Are you enjoying the freedom of self-employment - or just underpaid, overworked, and financially stressed?

Running your own business can give you freedom, flexibility, and the chance to build something that truly works for you.

But without the right systems in place, it’s also easy to end up burnt out, broke, and completely unprepared for the future.

In this Ask the Experts episode of Making Cents, financial journalist Frances Cook is joined by Justin Gauci from EnableMe to unpack the money traps that trip up self-employed Kiwis.

Then? It’s how to fix them.

We cover the essential questions every freelancer, contractor, sole trader or small business owner needs to ask:

• Are you charging your true market value, or just making yourself a job that doesn’t pay properly?
• How should you really think about GST and tax deductions (hint: they don’t make things free)?
• What’s the smartest way to save for retirement when you don’t get KiwiSaver employer contributions?
• How can you smooth out cashflow, and prepare for big tax bills without panic?

This episode is full of practical financial advice for self-employed people who want to earn well, save smart, and run their business like a grown-up, without sacrificing their lifestyle or security.

Whether you’re just starting out or several years into your self-employed journey, this is your roadmap for building a solid financial foundation.

Links

Follow Frances Cook on Facebook, Instagram and TikTok, or join the Money Memo newsletter for a free weekly money tip in your inbox each week.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

She hit financial freedom at 51, by downsizing to a caravan and selling the family trade business.

It wasn’t a tech salary. It wasn’t an inheritance. It was good old-fashioned DIY thinking, property investment, and a whole lot of planning.

In this episode of Making Cents, you’ll meet Charmaine Hands, who “re-lifed” in her 50s and built a whole new life of travel, flexibility, and financial independence.

She ran a glazing and locksmithing business with her husband for over two decades, raising their family and carefully reinvesting in assets along the way.

Then, with the kids grown and the business ready to hand over, she took the leap.

Sold the business to a staff member. Turned their home into a rental. Bought commercial property for passive income. Moved into a caravan to travel New Zealand. Started living the life they’d always imagined.

No million-dollar pay cheque. Just smart money moves, DIY upgrades, and a relentless vision for something better.

We talk about:

- What it really takes to build financial freedom without a big income

- How to turn your home or business into long-term wealth

- The pros and cons of living in a caravan full-time

- Why imagination and stubbornness might be your best financial tools

If you're dreaming of more freedom, flexibility, and meaning in your next chapter, this episode is for you.

Making Cents is supported by our friends at Kiwibank.

Links

Follow Frances Cook on Facebook, Instagram and TikTok, or join the Money Memo newsletter for a free weekly money tip in your inbox each week.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The 1news Breakfast team have questions about how we can beat the guilt, and create systems to help us feel better about our money.

A replay of the TVNZ segment from 5 August.

Making Cents is supported by our friends at Kiwibank.

Links

Follow Frances Cook on Facebook, Instagram and TikTok, or join the Money Memo newsletter for a free weekly money tip in your inbox each week.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.