Want to save more money without relying on willpower? You might need a moodboard.

In this live episode of Making Cents, financial journalist Frances Cook dives into the unexpected psychology behind saving money — and how a tool usually reserved for Pinterest weddings might actually be your biggest financial secret weapon.

Don't believe me? Here's what you need to know:

• Why traditional budgeting often fails (and what to do instead)
• The science-backed link between moodboards and higher savings rates
• How to use “future self” visualisation to beat impulsive spending
• What financial psychologists like Dr Brad Klontz have discovered about motivation
• Practical hacks like renaming accounts, mental accounting, and financial mindfulness

This isn’t about magical thinking — it’s neuroscience, and it works.

If you’re tired of spreadsheets, and want a way to make money habits stick, this episode is for you.

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.

Welcome to Ask the Experts, where each week we talk to people in the industry to get the inside word on what’s happening right now, and what that means for the tactics that you should use to make the most of your money.

We talk a lot about how to buy property — but what if you’re renting?

With rental prices rising and housing taking up a huge chunk of the average budget, renters need smart strategies too. In this episode, I team up with realestate.co.nz and speak with property expert Vanessa Williams about how to make the most of your money while renting.

We cover how to understand the rental market in New Zealand, how to protect yourself financially as a tenant, what to know if you want to buy a home eventually, and how to set goals that work whether you rent short- or long-term.

Whether you're a lifelong renter or saving for your first home, this episode, we've got your back.

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.

Sharyn Casey, radio, TV, and podcast personality, shares why she quit what was once her dream job, and how she's handled that financially.

You can have the dream job. The big career. The success everyone else envies. And still realise; this isn’t the life you want.

That’s exactly what happened to Sharyn Casey, who you probably already know from listening to her on the radio during her long stint on The Edge, or maybe when she hosted Dancing with the Stars.

Or maybe you just like following her on instagram, along with tens of thousands of other people.

And if you do know her from all of that, you’ll also know, that at the top of her game, she walked away.

So what actually happens when you step off the success treadmill?

What about the bills that still need paying, the kids that still need feeding, the future you still have to build?

What does it take to quit a top-tier media career?

How do you handle the financial impact of leaving a steady job?

And is it really possible to rebuild a better life on the other side?

In this episode of Making Cents, Sharyn shares what led to her decision to quit, how she’s handling the transition financially, and the surprising truths about burnout, motherhood, and building a more meaningful career.

If you’ve ever fantasised about quitting your job – or wondered what it really costs to change your life – this one’s 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.

Welcome to Ask the Experts, where each week we talk to people in the industry to get the inside word on what’s happening right now, and what that means for the tactics that you should use to make the most of your money.

This week we’ve partnered up with AMP, who has kindly leant us their expert Devon Walen, a client adviser, and we’re talking about when you can crack into your KiwiSaver a little early, whether it’s for good, or bad reasons.

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.

Live replay from a YouTube listener mail question.

After years of living paycheck to paycheck, a Making Cents listener has received a substantial inheritance.

But now she's frozen, worried about making the right choice, and torn between buying a first home for her family, or investing the money.

There's also a layer of emotional pressure to not waste the gift her beloved dad left her.

Frances Cook lays out the best money options for this situation, as well as inviting the Making Cents community to offer their own advice for this situation.

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.

Roy Chowdhury, founder of Homely, shares how he created an AI tool to make home lending easier, and the dangers of letting AI take part in your financial decisions.

The property journey can be a frustrating one, and frankly, a bit intimidating.

We’re talking big numbers, lots of jargon, and people in suits who are in charge of telling you yes or no to your dream.

Lovely.

So what about a digital helper? An app, that helps you figure out what’s possible and what’s not?

Of course, it’s 2025, so it’s using AI.

Now this might sound like a welcome handy helper, or it might freak you right out, because you’re wondering why you would trust AI with some of your most sensitive financial information.

So let’s dive in - what’s possible, what’s not, and should you trust it?

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.

Welcome to Ask the Experts, where each week we talk to people in the industry to get the inside word on what’s happening right now, and what that means for the tactics that you should use to make the most of your money.

Interest rates are finally coming down, and so many of us breathe a sigh of relief, especially all the people with a mortgage. But how do you make the most of that, and maybe even get ahead, by putting that new interest rate to work?

To get under the skin of the banking world we’ve partnered up with Kiwibank, who has kindly leant us their expert Nicole Pervan, and we’re going to smash through this.

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.

A highlight clip from the February 10h episode, “Viral mortgage hacks debunked: Separating clickbait from real advice”, with Dan Bell, financial adviser and co-founder of Colab Mortgages.

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.