Cooking the Books with Frances Cook

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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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. 

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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.

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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.

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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

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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A highlight clip from the July 2019 episode "How to fix a bad credit history", with Dan York from Harmoney.

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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.

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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. 

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A highlight clip from the August 2021 episode "The argument against maximising your KiwiSaver contributions", with David Boyle from Mint Asset Management.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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. 

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A highlight clip from the August 2019 episode "the NZ couple who paid off $566k of debt in three years", with Bradie Claydon.

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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.

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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.

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A highlight clip from the February 2023 episode "Is it still worth investing in property?" with Ed McKnight from Opes Partners.

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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.

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A highlight clip from the February 2023 episode "How to baby-proof your finances… kind of", with Cat Emerson from Kernel.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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This podcast contains general information only, not professional advice. BNZ and NZME are not liable for any losses resulting from this podcast. 

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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.

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A highlight clip from the September 2019 episode "the most successful ways to travel on a budget", with Herald travel editor Stephanie Holmes

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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.

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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. 

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This podcast contains general information only, not professional advice. BNZ and NZME are not liable for any losses resulting from this podcast. 

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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.

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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.

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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. 

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This podcast contains general information only, not professional advice. BNZ and NZME are not liable for any losses resulting from this podcast. 

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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.

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A highlight clip from the April 2018 episode "How to stop emotions hurting your finances", with Martin Hawes, Authorised Financial Advisor.

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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.

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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.

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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.    

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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.

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A highlight clip from the January 2018 episode "could you retire at 30?", with Alpha Leung. 

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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.

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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.

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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. 

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A highlight clip from the January 2020 episode "The reality of one NZers journey to early retirement", with Nick Carr, from Your Money Blueprint. 

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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. 

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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This podcast contains general information only, not professional advice. BNZ and NZME are not liable for any losses resulting from this podcast. 

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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.

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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.

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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.

This episode is brought to you by Milford Asset Management. 

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. 

For the latest episode, I spoke to Kate Power from Milford Asset Management

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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.

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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.

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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. 

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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This podcast contains general information only, not professional advice. BNZ is not liable for any losses resulting from this podcast.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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A highlight clip from the June 2022 episode "busting the investing myths that hold you back" with Clarissa Hirst from the Financial Services Council.

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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.

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A highlight clip from the August 2022 episode "Your KiwiSaver questions answered" with Dr Claire Matthews, associate professor from Massey Business School.

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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 a multi-national beauty brand, which, it’s fair to say, is a massive deal.
Here’s what founder Jenene Crossan learned in that long evolution.

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A highlight clip from the March 2019 episode "How to talk to your partner about money" with AUT's Dr Ayesha Scott. 

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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.

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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.

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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.

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A highlight clip from the February 2020 episode "The tax realities of making a side hustle work" with Hnry co-founder James Fuller. 

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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.

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A highlight clip from the September 2022 episode "How to invest in shares through a crisis" with Dean Anderson, CEO of Kernel Wealth. 

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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.

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A highlight clip from the December 2018 episode "why do sales make us irrational?" with AUT lecturer Sommer Kapitan.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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A highlight clip from the June 2019 episode "Myth busting the golden ratio for your money", with Dr Ayesha Scott from AUT.

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A highlight clip from the February 2020 episode "The common insurance mistake NZers are making", with then-Herald money editor Tamsyn Parker.

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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 topic
On 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.

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A highlight clip from the April 2021 episode, "Can you reach financial security without a house?" with then-Hatch CEO Kristen Lunman.

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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.

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A highlight clip from the November 2019 episode "How to budget without feeling deprived", with PocketSmith CEO Jason Leong.

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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.

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A highlight clip from the March 2021 episode "How to choose a financial advisor", with Gillian Boyes from the Financial Markets Authority.

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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.
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A highlight clip from the August 2022 episode "Your KiwiSaver questions answered, part one", with Dr Claire Matthews, associate professor from Massey Business School.

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