about investing, should you be looking into these options?Do you need to learn about margin lending, contracts for difference, or crypto, if you’re taking your money future seriously?Spoiler alert, no, you don’t need to go there, and they’re not financial products I invest in myself.But frankly, if we only leave these topics to the ‘gurus’, then it’ll end up with a conversation that’s all hype, and no substance.Besides, a walk on the wild side of investing can be pretty interesting, even if you don’t want to put any money there yourself.For the latest podcast I talked to Darcy Ungaro, financial adviser and host of the Everyday Investor podcast. If you have a question about this podcast, or a question you'd like answered in the next one, come and talk to me about it. I'm on Facebook here, Instagram here, and Twitter here.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Each week BusinessDesk and the NZ Herald’s Cooking the Books podcast tackles a different money problem. Today, it’s all about finding the growth strategy to take you to the top. Hosted by Frances Cook. Once upon a time, doing well in business meant competing with someone down the road, or if you did really well, others throughout New Zealand. Now, whatever your size, you’re often having to compete globally from day one. So growing your business has challenges, from day one. Luckily, a seasoned competitor is ready to share her insights into what makes successful businesses stand out from the pack. For the latest podcast, I talked to Debbie Humphrey from D/Srupt. If you have a question about this podcast, or a question you'd like answered in the next one, come and talk to me about it. I'm on Facebook here, Instagram here, and Twitter here. This podcast contains general information only, not professional advice. BNZ and NZME are not liable for any losses resulting from this podcast. T&Cs apply to BNZ products and services.    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Each week BusinessDesk and the NZ Herald’s Cooking the Books podcast tackles a different money problem. Today, it’s all about how much power you really have as a shareholder. Hosted by Frances Cook. This episode is brought to you by the Financial Markets Authority. Alright team, it’s a little bit of a good news, bad news, moment. The good news, is it’s world investor week. Now of course, every week is investing week in Cooking the Books land, but it’s also nice to have the excuse to talk about it even more. The bad news, well, you might not have much brain power to think about investing right now, what with the election, the cost of living, and just trying to keep your life going. The good news? We’re going to keep it really simple, so that you can achieve something that many people want to, but just run out of time to do. Because even more good news is that research from the FMA shows 68% of New Zealanders want their money invested ethically. But bad news is only 26% of us have acted on that. Another 23% of us have looked into it, but not taken action. I’ve got you – life’s busy. Let’s see how more of us can put this plan into action.  For the latest podcast, I talked to Financial Markets Authority, executive director of response & enforcement, Paul Gregory.  If you have a question about this podcast, or a question you'd like answered in the next one, come and talk to me about it. I'm on Facebook here, Instagram here, and Twitter here.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A highlight clip from the January 2020 episode "The reality of one NZers journey to early retirement", with Nick Carr, from Your Money Blueprint.  If you have a question about this podcast, or a question you'd like answered in the next one, come and talk to me about it. I'm on Facebook here, Instagram here, and Twitter here.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Each week BusinessDesk and the NZ Herald’s Cooking the Books podcast tackles a different money problem. Today, it’s the path from leaving school early, to becoming a business owner. Hosted by Frances Cook. Sometimes school just isn’t for you, but that doesn’t mean you won’t be successful in life. Today’s guest decided exactly that, leaving school at 15, in order to become a mechanic. Even if she’d stopped there, that would have been a plenty successful, skilled career, for many people. But she didn’t stop there. She started a side hustle worth tens of thousands, finding cars that needed a quick fix, that could then be sold for thousands more. And as she looked for parts, she came up with a business idea, one that’s already proving profitable. Now at 24 she’s carving her own path. For the latest podcast I talked to Kassandra Beehre, founder of Performance Kingdom.  If you have a question about this podcast, or a question you'd like answered in the next one, come and talk to me about it. I'm on Facebook here, Instagram here, and Twitter here.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Each week BusinessDesk and the NZ Herald’s Cooking the Books podcast tackles a different money problem. Today, it’s all about making sure you get paid. Hosted by Frances Cook. Getting that money flowing in is what separates a business from a hobby.  But it sometimes can be easier said than done. For the latest podcast, I talked to Joe Rastrick, head of paytech and emerging payments at BNZ. If you have a question about this podcast, or a question you'd like answered in the next one, come and talk to me about it. I'm on Facebook here, Instagram here, and Twitter here. This podcast contains general information only, not professional advice. BNZ and NZME are not liable for any losses resulting from this podcast. T&Cs apply to BNZ products and services.    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Each week BusinessDesk and the NZ Herald’s Cooking the Books podcast tackles a different money problem. Today, it’s how a home business became successful enough to be carried by major stores. Hosted by Frances Cook. If you’re trying to do well with money, of course it helps to have more coming in the door. One of the ways people choose to pursue that, is by starting their own business. It can be a game changer if you do well, because the rewards are all yours – no middle manager taking a slice. But it’s also far from easy. Today’s guest knows all about how to get creative in order to find success. They're not home owners, so they weren’t able to take the standard route of trying to extend the mortgage in order to get business funding. Instead, $1000 of savings, some glue sticks and a home printer had to do the job. They’re also in the food business, so they had to get licences, and rent commercial kitchens. And yet they’re building success, getting into major supermarket chains, and being approached by overseas outlets. Even better, the new business gives them a level of flexibility that allows them to combine work and family life in a way that works for them. For the latest podcast I talked to Secret Kiwi Kitchen co-founder Lulu Taylor. If you have a question about this podcast, or a question you'd like answered in the next one, come and talk to me about it. I'm on Facebook here, Instagram here, and Twitter here.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A highlight clip from the September 2019 episode "How to start a business with profits in mind" with Jo-Anne Randall from Baker Tilly Staples Rodway. If you have a question about this podcast, or a question you'd like answered in the next one, come and talk to me about it. I'm on Facebook here, Instagram here, and Twitter here.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Each week BusinessDesk and the NZ Herald’s Cooking the Books podcast tackles a different money problem. Today, it’s tactics for surviving high interest rates. Hosted by Frances Cook. Keeping a roof over your head has to be one of the most important things for financial stability. And yet, it’s increasingly difficult for people right now, no matter what income they’re on. Interest rates have shot up, and don’t start any nonsense in the comments about how people should have seen this coming, because the speed at which they’ve gone up is the fastest in about 30 years. Everyone’s an expert in hindsight, but no, I don’t think your average mortgage holder should have been expected to see this coming. Anyway, more important than who’s at fault it is, is what to do about it. If you’re feeling the pinch, there are options to try and ride through a rough time. And stick around first home buyers, because we’ve got some tips in here for you too. For the latest podcast, I talked to Will Tieu from Goldsmith Mortgages, also known as Your Financial Engineer. If you have a question about this podcast, or a question you'd like answered in the next one, come and talk to me about it. I'm on Facebook here, Instagram here, and Twitter here.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Each week BusinessDesk and the NZ Herald’s Cooking the Books podcast tackles a different money problem. Today, it’s the software that can eliminate drudge work. Hosted by Frances Cook. This episode is brought to you by BNZ. A few digital tools at your fingertips can take a load off your plate as a business owner. But the problem is, with so many to choose from, which do you pick? For the latest podcast I talked to BNZ’s head of technology industries Tim Wixon. If you have a question about this podcast, or a question you'd like answered in the next one, come and talk to me about it. I'm on Facebook here, Instagram here, and Twitter here. This podcast contains general information only, not professional advice. BNZ and NZME are not liable for any losses resulting from this podcast. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Each week BusinessDesk and the NZ Herald’s Cooking the Books podcast tackles a different money problem. Today, it’s the new rules on what happens to your savings in a crisis. Hosted by Frances Cook. When we talk about what to do with your money, there’s always a discussion of risk. And a savings account is supposed to be one of the safest options. So New Zealanders might be surprised to learn that actually, they’ve had few legal protections on that front until recently. New Zealand was one of only two countries in the OECD to not have some form of government protection if their bank failed. The other country is Israel. That means if there was a banking crisis, you could lose your life savings, even though you’d thought you had them somewhere safe. Now before you panic, this has now changed. The Deposit Takers Act has just been passed in Parliament, and guarantees protection of your savings, up to $100,000, if your bank fails. As always, there is fine print on this, and different ways you can use it to your advantage, to make sure you’ve got the best possible protection. For the latest podcast, I talked to Xceda CEO Daniel McGrath. If you have a question about this podcast, or a question you'd like answered in the next one, come and talk to me about it. I'm on Facebook here, Instagram here, and Twitter here.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Each week BusinessDesk and the NZ Herald’s Cooking the Books podcast tackles a different money problem. Today, it’s how to invest smartly, while accusations of greenwashing run rampant. Hosted by Frances Cook. Something I get asked about a lot is ethical investing, and whether it’s possible to make money without making the world a worse place. My answer is a resounding yes. I truly believe that many of the best investments, with good profits, are ethical ones. It’s tricky though, because many companies would like to be seen to be doing good without putting in the work. A recent one that surprised me was Vanguard, a giant in the investing industry, getting into hot water with the Australian authorities. Australian regulators said Vanguard’s Ethically Conscious Global Aggregate Bond Index Fund was actually greenwashing, because of investments associated with the fossil fuel industry. Meanwhile, local fund manager Pathfinder recently ditched all of its investments in BlackRock, after the global asset manager appointed Saudi Aramco’s chief executive to its board. Pathfinder CEO John Berry said “this undermines everything BlackRock has said and done over the past five years about it leading the transition to a lower carbon world”. It can be a minefield, and no investor wants to feel tricked. So here’s how to figure it out so you get the best bang for your buck, while sleeping well at night. For the latest podcast, I talked to John Berry from Pathfinder. I'm on Facebook here, Instagram here, and Twitter here.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Each week BusinessDesk and the NZ Herald’s Cooking the Books podcast tackles a different money problem. Today, it’s the best ways to start the money conversation, and avoid a fight. Hosted by Frances Cook. Money is the great unspoken force in many of our lives, making certain things possible, and keeping other things out of reach. But there’s huge power in starting to talk about it, especially with those we’re close to. If you’re coupled up, it’s really important to be on the same page as your partner, to make sure that you’re not accidentally sabotaging each other. There’s more than one way to successfully share your finances, but the key is, you do need to know what your strategy is. There’s also the matter of talking to your kids about money, or even your own parents. These money conversations can be crucial, but also so hard to have. We all bring our own baggage to the conversation, which can make it more likely for emotions to flare up.  I'm on Facebook here, Instagram here, and Twitter here.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Each week BusinessDesk and the NZ Herald’s Cooking the Books podcast tackles a different money problem. Today, it’s how a windfall can mess with your money mindset, and how to fix that. Hosted by Frances Cook. It’s a daydream that many of us have had. What would you do if you won the lottery?Millions fall out of the sky and into your lap, and suddenly, the world is your oyster.It might be more on your mind lately after Lotto powerball jackpotted to $37 million.And yet, if it happens, it can actually ruin lives.There are plenty of people who have a lottery win and end up poorer than they started, in only a few short years.Think I’m ruining the daydream? You could actually end up in this situation one day.A lotto win can be similar to what happens if you get a big inheritance, or the moment you finally get to crack open your KiwiSaver or retirement fund nest egg.Suddenly having access to a big whack of cash can throw all of our sense out of the window, and actually ruin our finances.So how should you handle it instead?For the latest podcast, I talked to Nick Crawford, financial adviser from The Private Office. I'm on Facebook here, Instagram here, and Twitter here.      See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Each week BusinessDesk and the NZ Herald’s Cooking the Books podcast tackles a different money problem. Today, it’s how to launch your business idea the right way. Hosted by Frances Cook. When you’re setting up a business, it’s important to start off on the right foot. So in a special quick hit episode of Cooking the Books, today is all about getting those foundations in place, so you can start with confidence. For the latest podcast, I talked to Olivia Donaldson, commercial partner at BNZ. If you have a question about this podcast, or a question you'd like answered in the next one, come and talk to me about it. I'm on Facebook here, Instagram here, and Twitter here. This podcast contains general information only, not professional advice. BNZ and NZME are not liable for any losses resulting from this podcast. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Each week BusinessDesk and the NZ Herald’s Cooking the Books podcast tackles a different money problem. Today, it’s the trends fund managers are watching, and banking on. Hosted by Frances Cook. They say that change is the only constant, which is particularly true in the investing world. One moment there’s a hot stock rocketing in price, the next minute, the company is down again, and it’s on to the next. To invest well amongst all the noise means the ability to step back, take the long view, and decide what’s actually a trend that’s likely to last, and keep that business making money. That’s exactly what fund managers do, and there are some spicy choices that have caught their attention recently, including weight loss drugs like Ozempic, and the change towards renewable electricity. So what are they watching, and should you be doing the same? For the latest podcast, I talked to Nathan Field, global equities portfolio manager for Generate.  If you have a question about this podcast, or a question you'd like answered in the next one, come and talk to me about it. I'm on Facebook here, Instagram here, and Twitter here.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Each week BusinessDesk and the NZ Herald’s Cooking the Books podcast tackles a different money problem. Today, it’s the investments than can do even better in a downturn. Hosted by Frances Cook. It’s no secret that I’m a fan of investing through a recession, as it can be a way to snap up bargains, and build wealth for the future. But what if you’re looking for something a little more immediate? Good investments that keep doing well, even when the economy is down? The current recession is the perfect test of this, because some industries are actually going better than ever. For the latest podcast I talked to Milford Asset Management portfolio manager Sam Trethewey. If you have a question about this podcast, or a question you'd like answered in the next one, come and talk to me about it. I'm on Facebook here, Instagram here, and Twitter here.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Each week BusinessDesk and the NZ Herald’s Cooking the Books podcast tackles a different money problem. Today, it’s how one woman went from deeply in debt, to being rich enough to buy into a castle in Italy. Hosted by Frances Cook. Sometimes you need a shock in order to make a change, and today’s guest certainly had one of those in the past. She’d known she wasn’t doing well with money, but when she decided to face it head on, and add up how much she owed, she realised with horror that it was $187,000. Not only did she manage to pay that off, but she’s since gone on to create her own business, and become pretty wealthy. For the latest podcast I talked to Australian business mentor and author Simone Milasas. If you have a question about this podcast, or a question you'd like answered in the next one, come and talk to me about it. I'm on Facebook here, Instagram here, and Twitter here.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A highlight clip from the January 2019 episode "How to cut waste and your food bill at the same time" with Jenny Marshall from Love Food Hate Waste. If you have a question about this podcast, or a question you'd like answered in the next one, come and talk to me about it. I'm on Facebook here, Instagram here, and Twitter here.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Each week BusinessDesk and the NZ Herald’s Cooking the Books podcast tackles a different money problem. Today, it’s how alternative investments like art, wine, and handbags, actually work. Hosted by Frances Cook. I’m a big believer that the world of investing is open to everyone these days, and you can start growing your wealth if you have just $5 spare. But it is also true that the investing world has some interesting pockets where you get a glimpse into how the other half lives. So it is with certain luxury investments, where people invest in art, watches, wine, or even handbags.  Can you actually make money on these? The answer is yes… sometimes  The Financial Times even crunched the numbers once to find a 38% return on some Birkin bags.  That’s certainly a lot higher than the 10% you can expect from shares.  But when you get into this area it’s a little bit art, a little bit science, and a little bit hobby, because you have to know your stuff. It’s not every Birkin that will make you a lot of money.  You also need to treat these investments differently once you’ve got them.  For the latest podcast I talked to Cat Emerson from Kernel. If you have a question about this podcast, or a question you'd like answered in the next one, come and talk to me about it. I'm on Facebook here, Instagram here, and Twitter here.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Each week BusinessDesk and the NZ Herald’s Cooking the Books podcast tackles a different money problem. Today, it’s the strategies and organisations to help you pay off debt faster. Hosted by Frances Cook. This episode is brought to you by BNZ. Debt is one of those things that’s easy to get into, and harder to get out of. But the good news is there are at least some tactics to make it a little bit easier, once you decide you want to get out of debt. There are strategies in how you can pay it off, and there are also organisations ready to give you a helping hand. For the latest episode I talked to Frances Ronowicz, head of social impact at BNZ. If you have a question about this podcast, or a question you'd like answered in the next one, come and talk to me about it. I'm on Facebook here, Instagram here, and Twitter here. This podcast contains general information only, not professional advice. BNZ is not liable for any losses resulting from this podcast.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Each week BusinessDesk and the NZ Herald’s Cooking the Books podcast tackles a different money problem. Today, it’s how a social media challenge turned into a profitable six figure business. Hosted by Frances Cook. There are so many good reasons to want to start a business – to do something you feel proud of, to have control over your schedule, or simply to earn more money. All great reasons, but it’s easier said than done. Most businesses fail. One way to find customers and get that all important money coming through the door is by using social media. It’s a savvy way to reach out to people and show them what you’re capable of. Again though, easier said than done. What do you post in order to drum up business, how do you avoid pitfalls like burn out, or even just the criticism that comes with putting yourself out there to the internet? Here’s how one New Zealander made it work, in order to build her own six figure graphic design business. For the latest podcast I talked to Kristy Campbell, founder of Pink Pony Creative. If you have a question about this podcast, or a question you'd like answered in the next one, come and talk to me about it. I'm on Facebook here, Instagram here, and Twitter here.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A highlight clip from the December 2017 episode "Where to start when you're drowning in debt" with the Commission for Financial Capability's personal finance editor Tom Hartmann. If you have a question about this podcast, or a question you'd like answered in the next one, come and talk to me about it. I'm on Facebook here, Instagram here, and Twitter here.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Each week BusinessDesk and the NZ Herald’s Cooking the Books podcast tackles a different money problem. Today, it’s why scammers are on the rise, and how to stay ahead of them. Hosted by Frances Cook. If you pride yourself on being great with money, and able to spot tricksters coming a mile off, I have bad news for you: you’re one of the people most at risk. Scams, fraudsters, and rip-off artists are everywhere right now, and it’s horrifying the number of people who are losing their hard-earned money to them. One of the biggest dangers to being sucked in, though, is thinking that you know all the tricks. People with some money knowledge are actually more likely to get taken in. That’s exactly what Nigel Latta learned when he started researching for his new TV show about scammers. And he had some first hand knowledge of the damage that scammers can do, after his mother-in-law lost thousands to them. If you have a question about this podcast, or a question you'd like answered in the next one, come and talk to me about it. I'm on Facebook here, Instagram here, and Twitter here.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A highlight clip from the June 2022 episode "busting the investing myths that hold you back" with Clarissa Hirst from the Financial Services Council. If you have a question about this podcast, or a question you'd like answered in the next one, come and talk to me about it. I'm on Facebook here, Instagram here, and Twitter here.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Each week BusinessDesk and the NZ Herald’s Cooking the Books podcast tackles a different money problem. Today, it’s how your KiwiSaver and investments will change under new climate rules. Hosted by Frances Cook. Environmental issues can have a major impact on a company’s bottom line, and yet until now, it’s often been seen as a nice-to-have consideration for investors. That’s about to change. The government has put in new standards that require New Zealand companies to collect information on emissions and other climate related impacts, and give that information to investors along with their annual results. Even if you’re not in New Zealand, this is significant for you, too. Other countries are considering similar changes. It’s supposed to make it much harder for things like greenwashing to continue. The impacts could be seen in share prices, as the information is likely to change investor decisions, as well as filtering out to customers who might change their behaviour based on the new info. So basically, this change is likely to have an impact on company values around the world. For the latest podcast I talked to Dr Amelia Sharman, Director Sustainability Reporting for XRB. If you have a question about this podcast, or a question you'd like answered in the next one, come and talk to me about it. I'm on Facebook here, Instagram here, and Twitter here.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A highlight clip from the August 2022 episode "Your KiwiSaver questions answered" with Dr Claire Matthews, associate professor from Massey Business School. If you have a question about this podcast, or a question you'd like answered in the next one, come and talk to me about it. I'm on Facebook here, Instagram here, and Twitter here.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Each week, BusinessDesk and the NZ Herald’s Cooking the Books podcast tackle a different money problem. Today, it’s how one NZ company landed a contract with an international giant of the beauty world. Hosted by Frances Cook. Every now and then you’ll hear about a New Zealand business that made it big.From being an idea dreamed up in someone’s garage, to landing on the world stage, suddenly working alongside titans of the business world.For those of us who don’t want to become international business moguls, even if you have a side hustle, there are often interesting lessons to be learned from those who took their business to the next level.So, enter Powered by Flossie.You might remember it as flossie.com, which at one point let customers book off-peak visits to beauty salons.That was shut down a few years ago, but not because they failed.It’s because the founders realized there was a bigger opportunity in the tech behind their site. That became Powered By Flossie.Now they’ve signed up to a global distribution deal with Estee Lauder, which, it’s fair to say, is a massive deal.Here’s what founder Jenene Crossan learned in that long evolution. If you have a question about this podcast, or a question you'd like answered in the next one, come and talk to me about it. I'm on Facebook here, Instagram here, and Twitter here.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A highlight clip from the March 2019 episode "How to talk to your partner about money" with AUT's Dr Ayesha Scott.  If you have a question about this podcast, or a question you'd like answered in the next one, come and talk to me about it. I'm on Facebook here, Instagram here, and Twitter here.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Each week BusinessDesk and the NZ Herald’s Cooking the Books podcast tackles a different money problem. Today, it’s the reality behind the digital nomad dream. Hosted by Frances Cook. There have been many promises made about the future of work, how increased digital connections would make it easier to design our own schedule, and work from anywhere in the world.In reality, it’s often a little trickier than we might think.Sometimes it can be hard to see how our current career or business could be changed to suit remote work.If you want to go full digital nomad, you’ll also need to have a plan for how to balance your time, keep those business relationships warm, and even sort out annoying details like visas.For the latest podcast I talked to Nathan James Thomas, author of Untethered. If you have a question about this podcast, or a question you'd like answered in the next one, come and talk to me about it. I'm on Facebook here, Instagram here, and Twitter here.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Each week BusinessDesk and the NZ Herald’s Cooking the Books podcast tackles a different money problem. Today, it’s what you need to know to get the most out of your KiwiSaver. Hosted by Frances Cook. This episode is brought to you by Milford Asset Management. Your KiwiSaver is the biggest financial asset for many New Zealanders, but I’m sorry to say, many of us are doing it wrong. You need different types of KiwiSaver accounts depending on where you are in your life. Your age is a major factor, but so is whether or not you plan to use it for a house soon, and also, your money mindset. So how do you figure it out? Happily, just a few rules of thumb can change your KiwiSaver and potentially leave you with hundreds of thousands of dollars more in your account. For the latest podcast I talked to Milford Asset Management KiwiSaver financial adviser Liam Robertson. If you have a question about this podcast, or a question you'd like answered in the next one, come and talk to me about it. I'm on Facebook here, Instagram here, and Twitter here.See omny.fm/listener for privacy information.

Each week BusinessDesk and the NZ Herald’s Cooking the Books podcast tackles a different money problem. Today, it’s how a teacher changed her finances to prioritise travel and spend time with family. Hosted by Frances Cook. There are many different strategies to reach financial independence, some more extreme than others. If you have the freedom to travel, it can also mean the opportunity to take your financial strategies to the next level. That’s what today’s guest did. She combined seeking out the highest paid jobs in her field from around the world, with a very low cost of living, in order to hit a 90% savings rate. You read that right – she saved and invested 90% of the money she earned. That doesn’t mean it was all plain sailing though, because she had some money behaviours that nearly held her back from her dream early retirement. For the latest podcast I talked to Amy Minkley. If you have a question about this podcast, or a question you'd like answered in the next one, come and talk to me about it. I'm on Facebook here, Instagram here, and Twitter here.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A highlight clip from the February 2020 episode "The tax realities of making a side hustle work" with Hnry co-founder James Fuller.  If you have a question about this podcast, or a question you'd like answered in the next one, come and talk to me about it. I'm on Facebook here, Instagram here, and Twitter here.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Each week BusinessDesk and the NZ Herald’s Cooking the Books podcast tackles a different money problem. Today, it’s why ETF trading is down, and what it means for your strategy. Hosted by Frances Cook. After a couple of years of hype and covid boredom, it looks like the shares investing scene is crashing back to earth. Figures from the NZX show New Zealand ETF trading down about 75% in the last year, aka, investors aren’t buying and selling as many of those Exchange Traded Funds. There are a few things that could be feeding this trend, and I suspect higher interest rates and a higher cost of living are part of it. We’ll get into those as part of the discussion today. But another factor is that if other investors aren’t so keen on shares right now, does this mean there’s an opportunity for the investors who stay in the game? Quite possibly. For the latest podcast I talked to Dean Anderson founder and CEO of Kernel. If you have a question about this podcast, or a question you'd like answered in the next one, come and talk to me about it. I'm on Facebook here, Instagram here, and Twitter here.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A highlight clip from the September 2022 episode "How to invest in shares through a crisis" with Dean Anderson, CEO of Kernel Wealth.  If you have a question about this podcast, or a question you'd like answered in the next one, come and talk to me about it. I'm on Facebook here, Instagram here, and Twitter here.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Each week BusinessDesk and the NZ Herald’s Cooking the Books podcast tackles a different money problem. Today, it’s how one New Zealander learned more about money and decided to get strategic. Hosted by Frances Cook. It’s amazing what can happen when you’ve got a money goal, and this week’s guest is living proof of that.From having no understanding of money, and living paycheck to paycheck, she turned things around to boost her income, build an emergency fund, and then pay off the mortgage in just seven years.She’s the first to admit that increasing her income was key, but that’s the thing – it was all part of the plan.And she says that without learning how money works, she would have just wasted that increased money anyway.For the latest podcast I talked to Cathy Anderson from Curated Money. If you have a question about this podcast, or a question you'd like answered in the next one, come and talk to me about it. I'm on Facebook here, Instagram here, and Twitter here.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A highlight clip from the December 2018 episode "why do sales make us irrational?" with AUT lecturer Sommer Kapitan. If you have a question about this podcast, or a question you'd like answered in the next one, come and talk to me about it. I'm on Facebook here, Instagram here, and Twitter here.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Each week BusinessDesk and the NZ Herald’s Cooking the Books podcast tackles a different money problem. Today, it’s what to make of the prediction that house prices will fall further. Hosted by Frances Cook. Behind the headlines of the Government’s Budget, there’s a bunch of nerdy stuff that can help us make better decisions with our money. At the same time as saying what the Government is going to spend its cash on, they also release documents and forecasts, showing how the wheels are turning in our economy. So the latest release with what Treasury had to say about housing was pretty interesting. It’s expecting house prices fall 13.4% by the time we hit June 30th, the end of the financial year. Then it’s predicting another 4.6% drop next year. If that happened, from the top to the bottom of the market, house prices will have fallen 21.3% all together. After that? A slow, slow climb back in house prices until 2027, of around 3% each year. It’s also picked up a drop in investors buying homes to rent. What’s behind this? Higher interest rates, and low wage growth. An interesting note there, if you’re finding life expensive, is that Treasury also thinks interest rates will start falling later this year. All very interesting stuff, but what should you be doing about it? Whether you’re a first home buyer, or an investor, here are some strategies. For the latest podcast I talked to Mark Harris, managing director, NZ Sotheby’s International Realty. If you have a question about this podcast, or a question you'd like answered in the next one, come and talk to me about it. I'm on Facebook here, Instagram here, and Twitter here.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A highlight clip from the October 2022 episode "How a NZ couple used sharemarket investments to become 'work optional' in 11 years" with Ruth Henderson, from The Happy Saver. If you have a question about this podcast, or a question you'd like answered in the next one, come and talk to me about it. I'm on Facebook here, Instagram here, and Twitter here.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Each week BusinessDesk and the NZ Herald’s Cooking the Books podcast tackles a different money problem. Today, it’s how to work out how much reliable income you can get from investments. Hosted by Frances Cook. One of my favourite money sayings is ‘every dollar you invest gets you closer to the day you don’t have to work anymore’. It’s no secret I’m a big fan of investing and the financial security it can bring by adding a stream of income that doesn’t rely on you heading off to work every day. But how much can you actually rely on it? How much do you need to invest before that trickle of income becomes a flood? We ran some numbers to test it.For the latest podcast I talked to Will Tieu from Goldsmith Mortgages, also known as Your Financial Engineer. If you have a question about this podcast, or a question you'd like answered in the next one, come and talk to me about it. I'm on Facebook here, Instagram here, and Twitter here.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Each week BusinessDesk and the NZ Herald’s Cooking the Books podcast tackles a different money problem. Today, it’s a side hustle that could make your hundreds of dollars while only needing a few hours of your time. Hosted by Frances Cook. Earning some extra money on the side can be useful for all sorts of reasons, but it’s important to make sure it doesn’t soak up all your free time, and that it actually makes you money. After all, we don’t want to be working all hours of the day for very little return. Well, one New Zealander has found selling items online, usually just using Facebook marketplace, to be very much worth her while. She spends about three hours a week listing items, and monitoring her listings. For that, she can earn anywhere from a few hundred bucks, to a thousand dollars. Not bad if you can get it. The best part is, she’s happy to share the secrets to her success with all of us. For the latest podcast I talked to lifestyle influencer Sabby Jey. If you have a question about this podcast, or a question you'd like answered in the next one, come and talk to me about it. I'm on Facebook here, Instagram here, and Twitter here.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A highlight clip from the February 2020 episode "The common insurance mistake NZers are making", with then-Herald money editor Tamsyn Parker. If you have a question about this podcast, or a question you'd like answered in the next one, come and talk to me about it. I'm on Facebook here, Instagram here, and Twitter here.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A highlight clip from the June 2019 episode "Myth busting the golden ratio for your money", with Dr Ayesha Scott from AUT. If you have a question about this podcast, or a question you'd like answered in the next one, come and talk to me about it. I'm on Facebook here, Instagram here, and Twitter here.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Each week BusinessDesk and the NZ Herald’s Cooking the Books podcast tackles a different money problem. Today, it’s how to make the most of your credit card, and the different deals at the moment. Hosted by Frances Cook. Credit cards can be a divisive topicOn the one hand, they’re a source of debt, which often has high interest rates, and can hold you back. But on the other hand, if you use them carefully, you can get rewards and perks for no cost. What those rewards and perks can actually be varies widely, and is often quite different in New Zealand and Australia from the rest of the world. For the latest podcast I talked to Jose George, General Manager for Canstar New Zealand. If you have a question about this podcast, or a question you'd like answered in the next one, come and talk to me about it. I'm on Facebook here, Instagram here, and Twitter here.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A highlight clip from the April 2021 episode, "Can you reach financial security without a house?" with then-Hatch CEO Kristen Lunman. If you have a question about this podcast, or a question you'd like answered in the next one, come and talk to me about it. I'm on Facebook here, Instagram here, and Twitter here.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Each week BusinessDesk and the NZ Herald’s Cooking the Books podcast tackles a different money problem. Today, it’s how a 25-year-old has overhauled her finances to pursue financial independence. Hosted by Frances Cook. When you talk to people about taking control of their money and learning to invest, you’ll often hear this particular phrase – “I wish I started earlier”.Today’s guest, however, doesn’t have to worry about that.At 25 years old she’s decided she’s ready to ditch old habits like a fast fashion addiction, and focus on hitting financial freedom, ideally within the next 10 years.No, she’s not earning mega-bucks, and she’s not someone who has a lot of family help, or a business degree to guide her.What she does have is a solid full-time job, a willingness to learn, and a focus on making the money changes that could give her the freedom to live life on her terms. For the latest podcast I talked to “Baddie”, from the Instagram account @BaddieAndMoney, who is staying anonymous for work reasons. If you have a question about this podcast, or a question you'd like answered in the next one, come and talk to me about it. I'm on Facebook here, Instagram here, and Twitter here.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A highlight clip from the November 2019 episode "How to budget without feeling deprived", with PocketSmith CEO Jason Leong. If you have a question about this podcast, or a question you'd like answered in the next one, come and talk to me about it. I'm on Facebook here, Instagram here, and Twitter here.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Each week BusinessDesk and the NZ Herald’s Cooking the Books podcast tackles a different money problem. Today, it’s the pros and cons of peer-to-peer lending. Hosted by Frances Cook. There’s been a lot of talk about bank profits lately, and whether or not they make too much money. But if you had the opportunity to step into their shoes and make money in a similar way, would you? Enter peer-to-peer lending, where regular New Zealanders are given the opportunity to invest into someone else’s mortgage. Just like the banks do, you can lend cash to someone else who is wanting to do something like buy their home. They then pay you back, with interest, just like you usually do with a bank. It’s an interesting type of investment, and one that isn’t commonly talked about in New Zealand. For the latest podcast I talked to David Cunningham, CEO of Squirrel. If you have a question about this podcast, or a question you'd like answered in the next one, come and talk to me about it. I'm on Facebook here, Instagram here, and Twitter here.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A highlight clip from the March 2021 episode "How to choose a financial advisor", with Gillian Boyes from the Financial Markets Authority. If you have a question about this podcast, or a question you'd like answered in the next one, come and talk to me about it. I'm on Facebook here, Instagram here, and Twitter here.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Each week BusinessDesk and the NZ Herald’s Cooking the Books podcast tackles a different money problem. Today, it’s how the founder of Twiice is finding investment to help them break into Europe. Hosted by Frances Cook. It’s one of those pieces of advice that gets trotted out like it’s so simple; if you want to increase your income, consider starting a business of your own.Now it’s true that a successful business can create wealth, but that’s also the trick. Most businesses aren’t successful. It’s hard to do well.New Zealand particularly suffers from a very small investing environment, so it can be hard for our businesses to get the cash injection they need once they’re ready to take things to the next level.Well one business owner is willing to share their journey of how they’ve tackled these problems.You might have heard of Twiice, which produces edible coffee cups, and had a big early success when Air New Zealand got on board with their idea.Now they’re courting investors including private equity funds, high net worth individuals, and venture capital firms, as they work to fundraise for a push into the UK and European markets.For the latest podcast I talked to Jamie Cashmore, co-founder and director of Twiice.If you have a question about this podcast, or a question you'd like answered in the next one, come and talk to me about it. I'm on Facebook here, Instagram here, and Twitter here.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A highlight clip from the August 2022 episode "Your KiwiSaver questions answered, part one", with Dr Claire Matthews, associate professor from Massey Business School. If you have a question about this podcast, or a question you'd like answered in the next one, come and talk to me about it. I'm on Facebook here, Instagram here, and Twitter here.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Each week BusinessDesk and the NZ Herald’s Cooking the Books podcast tackles a different money problem. Today, it’s the strategies to use to improve your chances of getting a raise. Hosted by Frances Cook. It’s that time of year – the time when many people are getting their performance review. Which means it’s the perfect time to ask for a pay rise. Data from Seek shows that the top three reasons New Zealanders look for a new job are to get more money, progress their career, or find better work-life balance. Your performance review is the place to see whether you could get those things from your current job. But Seek data also shows that last year, 42 per cent of New Zealanders headed into their performance review unprepared. That’s a waste of a golden opportunity to make your working day work better for you. For the latest podcast I talked to Seek career expert Leah Lambert from Relaunch Me.If you have a question about this podcast, or a question you'd like answered in the next one, come and talk to me about it. I'm on Facebook here, Instagram here, and Twitter here.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A highlight clip from the October 2019 episode "How the rule of 100 helps decide your investing strategy", with Mark Lister from Craig's Investment Partners. If you have a question about this podcast, or a question you'd like answered in the next one, come and talk to me about it. I'm on Facebook here, Instagram here, and Twitter here.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Each week BusinessDesk and the NZ Herald’s Cooking the Books podcast tackles a different money problem. Today, it’s what really matters to employees in 2023. Hosted by Frances Cook. We hear a lot about the war for good talent right now, and how businesses are struggling to find and keep the best workers.So it’s timely that Mercer has just put out its Global Talent Trends Survey for 2023, which for the first time includes data specifically looking at the New Zealand situation.So what are the biggest problems for New Zealand businesses? The theme seems to be overwork.61% say too many priorities are distracting their people, 47% say there’s a lack of capability and future skills, and 42% say employee exhaustion.What to do about it?Well, the research shows money does talk, and it’s often the best way to get people in the door. But after that, you need good company culture, and to be talking to your people honestly about what they need.For the latest podcast I talked to Mercer New Zealand’s head of workforce solutions, Andrew McKechnie. If you have a question about this podcast, or a question you'd like answered in the next one, come and talk to me about it. I'm on Facebook here, Instagram here, and Twitter here.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A highlight clip from the January 2020 episode "The reality of one NZers journey to early retirement", with Nick Carr, from Your Money Blueprint.  If you have a question about this podcast, or a question you'd like answered in the next one, come and talk to me about it. I'm on Facebook here, Instagram here, and Twitter here.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Each week BusinessDesk and the NZ Herald’s Cooking the Books podcast tackles a different money problem. Today, it’s a banking expert on how safe savings are in New Zealand and Australia. Hosted by Frances Cook. A bank collapse is the stuff of nightmares, with the potential to wipe out hard-earned savings, or a business’s ability to pay staff.This nightmare has become reality in the US, with a run on Silicon Valley Bank, or SVB, that led to the bank collapsing. It’s a big deal because SVB is, or was, the 16th largest bank in the USA. It’s the second biggest to fail since Washington Mutual’s collapse during the 2008 Global Financial Crisis.For context, it’s a bigger bank than ANZ here in New Zealand, which is our biggest bank. SVB had assets of US$209b, while ANZ NZ has assets of US$120b (NZ$195.6b).It’s been followed by a couple of other worrying developments. Credit Suisse was Switzerland’s second largest bank – but it’s being bought out in an emergency rescue deal by the country’s first biggest bank, UBS. UBS is snapping up their rival for a bargain 3 billion Swiss francs, which is about 60% less than Credit Suisse was supposedly worth before it hit panic buttons. Meanwhile, back to the US, and Signature Bank has been shut down and is likely to have its deposits and loans bought out by Flagstar Bank. Not great.So could it happen here, and should we all New Zealanders be worried? If you have a question about this podcast, or a question you'd like answered in the next one, come and talk to me about it. I'm on Facebook here, Instagram here, and Twitter here.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A highlight clip from the October 2020 episode "How to pay off debt faster", with Kate Reddington from Sorted. If you have a question about this podcast, or a question you'd like answered in the next one, come and talk to me about it. I'm on Facebook here, Instagram here, and Twitter here.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Each week BusinessDesk and the NZ Herald’s Cooking the Books podcast tackles a different money problem. Today, it’s how index investing changed the game, and what’s next. Hosted by Frances Cook. Now don’t tell me you forgot it was our anniversary. It’s a big one too: 30 years, the pearl anniversary. What’s it the anniversary of? Well, I’m glad you asked. January 29 marked 30 years of the world’s longest-surviving exchange-traded fund, Standard & Poor’s Depository Receipt, mostly known by the acronym SPDR, or as the “spider”. It’s now one of the world’s largest funds. A little closer to home, March 3 this year marked 20 years since the Standard & Poors NZX50 was launched. That’s the china anniversary, for those paying attention. Jokes aside, index investing has been huge for letting the little guy into the market, allowing them to invest in a wide range of companies with less effort. The rewards, without as much risk. But some things have changed over the past few decades. For the latest podcast, I talked to Tim Edwards, S&P’s global head of index investment strategy. If you have a question about this podcast, or a question you'd like answered in the next one, come and talk to me about it. I'm on Facebook here, Instagram here, and Twitter here.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A highlight clip from the October 2019 episode "Should you protect your KiwiSaver by going conservative?", with Paul Gregory, then head of investments for Pie Funds and JUNO KiwiSaver Scheme. If you have a question about this podcast, or a question you'd like answered in the next one, come and talk to me about it. I'm on Facebook here, Instagram here, and Twitter here.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Each week BusinessDesk and the NZ Herald’s Cooking the Books podcast tackles a different money problem. Today, it’s the couple who used shares and property investing to create the financial freedom to go travelling with their kids. Hosted by Frances Cook. Living entirely off investments might seem like a dream for rich people, but what about the idea of changing your money so that you have some investments supporting you, and then you just work a little bit?That’s exactly what today’s guest did, after they decided life was short, and they wanted to travel and have lots of time for their kids.She and her husband both work part-time now, thanks to a healthy combination of property investing, shares investing, and starting their own business.But where they started from was minimum wage jobs.For the latest podcast I talked to Emma Healey.If you have a question about this podcast, or a question you'd like answered in the next one, come and talk to me about it. I'm on Facebook here, Instagram here, and Twitter here.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Each week BusinessDesk and the NZ Herald’s Cooking the Books podcast tackles a different money problem. Today, it’s how to figure out your insurance priorities, and how insurance will change in the future. Hosted by Frances Cook. Insurance is meant to protect you against life’s worst moments, the things that can make life hard for not just you, but also your loved ones. But it’s also a little tricky, because the various policies can be expensive, and you have to personalise your strategy. After all, the things that pose a risk to your quality of life won’t be the same as for someone else. There’s also the bigger picture to consider here. After major floods and severe weather around New Zealand, the impacts have been devastating. As we move past the immediate response, it’s fair to ask, will this change how we live and manage risk through insurance? To talk about what you need to know, both now and in the future, on the latest Cooking the Books podcast I talked to Insurance Council Chief Executive Tim Grafton. If you have a question about this podcast, or a question you'd like answered in the next one, come and talk to me about it. I'm on Facebook here, Instagram here, and Twitter here.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A highlight clip from the September 2019 episode "the most successful ways to travel on a budget". If you have a question about this podcast, or a question you'd like answered in the next one, come and talk to me about it. I'm on Facebook here, Instagram here, and Twitter here.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Each week BusinessDesk and the NZ Herald’s Cooking the Books podcast tackles a different money problem. Today, it’s how to approach the sharemarket while the economy is down. Hosted by Frances Cook. There’s an old saying that everyone is a genius in a bull market.When the share market is going up, up, up, it’s easy to get sucked into the hype, and assume that you’re the one making brilliant investing decisions. When actually you’re just in a positive part of the cycle.However, bull markets, where the money is easy, eventually end.Now things are looking a little curlier. Businesses aren’t having a good time, so shares and stocks are down.Recession is looming on the horizon, there’s a cost of living crisis, and some investors are thinking, maybe this isn’t for me after all.So what do you do at times like this?For the latest podcast, I talked to Victoria Harris from The Curve.If you have a question about this podcast, or a question you’d like answered in the next one, talk to me about it. I’m on Facebook here, Instagram here, and Twitter here.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A highlight clip from the December 2020 episode "the pros and cons of a tiny home". If you have a question about this podcast, or a question you'd like answered in the next one, come and talk to me about it. I'm on Facebook here, Instagram here, and Twitter here.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Each week BusinessDesk and the NZ Herald’s Cooking the Books podcast tackles a different money problem. Today, it’s the costs you should consider before having a baby. Hosted by Frances Cook. Kids are a delight, a gift… a big old expense.Adding a new person to the world and your family comes with costs, and it’s a reality that can put people off kids.It’s a trend around the world.Japan is the most famous example, with a record low number of births in 2021. The US population is barely growing anymore. China’s had it first population decline in more than 60 years.Here in New Zealand? The long term trend is fewer births.What could be behind this, I wonder? When it’s so difficult to buy a house, wages don’t keep up with living costs, and childcare is so expensive, gosh, what on earth puts people off?Anyway, having children and raising a family is something many people want. Just because there are certain financial realities doesn’t mean it’s impossible.For the latest podcast I talked to Cat Emerson from Kernel. If you have a question about this podcast, or a question you'd like answered in the next one, come and talk to me about it. I'm on Facebook here, Instagram here, and Twitter here.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A highlight clip from the May 2021 episode, "how to use money to boost your happiness". If you have a question about this podcast, or a question you'd like answered in the next one, come and talk to me about it. I'm on Facebook here, Instagram here, and Twitter here.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Each week BusinessDesk and the NZ Herald’s Cooking the Books podcast tackles a different money problem. Today, it’s how to handle a falling property market, whether you’re an investor or first home buyer. Hosted by Frances Cook. Slides at the park might be a bit of fun, but when it comes to the property market, the latest downward slide has probably not left many people laughing.Real Estate Institute data shows sales are way down, 39 per cent year-on-year, while Auckland house prices have fallen 18 per cent to a new median value of $1.05 million.The median sale price for New Zealand overall fell over the past year by 12 per cent to $790,000.Now property always has winners and losers. Frankly, a lot of first home buyers will be excited to hear this, and feel like now is a great time to be buying. They’re not wrong.However, I’ve also had lots of messages from people who would like to invest in property at some stage, wondering if that’s still a good idea, or if the best time has been and gone.You know me, I love to make sure we’re answering your burning questions.So let’s get into it – what do you need to know if you’re a first home buyer, how is it different if you want to invest, and are there any mortgage tips and tricks to help you out along the way?For the latest podcast I talked to Ed McKnight from Opes PartnersIf you have a question about this podcast, or a question you'd like answered in the next one, come and talk to me about it. I'm on Facebook here, Instagram here, and Twitter here.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Each week BusinessDesk and the NZ Herald’s Cooking the Books podcast tackles a different money issue. Today, it’s a woman who goes to work so that she can donate her salary. Hosted by Frances Cook. Being focused on money can sometimes have a bad reputation. People can decide it means you’re greedy, or self-interested. Well today’s guest hit financial independence and decided, she still wanted to work, but so that she could give away much of that income, to causes she cares about. It’s become a way for her to make an impact on the world and give it a nudge in the right direction. Here’s how she did it. For the latest podcast, I talked to Sarah Woodfield. If you have a question about this podcast, or a question you'd like answered in the next one, come and talk to me about it. I'm on Facebook here, Instagram here, and Twitter here.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Each week BusinessDesk and the NZ Herald’s Cooking the Books podcast tackles a different money problem. Today, it’s how to figure out which online platform to invest through. Hosted by Frances Cook. The last couple of years has seen a boom in DIY shares investors dabbling in the market. One reason is the increased information out there, and people understanding that they need to invest their money in order to get ahead. But another key reason is the growth in new, online platforms that let you invest with whatever small change you have at the end of the week. That’s been a gamechanger, letting the little guy get in on the game and start building wealth. But there’s been a change recently. Both Sharesies and Stake, typically the hero of those small time investors, have announced a big change on the fees they charge. Now anyone who’s read my books knows where I’m going with this – fees are a big deal. Many people will ignore them, but they’re a hidden way to lose a lot of money when you’re investing, so you’ve got to keep an eye on them. So seeing as those all-important fees are changing, it’s time to take stock. What platforms are out there, and what do you need to know to pick the best one for you? For the latest podcast, I talked to Chris Walsh from Money Hub. If you have a question about this podcast, or a question you'd like answered in the next one, come and talk to me about it. I'm on Facebook here, Instagram here, and Twitter here.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Each week BusinessDesk and the NZ Herald's Cooking the Books podcast tackles a different money problem. Today, it's how to get started in real estate investing when you don't have much spare cash. Hosted by Frances Cook. We all know that New Zealanders have a mild property investment obsession. For decades now, it’s been one of the favourite ways for kiwis to build their wealth. But as prices went up, fewer and fewer people found property investment to be a realistic option for them. When you need tens of thousands, or even hundreds of thousands of dollars, just to get started, well, that’s a pretty big ask. So what if you could get into property investment for just $5? Even better,what if it’s not just the standard residential property options that most New Zealanders opt for, but getting into the commercial or industrial property investments that can take more expertise to get right? Well, you can. There are property funds that are listed on the sharemarket, that let you get into property investment for less money upfront, and also less day-to-day management from you. For the latest podcast, I talked to Leighton Roberts, founder and one of the 3EOs of Sharesies.  If you have a question about this podcast, or a question you'd like answered in the next one, come and talk to me about it. I'm on Facebook here, Instagram here, and Twitter here.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Each week BusinessDesk and the NZ Herald’s Cooking the Books podcast tackles a different money problem. Today, it’s why bonds are the most attractive they’ve been in years. Hosted by Frances Cook. While interest rates going up can hurt our money in a lot of ways, there’s a silver lining.Certain investments, like bonds, start to make much more money.So what are bonds, and why haven’t we talked about them as much on this podcast before?Well, it’s almost like you’re becoming a lender, or a bank. Your investment money is given as a loan to a government, or business, and they use it to expand or invest into new projects.Just like a credit card, there’s an agreed interest rate that they’ll pay you back at, and a set date by which they have to give you back all of your money.Because it relies on interest, well, they weren’t very fun or rewarding in the previous low-interest rate environment.But they’re looking pretty good about now, or at least, some of them are.For the latest podcast I talked to David McLeish, head of fixed income for Fisher Funds Management. If you have a question about this podcast, or a question you'd like answered in the next one, come and talk to me about it. I'm on Facebook here, Instagram here, and Twitter here.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Each week BusinessDesk and the NZ Herald’s Cooking the Books podcast tackles a different money problem. Today, it’s the true good, bad, and ugly of digital nomad life. Hosted by Frances Cook. I’m sure we’ve all considered it at some point – whether we could chuck in the office job, and go make a life on the beach somewhere, maybe getting in some freelance work from a laptop to make sure the pina coladas keep flowing. And there’s plenty of glossy Instagram content urging you to do exactly that. To go travel while you can, become a digital nomad, live the best of both worlds by travelling and working at the same time. It’s hard to know what the reality is behind the scenes though, because not many people want to admit if they give it a crack, and then find it really hard. Luckily, I’ve found someone who’s actually willing to share with us, the good, the bad, and the ugly of what it’s actually like. For the latest podcast I talked to Sarah Kelsey from The OneUp Project. If you have a question about this podcast, or a question you'd like answered in the next one, come and talk to me about it. I'm on Facebook here, Instagram here, and Twitter here.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Each week BusinessDesk and the NZ Herald’s Cooking the Books podcast tackles a different money problem. Today, it’s what to expect from the year ahead, and how you can prepare your money for it. Hosted by Frances Cook. A new year often means it’s time to take stock, take a beat, and think about what’s next. If you’re doing that this year, it might make you wince a little. The headlines have been grim lately, with recessions predicted here and around the world, house prices and share prices bouncing around in an unsettling way, the cost of living up, and interest rates increasing. It’s not all doom and gloom but it can certainly feel that way sometimes. There are still opportunities, you just need to know where to look. Even when there is bad news, often the trick is to make sure that you’re well prepared, and then you can ride out the storm a little easier. So I’ve pulled in a couple of my colleagues to make sense of it all, find the opportunities, and help us batten down the hatches. For the latest podcast I talked to Pattrick Smellie, managing editor of BusinessDesk, and Tamsyn Parker, personal finance editor for the New Zealand Herald. If you have a question about this podcast, or a question you'd like answered in the next one, come and talk to me about it. I'm on Facebook here, Instagram here, and Twitter here.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Each week BusinessDesk and the NZ Herald’s Cooking the Books podcast tackles a different money problem. Today, it’s how one New Zealander used financial independence to fund a career change. Hosted by Frances Cook. We often talk about financial independence in terms of its most famous acronym, FIRE, for Financial Independence, Retire Early.  But many people chasing financial independence aren’t actually interested in retirement. They’re instead after the financial security that allows them to make whatever career choice is best for them.  Hopes and dreams are all well and good, but unfortunately, it often takes money to fund them.  Many of us would be interested in starting our own business or going after a career change, but the reality is, it’s hard to make that leap without some financial security behind you.  Today’s guest knows all about that.  She went from spending everything she earned, to saving 50% of her income, within a year.  She then used that to reconsider her career options, start a side hustle, and then dove in to turn that side hustle into her own business.  Here’s how she made it work.  For the latest podcast, I talked to Christel Maurer, from The Money Journey. If you have a question about this podcast, or a question you'd like answered in the next one, come and talk to me about it. I'm on Facebook here, Instagram here, and Twitter here.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Each week BusinessDesk and the NZ Herald's Cooking the Books podcast tackles a different money problem. Today, it's how a family went from living paycheck to paycheck, to saving 60% of their income. Hosted by Frances Cook. One thing I’ve heard a lot when I talk to people about budgeting and money management is “just wait until you’ve had kids”. And it’s true – I had my first child, and life got more expensive, and slightly more difficult to manage. However, I’m still a firm believer that whatever stage of life you’re in, there are ways to change your approach to help yourself get ahead. Today’s podcast guest has done just that. After a dose of bad fortune they made big changes, and went from a family that lived from paycheck to paycheck to now saving 60% of their income and working towards financial independence. Not only are the three kids not holding them back, they’re on board with the change, and helping the family get there. And here’s the part that I personally found really impressive. As a family of five, they only spend $170 a week on groceries. So forgive the self-interest, but I had to get this guest on the podcast for the food tips alone, because my grocery budget certainly doesn’t look that good.  For the latest podcast I talked to kiwi mum Belinda.  If you have a question about this podcast, or a question you'd like answered in the next one, come and talk to me about it. I'm on Facebook here, Instagram here, and Twitter here.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Each week BusinessDesk and the NZ Herald's Cooking the Books podcast tackles a different money problem. Today, it's how to keep eating healthily when you're on a budget. Hosted by Frances Cook. Health might be wealth, but these days it seems you need a lot of wealth in order to have access to the health.  With cost of living soaring, a trip to the supermarket is likely to make you wince.  You want to feed yourself and the family well, but let's be honest, there's also the reality that you don't want the card to decline at the checkout.  Let's say from the start, there's no silver bullet here.  But there are some substitutions, some swaps, and some clever little tricks that can help make the food bill a bit less painful.  For the latest podcast I talked to Margo and Rosa Flanagan, also known as Two Raw Sisters.  If you have a question about this podcast, or a question you'd like answered in the next one, come and talk to me about it. I'm on Facebook here, Instagram here, and Twitter here. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Each week, BusinessDesk and the NZ Herald's Cooking the Books podcast tackle a different money problem. Today, it's the opportunities for your money in a high interest rate environment. Hosted by Frances Cook. Talk about interest rates is everywhere right now, and for good reason. They're the secret sauce that changes everything in the money world, even if you don't see the direct impact at first.  Most recently, the Reserve Bank has yanked rates up again by an unprecedented 0.75 per cent, the most they've ever increased interest rates in one go.  In the last 18 months, the Official Cash Rate has increased from 0.25 per cent to 4.25 per cent.  The Official Cash Rate is how the Government influences interest rates elsewhere, but what happens to those interest rates depends on if it's your mortgage, a credit card, or a savings account.  It's all different.  While we know this will cause financial pain, with any form of debt becoming more expensive, there are actually opportunities here, too.  Savings, investments like bonds - those are all changing too. And if you're careful, you could end up making money.  For the latest podcast I talked to Tim Fairbrother, certified financial planner from Rival Wealth. If you have a question about this podcast, or a question you'd like answered in the next one, come and talk to me about it. I'm on Facebook here, Instagram here, and Twitter here.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Each week BusinessDesk and the NZ Herald's Cooking the Books podcast tackles a different money problem. Today, it's how to boost your income to get a mortgage application approved. Hosted by Frances Cook. First home buyers are finally getting the breathing space they've needed for a while.  The shocking house price increases have not only stopped, prices are falling and look like they'll continue to slide a little further.  It's still certainly not easy to get into that first home, as now mortgage lending is tougher, but that's something we can work on.  There are small techniques that can have a bigger impact than you would think.  For instance, just taking on a flatmate or boarder could mean the bank is willing to lend you $100,000 more for your mortgage. That's a big increase in borrowing power.  There are also things you should know about if you're willing to consider building, and impacts from the government changes earlier this year.  For the latest podcast I talked to Claire Williamson, mortgage advisor and director of MyMortgage.  If you have a question about this podcast, or a question you'd like answered in the next one, come and talk to me about it. I'm on Facebook here, Instagram here, and Twitter here. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Each week BusinessDesk and the NZ Herald's Cooking the Books podcast tackles a different money problem. Today, it's how life priorities can change after a brush with death. Hosted by Frances Cook. There are moments that really make you reassess what you want out of life, and losing both of your parents and then having a near death experience yourself, well, that's right up there.  Combine that with a heaping dose of work burnout, and you've got the recipe for some big change. All of this snowballed up for today's Cooking the Books guest, but he had an ace up his sleeve.  He'd been working towards financial independence for years, so when life piled up on him he was able to decide it was time to hit pause.  And he did.  At 52, he quit his job, and has no plans to get a new one any time soon.  He's now got the mental space to decide what comes next, and if he wants to do something totally different with his life.  For the latest podcast I talked to Stephen Judd. If you have a question about this podcast, or a question you'd like answered in the next one, come and talk to me about it. I'm on Facebook here, Instagram here, and Twitter here. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Each week BusinessDesk and the NZ Herald's Cooking the Books podcast tackles a different money problem. Today, it's the risks and rewards of shorting the market. Hosted by Frances Cook. There's a saying in the investing world, that you should never waste a good crisis.  Another classic is that the best time to invest is when there's blood on the streets.  Behind both of these is the idea that when most people are feeling fearful, there are still opportunities around for the bold, who can zig while others are zagging and get the financial rewards.  One of these tactics is shorting.  Normal sharemarket investing relies on you putting money into businesses that you think will do well, and then getting a share of the profits if they do.  But if you short the idea is that you're betting against businesses that you think will do badly, and if they do indeed have a bad run, you'll get a profit that way.  Retail investors, that's the little guy like you and me, have been dabbling in shorting recently.  Investment platform Stake let me have a peek at the trends for their investors, and the top results were very interesting.  The top favourite stock is Tesla, which has been a fan favourite for a while.  But the next two speak volumes.  One is the SQQQ, an ETF fund which shorts the Nasdaq, essentially betting against digital and technology companies.  The next is the TQQQ, an ETF fund which invests into the Nasdaq, essentially a vote of confidence into digital and technology companies.  Clearly, investors are divided on what they think the future holds.  So let's dive into this fascinating issue, whether you should give shorting a go yourself, and how it all works.  For the latest podcast I talked to Eliot Hastie from Stake. If you have a question about this podcast, or a question you'd like answered in the next one, come and talk to me about it. I'm on Facebook here, Instagram here, and Twitter here.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Each week BusinessDesk and the NZ Herald's Cooking the Books podcast tackles a different money problem. Today, it's how to earn more, whether that's through a pay rise or a side hustle. Hosted by Frances Cook. One of the biggest investments you'll ever make is into your earning power.  I'm a big believer that you can make changes on almost any income, but of course it's a lot easier to make progress when you're earning more.  The question then can be do you try to get a pay rise? A promotion? A side hustle? All of the above?  How do you figure out what makes you the most valuable, and then lean in to that? For the latest podcast I talked to Rosie McCarthy, a career coach, and CEO and founder of Badass Careers.  If you have a question about this podcast, or a question you'd like answered in the next one, come and talk to me about it. I'm on Facebook here, Instagram here, and Twitter here. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Each week BusinessDesk and the NZ Herald's Cooking the Books podcast tackles a different money problem. Today, it's how one family plans to annihilate their mortgage. Hosted by Frances Cook. It's hard enough to scrape together a house deposit and buy a place, but then comes the challenge of paying it off over 20 or 30 years.  But what if you could pay it off faster than that, and get all the freedom that comes after you've got rid of one of your biggest expenses?  People often spend anywhere from 30 to 50% of their income, sometimes even more, on keeping a roof over their head.  So today I'm joined by a New Zealander who wants to kill their mortgage in the next five years.  There is a small catch though. They're about to have their third child, and one of the ways they keep the mortgage small is by living in a small house.  So the question now is, whether to stick with the five year mortgage plan, or risk the future plans by moving to a bigger home?  For the latest podcast I talked to Janet Young.  If you have a question about this podcast, or a question you'd like answered in the next one, come and talk to me about it. I'm on Facebook here, Instagram here, and Twitter here.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Each week BusinessDesk and the NZ Herald's Cooking the Books podcast tackles a different money problem. Today, it's how a few tweaks could set you free from your mortgage years earlier. Hosted by Frances Cook. Buying and paying off your home is one of the biggest financial decisions many of us will make.  But the financial journey doesn't stop on the day you buy the house.  How you handle the mortgage in the years afterward can also change your financial future.  There are different ways of making the payments, and a few mental tricks, that can shave thousands off this financial commitment and set you free years earlier.  For the latest podcast I talked to Rupert Gough from Mortgage Lab.  If you have a question about this podcast, or a question you'd like answered in the next one, come and talk to me about it. I'm on Facebook here Instagram here and Twitter hereSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Each week BusinessDesk and the NZ Herald's Cooking the Books podcast tackles a different money problem. Today, it's the strategies one couple used to radically reduce how much they needed to work. Hosted by Frances Cook. The idea of investing enough that you can live off the passive income often seems the stuff of dreams.  Surely it's just for those who earn the mega big bucks? Or it'll take 20 years, 30 years, maybe even more.  Well one New Zealand couple managed it in 11 years, and while they earned a decent salary, it wasn't anything crazy.  In fact, they say they could have achieved financial independence even sooner if they'd avoided a few mistakes along the way.  They're now at the stage where they don't technically need to work, although they do choose to work part time in order to have some extra fun money.  That's what the financial independence world calls becoming "work optional".  So how did they do it? For the latest podcast, I talked to Ruth Henderson, also known as The Happy Saver. If you have a question about this podcast, or a question you'd like answered in the next one, come and talk to me about it. I'm on Facebook here, Instagram here, and Twitter here. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Each week BusinessDesk and the NZ Herald's Cooking the Books podcast tackles a different money problem. Today, it's strategies to stabilise your investments while the market is down. Hosted by Frances Cook, this episode is in partnership with the FMA. For the first time, there are more people invested in shares than term deposits, and most New Zealanders over 18 have at least one investment.  That's information out of the FMA's 2022 Investor Confidence research, and it means more people are taking the opportunity to build their wealth and financial security.  There is a fly in the ointment, though.  Now that the market is falling and showing an unpleasant amount of red on the books, many of these new investors are feeling stomach-churning worry any time they log in to check on their money.  It's one thing to know that the market goes down from time to time, but it's entirely different when you actually experience it, and especially if it's the first time you've experienced it.  For the latest podcast, I talked to Tammy Peyper, Investor Capability Manager for the Financial Markets Authority.  If you have a question about this podcast, or a question you'd like answered in the next one, come and talk to me about it. I'm on Facebook here, Instagram here, and Twitter here. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Each week BusinessDesk and the NZ Herald's Cooking the Books podcast tackles a different money problem. Today, it's what sharemarket investors need to know to weather the current storm. Hosted by Frances Cook. There's a famous saying that when the tide goes out, you get to see who's been swimming naked.  Well the tide is now definitely out, and there's a few people in trouble for indecent exposure.  The economy is being hammered on multiple fronts, leaving the sharemarket down - way down.  Some of the economic stressors currently having an impact are quite unusual, which makes it more difficult to find a tried and tested strategy to get around them.  If you're a DIY investor, you might be watching all of this and feeling stressed.  Your shares have probably gone down in value significantly, and you're wondering if you should stop investing. Or it may be the opposite, and you'r considering whether you should be putting in as much money as possible in order to buy the dip.  So with all of the financial weirdness, here's what you need to know in order to figure out your next move.  For the latest podcast, I talked to Dean Anderson, CEO of Kernel Wealth.  If you have a question about this podcast, or a question you'd like answered in the next one, come and talk to me about it. I'm on Facebook here, Instagram here, and Twitter here See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Each week BusinessDesk and the NZ Herald's Cooking the Books podcast tackles a different money problem. Today, it's whether you can still get ahead financially as a renter. Hosted by Frances Cook. It's no secret New Zealanders love property, whether it's buying it for their own home, or as an investment.  But is it the ticket to wealth?  You'll often hear that renting is dead money, and that you shouldn't waste your time paying off someone else's mortgage. That's not necessarily true - and there's been some number crunching to prove it.  For the latest podcast, I talked to actuary Emma Vitz. If you have a question about this podcast, or a question you'd like answered in the next one, come and talk to me about it. I'm on Facebook here, Instagram here and Twitter here. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Each week BusinessDesk and the NZ Herald's Cooking the Books podcast tackles a different money problem. Today, it's property investing to become financially independent. Hosted by Frances Cook. Investing in property is something many New Zealanders use as a way to secure their financial future.  Today's guest planned to do just that, investing into properties with a plan to achieve financial independence.  But the saying goes that if you want to make god laugh, tell him your plans.  So it was an unfortunate dose of bad luck when one apartment turned out to be leaky, and needed extensive repairs.  So how to deal with it, and does it ruin the plans for financial independence?  For the latest podcast, I talked to Helen Eschenbruch. If you have a question about this podcast, or a question you'd like answered in the next one, come and talk to me about it. I'm on Facebook here, Instagram here, and Twitter hereSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Each week BusinessDesk and the NZ Herald's Cooking the Books podcast tackles a different money problem. Today, it's how to find a side income that fits into your life. Hosted by Frances Cook. We all know that life is getting more expensive by the day, and while cutting back is one way to tackle it, earning more can be a big help too.  We've talked before on the podcast about ways to ask for a pay rise, but sometimes, it doesn't feel like an option right now.  Maybe you've already had a pay rise, but you could still do with a bit more cash. Or maybe the boss said no, and you're not in the position to look for a new job elsewhere.  Whatever the reason, side hustles can fill that gap.  And if you're the entrepreneurial sort, they can even be a way to test out a career change or business ideas, so that one day you could work for yourself instead.  For the latest podcast, I talked to financial adviser Tracy Hemingway, also known as the DebtFreeDiva. If you have a question about this podcast, or a question you'd like answered in the next one, come and talk to me about it. I'm on Facebook here, Instagram here, and Twitter here See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Each week BusinessDesk and the NZ Herald's Cooking the Books podcast tackles a different money problem. Today, it's the couple who made a major lifestyle change in order to become mortgage-free. Hosted by Frances Cook. If you needed to make a big lifestyle change, but only for five years and then you would achieve your financial goals - could you do it?  That's what one couple decided to do when they had the idea to build their own tiny home, live in it, and use it to work towards building a bigger house and becoming mortgage free.  Along the way they learned how to build using salvaged materials, lived on a llama farm, and found a new career freedom where they didn't have to stay in a bad job simply because it was needed to pay the bills.  For the latest podcast, I talked to Corianne Holmes. If you have a question about this podcast, or a question you'd like answered in the next one, come and talk to me about it. I'm on Facebook here Instagram here and Twitter here See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Each week BusinessDesk and the NZ Herald's Cooking the Books podcast tackles a different money problem. Today, it's whether a business could be a better option than a first home. Hosted by Frances Cook. A catch cry for years now has been that first home buyers feel locked out of any opportunity to buy their own home.  There is a change in the air, for sure, with house prices now falling for the first time in years.  The latest figures from the REINZ House Price Index show prices are down 7.1% in the last year, and national prices fell $40,000 in just the last month.  But it's still pretty expensive overall, with the national median house price at $810,000 dollars in July.  Well, some people think they've got an alternative way for young people to secure their financial future.  The argument goes that you should buy a business instead, giving yourself a different kind of asset, and the possibility of dramatically increasing your income.  Would it work? Maybe.  For the latest podcast, I talked to Chris Small, managing director of ABC Business Sales. If you have a question about this podcast, or a question you'd like answered in the next one, come and talk to me about it. I'm on Facebook here Instagram here and Twitter hereSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Each week BusinessDesk and the NZ Herald's Cooking the Books podcast tackles a different money problem. Today, it's part two of listener questions about KiwiSaver. Hosted by Frances Cook. KiwiSaver has to be one of the areas where people send me the most questions, and for good reason.  It’s easy to build up a big chunk of cash in there, and there pressure is on to make sure that you’re handling it right.  So I put the call out for people to send me their burning KiwiSaver questions, and was flooded with your queries.  In part one, we talked about everything from whether KiwiSaver is worth it, how to pick the right fund, and why on earth your balance has been bouncing around so much lately.  Now, on to part two – how much should you put into KiwiSaver, what happens if you die or get divorced, and can the Government be trusted with your money?  For this podcast, I talked to Dr Claire Matthews, associate professor from Massey Business School. If you have a question about this podcast, or a question you'd like answered in the next one, come and talk to me about it. I'm on Facebook here, Instagram here, and Twitter hereSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Each week BusinessDesk and the NZ Herald's Cooking the Books podcast tackles a different money problem. Today, it's listener questions about KiwiSaver. Hosted by Frances Cook. KiwiSaver is a funny old thing. You tick yes on a box when you sign up to a job, start chucking some money in with each pay, and after a few years you notice to your surprise that you've built up tens of thousands of dollars.  It builds up quickly, which is great for our financial future, but can also be worrying when we're not used to having a nest egg this big.  For many New Zealanders, they hope their KiwiSaver will be a ticket into their first home, or it's their first experience of investing.  The rules can be confusing though, and there are different ways of running your KiwiSaver to make sure that you're getting the most out of it.  So I put out the invite – what are the questions you want answered about your KiwiSaver? The responses flooded in, and frankly, there was too much for just one episode.  So here's part one of answering all of your burning KiwiSaver questions, including whether it's worth it to join, which fund is best, and why on Earth your money has been falling lately.  For this podcast, I talked to Dr Claire Matthews, associate professor from Massey Business School. If you have a question about this podcast, or a question you'd like answered in the next one, come and talk to me about it. I'm on Facebook here, Instagram here, and Twitter here.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Each week BusinessDesk and the NZ Herald's Cooking the Books podcast tackles a different money problem. Today, it's how to get a raise. Hosted by Frances Cook. Your job is one of the first and biggest investments you make in your money future.  Before you can save, invest, buy a house, or whatever else, you need money coming in to dedicate to your goals.  Of course, the more money you have coming in, the more you can dedicate to your various goals and the faster you can achieve them.  So it's an interesting time for workers at the moment. The latest unemployment figures from StatsNZ show that we're sitting at a very low 3.3%. Many businesses are struggling to find enough people to get the work done, which means workers have the power for once.  They have the opportunity to ask for more money, or even look for a new job with better perks and conditions.  So if that's what you want, how do you get the ball rolling, and how much time do you have to get this done?  For the latest podcast I talked to Jason Ennor, CEO of MyHR If you have a question about this podcast, or a question you'd like answered in the next one, come and talk to me about it. I'm on Facebook here Instagram here and Twitter here See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Each week BusinessDesk and the NZ Herald's Cooking the Books podcast tackles a different money problem. Today, it's strategies to help out DIY investors. Hosted by Frances Cook. One of the big trends of the last few years has been people trying out shares investing by themselves.  Let's declare upfront, overall I'm a big fan of this.  That people can now build their wealth and plan for the future by just logging into a website and putting in a few bucks is fantastic, and creates the opportunity for more people to have financial security.  But every silver lining does have a cloud, and there can be downsides to this trend too.  If you want to be a smart investor it helps to know the pitfalls ahead of time, so that you can avoid them.  For the latest podcast I talked to InvestNow founder and managing director, Anthony Edmonds. If you have a question about this podcast, or a question you'd like answered in the next one, come and talk to me about it. I'm on Facebook here,  Instagram here, and Twitter here See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Each week BusinessDesk and the NZ Herald's Cooking the Books podcast tackles a different money problem. Today, it's how to stop debt becoming a problem. Hosted by Frances Cook. Debt is one of those things that quite quickly becomes overwhelming.  You start off with getting a few extra things on credit, but get behind on the payments. Soon the fees and interest are spiralling, and making you feel like you'll never get it paid off again.  In the last few years increasing numbers of people are getting caught out on buy now, pay later schemes like AfterPay, Zip and LayBuy.  Buy now, pay later is deceptively dangerous, because it's less regulated.  That's right, there are lots of rules on your credit card, where the company has to check you can afford the debt you're taking on, and not sting you with fees that are unreasonable.  But buy now, pay later has no such restriction. So increasing numbers of people are finding themselves in a hole, when $20 here and $20 there suddenly adds up to hundreds more than they had realised.  It hasn't stopped a boom in popularity for this form of debt though, with the numbers of people under 65 using buy now pay later going from 18% in February 2021, to 30% by March 2022, according to research by the Retirement Commission.  Well, whatever type of debt you're dealing with, there are ways to bring it under control, and pay less overall.  For the latest podcast I talked to Tom Hartmann from Sorted. If you have a question about this podcast, or a question you'd like answered in the next one, come and talk to me about it. I'm on Facebook here, Instagram here, and Twitter here.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Each week BusinessDesk and the NZ Herald's Cooking the Books podcast tackles a different money problem. Today, it's how to avoid getting tricked by dodgy "ethical investing" claims. Hosted by Frances Cook. Kermit the frog taught us that it's not easy being green, and boy was he right.  The ethical investing sector is booming, and many investors say it's important to them that their money is going into companies doing the right thing.  A recent survey by Mindful Money found 73% of New Zealanders want their funds to be invested responsibly, and 56% say they would consider switching KiwiSaver funds to avoid irresponsible companies.  Unfortunately greenwashing is rife, with many companies and even investment funds trying to claim socially responsible credentials, without having put in the work.  It is an area that the money police are keeping an eye on, with the Financial Markets Authority and New Zealand Stock Exchange saying it's a key focus, while Australian watchdogs including the Securities and Investments Commission are also zeroing in on it.  But that relies on companies getting caught, and besides, there are plenty of ways to bend the rules without breaking them.  Frankly, we're all pretty busy, so we want to get through this issue without having to spend ages on it.  For the latest podcast, I talked to Eliot Hastie from Stake, and Barry Coates, founder and CEO of Mindful Money. If you have a question about this podcast, or a question you'd like answered in the next one, come and talk to me about it. I'm on Facebook here, Instagram here, and Twitter here. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Each week BusinessDesk and the NZ Herald's Cooking the Books podcast tackles a different money problem. Today, it's how to get on the same financial page with your partner. Hosted by Frances Cook. They say that sunlight is the best disinfectant, but one of the most shadowy areas of our lives is also one of the most important – money.  It's something that most of us don't like to talk about, even with those we live and share our lives with.  Perhaps that's not surprising, when it's a touchy subject for many of us, and that means the conversation can get heated.  But not talking about it only means any problems continue to grow, unaddressed.  Getting on the same page with your partner is really important, as two of you working towards the same goals can get you there a lot faster.  If you're not working together, it can be impossible to get anything done.  So happily researchers have been beavering away on this topic, and giving us a roadmap to have these conversations in a better way.  For the latest podcast, I talked to Nicola Eccleton from Good Shepherd NZ, and Dr Ayesha Scott from AUT Business School. If you have a question about this podcast, or a question you'd like answered in the next one, come and talk to me about it. I'm on Facebook here Instagram here and Twitter here See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Each week BusinessDesk and the NZ Herald's Cooking the Books podcast tackles a different money problem. Today, it's what's the truth behind the fear in the housing market. Hosted by Frances Cook. There's nothing like the housing market to make us a bit hysterical.  That's partly because it's such a mix of money and security.  People are keen to own their own home not only to get it paid off and have a more secure financial future, but also for the lifestyle and security that owning gives you.  Money and emotions. It's a potent mix.  Now that we're seeing headlines that house prices are going down, and could keep falling, it's enough to panic current home owners and excite hopeful first home buyers.  So what's the truth of the hype behind the headlines? For the latest podcast I talked to Brad Olsen, Principal Economist at Infometrics. If you have a question about this podcast, or a question you'd like answered in the next one, come and talk to me about it. I'm on Facebook here , Instagram here, and Twitter here See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Each week BusinessDesk and the NZ Herald's Cooking the Books podcast tackles a different money problem. Today, it's how to make self-employed life work for you. Hosted by Frances Cook. It's a dream for many people – to start your own business, and be your own boss. In an ideal world it allows you to focus on the projects that you find most fulfilling, and say no to the work you've always suspected was a waste of your time anyway.  Starting your own business can also be a great way to boost your wealth, as if you do well, you keep all the rewards in your own pocket.  But the process of starting your own business means you take on all of the risks, as well as getting all of the possible rewards.  Many also get into self-employed life, and find out the reality of the work day is quite different from what they expected.  So, what are some tips from a person who's doing all of this, and is ready to share the good, bad, and ugly of it?  You've probably seen her on your TV or heard her on the radio before, and now she's ready to share how she makes her business work.  For the latest podcast I talked to broadcaster Brodie Kane. If you have a question about this podcast, or a question you'd like answered in the next one, come and talk to me about it. I'm on <a href='https://www.facebook.com/FrancesCookNZ/' target='_blank'>Facebook here</a> , <a href='https://www.instagram.com/francescooknz/' target='_blank'>Instagram here</a>, and <a href='https://twitter.com/FrancesCook' target='_blank'>Twitter here</a>. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Each week BusinessDesk and the NZ Herald's Cooking the Books podcast tackles a different money problem. Today, it's what's behind the soaring cost of living, and what you can do about it. Hosted by Frances Cook. If you're struggling to pay for, well, anything, you are far from alone right now.  You'll see inflation has been hitting the headlines a lot lately, which is just the term for how things cost more as time goes by.  The thing is, the cost of living has been increasing far more than usual lately. The latest figures from StatsNZ showed prices were up by an average of 6.9 per cent, which is the biggest jump in 32 years.  That's only a little bit less than the amount of time I've been alive.  These price increases are hitting all of our core costs, food, petrol, housing; you know, the stuff that's really hard to do without.  So whose fault is it, how do we fix it, and is there any way that we as individuals can reduce the pain at the cash register?  For the latest podcast I talked to Consumer NZ CEO Jon Duffy, and Sam Lind from the Kiwi Mustachians group. If you have a question about this podcast, or a question you'd like answered in the next one, come and talk to me about it. I'm on Facebook here, Instagram here, and Twitter hereSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Each week BusinessDesk and the NZ Herald's Cooking the Books podcast tackles a different money problem. Today, it's Mahé Drysdale on his experience making a big career change, and his top financial tips. Hosted by Frances Cook. I’m sure we’ve all considered it at least once – completely changing careers, to something fresh, new and exciting. A change is as good as a holiday they say, but it’s also a great way to boost your earning power, learn new skills, and maybe just work in a field where you enjoy yourself more. The reality of it is daunting though. If you have to retrain, that’s time and money that you’re committing. There’s also the fear that you put the effort in to making the change, and then find you don’t actually like the new job at all. So my ears perked up when I heard that Mahe Drysdale had made a big career change. Yes, that Mahe Drysdale – the former Olympic champion rower, who has represented New Zealand in countless Olympic and world champion contests. He’s traded in the quick-dry athletic t-shirts for a suit, and now he’s a financial adviser. So what was the process like, and does he have tips for anyone else thinking about a change? You bet.  If you have a question about this podcast, or question you'd like answered in the next one, come and talk to me about it. I'm on Facebook here, Instagram here, and Twitter hereSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Each week BusinessDesk and the NZ Herald's Cooking the Books podcast tackles a different money problem. Today, it's getting rid of the money mindsets that can hold you back. Hosted by Frances Cook. A big part of the investing game is mental.  I'm a believer that the actual nuts and bolts of investing aren't all that hard.  You can choose to make it complicated if that's what floats your boat, but the simple ways work just as well, and arguably the simpler the better for many of us.  But if you feel like investing isn't for people like you, or you're just not good at money, it can stop you from ever starting, and finding out just how simple it can be.  That's why it's such a worry that many women rate their financial confidence and wellbeing lower than men do, with research from the Financial Services Council showing that over 80% of women rate their financial wellbeing moderate, low or very low. This is despite many women already being involved with budgeting, saving, and investing, suggesting that maybe their low confidence doesn't match with the reality of how much they're already managing to achieve.  So what are some of the money myths floating around, and what's the truth behind them?  For the latest podcast I talked to Clarissa Hirst from the Financial Services Council. If you have a question about this podcast, or a question you'd like answered in the next one, come and talk to me about it. I'm on Facebook here https://www.facebook.com/FrancesCookNZ/ Instagram here https://www.instagram.com/francescooknz/ and Twitter here https://twitter.com/FrancesCook See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Each week BusinessDesk and the NZ Herald's Cooking the Books podcast tackles a different money problem. Today, it's the sea of red in your KiwiSaver, and how to work out if yours is as bad as it looks. Hosted by Frances Cook. If you’ve looked at your KiwiSaver, or any investments lately, you’ve probably winced and wondered if you’re doing something wrong.  For about 13 years now we’ve been in a bull market, which means values have been going up, and we’ve all got pretty used to the money game being a fairly easy one.  That’s all starting to change, and there’s increasing talk of bear markets and recession. That means that as KiwiSaver statements land in your mailbox or inbox around this time of year, it might make for unpleasant reading.  That’s if you read it at all – the latest stats are that 22% of us read it thoroughly, 54% of us skim it, and the rest of us really just don’t bother.  But there’s a wealth of info in there, even when things are a bit gloomy as they are at the moment.  So here’s how to smarten up your KiwiSaver game. For the latest podcast I talked to Tim Murphy from Morningstar, and Tammy Peyper from the Financial Markets Authority.  If you have a question about this podcast, or a question you'd like answered in the next one, come and talk to me about it. I'm on Facebook here https://www.facebook.com/FrancesCookNZ/ Instagram here https://www.instagram.com/francescooknz/ and Twitter here https://twitter.com/FrancesCook See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Each week BusinessDesk and the NZ Herald's Cooking the Books podcast tackles a different money problem. Today, it's what's happening now that the dust is settling from the crypto crash, and how the mainstream investing world is reacting to it. Hosted by Frances Cook. The crypto world is just starting to catch its breath after what was one of the nastiest crashes in its history. A supposedly safe stablecoin, Luna, cratered, and may never recover. The ripples of fear went far and wide, and the entire crypto market fell about 30%. In a single day, the market lost US $200billion, or in New Zealand dollars, $320 billion in value. So is this proof that it’s all a bubble, like the infamous tulips example? A ponzi scheme? Or, as crypto enthusiasts like to say, are we all victims of FUD – fear, uncertainty, and doubt? Will this bounce back, and then us non-believers will be the idiots who miss out on all the money that could be made? Frankly I suspect the answer is somewhere in the middle, but what would I know. Now that the dust is settling, let’s talk to the people who’ve had a front row seat to the disaster.  For the latest podcast I talked to BusinessDesk markets reporter Dan Brunskill, and kōura wealth managing director Rupert Carlyon. If you have a question about this podcast, or a question you'd like answered in the next one, come and talk to me about it. I'm on Facebook here https://www.facebook.com/FrancesCookNZ/ Instagram here https://www.instagram.com/francescooknz/ and Twitter here https://twitter.com/FrancesCook See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Each week the NZ Herald's Cooking the Books podcast tackles a different money problem. Today, it's the ultimate guide to what first home buyers need to know to improve their chance at getting on the property ladder. Hosted by Frances Cook. If you're a first home buyer, you need all the help you can get, and the good news is that you've just got access to a little bit more of it. The Government has announced it's making changes to the First Home Loan scheme, which means far more people could qualify to only put down a 5% deposit on a house.  Considering that scraping together a deposit is often the hard part, that's a pretty big deal.  They're also changing how you qualify for First Home Grants, meaning more people could qualify for a boost to their deposit of up to $10,000.  This will be welcome news for many people. Sure, it's always been hard to buy a house, but it's particularly hard now.  The latest figures from CoreLogic show that the share of houses being bought by first home buyers for the first three months of this year was 22.5 per cent. That's fallen from 26 per cent in the second half of 2021.  House prices are starting to cool down a bit, but it's still very difficult to make the numbers work.  Interest rates are going up, which means the amount you would pay each week on your mortgage becomes more expensive.  Banks are also working under tougher new lending rules, which means it's harder to get approved even if you can scrape the cash together.  However, even if these new changes don't help, and you still don't qualify for a First Home Loan or First Home Grant, I don't want you to give up. There are still other tactics to try, including different ways to use your KiwiSaver, and mortgage tricks to test out.  If you layer up and use more than one of these at once, you just might be able to get it over the line.  For the latest podcast I talked to Rupert Gough, CEO of Mortgage Lab. If you have a question about this podcast, or question you'd like answered in the next one, come and talk to me about it. I'm on Facebook here https://www.facebook.com/FrancesCookNZ/, Instagram here https://www.instagram.com/francescooknz/ and Twitter here https://twitter.com/FrancesCookSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Each week BusinessDesk and the NZ Herald's Cooking the Books podcast tackles a different money problem. Today, it's the Government's announcements on tackling cost of living, and whether it will make a difference for you. Hosted by Frances Cook. Budget day is a big deal for, well, basically all of us.  The Government opens up its cheque book and decides who is getting what, with big ripple effects throughout the country and economy.  This year, they’ve clearly decided to take a shot at the cost of living.  There’s a one-off payment of $350 for people earning under $70,000 a year, there are changes aimed at the price of fuel and public transport, the supermarkets are in for change, and even housing gets a tweak.  But is it enough? Let’s dive into the details, for this special bonus episode. For the latest podcast I talked to Pattrick Smellie, Managing Editor of BusinessDesk. For the episode, listen to the podcast.  If you have a question about this podcast, or question you'd like answered in the next one, come and talk to me about it. I'm on Facebook here , Instagram here, and Twitter here.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Each week BusinessDesk and the NZ Herald's Cooking the Books podcast tackles a different money problem. Today, it's how to figure out an investing strategy that works in uncertain times. Hosted by Frances Cook. It's easy to feel like a good investor when the conditions are good.  And they've been very good for a long time now.  Sharemarkets have been going up, property prices have been rising, debt was cheap and cheaper by the day as interest rates kept going down.  It depends a bit on whose definition you use, but we've arguably been in a bull market for 13 years now, which is the longest in history.  However, all good things must come to an end, and it looks like we've now got some choppy waters and a bit of a storm on the horizon.  The war in Ukraine, supply chain problems, ongoing covid disruptions, rising interest rates, and the increased cost of living are all things that could cause problems this year, and that will probably show up in your KiwiSaver and other investments.  Now don't panic, because I'm certainly not.  There is always a way to handle a dip, or even a crash. The important thing is to factor in what we know, and then figure out what we're going to do about it. For the latest podcast I spoke to by George Carter, managing director for Nikko Asset Management New Zealand.  If you have a question about this podcast, or question you'd like answered in the next one, come and talk to me about it. I'm on Facebook here , Instagram here, and Twitter hereSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Each week BusinessDesk and the NZ Herald's Cooking the Books podcast tackles a different money problem. Today, it's why you might not feel richer despite rising wages, and how to change that. Hosted by Frances Cook. Wages have just gone up by the highest percentage since March 2009. That's according to the latest figures from Stats NZ, which show that wages went up 3 per cent for the quarter ending March 2022. For the year to March, wages shot up 4.8 per cent.  So far so good right? I like people getting a pay rise, I think we all should. So why aren't I happier?  Well, because in real terms we've all still gone backwards.  Inflation over that year was up 6.9 per cent. Which means that if you're the average person, your pay packet went up 4.8 per cent, but the cost of all of your basic necessities went up 6.9 per cent, so you've got less in your wallet than before.  And if you're one of the unlucky ones who hasn't secured a pay rise yet, well, you're really feeling the pinch.  The problem is that inflation and wages are linked as well. We're already starting to see people popping up to say that if people keep asking for a pay rise, it will push inflation even higher, and we'll all actually end up worse off.  So is that actually true? How do you survive when life is getting more expensive by the minute, and can the little guy ever catch a break?  For the latest podcast I spoke to Shamubeel Eaqub, economist for Sense Partners. If you have a question about this podcast, or question you'd like answered in the next one, come and talk to me about it. I'm on Facebook here Instagram here and Twitter hereSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

<strong>Each week BusinessDesk and the NZ Herald's Cooking the Books podcast tackles a different money problem. Today, the smartest ways to donate to charity. Hosted by Frances Cook.</strong> You'll often hear the phrase that money can't buy happiness. Which I agree with to a certain degree. Working yourself into the ground in order to have a pile of money that you use to simply buy more stuff, is something that won't bring most people happiness. But there are certain things that researchers have shown do bring happiness. Being able to cover the basic costs of your life, for one, can reduce a lot of stress. Giving to charity or being able to help those around you is another way to spend your money that's been proven to genuinely make people happier. But just because you want to give to others doesn't mean you splash your money around willy nilly and hope for the best. If you're handing over money to a good cause, you want to make sure it actually gets to that good cause. You also probably want to make sure your cash has the maximum impact once it gets there. So if you're wanting to use some of your money to make the world a better place, what's the smartest way to do it? For the latest podcast I talked to BusinessDesk senior journalist Victoria Young. If you have a question about this podcast, or question you'd like answered in the next one, come and talk to me about it. I'm on Facebook <a href='https://www.facebook.com/FrancesCookNZ/' target='_blank'>here</a> , Instagram <a href='https://www.instagram.com/francescooknz/' target='_blank'>here</a>, and Twitter <a href='https://twitter.com/FrancesCook' target='_blank'>here</a>See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Each week BusinessDesk and the NZ Herald's Cooking the Books podcast tackles a different money problem. Today, it's how to beat the banks at their own game. Hosted by Frances Cook. We’re back! Welcome to an all new season of the podcast. I may have left to have a baby, but I couldn’t stay away for too long, and boy some interesting stuff happened while I was gone. Not least of which are the changes to mortgage rules. You may have heard rumours that you can now be turned down for a mortgage simply for buying Uber Eats, or too many takeaway coffees, even if you can afford them. The rumours are true. Well, kind of. It’s all because of a change to lending rules, called the triple CCCFA, or the Credit Contract and Consumer Finance Act if we’re being formal. This law was brought in to stamp out loan sharks, and predatory debt schemes like what’s used by clothing trucks that patrol poorer neighbourhoods. Now that’s a good thing, but the unintended consequences, well, they haven’t been so good. The changes ended up clobbering the mortgage sector, making it even more difficult for people trying to buy a house. Because that wasn’t bad enough already. The backlash was swift, the government backpedalled, and now the whole thing looks set to change again. Meanwhile, as all of this is happening, interest rates are going up and making mortgages more expensive. It’s enough to make your head spin, and to make the whole enterprise of buying a house even more intimidating. So let’s cut it back down to size. What’s going on with the CCCFA, how can you turn these interest rates to your advantage, and how do you play against the banks, and win? For the latest podcast I talked to mortgage broker Bruce Patten from Loan Market. If you have a question about this podcast, or question you'd like answered in the next one, come and talk to me about it. I'm on Facebook here , Instagram here and TikTok here See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Cooking the Books with Frances Cook is back for 2022! New episodes now launch Mondays at 5am - brought to you by BusinessDesk and NZ Herald! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Each week the NZ Herald and Newstalk ZB's Cooking The Books podcast tackles a different money problem. Today, it's how a few tweaks to your house could save you big bucks. Hosted by Frances Cook. Just about everyone wants to cut back on their boring bills, so they can have more money to spend on the fun things in life.  The biggest expenses for the average person are housing, transport and food, with housing easily taking out first place.  The best thing about this, is if you cut your bills there, you won't have to think about it again. You simply create a smarter, cheaper system once, then carry on with your new adapted life.  So the idea of setting up a house that pays its own bills has always appealed to me.  Why pay for power when I could harvest it myself from the sun? Why turn on the heater, when I could live in a house that's built to automatically circulate heat?  What's greener and better for the planet is often also better for our wallets, so it's a win-win.  But how do you know what's worth doing, and what's just greenwashing from a clever salesperson who wants your money?  For the latest Cooking the Books podcast I talked to Sam Archer from the Green Building Council, and Ian Watt from Construction Marketing Services.  We discussed the easy fixes that can save money, when it's worth making a bigger investment for something like double glazing, and what they think of energy ratings for houses.  If you have a question about this podcast, or question you'd like answered in the next one, come and talk to me about it. I'm on Facebook here https://www.facebook.com/FrancesCookJournalist/ Instagram here https://www.instagram.com/francescooknz/ and Twitter here https://twitter.com/FrancesCookSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Each week the NZ Herald's Cooking the Books podcast tackles a different money problem. Today, it's the mistake being made with KiwiSavers, and how to fix it. Hosted by Frances Cook.  KiwiSaver is really important, not only for our long term futures in retirement, but also our short term futures of buying first homes.  Figures from the IRD show this year, in July alone, $125 million dollars was pulled out of KiwiSavers for first homes.  In fact, research from Canstar shows about half of 18- to 29-year-olds are putting money into KiwiSaver purely to get that first home.  So that's a pretty major factor.  However, that same research also showed something a little worrying.  Those same 18- to 29-year-olds are quite confused by the different fund types, and how to use them.  That's crucial, because the fund you use could mean you put in the exact same money, but get something totally different at the end.  For the latest Cooking the Books I talked to Jose George from Canstar.  We discussed what the Canstar research shows, and how to understand your KiwiSaver so that it works better for you.  If you have a question about this podcast, or question you'd like answered in the next one, come and talk to me about it. I'm on Facebook here https://www.facebook.com/FrancesCookJournalist/ Instagram here https://www.instagram.com/francescooknz/ and Twitter here https://twitter.com/FrancesCookSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Each week the NZ Herald and Newstalk ZB's Cooking the Books podcast tackles a different money problem. Today, it's the career advice you shouldn't listen to, and what you should do instead. Hosted by Frances Cook.Your career is probably the most lucrative asset you have. Sure, you might have plans to invest in shares, or property, or to do all sorts of other fun things with your money. But the place most of us start is earning that money, so we can invest it elsewhere. It is of course extremely difficult to save and invest if you're not earning much at all. So one of the best investments you can make is in your career, to make yourself more valuable, earn more, and hopefully enjoy your day-to-day life more as well, while salting away some of your earnings for the future. The problem is there's so much bad advice floating around out there. So today, let's bust some bad career advice myths, and focus on what you should be doing instead. For the latest Cooking the Books I talked to Simon Rooney from Find Recruitment, and Kaela Hindle, from My Career Brand.We discussed why you shouldn't just "take the job for now", the problem with moving just for the money, but the flip side of also knowing what you're worth. If you have a question about this podcast, or question you'd like answered in the next one, come and talk to me about it. I'm on Facebook here https://www.facebook.com/FrancesCookJournalist/ Instagram here https://www.instagram.com/francescooknz/ and Twitter here https://twitter.com/FrancesCookSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Each week the New Zealand Herald and Newstalk ZB's Cooking The Books podcast tackles a different money problem. Today, it's how a greener lifestyle can help your back pocket. Hosted by Frances Cook.We all know we should be doing more to save the planet.Landfills are piling up, climate change is getting started, and it seems like a new species becomes endangered or extinct every day.The problem is we're can be a selfish bunch sometimes, and it can be hard to persuade people to look after the planet purely out of the goodness of their hearts.Isn't it lucky, then, that things like reducing waste can also save you money?Cutting down on the mindless consumption means you can keep your money for the things you actually want to do, while also stopping factories churning out rubbish that will be in a landfill within weeks.Those who've already made the change in their own lives say it's easier than you'd think, and the personal benefits are enormous.I called up zero waste blogger Amanda Chapman from wastefreeland.nz, for the latest episode of the Cooking the Books podcast.We talked about the areas where most people can cut down on waste, what it's like living in a tiny house, and whether it's possible to have kids while being zero waste.For the interview, listen to the podcast.If you have a question about this podcast, or an idea for the next one, come and talk to me about it. I'm on Facebook here https://www.facebook.com/FrancesCookJournalist/ Instagram  here https://www.instagram.com/francescooknz/ and Twitter here https://twitter.com/FrancesCook​See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Each week the NZ Herald and Newstalk ZB's Cooking The Books podcast tackles a different money problem. Today, it's a new win for the passive investing fans. Hosted by Frances Cook.If you invest in shares, the later parts of last year probably weren't fun for you. To put it mildly, the markets were spooked by a combination of factors including the stand-off between China and the US, political uncertainty in Europe, and general worries for the global economy. The end result was a sea of red in the stock markets, with values going down further than they have in several years. Now, if you're investing for the long term, this isn't actually something to be too upset about, but I've covered that in previous episodes. It's still unnerving to see your investments going down, and if you weren't expecting it, it can hit you in the pocket. This is where active managers often claim they can save your bacon. Those clever guys say they'll manage your investments, read the financial tea leaves, and save you from the worst when the inevitable crunch comes. Meanwhile passive investors, those who buy shares through index funds, are usually buckled up to ride out whatever the market throws at them. There's nothing like a good nerd fight, and the active versus passive debate can get especially heated. But the results from last year show that when things got tough, the passive investors did far better than the active investors. If you have a question about this podcast, or an idea for the next one, come and talk to me about it. I'm on Facebook here https://www.facebook.com/FrancesCookJournalist/ Instagram here https://www.instagram.com/francescooknz/ and Twitter here https://twitter.com/FrancesCookSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Each week the NZ Herald's Cooking the Books podcast tackles a different money problem. Today, it's top tips to reduce your food bill. Hosted by Frances Cook.Food is one of those core expenses that soaks up a lot of our money, but that we can feel powerless over. Now you do have to pay something for food, obviously, but there are ways to reduce both your cost, and your effort. You don’t want to be only eating beans and rice, and you certainly don’t want to be spending hours in the kitchen just to save 10 cents. But you can make progress without doing either of those things.Tom Hartmann, personal finance expert from Sorted, came on the latest Cooking the Books podcast. We discussed how much wriggle room you have to bring down the food budget, how to stock up without sabotaging yourself, and how to use technology to your advantage.If you have a question you'd like answered in a future podcast, come and talk to me about it. I'm on Facebook here https://www.facebook.com/FrancesCookJournalist/ Instagram here https://www.instagram.com/francescooknz/ and Twitter here https://twitter.com/FrancesCookSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Each week the NZ Herald and Newstalk ZB's Cooking the Books podcast tackles a different money problem. Today, it's why giving to others can give you a boost too. Hosted by Frances Cook.This podcast focuses a lot on how to fix your finances, but once you've got yourself sorted, should you be helping others? Well, yes. For starters, nobody succeeds purely on their own. Even when you work hard, there's usually some sort of family support, or a workplace taking a chance on you, or a social scheme that helps you get ahead. So once you're doing well, it's a good idea to pay it back and help out others who are just starting. But if you want to be really cynical about it, it turns out you might be one of the biggest benefactors when you decide to give back. Apparently our brains quite enjoy when we decide to be charitable.For the latest Cooking the Books I talked to University of Auckland psychology lecturer Dr Sarah Cowie. We discussed what we get from giving to others, whether there's a difference in giving time or money, and how to vet charities to make sure your money goes further. If you have a question about this podcast, or question you'd like answered in the next one, come and talk to me about it. I'm on Facebook here https://www.facebook.com/FrancesCookJournalist/ Instagram here https://www.instagram.com/francescooknz/ and Twitter here https://twitter.com/FrancesCookSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Each week the NZ Herald and Newstalk ZB's Cooking the Books podcast tackles a different money problem. Today, it's how a rule of thumb can give guidance on your personal investing strategy. Hosted by Frances Cook.Time is everything when you're investing. Long-time podcast listeners will have heard it here before - the longer you have, the more that risky investments will be right for you, like shares or property. If you have less time, a lower risk investment like bonds or term deposits are usually the suggestion. Well if you're looking for more detail on this idea, there's a rule of thumb that some people like to use. It's the rule of 100, or, 100 minus age. It means that if you take 100, subtract your age, then what's left is the percentage of your investments that should be higher risk, because you have the time to build your wealth like that. So for me, at 31, the suggestion is 69 per cent of my investments going into higher risk options. But like any rule of thumb, there are exceptions, there's fine print, there are little adjustments before you can apply it to your own personal situation. For the latest podcast, I talked to Mark Lister from Craig's Investment Partners. We discussed when the rule of 100 works, when it doesn't, good low risk options, and how property fits into all of this. If you have a question about this podcast, or question you'd like answered in the next one, come and talk to me about it. I'm on Facebook here https://www.facebook.com/FrancesCookJournalist/ Instagram here https://www.instagram.com/francescooknz/ and Twitter here https://twitter.com/FrancesCookSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Each week the New Zealand Herald and Newstalk ZB's Cooking The Books podcast tackles a different money problem. Today, it's how to get through the notoriously expensive Christmas season without blowing the budget. Hosted by Frances Cook.You don't need me to tell you it's an expensive time of year.I start to feel the dread of Christmas around October, reminding me I need to buy people presents, stock up on food, and prepare for the social calendar to be flooded.All of the Christmas festivities are fun, don't get me wrong, but they can definitely leave you with a fiscal hangover.So in the spirit of Christmas, I got the Cooking the Books community together to share their best tips with each other.I asked those who follow my pages on Facebook and Twitter how they got through Christmas without totally blowing the budget.We're a bunch of frugally minded people, and the last time we did a community episode I was impressed at the great advice people had to offer.Listen to the podcast for the full quotes of how people use these tips and tricks in their own life, but for those of you who just want a quick list, here are the main points.Be picky about who actually gets a present.Now this might sound a little scrooge-ish, but I think it's a great tip.It's easy to feel like you need to be santa and buy something expensive and thoughtful for everyone from your boss's first cousin, to the mailman's dog. But there are better ways to go about it.Secret santas for the adults and a price limit on presents for the kids were a popular solution.Taking the focus off a mountain of presents lets everyone relax a bit , and spend their time and money on being together instead.Go second hand for presents.From the people who messaged me, this seems to be particularly useful for kids.The local second hand shops can be a treasure trove of high quality toys, and particularly while they're young, kids won't notice or care.Others didn't even pop down to the local Sallies for second hand gifts; they regifted things they'd received the year before.Regifting is all about diplomacy and thought. Don't do it in front of the person who gave you it originally, and make sure the person you're regifting to is likely to actually enjoy it.Get craftyThis is for the skilled people amongst us, but there are some great things you can give that are more meaningful than an expensive present.Homemade chutneys or preserves were popular gifts for adults, or a voucher book of treats for your significant other.While yes, the point of this episode is to save money, I think these ideas actually bring us back to what Christmas is about.By spending time together and doing something thoughtful to help another person out, it forces you to think about things a bit more.Plan aheadWhile this isn't much help for this year, you can start thinking about next Christmas right now.People messaged me with clever tips including paying into a special presents bank account all year, paying extra on their bills from September so they could coast through Christmas for free, and the best Christmas supermarket clubs that give you bang for your buck.Spreading it over the year like this makes it so much easier to deal with.Spread the loadChristmas is a time when you might feel the pressure to be the perfect host by feeding your entire extended family a five course meal.Overeating is one of my favourite parts of the holiday season, but there are ways to do it with less stress and cost.Lots of people messaged me with the idea to bring a plate. This not only cuts down on the time and stress of producing a mountain of food, but also makes sure you get...See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Each week the NZ Herald's Cooking the Books podcast tackles a different money problem. Today, it's keeping emotion in check to become a better investor. Hosted by Frances Cook. Emotions and money are like petrol and fire. Try not to mix them if you can, because it's likely you won't enjoy the result. So while I've loved seeing more people paying attention to their money in the last year, and particularly the fantastic surge in people who are interested in investing, I have found it worrying the emotions that are clearly also in the mix. Strategies abound for getting rich quickly, hyped stocks are spread through online forums, and for every overnight winner there are ten losers left in their wake, carrying the can. The reaction to this in some quarters has been for people to warn that the sharemarket is like a casino, and that if you dabble, you should prepare to get burned. Well that's just not true either. Shares are a proven wealth-building strategy, it's just that you do need a strategy as you get started. Getting your emotions under control is part of that strategy for every single one of us, whether that's greed, fear, or FOMO. In the latest podcast I talked to AUT senior lecturer in finance Dr Ayesha ScottIf you have a question about this podcast, or question you'd like answered in the next one, come and talk to me about it. I'm on Facebook here https://www.facebook.com/FrancesCookJournalist/ Instagram here https://www.instagram.com/francescooknz/ and Twitter here https://twitter.com/FrancesCookSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Each week the NZ Herald and Newstalk ZB's Cooking The Books podcast tackles a different money problem. Today, it's whether it's worth draining your retirement savings to buy your first home. Hosted by Frances Cook.Scraping together a deposit for your first home can be a fraught exercise. House prices are through the roof, and in some areas, only getting worse.Take the latest data from the Ministry of Business Innovation and Employment.Last month it revealed that finding an affordable home was getting harder for first-home buyers.It's particularly bad for those who live in Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch, Hamilton, or Tauranga.So, the vast majority of the country's young people.The solution held up to this is often to use KiwiSaver. Your savings go out automatically and get boosted by a three percent employer contribution, as well as $521 a year from the Government.But the problem is that your KiwiSaver is meant to be for retirement.There are plenty of personal finance experts who argue you should leave it alone,  and save for your house in other ways.I called up Dr Aaron Gilbert, associate professor for AUT's Business School, to discuss the dilemma.We talked about how to supercharge your KiwiSaver savings, the pros and cons of using that for a house, and what other options there are for a person to get into their first home.For the interview, listen to the podcast. If you have a question about this podcast or an idea for the next one, come and talk to me about it.I'm on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/FrancesCookJournalist/Instagram  https://www.instagram.com/francescooknz/ Twitter https://twitter.com/FrancesCookSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Each week the NZ Herald and Newstalk ZB's Cooking The Books podcast tackles a different money problem. Today, it's why a clean conscience could actually make you the most money. Hosted by Frances Cook.Nobody wants to be a bad person, but sometimes, life doesn’t make it easy for you to be a good person. So it is with money, where many have assumed for years that making the most money means getting your hands a little dirty. But is that actually true? Ethical investing is an area that’s starting to boom, with investors demanding it, and companies actively pursuing it. It extends to your KiwiSaver as well. There are now several options for those who want a good retirement with a clear conscience, and they boast a pretty good return for your money. But it’s not all sunshine and rainbows. Ethics and morals are deeply personal things, and everyone draws the line somewhere else. I talked to Sam Stubbs, managing director of Simplicity, for the latest Cooking the Books podcast. We discussed rising customer demand for ethical investments, how they handle the grey areas, and what sort of money is to be made. For the interview, listen to the podcast.If you have a question about this podcast, or an idea for the next one, come and talk to me about it. I'm on Facebook here https://www.facebook.com/FrancesCookJournalist/, Instagram here https://www.instagram.com/francescooknz/ and Twitter here https://twitter.com/FrancesCookSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Each week the NZ Herald and Newstalk ZB's Cooking The Books podcast tackles a different money problem. Today, it's the things you need to know before monetising a hobby. Hosted by Frances Cook.When you're trying to get better with money, there's on simple truth that can't be ignored: it's always easier to do well if you have more cash coming in the door. Asking for a raise is one option, but another that appeals to many people is starting their own business. After all, the stakes may be high, but so are the rewards. It is something the average person can do. After all, New Zealand is famous for its business scene being dominated by small to medium businesses. The trick is that, if it's just you, you only have yourself to rely on. You need to become a jack of all trades, and learn fast, if you want to be successful. I talked to Xero's Managing Director for New Zealand and Pacific, Craig Hudson, for the latest Cooking the Books podcast. We discussed what to know before you start, the common problems, and how to wrap your head around the financial side. For the interview, listen to the podcast.If you have a question about this podcast, or an idea for the next one, come and talk to me about it.I'm on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/FrancesCookJournalist/ Instagram here https://www.instagram.com/francescooknz/ Twitter https://twitter.com/FrancesCookSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Each week the NZ Herald and Newstalk ZB's Cooking the Books podcast tackles a different money problem. Today, it's the inside secrets to looking glam on a budget. Hosted by Frances Cook.What's the point of a podcast, if not abusing it to simply find out things you want to know yourself? There's no point, that's what. So today I'm hijacking the platform to give us the inside word on how the pros find the best second hand gems.Many of you will already know I’ve set myself a challenge for all of 2020, to only buy clothes second hand, nothing new. It was only supposed to be a bit of fun, but soon people were sending me questions and wanting to know more about whether I was managing to make it work. I admit, I’ve been partial to a bit of op shopping before, but it’s a whole new level when you commit to only doing that. You soon find out fun tricks like what types of repairs you’re actually capable of, how to snag a bargain at designer recycle stores, and that where your secondhand shop is located is one of the most important factors. But that's nothing compared to what the professionals know. For the latest Cooking the Books podcast I talked to Trudi Bennett from Wardrobe Flair. We discussed how to find the true bargains, how to check for quality, and where to find the best second hand shops. If you have a question you'd like answered in a future podcast, come and talk to me about it. I'm on Facebook here https://www.facebook.com/FrancesCookJournalist/ Instagram here https://www.instagram.com/francescooknz/ and Twitter here https://twitter.com/FrancesCookSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Each week the NZ Herald and Newstalk ZB's Cooking the Books podcast tackles a different money problem. Today, it's the best ways to start investing in New Zealand. Hosted by Frances Cook.There’s been lots of chat about whether you should be investing these days, with my inbox flooded with people wanting to give it a try. To recap, the answer is a cautious yes, as long as you do it in the right way – we’ve covered that in recent podcasts. But what about the nuts and bolts of where you actually invest? You want something that’s low fee, easy to use, and lets you make the type of investments that suit your plan. So on the latest Cooking the Books podcast I talked to Herald careers and money writer Diana Clement about the main options for New Zealanders. We discussed the different investing platforms, how safe they are, and investing in individual companies versus funds. If you have a question about this podcast, or a question you'd like answered in the next one, come and talk to me about it. I'm on Facebook here https://www.facebook.com/FrancesCookJournalist/ Instagram here https://www.instagram.com/francescooknz/ and Twitter here https://twitter.com/FrancesCookSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Each week the NZ Herald and Newstalk ZB's Cooking the Books podcast tackles a different money problem. Today, it's the good and bad of buying a house with a friend. Hosted by Frances Cook.Money can be particularly difficult when you're flying solo. You don't have the luxury of pooling resources with someone else, buying the same thing for a fraction of the price. Or don't you? Particularly in the house buying world, some people are now teaming up with friends. It's a smart way to get around steep prices - particularly when most houses have more than one bedroom anyway, and you were probably already thinking about a flatmate in order to keep the bills down. There's just one issue; buying a house is a major commitment, even for those in a romantic relationship. For a friendship you want to make sure you do this right, as there's no standard divorce law to help you out if things go sour. That means there are a couple of legal considerations you need to be aware of first. For the latest Cooking the Books podcast I talked to Joanna Pidgeon from Pidgeon Law. We discussed what legal problems can come up, what to put into a contract, and how to vet the person you're thinking about buying with. If you have a question about this podcast, or question you'd like answered in the next one, come and talk to me about it. I'm on Facebook here https://www.facebook.com/FrancesCookJournalist/ Instagram here https://www.instagram.com/francescooknz/ and Twitter here https://twitter.com/FrancesCookSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Each week the NZ Herald and Newstalk ZB's Cooking The Books podcast tackles a different money problem. Today, it's the things you need to know before maxing out your KiwiSaver. Hosted by Frances Cook.KiwiSaver is a wonderful scheme. You get free money from the Government and your employer, it automates your retirement savings, and it has plenty of options to let you do what's best for you and your money. It's safe to say, I heartily approve of KiwiSaver. But just because it's a good scheme, doesn't mean you're safe from messing it up. Many people will max out their KiwiSaver, happy in the knowledge that they're doing the best thing for their future. The issue is that putting three per cent of your income into KiwiSaver has a very different result from putting eight per cent into it. You get totally different benefits, and you arguably do better with three percent going in. Once that money is in, it's locked in, until you retire. So you want to be sure you're making the right choice, before padlocking your money away for decades.For the latest podcast I talked to David Boyle, currently at Mint Asset Management, and formerly from the Commission for Financial Capability, about KiwiSaver limits. We talked about where KiwiSaver gives the most reward, where it can hold you back, and better options for your money. For the interview, listen to the podcast.If you have a question about this podcast, or an idea for the next one, come and talk to me about it.I'm on Facebook here https://www.facebook.com/FrancesCookJournalist/,Instagram here https://www.instagram.com/francescooknz/Twitter here https://twitter.com/FrancesCook.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Each week the NZ Herald's Cooking the Books podcast tackles a different money problem. Today, it's the woman who tackled $94,000 of debt in three years, and why she still side hustles now that she's debt-free. Hosted by Frances Cook.There are all sorts of good reasons to want more cash on the side, especially these days. You might have had your pay reduced, you’re working towards a big goal that needs more cash, you want to boost your savings account, or you just want more money to ease life’s stresses – in situations like these, a side hustle can be a great idea. The problem is when you try to look up what ones could work for you, you’ll often be swamped by ideas from overseas, that just aren’t available here. But that’s ok, I’ve found us an expert. She side hustled her way to paying off $94,000-dollars of debt. For the latest episode I was joined by Tracy Hemingway, also known as the Debt Free Diva. If you have a question about this podcast, or question you'd like answered in the next one, come and talk to me about it. I'm on Facebook here https://www.facebook.com/FrancesCookJournalist/ Instagram here https://www.instagram.com/francescooknz/ and Twitter here https://twitter.com/FrancesCookSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Each week the NZ Herald and Newstalk ZB's Cooking the Books podcast tackles a different money problem. Today, it's how to figure out what insurance is worth getting, and what's not. Hosted by Frances Cook.Insurance is one of those areas that gets murky even for the experts. There are lots of different things you can insure, from your stuff, to your house, even pets or your health. There's also insurance for your income, and one rather worrying statistic shows about 55,000 NZ households lose their main source of income each year, whether that's because of accident, illness, or unemployment. Most of us need that income to get by, yet only about 15 per cent of us have income protection insurance.But what's hard about insurance more generally is knowing when it's worth it. Insurance can cost a lot, and while it gives you peace of mind, you also want to be sure you get the benefits that make it worthwhile. There is a school of thought that says you should "self-insure" – otherwise known as making sure you have enough savings to replace something yourself, if disaster strikes. That can work well for the small stuff.Happily the Herald has rolled out a series on insurance, putting all aspects under a microscope.For the latest Cooking the Books I talked to Herald money editor Tamsyn Parker. We discussed what most people are missing, how to figure out what you need for your life, and common areas of overinsurance. You can read more about the insurance series here:https://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=12295127https://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=12300549If you have a question about this podcast, or question you'd like answered in the next one, come and talk to me about it. I'm on Facebook here https://www.facebook.com/FrancesCookJournalist/ Instagram here https://www.instagram.com/francescooknz/ and Twitter here https://twitter.com/FrancesCookSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Each week the NZ Herald and Newstalk ZB's Cooking The Books podcast tackles a different money problem. Today, it's how you can have fun without spending a cent. Hosted by Frances Cook.A basic rule of personal finance is to live within your means. Spend less than you earn. Have some self-restraint.Which is all well and good, but that's really hard.The finer things in life are fun, and I'm as susceptible as anyone else to just giving in, yelling out YOLO, and blowing my budget.So it's with a bit of self-interest that I put this episode together. There are many ways to have fun cheaply, or even for free. Sometimes we just need a reminder.I know what my favourite ones are, but I wanted to know yours, as well.Cooking the Books listeners are smart, and you guys always suggest something that I hadn't thought of.So the call went out on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter, asking for your favourite ways to have fun on the cheap.The results? Eight clever ways to have fun without spending a cent. For some of them, you might even make money.For the tips, listen to the podcast.If you have a question about this podcast, or an idea for the next one, come and talk to me about it. I'm on Facebook here https://www.facebook.com/FrancesCookJournalist/ Instagram here https://www.instagram.com/francescooknz/ and Twitter here https://twitter.com/FrancesCookSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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You need a will when you're still young - much younger than you expect. Yes I know, none of us like thinking about death, and frankly many of us feel broke and like we don't have much to leave to loved ones, but you still should consider a will. If you have sentimental jewellery that you'd like to leave to a particular someone, a few thousand dollars that might help out your partner, or even a car that you'd like to go to your car enthusiast friend, you need a will. Without one, your property can end up in different hands than you might expect.The court process can also drag on for a long time, and cause more pain to your grieving loved ones. Importantly, setting up a will doesn't have to cost heaps. For the latest podcast I talked to barrister and solicitor Dee Holmes, from Community Law Waikato. If you have a question about this podcast, or question you'd like answered in the next one, come and talk to me about it. I'm on Facebook here https://www.facebook.com/FrancesCookJournalist/ Instagram here https://www.instagram.com/francescooknz/ and Twitter here https://twitter.com/FrancesCookSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Each week the NZ Herald's Cooking the Books podcast tackles a different money problem. Today, it's how smartphones are changing the way we handle our cash. Hosted by Frances Cook. We've all heard about how Covid-19 forced us to do years worth of digital adoption in just a few short weeks, and now, we've got some numbers on it. The Financial Services Council carries out regular research on what's happening with our money, and their just released report on the rise of digital investors is fascinating. Forty per cent of us are either already using, or planning to use, micro-investing DIY platforms like Sharesies, Hatch, or Stake. It's not just the young 'uns either, as there's a noticeable increase in DIY digital investing in all the age groups up until about 60, where it starts to taper off. There are downsides to this though, with plenty of people worrying if this new surge in online platforms leaves them exposed to privacy problems or cyber attacks. And frankly, when we've seen hackers go after the NZX and Waikato DHB, that's a fair concern. For the latest podcast I talked to Richard Klipin, CEO of the Financial Services Council. If you have a question about this podcast, or question you'd like answered in the next one, come and talk to me about it. I'm on Facebook here https://www.facebook.com/FrancesCookJournalist/ Instagram here https://www.instagram.com/francescooknz/ and Twitter here https://twitter.com/FrancesCookSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Each week the NZ Herald's Cooking the Books podcast tackles a different money problem. Today, it's an honest assessment of what's next for property. Hosted by Frances Cook. We've just had one of my favourite times of year – Budget Day, where the government not only tells you where they're spending their billions of dollars, but also what they're assuming will happen in our country over the next few years. This year, Treasury made an interesting prediction that house prices will flatten off in the next 12 months, finally giving buyers some breathing room. Take this with a grain of salt, because Treasury also thought house prices might fall over the last year, because of the impacts of Covid-19. Instead the national average for houses is now $913,000 and depending on whose figure you use, we've seen a price increase of 21-26% over the year. However, there are reasons to think that prices could actually cool down this time around. The Government's brought in changes including tougher lending requirements for landlords, and a change to property investment tax rules. Interest rates are expected to start slowly increasing, which usually cools prices. There's also a big push to get more houses built. For the latest podcast I talked to independent economist Tony Alexander.If you have a question about this podcast, or question you'd like answered in the next one, come and talk to me about it. I'm on Facebook here https://www.facebook.com/FrancesCookJournalist/ Instagram here https://www.instagram.com/francescooknz/ and Twitter here https://twitter.com/FrancesCookSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Each week the NZ Herald's Cooking the Books podcast tackles a different money problem. Today, it's how to write a budget that doesn't make you miserable. Hosted by Frances Cook. Budget. Did you just get a shiver down your spine? Immediately clutch your takeaway coffee cup a little closer to your chest? Have a vision of yourself sitting on the couch on a Friday night, watching your friends on social media having fun without you? To say budgeting has an image problem is an understatement. It's actually the key to feeling happy with our money, and often the key to getting those things in life that really will make us happy. Far from cutting out what we enjoy, I'm a strong believer that a good budget is about figuring out what you need, what you want, and then stopping all the other little things that could get in the way of that. But I admit that can be easier said than done. We're also sometimes our own worst enemies on this. When it comes time to sit down and thrash it out, it can be tempting to write the "perfect" budget for the person we want to be. But we have to be honest with ourselves or it just won't work.For the latest podcast I talked to Jason Leong from PocketSmith.If you have a question about this podcast, or question you'd like answered in the next one, come and talk to me about it. I'm on Facebook here https://www.facebook.com/FrancesCookJournalist/ Instagram here https://www.instagram.com/francescooknz/ and Twitter here https://twitter.com/FrancesCookSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Each week the NZ Herald's Cooking the Books podcast tackles a different money problem. Today, it's the balance between money and happiness. Hosted by Frances Cook. I'm a firm believer that managing your money is actually about anything but money. Piling up cash just for the sake of it isn't just boring, it's pointless. Study after study has shown a big pile of cash on its own won't make you happy. But deciding what you want out of life, and using money as a tool to get you there? Now that's something I could talk about all day. The latest research from ANZ shows the sorts of changes that most of us would like to make when thinking along these lines. Especially after the impacts of Covid-19, family is the most important thing for most of us: 68 per cent of those surveyed said wealth was being able to pay for things that would help their family thrive. Unfortunately while trying to do that, 77 per cent of us feel like we could do better with our money. The biggest priority for most people is learning how to invest or save more money, while paying off debt and mortgages is the second biggest area. For the latest podcast I talked to Ben Kelleher, managing director for personal banking at ANZ.If you have a question about this podcast, or question you'd like answered in the next one, come and talk to me about it. I'm on Facebook here https://www.facebook.com/FrancesCookJournalist/ Instagram here https://www.instagram.com/francescooknz/ and Twitter here https://twitter.com/FrancesCookSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Each week the NZ Herald's Cooking the Books podcast tackles a different money problem. Today, it's the changes that could make our housing more affordable. Hosted by Frances Cook. Something needs to change in our housing market, that much is clear. But what? Prices have been spiraling up for a while now, and the last year has only seen things get more intense. Increasing numbers of people feel locked out of buying their own home, a core part of financial stability in New Zealand for generations now. So what needs to change? Is it our government policy, bank policy, our wider culture, all of the above? For the latest podcast I talked to Sam Stubbs from Simplicity. If you have a question about this podcast, or question you'd like answered in the next one, come and talk to me about it. I'm on Facebook here https://www.facebook.com/FrancesCookJournalist/ Instagram here https://www.instagram.com/francescooknz/ and Twitter here https://twitter.com/FrancesCookSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Each week the NZ Herald's Cooking the Books podcast tackles a different money problem. Today, it's how to decide whether to flex your DIY muscles. Hosted by Frances Cook. As first home buyers struggle to get a foot on the housing ladder, a suggestion you'll often hear is to buy a do-up. Buying a rundown place for less money means you can use your own time and sweat to bring it up to standard, or at least, so the theory goes. The problem is that many changes you'll need to make will still require money, and some of it is either too difficult to do yourself, or you're legally not allowed to because it's dangerous. The wrong do-up could actually cost you more than a place that you buy that's already up to scratch. That doesn't mean it's impossible though; certainly not. It just means we need a little knowledge up our sleeves to help us work out which are the right do-ups. For the latest podcast I talked to Jen Jones from Nine Yards Consulting. If you have a question about this podcast, or question you'd like answered in the next one, come and talk to me about it. I'm on Facebook here https://www.facebook.com/FrancesCookJournalist/ Instagram here https://www.instagram.com/francescooknz/ and Twitter here https://twitter.com/FrancesCookSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Each week the NZ Herald's Cooking the Books podcast tackles a different money problem. Today, it's how to turn the job hunt in your favour. Hosted by Frances Cook.We've all seen the news about how the economy is bouncing back faster than expected, and businesses are feeling cautiously optimistic about the future post-Covid 19.Which is wonderful, not least because it means an opportunity for the rest of us to get a piece of the pie.Many workers were asked to take a pay cut for part of last year, and after taking one for the team, can't be blamed for looking to get a piece of the good times too.The rebound means there are new opportunities around for interesting jobs, and that often comes with the bonus of being paid more.The job market can be a bit of a miserable and unsettling experience though, and there's definitely an art to doing it well.For the latest podcast I talked to Simon Rooney from Find Recruitment.If you have a question about this podcast, or question you'd like answered in the next one, come and talk to me about it. I'm on Facebook here https://www.facebook.com/FrancesCookJournalist/ Instagram here https://www.instagram.com/francescooknz/ and Twitter here https://twitter.com/FrancesCookSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Each week the NZ Herald's Cooking the Books podcast tackles a different money problem. Today, it's how to make a career break financially possible. Hosted by Frances Cook. Taking a career break sounds like a luxurious treat for the millionaires amongst us, but actually, it's more common than you realise. It also doesn't have to be financially ruinous. There are lots of reasons to take a break, and research from Hays recruitment in 2019 gives us an insight into that. They found that 64 per cent of women and 49 per cent of men take at least one career break in their lifetime. For women the biggest reason for a career break is having a child, coming in at 41 per cent, followed distantly by travelling, at 14 per cent.It's quite different for the men, with travel being the biggest reason at 25 per cent, followed by studying or retraining at 21 per cent. Whatever the reason, a career break can be something you turn to your advantage, or it can hurt you. Sometimes you need a breather in order to work out the next best step. Otherwise you can get so deep in the weeds of day-to-day life that you don't take the time to strategise your next best move, and miss out on opportunities that could be better for you than what you're doing now. But it can also be tricky getting back to work after a gap, and you also don't want to totally torpedo your finances while you're away. For the latest podcast I talked to Kate Reddington from Sorted. If you have a question about this podcast, or question you'd like answered in the next one, come and talk to me about it. I'm on Facebook here https://www.facebook.com/FrancesCookJournalist/ Instagram here https://www.instagram.com/francescooknz/ and Twitter here https://twitter.com/FrancesCookSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Each week the NZ Herald's Cooking the Books podcast tackles a different money problem. Today, it's how high house prices are changing the way we manage our money. Hosted by Frances Cook. You'd have to be living under a rock to miss all the chat about housing, what with the soaring prices and the Government bringing in new rules to try to bring it under control. While it's good that action is being taken, it's always a long-term game. We'll have to wait to see how many of the housing changes make impact in reality, and there's usually a lag effect where even successful measures take a while to work. Now while I do think that owning your own home is important for your financial security, I strongly believe that it's not the only thing. In fact, even if you were to buy your own house and then stop there, I'd argue that you're not looking after your financial future properly.I also don't buy into the idea that property is the best way to invest.So if you're feeling frustrated by all of this, you do still have options. It seems New Zealanders are already picking up on this. Hatch polled its investors, and found that 35% don't invest in property. 14% said they simply couldn't afford it. Meanwhile another 14% are looking to invest more in shares soon. Now to be clear, this was a Facebook poll, so not scientific. But it is backed up by a very credible survey carried out by the Financial Markets Authority, and released at the end of last year. Their "Attitudes towards New Zealand's financial markets" survey showed property investing was falling, down 5 percentage points to 9% last year, while more people were buying shares, bouncing up to 20%. For the latest podcast I talked to Kristen Lunman from Hatch. If you have a question about this podcast, or question you'd like answered in the next one, come and talk to me about it. I'm on Facebook here https://www.facebook.com/FrancesCookJournalist/ Instagram here https://www.instagram.com/francescooknz/ and Twitter here https://twitter.com/FrancesCookSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Each week the NZ Herald's Cooking the Books podcast tackles a different money problem. Today, it's what financial help is available to first home buyers. Hosted by Frances Cook So the government has had a jiggle around of what's available to help first home buyers, but is it enough? We all know it's tough out there, and house prices just seem to keep racing away.More people can now access free cash to boost their house deposit. There are also some schemes that already existed, that you can combine these with to try to get you over the line. But how do you know if it's enough for your personal situation?For the latest podcast I talked to Lesley Harris, from the First Home Buyers Club. If you have a question about this podcast, or question you'd like answered in the next one, come and talk to me about it. I'm on Facebook here https://www.facebook.com/FrancesCookJournalist/ Instagram here https://www.instagram.com/francescooknz/ and Twitter here https://twitter.com/FrancesCookSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Each week the NZ Herald's Cooking the Books podcast tackles a different money problem. Today, it's what to know before you ask an expert for help with your finances. Hosted by Frances Cook. It's something we'll often say on this show – we talk about the general rules of how money works, but after that you have to apply it to you own individual situation. If things are complicated enough, you might want to look for a financial advisor to help you. But if the letters coming into my inbox are anything to go by, people are quite worried about how they pick the right person to advise them. Fair enough too. Bringing in a professional to help with something so important has a weird power dynamic – you have to trust that they're handling your money in the way that's truly in your best interests. The Financial Markets Authority has now overhauled the rules in this area, aiming to give you more protection in this exact situation. So what's changed, and how do you now find the right person to help you make good money moves? In the latest podcast I talked to Gillian Boyes from the Financial Markets Authority. If you have a question about this podcast, or question you'd like answered in the next one, come and talk to me about it. I'm on Facebook here https://www.facebook.com/FrancesCookJournalist/ Instagram here https://www.instagram.com/francescooknz/ and Twitter here https://twitter.com/FrancesCookSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Each week the NZ Herald's Cooking the Books podcast tackles a different money problem. Today, it's how the world of cryptocurrency could change as it becomes more mainstream. Hosted by Frances Cook. Regular listeners to this podcast will know I'm conflicted about cryptocurrencies. Right now, it doesn't fit my criteria for what makes a good investment. It's just too speculative. But that doesn't mean I think there's no future for digital currencies such as Bitcoin or blockchain such as Ethereum. In fact, far from it. I'm sure it will be there in the future; I'm just not sure in what form. One issue is that governments, banks, and other major institutions are still wary of it, so there's a possibility of these digital assets being whacked with the regulation stick in ways that we don't see coming. Another issue is right at the opposite end of the scale, with individuals. Stories abound of people losing hard drives, or forgetting their password, and not being able to access millions of dollars in cryptocurrencies that are rightfully theirs. That seems quite a major security problem. So this time let's talk to someone in the industry about what they think are the major hurdles, and how they're preparing for them. In the latest podcast I talked to Leigh Travers from DigitalX. If you have a question about this podcast, or question you'd like answered in the next one, come and talk to me about it. I'm on Facebook here https://www.facebook.com/FrancesCookJournalist/ Instagram here https://www.instagram.com/francescooknz/ and Twitter here https://twitter.com/FrancesCookSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Each week the NZ Herald's Cooking the Books podcast tackles a different money problem. Today, it's how to get ready so the bank's more likely to say yes to a mortgage. Hosted by Frances Cook. We all know that house prices are soaring, making it harder than ever to scrape a deposit together. The trick is, when you're talking to a bank, getting approved for a mortgage isn't a black and white process. The bank does have a little bit of discretion. Just not much. They're charged with making sure they don't give you so much debt that it crushes you – which means, if you can show that you're financially a safe pair of hands, they might let you through with a smaller deposit than others. It's all about speaking the bank's love language. So what can you do to stand out from the herd?In the latest podcast I talked to Rupert Gough from Mortgage Lab. If you have a question about this podcast, or question you'd like answered in the next one, come and talk to me about it. I'm on Facebook here https://www.facebook.com/FrancesCookJournalist/ Instagram here https://www.instagram.com/francescooknz/ and Twitter here https://twitter.com/FrancesCookSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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Each week the NZ Herald's Cooking the Books podcast tackles a different money problem. Today, it's what to know if you're a DIY investor diving into the sharemarket. Hosted by Frances Cook. Even in the relatively small time that this podcast has existed, the investing landscape has changed enormously. It's only in the last couple of years that we've seen easy options popping up for people to start investing in shares, on their own terms, with whatever money they have to hand. Before that it was common that you needed several thousand dollars at a time just to be in the game. Now the industry is opening up, making wealth creation a possibility for a far wider range of people. I want to be clear before we get into this – I myself am a DIY investor, and I think this is a wonderful thing to create opportunities for people, and level the playing field. But in opening things up, we do also open up more opportunities for things to go wrong. When you dive in by yourself, there's the possibility of making serious mistakes, or taking on more risk than you realised. In the latest podcast I talked to George Carter from Nikko Asset Management NZ.If you have a question about this podcast, or question you'd like answered in the next one, come and talk to me about it. I'm on Facebook here https://www.facebook.com/FrancesCookJournalist/ Instagram here https://www.instagram.com/francescooknz/ and Twitter here https://twitter.com/FrancesCookSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Each week the NZ Herald's Cooking the Books podcast tackles a different money problem. Today, it's where to spend and where to skimp if you're having a baby. Hosted by Frances Cook. If you're planning to have a baby it's a really exciting time, but it can also be a minefield of change that you're navigating for the very first time. Many of those changes will be powered by money, and it can be a bit confusing trying to work out how much you'll need. What do you need to buy, and what's just advertising that's preying on your fears about a new situation? What can you get secondhand, and what do you really need to get new? It's not all bad; there are some things you can get for free, including many of the maternity healthcare services in New Zealand which are free of charge. So what's the good, bad, and the ugly, and how can we make it more manageable so that you can focus more on that cute baby? In the latest podcast I talked to Jhena Hawley from Plunket.If you have a question about this podcast, or question you'd like answered in the next one, come and talk to me about it. I'm on Facebook here https://www.facebook.com/FrancesCookJournalist/ Instagram here https://www.instagram.com/francescooknz/ and Twitter here https://twitter.com/FrancesCookSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Each week the NZ Herald's Cooking the Books podcast tackles a different money problem. Today, it's keeping emotion in check to become a better investor. Hosted by Frances Cook. Emotions and money are like petrol and fire. Try not to mix them if you can, because it's likely you won't enjoy the result. So while I've loved seeing more people paying attention to their money in the last year, and particularly the fantastic surge in people who are interested in investing, I have found it worrying the emotions that are clearly also in the mix. Strategies abound for getting rich quickly, hyped stocks are spread through online forums, and for every overnight winner there are ten losers left in their wake, carrying the can. The reaction to this in some quarters has been for people to warn that the sharemarket is like a casino, and that if you dabble, you should prepare to get burned. Well that's just not true either. Shares are a proven wealth-building strategy, it's just that you do need a strategy as you get started. Getting your emotions under control is part of that strategy for every single one of us, whether that's greed, fear, or FOMO. In the latest podcast I talked to AUT senior lecturer in finance Dr Ayesha ScottIf you have a question about this podcast, or question you'd like answered in the next one, come and talk to me about it. I'm on Facebook here https://www.facebook.com/FrancesCookJournalist/ Instagram here https://www.instagram.com/francescooknz/ and Twitter here https://twitter.com/FrancesCookSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Each week the NZ Herald's Cooking the Books podcast tackles a different money problem. Today, it's the forces behind house prices, and what's likely to happen next. Hosted by Frances Cook. If you've paid even the slightest attention to the news lately you'll know house prices have spiraled up past even the most optimistic expectations. It's led to intense bidding wars, buyers offering tens of thousands above asking price just to secure their spot, banks reporting backlogs of mortgage applications … frankly, it's a housing feeding frenzy. Now while house prices are something that makes people feel rich if they already own a place, I do feel for the frustrated first home buyers who struggle to keep up with this flurry of activity. Another issue is that when there's this level of emotive buying in a market, it tweaks my spidey senses. Emotions and money are a bad combination, and can lead to bad outcomes in the end. So how can you make sense of what's going, and what's likely to happen next? For the latest podcast I talked to independent economist Tony Alexander. If you have a question about this podcast, or question you'd like answered in the next one, come and talk to me about it. I'm on Facebook here https://www.facebook.com/FrancesCookJournalist/ Instagram here https://www.instagram.com/francescooknz/ and Twitter here https://twitter.com/FrancesCookSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Each week the NZ Herald's Cooking the Books podcast tackles a different money problem. Today, it's how to figure out the new rules of a low interest rate environment. Hosted by Frances Cook. It may sound unsexy, but interest rates are actually the secret sauce for understanding your money. That little percentage determines how much debt costs you, and how much an investment will make you, as well as a bunch of other things. So when you're making decisions about your money, interest rates play a huge part. The problem is they're acting a little weirdly right now. As governments both here and around the world pump cash into the economy to try and keep us going through that whole pandemic thing, interest rates are historically low. That means that the usual advice for how to pay off debt, and when to start investing, has changed a little bit, at least for now. For the latest podcast I talked to ASB senior economist Chris Tennent-Brown. If you have a question about this podcast, or question you'd like answered in the next one, come and talk to me about it. I'm on Facebook here https://www.facebook.com/FrancesCookJournalist/ Instagram here https://www.instagram.com/francescooknz/ and Twitter here https://twitter.com/FrancesCookSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Each week the NZ Herald's Cooking the Books podcast tackles a different money problem. Today, it's where to start if you're wanting a job change. Hosted by Frances Cook. We all know 2020 was a lot, not least because many of us found our working lives totally changed. It was a split situation, with industries like aviation and tourism hammered, but others like tech, financial services, or deliveries, doing well. The latest overall stats on this are, happily, quite encouraging. New figures from job website Seek show job listings are continuing to bounce back. For the last quarter of last year, job ads were up 19 per cent quarter on quarter. Compared to the same time a year before we're still down a little, but not that much, with a dip of 7 per cent. Healthiest sectors are information and communication technology, manufacturing, transport and logistics, and trades and services.But underneath all of that, other sectors are still struggling. Even if your own situation is doing okay, having so much change all around you can also trigger the need to re-evaluate. For the latest podcast I talked to Infometrics senior economist Brad Olsen. We discussed what the changes are after Covid-19, how permanent they're likely to be, and what are the good areas if you're wanting to try something new. If you have a question about this podcast, or question you'd like answered in the next one, come and talk to me about it. I'm on Facebook here https://www.facebook.com/FrancesCookJournalist/, Instagram here https://www.instagram.com/francescooknz/ and Twitter here https://twitter.com/FrancesCookSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Each week the NZ Herald's Cooking the Books podcast tackles a different money problem. Today, it's the financial independence movement, and whether normal people can give it a try. Hosted by Frances Cook. Financial independence is something you might have seen floating around, and been curious about. On the face of it, it sounds too good to be true. Save and invest hard, and you build up enough investment income that you don't have to work anymore. Surely that's something that's only possible for rich people? It's open to more people than you might think. Here's the maths behind it. The idea is that you work out how much you need in a year to live the life you want. So you might be happy living a very frugal lifestyle, which always makes things easier. Or you might enjoy some of life's nicer trappings, and want to keep them. Whatever that number is, you need a nest egg of 25x that, then the idea is that you can withdraw 4% of it each year, in order to live that lifestyle you like. For the latest podcast episode I talked to financial planner Liz Koh from Enrich Retirement.We discussed whether the maths behind the idea works, the different types of financial independence, and tactics for the average person to get there. If you have a question about this podcast, or question you'd like answered in the next one, come and talk to me about it. I'm on Facebook here https://www.facebook.com/FrancesCookJournalist/ Instagram here https://www.instagram.com/francescooknz/ and Twitter here https://twitter.com/FrancesCookSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Each week the NZ Herald's Cooking the Books podcast tackles a different money problem. Today, it's how to handle a split and the financial fallout. Hosted by Frances Cook.January has a fun nickname in the lawyer world – "splitting season". After being cooped up with each other through the holidays, the stress of Christmas and family expectations, it turns out a bunch of us decide, we've had enough. But of course, like everything else in the last 12 months, Covid-19 is making it worse. Plenty of lawyers have been speaking out, saying there was an increase in demand for their services even before we hit January, because of the lockdowns and stress of this year.Now divorce is obviously very tough, and it's also one of the worst things you can do to your money. Even worse is when through the course of the relationship, one person has simply trusted the other to take care of the financials. When it comes to the split, you're suddenly on the back foot. So how do you handle it to come through this as best you can? For the latest podcast I talked to Bridgette Jackson, divorce coach from Equal Exes. We discussed how Covid-19 has impacted relationship breakdowns, and where to start when you've split. If you have a question about this podcast, or question you'd like answered in the next one, come and talk to me about it. I'm on Facebook here https://www.facebook.com/FrancesCookJournalist/ Instagram here https://www.instagram.com/francescooknz/ and Twitter here https://twitter.com/FrancesCookSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Each week the NZ Herald's Cooking the Books podcast tackles a different money problem. Today, it's what to expect from the year ahead of us. Hosted by Frances Cook. Goodbye 2020, don't let the door hit you on the way out. What a year that was. If you're feeling burned out and sick of the uncertainty, I don't blame you.So as we take a beat, and digest the last of the Christmas cake, it's time to think about how we want to prepare ourselves for 2021, and whatever that might have in store for us. Now if 2020 taught us anything, it's that predicting what will happen next is a fool's game. But still, there are known knowns, and the known unknowns, that we can use to give ourselves a bit of a steer. So I've pulled together the Herald business team to peer into the crystal ball with me. For the latest podcast I talked to business editor at large Liam Dann, and personal finance editor Tamsyn Parker. If you have a question about this podcast, or question you'd like answered in the next one, come and talk to me about it. I'm on Facebook here https://www.facebook.com/FrancesCookJournalist/ Instagram here https://www.instagram.com/francescooknz/ and Twitter here https://twitter.com/FrancesCookSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Each week the NZ Herald's Cooking the Books podcast tackles a different money problem. Today, it's what we can learn from how New Zealanders responded to Covid-19. Hosted by Frances Cook. If you wanted to find out if New Zealanders are financially resilient, then 2020 was one heck of a trial by fire to keep an eye on. Well the Financial Services Council has done just that, spending the year tracking how we're all doing, in response to one of the most significant challenges of our times. Some of the results of their Financial Resilience Index are a little surprising. New Zealanders have stayed reasonably financially confident through the year.Despite the madness, more of us have decided to give things like investing a try. Which you might think is chaotic timing, but actually makes sense when you think about this year as a wakeup call, and the need to make sure we're looking out for ourselves. Less good, but also not at all surprising, is the increase in people worrying about job security. That went from 30% of us in March, to almost 50% in both April and August. Overall money worries also weren't great, with more people saying it was on their mind, and impacting things like their physical and mental health. So what should we make of all of this information, and is there a way we can guard against the quite reasonable worries? For the latest podcast I talked to Richard Klipin, CEO of the Financial Services Council.If you have a question about this podcast, or question you'd like answered in the next one, come and talk to me about it. I'm on Facebook here https://www.facebook.com/FrancesCookJournalist/ Instagram here https://www.instagram.com/francescooknz/ and Twitter here https://twitter.com/FrancesCookSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Each week the NZ Herald's Cooking the Books podcast tackles a different money problem. Today, it's whether a tiny house could be right for you. Hosted by Frances Cook. With our housing market officially running way past hot and right into scalding territory, people are looking for creative solutions. One that's getting renewed interest is tiny homes. The appeal is clear, at least to me – a smart, efficient use of space, exactly as big as you need and no more, that you could build yourself if you want, and that you can move to different locations if you suddenly need a beach break. But there are a couple of other things you need to consider too. Housing is how a lot of New Zealanders build their wealth, but really, that wealth comes from the increasing value of the land underneath the house. Tiny homes usually don't come with land. So you're going to needs to make a different plan for how to take care of your money. There's also the lifestyle factor of living tiny. Can you keep it up forever? For the latest podcast I talked to Kyron Gosse, chairman of the New Zealand Tiny House Association. If you have a question about this podcast, or question you'd like answered in the next one, come and talk to me about it. I'm on Facebook here https://www.facebook.com/FrancesCookJournalist/ Instagram here https://www.instagram.com/francescooknz/ and Twitter here https://twitter.com/FrancesCookSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Each week the NZ Herald's Cooking the Books podcast tackles a different money problem. Today, it's the allure of bitcoin, and whether it's an investment you should consider. Hosted by Frances Cook. Once you've started to dip your toe into the investing world, it can be surprisingly boring. Far from the movies of men in suits shouting over each other incoherently, for most people the investing experience is about regularly putting some money into an account, spreading it across a wide range of assets, and then letting it do its thing. For some people, that's a relief. For others, it's a little less exciting than they'd hoped for. So I've been getting increasing number of people sending me messages, asking what I make of some of the less mainstream investments, especially bitcoin, and gold. Now full disclosure, I'm not convinced by them, for reasons we'll talk about in this episode. But another thing that can make life boring is if we all agree with each, so I've found an investing expert who thinks a little differently than I do. For the latest podcast I talked to Darcy Ungaro, authorised financial advisor and host of The NZ Everyday Investor podcast.We discussed whether cryptocurrency is a legitimate investment, how you make money from it, and how it compares to other speculative investments like gold. If you have a question about this podcast, or question you'd like answered in the next one, come and talk to me about it. I'm on Facebook here https://www.facebook.com/FrancesCookJournalist/ Instagram here https://www.instagram.com/francescooknz/ and Twitter here https://twitter.com/FrancesCookSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Each week the NZ Herald's Cooking the Books podcast tackles a different money problem. Today, it's how to start talking money with your partner, so that you can work together better. Hosted by Frances Cook. Talking to your partner about money is more important than ever. The economy is having a rough time, people are losing jobs, and then Christmas rolls around with the expectation that you spend a bunch. If you're not talking to your partner about how you're handling these things, you can end up accidentally undermining each other. But then, it can be a tricky conversation to have. Egos get in the way, people have different ways of handling things, and conflict crops up. The solution doesn't have to be that you ignore it and hope for better, though. You can have a better conversation, with a bit of strategy. For the latest podcast I talked to money mentalist Lynda MooreWe discussed at what point in the relationship you should talk money, the low-pressure ways to start the conversation, and how much you should share with your partner. If you have a question about this podcast, or question you'd like answered in the next one, come and talk to me about it. I'm on Facebook here https://www.facebook.com/FrancesCookJournalist/ Instagram here https://www.instagram.com/francescooknz/ and Twitter here https://twitter.com/FrancesCookSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Each week the NZ Herald's Cooking the Books podcast tackles a different money problem. Today, it's how to take control of your credit score. Hosted by Frances Cook. Credit scores are important, but it can be hard to figure out how important they are in our part of the world. A lot of personal finance advice comes from the United States, where their credit system is entirely different. Trying to copy that here could see you spending a lot on credit card fees, with no reward. So for the latest Cooking the Books podcast I talked to Tom Hartmann from Sorted, about how to understand our system. We discussed what a credit score is used for, how you can check yours and whether you really need a credit card in order to have a good score.If you have a question about this podcast, or question you'd like answered in the next one, come and talk to me about it. I'm on Facebook here https://www.facebook.com/FrancesCookJournalist/ Instagram here https://www.instagram.com/francescooknz/ and Twitter here https://twitter.com/FrancesCookSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Each week the NZ Herald's Cooking the Books podcast tackles a different money problem. Today, it's how to use your money to provide a safety net in a crazy world. Hosted by Frances Cook.This year alone, we've had major wildfires in Australia and the US, we've had elections which caused big disruptions in some countries, and of course, who could go past the pandemic which has changed all of our lives in major ways. There's still time left in 2020 of course, but I don't want to tempt fate.To say it's unstable right now is an understatement, and it's causing many of us to rethink a few things. One of those is of course, our money. When handled right, your money can provide a buffer between you and some of the scarier parts of the world. It can cushion you, from the worst of the shocks. Our guest today has written a book all about how you could do that, combining philosophy with personal finance advice for a truly unique perspective. For the latest podcast I talked to Richard Meadows, financial columnist and author of Optionality. We discussed how he had hit financial freedom, how the current instability changed things, and whether the average person could work towards financial independence. If you have a question about this podcast, or question you'd like answered in the next one, come and talk to me about it. I'm on Facebook here https://www.facebook.com/FrancesCookJournalist/ Instagram here https://www.instagram.com/francescooknz/ and Twitter here https://twitter.com/FrancesCookSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Each week the NZ Herald's Cooking the Books podcast tackles a different money problem. Today, it's the options for your financial future when houses are just too expensive. Hosted by Frances Cook.OK, if you're feeling a little frustrated by the housing market, you're not alone. It's daunting if you're a first home buyer right now. When Covid-19 first hit, all of the economists were predicting house prices to slide, as a knock-on effect of our economy getting a hammering. Instead our country has handled the virus remarkably well, the economy is much better than expected, and house prices, well, they're racing away. The latest OneRoof Property Report shows that in the time from August to October alone, Auckland prices jumped a shocking 2.8 per cent.So, does this mean you should give up? No. Does it mean you should put yourself in worrying amounts of debt, so that if one single thing goes wrong the bank takes the house back off you? Also no. There are other ways to boost your wealth to give you financial security, and it can also be a path to get you a house further down the road, if that's what you want. For the latest podcast I talked to Mark Lister from Craig's Investment Partners. We discussed what other options you have for securing your financial future, if you can retire without owning a home, and how investing in other areas could help you get a house deposit. If you have a question about this podcast, or question you'd like answered in the next one, come and talk to me about it. I'm on Facebook here https://www.facebook.com/FrancesCookJournalist/ Instagram here https://www.instagram.com/francescooknz/ and Twitter here https://twitter.com/FrancesCookSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Each week the NZ Herald's Cooking the Books podcast tackles a different money problem. Today, it's the different money moves you should make at different times in your life. Hosted by Frances Cook. It's all very well to know the basics of what you need to do with your money, but if you're just starting out, it can be hard to know the first step. After all, you might want to pay off debt, start investing, and get a good savings account going, but you only have a certain amount of money. That decision paralysis of where to make those first changes can be what stops many of us from making the easiest changes. Or if we start with the wrong thing, it can blow up in our face, and we get discouraged. No worries though, we've got some simple steps to figure out where you're at in your financial journey, and what you should be focusing on next. For the latest podcast I talked to Tim Fairbrother from Rival Wealth. We discussed what to do first if you've never paid much attention to your money before, saving versus paying off debt, and when to start investing. If you have a question about this podcast, or question you'd like answered in the next one, come and talk to me about it. I'm on Facebook here https://www.facebook.com/FrancesCookJournalist/ Instagram here https://www.instagram.com/francescooknz/ and Twitter here https://twitter.com/FrancesCookSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Each week the NZ Herald's Cooking the Books podcast tackles a different money problem. Today, it's how to pay off debt faster, and pay less overall. Hosted by Frances Cook. There's quite enough to be feeling nervous about these days, with the Covid-19 situation changing every five minutes, and regularly throwing curveballs to the economy. So if you've got some debt you were meaning to deal with, it's probably making you feel a bit vulnerable. The problem with debt is it's one more thing that makes everything else worse. If you lose your job it's another bill to keep paying off, or if you are trying to save some money for emergencies, it's another thing soaking up your spare cash. But don't despair. There are ways to pay off debt faster, so that you pay less overall, and get that monkey off your back. For the latest podcast I talked to Kate Reddington from Sorted.We talked about how covid-19 has changed the debt stress, the techniques to pay it off faster, and what to do if a debt collector is involved. If you have a question about this podcast, or question you'd like answered in the next one, come and talk to me about it. I'm on Facebook here https://www.facebook.com/FrancesCookJournalist/ Instagram here https://www.instagram.com/francescooknz/ and Twitter here https://twitter.com/FrancesCookSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Each week the NZ Herald's Cooking the Books podcast tackles a different money problem. Today, it's the best ways to make extra money, without wasting your time. Hosted by Frances Cook. Well, it turns out that you guys really want to talk about side hustles. When we talked about paying off debt using side hustles a few weeks ago, I was inundated with questions about finding more ways to earn extra cash, and which ones were worth the time. Which is a very good question. You don't want to invest your time, or even worse your money, into something that only gives you a little bit back. So today we're maximising your spare time so that you can get the most cash for it, to put towards whatever your goals are. For the latest podcast I talked to Chris Walsh from MoneyHub.We talked about how to make the most from digital platforms, which old-fashioned side hustles are still worth doing, and whether you can make much from online surveys. If you have a question about this podcast, or question you'd like answered in the next one, come and talk to me about it. I'm on Facebook here https://www.facebook.com/FrancesCookJournalist/ Instagram here https://www.instagram.com/francescooknz/ and Twitter here https://twitter.com/FrancesCookSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Each week the NZ Herald's Cooking the Books podcast tackles a different money problem. Today, it's the astonishing rise of DIY investing since lockdown. Hosted by Frances Cook.This year has seen a spike in new investors. Since the first Covid-19 lockdown back in March, the Financial Markets Authority estimates 120,000 New Zealand investors have joined local online investing platforms. That's a seriously big jump for a small country like ours. For perspective, the big platforms Sharesies, InvestNow, and Hatch, now have about 250,000 clients between them. My first reaction to this news is absolute happiness. More Kiwis taking control of their money, and investing for their future, is awesome. I hope that even more people join the investing journey in the future. But with so many new investors coming in at the same time, there is the potential for things to go wrong. No worries though – let's talk about that, and make sure that Cooking the Books listeners are the ones ahead of the curve. For the latest podcast I talked to FMA CEO Rob Everett.We discussed why he thinks there's been such a spike in investors, the reason for caution, and best practice for new investors. • If you have a question about this podcast, or question you'd like answered in the next one, come and talk to me about it. I'm on Facebook here https://www.facebook.com/FrancesCookJournalist/ Instagram here https://www.instagram.com/francescooknz/ and Twitter here https://twitter.com/FrancesCookSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Each week the NZ Herald's Cooking the Books podcast tackles a different money problem. Today, it's the mistake being made with KiwiSavers, and how to fix it. Hosted by Frances Cook. KiwiSaver is really important, not only for our long term futures in retirement, but also our short term futures of buying first homes. Figures from the IRD show this year, in July alone, $125 million dollars was pulled out of KiwiSavers for first homes. In fact, research from Canstar shows about half of 18- to 29-year-olds are putting money into KiwiSaver purely to get that first home. So that's a pretty major factor. However, that same research also showed something a little worrying. Those same 18- to 29-year-olds are quite confused by the different fund types, and how to use them. That's crucial, because the fund you use could mean you put in the exact same money, but get something totally different at the end. For the latest Cooking the Books I talked to Jose George from Canstar. We discussed what the Canstar research shows, and how to understand your KiwiSaver so that it works better for you. If you have a question about this podcast, or question you'd like answered in the next one, come and talk to me about it. I'm on Facebook here https://www.facebook.com/FrancesCookJournalist/ Instagram here https://www.instagram.com/francescooknz/ and Twitter here https://twitter.com/FrancesCookSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Each week the NZ Herald's Cooking the Books podcast tackles a different money problem. Today, it's how to have a conversation about pay rates that works for everyone. Hosted by Frances Cook.It’s a little awkward to talk about pay rates at the best of times, but there’s nothing like being officially in recession to make it even more awkward. The problem is, it’s also more important than ever. Whether you’re a contractor or freelancer hoping to get a good rate on a new project, or a full-time employee who hasn’t had a raise in a while, the reality of having bills to pay and the need for a fair pay rate, doesn’t stop. However, we all know some businesses have it tough right now, so it’s delicate. Here’s how to start that conversation, and hopefully find a solution that works for everyone. For the latest Cooking the Books podcast I talked to Simon Rooney from Find Recruitment.If you have a question about this podcast, or question you'd like answered in the next one, come and talk to me about it. I'm on Facebook here https://www.facebook.com/FrancesCookJournalist/ Instagram here https://www.instagram.com/francescooknz/ and Twitter here https://twitter.com/FrancesCookSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

If you like Cooking the Books, you should also check out The Pivot Pod. It’s my other podcast, focused on helping small businesses through the carnage of Covid-19. Whether you’re a side hustler, a small business owner, or you just find that area interesting. Come and have a chat with me and industry leaders, on how small business can not just survive, but thrive, through a weird time. The Pivot Pod. Available everywhere you get your podcasts.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Each week the NZ Herald's Cooking the Books podcast tackles a different money problem. Today, it's how to get yourself on firm footing so you can handle a career change. Hosted by Frances Cook.The world tipped upside down recently, which means many of us are considering changes.Not all of this is voluntary of course – many people have lost their jobs, and now are having to scramble for something else to pay the bills. But there are also those who’ve taken this time to reassess, to remember that life is short, and now want to change to something different. Whether you’re choosing career change, or you’ve had it thrust upon you, you still need a stable base to make these changes from. The best thing you can do to increase your chances of success is give yourself as much financial security as you can, to steady you through this time. On the latest Cooking the Books podcast I talked to financial planner Liz Koh. If you have a question about this podcast, or question you'd like answered in the next one, come and talk to me about it. I'm on Facebook here https://www.facebook.com/FrancesCookJournalist/ Instagram here https://www.instagram.com/francescooknz/ and Twitter here https://twitter.com/FrancesCookSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Each week the NZ Herald's Cooking the Books podcast tackles a different money problem. Today, it's the woman who tackled $94,000 of debt in three years, and why she still side hustles now that she's debt-free. Hosted by Frances Cook.There are all sorts of good reasons to want more cash on the side, especially these days. You might have had your pay reduced, you’re working towards a big goal that needs more cash, you want to boost your savings account, or you just want more money to ease life’s stresses – in situations like these, a side hustle can be a great idea. The problem is when you try to look up what ones could work for you, you’ll often be swamped by ideas from overseas, that just aren’t available here. But that’s ok, I’ve found us an expert. She side hustled her way to paying off $94,000-dollars of debt. For the latest episode I was joined by Tracy Hemingway, also known as the Debt Free Diva. If you have a question about this podcast, or question you'd like answered in the next one, come and talk to me about it. I'm on Facebook here https://www.facebook.com/FrancesCookJournalist/ Instagram here https://www.instagram.com/francescooknz/ and Twitter here https://twitter.com/FrancesCookSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Each week the NZ Herald's Cooking the Books podcast tackles a different money problem. Today, it's the rise in self-employed New Zealanders, and how to do it with more success. Hosted by Frances Cook.What do you do when you lose your job, through no fault of your own, but because the world has gone into meltdown? Well, for a certain slice of New Zealanders, the answer seems to be that you create your own job. It makes sense, because what do you really have to lose now? If you can’t find someone else to give you an opportunity, then maybe you can make your own instead? And you certainly can, particularly if you take the approach of repackaging the skills you used in your old job, and using them in a new way for the strange new normal we find ourselves in. On this week's Cooking the Books I talked to Hnry CEO James Fuller.If you have a question about this podcast, or question you'd like answered in the next one, come and talk to me about it. I'm on Facebook here https://www.facebook.com/FrancesCookJournalist/ Instagram here https://www.instagram.com/francescooknz/ and Twitter here https://twitter.com/FrancesCookSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Each week the NZ Herald's Cooking the Books podcast tackles a different money problem. Today, it's how to master your mortgage whether your finances are going well, or are under stress. Hosted by Frances Cook.If you have a question about this podcast, or question you'd like answered in the next one, come and talk to me about it. I'm on Facebook here https://www.facebook.com/FrancesCookJournalist/ Instagram here https://www.instagram.com/francescooknz/ and Twitter here https://twitter.com/FrancesCookSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Each week the NZ Herald's Cooking the Books podcast tackles a different money problem. Today, it's how Covid-19 has shaped money management for a new generation. Hosted by Frances Cook.Here’s the thing. Many people were already struggling financially before all of … everything .. hit us. In the 12 months to February, research from Kiwi Wealth showed young people, Maori and Pasifika, and those who were renting, had low levels of wealth and money confidence. One of the big problems is the high cost of living, while another is increased levels of debt. Those are probably related, in a reinforcing negative cycle. So when Covid came along, what happened next? Well plenty are doing it tough, but there are also those who are increasing their financial activity. Particularly young people are seeing this as a time that they might be able to get ahead, with online share trading particularly popular, as some try to take advantage of the market dipping. In fact 84 per cent of New Zealanders have increased their savings or investments since Covid-19 hit.So what’s going on out there, and how can we all navigate a weird time to try to get ahead? For the latest episode I talked to Kiwi Wealth's Melissa Vasta. If you have a question about this podcast, or question you'd like answered in the next one, come and talk to me about it. I'm on Facebook here https://www.facebook.com/FrancesCookJournalist/ Instagram here https://www.instagram.com/francescooknz/ and Twitter here https://twitter.com/FrancesCookSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Each week the NZ Herald's Cooking the Books podcast tackles a different money problem. Today, it's where to put any extra money so it's working hardest for you. Hosted by Frances Cook.Covid-19 shocked many of us into paying more attention to our money, with recent research from Sorted showing that more of us are talking about it, and wanting to handle it better. Now, these are weird times, but for those of us who still have a job, there are actually financial opportunities at the moment. Interest rates are very low, which means you could make serious progress on your mortgage and knock years off it. Then again, the sharemarket is down, which means if you invest carefully there's the possibility of making far more money from it in the future. Clearly you guys have been paying attention because heaps of Cooking the Books' listeners have sent me pretty much identical questions; if you have some extra money right now, should you be putting it on the mortgage, or investing? It's a great question, and to be honest, there's no one-size-fits-all answer. But there are some easy ways you can figure out what's right for you, so let's get into them.For the latest Cooking the Books I talked to Simon Stredder from Wealth & Co. We discussed the pros and cons of extra mortgage payments, the pros and cons of putting the money into shares, and how to balance the two for your own life. If you have a question you'd like answered in a future podcast, come and talk to me about it. I'm on Facebook here https://www.facebook.com/FrancesCookJournalist/ Instagram here https://www.instagram.com/francescooknz/ and Twitter here https://twitter.com/FrancesCookSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Each week the NZ Herald's Cooking the Books podcast tackles a different money problem. Today, it's how to build a budget that improves your life instead of restricting it. Hosted by Frances Cook.For this year's Money Week Sorted has pulled together research to see how we’re all doing after the impacts of Covid-19. As you might expect, it’s a bit of a mixed bag. Let’s start with the bad news. Increased numbers of us are facing financial difficulties, with 31 per cent of New Zealanders needing to dip into their savings to pay for the basics, and 24 per cent missing at least one bill payment. However, facing increased financial head winds seems to have created a desire to do better with our money. So here comes the good news.More New Zealanders now have a savings account big enough to pay for one month of expenses, and are trying to save more each month. Fewer of us are embarrassed about our money situation, and more of us are willing to talk about it, which is excellent. No matter what’s happening in your wallet, shame never helps anyone. So, if all of this is you, or someone you know, you might now be wondering if there’s a way you can make these changes in an easier way.There’s more than one way to make a budget, and finding the easiest way for you might be the key to helping you stick to all of these wonderful new money habits, without sacrificing too much of your lifestyle. For the latest Cooking the Books I talked to Donna Robinson from Sorted.We discussed how you can start thinking about a budget, the nuts and bolts of how to do it, and how to adjust it for big life goals, as well as some fun. If you have a question you'd like answered in a future podcast, come and talk to me about it. I'm on Facebook here https://www.facebook.com/FrancesCookJournalist/ Instagram here https://www.instagram.com/francescooknz/ and Twitter here https://twitter.com/FrancesCookSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Each week the NZ Herald's Cooking the Books podcast tackles a different money problem. Today, it's what your KiwiSaver is trying to tell you, and how to use it. Hosted by Frances Cook.It's been a trial by fire lately, as the market nosedived, giving many KiwiSavers or young investors their first taste of what a market downturn can look like. So you might expect these less experienced investors are quaking in their boots. Happily, for the most part, no. Research from the Financial Markets Authority shows 71% of New Zealanders are optimistic the pandemic will pass, and markets recover. In fact 23% are even planning to increase their investments in the next year. This comes as at a time when changes to you KiwiSaver are taking place, in the hopes of making it make more sense. These changes include a new way to predict how much you'll have by the time you hit 65 and can cash out. Sure, some providers have had that prediction before, but now everyone is singing from the same song sheet, being asked to use the same rules to calculate it, so you can actually compare apples with apples across different providers. Which is good, because the current upheaval has also made New Zealanders more interested in their money than ever. The FMA's research also found more people are keeping an eye on their KiwiSaver, and many are checking their balance more often. So ok, now you have all of this information at your fingertips. How do you make sense of it, and then what should you do with it? For the latest Cooking the Books podcast I talked to Gillian Boyes from the Financial Markets Authority. We discussed what changes are in your KiwiSaver statement, how New Zealanders are feeling about KiwiSaver in general, and what to do with all the new information at your fingertips. If you have a question you'd like answered in a future podcast, come and talk to me about it. I'm on Facebook here https://www.facebook.com/FrancesCookJournalist/ Instagram here https://www.instagram.com/francescooknz/ and Twitter here https://twitter.com/FrancesCookSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Each week the NZ Herald's Cooking the Books podcast tackles a different money problem. Today, it's top tips to reduce your food bill. Hosted by Frances Cook.Food is one of those core expenses that soaks up a lot of our money, but that we can feel powerless over. Now you do have to pay something for food, obviously, but there are ways to reduce both your cost, and your effort. You don’t want to be only eating beans and rice, and you certainly don’t want to be spending hours in the kitchen just to save 10 cents. But you can make progress without doing either of those things.Tom Hartmann, personal finance expert from Sorted, came on the latest Cooking the Books podcast. We discussed how much wriggle room you have to bring down the food budget, how to stock up without sabotaging yourself, and how to use technology to your advantage.If you have a question you'd like answered in a future podcast, come and talk to me about it. I'm on Facebook here https://www.facebook.com/FrancesCookJournalist/ Instagram here https://www.instagram.com/francescooknz/ and Twitter here https://twitter.com/FrancesCookSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Each week the NZ Herald's Cooking the Books podcast tackles a different money problem. Today, it's why the sharemarket is acting strangely, and how to adapt your investing to that. Hosted by Frances Cook.There’s a weird split at the moment for those of us watching the business news. On the one hand, businesses and economies around the world are getting absolutely hammered by the fallout of Covid-19. Even in New Zealand, which has far more freedom than most other countries, unemployment is expected to rise by the end of the year. Yet when you look at the sharemarket, it’s strangely positive. After a screaming downward spiral in March, it’s now bounced up to almost where it was before, even though we’re far from done with this pandemic. Now first of all, there are reasons for this, and secondly, those reasons might impact your KiwiSaver or investing decisions. I’m the last one to tell you not to invest in the sharemarket. In fact, I’m still investing myself, through all of this craziness. But there are ways and ways of investing through turbulent times, and this is definitely one of those moments where knowledge is power. On the latest Cooking the Books podcast I talked to Rupert Carlyon from Kōura Wealth.We discussed what's happening in the markets, worrying investment trends, and how to make smarter investment choices.If you have a question you'd like answered in a future podcast, come and talk to me about it. I'm on Facebook here https://www.facebook.com/FrancesCookJournalist/ Instagram here https://www.instagram.com/francescooknz/ and Twitter here https://twitter.com/FrancesCookSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Each week the NZ Herald and Newstalk ZB's Cooking the Books podcast tackles a different money problem. Today, it's whether a UBI could work in NZ, and what the alternatives are. Hosted by Frances Cook.A rather radical idea has been getting more mainstream attention lately – the idea of a Universal Basic Income, or UBI. There are lots of different variations of it, but in its simplest form it's the idea that everyone gets a set amount of money, no questions asked, whether they're working or not, and with no means testing. It's a response to some fairly big problems in our society. There's widening inequality, with some people becoming richer, but others becoming poorer and feeling stuck there. Work is also more precarious. The gig economy is of course notorious for resulting in unstable and low paid work.But even if you take the time to develop skills and build a career, the digital revolution is requiring us to change careers far more often than in the past. It's all quite unsettling, and can lead to people facing difficult financial situations through no fault of their own. So is a universal basic income the answer to these problems? Researchers in New Zealand have actually been looking into this, and the answer is; maybe. Jess Berentson-Shaw, co-director of the think tank The Workshop, came on the latest Cooking the Books podcast. We discussed the UBI strengths, weaknesses, and the possible alternative systems.If you have a question you'd like answered in a future podcast, come and talk to me about it. I'm on Facebook here https://www.facebook.com/FrancesCookJournalist/ Instagram here https://www.instagram.com/francescooknz/ and Twitter here https://twitter.com/FrancesCookSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Each week the NZ Herald and Newstalk ZB's Cooking the Books podcast tackles a different money problem. Today, it's a smart side hustle that could be easier than you think. Hosted by Frances Cook.When you’re trying to manage your money, of course you first need to get a handle on what’s leaving your wallet every month. But just as important is figuring out if you have enough money coming in, and whether there are ways you can get more of it. There are all sorts of interesting side hustles that people have turned to, but one that doesn’t get much attention is furniture flipping. Basically, find something that’s unloved and therefore going cheap. Use some elbow grease to turn it into a piece that could become the pride of someone else’s home, and then sell it for a profit. It’s a great way to stop things going to landfill, make some money, and can also be a very satisfying hobby. And take it from one rather uncoordinated podcast host – you can get the necessary skills for this much quicker than you think. For the latest Cooking the Books I talked to Nicky Rutter, or @budgetingkiwihousewife on Instagram. We discussed how she got started upcycling furniture, how much money can be made, and the traps to be careful of. If you have a question you'd like answered in a future podcast, come and talk to me about it. I'm on Facebook here https://www.facebook.com/FrancesCookJournalist/ Instagram here https://www.instagram.com/francescooknz/ and Twitter here https://twitter.com/FrancesCookSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Each week the NZ Herald and Newstalk ZB's Cooking the Books podcast tackles a different money problem. Today, it's the latest data and what could happen next for the housing market. Hosted by Frances Cook.Property is traditionally a favourite investment for many New Zealanders. Whether it’s their own home, or expanding to include a rental, it’s how many people plan to boost their wealth. That’s why so many were worried by the expected impacts of Covid-19. Property prices are often strongly linked to unemployment, and with unemployment expected to rise, many economists were predicting property prices could fall by between 10 to 15 per cent. So as we start to see how Covid pans out in reality, are those predictions coming true? The latest Real Estate Institute confidence report for June gives us the first indications.For the latest Cooking the Books podcast I talked to Bindi Norwell from REINZWe discussed what the latest property figures show us, what that means for buyers and sellers, and what could happen next. If you have a question you'd like answered in a future podcast, come and talk to me about it. I'm on Facebook here https://www.facebook.com/FrancesCookJournalist/ Instagram here https://www.instagram.com/francescooknz/ and Twitter here https://twitter.com/FrancesCookSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Each week the NZ Herald and Newstalk ZB's Cooking the Books podcast tackles a different money problem. Today, it's why your KiwiSaver will probably go down again, and what to do about it. Hosted by Frances Cook.Many of us got quite the fright in March, when markets nosedived around the world. It hit pretty much everyone. Some of us invest in shares directly, while almost everyone else has a KiwiSaver with shares in it. So balances tumbled, while we all watched nervously. Of course, since then, many people have jubilantly pointed out that we’re nearly back to where we’re started. It does look healthier out there, but at the risk of raining on your parade, it may not last. That’s not necessarily a bad thing. You just need to know what could be coming next, and prepare for it. For the latest Cooking the Books podcast I talked to David Boyle from Mint Asset Management.We discussed what could impact the market in the next few months, what that means for you, and how people in different situations could handle it. If you have a question you'd like answered in a future podcast, come and talk to me about it. I'm on Facebook here https://www.facebook.com/FrancesCookJournalist/ Instagram here https://www.instagram.com/francescooknz/ and Twitter here https://twitter.com/FrancesCookSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Each week the NZ Herald and Newstalk ZB's Cooking the Books podcast tackles a different money problem. Today, it's a shares investing strategy to give you the best of both worlds. Hosted by Frances Cook.Here’s a conflicting issue. History and research shows that the best way for most of us to invest in shares is to invest widely in index funds. It’s not only the easiest, it has the track record to show it’s the best way for the average person to make the most money. However, there are some who just can’t help themselves. Sometimes people are sure they’re on to a winner, or they just find it more interesting to pick and choose what they’re attracted to. At the end of the day, the best way to invest is the way that works for you, which includes needing to keep you interested, and actually investing. So, what do you do if you’re one of those people who likes to pick and choose? For the latest Cooking the Books podcast I talked to Dean Anderson from Kernel.We discussed the core satellite method, how it works, and how you should vet both index funds and individual company investments. If you have a question you'd like answered in a future podcast, come and talk to me about it. I'm on Facebook here https://www.facebook.com/FrancesCookJournalist/ Instagram here https://www.instagram.com/francescooknz/ and Twitter here https://twitter.com/FrancesCookSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Each week the NZ Herald and Newstalk ZB's Cooking the Books podcast tackles a different money problem. Today, it's reducing one of your core expenses by starting a garden. Hosted by Frances Cook.When it comes to cutting down your budget, the biggest bang for your buck comes from three core areas: housing, transport, and food. This is where stats show we spend the most of our money, and so it’s where we have the biggest potential for savings. So starting a garden is a great way to become more self-reliant, and reduce your food budget. But it’s not easy, with many of us living in urban areas now, or just having the proverbial black thumbs. Don’t sweat it – everyone has to start somewhere.For the latest Cooking the Books podcast I talked to Elien Lewis from Homegrown Happiness. We discussed how she got started gardening on a small urban section, the easiest and cheapest gardening methods, and what to do if you're a renter. If you have a question you'd like answered in a future podcast, come and talk to me about it. I'm on Facebook here https://www.facebook.com/FrancesCookJournalist/ Instagram here https://www.instagram.com/francescooknz/ and Twitter here https://twitter.com/FrancesCookSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Each week the NZ Herald and Newstalk ZB's Cooking the Books podcast tackles a different money problem. Today, it's the increase in contract workers after Covid-19, and what you need to know before trying it. Hosted by Frances Cook.When we talk about investing, you’ll have heard me say many times that you don’t put all your eggs in one basket. The idea is that you diversify, so that if there’s a problem with one investment, it doesn’t tank everything. Well there are those who argue that you should do the same with your career. You career is of course huge for your finances, and there’s an argument that relying on one job leaves you too vulnerable to being made redundant or not expanding your skills fast enough to keep up with the modern world. But there’s a counter argument as well, that you don’t want to spend every waking moment working different jobs, and you also need some stability and certainty, which can be hard to come by when freelancing. So is there a sweet spot? For the latest Cooking the Books podcast I talked to James Fuller from HnryWe discussed what a portfolio career is, how it can help people in the current job market, and how freelancers and contractors can get more security in their careers.If you have a question you'd like answered in a future podcast, come and talk to me about it. I'm on Facebook here https://www.facebook.com/FrancesCookJournalist/ Instagram here https://www.instagram.com/francescooknz/ and Twitter here https://twitter.com/FrancesCookSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Each week the NZ Herald and Newstalk ZB's Cooking the Books podcast tackles a different money problem. Today, it's the inside secrets to looking glam on a budget. Hosted by Frances Cook.What's the point of a podcast, if not abusing it to simply find out things you want to know yourself? There's no point, that's what. So today I'm hijacking the platform to give us the inside word on how the pros find the best second hand gems.Many of you will already know I’ve set myself a challenge for all of 2020, to only buy clothes second hand, nothing new. It was only supposed to be a bit of fun, but soon people were sending me questions and wanting to know more about whether I was managing to make it work. I admit, I’ve been partial to a bit of op shopping before, but it’s a whole new level when you commit to only doing that. You soon find out fun tricks like what types of repairs you’re actually capable of, how to snag a bargain at designer recycle stores, and that where your secondhand shop is located is one of the most important factors. But that's nothing compared to what the professionals know. For the latest Cooking the Books podcast I talked to Trudi Bennett from Wardrobe Flair. We discussed how to find the true bargains, how to check for quality, and where to find the best second hand shops. If you have a question you'd like answered in a future podcast, come and talk to me about it. I'm on Facebook here https://www.facebook.com/FrancesCookJournalist/ Instagram here https://www.instagram.com/francescooknz/ and Twitter here https://twitter.com/FrancesCookSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Each week the NZ Herald and Newstalk ZB's Cooking the Books podcast tackles a different money problem. Today, it's everything you need to know about your rights as a renter, and what financial help you can get. Hosted by Frances Cook.Keeping a roof over your head is one of the most important things in life, particularly as we head into rough economic waters. A lot of the public discussion so far has focused on mortgage help. That’s really important, but we can’t forget renters. A Renters United survey shows two out of every three renting households have had their income drop by more than a third. More than half of all renting households are now worse off, even after the government measures to help. Half said their renting experience during lockdown hurt their mental wellbeing, citing increased anxiety, stress, and depression. When you’re renting it’s a less stable situation, and there is a power imbalance that we need to be realistic about. There is also less targeted help available specifically for renters. But that doesn’t mean there’s no help – there certainly is. For the latest Cooking the Books podcast I talked to Robert Whitaker from Renters United. We discussed the main issues facing renters currently, what rights renters have, and what financial help is available. If you have a question you'd like answered in a future podcast, come and talk to me about it. I'm on Facebook here https://www.facebook.com/FrancesCookJournalist/ Instagram here https://www.instagram.com/francescooknz/ and Twitter here https://twitter.com/FrancesCookSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Each week the NZ Herald and Newstalk ZB's Cooking the Books podcast tackles a different money problem. Today, it's everything you need to know about mortgages and property ownership in a rapidly changing situation. Hosted by Frances Cook.Owning your own home is a big part of many New Zealanders becoming financially secure - but it can be a scary prospect, especially in times like these. Just released research from ASB shows a lot of us are feeling nervous, with confidence in the housing market at almost the lowest levels in eight years. The numbers of people expecting house prices to rise has crashed since last time, from 54 per cent to just 14, and a slim majority of New Zealanders think it’s a bad time to buy a house. There are other complicating factors as well. Record low interest rates mean mortgages are now outrageously cheap – all the major banks are now offering deals under three per cent.Some first home buyers are also expressing hope that if house prices fall, they might be able to get into the market. There’s a lot happening here, and frankly, I’ve been getting a lot of questions into my inbox about what it all means. So I’ve pulled together the most common questions you’ve sent me, and we’re getting them all answered. For the latest Cooking the Books podcast I talked to Mortgage Lab CEO Rupert Gough.We discussed how to get the lowest rate on your mortgage, what this all means for first home buyers, and how investors can protect themselves. If you have a question you'd like answered in a future podcast, come and talk to me about it. I'm on Facebook here https://www.facebook.com/FrancesCookJournalist/ Instagram here https://www.instagram.com/francescooknz/ and Twitter here https://twitter.com/FrancesCookSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Each week the NZ Herald and Newstalk ZB's Cooking the Books podcast tackles a different money problem. Today, it's how to get cash back for your work from home expenses. Hosted by Frances Cook.If you’re one of the people who’s been lucky enough to work from home during the pandemic, you’ve probably got a question about now; can I claim expenses for this? You don’t need me to tell you that it’s uncertain times now, and every bit you can save on expenses can help you prepare for the coming rainy days. After all, your electricity and your internet useage have probably gone up. Those who are self-employed can claim tax back on that, as well as part of their rent or mortgage interest.So what about if you’re an employee, can you get those expenses back? Well yes, but through a slightly different system. The good thing is, it’s actually pretty simple. For the latest Cooking the Books podcast I talked to Terry Baucher, director of tax consultancy Baucher Consulting. We discussed the system for claiming expenses as an employee, the easiest way to do it, and how to organise it with your employer. If you have a question about this podcast, or a question you'd like answered in the next one, come and talk to me about it. I'm on Facebook here https://www.facebook.com/FrancesCookJournalist/ Instagram here https://www.instagram.com/francescooknz/ and Twitter here https://twitter.com/FrancesCookSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Each week the NZ Herald and Newstalk ZB's Cooking the Books podcast tackles a different money problem. Today, it's how to feel more in control of your money in the midst of uncertainty. Hosted by Frances Cook.It’s tempting to think that money is all about facts and figures, but often it’s a mental game instead. You can know all the rules and best practice, but if you don’t actually do it, all of that knowledge is no good. So as things get uncertain out there it can be tempting to stick our heads in the sand, to pretend scary things aren’t happening, and not make any of the small adjustments we need to make. But actually there are easy steps you can take right now, in order to become stronger financially and more prepared for whatever is next. For the latest Cooking the Books podcast I talked to Money Mentalist Lynda Moore. We discussed how money uncertainty can impact mental health, first steps to feel more in control, and how to build an emergency fund in an emergency. If you have a question about this podcast, or a question you'd like answered in the next one, come and talk to me about it. I'm on Facebook here https://www.facebook.com/FrancesCookJournalist/ Instagram here https://www.instagram.com/francescooknz/ and Twitter here https://twitter.com/FrancesCookSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The OneRoof property panel featured a live discussion between REINZ CEO Bindi Norwell, ANZ chief economist Sharon Zollner, Valocity Global CEO Carmen Vicelich, and Barfoot & Thompson managing director Peter Thompson. Listen in for insights on where our property market is now, and where it's going next.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Each week the NZ Herald and Newstalk ZB's Cooking the Books podcast tackles a different money problem. Today, it's whether flexible working and changed work hours could be here to stay. Hosted by Frances Cook.Times of crisis also give us the opportunity for change. We’ve all drastically changed the ways we work in order to be safe during Covid-19. We’re zooming, chatting, and many of us are discovering we’re just as productive at home. For some of us, we’re actually even more productive. Now this clearly doesn’t apply to everyone, as some jobs must be done in person. But for the many who can work remotely, or with flexible hours, there’s been a taste of a different way to organise our lives. So now the question is, how much of this do we want to keep?For the latest Cooking the Books podcast I talked to Andrew Barnes, founder of Perpetual Guardian, and advocate for the four day work week. We discussed how flexible working actually increases productivity, whether offices are still needed at all, and how to have the conversation with your boss. For the episode, listen on the podcast player above.If you have a question about this podcast, or a question you'd like answered in the next one, come and talk to me about it. I'm on Facebook here https://www.facebook.com/FrancesCookJournalist/ Instagram here https://www.instagram.com/francescooknz/ and Twitter here https://twitter.com/FrancesCookSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Each week the NZ Herald and Newstalk ZB's Cooking the Books podcast tackles a different money problem. Today, it's how your KiwiSaver is protected, and the limits to that protection. Hosted by Frances Cook.In a crisis our brains have a fun little quirk, where they tend to go straight to the worst case scenario. Now this can be a good thing to help you plan for the future and avoid that worst case scenario. But it’s less helpful for something like KiwiSaver, which most of us know is very important but might get fuzzy around the edges when it comes to understanding the rules. So I’ve had people sending me worried questions about if their KiwiSaver balance will crash all the way to zero, if the government will confiscate their money if the economy goes bad, or what happens if their KiwiSaver provider goes bust. The good news is KiwiSaver was set up with lots of protections for exactly these situations. For the latest Cooking the Books podcast I talked to Public Trust CEO Glenys Talivai.We discussed how what happens if your KiwiSaver provider goes under, if the government can take your savings, and how the KiwiSaver scheme is supervised. If you have a question about this podcast, or a question you'd like answered in the next one, come and talk to me about it. I'm on Facebook here https://www.facebook.com/FrancesCookJournalist/ Instagram here https://www.instagram.com/francescooknz/ and Twitter here https://twitter.com/FrancesCookSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Each week the NZ Herald and Newstalk ZB's Cooking the Books podcast tackles a different money problem. Today, it's the digital changes reshaping how houses are sold. Hosted by Frances Cook.Even as we come down to level three many businesses are struggling to figure out how they can operate within the social distancing requirements that are our new normal. Property is a prime example, whether we're talking about buying or renting. Of course you want to see your home or major investment in person before you commit to it. But under level three agents are only allowed to do private showings, greatly restricting the numbers of people that can go through. It's health first of course, and that's important. So to work within those rules many are already getting creative. OneRoof has launched a new tool that lets people view homes virtually, giving you a much better idea of the place than a picture would. The technology did already exist, but now the sector is taking it up wholesale. Over in Australia it's been taken up so fast and so widely that there's even now a newly formed Proptech Association, guiding people through the different options. For the latest Cooking the Books podcast I talked to Kylie Davis, founder of Proptech Association Australia.We discussed how the technology works, how close it can get you to actually walking through a home, and what other industries could use it. If you have a question about this podcast, or a question you'd like answered in the next one, come and talk to me about it. I'm on Facebook here https://www.facebook.com/FrancesCookJournalist/ Instagram here https://www.instagram.com/francescooknz/ and Twitter here https://twitter.com/FrancesCookSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Each week the NZ Herald and Newstalk ZB's Cooking the Books podcast tackles a different money problem. Today, it's the best ways to start investing in New Zealand. Hosted by Frances Cook.There’s been lots of chat about whether you should be investing these days, with my inbox flooded with people wanting to give it a try. To recap, the answer is a cautious yes, as long as you do it in the right way – we’ve covered that in recent podcasts. But what about the nuts and bolts of where you actually invest? You want something that’s low fee, easy to use, and lets you make the type of investments that suit your plan. So on the latest Cooking the Books podcast I talked to Herald careers and money writer Diana Clement about the main options for New Zealanders. We discussed the different investing platforms, how safe they are, and investing in individual companies versus funds. If you have a question about this podcast, or a question you'd like answered in the next one, come and talk to me about it. I'm on Facebook here https://www.facebook.com/FrancesCookJournalist/ Instagram here https://www.instagram.com/francescooknz/ and Twitter here https://twitter.com/FrancesCookSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Each week the NZ Herald and Newstalk ZB's Cooking the Books podcast tackles a different money problem. Today, it's how to protect yourself from the new coronavirus scammers. Hosted by Frances Cook.It's a somewhat depressing quirk of humanity that in times of crisis, while most of us are working together to get through it, on the sidelines the scammers are always lurking. It's happening again with Covid-19. Around the world coronavirus-themed scams are spiking up, numbering in their millions. Some claim they have a health business you can invest in. Some claim they're the government trying to trace you in case you had contact with an infected person, and can you just give them your credit card number for a processing fee. Some will even claim your bank is in trouble, and you need to urgently send them your details to rescue the funds in there. As always, they use fear and urgency to try to steal information and money. As we come out to a lower level of lockdown, it's more important than ever to stay alert, as many scammers will hope to take advantage of the increased business activity. For the latest Cooking the Books podcast I talked to Bronwyn Groot, fraud education manager at the Commission for Financial Capability. We discussed the numbers of scammers out there, what type of scams are going around, and the red flags to watch out for. If you have a question about this podcast, or question you'd like answered in the next one, come and talk to me about it. I'm on Facebook here https://www.facebook.com/FrancesCookJournalist/ Instagram here https://www.instagram.com/francescooknz/ and Twitter here https://twitter.com/FrancesCookSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Each week the NZ Herald and Newstalk ZB's Cooking the Books podcast tackles a different money problem. Today, it's the first steps for finding a new job. Hosted by Frances Cook.We’re leaving one of the longest periods of economic good times that we’ve had in decades. Unemployment is currently at just four per cent, but after going into lockdown, that number is expected to increase. Treasury has put out estimates that unemployment could stay under ten percent as long as the government continues giving extra financial support. Unfortunately even that best case scenario is still a sharp increase, that will see financial pain for many people. The good thing is we now have time to prepare, to think about what skills we have, and get ready for the reality of job interviews from quarantine. For the latest Cooking the Books, I talked to Kirsty Wynn, job market reporter for the Herald.We discussed the first steps to take after losing your job, how to put the word out so you get the jobs that aren't advertised, and how to prepare for an interview from quarantine.If you have a question about this podcast, or question you'd like answered in the next one, come and talk to me about it. I'm on Facebook here https://www.facebook.com/FrancesCookJournalist/ Instagram here https://www.instagram.com/francescooknz/ and Twitter here https://twitter.com/FrancesCookSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Each week the NZ Herald and Newstalk ZB's Cooking the Books podcast tackles a different money problem. Today, it's the strengths in our economy, and how we can make the most of them. Hosted by Frances Cook.In times of trouble, one of the best strategies is to pivot to your strengths. So here in New Zealand we're pretty lucky, as we have a lot of strengths to work with and get through the coming months. So far we're doing well against Covid-19, which should mean we are able to bring back our domestic economy once the health threat is over. China is starting to recover, which means we could have one of our major trading partners back soon. New Zealand government debt was far lower than other countries before this started, which means we have more options for pumping cash back into the system, and kickstarting things again. For the latest Cooking the Books, I talked to Mark Lister from Craig's Investment Partners about how these strengths look, and how we can use them.If you have a question about this podcast, or question you'd like answered in the next one, come and talk to me about it. I'm on Facebook here https://www.facebook.com/FrancesCookJournalist/ Instagram here https://www.instagram.com/francescooknz and Twitter here https://twitter.com/FrancesCookSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Each week the NZ Herald and Newstalk ZB's Cooking the Books podcast tackles a different money problem. Today, it's how to detangle the housing situation and make the most of it. Hosted by Frances Cook.The housing market is one where there’s always winners and losers. Buyers want low prices, owners want high prices, so whatever market forces are at play someone usually ends up disappointed.The problem is right now, things are so uncertain.We do have early indicators to help us read the tea leaves. The latest figures are for March, which take us just six days into lockdown, and it’s already looking rough out there. National house sale data from the Real Estate Institute shows we’ve hit a nine year low, with the numbers of houses for sale down almost five percent. When figures come out showing the rest of the lockdown it’s unlikely to get any prettier, but the real question is what will happen when lockdown lifts. We just don’t know.However whether you’re a buyer or a seller, I’m a big believer that no matter what the situation is there are always things you can do to get the odds in your favour. For the latest Cooking the Books, I talked to OneRoof editor Owen Vaughan.We discussed whether this might be an opportunity for first home buyers, the tactics that can help sellers get a better price, and what key indicators to watch for as we leave lockdown.If you have a question about this podcast, or question you'd like answered in the next one, come and talk to me about it. I'm on Facebook here https://www.facebook.com/FrancesCookJournalist/ Instagram here https://www.instagram.com/francescooknz/ and Twitter here https://twitter.com/FrancesCookSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Each week the NZ Herald and Newstalk ZB's Cooking the Books podcast tackles a different money problem. Today, it's how to weigh up whether you need to drain your KiwiSaver to survive Covid-19. Hosted by Frances Cook.There’s been a lot of chat lately about KiwiSaver hardship withdrawals. It’s easy to see why. Many of us don’t have savings easily to hand – a stat I talked about in a previous episode is that 58 per cent of New Zealanders have less than $500 in savings. Then you look at your KiwiSaver, which could have tens of thousands in it by now. With troubled times approaching, you might want it closer to hand. The problem is, if you take that money out before you need it you could be seriously hurting your future self. Because of compound interest, whatever you take now would have been worth a lot more by the time you retire. You're taking a bigger slice than it feels like you're taking.But it’s still better to tap into your KiwiSaver than to go under.For the latest Cooking the Books, I talked to authorised financial advisor and National Capital director Clive Fernandes.We discussed whether it should be easier to make a hardship withdrawal, the impact it can have on your future, and how to weigh up your current needs versus your future ones. If you have a question about this podcast, or question you'd like answered in the next one, come and talk to me about it. I'm on Facebook here https://www.facebook.com/FrancesCookJournalist/ Instagram here https://www.instagram.com/francescooknz/ and Twitter here https://twitter.com/FrancesCookSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Each week the NZ Herald and Newstalk ZB's Cooking the Books podcast tackles a different money problem. Today, it's why now is actually a good time to invest, and how to do it safely. Hosted by Frances Cook.It's a fact of life that when the market goes down, it's an opportunity for some people. Some even refer to times like this as the share market "going on sale", because stocks become so cheap. But if that's what you're hoping to do right now, you need to do it right. For starters, you need to be financially stable. Nobody knows what life will throw at us over the next few months, as we face down an unprecedented combination of economic and health crisis. So it's important that you have a healthy savings account, and manageable levels of debt. Some companies are likely to collapse in this crisis, and you need to factor in that it could be one you work for, or one that you've invested in.The investing strategy you bring in now could pay off big time in the future, and there certainly is money to be made in these times - as long as you plan it well from the start.For the latest Cooking the Books I talked to Nick Crawford from The Private Office. We discussed why people call it the share market going "on sale", why diversification is the key to buying in, and how to make sure the rest of your life is financially stable. If you have a question about this podcast, or question you'd like answered in the next one, come and talk to me about it. I'm on Facebook here https://www.facebook.com/FrancesCookJournalist/ Instagram here https://www.instagram.com/francescooknz/ and Twitter here https://twitter.com/FrancesCookSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Each week the NZ Herald and Newstalk ZB's Cooking the Books podcast tackles a different money problem. Today, it's how to sort through the different options available if you've lost your job. Hosted by Frances Cook.As our economy struggles through lockdown, the axe has already fallen on many jobs. While it’s well and good to say we need to plan for the rainy day, the reality is many people don’t have any savings, and now find themselves without any income either. Wages were flat for a long time before this current crisis, and some were already struggling.The last quarter of 2019 saw an increase in requests for both hardship grants and food parcels, compared to the same time in 2018. Now the Salvation Army has released a report on the social impacts already being felt from Covid-19. Requests for help to get food have spiked sharply, and there are worries about people who are in debt, and soon won’t be able to make payments. Many people will have to ask for help when they’re used to relying on themselves. For the latest Cooking the Books I talked to Ronji Tanielu from the Salvation Army's social policy and parliamentary unit. We discussed what help is available from employers, government, and community groups, as well as the free financial advice people can access from the Salvation Army and MoneyTalks. If you have a question about this podcast, or question you'd like answered in the next one, come and talk to me about it. I'm on Facebook here https://www.facebook.com/FrancesCookJournalist/ Instagram here https://www.instagram.com/francescooknz/ and Twitter here https://twitter.com/FrancesCookSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Each week the NZ Herald and Newstalk ZB's Cooking the Books podcast tackles a different money problem. Today, it's what you should expect from the housing market, and how to adapt to it. Hosted by Frances Cook.Your house may be your castle, but it's also the biggest investment many of us will make, and it comes with the commitment of mortgage debt. So as we try to ride out the severe shockwaves from Covid-19, you won't be surprised to learn the current situation is also a gamechanger for housing. For one thing, unemployment is going up, and every time that happens house prices tend to go down.With tourism stopped, AirBnB is a nonstarter. Many former hosts are either switching to go into the long-term rental market, or opting out entirely and putting the property up for sale. Either of those would be a big force for change on their own, but now we have that and many other issues forcing change all at the same time.So let's rip the bandaid off and start with the bad news, although I promise there is some good news in this, so stick with us. For the latest Cooking the Books I talked to Herald property editor Anne Gibson.We discussed what's happening with housing in lockdown, what experts are forecasting for the future, and what this means for both first home buyers and current property owners. If you have a question about this podcast, or question you'd like answered in the next one, come and talk to me about it. I'm on Facebook here https://www.facebook.com/FrancesCookJournalist/ Instagram here https://www.instagram.com/francescooknz/ and Twitter here https://twitter.com/FrancesCookSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Each week the NZ Herald and Newstalk ZB's Cooking the Books podcast tackles a different money problem. Today, it's whether you should stop your KiwiSaver contributions while the market is taking a dive. Hosted by Frances Cook.Fight, flight, or freeze – when things go wrong, those are our instincts. And so, with KiwiSaver balances taking a dive around the country, many people are wondering if they should keep putting money in or wait until this settles down. While this is an understandable question, if you can afford to keep paying your other bills right now it’s actually the perfect time to be putting money into KiwiSaver. If you have lost your job, or are worried that you’re unstable and need every dollar you can get, then of course make sure you’re able to look after yourself now before you look after your future self. But if that’s taken care of, the way that KiwiSaver is set up means now is the time you can put money in and reap big rewards in the future. In fact, if you pause your contributions I’d go as far as saying you’re missing out. For the latest Cooking the Books I talked to Martin Hawes, chair of the Sumner KiwiSaver Investment Committee. We discussed whether you should keep putting money into KiwiSaver, whether it's possible for your balance to fall to zero, and whether KiwiSaver providers should have done more to prepare people for a time like this. If you have a question about this podcast, or question you'd like answered in the next one, come and talk to me about it. I'm on Facebook here https://www.facebook.com/FrancesCookJournalist/ Instagram here https://www.instagram.com/francescooknz/ and Twitter here https://twitter.com/FrancesCookSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Each week the NZ Herald and Newstalk ZB's Cooking the Books podcast tackles a different money problem. Today, it's how you can future-proof your finances even if you don't have savings. Hosted by Frances Cook.The rainy day has arrived. Now is the time when a savings account can help you ride out the turbulence and give you peace of mind. The problem is that as New Zealanders we're one of the worst in the world for saving our money. Figures from the Reserve Bank show that in 2019, New Zealanders as a group saved -0.3 per cent. As in, overall, we didn't save anything. In fact, most of us have been living beyond our means, and using debt to fund it. To put it another way, figures from finder.com show 58 per cent of us have less than $500 in savings. So if this is you, then you're absolutely not alone. And while hindsight is 20/20, there's no point berating ourselves for what we should or shouldn't have done in the past. What's more important is taking control of the things we can, today. And happily, there are lots of options for getting yourself more financially stable so you can survive what life throws at you. For the latest Cooking the Books podcast I talked to Hannah McQueen from EnableMe. We discussed how much you should have in savings generally, how to stay calm and supercharge your savings, and the other options available if your situation gets worse. If you have a question about this podcast, or question you'd like answered in the next one, come and talk to me about it. I'm on Facebook here https://www.facebook.com/FrancesCookJournalist/ Instagram here https://www.instagram.com/francescooknz/ and Twitter here https://twitter.com/FrancesCookSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Each week the NZ Herald and Newstalk ZB's Cooking the Books podcast tackles a different money problem. Today, it's the first steps you can take if you've lost your job. Hosted by Frances Cook.We’re in tough times, and the sad reality is that many of us are losing our jobs. If you’re coupled up and one of you loses your job, it’s a different type of difficult as there’s less safety net. You can’t get the same support from Work and Income, as your partner’s salary will be taken into account. But there are other things you can do to make the most of the one income you still have. You can stabilise your finances to give you breathing space to make it through this difficult time. For the latest Cooking the Books I talked to Tony Agar from Hamilton Budgeting Advisory Trust.We talked about the support available from Government and community groups, where to start in setting up and cutting back a budget, and what to do if you have any debts. For the podcast, listen on the player at the top of the article. If you have a question about this podcast, or question you'd like answered in the next one, come and talk to me about it. I'm on Facebook here https://www.facebook.com/FrancesCookJournalist/ Instagram here https://www.instagram.com/francescooknz/ and Twitter here https://twitter.com/FrancesCookSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Each week the NZ Herald and Newstalk ZB's Cooking the Books podcast tackle a different money problem. Today, it's why the current KiwiSaver bloodbath could work in your favour. Hosted by Frances Cook.This is the biggest test of our nerve since KiwiSaver began. Sure, when KiwiSaver was launched in 2007, we almost immediately had the global financial crisis. But nobody had much money in it at that time, so it wasn’t so bad. Now the economy is tanking, and the healthy nest eggs we’ve carefully put away in KiwiSaver are taking a dive. But even though this is new for many of us, it’s not necessarily a bad thing, as long as you can keep a calm head. Millionaires can be made in a recession, and if you handle this right, your KiwiSaver could boom. For the latest episode of Cooking the Books, I talked to Dr Ayesha Scott, senior finance lecturer at AUT. We discussed why KiwiSaver's have gone down, how some people could make money from this if they have time, and what to do if you wanted to use your KiwiSaver in the near future. For the podcast, listen on the player at the top of the article. If you have a question about this podcast, or question you'd like answered in the next one, come and talk to me about it. I'm on Facebook here https://www.facebook.com/FrancesCookJournalist/ Instagram here https://www.instagram.com/francescooknz/ and Twitter here https://twitter.com/FrancesCookSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Each week the NZ Herald and Newstalk ZB's Cooking the Books podcast tackles a different money problem. Today, it's how the mortgage holidays actually work, and whether you should consider one. Hosted by Frances Cook.As jobs fall like dominoes around the country, many are worried about how they keep paying their bills. Of course the biggest bill for many of us is housing, and you can’t really just stop paying it. Or can’t you? The Government and banks have come together to make the unusual step of allowing mortgage holidays. More than 10,000 New Zealanders applied for one in just the first few days. But a mortgage holiday isn’t your only option, it’s just the most extreme one. And if you take the holiday when you don’t need it, it could end up hurting instead of helping you.For the latest podcast I talked to Rupert Gough from Mortgage Lab. We discussed how the mortgage holiday works, how the different banks are bringing it in, and what other options you have that could be better for your future. If you have a question about this podcast, or question you'd like answered in the next one, come and talk to me about it. I'm on Facebook here https://www.facebook.com/FrancesCookJournalist/ Instagram here https://www.instagram.com/francescooknz/ and Twitter here https://twitter.com/FrancesCookSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Each week the NZ Herald and Newstalk ZB's Cooking the Books podcast tackles a different money problem. Today, it's a bonus episode on how to stay calm, and access independent financial advice. Hosted by Frances Cook.Keep calm and carry on is all very well until you hit the sort of crisis we’re in right now. It’s a perfectly normal response to panic when you see your retirement savings losing thousands of dollars, or when you realise you could lose your job. Full disclosure I’ve also watched my KiwiSaver plunge over the last few weeks. On paper I’ve lost thousands, and I didn’t have all that much to begin with. But you can protect yourself from the panic with a few strategies, then make better decisions with a clear head.For the latest podcast, I talked to Tom Hartmann from Sorted. We discussed why knowledge is power, what to make of your KiwiSaver jumping around, and good places to get calm, independent advice. If you have a question about this podcast, or question you'd like answered in the next one, come and talk to me about it. I'm on Facebook here https://www.facebook.com/FrancesCookJournalist/ Instagram here https://www.instagram.com/francescooknz/ and Twitter here https://twitter.com/FrancesCookSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Each week the NZ Herald and Newstalk ZB's Cooking the Books podcast tackles a different money problem. Today, it's a bonus episode on what financial help is available so far, and what might be coming in the future. Hosted by Frances Cook.Nothing like a pandemic to make a few weeks feel like a year. When I recorded the last podcasts you heard, I was about to take a bucket list holiday – I've since escaped from that while borders were closing around me, had a scare that we'd caught Covid-19, tested negative, and I'm finally back to work to help you figure out what on earth is going on here. And if you're struggling to keep up with what's happening, you're not alone. The Government makes new announcements every day of what type of support is available to help us get through this crisis together. While I'm glad they have so many programmes, it does make it a little difficult to keep up. So from wage subsidies to what happens if you lose your job to the rumours of what's next, I've roped in one of my political colleagues to help us figure it out. For the latest episode, I talked to Herald political reporter Jason Walls. If you have a question about this podcast, or question you'd like answered in the next one, come and talk to me about it. I'm on Facebook here https://www.facebook.com/FrancesCookJournalist/ Instagram here https://www.instagram.com/francescooknz/ and Twitter here https://twitter.com/FrancesCookSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Each week the NZ Herald and Newstalk ZB's Cooking the Books podcast tackles a different money problem. Today, it's why you can't just sign up to KiwiSaver, and leave it at that. Hosted by Frances Cook.KiwiSaver is great, in that it's helped those of us who aren't used to handling money put together investments for our retirement. But there's the risk that once you've got it, you think you're all done. After all, the government wouldn't spend all that time creating this scheme, and then not make it fit for purpose, right? Well, the problem is they designed it for the starting point to do the bare minimum, and after that, you can adapt it to your own personal situation. Yet many of us haven't taken that second step. Most people contribute just three percent of their pay into their KiwiSaver. Far better than nothing, but definitely not enough to avoid a tough retirement. Many say you should put aside at least 10 per cent if you want to enjoy your golden years. And then there's the fact that the default setting is conservative. It's a good holding pen, but you're not supposed to stay there – those of us with years to go until retirement are usually better off in growth. Growth means your money earns money, so you usually have more at the end without feeling the pain of saving more. You sacrifice no extra money, you just change a couple of settings. So, what are the easy ways to set your KiwiSaver up right for your situation, so that you can get it done and go back to living your life? For the latest Cooking the Books I talked to kōura KiwiSaver CEO Rupert Carlyon, and David Boyle from Mint Asset Management. We discussed whether there's a problem with the three per cent contribution rate, whether New Zealand should consider "sidecar savings", and why choosing between a conservative and growth KiwiSaver is so important. If you have a question about this podcast, or question you'd like answered in the next one, come and talk to me about it. I'm on Facebook here https://www.facebook.com/FrancesCookJournalist/ Instagram here https://www.instagram.com/francescooknz/ and Twitter here https://twitter.com/FrancesCookSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Each week the NZ Herald and Newstalk ZB's Cooking the Books podcast tackles a different money problem. Today, it's what you need to check before signing a contract to buy a house off the plans. Hosted by Frances Cook.Buying a new house off the plans can be so dazzling, you forget to look at the fine print. And don't get me wrong, it's a great option for many people. They're often saving on building costs as they're done in batches, they're built to modern expectations of insulation and heating, and the architect's images often look stunning. But underneath all the dazzle and glamour, boy do you need to know what you're looking for. Hidden in the contracts can be a bunch of clauses that can cause you serious problems – including the possibility of losing your dream home altogether. For the latest Cooking the Books podcast I talked to Joanna Pidgeon from Pidgeon Law. We discussed common pitfalls including sunset clauses, what obligations a developer has to a buyer, and what protections a buyer has. If you have a question about this podcast, or question you'd like answered in the next one, come and talk to me about it. I'm on Facebook here https://www.facebook.com/FrancesCookJournalist/ Instagram here https://www.instagram.com/francescooknz/ and Twitter here https://twitter.com/FrancesCookSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Each week the NZ Herald and Newstalk ZB's Cooking the Books podcast tackles a different money problem. Today, it's why your big expenses often slip under the radar. Hosted by Frances Cook. You'll often hear the saying, to watch your pennies and the pounds will take care of themselves. Well, I disagree entirely. Little expenses like takeaway coffees are easy to target because it's an expense that's right in front of your nose. But it's the bigger expenses that we take for granted, often assuming we can't change them, that have the most potential for being cut back. Cars are a notorious one, especially in New Zealand. It's not just the cost of first buying the car. It's then the cost of fuelling it, keeping it registered, insurance, your WOF, maintenance and replacing your tyres, car parks. This is what's called the true cost of your car, and it's much bigger than any small treat like a coffee. In fact, a conservative estimate from the AA is that even a small car is costing you more than $7,500 each year. For the latest Cooking the Books I talked to John Bolton from Squirrel. We discussed why a car has such a big impact on your finances, what you can do to reduce it, and what a bank looks at when they look at your ability to save for a mortgage.If you have a question about this podcast, or question you'd like answered in the next one, come and talk to me about it. I'm on Facebook here https://www.facebook.com/FrancesCookJournalist/ Instagram here https://www.instagram.com/francescooknz/ and Twitter here https://twitter.com/FrancesCookSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Each week the NZ Herald and Newstalk ZB's Cooking the Books podcast tackles a different money problem. Today, it's why all investments need a certain amount of safety, and how to organise that. Hosted by Frances Cook.All but the most blinkered of politicians and property lobbyists admit we have a housing crisis in this country. Prices are climbing far faster than wages, and as a result some people worry they'll never be able to buy their own home. One interesting solution to bring prices back down is to increase prefab housing. Think of it like this. It's always more expensive to create something bespoke, in place, and bring all the workers to that spot to get it done. That's how most of our housing is done right now. Whereas prefab is exactly what the name says – it's pre-made, elsewhere, usually in a factory. The workers get into a groove, get most of the parts done in an efficient factory model, and then ship them to the housing site to be assembled. So why don't we have lots more of this happening? Well, there's been some red tape that has made this extremely difficult in New Zealand. As always though, you just need to know the pathways around it. For the latest Cooking the Books podcast I talked to Scott Fisher from PreFabNZ, and Rupert Gough from Mortgage Lab. We discussed what's caused problems for prefab so far, which banks are friendliest to it, and what types of law changes are in the works. If you have a question about this podcast, or question you'd like answered in the next one, come and talk to me about it. I'm on Facebook here https://www.facebook.com/FrancesCookJournalist/ Instagram here https://www.instagram.com/francescooknz/ and Twitter here https://twitter.com/FrancesCookSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Each week the NZ Herald and Newstalk ZB's Cooking the Books podcast tackles a different money problem. Today, it's the career advice you shouldn't listen to, and what you should do instead. Hosted by Frances Cook.Your career is probably the most lucrative asset you have. Sure, you might have plans to invest in shares, or property, or to do all sorts of other fun things with your money. But the place most of us start is earning that money, so we can invest it elsewhere. It is of course extremely difficult to save and invest if you're not earning much at all. So one of the best investments you can make is in your career, to make yourself more valuable, earn more, and hopefully enjoy your day-to-day life more as well, while salting away some of your earnings for the future. The problem is there's so much bad advice floating around out there. So today, let's bust some bad career advice myths, and focus on what you should be doing instead. For the latest Cooking the Books I talked to Simon Rooney from Find Recruitment, and Kaela Hindle, from My Career Brand.We discussed why you shouldn't just "take the job for now", the problem with moving just for the money, but the flip side of also knowing what you're worth. If you have a question about this podcast, or question you'd like answered in the next one, come and talk to me about it. I'm on Facebook here https://www.facebook.com/FrancesCookJournalist/ Instagram here https://www.instagram.com/francescooknz/ and Twitter here https://twitter.com/FrancesCookSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Each week the NZ Herald and Newstalk ZB's Cooking the Books podcast tackles a different money problem. Today, it's why all investments need a certain amount of safety, and how to organise that. Hosted by Frances Cook.No matter where you're at in your investing journey, you need a mix of high and low risk investments. In a previous episode, I talked about the rule of 100 – the idea that if you take your age, subtract that from 100, what's left is the ideal percentage of high risk investments you should have your money in. That's because investing is always about time, and the more time you have, the more risk can help you make money while you sleep. But that also means that we all need a certain amount of low risk. Even if you're younger, and you're mostly going for wealth boosting options like shares, a little bit of low risk investment rounds out your options to be better in the long term. And if you're older, you might need quite a few low risk investments.Lower risk means you don't make as much money over the long term – but they are dependable, and should keep a little trickle of money coming in even when the economy goes through a rough patch. One good option is bonds. For the latest Cooking the Books I talked to Mark Fowler from Hobson Wealth. We discussed what bonds are, how to use them as part of your overall investment strategy, and the rare times when bonds can be high risk. If you have a question about this podcast, or question you'd like answered in the next one, come and talk to me about it. I'm on Facebook here https://www.facebook.com/FrancesCookJournalist/ Instagram here https://www.instagram.com/francescooknz/ and Twitter here https://twitter.com/FrancesCookSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Each week the NZ Herald and Newstalk ZB's Cooking the Books podcast tackles a different money problem. Today, it's how to figure out what insurance is worth getting, and what's not. Hosted by Frances Cook.Insurance is one of those areas that gets murky even for the experts. There are lots of different things you can insure, from your stuff, to your house, even pets or your health. There's also insurance for your income, and one rather worrying statistic shows about 55,000 NZ households lose their main source of income each year, whether that's because of accident, illness, or unemployment. Most of us need that income to get by, yet only about 15 per cent of us have income protection insurance.But what's hard about insurance more generally is knowing when it's worth it. Insurance can cost a lot, and while it gives you peace of mind, you also want to be sure you get the benefits that make it worthwhile. There is a school of thought that says you should "self-insure" – otherwise known as making sure you have enough savings to replace something yourself, if disaster strikes. That can work well for the small stuff.Happily the Herald has rolled out a series on insurance, putting all aspects under a microscope.For the latest Cooking the Books I talked to Herald money editor Tamsyn Parker. We discussed what most people are missing, how to figure out what you need for your life, and common areas of overinsurance. You can read more about the insurance series here:https://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=12295127https://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=12300549If you have a question about this podcast, or question you'd like answered in the next one, come and talk to me about it. I'm on Facebook here https://www.facebook.com/FrancesCookJournalist/ Instagram here https://www.instagram.com/francescooknz/ and Twitter here https://twitter.com/FrancesCookSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Each week the NZ Herald and Newstalk ZB's Cooking the Books podcast tackles a different money problem. Today, it's how to stay ahead of the tax man if you're side hustling, or self-employed. Hosted by Frances Cook.One good way to grow your wealth can be to start your own business.Whether you're starting out with a side hustle, or jumping straight into it by launching a full-time business, it's a move that pays off for a lot of people.That's because if it works, you're not limited to your salary – your wealth grows as the business does, and you could even sell the whole thing one day.But all of that will backfire if you make an enemy of the taxman.Even when the IRD is trying to be helpful, it can be hard to figure out what to do, when, and how to file it.Not to mention, can you get any money back from them?For the latest Cooking the Books I talked to Hnry co-founder James Fuller. We discussed what your tax obligations actually are, common traps, and the changes the tax system has gone through recently. If you have a question about this podcast, or question you'd like answered in the next one, come and talk to me about it. I'm on Facebook here https://www.facebook.com/FrancesCookJournalist/ Instagram here https://www.instagram.com/francescooknz/ and Twitter here https://twitter.com/FrancesCookSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Each week the NZ Herald and Newstalk ZB's Cooking the Books podcast tackles a different money problem. Today, it's how to check that your retirement fund is only funding companies you're ok with. Hosted by Frances Cook.To say that New Zealanders care about ethical investing is a bit of an understatement.Research from Mindful Money shows the vast majority of us want guilt-free investing, and it's more of us each year.In 2019, 83 per cent of us said we expected our KiwiSaver to be invested responsibly, which is up from 72 per cent of us in 2018.The ultimate test, of course, is whether people will put their money where their mouth is. Again, most of us say that we would – two thirds of New Zealanders say they would move their KiwiSaver if they disagreed with what it was being invested into.It's not just customers either.The world's biggest money manager, BlackRock, has started pulling out of fossil fuels across the board.And just this year, New Zealand's own Institute of Directors said responding to climate-related issues should be boards' top priority for 2020, to make sure their businesses can last long term.Now this is very nice, but it's a murky world out there when you're trying to be ethical.There's no set criteria for companies to report on ethical standards, so they're all reporting different things in different ways. This can make it a nightmare when you're trying to compare apples with apples for your investing options.Besides, everyone's idea of what is ethical is different. Weapons are produced by many engineering companies that also produce important technology that makes our lives better.Social media companies aren't usually on the ethical blacklist, but I personally think they behave in deeply troubling ways.So how can you find your way through this, to make sure that your money is supporting the things you want to see in the world?For the latest Cooking the Books podcast, I talked to Mindful Money founder and CEO Barry Coates. We discussed the increasing push for ethical options from money managers and customers, the difficulty of getting good information, and whether you should consider the "olive" option even if a company isn't fully green.If you have a question about this podcast, or question you'd like answered in the next one, come and talk to me about it. I'm on Facebook here https://www.facebook.com/FrancesCookJournalist/ Instagram here https://www.instagram.com/francescooknz/ and Twitter here https://twitter.com/FrancesCookSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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Each week the NZ Herald and Newstalk ZB's Cooking the Books podcast tackles a different money problem. Today, it's how to stop a broken heart also breaking the bank. Hosted by Frances Cook.Just like finding someone to team up with in the game of life can have the happy side effect of boosting your wealth building, going through a split can have the opposite impact. It can be financially devastating. That's why the latest New Zealand Relationship Property Survey caught my attention. It found that people in their 40s are in the most danger of a split, and the 50+ age group is also on the rise. That's a time pretty close to retirement, and could make it hard to recover well enough to enjoy your golden years. So, is there any way the system should change to reduce the financial hit, if you really need to separate? And is there anything you can do when you first get into a relationship, to future-proof yourselves? For the latest Cooking the Books I talked to Kirsty Swadling, chair of the family law section at the New Zealand Law Society.We discussed what impact a split can have on your finances, whether the system needs to change, and how people can protect themselves at the start of a relationship. If you have a question about this podcast, or question you'd like answered in the next one, come and talk to me about it. I'm on Facebook here https://www.facebook.com/FrancesCookJournalist/ Instagram here https://www.instagram.com/francescooknz/ and Twitter here https://twitter.com/FrancesCookSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Each week the NZ Herald and Newstalk ZB's Cooking the Books podcast tackles a different money problem. Today, it's how your workplace could be helping with your money. Hosted by Frances Cook.Money and work are clearly closely linked, but we don't always talk about how one can hold you back from the other. Financial worries are a big problem in New Zealand, with research from the Commission for Financial Capability showing that 69 per cent of us are concerned about money. That's a clear majority.The impacts are wide-ranging, including creating problems in our personal relationships, or some people feeling physically ill. But the stress about money can also hurt our ability to make it, with a worrying 10 per cent of people between 18 and 34 taking regular days off work to deal with money problems. Other people are spending hours at work trying to fight personal financial fires, or are less productive because they're so stressed. Clearly this is impacting lots of us – so should employers step up to help, and how could they do it? For the latest Cooking the Books podcast I talked to Nick Thomson from the Commission for Financial Capability. We discussed how money stress can hurt your career, why they started the Sorted at Work programme, and whether employers should just be paying you more. If you have a question about this podcast, or question you'd like answered in the next one, come and talk to me about it. I'm on Facebook here https://www.facebook.com/FrancesCookJournalist/ Instagram here https://www.instagram.com/francescooknz/ and Twitter here https://twitter.com/FrancesCookSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Each week the NZ Herald and Newstalk ZB's Cooking the Books podcast tackles a different money problem. Today, it's how the FIRE movement works, and how New Zealanders are adapting it to their own circumstances. Hosted by Frances Cook.Retiring decades early in your 30s, 40s, or 50s, sounds like something a millionaire would do. And yes, it helps to have a big stack of cash to get there, but you don't have to be earning millions in order to do it. That's the argument of the people who follow the FIRE movement, also known as Financial Independence, Retire Early. The idea behind it is relatively simple. You work out how much you spend in a year to stay alive. You save and invest until you have 25 times that much. Once you hit the goal, you retire, and you only withdraw four percent of your investments per year. If you've invested well, that should be a safe amount to pull out for decades to come. To help get there, the FIRE crowd is a big fan of frugal living. It's a double whammy, because of course cutting back to basics means you can save and invest more money. It also means you need less money to hit your 25 times goal, as you've downsized the lifestyle you'll want to pay for. So ok – how achievable is this for normal people, and how long will it take? Let's talk to someone who has given it a crack. For the latest podcast, I talked to Nick Carr, from Your Money Blueprint. We discussed why he's changed his original FIRE goal, the techniques he's used to achieve financial independence, and what the future looks like for him now. If you have a question about this podcast, or question you'd like answered in the next one, come and talk to me about it. I'm on Facebook here https://www.facebook.com/FrancesCookJournalist/ Instagram here https://www.instagram.com/francescooknz/ and Twitter here https://twitter.com/FrancesCookSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Each week the NZ Herald and Newstalk ZB's Cooking the Books podcast tackles a different money problem. Today, it's what's changed in housing, and what it means for you. Hosted by Frances Cook.This time last year when we tried to predict the future, the Herald’s money team was focused on instability. Particularly international instability was a theme, with worries that Trump’s tweets, tension with China, and ongoing Brexit problems would cause ripples to New Zealand. And yes, all of that turned out to be a big factor, one that led to KiwiSavers’ having some nail biting moments, and business confidence taking a couple of tumbles over the year. But this year the turmoil could be closer to home. We are heading into an election year, and the biggest thing every politician hopes to do is grab your attention by grabbing for your wallet. So for the latest Cooking the Books I asked Herald business editor at large Liam Dann and money editor Tamsyn Parker, what the crystal ball tells us this time around.If you have a question about this podcast, or question you'd like answered in the next one, come and talk to me about it. I'm on Facebook here https://www.facebook.com/FrancesCookJournalist/ Instagram here https://www.instagram.com/francescooknz/ and Twitter here https://twitter.com/FrancesCookSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Each week the NZ Herald and Newstalk ZB's Cooking the Books podcast tackles a different money problem. Today, it's why giving to others can give you a boost too. Hosted by Frances Cook.This podcast focuses a lot on how to fix your finances, but once you've got yourself sorted, should you be helping others? Well, yes. For starters, nobody succeeds purely on their own. Even when you work hard, there's usually some sort of family support, or a workplace taking a chance on you, or a social scheme that helps you get ahead. So once you're doing well, it's a good idea to pay it back and help out others who are just starting. But if you want to be really cynical about it, it turns out you might be one of the biggest benefactors when you decide to give back. Apparently our brains quite enjoy when we decide to be charitable.For the latest Cooking the Books I talked to University of Auckland psychology lecturer Dr Sarah Cowie. We discussed what we get from giving to others, whether there's a difference in giving time or money, and how to vet charities to make sure your money goes further. If you have a question about this podcast, or question you'd like answered in the next one, come and talk to me about it. I'm on Facebook here https://www.facebook.com/FrancesCookJournalist/ Instagram here https://www.instagram.com/francescooknz/ and Twitter here https://twitter.com/FrancesCookSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Each week the NZ Herald and Newstalk ZB's Cooking the Books podcast tackles a different money problem. Today, it's why more New Zealanders are picking family time over presents. Hosted by Frances Cook.It's the most wonderful time of the year, or maybe the most stressful. Christmas is traditionally a time of big spending, but new research shows New Zealanders are getting sick of that. The Commission for Financial Capability has released research that shows what most of us really look forward to at this time of year. For 62 per cent of us, it's time with family. That's closely followed by enjoying the summer weather at 37 per cent, and time off work at 33 per cent. What we're enjoying least is the commercialism of the season, which annoys 36 per cent of us. It's closely followed by 35 per cent of us saying it's too expensive, and 34 per cent dreading the shopping. The worst part is that all of this stress may be for nothing, as one in four of us got at least one unwanted gift last year. For those of us who did, 42 per cent of us have it still sitting in a cupboard, unused. Honestly, this just seems like a lot of silly social pressure to do something that less and less of us are interested in, when we could be enjoying the much more fun parts of Christmas. So, how can we do it better? For the latest Cooking the Books I talked to Tom Hartmann, from the Commission for Financial Capability. We discussed why people are moving away from an overload of presents, what to do about Christmas debt, and how to keep the magic of Christmas while staying on a budget.If you have a question about this podcast, or question you'd like answered in the next one, come and talk to me about it. I'm on Facebook here https://www.facebook.com/FrancesCookJournalist/' Instagram here https://www.instagram.com/francescooknz/ and Twitter here https://twitter.com/FrancesCookSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Each week the NZ Herald and Newstalk ZB's Cooking the Books podcast tackles a different money problem. Today, it's what needs to change to reduce financial abuse. Hosted by Frances Cook.They say money is power, and it's true. That's exactly why we spend so much time on this podcast talking about financial independence, and how to achieve it. But what if someone wants to take that independence from you, so that they can have the power over you instead? Financial abuse is a real problem. It can take many different forms, but the most basic idea is that someone is using money to control another person, maybe even terrorise them. Now researchers say we should be fighting back. For the latest Cooking the Books podcast I talked to AUT's Dr Ayesha Scott. We discussed what financial abuse can look like, and what needs to change at both the individual and society level. If you have a question about this podcast, or question you'd like answered in the next one, come and talk to me about it. I'm on Facebook here https://www.facebook.com/FrancesCookJournalist/ Instagram here https://www.instagram.com/francescooknz/ and Twitter here https://twitter.com/FrancesCookSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Each week the NZ Herald and Newstalk ZB's Cooking the Books podcast tackles a different money problem. Today, it's what's changed in housing, and what it means for you. Hosted by Frances Cook.This year has been a huge one for changes to every New Zealander's favourite investment: property. Whether you're buying it to live in, or buying it as a rental investment, almost every Kiwi wants to buy a house and sees it as a path to wealth and security. So the changes we've seen this year could well have made your head spin. For those keeping track, we've seen: the Government scrap a proposed capital gains tax, and the Prime Minister promise she'll never bring one in; the loss of tax breaks for investment properties; KiwiBuild has floundered and is getting a reset; increasing focus on healthy homes standards becoming a legal standard; and our Official Cash Rate was cut twice, resulting in some of the cheapest mortgages in decades.That really is a lot. So with the OneRoof property report out this week, I was ready to look at it in interest to see where all this had left us. The best part is, the OneRoof team has not only looked at where we are now, but also the past couple of decades to see how we got here. For the latest Cooking the Books I talked to OneRoof editor Owen Vaughan and Valocity's James Wilson. We talked about where the housing market is now, how we got here over the past 20 years, and what to expect over the next year and beyond. If you have a question about this podcast, or question you'd like answered in the next one, come and talk to me about it. I'm on Facebook here https://www.facebook.com/FrancesCookJournalist/ Instagram here https://www.instagram.com/francescooknz/ and Twitter here https://twitter.com/FrancesCookSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Each week the NZ Herald and Newstalk ZB's Cooking the Books podcast tackles a different money problem. Today, it's the good and bad of buying a house with a friend. Hosted by Frances Cook.Money can be particularly difficult when you're flying solo. You don't have the luxury of pooling resources with someone else, buying the same thing for a fraction of the price. Or don't you? Particularly in the house buying world, some people are now teaming up with friends. It's a smart way to get around steep prices - particularly when most houses have more than one bedroom anyway, and you were probably already thinking about a flatmate in order to keep the bills down. There's just one issue; buying a house is a major commitment, even for those in a romantic relationship. For a friendship you want to make sure you do this right, as there's no standard divorce law to help you out if things go sour. That means there are a couple of legal considerations you need to be aware of first. For the latest Cooking the Books podcast I talked to Joanna Pidgeon from Pidgeon Law. We discussed what legal problems can come up, what to put into a contract, and how to vet the person you're thinking about buying with. If you have a question about this podcast, or question you'd like answered in the next one, come and talk to me about it. I'm on Facebook here https://www.facebook.com/FrancesCookJournalist/ Instagram here https://www.instagram.com/francescooknz/ and Twitter here https://twitter.com/FrancesCookSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Each week the NZ Herald and Newstalk ZB's Cooking the Books podcast tackles a different money problem. Today, it's the evidence behind the growing trend in passive investing. Hosted by Frances Cook.The digital revolution is notorious for making things cheaper and easier, and it's doing the same for our investing. Passive investing and particularly index funds have been going for a few decades, but are building up steam with every tech advance. The idea is that rather than paying a person to pick and choose investments for you, you put your money into a fund that automatically invests your cash across a wide number of companies. It's set and forget, and no need to pay someone's wages, so is the ultimate in cheap and easy. There's also a growing number of apps and websites that let you set this up, without needing to go through a broker. So it's a double bargain. The problem is that sometimes we don't trust these technological changes. Cheap and easy surely has to come with a downside, right? Not necessarily. For the latest Cooking the Books podcast I talked to Kernel Wealth founder Dean Anderson. We discussed why he's a fan of passive investing, whether it can lead to bubbles, and what changes he thinks are coming in the future. If you have a question about this podcast, or question you'd like answered in the next one, come and talk to me about it. I'm on Facebook here https://www.facebook.com/FrancesCookJournalist/ Instagram here https://www.instagram.com/francescooknz/ and Twitter here https://twitter.com/FrancesCookSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Each week the NZ Herald and Newstalk ZB's Cooking the Books podcast tackles a different money problem. Today, it's why ignoring commercial property could be a missed opportunity. Hosted by Frances Cook.Getting a foot on the property ladder is part of the kiwi dream. Many regular people plan to increase their wealth by first buying their own home, and then maybe a rental or two, to invest in their future. But the residential rental market is flooded with people with exactly this same idea, and that's pushing prices out of reach for many people. There's another part of the market that doesn't get anywhere near the same attention, and could work for some situations; commercial property.As in, shops, offices, maybe even some warehouses. When you zig while others are zagging, you can find more opportunities. But there are a few things to know first. For the latest Cooking the Books podcast I talked to Kaison Chang, from Baker Tilly Staples Rodway. We discussed the pros and cons of commercial property, what you need to consider to invest successfully, and whether an economic downturn could spell trouble for investors. For the episode watch the video podcast above. If you have a question about this podcast, or question you'd like answered in the next one, come and talk to me about it. I'm on Facebook here https://www.facebook.com/FrancesCookJournalist/ Instagram here https://www.instagram.com/francescooknz/ and Twitter here https://twitter.com/FrancesCookSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Each week the NZ Herald and Newstalk ZB's Cooking the Books podcast tackles a different money problem. Today, it's why a budget could be the key to feeling less deprived, not more. Hosted by Frances Cook.If someone tells you they're trying to stick to a budget, your first response is probably... a grimace. That's because budgeting has a terrible image problem, where we think of it as depriving ourselves, and never doing anything fun. This is actually backwards, as without a budget we can easily get caught by mindless spending, which soaks up our money and means we can't afford the other things we really want to do. So how do you do it, so that you get the good stuff without missing out the rest of life? For the latest Cooking the Books podcast I talked to PocketSmith CEO Jason Leong. We discussed the different ways of budgeting, how to make room for the things you love, and whether open banking could help. If you have a question about this podcast, or question you'd like answered in the next one, come and talk to me about it. I'm on Facebook here https://www.facebook.com/FrancesCookJournalist/ Instagram here https://www.instagram.com/francescooknz/ and Twitter here https://twitter.com/FrancesCookSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Each week the NZ Herald and Newstalk ZB's Cooking the Books podcast tackles a different money problem. Today, it's why building could be what helps those with a small house-buying budget. Hosted by Frances Cook.Houses are now so expensive, first home buyers are considering anything and everything to tip the scales in their favour. One of the options you can consider is building. There's a financial incentive, for starters. The KiwiSaver HomeStart grant doubles if you're planning to build. It's $5,000 for buying an existing home, and $10,000 if you're building a new one. You can also have a bit more control over what type of house you buy. Maybe you can keep costs low by going for a smaller house on a smaller parcel of land, instead of the standard three bedroom Kiwi home. But the issue is that as a first home buyer, by definition, you're new at this. Building can be complicated, and there are more ways it can go wrong. For the latest Cooking the Books podcast I talked to Kevin Atkinson from Generation Homes. We discussed what first home buyers need to know before building, the trend for smaller homes, and the opposite strategy, of building bigger multi-generational homes. If you have a question about this podcast, or question you'd like answered in the next one, come and talk to me about it. I'm on Facebook here https://www.facebook.com/FrancesCookJournalist/ Instagram here https://www.instagram.com/francescooknz/ and Twitter here https://twitter.com/FrancesCookSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Each week the NZ Herald and Newstalk ZB's Cooking the Books podcast tackles a different money problem. Today, it's how a rule of thumb can give guidance on your personal investing strategy. Hosted by Frances Cook.Time is everything when you're investing. Long-time podcast listeners will have heard it here before - the longer you have, the more that risky investments will be right for you, like shares or property. If you have less time, a lower risk investment like bonds or term deposits are usually the suggestion. Well if you're looking for more detail on this idea, there's a rule of thumb that some people like to use. It's the rule of 100, or, 100 minus age. It means that if you take 100, subtract your age, then what's left is the percentage of your investments that should be higher risk, because you have the time to build your wealth like that. So for me, at 31, the suggestion is 69 per cent of my investments going into higher risk options. But like any rule of thumb, there are exceptions, there's fine print, there are little adjustments before you can apply it to your own personal situation. For the latest podcast, I talked to Mark Lister from Craig's Investment Partners. We discussed when the rule of 100 works, when it doesn't, good low risk options, and how property fits into all of this. If you have a question about this podcast, or question you'd like answered in the next one, come and talk to me about it. I'm on Facebook here https://www.facebook.com/FrancesCookJournalist/ Instagram here https://www.instagram.com/francescooknz/ and Twitter here https://twitter.com/FrancesCookSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Each week the NZ Herald and Newstalk ZB's Cooking the Books podcast tackles a different money problem. Today, it's the upcoming KiwiSaver changes you can have a say in. Hosted by Frances Cook.A milestone of looking after your money in New Zealand is to buy a home, and pay it off. That's because our system, and especially the pension, is designed with home ownership in mind. Pension payments depend on what you're entitled to, but if you're single you get about $20,000 a year, and if you're in a couple, you get about $30,000 a year. That doesn't leave much room for paying off a mortgage, or even continuing to rent. That's why it's worrying that stats from the Commission for Financial Capability show that the numbers of people going into retirement still paying a mortgage or rent, are increasing. But there is a suggestion on how to fix this. KiwiSaver is often the first stop for those who want to save for a house, as the candy coated retirement scheme seriously boosts your savings. There are currently strict rules about when you can withdraw money for a home - so the question is, should those rules change. For the latest Cooking the Books podcast I spoke to interim Retirement Commissioner Peter Cordtz.We discussed whether home ownership is going down, the proposed changes to KiwiSaver, and how you can have a say.If you have a question about this podcast, or question you'd like answered in the next one, come and talk to me about it. I'm on Facebook here https://www.facebook.com/FrancesCookJournalist/ Instagram here https://www.instagram.com/francescooknz/ and Twitter here https://twitter.com/FrancesCookSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Each week the NZ Herald and Newstalk ZB's Cooking The Books podcast tackles a different money problem. Today, it's how just talking about money could change things. Hosted by Frances Cook.If you would rather talk about literally anything other than money, you're not alone. It turns out, New Zealanders would rather talk about alcohol, politics, or drugs, than what they're doing with their KiwiSaver or if they have a savings account. Now this might be understandable with co-workers or people we're only loosely friends with. But shockingly, many of us aren't even talking to our significant other about what we're doing with money. According to a survey from the Commission for Financial Capability, 58 per cent of us don't talk to our partner about how much we earn. We're even quieter when it comes to retirement planning. Even for those aged 55 to 64, only 52 per cent of us have talked to our partner about what the plan is for our golden years. There can be good reasons for keeping quiet, but these numbers are seriously high. It links in with another stat – 69 per cent of New Zealanders are worried about money. And honestly, anything we're not talking about is something we're anxious about. Just talking about it can be the key to getting it under control. For the latest Cooking the Books podcast I talked to Tom Hartmann from the Commission for Financial Capability. We discussed why so many of us are stressed about money, and why talking about it can help. If you have a question about this podcast, or question you'd like answered in the next one, come and talk to me about it. I'm on Facebook here https://www.facebook.com/FrancesCookJournalist/ Instagram here https://www.instagram.com/francescooknz/ and Twitter here https://twitter.com/FrancesCookSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Each week the NZ Herald and Newstalk ZB's Cooking The Books podcast tackles a different money problem. Today, it's the newest episode of our OneRoof-partnered series, on how a few tweaks to your house could save you big bucks. Hosted by Frances Cook.Just about everyone wants to cut back on their boring bills, so they can have more money to spend on the fun things in life. The biggest expenses for the average person are housing, transport and food, with housing easily taking out first place. The best thing about this, is if you cut your bills there, you won't have to think about it again. You simply create a smarter, cheaper system once, then carry on with your new adapted life. So the idea of setting up a house that pays its own bills has always appealed to me. Why pay for power when I could harvest it myself from the sun? Why turn on the heater, when I could live in a house that's built to automatically circulate heat? What's greener and better for the planet is often also better for our wallets, so it's a win-win. But how do you know what's worth doing, and what's just greenwashing from a clever salesperson who wants your money? For the latest Cooking the Books podcast I talked to Sam Archer from the Green Building Council, and Ian Watt from Construction Marketing Services. We discussed the easy fixes that can save money, when it's worth making a bigger investment for something like double glazing, and what they think of energy ratings for houses. If you have a question about this podcast, or question you'd like answered in the next one, come and talk to me about it. I'm on Facebook here https://www.facebook.com/FrancesCookJournalist/ Instagram here https://www.instagram.com/francescooknz/ and Twitter here https://twitter.com/FrancesCookSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Each week the NZ Herald and Newstalk ZB's Cooking the Books podcast tackles a different money problem. Today, it's how to look after your KiwiSaver now that everyone's talking about possible recession. Hosted by Frances Cook.Those who like to keep a close eye on their KiwiSaver have probably been having heart palpitations lately, with balances going here, there and everywhere. What's behind it is the sharemarket, as almost all KiwiSaver funds have some amount in shares. This is great for growing your retirement nest egg in the long term, but it does mean it can go sharply up or down in the short term. So just last month when the US-China trade war escalated, you might have seen your KiwiSaver take a tumble. Then this month, the New Zealand sharemarket was giving with one hand and taking with the other. Dividend stocks did well, while the traditional growth stocks didn't. So it really depended where you were invested, and most KiwiSavers don't have that level of control. It can all sound complicated, and frankly, a bit risky. But happily there are some simple rules of thumb to help you figure out how you want to deal with this situation, to look after your KiwiSaver in the long term. For the latest Cooking the Books podcast, I talked to Paul Gregory, head of investments for Pie Funds and JUNO KiwiSaver Scheme. We discussed when you should go conservative, the difference between conservative and growth accounts, and what's happening with the KiwiSaver default fund review. If you have a question about this podcast, or question you'd like answered in the next one, come and talk to me about it. I'm on Facebook here https://www.facebook.com/FrancesCookJournalist/ Instagram here https://www.instagram.com/francescooknz/ and Twitter here https://twitter.com/FrancesCookSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Each week the NZ Herald and Newstalk ZB's Cooking The Books podcast tackles a different money problem. Today, it's the newest episode of our OneRoof-partnered series, on how the land title could be the most important thing you're ignoring. Hosted by Frances Cook.People often say: you don't buy a house, you buy land. It's true, and not just in terms of the all-important location that that saying tends to make people think of. The title of the land under your feet is a crucial issue that some buyers can get wrong, only to have it cost them dearly later. You might have heard us talk on this podcast before about cross lease, freehold and leasehold. Well now's the time to really dive into that subject, because as with everything, you can actually do any of them successfully, or unsuccessfully. You just need to know the lay of the land first. For the latest Cooking the Books podcast, I talked to Joanna Pidgeon from Pidgeon law. We discussed which types of land titles you're likely to come across, what types of problems they can cause, and how to do the homework that gets you success. If you have a question about this podcast, or question you'd like answered in the next one, come and talk to me about it. I'm on Facebook here https://www.facebook.com/FrancesCookJournalist/ Instagram here https://www.instagram.com/francescooknz/ and Twitter here https://twitter.com/FrancesCookSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Each week the NZ Herald and Newstalk ZB's Cooking the Books podcast tackles a different money problem. Today, it's how to give your business the best chance of turning a profit. Hosted by Frances Cook.People go into business to make money – that's why it's a business idea, and not a charity. Some people become very wealthy because of their entrepreneurial efforts, earning far more than they would have if they'd stayed in a salaried role. But it's a risky strategy, as getting profitable is really hard work, especially in those early years. You don't have control over everything, and sometimes what seems like a great idea ends up tanking, for reasons you can't quite work out. But you can tip the odds of success in your favour, and avoid becoming a cautionary tale if you design your business carefully from the beginning. For the latest Cooking the Books podcast I talked to Jo-Anne Randall from Baker Tilly Staples Rodway.We discussed what you need to know before starting up the business, how to plan for profits, and when it might be time to change strategy. If you have a question about this podcast, or question you'd like answered in the next one, come and talk to me about it. I'm on Facebook here https://www.facebook.com/FrancesCookJournalist/ Instagram here https://www.instagram.com/francescooknz/ and Twitter here https://twitter.com/FrancesCookSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Each week the NZ Herald and Newstalk ZB's Cooking The Books podcast tackles a different money problem. Today, it's the newest episode of our OneRoof-partnered series, on what to know before considering a do-up. Hosted by Frances Cook.New Zealanders are infamous for loving a bit of DIY. But there are also the stories many of us have of trying to fix something ourselves, wrecking it, and having to spend more to get a professional to come and save the situation. So when we're talking about something as expensive as a house, what's the line? If you go for the old "worst house on the street" advice, do you actually have the understanding of what you're signing up for, and the full amount it's likely to cost to fix? Does it just need some paint to freshen it up, or are we talking re-piling, or plumbing work? And if you're willing to build up the knowledge, and put in the time to make sure you're doing the do-up right – would you maybe be better off building a whole new house instead? For the latest episode of Cooking the Books I talked to Tony Pexton, Auckland President of Master Builders. We discussed which changes are easy to make, which ones are a bigger commitment, and which problems the average person should be wary of. If you have a question about this podcast, or a question you'd like answered in the next one, come and talk to me about it. I'm on Facebook here https://www.facebook.com/FrancesCookJournalist/ Instagram here https://www.instagram.com/francescooknz/ and Twitter here https://twitter.com/FrancesCookSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Each week the NZ Herald and Newstalk ZB's Cooking The Books podcast tackles a different money problem. Today, it's how to enjoy a holiday without ruining your finances. Hosted by Frances Cook.Getting your money life sorted is important, but not at the expense of your actual life. However, if you do it right, you can actually have both. Travel is something that broadens your mind, helps you understand your fellow humans better, and gives you a better appreciation for your own place in the world. Frankly, in our current fragmented times, it's probably needed for more of us. There are ways to do it without breaking the budget, whatever type of budget you've got. In fact, travelling on a budget can be even better for helping you get under the skin of a new place and avoid the tourist traps. For the latest Cooking the Books I talked to Trip Notes podcast co-host, and Herald deputy travel editor, Stephanie Holmes. We discussed what to know before you book, how to have fun on a budget once you're there, and why travelling in NZ can be more expensive than going overseas. For more travel tips, subscribe to the Trip Notes podcast on your favourite podcast app.If you have a question about this podcast, or question you'd like answered in the next one, come and talk to me about it. I'm on Facebook here https://www.facebook.com/FrancesCookJournalist/ Instagram here https://www.instagram.com/francescooknz/ and Twitter here https://twitter.com/FrancesCookSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The OneRoof property panel makes a sneak appearance on the Cooking the Books podcast. Hosted by Frances Cook, with panellists OneRoof editor Owen Vaughan, Lesley Harris from the First Home Buyers Club, and James Wilson from Valocity. They discuss where the market is running hot or not, whether houses are becoming "affordable", and what all this means for first home buyers.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Each week the NZ Herald and Newstalk ZB's Cooking The Books podcast tackles a different money problem. Today, it's the newest episode of our OneRoof-partnered series, on how to avoid the specific pitfalls that come with each property type. Hosted by Frances Cook.When people are trying to get onto the property ladder, they're often told to think outside the box.Sure, you might have grown up in a standard three-bedroom house surrounded by garden, but that's unlikely to be what you can afford when you're trying to get into that elusive first home. Or frankly maybe you just don't want that, even if you have the budget to consider it. Maybe the allure of inner-city living has you thinking about an apartment. Or keeping your weekends free for fun rather than mowing lawns has you thinking about a townhouse. There are all sorts of different property types out there, each with their own price point, and lifestyle. But before you decide which one you want, you need to know some serious pros and cons for each. For the latest Cooking the Books episode I talked to Anne Gibson, Herald property editor, and David Whitburn, a property investor and developer. We discussed the pros and cons of houses, townhouses, terraced houses and apartments. If you have a question about this podcast, or question you'd like answered in the next one, come and talk to me about it. I'm on Facebook here https://www.facebook.com/FrancesCookJournalist/ Instagram here https://www.instagram.com/francescooknz/ and Twitter here https://twitter.com/FrancesCookSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Each week the NZ Herald and Newstalk ZB's Cooking The Books podcast tackles a different money problem. Today, it's the techniques used by ordinary people to pay off big debt. Hosted by Frances Cook.Most of us know that debt isn't good, but it's shocking how normalised it has become to use it anyway. Any time you use debt, you're paying extra money to get the same thing, because of the pesky interest rates you'll be charged. It can quickly spiral out of control, with some people building up tens of thousands on the credit card. Meanwhile, house prices have gone so high, you can build up a mortgage so big, it feels like paying it off is the same as summiting Everest. Amongst this though, there's a backlash. The debt-free movement is a group of people who want to get rid of every dollar of debt in the shortest time possible. Even if that debt is hundreds of thousands of dollars. They've had enough. They're willing to sell things, take on extra work, and put every spare dollar into that debt to get it gone. Happily, they're also willing to talk to us, and share how they did it. For the latest Cooking the Books podcast I talked to Bradie Claydon about why she decided she and her husband needed to become debt free, how they did it, and building a debt-free community through her Instagram @kiwigirlonabudget https://www.instagram.com/kiwigirlonabudget/ If you have a question about this podcast, or question you'd like answered in the next one, come and talk to me about it. I'm on Facebook here https://www.facebook.com/FrancesCookJournalist/ Instagram here https://www.instagram.com/francescooknz/ and Twitter here https://twitter.com/FrancesCookSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Each week the NZ Herald and Newstalk ZB's Cooking The Books podcast tackles a different money problem. Today, it's the newest episode of our OneRoof-partnered series, on the techniques that will pay off your mortgage fastest. Hosted by Frances Cook.Housing affordability is a real, genuine problem for people at the moment. Many people would like to buy a house, but the prices have gone so high, it feels like silly money. When we're talking such big numbers, it's hard for our brains to keep up, and suddenly another $50,000, $100,000, hey what's the big deal when you're in a tonne of debt already? Except it is a big deal, as if you get it wrong, the bank will take it all off you, and you'll be worse off than you started. But there are ways to set your budget, figure out what sort of house you can afford, and then nail that mortgage as quickly as possible. For the latest Cooking the Books podcast I talked to Rupert Gough from Mortgage Lab, and AUT associate professor Aaron Gilbert. We discussed when to stretch the budget, how equity lending works, and how a little goes a long way in paying the mortgage faster. For the episode, watch the video. If you have a question about this podcast, or question you'd like answered in the next one, come and talk to me about it. I'm on Facebook here https://www.facebook.com/FrancesCookJournalist/ Instagram here https://www.instagram.com/francescooknz/ and Twitter here https://twitter.com/FrancesCookSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Each week the NZ Herald and Newstalk ZB's Cooking The Books podcast tackles a different money problem. Today, it's how to master interest rates to better look after your money. Hosted by Frances Cook.Interest rates are one of those sneaky things that sound boring, but actually impact every single decision you make with your money. They can make it harder or easier for you to buy a house, better or worse for you to save your money, harder or easier for you to get out of debt, and also push you towards different types of investments. They change everything with money, and so it's a little concerning that interest rates are acting so oddly right now. They're at historic lows, and word on the street is that they could even go lower. Now before you start stuffing your money under the mattress, as always, the big thing is preparation.There are good things about this, for sure, but because this is such an unusual situation, there are lots of fish hooks that can catch you out if you're not prepared ahead of time. For the latest episode of the Cooking the Books podcast I talked to David Boyle from Mint Asset Management. We discussed how the current low interest rates impact your term deposit and your mortgage, and what people need to know before trying out an investment that could earn more. If you have a question about this podcast, or question you'd like answered in the next one, come and talk to me about it. I'm on Facebook here https://www.facebook.com/FrancesCookJournalist/ Instagram here https://www.instagram.com/francescooknz/ and Twitter here https://twitter.com/FrancesCookSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Each week the NZ Herald and Newstalk ZB's Cooking The Books podcast tackles a different money problem. Today, it's the newest episode of our OneRoof-partnered series, looking at how you can use location differently to get the house that works with your lifestyle. Hosted by Frances Cook.A house is a weird blend of a massive financial decision, and a massive lifestyle decision. So no wonder people get stressed when they're trying to find the right place for them. There are all sorts of things to weigh up to know if this is the right house for you and your circumstances. Do you want kids? Do you want to be close to your work, or do you want more space? Do you dream of planting a vege garden, or can you think of nothing worse than spending the weekend mowing lawns? If you weigh this up in the right way, the right house can both set you up financially, and increase your happiness in your day-to-day life. If it goes wrong, it can get ugly fast. For the latest Cooking the Books podcast, I talked to Bindi Norwell from REINZ and Ashley Church from OneRoof. We discussed the house lifestyle factors everyone should take into consideration, how small is too small, and whether you should consider buying in a less expensive city. If you have a question about this podcast, or question you'd like answered in the next one, come and talk to me about it. I'm on Facebook here https://www.facebook.com/FrancesCookJournalist/ Instagram here https://www.instagram.com/francescooknz/ and Twitter here https://twitter.com/FrancesCookIf you missed the previous episodes from our house-buying special, scroll back through the episodes. While the special is running, we're answering one property question every other week.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Each week the NZ Herald and Newstalk ZB's Cooking The Books podcast tackles a different money problem. Today, it's why your history with debt matters, even if you think you've got it under control. Hosted by Frances Cook.Debt can be the scary bogeyman under the bed. We all know debt isn't a good thing, but when life gets in the way, it's an easy shortcut to fixing certain problems. But if that debt starts to spiral out of control, the response from many of us is to ignore it. Pretend the mounting credit card bill isn't a problem, that the car isn't in danger of being repossessed, that we're not actually losing sleep at all. Even if you don't have a problem now, you should still put a debt plan in place. It's much easier to think about an action plan before problems crop up, and emotions get in the way. Once we face it, and figure out what the situation is, there are ways to put the debt bogeyman back in his place. The first step is figuring out how bad things have become, or could get, and that means checking your credit score. For the latest Cooking the Books, I talked to Dan York from Harmoney. We discussed what hurts your credit score, the unusual things most people don't expect, and the easy ways to fix it. If you have a question about this podcast, or question you'd like answered in the next one, come and talk to me about it. I'm on Facebook here https://www.facebook.com/FrancesCookJournalist/ Instagram here https://www.instagram.com/francescooknz/ and Twitter here https://twitter.com/FrancesCookSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Each week the NZ Herald and Newstalk ZB's Cooking The Books podcast tackles a different money problem. Today, it's the third episode of our OneRoof-partnered series, looking at the tricks to negotiating a mortgage which could save you thousands. Hosted by Frances Cook.Saving up for a house is one thing, but then actually paying it off is entirely another. A mortgage interest rate may look small, with some rates currently under 4 per cent. That's an incredible deal, but there's a reason the banks are willing to give it to you. Over the course of a 30-year mortgage, that 4 per cent interest rate adds up several times over. In fact, by the time you take into account changes in interest rates over that time, the general rule of thumb is that you pay double for your house – once for the purchase price, and then the same amount again in interest payments to the bank. So you want to be smart about this from the beginning, because it means a difference of literally tens of thousands of dollars, maybe more. Happily there's more than one trick you can keep up your sleeve to make sure you end up on the right side of the deal. For the latest Cooking the Books podcast I talked to Ashley Church from OneRoof and Lesley Harris from the First Home Buyers Club. We discussed whether you should use a mortgage broker, how to find the best rate and how to plan ahead for how interest rates could change in the future. If you have a question about this podcast, or question you'd like answered in the next one, come and talk to me about it. I'm on Facebook here https://www.facebook.com/FrancesCookJournalist/ Instagram here https://www.instagram.com/francescooknz/ and Twitter here https://twitter.com/FrancesCookIf you missed the previous episodes, go back in the episode list to listen to how life stage impacts renting vs buying, and an interview on ways to save a house deposit on an average income.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Each week the NZ Herald and Newstalk ZB's Cooking The Books podcast tackles a different money problem. Today, it's the changes underway to help our kids learn crucial money lessons. Hosted by Frances Cook.I always invite you guys to send me your questions about money, and a really common one that I get is also a lovely selfless one. People want to know - how do I talk to my kids about money to set them up for a good life? There's a lot of pressure on parents in this area, because schools don't teach us about personal finance. Budgeting, goal setting, KiwiSaver, investing; it's all on you to figure out this important stuff by yourself. Except it's really important stuff, arguably more important than figuring out the angle of one corner of a triangle.Research from the Commission for Financial Capability also shows it's affecting schools kids; 73 per cent of high school graduates say they've learned little or nothing about money. Even worse, 82 per cent of school leavers say they wish they'd learned more, and feel out of their depth. Well, schools might be about to take on this tricky topic, as the clever folks at Sorted reckon they've got a solution for us. For the latest Cooking the Books podcast I talked to Nick Thomson, from Sorted in Schools. We discussed what changes are happening to bring money into classrooms, what it will cover, and how you can ask for your kid to be taught about it. If you have a question about this podcast, or question you'd like answered in the next one, come and talk to me about it. I'm on Facebook here https://www.facebook.com/FrancesCookJournalist/ Instagram here https://www.instagram.com/francescooknz/ and Twitter here https://twitter.com/FrancesCookSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Each week the NZ Herald and Newstalk ZB's Cooking The Books podcast tackles a different money problem. Today, it's the second episode of our OneRoof-partnered series, looking at ways to save a deposit even when you're not rolling in it. Hosted by Frances Cook.Getting together a house deposit is arguably the hardest part of becoming a home owner. Depending on whose figures you use, and where you are in the country, renting can actually be slightly more expensive than owning a home. That means when you're renting and trying to save, it's an uphill battle. It's not impossible though, and the payoff is worth it once you get there. You just need the inside word to reduce the pain of saving up that deposit. Peter Cordtz works on just that, at the Commission for Financial Capability. He came on to the latest Cooking the Books podcast, where we discussed the dropping rates of home ownership, how KiwiSaver can boost a deposit, and helpful courses from the Commission. If you have a question about this podcast, or question you'd like answered in the next one, come and talk to me about it. I'm on Facebook here https://www.facebook.com/FrancesCookJournalist/ Instagram here https://www.instagram.com/francescooknz/ and Twitter here https://twitter.com/FrancesCookIf you missed the first episode, go back on your app two episodes, for The Life Stages Where Renting Can Be Better Than Buying A HouseSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Each week the NZ Herald and Newstalk ZB's Cooking The Books podcast tackles a different money problem. Today, it's whether deliberately shrinking our economy could fix some of society's problems. Hosted by Frances Cook.The idea that growth is good is a core belief in our financial system.A growing economy means jobs, profits, and food on the table. But there's an increasing number of people questioning how long this can last for. We do have just one planet, with a certain number of resources. So surely we can only grow for so long before those run out? Others link endless growth to the rise of workaholism, with people working longer hours, sometimes in multiple jobs, just to keep up. You can see this strain of thought in the Government's latest Wellbeing Budget, where they said we needed to look past GDP, to work on the things that actually make a country happier and better off overall. But at the more extreme end of this, some people talk about degrowth; intentionally shrinking the economy to address these issues. For the latest Cooking the Books podcast I talked to Shamubeel Eaqub about whether it could it ever work, and how far can we take these ideas before they become harmful.If you have a question about this podcast, or question you'd like answered in the next one, come and talk to me about it. I'm on Facebook here https://www.facebook.com/FrancesCookJournalist/ Instagram here https://www.instagram.com/francescooknz/ and Twitter here https://twitter.com/FrancesCookSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Each week the NZ Herald and Newstalk ZB's Cooking The Books podcast tackles a different money problem. Today, it's the start of a partnership with OneRoof to walk you through the steps of buying a house. Episode one is rent vs buy. Hosted by Frances Cook.Deciding you want to own your first home is a huge decision. It has a big impact, not only on your finances but also your lifestyle. So before you even start on the realities of pulling together a deposit or looking at houses, you need to figure out if this is the right time for you. Do you still need the flexibility of renting, where you can leave relatively easily? Or are you craving the stability of a house, where you have more control over what you do to the property, and how long you stay there? Will it be better for your finances if you rent long term, and try to put the money into shares instead? Or do you want to work on paying down a home you own, so you can eventually live in it for free? We're starting a project together with OneRoof, to walk you through each step of buying a house.But in this first episode, the very first question you need to ask yourself is whether you want to buy one at all. For the latest Cooking the Books, OneRoof commentator Ashley Church and Mark Lister from Craig's Investment Partners debated the pros and cons. We discussed whether you can put off home ownership by investing in shares instead, the times when buying can be bad for your future, and why home ownership is such a key part of most peoples' financial plan. If you have a question about this podcast, or question you'd like answered in the next one, come and talk to me about it. I'm on Facebook here https://www.facebook.com/FrancesCookJournalist/ Instagram here https://www.instagram.com/francescooknz/ and Twitter here https://twitter.com/FrancesCookSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Each week the NZ Herald and Newstalk ZB's Cooking The Books podcast tackles a different money problem. Today, it's the KiwiSaver mistakes you can fix in minutes. Hosted by Frances Cook.What you don't know can definitely hurt you. Particularly when it comes to your money. Almost all of us have a KiwiSaver, which could be the biggest nest egg for our future. That's why it's such a problem that some of those KiwiSaver funds are hugely underperforming. You could be stashing away the exact same money as your friend, and end up with far less when you retire. When just a few tweaks to how you run your KiwiSaver could give the average person $135,000 more when they retire. Part of the problem is fees, which if you're not careful can take huge bites out of your money. But the other issue is simply understanding what on earth your KiwiSaver provider is up to, and whether you're okay with that. Luckily there's something you can do that only takes 10 minutes, and is getting even easier to do from this year. For the latest Cooking the Books podcast I talked to the FMA's Gillian Boyes. We discussed how KiwiSaver statements are becoming more transparent, what you should be looking out for in your statement, and how to fix it. For the interview, watch the podcast video.If you have a question about this podcast, or question you'd like answered in the next one, come and talk to me about it. I'm on Facebook here https://www.facebook.com/FrancesCookJournalist/ Instagram here https://www.instagram.com/francescooknz/ and Twitter here https://twitter.com/FrancesCookSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Each week the NZ Herald and Newstalk ZB's Cooking The Books podcast tackles a different money problem. Today, it's whether there's an ideal way to allocate pots of money. Hosted by Frances Cook.People seem to love the idea that you can set up a few hard and fast rules for your money, and if you just follow that diligently, you'll be safe. So you see rules pop up like the 50/30/20 rule, the so-called "golden ratio" for your money. The idea is that out of the money you earn, 50 per cent should go towards life's necessities, 30 per cent goes on discretionary spending, and 20 per cent goes towards savings or investments. The problem is I'm not someone who likes rules very much. They can come across judgmental, when we all have very different circumstances. So for the latest podcast, I called up Dr Ayesha Scott from AUT. We discussed whether there's any truth to this "rule", the exceptions to it, and how to apply it to your life in a smarter way. If you have a question about this podcast, or question you'd like answered in the next one, come and talk to me about it. I'm on Facebook here https://www.facebook.com/FrancesCookJournalist/ Instagram here https://www.instagram.com/francescooknz/ and Twitter here https://twitter.com/FrancesCookSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Each week the NZ Herald and Newstalk ZB's Cooking The Books podcast tackles a different money problem. Today, it's the pitfalls to avoid when launching a side hustle. Hosted by Frances Cook.A side hustle is one of those things that sounds great in theory, and can be difficult in practice.Who doesn't love the idea of starting their own business, getting some extra cash coming in the door, and still keeping the safety of the day job?Unfortunately it doesn't usually work like that.There's picking the right business where you'll actually have customers, then keeping that business alive, and dealing with extra issues like tax.It's not easy, but it is possible, as you'll find when you talk to people getting it done. For the latest Cooking the Books podcast I talked to Boltra founder Ella Keegan. We discussed how she combines a side hustle with a full time job, what problems she ran into starting her business, and how she found solutions to those problems. If you have a question about this podcast, or question you'd like answered in the next one, come and talk to me about it. I'm on Facebook here https://www.facebook.com/FrancesCookJournalist/ Instagram here https://www.instagram.com/francescooknz/ and Twitter here https://twitter.com/FrancesCookSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Each week the NZ Herald and Newstalk ZB's Cooking The Books podcast tackles a different money problem. Today, why affordable homes are bucking the trend in a property market that's going flat. Hosted by Frances Cook.The property market seems to finally be slowing down. Fewer listings are coming onto the market, those that are there are staying for longer, and in Auckland at least, the latest QV figures show prices have fallen 1.5 per cent. It's far from a crash, but levelling off and some breathing space will be welcome news to many people at this point. There's one very important exception though, and that's the smaller, cheaper end of the market. OneRoof data shows that most of the activity is for houses under $1 million. If a house is under $500,000 then QV says there's actually a shortage, with more buyers than sellers. Anecdotally, real estate agents say the places getting the most interest are those with one or two bedrooms. For the latest Cooking the Books I talked to OneRoof property commentator Ashley Church. We discussed why smaller houses are bucking the trend, and whether a smaller home is a good bet for your monetary future.If you have a question about this podcast, or question you'd like answered in the next one, come and talk to me about it. I'm on Facebook here https://www.facebook.com/FrancesCookJournalist/ Instagram here https://www.instagram.com/francescooknz/ and Twitter here https://twitter.com/FrancesCookSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Each week the NZ Herald and Newstalk ZB's Cooking The Books podcast tackles a different money problem. Today, it's how working together can stretch the budget further. Hosted by Frances Cook.Make do and mend; it's an old wartime slogan that more of us could pay attention to today, as we try to stay on budget. It's clearly a better budget idea to DIY, or fix things that break instead of buying a replacement. But whether you want to blame a changing society, or things like home economics classes being cut at school, there's a clear trend. Fewer people today are in the habit of picking up some tools and getting to work themselves. It's a downward cycle, because as fewer of us fix things, then fewer of us have the tools on hand to fix things. And those tools can be expensive, so rather than fork out when we need them, it can seem easier to buy a replacement or pay someone to fix it for you. Well Auckland's Library of Tools has a solution, to help us be more self-sufficient on a budget. For the latest podcast I talked to co-founder Amanda Chapman.We discussed how the library worked, the various options springing up around the country, and why people want to start sharing again. If you have a question about this podcast, or an idea for the next one, come talk to me about it. I'm on Facebook here https://www.facebook.com/FrancesCookJournalist/ Instagram here https://www.instagram.com/francescooknz/ and Twitter here https://twitter.com/FrancesCookThis podcast is available on podcast apps one week after its release on Herald Premium.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Each week the NZ Herald and Newstalk ZB's Cooking The Books podcast tackles a different money problem. Today, it's what not to do in the sharemarket. Hosted by Frances Cook.Shares are scary to some people, when they don't need to be.Investing in them is actually quite simple, if you follow a few rules.But while we've talked about what you should do in previous episodes, there's a less positive side, where you also need to know what not do.One of the reasons the infamous 1987 sharemarket crash was so bad in New Zealand was because people broke this simple rule.You don't use debt to invest in the sharemarket.For the latest podcast I talked to Mark Fowler from Hobson Wealth.We discussed what made the 1987 crash so bad, what makes debt a bad idea for investments, and how housing is different.For the interview, listen to the podcast.If you have a question about this podcast, or an idea for the next one, come talk to me about it. I'm on Facebook here https://www.facebook.com/FrancesCookJournalist/ Instagram here https://www.instagram.com/francescooknz/ and Twitter here https://twitter.com/FrancesCookSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Each week the NZ Herald and Newstalk ZB's Cooking The Books podcast tackles a different money problem. Today, it's the triangle technique that can help you manage a small windfall. Hosted by Frances Cook.Saving money regularly is a crucial part of building your wealth, yet is often forgotten. But it doesn’t have to be that way. Little windfalls in life can be huge over your lifetime. If you get a little pay rise of $20 a week, you could get used to going out for brunch more often. Before you know it, it’s part of your routine, and hard to give up. Or, you could save it straight away, and watch those benefits build up. An emergency savings account, investing in the sharemarket, knocking extra off the mortgage. That $20 could be more powerful than you realise. For the latest Cooking the Books podcast I talked to Patrick Fogarty from The Private Office. We discussed how to balance saving a windfall with enjoying it, where to put it beyond a savings account, and whether the size of the windfall makes a difference. For the interview, listen to the podcast.If you have a question about this podcast, or an idea for the next one, come talk to me about it. I'm on Facebook here https://www.facebook.com/FrancesCookJournalist/ Instagram here https://www.instagram.com/francescooknz/ and Twitter here https://twitter.com/FrancesCookSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Each week the NZ Herald and Newstalk ZB's Cooking The Books podcast tackles a different money problem. Today, it's how to handle the changes to KiwiSaver, and what else might be waiting in the wings. Hosted by Frances Cook.It’s the time of year when law changes come into force, so you might have seen articles about the minimum wage changing, or tax rates. All of that is very important, but what’s gone under the radar is some changes to your KiwiSaver, that are actually big news. You now have more control over how much you put in, the rules for those over 60 have totally changed, and if you want to stop paying into KiwiSaver, you’ll have to jump through more hoops. These are pretty significant changes, but making the most of them so you get the most money in your back pocket, will depend on your personal situation. There’s also the possibility of more changes in the future. For the latest Cooking the Books podcast I talked to Sorted's Tom Hartmann about how each of us can take advantage of the new situation, and what changes are likely to come in the future. For the interview, listen to the podcast.If you have a question about this podcast, or an idea for the next one, come and talk to me about it. I'm on Facebook here https://www.facebook.com/FrancesCookJournalist/ Instagram here https://www.instagram.com/francescooknz/ and Twitter here https://twitter.com/FrancesCookSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Each week the NZ Herald and Newstalk ZB's Cooking The Books podcast tackles a different money problem. Today, it's the latest tech start-up aiming to make life easier for NZ investors. Hosted by Frances Cook.People often think of investing in shares as something done by people who are already rich, who are able to throw around big sums of money with abandon.That’s because, for a while there, it was true.But it shouldn’t be, because shares are a great way to create wealth in the first place. If only you can find your way in.That’s why it’s so exciting that in the last few years, we’ve seen the tech sector step up.New companies have popped up, promising that for the price of a cup of coffee, you can start investing.One of those is Hatch, which is promising access to some of the biggest companies in the world, that previously were too expensive for any of us.For the latest Cooking the Books podcast I talked to Kristen Lunman and Natalie Ferguson from Hatch. We discussed what's traditionally held people back from the sharemarket, how they look after new investors, and what's on the horizon for them. For the interview, listen to the podcast.If you have a question about this podcast, or an idea for the next one, come and talk to me about it. I'm on Facebook here https://www.facebook.com/FrancesCookJournalist/ Instagram here https://www.instagram.com/francescooknz/ and Twitter here https://twitter.com/FrancesCookSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Each week the NZ Herald and Newstalk ZB's Cooking The Books podcast tackles a different money problem. Today, it's why pay rates are staying stubbornly low. Hosted by Frances Cook.Workers should be thrilled right now. Unemployment is low and companies are crying out for skilled people to hire.This is usually the dream situation for the employee, where you have the leverage over your boss, because you’ll be hard to replace.Usually, this is when wages start going up.So it’s a little bit strange that wages are staying stubbornly low, across the board.The latest data from Westpac and McDermott Miller backs this up.Their Employment Confidence Index has fallen, with employees worried about lower job opportunities.One of the biggest areas employees were worried about is pay, with fewer people getting a pay rise in the last year.Even worse, the number of people expecting a raise in the coming year was at a record low.For the latest Cooking the Books I talked to Westpac senior economist Michael Gordon. We talked about why people aren't expecting a pay rise, whether the gloom is misplaced, and how the global economy is changing things. For the interview, listen to the podcast.If you have a question about this podcast, or an idea for the next one, come and talk to me about it. I'm on Facebook here https://www.facebook.com/FrancesCookJournalist/ Instagram here https://www.instagram.com/francescooknz/ and Twitter here https://twitter.com/FrancesCookSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Each week the NZ Herald and Newstalk ZB's Cooking The Books podcast tackles a different money problem. Today, it's how to tackle financial infidelity. Hosted by Frances Cook.Everyone has secrets, but there are some secrets that can do more harm than good, particularly in a long term relationship. Like if you impulse buy things, then hide the receipt from your significant other. Or if you squirrel money away into a bank account the other person has no idea about. These things can be the subject of jokes, but it’s actually no laughing matter. Because if you’re not careful, it can spiral into a serious problem where you don’t have enough money to pay the bills, or you create a major trust problem in your relationship. There’s even a name for it; financial infidelity. For the interview, listen to the podcast.If you have a question about this podcast, or an idea for the next one, come and talk to me about it. I'm on Facebook here https://www.facebook.com/FrancesCookJournalist/ Instagram here https://www.instagram.com/francescooknz/ and Twitter here https://twitter.com/FrancesCookSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Each week the NZ Herald and Newstalk ZB's Cooking The Books podcast tackles a different money problem. Today, it's whether voting with your wallet can push tech giants to change. Hosted by Frances Cook.People power has never been so needed, after a horrifying attack on New Zealand and our muslim community.Fifty people are dead, and many more injured, and everyone is asking how on earth this happened.The power of the community coming together has already been demonstrated in countless candlelight vigils across the country, showing that we will not be divided, and will stand together to protect those who need it.But what about some of the hard choices that will come next? Can people power help there too?There are serious questions to be asked about how the shooter was able to livestream 17 minutes of mass killing.More questions about how it was then spread across other platforms.What seems inescapable now is that radicalisation is happening in our midst, especially online.Social media companies are built to keep you on the website, and engaging with the content.An unfortunate side effect of this is the algorithms tend to lead people to more and more extreme content: vegetarian recipes to vegan activism, hunting tips leads to survivalists prepping for the apocalypse, and now it seems some people are being led to white supremacist violence.The killer’s video and manifesto made it clear this this particular attack was for an internet audience.It’s sparked a backlash, with companies pulling their ads from the social media giants.There are also calls for a 50 hour Facebook boycott on Friday, with one hour for each of the victims, in the hopes of forcing the company to take more responsibility.So what are the best options for those of us who want change? On the latest podcast I spoke to NZ Herald business and technology reporters Chris Keall and Damien Venuto. We discussed why the social media companies have been implicated in the attacks, what options these companies have to change, and how individuals can make the biggest impact to get the attention of tech giants. For the interview, listen to the podcast.If you have a question about this podcast, or an idea for the next one, come and talk to me about it. I'm on Facebook here https://www.facebook.com/FrancesCookJournalist/ Instagram here https://www.instagram.com/francescooknz/ and Twitter here https://twitter.com/FrancesCookSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Each week the NZ Herald and Newstalk ZB's Cooking The Books podcast tackles a different money problem. Today, it's what small business owners need to do differently for work-life balance, and retirement. Hosted by Frances Cook.A small business isn’t just a business. There’s a side that’s all about the financial realities, but there’s also a strong emotional side to things that we just can’t ignore. People often start their business in an area that they’re passionate about. But even if the choice is a bit more pragmatic, by the time you’ve spent years doing whatever it takes to stay afloat, you can bet that you’re emotionally invested in your business continuing. Of course, to come back to the financial side, you also need it to continue so that you can pay your bills, and put food on the table for your family. So retiring, or even just stepping back slightly, becomes trickier when you’re a small business owner. Xero let me take a look at their numbers, and they’ve found that one in five (21%) small business owners would like to retire in the next five years. Within the next ten years, more than one in three (37%) would like to retire. But they’re not sure how, as over half (54%) of those small business owners say that if they quit, their business will keel over. The stakes are high, because almost all of them, at 84%, plan to sell the business, in order to fund their retirement .. but even though the clock is ticking, less than half (43%) have an exit plan. For the interview, listen to the podcast.If you have a question about this podcast, or an idea for the next one, come and talk to me about it. I'm on Facebook here https://www.facebook.com/FrancesCookJournalist/ Instagram here https://www.instagram.com/francescooknz/ and Twitter here https://twitter.com/FrancesCookSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Each week the NZ Herald and Newstalk ZB's Cooking The Books podcast tackles a different money problem. Today, it's how the digital age is changing how we handle our money. Hosted by Frances Cook.The best thing about the digital era is how much information is at our fingertips.The worst thing about the digital era is there’s so much information, it can be hard to know where to start, and even harder to wade through it all.Well the personal finance world is starting to tackle this issue through digital innovations, and even augmented reality, machine learning, and artificial intelligence.Whether it’s answering your questions as if you were talking to a person, or helping you sift through the hundreds of options for your retirement fund, lines of code are having a massive impact on the ways we invest and learn about money.To fit in a lot on a big topic, today's Cooking the Books podcast interviews two people on the different approaches that can be taken. First up is Sorted's Tom Hartmann on the new Smart Investor tool, and how digital innovation helps us sort through piles of information in an easy way, and get updates in real time. Next is Shareclarity's Daniel Kieser, on their innovation to help investors get information wherever they want it, through augmented reality. For the interviews, listen to the podcast. If you have a question about this podcast, or an idea for the next one, come and talk to me about it. I'm on Facebook here https://www.facebook.com/FrancesCookJournalist/, Instagram here https://www.instagram.com/francescooknz/ and Twitter here https://twitter.com/FrancesCookSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Each week the NZ Herald and Newstalk ZB's Cooking The Books podcast tackles a different money problem. Today, it's the good and bad of a capital gains tax on your KiwiSaver. Hosted by Frances Cook.If you heard howls of outrage and a collective stamping of feet coming from your computer last week, it's not a technical glitch. You were probably logged in to social media as the announcement was made that the Tax Working Group recommended the Government bring in a capital gains tax. Basically if you buy something, it increases in value, and then you sell it for a profit, you pay tax on part of that profit. What that means for property investors has been truly thrashed already, and it's safe to say many of them have made it known that they don't like the idea. But there were other parts of the report that have been missed, that are very important for the average New Zealander to know about. For instance, proposed changes to how you KiwiSaver is taxed. Almost all of us have a KiwiSaver fund, certainly more of us than have an investment property, and yet that's barely rated a mention so far. There are also questions about how it would impact shares investments outside of KiwiSaver.So I talked to Herald business editor at large Liam Dann about the details of the report. We discussed who can expect a bigger KiwiSaver and whose might get smaller, the impact on the sharemarket more generally, and how the politics might change which parts of this become reality. For the interview, listen to the podcast. If you have a question about this podcast, or an idea for the next one, come and talk to me about it. I'm on Facebook here https://www.facebook.com/FrancesCookJournalist/ Instagram here https://www.instagram.com/francescooknz/ and Twitter here https://twitter.com/FrancesCookSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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Each week the NZ Herald and Newstalk ZB's Cooking The Books podcast tackles a different money problem. Today, it's the tactics to use if you think you're underpaid. Hosted by Frances Cook.It’s a tough world out there trying to get a pay rise. Wages have been flat for a long time, and it only makes things worse if you’re already underpaid. Last year Harvard released research that debunked one of the biggest gender pay gap myths. Many people say women are paid less because they’re too timid, and don’t ask for a raise as often as men. Well, not true. It turns out, women ask for a raise just as often as men. But the women were successful 15 per cent of the time, while men were successful 20 per cent of the time. That’s a huge difference, and will really add up over your lifetime. Then only a few weeks ago, research from recruitment firm One Staff showed that female tradies in New Zealand were being paid 20 per cent less than the men they’re working alongside. That’s even worse than the average in New Zealand, already a depressing 11.8 per cent less in most women’s pay packets. The pay gap is one of the best examples for this discussion because there’s so much good data; but let’s say from the start, there are many reasons why you can be underpaid.I talked to Cathy Hendry, senior consultant for Strategic Pay, for the latest Cooking the Books. We discussed what leads to people being underpaid, what companies can do about it, and what tactics individuals should try. For the interview, listen to the podcast. If you have a question about this podcast, or an idea for the next one, come and talk to me about it. I'm on Facebook here https://www.facebook.com/FrancesCookJournalist/ Instagram here https://www.instagram.com/francescooknz/ and Twitter here https://twitter.com/FrancesCookSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Each week the NZ Herald and Newstalk ZB's Cooking The Books podcast tackles a different money problem. Today, it's a new win for the passive investing fans. Hosted by Frances Cook.If you invest in shares, the later parts of last year probably weren't fun for you. To put it mildly, the markets were spooked by a combination of factors including the stand-off between China and the US, political uncertainty in Europe, and general worries for the global economy. The end result was a sea of red in the stock markets, with values going down further than they have in several years. Now, if you're investing for the long term, this isn't actually something to be too upset about, but I've covered that in previous episodes. It's still unnerving to see your investments going down, and if you weren't expecting it, it can hit you in the pocket. This is where active managers often claim they can save your bacon. Those clever guys say they'll manage your investments, read the financial tea leaves, and save you from the worst when the inevitable crunch comes. Meanwhile passive investors, those who buy shares through index funds, are usually buckled up to ride out whatever the market throws at them. There's nothing like a good nerd fight, and the active versus passive debate can get especially heated. But the results from last year show that when things got tough, the passive investors did far better than the active investors. If you have a question about this podcast, or an idea for the next one, come and talk to me about it. I'm on Facebook here https://www.facebook.com/FrancesCookJournalist/ Instagram here https://www.instagram.com/francescooknz/ and Twitter here https://twitter.com/FrancesCookSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Each week the NZ Herald and Newstalk ZB's Cooking The Books podcast tackles a different money problem. Today, it's why a clean conscience could actually make you the most money. Hosted by Frances Cook.Nobody wants to be a bad person, but sometimes, life doesn’t make it easy for you to be a good person. So it is with money, where many have assumed for years that making the most money means getting your hands a little dirty. But is that actually true? Ethical investing is an area that’s starting to boom, with investors demanding it, and companies actively pursuing it. It extends to your KiwiSaver as well. There are now several options for those who want a good retirement with a clear conscience, and they boast a pretty good return for your money. But it’s not all sunshine and rainbows. Ethics and morals are deeply personal things, and everyone draws the line somewhere else. I talked to Sam Stubbs, managing director of Simplicity, for the latest Cooking the Books podcast. We discussed rising customer demand for ethical investments, how they handle the grey areas, and what sort of money is to be made. For the interview, listen to the podcast.If you have a question about this podcast, or an idea for the next one, come and talk to me about it. I'm on Facebook here https://www.facebook.com/FrancesCookJournalist/, Instagram here https://www.instagram.com/francescooknz/ and Twitter here https://twitter.com/FrancesCookSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Each week the NZ Herald and Newstalk ZB's Cooking The Books podcast tackles a different money problem. Today, it's how to tackle investing at different life stages. Hosted by Frances Cook.Time is one of the biggest ingredients for investing success. I would even argue, it can be more important than money. If you take $20 and invest it in your twenties, it will do far more for you than $40 invested in your fifties. But time is powerful because it’s precious, and limited. And sometimes, you figure out where you need to be heading a little later in life. So if that’s you, and you’re getting more annoyed about people banging on about compound interest, and how the risky, high return investments are best when you’re young, then I hear you. Personally, I think it’s never too late. But time does change the rules, and you should know where to start.For the latest Cooking the Books podcast I talked to Sharesies co-founder Sonya Williams. We discussed how to approach different investing time horizons, what makes people more confident to invest, and how to balance out any risk. For the interview, listen to the podcast.If you have a question about this podcast, or an idea for the next one, come and talk to me about it. I'm on Facebook here https://www.facebook.com/FrancesCookJournalist/, Instagram here https://www.instagram.com/francescooknz/ and Twitter here https://twitter.com/FrancesCookSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Each week the NZ Herald and Newstalk ZB's Cooking The Books podcast tackles a different money problem. Today, it's the various tactics to attack the food bill. Hosted by Frances Cook.If you want to cut back your spending, it makes sense to focus on the biggest core expenses. Food is undeniably one of those. If you’re ruled by your tastebuds like I sometimes am, it might even be your number one expense. Eating good food is one of the great joys in life, and nobody wants to give that up. But the average New Zealand family wastes $500 of food in a year, and because that’s an average, some of us waste far more. So there are savings to be made if you know the storage tricks, the seasonal tactics, and how to work with your family dynamics. I talked to Jenny Marshall from Love Food Hate Waste for the latest Cooking the Books. We discussed the biggest items that blow out the budget, and ways to spend less without feeling deprived. For the interview, listen to the podcast.If you have a question about this podcast, or an idea for the next one, come and talk to me about it. I'm on Facebook here https://www.facebook.com/FrancesCookJournalist/, Instagram here https://www.instagram.com/francescooknz/ and Twitter here https://twitter.com/FrancesCookSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Each week the NZ Herald and Newstalk ZB's Cooking The Books podcast tackles a different money problem. Today, it's why you shouldn't be sucked in by budgeting's image problem. Hosted by Frances Cook.Budgeting has an image problem. Also, the sky is blue, the grass is green, and cats rule the internet. We all know budgeting sounds a bit boring, and for many people, it’s easy to ignore for that reason. But while people tend to get excited about buying a house, or investing in shares, creating a budget you can stick to is much more important. Anyone can run out of money if they don’t know how to run a budget. Why else do you think rappers or actors can end up in court, flat broke. You can spend any amount of money if you treat it as an endless resource. But budgeting doesn’t have to be boring, and it doesn’t have to mean endless spreadsheets. In fact, it can even include flamethrowers. For the latest podcast I talked to Tom Hartmann, personal finance blogger for the Commission for Financial Capability.We discussed the importance of including treats in a budget, how to budget in a way that works for your personality, and the tricks that help keep you on track.If you have a question about this podcast, or an idea for the next one, come and talk to me about it. I'm on Facebook here https://www.facebook.com/FrancesCookJournalist/ Instagram here https://www.instagram.com/francescooknz/ and Twitter here https://twitter.com/FrancesCookSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Each week the NZ Herald and Newstalk ZB's Cooking The Books podcast tackles a different money problem. Today, it's what you need to know for the year ahead. Hosted by Frances Cook.New year, new me, new money. The last few years have been unstable, to say the least. While this has resulted in more than a few politics arguments over the dinner table, it’s also thrown the business world for a loop. Don’t be fooled into thinking what happens in boardrooms or parliaments overseas has no impact on you. It’s all crucial for how much you’re paid, what happens to your KiwiSaver, and whether you’re ever able to buy a house. For the latest podcast I talked to Herald busines editor-at-large Liam Dann, and personal finance editor Tamsyn Parker. We talked about what's on the horizon for issues including your mortgage, your KiwiSaver, and whether the economy is about to tank. For the episode, listen to the podcast. If you have a question about this podcast, or an idea for the next one, come and talk to me about it. I'm on Facebook here https://www.facebook.com/FrancesCookJournalist/, Instagram here https://www.instagram.com/francescooknz/ and Twitter here https://twitter.com/FrancesCookSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Each week the NZ Herald and Newstalk ZB's Cooking The Books podcast tackles a different money problem. Today, it's how shops get into your head, and how to fight back. Hosted by Frances Cook.We're in the final throes of the season of excess, and New Zealanders like to go out with a bang. Right after receiving a bunch of presents for Christmas, many of us like to head out on Boxing Day and get even more stuff. It's traditionally the biggest shopping day of the year in New Zealand, and retailers like to step up to the occasion with big sales to make sure they're the ones who get the Christmas cash from your grandma's card. But once you're in the store, a weird thing can happen. The red discount signs and frenzy from shoppers around you can ruin even the best laid plans. You go in for a blender, and walk out with a TV, three pairs of shoes, and a coffee machine that you're sure you need. Not that I'm talking from experience or anything. For the latest Cooking the Books podcast I talked to AUT lecturer Sommer Kapitan. We talked about what those sales signs do to your brain, and how to fight back. For the interview, listen to the episode. If you have a question about this podcast, or an idea for the next one, come and talk to me about it. I'm on Facebook here https://www.facebook.com/FrancesCookJournalist/ Instagram here https://www.instagram.com/francescooknz/ and Twitter here https://twitter.com/FrancesCook.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Each week the NZ Herald and Newstalk ZB's Cooking The Books podcast tackles a different money problem. Today, it's what to consider before bringing home an animal companion. Hosted by Frances Cook.We're in the thick of puppy and kitten season, when cute little furry faces appear in pet shop windows, beckoning for you to take them home and enjoy their cuteness all day. Add that we're also in the season for presents, and some people get the idea that a pet could make the perfect present, whether for themselves or others. But as any pet owner will tell you, there are unexpected costs that come with a pet. There's the food of course, but also vaccinations, vet bills when they've found an inventive way to hurt themselves, a cattery or kennel if you want a holiday, or things they can destroy in a moment of furry madness. As kittens, my cats once took a liking to a particular corner of the wall, and chewed through the plaster and GIB all the way back to the stud. Why? Who knows. If you figure out the cat mindset, please let me know. It helps to know what you're in for before you bring your new friend home. I talked to SPCA CEO Andrea Midgen and Southern Cross Pet Insurance GM Anthony McPhail, for the latest Cooking the Books podcast. We talked about the day-to-day costs, things people tend not to expect, and how to prepare for those costs. For the interview, listen to the podcast. If you have a question about this podcast, or an idea for the next one, come and talk to me about it. I'm on Facebook here https://www.facebook.com/FrancesCookJournalist/ Instagram here https://www.instagram.com/francescooknz/ and Twitter here https://twitter.com/FrancesCookSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Each week the NZ Herald and Newstalk ZB's Cooking The Books podcast tackles a different money problem. Today, it's how to take a the best holiday for the least money. Hosted by Frances Cook.I’m a big believer that having your money situation sorted doesn’t mean you miss out on having a life.In fact, if you do the money thing right, it actually means you can focus more on the things that truly make you happy.So now that summer is getting underway it’s time to think about holidays.Whether you’re staying in New Zealand or going overseas, there are plenty of ways to have fun and new experiences without getting into trouble with your bank.Or maybe you’re eyeing up a New Year resolution of chucking in your job, in order to go travelling for longer.In which case, I say go for it, and we have tips for that too.I called up Robin Censure from Backpacker Guide NZ, to talk about how all types of holiday-makers can get the best bang for their buck. We discussed hotel types, how to wine and dine, and which destinations help stretch your dollars further. For the interview, listen to the podcast. If you have a question about this podcast, or an idea for the next one, come and talk to me about it. I'm on Facebook here https://www.facebook.com/FrancesCookJournalist/ Instagram here https://www.instagram.com/francescooknz/ and Twitter here https://twitter.com/FrancesCookSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Each week the NZ Herald and Newstalk ZB's Cooking The Books podcast tackles a different money problem. Today it's what's actually changed for mortgages, and how you can take advantage of it. Hosted by Frances Cook.For those who feel home ownership is out of reach, there's been some welcome news in the last week. The Reserve Bank has loosened the mortgage rules, making it easier for people with a small deposit to be approved. Of course, those with a small deposit are usually first home buyers. Add to that, interest rates are staying low, Auckland and Queenstown house prices seem to be cooling down, and KiwiSaver has existed long enough for some people to have built up a good deposit amount. It certainly seems enough to be cautiously optimistic – so is it big enough to help you get a foot on the property ladder? I talked to Mortgage Lab CEO Rupert Gough for the latest Cooking the Books podcast. We discussed what's changed for both home buyers and investors, the fish hooks that still exist, and what more changes might be on the horizon. For the interview, listen to the podcast. If you have a question about this podcast, or an idea for the next one, come and talk to me about it.I'm on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/FrancesCookJournalist/ Instagram  https://www.instagram.com/francescooknz/ Twitter  https://twitter.com/FrancesCook.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Each week the NZ Herald and Newstalk ZB's Cooking The Books podcast tackles a different money problem. Today, it's the things you need to know before monetising a hobby. Hosted by Frances Cook.KiwiSaver is a wonderful scheme. You get free money from the Government and your employer, it automates your retirement savings, and it has plenty of options to let you do what's best for you and your money. It's safe to say, I heartily approve of KiwiSaver. But just because it's a good scheme, doesn't mean you're safe from messing it up. Many people will max out their KiwiSaver, happy in the knowledge that they're doing the best thing for their future. The issue is that putting three per cent of your income into KiwiSaver has a very different result from putting eight per cent into it. You get totally different benefits, and you arguably do better with three percent going in. Once that money is in, it's locked in, until you retire. So you want to be sure you're making the right choice, before padlocking your money away for decades.For the latest podcast I talked to David Boyle, currently at Mint Asset Management, and formerly from the Commission for Financial Capability, about KiwiSaver limits. We talked about where KiwiSaver gives the most reward, where it can hold you back, and better options for your money. For the interview, listen to the podcast.If you have a question about this podcast, or an idea for the next one, come and talk to me about it.I'm on Facebook here https://www.facebook.com/FrancesCookJournalist/,Instagram here https://www.instagram.com/francescooknz/Twitter here https://twitter.com/FrancesCook.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Each week the NZ Herald and Newstalk ZB's Cooking The Books podcast tackles a different money problem. Today, it's the things you need to know before monetising a hobby. Hosted by Frances Cook.When you're trying to get better with money, there's on simple truth that can't be ignored: it's always easier to do well if you have more cash coming in the door. Asking for a raise is one option, but another that appeals to many people is starting their own business. After all, the stakes may be high, but so are the rewards. It is something the average person can do. After all, New Zealand is famous for its business scene being dominated by small to medium businesses. The trick is that, if it's just you, you only have yourself to rely on. You need to become a jack of all trades, and learn fast, if you want to be successful. I talked to Xero's Managing Director for New Zealand and Pacific, Craig Hudson, for the latest Cooking the Books podcast. We discussed what to know before you start, the common problems, and how to wrap your head around the financial side. For the interview, listen to the podcast.If you have a question about this podcast, or an idea for the next one, come and talk to me about it.I'm on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/FrancesCookJournalist/ Instagram here https://www.instagram.com/francescooknz/ Twitter https://twitter.com/FrancesCookSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Each week the NZ Herald and Newstalk ZB's Cooking The Books podcast tackles a different money problem. Today, it's how to deal with an unexpected change in finances. Hosted by Frances Cook.Lying awake at night, dreaming of how things would be different if we won Lotto, is something all of us have done from time to time. The house we'd pay off, the job we'd quit, the holidays we would take. I'm sure all of us can think of how life would be easy if millions of dollars just fell out of the sky. But a sudden lump sum of money can actually do more harm than good, if you aren't prepared for it. You can overcommit to a new flashy lifestyle, or even struggle emotionally, leading to bad, rushed decisions.It doesn't even have to be a lottery win. A big enough change in your job, house value, or even an inheritance, can all have this effect. For the latest podcast I talked to The Private Office authorised financial adviser Nick Crawford, who specialises in advising people who have come into sudden wealth. We discussed the emotional impact, mistakes people make, and the better ways to handle it.For the interview, listen to the podcast. If you have a question about this podcast, or an idea for the next one, come and talk to me about it.I'm on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/FrancesCookJournalist/ Instagram https://www.instagram.com/francescooknz/Twitter  https://twitter.com/FrancesCookSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Each week the NZ Herald and Newstalk ZB's Cooking The Books podcast tackles a different money problem. Today, it's how to make shared equity work for you. Hosted by Frances Cook.As the talk-fest on what to do about our housing market continues, one idea hasn't had the scrutiny it deserves.That's the idea of shared equity, where you might buy a home with a friend or family member to reduce the cost of a deposit, as well as the ongoing mortgage.So far so sensible, but actually, it's much harder than it sounds.For one thing, banks are often quite wary of it. They may ask you to practically sign your life away just to get approval on a joint mortgage.It's not that different to buying a house with your significant other, but you wouldn't know that from how banks react.You might also want to draw up a legal agreement between the two of you, as a shared house is quite the commitment, and can certainly go wrong.The problem is it shouldn't be this difficult, as shared equity between friends is a great solution to a very real problem.House prices may be flattening out, particularly in Auckland, where prices actually dropped 0.3 percent in the three months to October.But they're already at sky-high levels, with the average Auckland home now a smidge over $1million.So while it's nice it's not going any higher, holding steady at that high price still isn't all that helpful.I talked to Lesley Harris, from the First Home Buyers Club. We discussed what you need to get the bank to sign off, the problems people don't expect, and the legal issues to be aware of. For the interview, listen to the podcast. If you have a question about this podcast, or an idea for the next one, come and talk to me about it.I'm on Facebook here https://www.facebook.com/FrancesCookJournalist/Instagram https://www.instagram.com/francescooknz/ Twitter  https://twitter.com/FrancesCookSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Each week the NZ Herald and Newstalk ZB's Cooking The Books podcast tackles a different money problem. Today, it's how to tip the job market in your favour. Hosted by Frances Cook.As we hurtle towards the end of the year, it can often be a time to take stock. If the latest employment data is anything to go by, many of us will be taking stock of our job prospects. The Westpac McDermott Miller employee confidence index shows many of us aren't feeling flash, with a fall in employee confidence levels over the September quarter. That's partly driven by a drop in people expecting a raise. The survey found only 27.5 per cent of us are expecting a pay rise in the next year, which is the lowest levels in three years. It's part of a broader trend. Wage growth has been stubbornly flat over the last few years, even though economic activity is picking up. If you're wanting to take matters into your own hands, I don't blame you. There can be many opportunities outside of getting a raise for the job you currently do. You can position yourself for a promotion, or maybe, change how you use the skills you already have, to get an entirely new job. I talked to Brendan Kelly, Deputy Chief Executive Information for the Tertiary Education Commission, about the issue. We discussed how to find information about what jobs are out there, how to repurpose the skills you already have, and how to get ahead with your time outside of work. For the interview, listen to the podcast. If you have a question about this podcast, or an idea for the next one, come and talk to me about it.I'm on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/FrancesCookJournalist/ Instagram https://www.instagram.com/francescooknz/ Twitter https://twitter.com/FrancesCookSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Each week the NZ Herald and Newstalk ZB's Cooking The Books podcast tackles a different money problem. Today, it's the things to know if you want to buy a house using KiwiSaver. Hosted by Frances Cook.You don't need me to tell you it's difficult for first home buyers right now. We all know this.What's more useful is finding out the various ways you can tip the scales in your favour. The biggest weapon in your arsenal is KiwiSaver. It can supercharge your savings, guaranteeing you double your money, even before you get any interest or investment returns. But while KiwiSaver can be a godsend, you have to know how to use it. For instance, it can be extremely difficult to use if you're buying a house at auction. You also can't use it if you live in an expensive market like Auckland, and want to buy elsewhere. There's no point stashing all your money in KiwiSaver, only to find out years down the track that you did it wrong. I talked to Canstar's Jose George about why KiwiSaver is more powerful for house savings, the best fund to get you ahead, and the drawbacks that can trip people up. For the episode, listen to the podcast. If you have a question about this podcast, or an idea for the next one, come and talk to me about it.I'm on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/FrancesCookJournalist/ Instagram https://www.instagram.com/francescooknz/ Twitter  https://twitter.com/FrancesCookSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Each week the NZ Herald and Newstalk ZB's Cooking The Books podcast tackles a different money problem. Today, it's the subtle ways interest rates influence everything money. Hosted by Frances Cook.Talking interest rates, or the official cash rate, tends to make all but the most hardened personal finance nerds glaze over. The rates go up, they go down, who cares, what's for dinner and has anyone taken the dog outside yet?But don't be fooled into thinking this dry talk of percentages has no impact on your daily life. In fact interest rates are the key to many of your most important money decisions.It even flows well past credit cards and mortgages, to change our housing market, and even the share market. So now the Reserve Bank has decided to keep New Zealand's official cash rate at the historic low of 1.75 per cent. It's even expected to stay down there, all the way until 2020. You can bet that's important to your back pocket. For the latest podcast, I spoke to Chris Tennent-Brown, senior economist for ASB Wealth. We discussed why you need to care about the OCR, the weird and wonderful things affects, and how to make the most of the current situation. For the interview, listen to the podcast. If you have a question about this podcast, or an idea for the next one, come and talk to me about it.I'm on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/FrancesCookJournalist/ Instagram  https://www.instagram.com/francescooknz/ Twitter https://twitter.com/FrancesCookSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Each week the NZ Herald and Newstalk ZB's Cooking The Books podcast tackles a different money problem. Today, it's why people bother with volatile higher risk investments. Hosted by Frances Cook.When we talk about investing, we often take the time to warn about high-risk investments. We’ll tell people you need to be ready for the ups and downs of such investments, to do your research, prepare mentally, and make sure you have a long timeframe to ride out volatility. It’s all true, but talking about this often gives the unfortunate impression that investing puts you at risk of losing everything. So people do nothing. What gets missed in those conversations is why you would even bother with all of that. If high-risk investments often go down and have the potential to cause sleepless nights, why would you put yourself through it? The problem is that it’s impossible to reach certain financial goals if you only ever put your money in a savings account. Well as it’s World Investor Week, now seems as good a time as any to make it clear why people say you don’t get the reward without the risk. Because while some people think a low-risk investment is the same as a safe investment, sometimes it’s anything but. I talked to David Boyle from Mint Asset Management about the pros and cons of higher risk investments, and the difference between a calculated risk, and gambling. For the episode, listen to the podcast. If you have a question about this podcast or an idea for the next one, come and talk to me about it.I'm on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/FrancesCookJournalist/ Instagram  https://www.instagram.com/francescooknz/Twitter https://twitter.com/FrancesCookSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Each week the NZ Herald and Newstalk ZB's Cooking The Books podcast tackles a different money problem. Today, it's the strategies one New Zealander uses to get financial independence. Hosted by Frances Cook.Money stress is so common that the majority of New Zealanders are struggling with it.In the latest Barometer survey, the Commission for Financial Capability found that 69 percent of people were concerned about their money. It was so bad, that 30 percent of them were literally losing sleep.While there are certainly times that the situation is out of our control, that's not the reality for the majority of people. And yet the majority are stressed. It's not as easy as giving up avocado toast for breakfast, which might make you sad and have little impact on your finances. But there are New Zealanders who found out they could turn things around, without sacrificing their quality of life. They focused on the bigger areas like housing and transport, and soon found they could reap the rewards.For the latest Cooking the Books podcast I spoke to Nick Carr, who is aiming to retire at 50, and is saving 50 percent of his income to do so. He is also a financial freedom coach and registered financial advisor, at Your Money Blueprint https://www.yourmoneyblueprint.co.nz/ We discussed why financial freedom was important to him, what strategies he was using to get there, and why he won't compromise on the things that make him happy. For the interview, listen to the podcast. If you have a question about this podcast, or an idea for the next one, come and talk to me about it.I'm on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/FrancesCookJournalist/ Instagram https://www.instagram.com/francescooknz/Twitter https://twitter.com/FrancesCookSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Each week the NZ Herald and Newstalk ZB's Cooking The Books podcast tackles a different money problem. Today, it's what on earth is happening in our electricity sector. Hosted by Frances Cook.If you've ever shivered through a winter's evening because you don't want to turn on the heater and face a stiff bill, you're not alone. Many people, myself included, have at times put their health at risk in a cold house because they simply can't afford for the electricity use to go up. Well the first report out of the Electricity Pricing Review has shed light on why this has become quite so common. Household prices for electricity have surged up almost 80 per cent since 1990. Yes, that's adjusted for inflation.Meanwhile, industrial users are paying 18 per cent less, while commercial prices have gone up only 24 per cent. The review highlighted some other problems. People who don't shop around are paying up to 50 per cent more, but comparing prices between companies can be very difficult. There is also at least 103,000 New Zealand families officially in energy poverty, with children overrepresented in those homes. The review does include recommendations for changes in the sector, but systemic change can of course be slow. I talked to Consumer NZ head of research Jessica Wilson about what people can do about it now. We discussed whether this report was a one-off, the impact electricity poverty has in New Zealand, and how to make sure you're not paying over the odds. For the interview, listen to the podcast. If you have a question about this podcast, or an idea for the next one, come and talk to me about it.I'm on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/FrancesCookJournalist/ Instagram https://www.instagram.com/francescooknz/ Twitter  https://twitter.com/FrancesCookSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Each week the NZ Herald and Newstalk ZB's Cooking The Books podcast tackles a different money problem. Today, it's both the financial and practical aspects to buying the best car for you. Hosted by Frances Cook.Buying a car has so many different parts to it, you can easily forgive people getting confused.First, you need to decide what kind of car you want. Little for commuting around a big city, bigger for ferrying kids around, maybe even bigger again so that you can fit tools in the back for your work.Then you need to make sure you're not buying a lemon. Most of us aren't mechanics, but we still have to figure out a way to check a slick salesman isn't pulling one over us.All of this before you even get to ways to pay for it.Let's be realistic, sometimes you genuinely need a car, and you don't have the cash to hand yet.Some of the options to fund it can leave you in a hole for years to come, so you have to proceed with care.The topic is so broad I couldn't even find one expert to cover all the different angles; so for the first time ever, we have two.On this week's Cooking the Books I first talked to AA Motoring Advisor Cade Wilson about rules of thumb for finding a good car, how to check safety ratings, and spotting a lying salesman.I then spoke to Tom Hartmann from the Commission for Financial Capability, about how much you should spend on a car, whether you should use debt and the best and worst finance options.For the interviews, listen to the podcast.If you have a question about this podcast or an idea for the next one, come and talk to me about it.I'm on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/FrancesCookJournalist/Instagram https://www.instagram.com/francescooknz/ Twitter https://twitter.com/FrancesCookSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Each week the NZ Herald and Newstalk ZB's Cooking The Books podcast tackles a different money problem. Today, it's getting past the retirement scaremongering to figure out what you really need. Hosted by Frances Cook.KiwiSaver has to be the thing I get the most questions about. People are rightfully wanting to look after it, manage it well, and ensure they have a comfortable retirement.Unfortunately, there are a few misconceptions floating around, that could see people hurt their future instead of helping it.Like, that if you’re worried about a market crash, you can ensure your safety by going for a low risk fund. That’s not necessarily true.Or, that markets going up and down, is even a thing to be avoided.Labelling certain types of investments as high risk does make some people nervous, but it can be more risky for your future to be always playing it safe with your retirement fund.I talked to Financial Markets Authority investor capability manager Gillian Boyes for the latest Cooking the Books podcast.We discussed what people are getting wrong, and what we should be doing instead. For the interview, listen to the podcast above.To take the FMA KiwiSaver quiz, click here https://kiwisaverriskquiz.co.nz/If you have a question about this podcast, or an idea for the next one, come and talk to me about it. I'm on Facebook here https://www.facebook.com/FrancesCookJournalist/ Instagram here https://www.instagram.com/francescooknz/ and Twitter here https://twitter.com/FrancesCook.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Each week the NZ Herald and Newstalk ZB's Cooking The Books podcast tackles a different money problem. Today, it's the things to know if you want to fly solo in the sharemarket. Hosted by Frances Cook.Just getting started always seems to be the hardest part.So it is with shares. I receive plenty of messages from listeners who tell me that they'd like to buy some, but don't know where to start.Many people say they would rather do it themselves, rather than ease in with a funds manager.That's fair enough; I also enjoy the DIY approach.It's easy enough to do the technical parts, with many beginners setting up a trading account with one of the banks, or opting for a low cost option like SmartShares or Sharesies.But the trick is actually what to do from there.Because when you want to go it alone, you do have to be sure you've done your homework. There's nobody there to clean up the mess if you get ahead of yourself.I talked to Shareclarity managing director Daniel Kieser for the latest Cooking the Books podcast.We discussed whether a rookie can get into shares, the most important things to watch out for, and the way to protect yourself when you're just starting out.For the interview, listen to the podcast above.If you have a question about this podcast, or an idea for the next one, come and talk to me about it. I'm on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Title: What's the best investment for your life stage?Each week the NZ Herald and Newstalk ZB's Cooking The Books podcast tackles a different money problem. Today, it's the different ways to grow wealth in different stages of life. Hosted by Frances Cook.It might come as no surprise to you that many people believe investing is only for the rich. Heck, even I used to think that.The Financial Markets Authority has released research on attitudes to investing, and shock horror, older men with high incomes feel the most confident about investing into the financial market.Women, and younger people with low incomes, are the least confident.But investing doesn't have to be for the rich; in fact, it's the opposite. Usually, it's the way that people become rich in the first place.What's important is that you pick the right investment for your stage of life.While many people want to buy a house first up, it requires a huge deposit, and ties you down to one place.There are actually better options for those who are younger, and want to do something good with their money.I called up Mark Lister, head of private wealth research for Craigs Investment Partners, for the latest Cooking the Books podcast.We talked about how to much in a savings account can be a bad thing, how to weigh up housing versus shares, and when to consider niche investments.For the interview, listen to the podcast.If you have a question about this podcast, or an idea for the next one, come and talk to me about it.I'm on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/FrancesCookJournalist/Instagram https://www.instagram.com/francescooknz/ Twitter https://twitter.com/FrancesCookSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Each week the NZ Herald and Newstalk ZB's Cooking The Books podcast tackles a different money problem. Today, it's the best strategies to argue for a raise. Hosted by Frances Cook.Whether or not to give a pay rise has become a hot potato.Unemployment is low, at 4.5 percent, which would usually mean employees could demand better pay or they'd walk.And yet, the latest figures from Statistics New Zealand show there's not much movement.Private sector wages have only gone up 2.1 percent in the last year, and some of that lift is due to the Government raising the minimum wage by 75 cents.There are also rumblings that low inflation and low business confidence are making bosses unwilling to part with the extra cash.So it seems employers aren't wanting to come to the party, despite it becoming an increasingly heated issue.Just look at the nurses strikes; they haven't walked off the job in almost 30 years, but they did just that in July, and would have again if they didn't eventually get an agreement nailed down.Teachers and cops are the next groups making noises about needing more.Over in the private sector, research by recruitment firm Robert Half has found employers are already seeing increased staff turnover, and are expecting 13 percent of their staff will find another job this year – that's 340,000 people.I talked to Strategic Pay CEO John McGill for the Cooking the Books podcast about how employees can make the most of the current situation.We talked about how to arm yourself with background research, how to approach the conversation, and what arguments your boss will find the most persuasive.For the interview, listen to the podcast.If you have a question about this podcast, or an idea for the next one, come and talk to me about it.I'm on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/FrancesCookJournalist/ Instagram here https://www.instagram.com/francescooknz/ Twitter  https://twitter.com/FrancesCookSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Each week the NZ Herald and Newstalk ZB's Cooking The Books podcast tackles a different money problem. Today, it's why and how you should negotiate your mortgage. Hosted by Frances Cook.Hope is on the horizon for those who want to buy a house.The recent Quotable Value House Price Index for July found that prices have stagnated, and investor activity has dropped off.That’s left a window of opportunity for first home buyers. Homes officially considered affordable, that’s those under $650,000, are being snapped up at a great rate of knots.There’s also the KiwiBuild programme getting underway.It will need to be tested in the real world before we know if it works or not, but there have been tens of thousands sign up, many in Auckland and Wellington.So there’s a mood of hope in the air for those who were previously worried they’d be forever locked out from buying their own home.But if everything goes well, and people find a home they can afford, that’s just the beginning.You’ll have to keep paying it off through your mortgage, and if you get it wrong, you might just find yourself homeless once again.So negotiating your mortgage is crucial.I called up Mortgage Lab CEO Rupert Gough about what's on the table in negotiations, how to make a bank think you're a good bet, and what first home buyers need to know.For the interview, listen to the podcast.If you have a question about this podcast, or an idea for the next one, come and talk to me about it. I'm on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Each week the NZ Herald and Newstalk ZB's Cooking The Books podcast tackles a different money problem. Today, it's how to give your kids a good start with money. Hosted by Frances Cook.Family politics is hard enough without bringing money into it. But just because it's hard, doesn't mean you can put it off.For better or worse, most schools don't teach your kids about finances.Money makes the world go round, but somehow our kids are supposed to just figure it out for themselves.Never mind that roughly a third of New Zealanders don't understand compound interest, according to the Commission for Financial Capability.Compound interest is the easiest, laziest, and most reliable way to make money, yet people are missing out because they simply don't know what it is.Making sure kids learn the basics of money is a good starting point. Yet when money is a touchy subject, there are ways of having the conversation that are better than others.Then there's how you should help them out if you have some extra cash.Should you invest it? Put it into a savings account for university? Or what about a savings account for a house?Should you even do any of that, in case coddling them teaches them to blow it all, then hold their hands out for more?It's territory that gets tricky quickly, and the pressure of trying to give your kids the best start in life doesn't make it any easier.I talked to EnableMe founder Hannah McQueen for the latest episode of the Cooking the Books podcast.We talked about when to start talking about money, how to have the conversation and the best options to invest for your childrens' future.For the interview, listen to the podcast.If you have a question about this podcast or an idea for the next one, come and talk to me about it.I'm on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/FrancesCookJournalist/ Instagram https://www.instagram.com/francescooknz/Twitter  https://twitter.com/FrancesCookSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Each week the NZ Herald and Newstalk ZB's Cooking The Books podcast tackles a different money problem. Today, it's how to brace for a market downturn. Hosted by Frances Cook. Those who like to dabble in shares have had a dream run in recent years. Prices have gone up, dividends have been generous, and investors have happily raked in the returns. But there's a chill wind starting to blow. There have been rumblings for the last couple of years that the good days are set to end, and market watchdogs are only getting more dire in their predictions. The market regulator in France has warned that it's worried about a Wall Street crash, possibly as soon as this year. Meanwhile market heavyweight Vanguard has told its investors to expect much lower returns over the next ten years. While this all makes for a nice scary headline, it could actually be good news for some people. If someone is investing in shares over the long term, and is ready to ride the rollercoaster, you could even call this a golden opportunity.  I called Mark Fowler, head of investments at Hobson Wealth, for the latest Cooking the Books podcast. We talked about how investing strategies can change in a downturn, the risk of a trade war, and how this will hit the KiwiSavers. For the interview, listen to the podcast. If you have a question about this podcast, or an idea for the next one, come and talk to me about it. I'm on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/FrancesCookJournalist/Instagram https://www.instagram.com/francescooknz/ Twitter https://twitter.com/FrancesCookSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Each week the NZ Herald and Newstalk ZB's Cooking The Books podcast tackles a different money problem. Today, it's the strategies for getting through a housing renovation. Hosted by Frances Cook.It's easy to look at a TV show on housing renovation, and start to feel the itch yourself.Maybe you start to see the improvements you could make to your own home. Or you fancy yourself a house flipper, doing up a house to sell on for monster profits.The problem is that behind the TV editing lies hours and hours of hard work.There's also the sponsorship and reality television budgets that make the issue of money a non-issue.I called Canstar general manager Jose George to find out what us mere mortals should expect, and where to find the money to make it happen.We talked about what mindset you'll need from the start, tips for keeping the costs down, and the best and worst finance options.For the interview, listen to the podcast.If you have a question about this podcast, or an idea for the next one, come and talk to me about it.I'm on Facebook here https://www.facebook.com/FrancesCookJournalist/ Instagram here https://www.instagram.com/francescooknz/ and Twitter here https://twitter.com/FrancesCookSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Each week the NZ Herald and Newstalk ZB's Cooking The Books podcast tackles a different money problem. Today, it's what puts people off the sharemarket, and why it's worth a rethink. Hosted by Frances Cook.New Zealanders have a love affair with housing.It's true, owning your own home gives you security, and if you pay it off before retirement your golden years should be a lot easier.In comparison, many Kiwis are nervous of the share market. We were particularly badly burned by the 1987 crash, and that memory still haunts many people.Investment platforms Sharesies and the NZX's Smartshares have commissioned research from Colmar Brunton, that shows yes, we're a cautious bunch with the sharemarket.Only 20 percent of New Zealanders own shares, compared to 31 percent of Aussies, and over 50 percent of Americans.The biggest barriers were a belief that shares are for people with lots of money, the idea shares are particularly risky, a lack of spare cash, and not knowing where to start. But the times do change, and so it's worth re-evaluating these old truisms.Housing is now getting further and further out of reach for many people.It's also not the solid, risk-free investment that many believe. It ties you to one place, and if you get into financial difficulty, you have to sell the whole thing or risk the bank taking it off you.Meanwhile, the sharemarket has had an overhaul since 1987, with tougher rules.It's arguably a better investment for young people as you need far less cash than a house deposit, and it won't tie you to one location early in life.I talked to Sharesies co-founder Sonya Williams for the latest episode of the Cooking the Books podcast.We discussed why people are holding back, and what she makes of the shares versus housing mentality.For the episode, listen to the podcast.If you have a question about this podcast, or an idea for the next one, come and talk to me about it. I'm on Facebook here https://www.facebook.com/FrancesCookJournalist/ Instagram here https://www.instagram.com/franklysnapping/ and Twitter here https://twitter.com/FrancesCookSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Each week the NZ Herald and Newstalk ZB's Cooking The Books podcast tackles a different money problem. Today, it's whether it's worth draining your retirement savings to buy your first home. Hosted by Frances Cook.Scraping together a deposit for your first home can be a fraught exercise. House prices are through the roof, and in some areas, only getting worse.Take the latest data from the Ministry of Business Innovation and Employment.Last month it revealed that finding an affordable home was getting harder for first-home buyers.It's particularly bad for those who live in Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch, Hamilton, or Tauranga.So, the vast majority of the country's young people.The solution held up to this is often to use KiwiSaver. Your savings go out automatically and get boosted by a three percent employer contribution, as well as $521 a year from the Government.But the problem is that your KiwiSaver is meant to be for retirement.There are plenty of personal finance experts who argue you should leave it alone,  and save for your house in other ways.I called up Dr Aaron Gilbert, associate professor for AUT's Business School, to discuss the dilemma.We talked about how to supercharge your KiwiSaver savings, the pros and cons of using that for a house, and what other options there are for a person to get into their first home.For the interview, listen to the podcast. If you have a question about this podcast or an idea for the next one, come and talk to me about it.I'm on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/FrancesCookJournalist/Instagram  https://www.instagram.com/francescooknz/ Twitter https://twitter.com/FrancesCookSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Each week the NZ Herald and Newstalk ZB's Cooking The Books podcast tackles a different money problem. Today, it's what some say you need saved to achieve early retirement. Hosted by Frances Cook.It doesn't matter how much you like your job, you're there to get paid. That's what makes it a job, rather than a volunteer role.But while many people are counting down to retirement at 65, others have their eye on the exit a little earlier than that.We've mentioned on this show before about the FIRE crowd, meaning Financial Independence, Retire Early.Many of those smart cookies are working on plans to retire at 30 or 40. Some even want to retire in their twenties.Well now it's time to get into the nitty gritty, because a key idea behind that is the 25x rule.The idea is that you work out how much you need to pay your expenses each year, and then you save 25x that amount.Invest the money well, and you could live off the profits, rather than slaving away each day for a wage.I called KiwiBank's chief economist, Jarrod Kerr, to talk about if it works, and the pros and cons.For the full interview, listen to the podcast.If you have a question about this podcast, or an idea for the next one, come and talk to me about it. I'm on Facebook here https://www.facebook.com/FrancesCookJournalist/, Instagram here https://www.instagram.com/francescooknz/ and Twitter here https://twitter.com/FrancesCookSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Each week the NZ Herald and Newstalk ZB's Cooking The Books podcast tackles a different money problem. Today, it's the options for earning more money on the side. Hosted by Frances Cook. Making extra money on the side can be an appealing idea. Maybe you're trying to save for a house, or you just want to go on holiday and see a bit more of the world. You don't always have time for the long-term goals of pushing for a raise or a promotion. So you're left with earning more money in your spare time. But frankly, side hustles make me nervous. I don't like the idea of people working every waking hour, just to scrape by. That's not normal. Some of these 'genius' side hustles will chew you up and spit you out. You can actually end up losing money if you're not careful. It's not worth killing yourself working two jobs, especially if you'll barely break even at the end of it. Not all side hustles are created equal. I talked to Diana Clement, money writer for the New Zealand Herald, about what options are out there and what it takes to make them work. We discussed the pros and cons of the sharing economy, including Airbnb, Uber, and Builders Crack, as well as the one bit of advice she has for everyone considering the sharing economy. For the episode, listen to the podcast. If you have a question about this podcast, or an idea for the next one, come and talk to me about it. I'm on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Each week the NZ Herald and Newstalk ZB's Cooking The Books podcast tackles a different money problem. Today, it's how to stay on top of the power bill in winter. Hosted by Frances Cook. You know it’s cold when everyone suddenly becomes a fan of cuddles. The cats, the dogs, the children, all pile together in a big heap of body warmth, and all you want to do is join them. Even my snobby cats have been trying to dig their way under the covers each morning. But trying to stay warm without going broke isn’t easy, and sometimes it’s hard to tell what’s worth doing, and what’s going to just be an annoyance that saves you about 50 cents. Energy poverty is a real and worrying phenomenon, but turning off the heater needs to be the last resort, because otherwise, your health is at risk. I talked to EECA energywise technical expert Christian Hoerning and how you can stay warm over winter without going into debt. We discussed the best types of heaters, subsidies for insulation, and the other places you can cut back on power so you can afford heat. For the episode, listen to the podcast. If you have a question about this podcast, or an idea for the next one, come and talk to me about it. I'm on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Each week the NZ Herald and Newstalk ZB's Cooking The Books podcast tackles a different money problem. Today, it's getting past the retirement scaremongering to figure out what you really need. Hosted by Frances Cook. There's nothing more irritating than patronising, scaremongering articles pretending to offer helpful advice about money. Take the recent claims that you should have saved your annual salary by the time you turn 30. As someone who's about to turn 30 myself, I'm only just getting to grips with how money actually works, never mind sitting on a stash of tens of thousands of dollars. Often these articles seem like nothing more than a way for the author to show off their own money skills. 'I've done it, and so can you,' is the attitude, paying no attention to the fact that we're all different, and especially so when it comes to our money situations. It's all very well for the boffins to set these high targets, but for mere mortals, something so unrealistic can make you feel like it's not even worth trying. That said, retirement is something many people look forward to, but don't do enough to prepare for. I called up David Boyle from the Commission for Financial Capability, to talk about what people actually need for retirement. We discussed the scare tactics around retirement savings, and the different factors people need to consider when planning their retirement. For the interview, listen to the podcast. If you have a question about this podcast, or an idea for the next one, come and talk to me about it. I'm on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Each week the NZ Herald and Newstalk ZB's Cooking The Books podcast tackles a different money problem. Today, it's how figuring out your money personality can give you back control. Hosted by Frances Cook.There's a weird thing about economists, where they assume we're all calm and rational with our money.Whole systems have been designed around the idea that people weigh their choices, think calmly, and go for the best options, particularly when it comes to our money habits.But you only have to exist as an adult human to know that's not always true.That you buy something you shouldn't when you have a bad day. That you know people who were burned by the 1987 stock market crash, so you'll never buy any form of shares.  That saving sometimes feels boring, even when you know you need to.Emotions, past experiences, and yes, your personality, all have a major impact on our money choices.But Kiwibank has now come to the party with a money personality quiz, that aims to help you figure out how you feel about money, and use that information to your advantage.I talked to KiwiBank's group manager marketing Mark Wilshire, about their quiz.We discussed what types of money personalities there are, how people can use this knowledge to their advantage, and the results we both got from the quiz.For the interview, listen to the podcast.If you have a question about this podcast or an idea for the next one, come and talk to me about it.Facebook https://www.facebook.com/FrancesCookJournalist/,Instagram https://www.instagram.com/franklysnapping/ Twitter https://twitter.com/FrancesCook.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Each week the NZ Herald and Newstalk ZB's Cooking The Books podcast tackles a different money problem. Today, it's why saving even a little bit could change your relationship with money. Hosted by Frances Cook.People often say it’s the simple things in life, and that’s certainly true when it comes to money. Most of the things you can do to improve your financial situation are pretty simple.But it’s one of the very simplest things that will bring you the most happiness. You just need to actually use your savings account.This is from the ANZ Financial Wellbeing survey, which looks at not only whether we’re coping with our money, but also, how we feel about it.Among the results was a very interesting one for those of us who want to feel more in control: the two biggest changes to increase your money happiness are not borrowing for day-to-day expenses, and to save some money regularly.These lessons applied no matter what income people were on, and even saving a little bit had a powerful effect on financial wellbeing.There’s just one problem. A quarter of the New Zealanders surveyed have absolutely no cash savings.Everyone’s situation is different, but frankly, I just don’t believe that one in four of us doesn’t have enough money to even save $10 a week.I talked to ANZ's General Manager Wealth Products Ana-Marie Lockyer, about what we can all learn from this research and how to be happier about our money.We discussed how important a savings account is, its impact on your financial happiness, how to get started, and how much the average person should save.For the inview, listen to the podcast.If you have a question about this podcast, or an idea for the next one, come and talk to me about it.Facebook https://www.facebook.com/FrancesCookJournalist/ Instagram https://www.instagram.com/franklysnapping/ Twitter https://twitter.com/FrancesCookSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Each week the NZ Herald and Newstalk ZB's Cooking The Books podcast tackles a different money problem. Today, it's the good change for first home buyers, but also a word of caution. Hosted by Frances Cook.After years of bad news for first home buyers, it seems that things are finally starting to improve.Research released by ANZ shows an increasing number of houses are being sold to first home buyers, making up 22 percent of sales across New Zealand during the three months to December 2017.That's a jump up from 17 percent three years ago. ANZ is putting it down to an easing of the loan-to-value restrictions, which pushed banks to demand a higher deposit from those who wanted a mortgage.But there's a note of caution in this news, and it's a really important one.I certainly think buying your own home and paying down the mortgage is an important step for your future. It's something I prioritised for myself.But many of these first home sales are in west or south Auckland, where the market is still running hot. There's a risk that first home buyers, eager to catch a break, will take themselves right to the limit of how much debt they can handle.The problem then comes if the rules change or interest rates go up, you might not be able to handle that debt anymore.So what's the good, the bad, and how we take advantage of it to get ahead? I talked to ANZ managing director retail and business banking, Antonia Watson, for the latest Cooking the Books podcast.We discussed the good news in the research, what could go wrong, and what first home buyers should think about to both protect themselves and keep the bank onside.For the interview, listen to the podcast.If you have a question about this podcast, or an idea for the next one, come and talk to me about it. I'm on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Each week the NZ Herald and Newstalk ZB's Cooking The Books podcast tackles a different money problem. Today, it's what's happening in the home loans market, and how to take advantage of that. Hosted by Frances Cook.If you manage to buy your own home, you may feel like you've already won the battle.And yes, take the time to celebrate, because that's a huge step towards securing your future.But in reality, you're only halfway there.A mortgage is likely the biggest debt you'll ever take on in your life. It will take decades to pay off, and a lot of what you pay will be interest to the bank.That's why it's always crucial to get the best deal you can. A small change in your interest rate can mean tens of thousands in extra payments, money that you could have spent on something else instead.There's been a lot of talk lately about possible increases in interest rates. It's true that at the moment debt is pretty cheap, and there are bargains to be had.That makes me suspicious that the only way to go from here is up.But just-released research from Canstar shows that, at least in the short term, these good rates are expected to stick around.They've also uncovered extra tricks you can keep up your sleeves, to swing the odds even further in your favour.I talked to Canstar research house general manager Jose George for the latest episode of Cooking the Books.We discussed what's new for mortgages, how you can use that to your advantage, and any traps for unwary players.For the interview, listen to the podcast.If you have a question about this podcast, or an idea for the next one, come and talk to me about it. I'm on Facebook here https://www.facebook.com/FrancesCookJournalist/ Instagram here https://www.instagram.com/franklysnapping/ and  Twitter here https://twitter.com/FrancesCookSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Each week the NZ Herald and Newstalk ZB's Cooking The Books podcast tackles a different money problem. Today, it's the strategy many people are turning to, to stop emotion hurting their finances. Hosted by Frances Cook.When it comes to watching your finances, your biggest enemy is you.Yes, you need to watch out for the scammers, the charlatans, the get rich quick schemes that will only make you poor, or of course the people who mean well but don’t actually know what they’re doing.But still, you and your emotions are a bigger danger than that lot.We’ve often talked on this show about how you’ll get the biggest rewards for your money if you can stomach some risk, and think over the long term.People tend to nod sagely and agree with that, right up until they’re tested on it. Like the last couple of weeks.Shares have gone rocky, KiwiSaver balances have fallen, and even those in property are grumbling about the possibility of legislation restricting their ability to get the maximum bang for their buck.All of a sudden I’m being flooded with messages from people asking when they should pull the pin and change their KiwiSaver provider, or sell out of those shares that have just taken a nosedive.This is a very human reaction but also one that can leave you worse off. People tend to buy in when the hype has reached fever pitch, and prices are high. Then things hit a rocky patch, and people sell out, when prices are low.You don’t need me to do the maths and tell you that’s not a smart plan.But there’s an investing strategy to help you avoid these emotional reactions that can hurt you in the long term. It’s called buy and hold, and it’s got a huge following all over the world.I called up Martin Hawes, Authorised Financial Advisor and chair of the Sumner KiwiSaver Investment Committee, for the latest Cooking the Books podcast.We talked about his own experiences with buy and hold, the mistakes he's made selling impulsively, and the times when buy and hold can be a bad idea.For the episode, listen to the podcast.If you have a question about this episode, or an idea for the next one, come and talk to me about it. I'm on Facebook here https://www.facebook.com/FrancesCookJournalist/ Instagram here https://www.instagram.com/franklysnapping/ and Twitter here https://twitter.com/FrancesCookSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Each week the NZ Herald and Newstalk ZB's Cooking The Books podcast tackles a different money problem. Today, it's whether grandstanding politicians could hurt your back pocket. Hosted by Frances Cook.I love a good rollercoaster. Hands in the air, yelling and screaming as you go up the highs and down the lows, defying gravity.It's not quite so fun when it's your investments on that rollercoaster ride.I'm a big fan of investing when you can, and taking care of your own future. Shares are an accessible way for many of us to do that, or at least, a lot easier than trying to get into the property market at the moment.But boy, it looks like we need to buckle up for a ride.Good old President Trump has declared a trade war with China, slapping a bunch of tariffs on their trade partner.It's fair to say that rattled the markets, with the Dow Jones industrial average plunging 700 points in the immediate aftermath.And let's not get too comfy laughing at the Americans from back here in New Zealand. The war of words between Shane Jones and Air New Zealand last week could have turned into something more, and upset our own market.To be honest though, the recent volatility isn't all that unexpected.We've had a bull market for nine years now, meaning soaring values and happy investors.But nine years is a very long time for that to continue, and some might say things are even getting a little overpriced.I talked to NZ Herald personal finance editor Tamsyn Parker, about how people could prepare for a rocky ride.We discussed how this could even hit people who haven't directly bought shares, how to prepare for a volatile market, as well as the argument that a little bit of bad news, would actually be good news.For the interview, listen to the podcast.If you have a question about this podcast, or an idea for the next one, come and talk to me about it. I'm on Facebook here https://www.facebook.com/FrancesCookJournalist/, Instagram here https://www.instagram.com/franklysnapping/ and Twitter here https://twitter.com/FrancesCookSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Each week the NZ Herald and Newstalk ZB's Cooking The Books podcast tackles a different money problem. Today, it's whether you should help your kids with the problem of getting a first home. Hosted by Frances Cook.Just when you thought the property market was bad enough, there's a whole new layer of complication added on top.High prices are now forcing many first home buyers to turn to the bank of mum and dad for help.Figures from Australia show that last year, 55 percent of first home buyers had some kind of help from the oldies.That's a jump up from just 3.3 percent in 2010. It's a shocking leap in just seven years.Over here in New Zealand, the figures are more piecemeal. Nobody collects this kind of data across the entire industry.But data from Mike Pero mortgages shows we might actually be worse off, with between 60-70 percent of their first home buyers getting help from the parents.This is worrying, first of all, because it's a step towards New Zealand having landed gentry. If you need parental help to buy a house, what are you going to do if you're not from a wealthy family?An accident of birth shouldn't decide whether or not you can own a home.The next issue is the extremely complicated family dynamics this opens up. Parents may want to help their kids so badly that they hurt their own finances and retirement.Or kids might feel the generous gift is held over their heads, planting the seeds of anger and resentment.I talked to KiwiBank general manager of sales and service for Tracey Berry, about the options for helping out the kids.We discussed the pros and cons, how parents with money could help out, and the ways you can still help the kids if you don't have spare cash.For the interview, listen to the podcast.If you have a question about this podcast, or an idea for the next one, come and talk to me about it. I'm on Facebook here https://www.facebook.com/FrancesCookJournalist/ Instagram here https://www.instagram.com/franklysnapping/ and Twitter here https://twitter.com/FrancesCook.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Each week the NZ Herald and Newstalk ZB's Cooking The Books podcast tackles a different money problem. Today, it's how you can have fun without spending a cent. Hosted by Frances Cook.A basic rule of personal finance is to live within your means. Spend less than you earn. Have some self-restraint.Which is all well and good, but that's really hard.The finer things in life are fun, and I'm as susceptible as anyone else to just giving in, yelling out YOLO, and blowing my budget.So it's with a bit of self-interest that I put this episode together. There are many ways to have fun cheaply, or even for free. Sometimes we just need a reminder.I know what my favourite ones are, but I wanted to know yours, as well.Cooking the Books listeners are smart, and you guys always suggest something that I hadn't thought of.So the call went out on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter, asking for your favourite ways to have fun on the cheap.The results? Eight clever ways to have fun without spending a cent. For some of them, you might even make money.For the tips, listen to the podcast.If you have a question about this podcast, or an idea for the next one, come and talk to me about it. I'm on Facebook here https://www.facebook.com/FrancesCookJournalist/ Instagram here https://www.instagram.com/franklysnapping/ and Twitter here https://twitter.com/FrancesCookSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Each week the NZ Herald and Newstalk ZB's Cooking The Books podcast tackles a different money problem. Today, it's whether it's about to get easier to buy your own home. Hosted by Frances Cook.First home buyers will be crossing their fingers and toes that relief is on the horizon, with the Labour Government working on plans to ban foreign buyers from our housing market.It's a strong move, designed to ease the pressure that's seen home ownership slip out of the reach of ordinary New Zealanders.It's one that appeals to me at first blush. Keep New Zealand homes for New Zealanders, not some foreign landlord that makes us tenants in our own country.It's simple supply and demand; if you reduce the competition for a house, down from the whole world, to just New Zealanders, the prices will surely fall.But the devil is always in the detail with these issues, and housing is a particularly devilish issue.We still need new homes built here, and some say this move will stop the foreign investment that drives big projects like apartment blocks.It could also cause problems for companies trying to go about the business that keeps many of us employed, and the economy ticking over.I talked to NZ Herald property editor Anne Gibson about whether banning foreign buyers would actually help New Zealanders buy their own homes.We discussed what the ban is likely to include, the possible drawbacks for businesses and development, and what difference first home buyers will notice.For the episode, listen to the podcast.If you have a question about this podcast, or an idea for the next one, come and talk to me about it. I'm on Facebook here https://www.facebook.com/FrancesCookJournalist/, Instagram here https://www.instagram.com/franklysnapping/ and Twitter here https://twitter.com/FrancesCook​.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Each week the NZ Herald and Newstalk ZB's Cooking The Books podcast tackles a different money problem. Today, it's how to use your credit score to your advantage. Hosted by Frances Cook.Most of us wouldn’t give much thought to our credit score. In fact, depending on who you ask, only between 20 to 40 percent of New Zealanders even know what a credit score is.But as with most things in personal finance, knowledge is power. Whether or not you’re keeping an eye on it, banks are constantly scoring us on how good we are with our money.This score can impact everything from getting a credit card, to bagging a new rental house, or even what kind of deal you get when you pay off your bills.And yet, while we’re ignoring our credit scores, many of us are also tanking them.Research from Credit Simple shows credit card bills tend to get neglected around this time. Late payments peak in the first quarter of the year, at 7.6 percent.Meanwhile research from Canstar shows more of us are using the plastic, up nearly 50 percent from 2009 to 2017, to hit $43 billion in credit card debt.Those Kiwis who didn’t pay it off in time ended up paying a combined $700 million extra last year, according to Canstar.But it’s not just the obvious debts that can hurt your credit score. There are some sneaky little tests that can hurt your financial plans, if you don’t know about them.The first step is to face the facts, and the second is to leverage all of that new information to your advantage.I talked to Hazel Phillips from Credit Simple for the latest Cooking the Books podcast.We talked about what hurts your credit score, what helps it, and how you can use all of this information to help your back pocket.For the interview, listen to the podcast.If you have a question about this podcast, or an idea for the next one, come and talk to me about it. I'm on Facebook here https://www.facebook.com/FrancesCookJournalist/  Instagram here https://www.instagram.com/franklysnapping/ and Twitter here https://twitter.com/FrancesCook.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Each week the New Zealand Herald and Newstalk ZB's Cooking The Books podcast tackles a different money problem. Today, it's why you shouldn't overreact to your KiwiSaver taking a dive. Hosted by Frances Cook.It’s satisfying watching your KiwiSaver climb higher every day. You can even get it attached to your bank accounts, so that you can keep an eye on it as part of your daily banking.You watch your nest egg increase in value, secure in the knowledge you’re planning for your retirement and looking after your future.Except watching it so closely can be a terrible idea. Especially if the recent sharemarket jitters have made you nervous.The sharemarket has hit a rocky patch. In the beginning of February the S&P500 had its worst day since the end of 2016, finishing the week down 3.9 percent.When the U.S. sneezes the rest of us catch a cold, so not only is the U.S. sharemarket continuing to jump around, but so is New Zealand’s.If you think you don’t invest in shares, think again. Most KiwiSaver funds have at least a little bit in shares. If you’re in a growth fund like I am, it might be quite a bit. So if you’re watching your KiwiSaver balance on a day-to-day basis, you’ve probably seen it start to go down.That can be pretty scary I’ll admit, particularly if you’ve been thinking about your KiwiSaver as if it’s a savings account at a bank.But it’s not, it’s an investment fund. If you want the good returns that will make your money grow, you have to grit your teeth during the times it temporarily goes down. I called Dr Ayesha Scott, finance lecturer at AUT, to talk about how to deal with a fall in your KiwiSaver. We talked about why it's normal for KiwiSaver to go down as well as up, how to deal with that, and whether there's ever a time to panic. For the interview, listen to the podcast. If you have a question about this podcast, or an idea for the next one, come and talk to me about it. I'm on Facebook here https://www.facebook.com/FrancesCookJournalist/ Instagram here https://www.instagram.com/franklysnapping/ and Twitter here https://twitter.com/FrancesCook ​See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Each week the New Zealand Herald and Newstalk ZB's Cooking The Books podcast tackles a different money problem. Today, it's why a pay rise isn't enough to solve money problems. Hosted by Frances Cook.If you're hoping a pay rise will fix all your money problems, I have bad news for you. It won't.Sorry to start on such a harsh note, but it's true. People on modest incomes can often find ways to look after themselves, including putting money away for retirement.Meanwhile people earning ridiculous amounts can still go broke, quite easily.How else do you think that even wildly successful singers and actors often become publicly and embarrassingly bankrupt?Now I'm the first to back you up if you want to go for a raise. But people often use that as an excuse to do nothing else, throwing their hands up and claiming there's nothing more they can do.But there's a major difference between income and wealth, and you can start becoming wealthier right now. You just need to change some of the ways you handle your money.Luckily these aren't rich people secrets, or if they are, they won't be for long.I called up Tim Fairbrother, authorised financial adviser for Rival Wealth, for the latest episode of the Cooking the Books podcast. We talked about how to make a difference even when you're on a lower income, the problem of lifestyle creep, and the balance between enjoying your money and planning for the future. For the interview, listen to the podcast.If you have a question about this podcast, or an idea for the next one, come and talk to me about it. I'm on Facebook here https://www.facebook.com/FrancesCookJournalist/ Instagram here https://www.instagram.com/franklysnapping/ and Twitter here https://twitter.com/FrancesCook.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Each week the New Zealand Herald and Newstalk ZB's Cooking The Books podcast tackles a different money problem. Today, it's how a greener lifestyle can help your back pocket. Hosted by Frances Cook.We all know we should be doing more to save the planet.Landfills are piling up, climate change is getting started, and it seems like a new species becomes endangered or extinct every day.The problem is we're can be a selfish bunch sometimes, and it can be hard to persuade people to look after the planet purely out of the goodness of their hearts.Isn't it lucky, then, that things like reducing waste can also save you money?Cutting down on the mindless consumption means you can keep your money for the things you actually want to do, while also stopping factories churning out rubbish that will be in a landfill within weeks.Those who've already made the change in their own lives say it's easier than you'd think, and the personal benefits are enormous.I called up zero waste blogger Amanda Chapman from wastefreeland.nz, for the latest episode of the Cooking the Books podcast.We talked about the areas where most people can cut down on waste, what it's like living in a tiny house, and whether it's possible to have kids while being zero waste.For the interview, listen to the podcast.If you have a question about this podcast, or an idea for the next one, come and talk to me about it. I'm on Facebook here https://www.facebook.com/FrancesCookJournalist/ Instagram  here https://www.instagram.com/franklysnapping/ and Twitter here https://twitter.com/FrancesCook​.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

You could be forgiven for thinking cryptocurrencies, and particularly Bitcoin, are the victims of overexcited hype. That people need to cool their jets.You wouldn't be that wrong.Through 2017 the price of Bitcoin went up over 1000 percent.Bitcoin is of course just one type of cryptocurrency, but by the tail end of 2017 all the various cryptocurrencies together had a total market capitalisation of over 400 billion New Zealand dollars.Those are big numbers, and for some people, you'll be immediately suspecting we're in bubble territory. I certainly do.But there are those who like the spicy side of investing, who aren't put off by all this.There's certainly an argument that behind the hype, this technology is going to change the way we do business.If you try to trade bitcoin from New Zealand, though, you can run into difficulties. There's even talk of bank accounts being closed if you trade too much, as banks are nervous about the link between cryptocurrencies and criminal activity.If you've ever had a chance to take a peek at the dark web, where drugs and other nefarious things are sold, you'll know that people are indeed using bitcoin for these transactions.So what do our big financial institutions make of all this, and what do they think is the future of cryptocurrency once the hype has died down?I called up Reuben Tucker, ANZ's head of transaction banking for New Zealand and the Pacific, for the latest episode of the Cooking the Books podcast.We talked about the difference between bitcoin and blockchain, how banks are already starting to use blockchain, and what the future is for cryptocurrencies.For the interview, listen to the podcast. If you have a question about this episode, or something you'd like me to cover in the future, come and talk to me about it. I'm on Facebook here https://www.facebook.com/FrancesCookJournalist/ Instagram here https://www.instagram.com/franklysnapping/ and Twitter here https://twitter.com/FrancesCook.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Each week the New Zealand Herald and Newstalk ZB's Cooking The Books podcast tackles a different money problem. Today, it's the common myths about KiwiSaver, and the truth behind them. Hosted by Frances Cook.If you don't do anything else for your financial future, sort out your KiwiSaver.OK, it's not quite as simple as that, but it's close.KiwiSaver has got so many goodies attached to it, including free money, and help for getting your first home.But you do have to put in just ten minutes of effort to make sure you're getting all the money you're entitled to.I encourage people to send me their money questions so that I can answer them on this podcast. One that comes up over and over again is KiwiSaver.Will the Government somehow steal your money? What on earth is the difference between all the different funds? And does it matter anyway, if you've signed up then you're sorted, right?On that last point, signing up is only the beginning, otherwise you could be missing out on hundreds of thousands of dollars in free cash.But luckily, figuring things out is actually pretty simple.I talked to David Boyle from the Commission for Financial Capability for the latest Cooking the Books podcast.We talked about all sorts including what KiwiSaver actually is, what happens if you die or get divorced, how to pick a fund, and how to use it for a first home.For the episode, listen to the podcast. If you have any questions about this episode, or something else for a future episode, come and talk to me about it. You can find me on Facebook here https://www.facebook.com/FrancesCookJournalist/, Instagram here https://www.instagram.com/franklysnapping/, and Twitter here https://twitter.com/FrancesCook.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Each week the New Zealand Herald and Newstalk ZB's Cooking The Books podcast tackles a different money problem. Today, it's growing movement of people chasing financial independence, so they can retire early. Hosted by Frances Cook.There's a reason so many people queue up to buy a Lotto ticket each week.The siren call of winning big, telling the boss to stuff it, then taking off on a trip around the world, is a dream for many of us.But there's a growing movement of people who believe you don't have to win Lotto in order to quit your job for good. They say the secret is FIRE – which stands for Financial Independence, Retire Early.These people are laying the foundations to say goodbye to the nine-to-five, with some planning retirement at 30 or 40 years old.Crazy, you might think. They're delusional. They'll run out of money.Well the fans of this idea would disagree with you, and they're certainly doing their homework to make sure they set themselves up right.The idea is that you live frugally, invest everything you can, and after a while you'll be financially independent enough to pick when or even if you want to work.I talked to Alpha Leung, personal finance blogger at The Smart and Lazy, and one of many New Zealanders jumping on this idea.We talked about the FIRE community, Leung's favourite tricks for his own financial journey, and any tips he had for beginners.For the interview, listen to the podcast. If you have a question about this episode, or something you'd like me to cover in the future, come and talk to me about it. I'm on Facebook here https://www.facebook.com/FrancesCookJournalist/ and Twitter here https://twitter.com/FrancesCookSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Each week the New Zealand Herald and Newstalk ZB's Cooking The Books podcast tackles a different money problem. Today, it's the reasons women need to save more for retirement, and how to deal with it. Hosted by Frances Cook.This episode is one of the most popular from 2017, and originally played on July 13.Many of us aren't prepared for retirement, but the deck is particularly stacked against women.Spend a moment thinking about it, and it becomes obvious why.Women earn less than men, an average of 12 per cent less. So if you're saving a percentage of your income, you're already off to a bad start with less in the kitty.Then there's the common reality of having a family. Right or wrong, it's usually women who take time out from the workforce in order to raise the kids.When you stop earning, or shift on to part-time work, your retirement savings will obviously take a major hit.Earlier this year ANZ released information showing that the average woman would retire with almost $80,000 less in their KiwiSaver accounts than a man. When you look at the percentages, the average woman's account balance is 19 per cent lower.These facts are particularly worrying when you remember that women tend to live longer, around four years longer on average in New Zealand.So, we need more retirement funds, but we actually have far less.Maybe you plan to split the nest egg with your partner, the one you had the family with. Which is totally fair and reasonable, except for the problem that divorce happens.It not nice, but it's a reality, and it's an expensive one. Even if you manage the miraculous fair split of assets, which many don't, a lot of money will still be eaten up by lawyers' fees.It's not a hopeless situation though, just one that women need to deal with.I talked to Amanda Morrall, author of personal finance book Money Matters, and also spokeswoman for Simplicity, a non-profit KiwiSaver scheme.We talked in more detail about the impact of the pay gap, how small differences compound over time, as well as the tactics women can use to avoid poverty in old age.For the full interview, listen to the podcast.If you have questions about this podcast, or an idea for next time, come and have a chat with me. I'm on Twitter here and Facebook here.You can also subscribe to this podcast on iTunes here.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Each week the New Zealand Herald and Newstalk ZB's Cooking The Books podcast tackles a different money problem. Today, it's what to expect for your finances in the year ahead. Hosted by Frances Cook.It's the time of year to take stock, and your finances are the best place to start.It impacts everything else, and you need to be honest about where you stand before making grand plans for the year.But frankly, it's not always totally within our control. Sometimes the dice rolls in your favour, and sometimes there are clouds on the horizon that you can only try to shelter from.So what's the good, bad, and ugly for our financial 2018?Should we be bracing for impact, or getting ready to make hay while the sun shines?I talked to two of my NZ Herald colleagues to find out, Business Editor at Large Liam Dann and Personal Finance Editor Tamsyn Parker.We talked about whether you can expect a pay rise, what parts of life will become more expensive, and what on earth the housing market is up to.For the interview, listen to the podcast.If you have a question about this episode, or something you'd like me to cover in the future, come and talk to me about it. I'm on Facebook here https://www.facebook.com/FrancesCookJournalist/ and Twitter here https://twitter.com/FrancesCookSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Each week the New Zealand Herald and Newstalk ZB's Cooking The Books podcast tackles a different money problem. Today, it's where to start if you're in debt. Hosted by Frances Cook.This episode is one of the most popular from 2017, and originally played on September 23. If you're in debt up to your neck, it's tempting to close your eyes and pretend it isn't happening. But just because that's a totally natural response, doesn't mean you can give in to it. The longer you ignore debt the worse it will get, and eventually, the people who loaned you the money aren't going to let you ignore it anymore. It's a horrible situation to be in, and yet, I understand how people get there. There's an entire industry dedicated to getting you to spend money you don't have. In the last six months we've even seen a new industry crop up, with four companies now offering buy now pay later, for when you're shopping online. The idea is that you see something you like, buy it, and then pay for it over several weeks. The thing is, if you can't afford that now, you may not be able to afford that when the payments come around either. And if you can't pay, you get stung with late payment charges of around $10. That might not sound like a big fee, but people use these part pay services for little purchases. So if you've spent $50, and get a fee of $10, that's 20%. That's an absolute rip off. But they're not the worst. Short term lenders, like pay day lenders, often charge more than 50 percent a year. Some will charge one percent per day. That's predatory. There's been a spike in complaints about short term lenders, particularly whether it's good enough that people are getting loans through online or text message applications. So now the Commerce Commission is investigating. All well and good, but what about if you've already got yourself into a sticky situation? Where do you start, and how do you stop yourself panicking? I gave the Commission for Financial Capability's personal finance editor Tom Hartmann a call. We talked about how to recognise when your debt is going bad, the different types of lenders, and the best strategy for getting out of debt. For the interview, listen to the podcast. If you have a question about this episode, or something you'd like me to cover in the future, come and talk to me about it. I'm on Facebook herehttps://www.facebook.com/FrancesCookJournalist/, and Twitter here https://twitter.com/FrancesCook. If you want to make sure you never miss an episode, subscribe to the podcast on the Apple podcasts app, or I Heart Radio.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Each week the New Zealand Herald and Newstalk ZB's Cooking The Books podcast tackles a different money problem. Today, it's how to handle the notorious Boxing Day sales. Hosted by Frances Cook.Everyone loves to grab a bargain, but the problem is that shops know that.We're in an expensive time of year, but once you've cleared up the barbeque and polished off the Christmas cake, many people will then turn their attention to spending all of that Christmas money on the Boxing Day sales.Boxing Day is one of the most heavily discounted days of the year for New Zealand.It's also a top day for spending, but what really brings the craziness, is that people all turn up at once, right at the beginning of the day. Nobody wants to be the schmuck who only just misses out on the last of the heavily discounted stock.But in all the excitement, it's easy to lose your head. If you buy rubbish you don't need, it doesn't matter how good the bargain was. It's still rubbish you didn't need.I called up Sue Chetwin, chief executive of Consumer NZ, to find out how can you take advantage of the sales without the shops taking advantage of you.We talked about how to create a strategy for what you need, avoiding losing your head in the excitement, and the way to make sure you don't end up hating your loved ones.For the interview, listen to the podcast.If you have any questions about this podcast, or something you'd like me to look into in the future, get in touch. You can find me on Facebook here https://www.facebook.com/FrancesCookJournalist/ and Twitter here https://twitter.com/FrancesCook .See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Each week the New Zealand Herald and Newstalk ZB's Cooking The Books podcast tackles a different money problem. Today, it's how to get through the notoriously expensive Christmas season without blowing the budget. Hosted by Frances Cook.You don't need me to tell you it's an expensive time of year.I start to feel the dread of Christmas around October, reminding me I need to buy people presents, stock up on food, and prepare for the social calendar to be flooded.All of the Christmas festivities are fun, don't get me wrong, but they can definitely leave you with a fiscal hangover.So in the spirit of Christmas, I got the Cooking the Books community together to share their best tips with each other.I asked those who follow my pages on Facebook and Twitter how they got through Christmas without totally blowing the budget.We're a bunch of frugally minded people, and the last time we did a community episode I was impressed at the great advice people had to offer.Listen to the podcast for the full quotes of how people use these tips and tricks in their own life, but for those of you who just want a quick list, here are the main points.Be picky about who actually gets a present.Now this might sound a little scrooge-ish, but I think it's a great tip.It's easy to feel like you need to be santa and buy something expensive and thoughtful for everyone from your boss's first cousin, to the mailman's dog. But there are better ways to go about it.Secret santas for the adults and a price limit on presents for the kids were a popular solution.Taking the focus off a mountain of presents lets everyone relax a bit , and spend their time and money on being together instead.Go second hand for presents.From the people who messaged me, this seems to be particularly useful for kids.The local second hand shops can be a treasure trove of high quality toys, and particularly while they're young, kids won't notice or care.Others didn't even pop down to the local Sallies for second hand gifts; they regifted things they'd received the year before.Regifting is all about diplomacy and thought. Don't do it in front of the person who gave you it originally, and make sure the person you're regifting to is likely to actually enjoy it.Get craftyThis is for the skilled people amongst us, but there are some great things you can give that are more meaningful than an expensive present.Homemade chutneys or preserves were popular gifts for adults, or a voucher book of treats for your significant other.While yes, the point of this episode is to save money, I think these ideas actually bring us back to what Christmas is about.By spending time together and doing something thoughtful to help another person out, it forces you to think about things a bit more.Plan aheadWhile this isn't much help for this year, you can start thinking about next Christmas right now.People messaged me with clever tips including paying into a special presents bank account all year, paying extra on their bills from September so they could coast through Christmas for free, and the best Christmas supermarket clubs that give you bang for your buck.Spreading it over the year like this makes it so much easier to deal with.Spread the loadChristmas is a time when you might feel the pressure to be the perfect host by feeding your entire extended family a five course meal.Overeating is one of my favourite parts of the holiday season, but there are ways to do it with less stress and cost.Lots of people messaged me with the idea to bring a plate. This not only cuts down on the time and stress of producing a mountain of food, but also makes sure you get lots of different types of food.Then you get to relax and eat together, and enjoy your time more.Saving money...See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Each week the New Zealand Herald and Newstalk ZB's Cooking The Books podcast tackles a different money problem. Today, it's how to protect yourself from the scammers. Hosted by Frances Cook.When you're trying to make a buck, the lure of finding the golden ticket is hard to resist.The old saying 'if it's too good to be true, it probably is', gets bandied around a lot, and yet people still fall for scams over and over again.Even worse is when you think you know what you're doing. There's nothing more dangerous than a little bit of knowledge.It's often just enough to overinflate your confidence, and send you running headlong into deals that have major red flags.Take cryptocurrencies like bitcoin.They're the hot thing right now, helped along by some astonishing rises in value. They're true disrupters, likely to change the way people do business, and there is certainly money to be made.But unless you really know what you're doing, in my view cryptocurrencies are too similar to gambling at this point in time. A new player pops up every day, and it's hard to tell the disrupters from those who've jumped on the bandwagon, or even worse, from the scammers.Just a few days ago the Herald revealed a stern warning from the Financial Markets Authority about e-commerce site Sell My Good. Those behind it want investor cash for their website, and the digital currency people will need to use it, SMG Cash.The FMA warned people away from the company, and the Weekend Herald investigation found traffic on the website appeared to have been inflated by a factor of 10,000.There's nothing like goosing your numbers to make it more attractive to investors.Sell My Good eventually withdrew their investment offer and said their website was hacked.I called Paul Gregory, director of external communications and investor capability for the Financial Markets Authority, to talk us through the difference between hot opportunities and dodgy deals.We talked about the questions to ask yourself before you even start investing, red flags that you should always be cautious of, and the particular danger of investments based overseas.For the interview, listen to the podcast.If you have a question about the episode or something you want me to look into for the future, come and talk to me about it. You can find me on Facebook here https://www.facebook.com/FrancesCookJournalist/ and Twitter here https://twitter.com/FrancesCook.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Each week the New Zealand Herald and Newstalk ZB's Cooking The Books podcast tackles a different money problem. Today, it's what to do when friends and career collide. Hosted by Frances Cook.They do say that it's not what you know, but who you know.When you're at work friends can be the people who make a long day go faster, or the people who save you when you're in a pinch. Whether it's the day to day grind or a full-blown emergency, it helps to have people in your corner.But friends aren't always a blessing.Keep in mind that we spend the majority of our waking hours at work. No matter how much you usually like someone, work politics can put a strain on even the best of buddies.Of course, not everyone will be your friend. When you've got enough people in a room together, some are guaranteed to rub each other the wrong way.You likely spend more time with your co-workers than your spouse, but you have absolutely no say on who those co-workers are.I called Rachel Morrison, AUT senior lecturer in organisational psychology, for the latest Cooking the Books podcast.We talked about how work friendships can go wrong, how to neutralise a frenemy, and when it's time to give up and alert the boss.For the interview, listen to the podcast.If you have any questions about this episode or something you'd like to feature in a future episode, come and talk to me about it. I'm on Facebook here https://www.facebook.com/FrancesCookJournalist/ and Twitter here https://twitter.com/FrancesCook.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Each week the New Zealand Herald and Newstalk ZB's Cooking The Books podcast tackles a different money problem. Today, it's why you shouldn't start living it up just because your house value went up. Hosted by Frances Cook.If you're anything like me, your jaw dropped when you heard the change in Auckland house prices.Between 2014 and 2017, average residential property values have jumped 45 percent. Your average house in our biggest city is now worth $1.07m.While hopeful first home buyers will be crying into their avocado toast at this news, those lucky enough to be home owners already are probably pretty excited.People tend to see things like a change in their house value, and lose their heads. They feel richer and start living it up.Sorry to burst your bubble guys, but you really shouldn't be. Just because your house is a millionaire, doesn't mean you are. And you certainly shouldn't start living like one just because your house value has shot, well, through the roof.There are both traps, and possible advantages, from these changing house values.I called Hobson Wealth Partners head of fixed income Mark Fowler, to talk about the pros and cons for the latest Cooking the Books podcast.We discussed the difference between real and paper wealth, the traps for those who get overexcited about increasing house values, and the ways to use house values to truly increase your wealth.For the interview, listen to the podcast.If you have any questions about this episode, or something you'd like me to investigate for a future episode, come and talk to me about it. I'm on Facebook here https://www.facebook.com/FrancesCookJournalist/ and Twitter here https://twitter.com/FrancesCook.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Each week the New Zealand Herald and Newstalk ZB's Cooking The Books podcast tackles a different money problem. Today, it's how to make the most of your cash while you're young. Hosted by Frances Cook.When you're young is the best time to make the most money with the least effort.When you're young is also when you're the least likely to do it.The secret here is that time is the biggest and best ingredient for growing your money. If you stash away $10 in your twenties, it will do far more for you than $20 dollars in your forties.It's all down to the magic of compound interest, which is one of the most overlooked modern miracles.Put that $10 somewhere smart, and it can start earning you money. Every bit of money it earns you will then also get to work to earn you even more money, and it snowballs to give you bigger and bigger returns.Time and compound interest. They're the secret to doing well with the least effort from you.But hey, don't just take my word for it. After all, I'm just a person with a podcast who regularly neglects to follow her own advice.I called Karl Arns, a 25-year-old authorised financial adviser and institutional commodities dealer for OMF. Yes, a millenial who knows about money, and can tell you about both the theory and practice of doing better with it while you're young.We talked about how much of a difference it makes to start looking after your money when you're young, even if you start small. We also talked about where to start if it's all a bit overwhelming, and the money traps to avoid at all costs.For the interview, listen to the podcast.If you have a question, or something you'd like me to investigate for a future episode, come and talk to me about it. You can find me on Facebook here https://www.facebook.com/FrancesCookJournalist/ and Twitter here https://twitter.com/FrancesCook.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Each week the New Zealand Herald and Newstalk ZB's Cooking The Books podcast tackles a different money problem. Today, it's working out what the fuss is about bitcoin, and whether you should be getting involved. Hosted by Frances Cook.Bitcoin, blockchain, cryptocurrency - whatever you want to call it, new digital currencies are making waves, enough for the average person to sit up and wonder whether they should be jumping on the bandwagon.At the end of each episode of Cooking the Books, I always invite people to send me their questions on things they want to know more about.To my surprise, questions about bitcoin have been one of the biggest requests. People want to know more about whether it's safe, how they can try it, and what it even is.Yet for all of this public interest, the New Zealand government and banks are holding these cryptocurrencies at arm's length.We're a country that usually loves to combine technology and money, even at the relatively simple level of how fast and enthusiastically we all started using EFTPOS.Yet if you want to dabble in cryptocurrencies here, you face a bit of a wild west. There's even the possibility of the bank shutting down your account and accusing you of being linked to illegal activities.I called up Auckland University's Head of Department of Commercial Law, Associate Professor Alex Sims, to find out if there was a good reason why some were dragging their feet.We talked about how these new currencies actually work, why they've caused all this controversy, and what the potential is for them to change the way we live our lives.For the interview, listen to the podcast.If you have a question about this podcast, or something you want me to look into for a future episode, come and talk to me about it.I'm on Facebook here https://www.facebook.com/FrancesCookJournalist/, and Twitter here https://twitter.com/FrancesCook.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Each week the New Zealand Herald and Newstalk ZB's Cooking The Books podcast tackles a different money problem. Today, it's how to invest your money ethically. Hosted by Frances Cook.Kiwis have shown over and over again that they’re fans of ethical investing.Take the scandal over KiwiSaver funds accidentally investing into tobacco companies and businesses that produced cluster bombs. While some might have seen this as the price of a good return, most New Zealanders were outraged and demanded a change.Plucky upstart Sharesies, that company that lets you invest in shares for as little as $5, has also found hot demand for ethical options.They opened for business in beta mode, actively looking for feedback from their customers.One of the biggest demands was for ethical funds.All of this is part of a sea-change happening in New Zealand investing right now. While there once was a bit of lip service to ethical options, many in the industry have overhauled their funds to get serious about the issue.Yes, it was partly triggered by the nightmare publicity of the KiwiSaver cluster bombs investing, but the outcome is still an interesting one.In the recently released New Zealand Investment and Operations Outlook Survey, 64 percent of local fund managers said they wanted to be seen as doing the right thing on environmental, social, and governance issues.That’s a huge leap from only 20 percent the year before. As in, before the KiwiSaver scandal.I called up Mark Lister, head of Private Wealth Research for Craigs Investment Partners, to find out what ethical investing actually mean, and if there's any downside.We talked about what actually counts as being ethical, whether your returns will be as good, and what a new investor can look for to make sure their investments fit their own personal ethics.For the interview, listen to the podcast.If you have questions about the podcast, or an idea for next time, come and find me online. I'm on Facebook here https://www.facebook.com/FrancesCookJournalist/ and Twitter here https://twitter.com/FrancesCookSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Each week the New Zealand Herald and Newstalk ZB's Cooking The Books podcast tackles a different money problem. Today, it's what to stay alert for if you lend money to family. Hosted by Frances Cook.There's an old rule that says don't lend money to family, or friends that you're particularly fond of.Money is a weird thing, and it can change the relationship in ways you never expected.Maybe the person who borrowed doesn't pay it back, opening up a can of worms. Or the two sides have different expectations about how quickly it's paid back.Then you have the thorny problem of a loan from parents to a child, and a different sibling getting jealous about perceived favouritism.It's a thorny issue alright, but there's also a reason why people keep doing it.Money makes the world go round, and if you're wanting to buy a house or start a business, you'll need some of it. If you don't have enough of your own, then family who can help will almost always cut you a better deal than the banks.It's just this issue which credi.com wants to help with. It's an online process to get everything written down and formalised when you're loaning money between friends and family.It's launching here in New Zealand this month, and if it gets a response like it has in Australia, it'll do well.So, there's obviously a lot of people mixing money and family.I called NZ Herald personal finance writer Diana Clement about the biggest issues people needed to watch, if they were getting into this situation.We talked about the pros and cons of lending to family, the horror stories that can become reality, and other options for when lending isn't a good idea.For the interview, listen to the podcast.If you have a question about this podcast, or something you want covered next time, come and talk to me about it. I'm on Facebook here https://www.facebook.com/FrancesCookJournalist/, and Twitter here https://twitter.com/FrancesCook.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Each week the New Zealand Herald and Newstalk ZB's Cooking The Books podcast tackles a different money problem. Today, it's what a capital gains tax would mean for the average person. Hosted by Frances Cook. Just the word - ‘tax’ - can be enough to strike fear into some peoples’ hearts. But go ahead and say ‘capital gains tax’, and people tend to start talking angrily about housing, whether they’re for or against. BNZ boss Anthony Healy has caused a bit of a splash by doing just that. He says there needs to be tax reform to stop the rising inequality between rich and poor. His biggest request to make things fairer? Please, bring in a capital gains tax. But for a phrase that strikes fear into the heart of some, and is a symbol of hope for others, there’s remarkably little talk about what it could actually mean for the average New Zealander. Would it destroy the family home some have worked so hard to create? Or help level the playing field for hopeful first home buyers? Maybe rein in greedy property investors? It’s time to get into some myth busting, so I called Hannah McQueen from financial coaching firm EnableMe, to figure out what a capital gains tax would actually mean for you and I. We talked about what the average home owner would notice if one was brought in, if it was the silver bullet to help first home buyers, and whether it would rein in property investors. For the interview, listen to the podcast. If you have questions about this podcast, or an idea for next time, come and talk to me online. I'm on Facebook and Twitter.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Each week the New Zealand Herald and Newstalk ZB's Cooking The Books podcast tackles a different money problem. Today, it's how to supercharge your KiwiSaver without spending a cent. Hosted by Frances Cook.It's been ten years since KiwiSaver launched, and now it seems that the Financial Markets Authority is losing patience with how the scheme is being run.The FMA is the watchdog that makes sure you and I don't get ripped off when it comes to investing our money. So it's a big deal that last week they fired a warning shot a KiwiSaver providers, telling those running the default accounts that they need to do better.If you signed up to KiwiSaver, but never chose where your money went or what type of fund it went into, you're in a default account. Those default accounts are conservative, which means there's very little risk to them, but also much less reward.You could be missing out on hundreds of thousands of dollars, when switching wouldn't cost you a cent.Those default accounts were never meant to be permanent, and the providers are supposed to help you decide what to do next, and what type of fund is best for you.But in the year to 31 March 2017, 16,902 people switched out of their default fund and into a better one. That's way down from the 28,608 the year before.Now the FMA says that has to change. They want the default providers to explain what's going on, and come up with a plan to do better.But hey, why wait for them to get their act together when there's plenty we can do ourselves?I called AUT professor of finance Bart Frijns, to pick his brains on what people can do to make their KiwiSaver better.We talked about how what type of fund you're in matters more than how much money you put into it, and what providers can do to look after their customers better. For the interview, listen to the podcast.If you have a question about this podcast, or something you want me to look into for next time, come and talk to me about it. I'm on Facebook here www.facebook.com/FrancesCookJournalist and Twitter here https://twitter.com/FrancesCookSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Each week the New Zealand Herald and Newstalk ZB's Cooking The Books podcast tackles a different money problem. Today, it's how to find out if you're getting paid enough, and what to do about it. Hosted by Frances Cook.If you're a regular Joe reading the news lately, you could be forgiven for feeling sulky about the state of your pay. Fonterra's CEO Theo Spierings has almost doubled his total pay packet to $8 million. Not bad if you can get it. Meanwhile our politicians are still wrangling over who will be in Government, and yet they're getting a raise too. It looks more reasonable on paper, at 2.5 percent, but keep in mind they're already paid a lot. In real dollars, that means even a lowly backbencher gets an extra $4,000. The Prime Minister, whoever that is, will get more than $11,000 extra. These aren't one off incidents either. Otago University research had found that between 1997 and 2015, chief executives’ pay packets have increased 228 percent. In comparison, the average worker's pay has gone up 91 percent. If you're feeling a bit irritated by now, and thinking it's time to ask for a raise, then good. So you should. I called up E Tu union national secretary Bill Newson, for his best tips on how to get that raise. We talked about how to find out what you're paid, how to prepare for asking for a raise, and other sweeteners you can ask for if money is tight. For the interview, listen to the podcast. If you have a question about this podcast, or something you want me to look into in the future, come and talk to me about it. I'm on Facebook here https://www.facebook.com/FrancesCookJournalist/ and Twitter here https://twitter.com/FrancesCook.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Each week the New Zealand Herald and Newstalk ZB's Cooking The Books podcast tackles a different money problem. Today, it's what it takes to start your own business. Hosted by Frances Cook.If you've ever dreamed of ditching the nine to five and becoming your own boss, you're not alone.There's a rising tide of people choosing to strike out on their own, whether that's as a freelancer, a contractor, or an entrepreneur who starts their own business.Different people have different ideas of how this will look in the future. Research by Intuit in 2010 predicted that by 2020, 40 percent of the US workforce would be freelance. Forbes is going one further, saying that it will reach 50 percent by 2020.Whatever the number, the experts think it's going to be big. It's not just foolhardy young people either.Statistics New Zealand recently released figures showing the numbers of kiwis over 50 who are self-employed jumped 40 percent between 2001 and 2013. For people over 65, the numbers have doubled.It seems everyone wants a piece of the so-called gig economy.But is it all roses? One of the hazards of going it alone is that, well, you're all alone. There's very little safety net, and it's on you to make sure you succeed.So for the latest Cooking the Books podcast, I called up Richard Liew, the founder and editor of online magazine NZ Entrepreneur.We talked about what was driving the increase in self-employment, the appeals of running your own business, and what held people back from success. For the interview, listen to the podcast.If you have a question, or something you'd like me to look into for the future, come and talk to me about it. I'm on Facebook here https://www.facebook.com/FrancesCookJournalist/ and Twitter here https://twitter.com/FrancesCookSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Each week the New Zealand Herald and Newstalk ZB's Cooking The Books podcast tackles a different money problem. Today, it's ten ways everyday people have cut their costs. Hosted by Frances Cook. Money experts are great, and can teach us a lot. Already on this podcast we’ve looked at starting investing, where you’re missing out with KiwiSaver, and how to save money renting, among a bunch of other topics.Those, in my totally unbiased opinion, are all great topics. I couldn’t have tackled them without talking to an expert. But when it comes to savings in our daily life, sometimes the experts miss. It’s easy to forget what life’s like when money isn’t your area of expertise, but instead just one of many things you’re trying to juggle. So, this week, my expert is you. I asked people on Facebook and Twitter to hit me with their best money saving tips, and tell me how they went using them themselves. I unleashed a tsunami of great tips and tricks, and picked out the best ones to create a list of ten ways to save a buck in your daily life. For the list, listen to the podcast. If you have any questions about this podcast, or an idea for the future, come and join the conversation online. You can find me on Facebook at Frances Cook Journalist https://www.facebook.com/FrancesCookJournalist/, and Twitter at Frances Cook https://twitter.com/FrancesCook. Don’t forget to subscribe to on the Apple podcasts app https://itunes.apple.com/nz/podcast/cooking-the-books-with-frances-cook/id1247311946 or on I Heart Radio, to make sure you never miss a money tip.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Each week the New Zealand Herald and Newstalk ZB's Cooking The Books podcast tackles a different money problem. Today, it's what needs to change so that KiwiSaver works for those who need it the most. Hosted by Frances Cook.The idea of struggling through your twilight years in poverty is a scary prospect, as it should be. You work hard all your life, and you're absolutely entitled to kick back and enjoy the rewards before kicking the bucket.The problem is that to get the reward, you need to be planning from the moment you enter the workforce.A pension is not enough to live on by itself. If you're single, you get around $20,000 a year. If you're a couple, you get around $30,000 a year between both of you.It's especially bad if you haven't been able to buy a house and pay off the mortgage. You could easily blow your entire pension just keeping a roof over your head.Enter KiwiSaver, where you automatically save a bit of your pay every week, saving up a nice little nest egg for retirement. Problem solved!Except, it's not.ANZ's released research showing the people who need the most help at retirement, aren't using KiwiSaver.Eighty percent of those lucky guys earning more than 100-000 a year use KiwiSaver, but that drops to 53 percent when you get to people earning less than 50-thousand.So what's going on, and how do we fix it?I talked to ANZ's General Manager Wealth Products Ana-Marie Lockyer for the latest episode of the Cooking the Books podcast.She pointed out many of the benefits of KiwiSaver rely on you contributing every year, including the three percent employer contribution, and the yearly $521 tax credit.Loyckyer said that by the time you reach retirement, only 30 percent of your KiwiSaver will be your own money. The rest is your employer's contribution, the yearly government tax credit, and returns on your investment.She suggested fixes including making KiwiSaver compulsory but with the option of lower rates, such as one percent of your salary, to make it more affordable. Lockyer also suggested cutting the time people can take a "holiday" from their KiwiSaver, and for providers to be more active in helping KiwiSavers manage their savings.For the full interview, listen to the podcast.If you want to ask me something about this podcast, or you have a question you want answered in a future episode, come and find me online. I'm on Facebook at Frances Cook Journalist https://www.facebook.com/FrancesCookJournalist/, and twitter at Frances Cook https://twitter.com/FrancesCook. Don't forget to subscribe to this podcast on the Apple podcasts app or I Heart Radio, to make sure you never miss a trick for your money.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Each week the New Zealand Herald and Newstalk ZB's Cooking The Books podcast tackles a different money problem. Today, it's balancing the need to budget with still letting yourself have fun. Hosted by Frances Cook. You say budget, I say no thanks. The idea of budgeting makes me picture a flat, grey world, where I’m trapped in the house in worn out clothes, sadly watching my friends outside have fun without me. To say that budgeting has an image problem is like saying Donald Trump can be a bit impulsive sometimes. The thing is, it’s necessary. New Zealanders have hit record levels of debt, with 237 billion in housing debt, and 15 billion in consumer debt, as of June. Yeah, that’s what happens when you don’t have a budget and stick to it. The Commission for Financial Capability recently released a survey they did on people’s attitudes to debt. They found some pretty interesting results. First, was that a third of people felt they worked hard, so deserved to spend their money. Fair enough. But that also backfired, with half of the people surveyed saying they had debt, and it worried them. It actually doesn’t need to be that way. Sticking to a budget can be an adjustment, for sure. But you can do it and still do the things you enjoy. Without the niggling worry of growing debt at the back of your mind. I called up Retirement Commissioner Diane Maxwell to get her best tips. She pointed out that debt could be useful when it helped you buy a house, a car to get to work, or set up a business. But for other people it could become a monkey on their back, where they had high interest debt purely to make ends meet. We shared our tips for still having fun without blowing the budget, including rotating what you cut back on each month, and figuring out what you enjoy versus what’s a waste. For the full interview, listen to the podcast above.If you have a question about this podcast, or a suggestion for what you’d like in the future, do come and talk to me online. I’m Frances Cook Journalist on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/FrancesCookJournalist/ , and Frances Cook on Twitter https://twitter.com/FrancesCook . Don’t forget to subscribe on the Apple podcasts app https://itunes.apple.com/nz/podcast/cooking-the-books-with-frances-cook/id1247311946 or I Heart Radio https://www.iheart.com/podcast/211-Cooking-the-Books-with-Fra-28218763/ to make sure you never miss a money tip.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Each week the New Zealand Herald and Newstalk ZB's Cooking The Books podcast tackles a different money problem. Today, it's a new method for trying out the sharemarket, for those of us who aren't already rich. Hosted by Frances Cook.Regularly saving, even just a little bit, adds up.That's often the advice dished out to those trying to do better with their money, and there's a lot of truth in it.Unfortunately when it comes to investing, it's not so easy.I'm personally a huge fan of the share market, particularly for young people. It's riskier, but that's a good thing when you've got lots of time, as you can ride the waves to a bigger eventual return.But even if you know all of this, investing when you're young isn't so easy.When you're young is also when you're broke. You're still low on the job ladder, trying to pay off student loans, maybe save up a house deposit, and hey, having a life would be nice as well.Telling someone to chuck a couple of thousand dollars on the sharemarket when they're struggling to make rent is not always helpful, I know. But you've got to do something to start building your way up.Well there's a movement around the world of trying to make investing easier for those of us who aren't already rich.Even in New Zealand, in the last couple of months we've seen the creation of a new online investing platform that says you can become an investor for as little as $5.It's called Sharesies, a platform that works on the idea of investing a little bit, but often. They give you access to index funds, and let you track how you're going.It's only existed for two months, but they've already attracted over 3,500 people, and had $1 million invested through the platform.So I invested Brooke Anderson and Sonya Williams in to talk on the Cooking the Books podcast about what they're doing, what customers make of it, and what their plans are for the future.For the full interview, listen to the podcast.If you have thoughts about this episode, or if you want to message me about something you want covered in the future, I'd love to hear from you. I'm Frances Cook Journalist on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/FrancesCookJournalist/ , and Frances Cook on Twitter https://twitter.com/FrancesCook . It's also super easy to make sure you never miss an episode, just hit subscribe on the Apple podcasts app https://itunes.apple.com/nz/podcast/cooking-the-books-with-frances-cook/id1247311946 , or on I Heart Radio https://www.iheart.com/podcast/211-Cooking-the-Books-with-Fra-28218763/ .See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Each week the NZ Herald and Newstalk ZB's Cooking The Books podcast tackles a different money problem. For the last three weeks we've gone political, asking the leader of each political party in Parliament for their best money tip for the average person.Today is the last in the series, with Labour Party leader Jacinda Ardern. Hosted by Frances Cook.Politicians are always banging on about the economy; who has the better understanding of it, how they're the person to get our economy running hotter, why the other guy's ideas are stupid.Which is all well and good, but what about on the day-to-day level?Do our politicians remember what it's like to be the little guy like you or me, and are they keeping an eye on the issues affecting our lives? How hard it is to make ends meet? Do they have a few suggestions on what we can do for life to be a bit easier?Money issues touch every part of our lives, and I want to know what the people in charge think about it.So, I had a chat to the freshly minted leader of the Labour Party Jacinda Ardern, about the lessons she learned trying to budget from a young age.We also talked about how the budgeting lessons from her mum changed Ardern's relationship to money, how difficult it is for people to resist loan sharks, and how much responsibility schools have for teaching financial literacy. For the interview, listen to the podcast.Already out:  Prime Minister Bill English, United Future leader Peter Dunne, Maori Party co-leader Te Ururoa Flavell, Green Party co-leader James Shaw, ACT leader David Seymour.New Zealand First leader Winston Peters declined an invitation to take part.Have a question about this podcast, or a suggestion for next time? Come and talk to me online. You can find me on Facebook here https://www.facebook.com/FrancesCookJournalist/, and Twitter here https://twitter.com/FrancesCook. Don't forget, you can subscribe to this podcast here https://itunes.apple.com/nz/podcast/cooking-the-books-with-frances-cook/id1247311946 and on the Apple podcasts app.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Each week the NZ Herald and Newstalk ZB's Cooking The Books podcast tackles a different money problem. For the last three weeks we've gone political, asking the leader of each political party in Parliament for their best money tip for the average person.Today, it's United Future leader Peter Dunne. Hosted by Frances Cook.Politicians are always banging on about the economy; who has the better understanding of it, how they're the person to get our economy running hotter, why the other guy's ideas are stupid.Which is all well and good, but what about on the day-to-day level?Do our politicians remember what it's like to be the little guy like you or me, and are they keeping an eye on the issues affecting our lives? How hard it is to make ends meet? Do they have a few suggestions on what we can do for life to be a bit easier?Money issues touch every part of our lives, and I want to know what the people in charge think about it.So, I had a chat to United Future leader Peter Dunne, about how to use your KiwiSaver better, particularly for saving up for a first home.We also talked about how he'd like to see KiwiSaver expanded to help first home buyers, whether there's enough education about the scheme, and what to do post-KiwiSaver when people retire. For the interview, listen to the podcast.Still to come: Labour leader Jacinda Ardern.Already out: Maori Party co-leader Te Ururoa Flavell, Prime Minister Bill English, Green Party co-leader James Shaw, ACT leader David Seymour.New Zealand First leader Winston Peters declined an invitation to take part.Have a question about this podcast, or a suggestion for next time? Come and talk to me online. You can find me on Facebook here https://www.facebook.com/FrancesCookJournalist/ , and Twitter here https://twitter.com/FrancesCook . Don't forget, you can subscribe to this podcast here https://itunes.apple.com/nz/podcast/cooking-the-books-with-frances-cook/id1247311946 and on the Apple podcasts app.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Each week the NZ Herald and Newstalk ZB's Cooking The Books podcast tackles a different money problem. For the next three weeks we've gone political, asking the leader of each political party currently in Parliament for their best money tip for the average person.Today, it's Maori Party co-leader Te Ururoa Flavell. Hosted by Frances Cook.Politicians are always banging on about the economy. Who has the better understanding of it, how they're the person to get our economy running hotter, why the other guy's ideas are stupid.Which is all well and good, but what about on the day to day level?Do our politicians remember what it's like to be the little guy like you or me, and are they keeping an eye on the issues affecting our lives? How hard it is to make ends meet? Maybe even a few suggestions on what we can do for life to be a bit easier?Money issues touch every part of our lives, and I want to know what the people in charge think about it.So, I had a chat to Maori Party co-leader Te Ururoa Flavell, about the importance of teaching kids to save from a young age.We also talked about how he learned to count his pennies from a school post office account, and whether financial literacy should be taught in schools.For the interview, listen to the podcast.Still to come: United Future leader Peter Dunne, and Labour leader Jacinda Ardern. New Zealand First leader Winston Peters declined an invitation to take part.Already out: Prime Minister Bill English, Green Party co-leader James Shaw, ACT leader David Seymour.Have a question about this podcast, or a suggestion for next time? Come and talk to me online. You can find me on Facebook here https://www.facebook.com/FrancesCookJournalist/ , and Twitter here https://twitter.com/FrancesCook . Don’t forget, you can subscribe to this podcast here and on the Apple podcasts app https://itunes.apple.com/nz/podcast/cooking-the-books-with-frances-cook/id1247311946 .See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Each week the NZ Herald and Newstalk ZB's Cooking The Books podcast tackles a different money problem. For the next three weeks we've gone political, asking the leader of each political party currently in Parliament for their best money tip for the average person.Today, it's Prime Minister and National Party leader Bill English. Hosted by Frances Cook.Politicians are always banging on about the economy. Who has the better understanding of it, how they’re the person to get our economy running hotter, why the other guy’s ideas are stupid.Which is all well and good, but what about on the day to day level?Do our politicians remember what it’s like to be the little guy like you or me, and are they keeping an eye on the issues affecting our lives? How hard it is to make ends meet? Maybe even a few suggestions on what we can do for life to be a bit easier?Money issues touch every part of our lives, and I want to know what the people in charge think about it.So, I had a chat to the Prime Minister and National Party leader Bill English, about the lessons he learned running a Government budget that he applied to his own life.He talked about the value of keeping it simple, not fooling yourself by putting off expensive problems for the future, and how he learned the hard way not to spend more than he earns.For the interview, listen to the podcast.Still to come: United Future leader Peter Dunne, Labour leader Jacinda Ardern, and Maori Party co-leader Te Ururoa Flavell. New Zealand First leader Winston Peters declined an invitation to take part.Already out: Green Party co-leader James Shaw, ACT leader David SeymourHave a question about this podcast, or a suggestion for next time? Come and talk to me online. You can find me on Facebook here https://www.facebook.com/FrancesCookJournalist/ , and Twitter here https://twitter.com/FrancesCook . Don’t forget, you can subscribe to this podcast here and on the Apple podcasts app https://itunes.apple.com/nz/podcast/cooking-the-books-with-frances-cook/id1247311946 .See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Each week the New Zealand Herald and Newstalk ZB's Cooking The Books podcast tackles a different money problem. But for the next three weeks we've gone political, asking the leader of each political party currently in Parliament for their best money tip for the average person. This week, it's the Greens. Hosted by Frances Cook.Politicians are always banging on about the economy. Who has the better understanding of it, how they're the person to get our economy running hotter, why the other guy's ideas are stupid.Which is all well and good, but what about on the day to day level?Do our politicians remember what it's like to be the little guy like you or me, and are they keeping an eye on the issues affecting our lives? How hard it is to make ends meet? Maybe even a few suggestions on what we can do for life to be a bit easier?Money issues touch every part of our lives, and I want to know what the people in charge think about it.So, I sat down with Green Party co-leader James Shaw to get his best money tip to help out the average person. He said the first thing to do was to write it all down, and be honest with yourself about your finances.We also talked about how his own finances got better once he started doing this, and how to use your friends to help you.For the interview, listen to the podcast.Still to come: Prime Minister and National leader Bill English, United Future leader Peter Dunne, and Maori Party co-leader Te Ururoa Flavell, and hopefully Labour's new leader Jacinda Ardern. New Zealand First leader Winston Peters declined an invitation to take part.Already out: ACT leader David Seymour.Have a question about this podcast, or a suggestion for next time? Come and talk to me online. You can find me on Facebook here, and Twitter here. Don't forget, you can subscribe to this podcast here and on the Apple podcasts app.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Each week the NZ Herald and Newstalk ZB's Cooking The Books podcast tackles a different money problem. For the next three weeks we've gone political, asking the leader of each political party currently in Parliament for their best money tip for the average person. Today, it's Act. Hosted by Frances Cook.Politicians are always banging on about the economy. Who has the better understanding of it, how they're the person to get our economy running hotter, why the other guy's ideas are stupid.Which is all well and good, but what about on the day to day level?Do our politicians remember what it's like to be the little guy like you or me, and are they keeping an eye on the issues affecting our lives? How hard it is to make ends meet? Maybe even a few suggestions on what we can do for life to be a bit easier?Money issues touch every part of our lives, and I want to know what the people in charge think about it.So, I sat down with Act Party leader David Seymour to get his best money tip to help out the average person.His biggest suggestion was for people to stop seeing investing as a dirty term, as if it was somehow wrong to make money out of saving and investing.We also talked about how he got started with investing, how it can be "pretty fun", and at what point you should run in the other direction.For the interview, listen to the podcast.Still to come: Greens co-leader James Shaw, Prime Minister and National leader Bill English, United Future leader Peter Dunne, Maori Party co-leader Te Ururoa Flavell, and hopefully Labour's new leader Jacinda Ardern.New Zealand First leader Winston Peters declined an invitation to take part.Have a question about this podcast, or a suggestion for next time? Come and talk to me online. You can find me on Facebook here, and Twitter here. Don't forget, you can subscribe to this podcast here and on the Apple podcasts app.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

OPINION: Each week the NZ Herald and Newstalk ZB's Cooking The Books podcast tackles a different money problem. Today, it's why you need to expect investments to go bad, and what you can do about it. Hosted by Frances Cook.It's the age old advice: shares are a great investment for building up personal wealth, as long as you can stomach the risk.Over ten years, you're likely to get a sizeable return. But within that decade, be prepared to grit your teeth through some years where your money goes backwards.That was proved true within the last week, with Fletcher Building having an absolute nightmare.They had their second profit downgrade for this year, their share price plunged to a 16 month low, and now the CEO has bailed and is being replaced.Yep, that's a bad week. But let's be honest, this happens. I personally think that everyone who can invest, should, and we'd all be a lot better off financially.But if you dabble, you have to expect to take a hit now and then.Forewarned is forearmed, as they say, and if you're realistic then you can also have a plan in place to deal with the inevitable.I talked to Mark Lister, head of private wealth research for Craigs Investment Partners, about how to deal with an investment that goes bad.In the latest Cooking the Books podcast we cover subjects including why shares are still a good idea, how to plan for any bad investments from the start, and when you need to cut your losses. For the interview, listen to the podcast.You can subscribe to this podcast on iTunes or the Apple podcasts app. Click here for episodes.If you have questions about this episode, or suggestions for the next one, come and talk to me online. I'm on Facebook here and Twitter here.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

OPINION: Each week the New Zealand Herald and Newstalk ZB's Cooking The Books podcast tackles a different money problem. Today, it's targeting the biggest areas to make savings. Hosted by Frances Cook.Whenever people starting talking budget advice, the same tips tend to crop up over and over.Count your pennies, and the dollars will look after themselves. Skip your daily coffee. Give up smashed avocado on toast, and you'll be able to afford a house.Yes, little things can add up, but actually, I vote we start with the bigger things. Some of us are already going without the luxuries.But whatever your situation is, almost everyone's biggest expenses are keeping a roof over their head, transport, staying warm, and feeding themselves.These are areas you can't cut out, at least not without going through significant hardship.But there are always ways to save money and do things smarter. Change one of these areas, and you could be saving hundreds of dollars. Maybe you can make changes in all of them, and ratchet your savings into the thousands.Who wants to save $4 on a coffee when you could cut $200 from your rent?The small stuff can sting, but the big mistakes are what will really get you.I talked to Salvation Army financial mentor Damien Hazlewood, to get his best tips for the latest episode of the Cooking the Books podcast.He talked me through the savings you can making for housing, transport, food and power, as well as the importance of not using high interest loans to pay those bills.For the full interview, listen to the podcast. If you have questions about the podcast, or an idea for next time, come and talk to me online. You can find me on Facebook here, and Twitter here.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

OPINION: Each week the New Zealand Herald and Newstalk ZB's Cooking The Books podcast tackles a different money problem. Today, it’s the reasons women need to save more for retirement, and how to deal with it. Hosted by Frances Cook.Many of us aren’t prepared for retirement, but the deck is particularly stacked against women.Spend a moment thinking about it, and it becomes obvious why. Women earn less than men, on average about 12 percent less. So if you’re saving a percentage of your income, you’re already off to a bad start with less in the kitty.Then there’s the common reality of having a family. Right or wrong, it’s usually women who take time out from the workforce in order to raise the kids. When you stop earning, or shift on to part-time work, your retirement savings will obviously take a major hit.Earlier this year ANZ released information showing that the average woman would retire with almost $80,000 less in their KiwiSaver accounts than a man. When you look at the percentages, the average woman’s account balance is 19 percent lower.These facts are particularly worrying when you remember that women tend to live longer, around four years longer on average in New Zealand. So, we need more retirement funds, but we actually have far less.Maybe you plan to split the nest egg with your partner, the one you had the family with. Which is totally fair and reasonable, except for the problem that divorce happens. It not nice, but it’s a reality, and it’s an expensive one. Even if you manage the miraculous fair split of assets, which many don’t, a lot of money will still be eaten up by lawyers’ fees.It’s not a hopeless situation though, just one that women need to deal with.I’m talked to Amanda Morrall, author of personal finance book Money Matters, and also spokesperson for Simplicity, a non-profit KiwiSaver scheme.We talked in more detail about the impact of the pay gap, how small differences compound over time, but also the tactics women can use to avoid poverty in old age.For the full interview, listen to the podcast.If you have questions about this podcast, or an idea for next time, come and have a chat to me. I’m on Twitter here and Facebook here. You can also subscribe to this podcast on iTunes here.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

OPINION: Each week the New Zealand Herald and Newstalk ZB's Cooking The Books podcast tackles a different money problem. Today, it's celebrating Kiwisaver's birthday with the biggest dos and don'ts. Hosted by Frances Cook.Happy birthday, KiwiSaver. You're now 10 years old, and if my childhood memories serve me right, it's a very big deal to finally get into double digits.I'll let you enjoy the birthday cake, but I'm afraid there's some bad news. Even ten years in, not everyone is sure how you work, or even wants to sign up.Around 580,000 people didn't contribute anything to their KiwiSaver last year. Even for those who did, about 450,000 are in default conservative funds.This means people haven't thought about where their money is going, and could be missing out on hundreds of thousands of dollars.KiwiSaver is one of the best tricks you have up your sleeve for looking after your finances. It helps you save, can teach you how to invest, and will almost certainly make retirement a lot easier.And yet, the figures show a lot of us have no idea how to use it. Hitting 10 years since KiwiSaver launched means the time for excuses is officially over.It's even more important when you think about how precarious pensions are these days.The age keeps getting pushed out, the amount you get is miserable, and some think the day will eventually roll around when there's no pension at all.So, KiwiSaver could end up being all you're left with.Luckily, the scheme isn't actually all that tricky. I called Canstar research house general manager Jose George, to get his biggest dos and don'ts. While actually putting money into KiwiSaver was a major do, we also discussed picking your fund, if risk is good or bad, paying off high-interest debt, and checking the fees on your KiwiSaver.For the full interview, listen to the podcast. If you have any questions or suggestions for a future podcast, come and find me online. I'm on Facebook here and Twitter here. You can also subscribe to the podcast on iTunes here.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

OPINION: Each week the New Zealand Herald and Newstalk ZB's Cooking The Books podcast tackles a different money problem. Today, it's whether university is still your golden ticket to a good career. Hosted by Frances Cook. When I was in high school, the advice was clear. Get good marks, get into university, and then swan into a high-paying job that you enjoy. What specifically you should study wasn't discussed as much. The thinking was that, as long as you went to university, you'd be fine. Maybe study something you enjoy, because then you'll "never work a day in your life". Well, myself and my fellow graduates faced a rude shock when it came to the end of our expensive degrees. Not only were entry-level jobs thin on the ground, but the pay was abysmal. When we finally got employed, it turned out even a job you enjoy is still work.We weren't alone. The latest stats from the Ministry of Education show the pay you can expect after earning your degree is dropping.  You do still get a boost to your wages from having a degree, but while overall national pay rates are increasing, the pay bonus from all kinds of degrees are dropping across the board. Internationally, New Zealand doesn't compare well. The latest report from the OECD says Kiwis get some great qualifications, but they're in areas where there are too many people for the jobs available. So New Zealand workers are above average in settling for jobs they're overqualified for. You graduate with a double hit to your finances. You not only have tens of thousands of debt to pay off, but you've also not been earning because you were out of the workforce for several years. Meanwhile, the tradies are doing great. They might not earn quite as much, but their wages are increasing rather than decreasing, and they earn while training instead of building up debt. MBie's job listings data also shows the hottest demand is for semi-skilled workers, particularly those in construction, including labourers and machinery drivers. These figures show that qualifications don't necessarily equal skills. But it's skills that employers care about.I called Berl executive director and chief economist, Dr Ganesh Nana, to ask if university was worth it. Although some of the answer depended on the person involved, he agreed the traditional degree was being oversold. "We've got to get past this generalisation that degrees are good, and anything below it is bad."He said the older generation had gone to university and it served them well, but times had now changed. "At the moment we lack the core information about, what are the opportunities this training path might lead to, what are the salary options, what are the doors that we're closing as opposed to the doors that we're opening?"All of those things need to be put in front of us before we go down this path."For the full interview on whether university is worth it, listen to the podcast.  You can now subscribe on iTunes or an Apple phone. Click here. If you have questions about this episode, or suggestions for the next one, come and talk to me online. I'm on Facebook here  and Twitter hereSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Each week the NZ Herald and Newstalk ZB's Cooking The Books podcast tackles a different money problem. Today, it's how scammers will try to get your cash, and what you can do to stop them. Hosted by Frances Cook.Nigeria's royal family must be enormous.It seems that every couple of months, a new Nigerian prince is emailing me his tale of distress; how he's inherited a lot of money and needs a trustworthy person like me to help him access it.All I need to do is pay the fee to unlock the millions, and for my efforts I can get a couple of million myself.Okay, so maybe we all know to avoid that particular scam, but far too many kiwis are still caught out every year by scammers.Just last week, scammers started sending out emails claiming  to be from the IRD, and promising a large tax refund.Clever timing, scammers. It certainly is tax refund time, but you should get yours by going to the real IRD website, not clicking links in unsolicited emails.You'd be surprised at the people who get sucked in by these tricks. For every grandma whose computer confusion gets used against her, there's also a successful career person getting hoodwinked by con artists exploiting a chink in their armour.Earlier this month, one fraudster even had a crack at scamming the cops.It didn't exactly work.The problem for the average person is that scammers are some of the smartest criminals around, and they have a lot of tricks up their sleeves to get you to lower your guard.But you worked hard for your money, and those con artists need to keep their greasy mitts off it. So, how can your protect your money from scammers?I talked to Superintendent Eric Tibbot and Inspector Marianne Whitfield from the police prevention team for the latest Cooking the Books podcast.They said electronic scams were big business, such as phishing or love scams. But there were also scams done in person, where someone might turn up on your doorstep demanding payment for jobs around the house that were never done.Tibbot said fraudsters often managed to trick victims that you wouldn't expect to be sucked in."They know behaviour, they know how to entice information from people, so they're very clever."So there's no reason to feel embarrassed, because these are smart people, craftsmen in the skills of being able to manipulate people."Whitfield walked me through some common scam red flags, including the email address being slightly wrong, and the fraudster pushing for urgent action.For the full tips on how to deal with scammers, listen to the podcast. Don't forget to warn your friends about what not to do.If you have questions about this episode, or suggestions for the next one, come and talk to me online. I'm on Facebook here https://www.facebook.com/FrancesCookJournalist and Twitter here https://twitter.com/FrancesCook.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Each week the NZ Herald and Newstalk ZB's Cooking The Books podcast tackles a different money problem. Today, it's why KiwiSaver default schemes are a horrible idea, and what to do about it. Hosted by Frances Cook.If your KiwiSaver is in a default scheme, you're throwing money away. You're going without, saving some money each pay day, and yet you could still be in hard times when you finally retire.Imagine that. You willingly stash money away each pay day, thinking you're doing the right thing, and then when retirement comes you still have to scrimp and save.When for the sake of a few clicks at your computer, you could have made the exact same savings, and had a cushy retirement.I'm not exaggerating, and that's why it’s extremely worrying that 445,000 people are in default KiwiSaver accounts.  We're coming up to ten years of KiwiSaver existing, and yet, hundreds of thousands of New Zealanders haven't even looked at where their money is going.It's a false security to think you’re saving diligently, without realizing you're in the wrong account and so barely getting anything out of it.If you signed up to KiwiSaver, never picked an account, and left it at that, then you’re in a default account. But the default schemes were never intended to be permanent.They're conservative, meaning your money is safe as houses, but you will also likely get very little return.Imagine someone in their twenties, saving into a conservative account for their entire working life. They're not just throwing away thousands, they’re throwing away hundreds of thousands of dollars. For something that takes only a few clicks of a mouse to fix.It's time people realised how big a mistake this is, and how easy it is to fix it.So I gave Tom Hartmann, resident blogger for sorted.org.nz, a call.To give an example he ran the numbers on me, a 28-year-old earning a fairly average salary.If I made the minimum payments, a best case scenario for a conservative fund was around $285,000 when I retired. But in a growth fund that leapt $200,000, to a total of $485,000 when I retired.Those are no small potatoes.Hartmann agreed with me that picking the right KiwiSaver fund could be the difference between scrimping in your retirement, and enjoying it.That’s where Sorted comes in. The reason I tracked down Hartmann for this episode was because of my own experience with trying to figure this all out.Not so long ago I had a nagging voice in the back of my mind, reminding me I was young and should be out of a default scheme and into a growth KiwiSaver account. But because I never knew where to start, it got put off for around three years.When I finally Googled it, Sorted’s Fund Finder fundfinder.sorted.org.nz popped up. It asked me a couple of questions, ranked my options, and I knew where I wanted to go after about 15 minutes.It was embarrassingly easy.Hartmann said my experience was exactly what they were aiming for. They'd cut the Fund Finder back to the simplest necessities, to make it easier for people to use."It helps you choose from the entire market that’s out there, about 222 funds that are on there."But sorting through 222 funds is not any kind of fun, so the machine helps you narrow it down quite quickly."There are three quick questions on what kind of fund would be appropriate for your situation. Then you can sort by important things such as fee levels, the services that come with the KiwiSaver fund, and have a look at how the fund has been doing up until now."The most important thing is that you make an active decision about your KiwiSaver fund. If you're about to buy a house, or are retiring soon, then a conservative fund might actually be a good idea.But if you've got decades to retirement, or even several years, you should check whether a growth fund is a better idea for you."It can be a little bit of a...See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Each week, the NZ Herald and Newstalk ZB's Cooking The Books podcast tackles a different money problem. Today, it's how to donate smart and make your charitable dollars go further. Hosted by Frances Cook.OPINION: Just because you're feeling charitable doesn't mean you need to shoot yourself in the foot.You're able to get a tax rebate worth a third of your charitable donations, and yet, only about half of kiwis take the Government up on that offer.It makes no sense to leave that money going begging. You could get the rebate back, and donate it all over again. Or you could take yourself out for breakfast to reward yourself for being one of the good ones.Both are great options, but first, you need that cash in your pocket.The point is, the Government set up this sweetener for a reason. It's designed to encourage people to keep giving to charities.Just because you're doing the right thing doesn't mean you need to pinch your wallet any harder than necessary.And yet, the issue is actually getting worse. Since 2008 the number of people picking up their rebate has dropped by almost 10 percent.That's leaving hundreds of millions extra in the tax man's purse.It's a great thing to give money to charity. You put your money where your mouth is, making sure the causes you care about get that little bit extra.Sure, you're not saving the world all by yourself, but you're giving it a nudge in the right direction.Claiming some of that cash back is just getting what you're owed from the tax man, not undermining your good deed.In my view, anything that encourages people to give more money to charity is a good thing.So I talked to Tax Management NZ chief executive Chris Cunniffe, to find out how to get your rebate.He said New Zealanders were "world class givers", donating around $1.3 billion each year.That covered street collections, automatic payments to charities, donations to churches, as well as donations to schools and kindergartens.But only 54 percent of donations had the rebate claimed back."It'll be around $200 million sitting unclaimed," Cunniffe said."That's cash that the government is happy to give back to people in recognition of the donations that they've made."He said many people didn't realise they only needed to have donated $5 to be over the rebate threshold."People are not generally required to interact with Inland Revenue."You roll back the years and people used to sit down and file a tax return, and when they did that, they also claimed their donations rebate at the same time."Now there's millions of people who don't interact with Inland Revenue at all."While that removes a lot of angst and unnecessary paperwork from the system, those people have also stopped thinking about what they're entitled to. "Cunniffe had also come across people who thought the tax rebate came out of the charity's pocket.He said it was actually a partial refund of the income tax you had paid to the Government. It was designed to reward charitable donations.For those worried it could take a lot of paperwork, Cunniffe said it was actually an easy process."The key thing you need is the receipt. If you have the receipt you can get a form online from Inland Revenue."Very easy form to fill in, you basically just add up the total of your receipts, attach the receipts and post them off to Inland Revenue."For those who use an accountant, the accountant can submit your donations rebate on your behalf.Tax Management NZ also offers a service to claim rebates, and either send you your refund, or automatically regift the rebate to the charity you originally donated to.Cunniffe said it best when asked if there was any reason not to claim it."Look, it's money for jam."For the full interview, listen to the podcast.If you have questions about the podcast, or ideas...See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

OPINION: Each week, the NZ Herald and Newstalk ZB's Cooking The Books podcast tackles a different money problem. Today, it's how to save money on your power bills this winter. Hosted by Frances Cook. Tomorrow is the first day of winter, and along with the cold and dark, comes the annual spike in power bills.I remember all too well the misery of cutting back electricity use to the bare minimum. In my student days it wasn't just a case of not using the dryer.In one flat I lived in, I saw a major argument over people daring to use the hot water to wash their hands. There was a screaming fight, followed by an icy stand-off, the whole works.I was horrified by the argument, but at the time, understood why my flatmates got so mad. When you're barely getting by, every cent of power becomes a big deal.But even now that I'm working and winter power bills aren't quite so dire, it's still helpful to learn new tricks. I can afford to pay for a heater now thank goodness, but if there's a cheaper option for my heating, I want it.There are other things I'd like to do with that money. Invest it, go out for brunch, who cares. There's nothing fun about paying off a power bill, so I don't want to spend more than I have to.On the other hand, I can't be bothered nagging my husband to turn off the lights if it doesn't make that much of a difference. It's hard to know which parts are worth caring about, and which parts are optional.I don't have the energy to care about every little thing, if you'll excuse the pun.So I gave EECA Energywise a call, to find out the best ways to save on power this winter.Technical expert Christian Hoerning said many New Zealand houses were colder than they should be in winter.World Health Organisation guidelines recommend a minimum of 18 degrees inside a house, but many kiwi homes fell short of that standard over winter."We don't have enough insulation, and not effective enough heating to be warm," Hoerning said."At the same time there are other areas where we can reduce our energy bills without negative side effects."Many people didn't realise their hot water bill cost the sam,e or more than, their heating. Because it was spread evenly over the course of the year it could go under the radar. Most hot water use happened in the shower, and could be reduced with a water saving shower head.Hoerning said it was easy to test if your shower was costing too much money. If you took a ten litre bucket and ran your shower into it on the settings you'd normally use, it shouldn't fill up in less than a minute."If it does fill up in less than a minute, that shower's wasting energy, water, and basically your money."He said water saving shower heads started around $50, and water restricting attachments were even cheaper.While it might sound like a small switch, Hoerning said it could mean hundreds more in your pocket."I was working with a family of four that had consistently high electricity bills, even though they were quite energy conscious."I did that shower test, and it turned out their shower used 18 litres per minute."For how that family used a shower, that meant $900 a year in power savings, just from changing the shower head. It's tens of dollars, compared to $900 in a year."For heating, the most affordable options to run are heat pumps, modern wood burners, or a flued gas heater.If getting one of those costs too much for you, a portable electric heater is the next best step.But whatever you do, Hoerning warns to stay away from portable gas heaters."All the gases from the combustion end up right in your room, you inhale them. There's some nasties in there like carbon monoxide or nitrogen dioxide."And they put out quite a bit of moisture which can make your house damp and mouldy."If that hasn't put you off, they're also the most expensive form of heating...See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Each week, the NZ Herald and Newstalk ZB's Cooking The Books podcast tackles a different money problem. Today, it's how to ease into the sharemarket. Hosted by Frances Cook.Investing is a tricky thing to dip your toe into, especially if you've only got a little bit of spare cash. Most people who talk about it will stress the importance of having diversity, meaning you shouldn't put all your eggs in one basket.But that's a little tricky when you're just starting out.Maybe you've scrimped and saved to put aside $1000, and now you want to put that $1000 to work. That's a good effort, but in the world of investing, it's tiny.Everyone starts somewhere. But, where, exactly?If you're anything like me, you start with trusty old Google. You might decide that because you have time on your side, the sharemarket is a good idea.You hear about funds, where even a small investment will automatically be split across different companies, giving you that diversity that everyone is rabbiting on about.Great, you think. I should start there.But then you dive a little deeper, and you can easily be swamped by terms like managed funds, exchange traded funds, or index funds. What's the difference? And which one is right for you?Time for the experts. I got in touch with Aaron Jenkins, head of Funds Management at NZX, for the latest Cooking the Books podcast.He said shares were best for those who were in it for the long haul."Over the long term shares will typically have a better return than other investment options, for example a term deposit."But the downside is that shares are likely to be more volatile."So the benefit a fund provides is helping with diversification. Rather than an investor having to buy shares themselves in multiple companies, a fund does that for you, which immediately helps provide and element of risk management for an investor."Jenkins gave a quick definition for the main fund types new investors will likely to come across."Managed funds, as the name suggests, are where somebody's managing that fund portfolio for you."Because of that extra research and analysis ... they typically therefore come with higher fees."An index fund, unlike a managed fund, is where there's no research done. The index fund just invests on a set of rules."An example in New Zealand is the New Zealand Dividend Fund. That's just a set of rules that says that fund will invest in the 25 highest dividend paying companies in New Zealand over the last year."The third one you asked about is exchange traded funds, or ETFs, as you'll hear them shortened. They could be a managed fund or an index fund, it's just that they are listed on the stock exchange."Now typically when you hear ETFs described, people are thinking of them as index funds. The benefit of ETFs is that they are quoted on the NZX, so you can see the price of them every day, and you can buy or sell them exactly the same way as you would buy shares in a listed company."Jenkins pointed out that a fund of any type had the benefit that, if your circumstances changed and you needed some of the money back, you only had to sell some of your shares.It was easier than something like property, where you'd have to sell the entire house."You do need to sell your investment via a stockbroker."There's a range of them in New Zealand, you would open an account and they would do that for you. Some of the examples of those New Zealand stockbrokers is ASB Securities or ANZ Securities."For those who want an idea of what return to expect, Jenkins points to the New Zealand Top 50 fund. It launched in 2004, and has since had an average return of 7.5 per cent per year, after fees and taxes were taken out."But to reiterate one of my earlier points, during that time that fund experienced three years of negative returns. That is when the fund went down in value."So...See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Each week, the NZ Herald and Newstalk ZB's Cooking The Books podcast tackles a different money problem. Today, it's how to get your free government cash. Hosted by Frances Cook.Would you like free money? How about $500, and you barely have to do a thing?This time of year is all about tax. Just the word is enough to give some people the shudders, but resist the urge. Think instead of the free money going begging, and how easy it can be to get hold of your slice of the pie.First up is the KiwiSaver tax credit. If you told me you had an investment where I'd get a guaranteed 50 percent return, I'd think you were scamming me.But if you save just $1042 each year, you can get $521 from the Government. You could be getting hundreds in free cash from the Government each year, and yet last year, 580,000 New Zealanders didn't.Some people genuinely need every dollar, but let's be honest, almost all of us can spare $20 a week. That's all it takes. Set up a direct debit, and this time next year, you'll be thanking me.It's also a good time of year to double check your tax return, and see if there's more free money waiting for you there. Why wouldn't you at least check?I can tell you why; because it involves money, which makes many of us uneasy, and so we ignore it.I talked to the Commission for Financial Capability's David Boyle for the latest Cooking the Books podcast, about how to get your hands on this Government cash.He said the KiwiSaver tax credit was one of the best investment deals around, and it was frustrating to see so many people miss out on it."Some people may not be aware they're not making contributions, because they're on contract."Or they're taking a break from work, or they're not employed, or they're a student."But even if it's not $20 a week, $10 a week going into their KiwiSaver still means they'll get $5 from the Government."Even if you're on a KiwiSaver contributions holiday, or you have your own workplace pension scheme, you can still make the minimum payments to get the Government tax credit.Boyle has crunched the numbers, and there's roughly $302m of Government money going begging because people don't take advantage of the scheme."For a lot of younger New Zealanders, the great thing they have is time."The power of time, compound interest, a little bit over a long period of time."Then there's the possibility of a chunk of cash from your tax return.While there are companies out there that will try to convince you it's hard to do, and that you should give them a percentage of your money in exchange for them doing it for you, it's really not that hard.Boyle even dug out a great video from the IRD, which shows exactly how easy the process is.  "Inland Revenue have got a great website, and some great info for young New Zealanders who are starting their career," Boyle said."Perhaps some people are forgetting, if you make donations or support a cause, then it would be worth having a look at."For the full interview, listen to the podcast.If you have questions about the podcast, or ideas for future episodes, I'd love to hear from you. You can find me on Facebook here, or on Twitter here.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

OPINION:  Each week, the NZ Herald and Newstalk ZB's Cooking The Books podcast tackles a different money problem. Today, it's how to change your money habits for the better, starting today. Hosted by Frances Cook.It's so easy to ignore things that scare you. For instance, money. Most people don't like to talk about it, and now it turns out, a shocking number of us have no plan for our money. A third of us, in fact.I get the temptation to put it off. Six months ago I was part of the one in three New Zealanders who had no plan and was living only for today.While I've since had the realisation that I need to get it together, many people went the other way. The number of people with a plan actually dropped last year, according to BNZ research.I suspect many people have the same reasons I did. Retirement seems far away (it's not really), money seems hard (it doesn’t have to be), and the whole thing gets put off for another day.Another day which can turn into years.Those under 30, like me, are among the worst offenders. Only 17 per cent have a money plan.Which is a terrible idea, as we can make far more money by starting early.But the oldies shouldn’t be smug too soon. 59 percent of those between 50 and 64 say they don’t know how much they’ll need for retirement. Guys, you don’t have long to figure it out.But again, I get it, it’s daunting. What got me to change habits was making the small, daily changes.It woke me up to the realisation that most of this isn't so hard, and doesn't have mean sacrificing the fun things in your life. In fact, as a reformed spender, taking back the control can be a fun power trip of its own.I got in touch with BNZ's head of wealth and private bank Donna Nicolof, to find out what things most of us could do to be better with money from today.She said it was very worrying that so many people didn’t have a plan, or idea of their financial goals."I actually think that taking control of your finances should be empowering rather than intimidating."The earlier you start, the more you will have."People miss what the benefits of compounding [interest] are, and how much more the dollars saved today will be worth in the future."For example, if you start a good savings habit early and put money away in your twenties … you’ll have a larger starting pot to invest for the future."Nicolof recommended a strategy of cutting back on spending, saving the difference, and then putting the saved money to work."Setting up a savings account is a good first step. If you have children, set up a savings account for them so they can start good habits early."If you struggle with self-control, KiwiSaver is a good one to keep your savings locked away."Two things with KiwiSaver. Make sure you choose your fund, the fund that’s right for you, and also what your contribution amounts are.”If you really struggle to save, take a brutal look at your spending.There are probably areas where you can cut back, without losing the fun things in your life."If you're working and you buy your lunch every day, that's $10 that you're spending every day, which is $50 a week, and $200 a month."You don’t often realise how those small amounts all add up."All of that saved cash then needs to get to work.For someone who's new to investing, managed funds can be a way of dipping their toes in."Because your investments are diversified, you can seek advice on what’s the best fund for you, and it minimises risk and gives you good return prospectives," Nicolof said."Whatever investment you choose, take the time to understand where you’re putting your money, what the risk profile is of the investment you’re making, and does it meet your return objectives."The one thing I'd say on that is, make sure you don’t have all your eggs in one basket."For the full interview, listen to the...See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

OPINION: Each week, the NZ Herald and Newstalk ZB's Cooking The Books podcast tackles a different money problem. Today, it's how to guard your pennies if you're renting your house. Hosted by Frances Cook.If it's not enough that many people are locked out of the housing market, now even renters are feeling the squeeze.Our housing problems have led to higher rents, and those costs are seeping outside of the main centres of Auckland, Wellington, and Christchurch.Trade Me's Property Report shows rents in the regions have gone up twenty percent over the last three years. On average, it'll now cost you an extra 3-thousand a year.Add that to the list of things making it harder for people to save and get ahead, then.How can you save to buy your own house, when it costs you more every day to pay off someone else's mortgage?For the most part, renters are stuck. When there's stiff competition for a house, you can't exactly negotiate a lower rent.But knowledge is power, and if you know your renting rights, there are place where you can save some extra cash.I turned to Kayla Healey from Renters United, to share her tips for the latest Cooking the Books podcast.She said that housing supply was low, so many renters were being forced to take what they could get."What's really interesting about these rent increases is that the housing stock isn't improving."Landlords aren't necessarily improving the properties or doing anything that justifies these rent increases."However, there were some things renters could keep an eye on, right from when they first looked at renting a house.When it comes to a letting fee, property managers can legally charge for one, but private landlords can't.Healey also warned that bond was capped at four weeks rent."Another thing we're seeing at the moment is bonds for pets or bonds for other types of security. They're not legal."You shouldn't have to pay any other bond that's not the initial four weeks bond."Sometimes chattels, people will say you've got to pay a bit of extra rent to cover the security of my lawnmower."But that's not legal."When you do eventually find a house to rent, there are still areas to watch out for.While rents are rising around the country, your landlord can't raise them too often.They need to wait 180 days from when you first move into a house, and 180 days after any other rent rises.If you're on a fixed-term tenancy, check your rental agreement. If the landlord wants to raise the rent there needs to be a clause in your agreement that lets them do that within the term of the tenancy.When it comes to moving out, the landlord can't try to charge you for normal wear and tear of a house, such as carpet wear."If things go really wrong, say you're in a situation where you've kept paying rent but your home is no longer habitable."There are some circumstances where the Tenancy Tribunal will give you backdated rent, or backdated rent reductions."Just know that even if it gets to that point, there are still options for you through the Tenancy Tribunal, for getting some money back." For the full interview, listen to the podcast.If you have renting tips you want to share, or questions about the podcast, get in touch.https://twitter.com/FrancesCookhttps://www.facebook.com/FrancesCookJournalist/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

OPINION: Each week, the NZ Herald and Newstalk ZB's Cooking The Books podcast tackles a different money problem. Hosted by Frances Cook.We're a nation with a debt problem.Many New Zealand borrowers have debt that's up to 12 times the amount they earn in a year.You can argue that a certain amount of debt is a good thing. But banking bosses warn that ideally we shouldn't have debt of more than seven times what we earn in a year.So, we're way over.It's so bad that just this month, Australia's Reserve Bank cast a worried eye over New Zealand debt levels.They declared our debt-to-income levels were so bad, it was not only a risk to the New Zealand economy, but Australia's as well.Hush, Australia. Nobody likes the bearer of bad news.To be clear, I personally don't like any debt. But not all of it is dumb.For instance, good luck paying cash for a university education. And hey, at least your student loan is interest free.Getting a mortgage so you can invest in your own home is necessary for almost everyone.But there are reasons to be cautious, as you still don't want a mortgage that's bigger than you can payoff. It's worth mentioning that the current crazy house prices are contributing to our nation's debt problem.So what exactly is the difference between a mortgage, and setting up a loan to buy a car? Is there ever a good reason to get into debt?To answer the question for the latest Cooking the Books podcast, I turned to EnableMe founder and financial personal trainer Hannah McQueen.She said there was good, neutral, and bad debt.Good debt happened when certain conditions were met; you were buying something that would increase in value, and that increase would be more than the interest you paid on the debt.Neutral debt was for something like your home, where it made sense to have the house, but you wouldn't make a profit.Bad debt was things like credit cards or car loans, particularly if you weren't paying them off.While some people might be surprised a mortgage on your own home was a neutral debt, McQueen said there were good reasons to classify it that way."The mortgage on your home is a neutral debt, the mortgage on an investment property is good debt."The mortgage on your home costs you interest, and any capital gain on that property is the win."Except if you intend to live in a property for the rest of your life, you're not really realising that win."If you borrowed more than you could comfortably afford for a house, that also left you vulnerable to interest rate changes. If you stretched yourself too far, it could turn into bad debt.But while it's all very well to know what types of debt to avoid, what about those who've already got themselves stuck in bad debt?McQueen recommends sitting down, being brutally honest about where you're at, and then making a plan about how to pay everything off."Credit cards, at the very least, they should be consolidated on to a low interest credit card."That normally means you transfer the balance to another bank, and you have six to 12 months to pay it off at a reduced interest rate."That will at least stop you haemorrhaging interest, because the interest rate on credit cards, it should be illegal."Even if you take those sorts of steps, don't forget that first key step of being brutally honest with yourself.A lot of bad debt can be accumulated by people spending more than they earn, even if they're earning a comfortable amount."That can be confronting for some people. It might mean they need to curb spending, or they might just need to do a few tweaks, or they might just need a goal and someone to help them achieve the goal."What we find in our day to day job, is that in the absence of a goal, people just spend whatever's there."So we need to address the issue of why you've got the credit card debt, so...See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

OPINION: Each week, the NZ Herald and Newstalk ZB's Cooking The Books podcast tackles a different money problem. Today, it's how to start investing when you're a rookie. Hosted by Frances Cook.I am a wage slave. I clock into work for a certain number of hours every day, and I am paid in return for those hours.If I was to be fired unexpectedly, I'd be in big trouble.Get into an accident that means I can't work? Big trouble.Or, in a few decades from now when I want to retire, I'd currently be living hand to mouth.I don't have an income apart from my job, and my savings cushion is quite small.I'm not alone in this. Even if you're a good saver, don't be congratulating yourself too soon.Stashing it away in your bank account isn't enough.Interest rates are rock bottom, so you're probably barely keeping up with inflation.Dip into that account a couple of times, get hit with fees, and you could easily be going backwards.Over time, and done right, the overwhelming consensus is that you need to invest.But just last week, many people will have had their fears confirmed when Auckland-based foreign exchange broker, Forex Brokers, collapsed.The latest revelations are that it owes more than $10m.Then again, last week also saw mortgage company Brilliant Finance referred to the Financial Markets Authority. And I don't see anyone running away from the idea of buying a house.You just do your research, and bring in expert help when you need to.It's like driving a car. You only needed to pay attention to the long weekend road toll to know it's a risky way to get around.But we spend the time learning to drive, buy the safest car we can, then just accept that life has a certain amount of risk.On balance, it's a better option than walking.But if you're convinced to take the investing leap, the next problem is where do you even start?I got in touch with Juno investing magazine editor Brenda Ward, for the latest episode of the Cooking the Books podcast.She agreed that hoarding a large savings account wasn't the best use of your money."Putting it in the bank at the moment is not a great deal."Worldwide, interest rates have dropped dramatically, so you're lucky if you're getting four percent on a term deposit."But if you do invest in the stock market and are prepared for the kind of volatility that happens, then you probably will be getting a much better return."She recommended talking to a financial advisor as a first step. They would take into account your age, stage of life, and how much risk you could stomach.Financial advisors do cost, either through a flat fee, or commission on products that they sell you.There are arguments for either way, with some feeling the flat fee keeps the advisor independent, and others arguing a commission gives the advisor an incentive to keep you earning more money.Decide which you want, and then it's time to look at your investing options.You don't need to be rolling in it to get into the share market. Even if you have $2000, there are options."You could go online and look at the index funds," Ward said."They're based on a group of different stocks, which will cover a wide range of diversification."You can go to New Zealand stock exchange Smart Shares."They offer a range of ETFs, which are Exchange Traded Funds."They trade just like normal shares, but you get diversification of an index tracking fund."That might sound scary, but the jargon does get easier.If you want to play with these options while keeping the training wheels on, you could always give virtual trading a whirl.You can "buy" shares with credits, and track it as if you'd really bought it. You start to figure out how it all operates, what you like, and get ready to try the real thing.A New Zealand version of virtual trading is...See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

OPINION: Each week, the Herald/Newstalk ZB's new Cooking The Books podcast will tackle a different money problem. Today's looks at older people and women being paid less for their work, on average. So what can employees do? Hosted by Frances Cook.Pay gaps are real, and they're not fair. Whether it's because of your gender, your age or some other fun form of discrimination, there are employers out there who will try to exploit you. They're more common than you think. Information given to the Herald by Statistics New Zealand showed the average worker earned the most between 40 and 44. It's understandable that younger people are cheaper, and you'd hope they get paid more as they get more experience. But it doesn't make sense that your earning would drop again when you hit your older 40s. What's happening to these older workers, who are nowhere near retirement age? Meanwhile, this week we've seen an historic moment as three women became the first to use the Government's new pay equity mediation service. The gender pay gap leaves women earning 12 percent less than men, which widens up to 20 percent if you're in a typically high-earning role. The latest Government research found 80 percent of that gap was because of "unexplained" factors. Translate that from bureaucrat speak and it's because of bias, whether or not the bosses are aware of their bias. Clearly, business and Government leaders need to do more to fix this, because older people and women getting paid less is just inexcusable. Until they do, I'm a fan of taking whatever action you can yourself. Be open about how much you're paid, talk to co-workers, make sure you're giving your company great work and then hound your boss for a raise. But is that the right tactic?  I spoke to Robert Walters New Zealand director Shay Peters for the latest episode of Cooking the Books. He admitted the figures on earning potential at different ages surprised him, and he would have expected to see the earning peak coming in someone's mid-fifties instead. "If you're within a role, and you feel like you're being discriminated against, there's always constructive conversations you can have with your boss or your line manager. "It's more around having a conversation on what you can provide, what you need to do to get to that next step, and see what they come back with. "Almost let them come back to you and say what the issues are, or what the gaps are. "There are definitely ways you can frame that conversation in the positive, without it being too daunting." He recommends that if you want a pay rise, you should arm yourself with as much information as you can. "There are a number of online salary surveys you can use. "Another way is to quickly ring a recruitment consultancy that specialises in the area you work in, they'll have a very good understanding of the market, and what the market rate looks like for your particular skill set." So far, we were in agreement.   But when it came to sharing your salary with your co-workers, Peters disagreed with my preference for openness. "People are often hired in very different contexts, and very different labour conditions at that time," he said. "If it's a skill-short market, and you're having to head hunt someone out of a job that they're very happy in, you're probably going to have to pay a premium. "That's very different from someone who was hired in a different market condition. "So there's a bit of a risk of creating a toxic culture around salary discrepancies, when they could be for valid and different reasons." Personally, I still think it's worth being open. If there's a reason for a difference in what co-workers are paid, then the boss shouldn't be afraid to tell you what it is. For the full interview, listen to the podcast. To ask a question about this podcast, or suggest a topic for the future, get in touch.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

OPINION: Each week, the Herald/Newstalk ZB's new Cooking The Books podcast will tackle a different money problem. Today, it's what first-home buyers can do if they're feeling locked out of the market. Hosted by Frances Cook.You might have noticed a lot of people are talking about housing right now.There's helpful advice being given, like "toughen up and join the army", or "give up brunch on the weekend, and make more sacrifices".Well, thanks for being condescending, but neither of those pieces of advice are helpful.Our housing market is so overheated it could burst into flames at any moment, particularly if you live in Auckland.Prices have soared around the country, while mortgage conditions are only getting stricter.This year the Economist rated New Zealand's housing market the most unaffordable in the world.That's thanks to having the biggest jump in prices, and the highest cost against average incomes.Demographia's International Housing Affordability Survey was slightly kinder, putting Auckland as the fourth least affordable housing market, out of 92 cities around the world.A word of warning, for people who look at those surveys and decide the answer is to take on the biggest mortgage the bank will give them; what goes up, must go down.House prices could fall from this peak, and interest rates could rise, leaving you paying more.In an overheated market, "buyer beware" has an even more menacing tone.But that doesn't mean you should give up.Don't stop trying to save a deposit and instead spend everything you earn, as fun as that can be.There are ways to cheat the system, and other places you can put your money.As part of the Cooking the Books podcast, I called David Boyle from the Commission for Financial Capability.He sympathised about the frustrations from younger people, who are often told it's always been this tough to buy a house."That's not factually true."In Auckland it's about 10 times the average salary now to get into your first home, whereas in my day it was about three times."It has changed significantly over the last 10 years."The first place he recommended they start was KiwiSaver.For some people, the regular contributions, employer contribution, and tax credit, could add up to a deposit over a few years.It might not be enough for a house if their job kept them tied to an expensive city like Auckland.But there was still the option of looking at houses elsewhere in the country."If you're in an expensive city, it's worth considering buying elsewhere, and renting the house you live in."You might be able to afford a house perhaps in a smaller town or a smaller city, where you can rent it out, get into the property market and build up some capital growth."For others who'd saved a nest egg of a few thousand, but not enough for a house deposit, they should supercharge that money by looking at other investments."If you don't want to lock it up in KiwiSaver, you've got other choices like managed funds."Talk to someone about your options, but do something other than a bank account or savings account, because you're getting bugger all interest there, really."Whatever option sounded most appealing, Boyle warned that most people would need to pick one.He said it was a "very difficult proposition" to have a comfortable retirement without owning your own home."We are worried about home ownership rates declining, because essentially New Zealanders receive national super at the age of 65, based on the premise that you're living in your own home and not paying rent on top."If you're unable to get into the property market, start saving a lot more to build up a nest egg that can pay for rental accommodation."Use KiwiSaver to get that nest egg built up."For the full interview, listen to the podcast.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.