{"podcast":{"title":"Making Cents","slug":"making-cents-6998736","podcast_index_feed_id":6998736,"rss_url":"https://feeds.captivate.fm/makingcents/","website_url":"https://www.francescook.co.nz/making-cents","image_url":"https://artwork.captivate.fm/3f4ddd44-6a56-460b-88eb-950d815bc419/frances-cook-making-cents-podcast-art-no-acast.jpg","author":"Frances Cook","episode_count":304,"summary":"The podcast for people who want financial freedom, without giving up their coffee. That means it's time to make the money world make cents. Join Frances Cook, best-selling author and award-winning journalist, to talk about the proven ways to invest your way to financial independence, buy your first home, or just get your spending under control. Every Monday we have the week's feature interview, with someone who's done something interesting with their money. From paying off a mountain of debt, or investing for financial independence, or starting a new business, these are the ordinary people making the extraordinary possible. On Thursday we have Ask the Experts, where industry insiders answer your questions on the money world. From earning more in your career, to investing, or sticking to a budget, they'll help make money simple. Every now and then you'll get a bonus episode too, but the fun of those is that you never know when they're coming!","last_synced_at":"2026-09-30T18:22:32.383115+00:00","page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/making-cents-6998736"},"episode":{"title":"You Sent Me 14 Money Questions. Here Are My Honest Answers","slug":"you-sent-me-14-money-questions-here-are-my-honest-answers","published_at":"2026-09-16T16:00:00+00:00","page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/making-cents-6998736/you-sent-me-14-money-questions-here-are-my-honest-answers","show_page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/making-cents-6998736","url":"https://www.francescook.co.nz/making-cents","audio_url":"https://episodes.captivate.fm/episode/f599540c-ceb3-4dcb-b0b4-f911353153ad.mp3","summary":"Time for a raw, unfiltered Ask Me Anything episode of Making Cents! Financial journalist Frances Cook sits down to tackle your biggest money questions. From practical strategies to break out of feeling stuck in a cost-of-living squeeze, to whether you should pay off your mortgage or invest in shares, Frances breaks down the plain-English rules of the money game. In this episode: Why trying to prioritise every money goal at once leads to burnout, and how to pick one achievable target The reality of FIRE (Financial Independence, Retire Early) Moving from \"average\" to actually getting ahead: the two levers that make or break your money What to do when you feel stuck, overwhelmed, and can't see a clear way forward financially Should you invest in your employer’s share scheme? The risks of having all your eggs in one basket How to get a reluctant partner on board with money goals without fighting Mortgage vs Shares The shifting risks around Airbnb investments vs traditional long-term rentals Why index funds remain the core foundation of her own long-term investing strategy Whether you're struggling to find breathing room in your budget or working towards full financial freedom, this episode breaks down real, practical steps to help you take control of your money on your own terms. Follow me everywhere! Facebook / https://www.facebook.com/FrancesCookNZ Instagram / https://www.instagram.com/francescooknz TikTok / https://www.tiktok.com/@francescooknz Join the Money Memo newsletter for a free weekly money tip in your inbox each week https://www.francescook.co.nz/subscribe Become a confident sharemarket investor by signing up to the Market Memo newsletter https://www.francescook.co.nz/invest #MakingCents #FrancesCook #MakingCentsPodcast #InvestingPodcast #MoneyPodcast #Financia…","meta_description":"Time for a raw, unfiltered Ask Me Anything episode of Making Cents! Financial journalist Frances Cook sits down to tackle your biggest money questions. Fr…","key_points":[],"chapters":[],"topics":[],"duration_seconds":3223,"processing_state":"not_requested","actions":[{"name":"request_transcript","method":"POST","url":"https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/making-cents-6998736/episodes/you-sent-me-14-money-questions-here-are-my-honest-answers/transcription-requests","description":"Idempotently request low-priority transcript generation for this episode."},{"name":"read_markdown","method":"GET","url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/making-cents-6998736/you-sent-me-14-money-questions-here-are-my-honest-answers.md","description":"Read the agent-friendly Markdown representation of this episode resource."}]}}