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 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 <a href="https://www.facebook.com/FrancesCookNZ/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Facebook here</a>, <a href="https://www.instagram.com/francescooknz/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Instagram her</a>e, and <a href="https://twitter.com/FrancesCook" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Twitter here</a>.See <a href="https://omnystudio.com/listener" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">omnystudio.com/listener</a> for privacy information.

Why weight-loss drug Ozempic is getting Wall St attention

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 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 <a href="https://www.facebook.com/FrancesCookNZ/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Facebook here</a>, <a href="https://www.instagram.com/francescooknz/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Instagram her</a>e, and <a href="https://twitter.com/FrancesCook" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Twitter here</a>.See <a href="https://omnystudio.com/listener" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">omnystudio.com/listener</a> for privacy information.

How to find recession-proof stocks

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.

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 <a href="https://www.facebook.com/FrancesCookNZ/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Facebook here</a>, <a href="https://www.instagram.com/francescooknz/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Instagram her</a>e, and <a href="https://twitter.com/FrancesCook" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Twitter here</a>.See <a href="https://omnystudio.com/listener" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">omnystudio.com/listener</a> for privacy information.

How one woman paid off $187,000 of debt in two years

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.

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 <a href="https://omnystudio.com/listener" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">omnystudio.com/listener</a> for privacy information.

Quick Hit: How to cut the food budget without feeling deprived

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 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 <a href="https://www.facebook.com/FrancesCookNZ/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Facebook here</a>, <a href="https://www.instagram.com/francescooknz/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Instagram her</a>e, and <a href="https://twitter.com/FrancesCook" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Twitter here</a>.See <a href="https://omnystudio.com/listener" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">omnystudio.com/listener</a> for privacy information.

Could you make money investing in luxury handbags?

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 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 <a href="https://www.facebook.com/FrancesCookNZ/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Facebook here</a>, <a href="https://www.instagram.com/francescooknz/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Instagram her</a>e, and <a href="https://twitter.com/FrancesCook" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Twitter here</a>. This podcast contains general information only, not professional advice. BNZ is not liable for any losses resulting from this podcast.See <a href="https://omnystudio.com/listener" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">omnystudio.com/listener</a> for privacy information.

Where to turn if debt is getting out of control

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.

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 <a href="https://www.facebook.com/FrancesCookNZ/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Facebook here</a>, <a href="https://www.instagram.com/francescooknz/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Instagram her</a>e, and <a href="https://twitter.com/FrancesCook" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Twitter here</a>.See <a href="https://omnystudio.com/listener" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">omnystudio.com/listener</a> for privacy information.

How a hobby instagram page turned into a six-figure business

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.

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 <a href="https://www.facebook.com/FrancesCookNZ/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Facebook here</a>, <a href="https://www.instagram.com/francescooknz/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Instagram her</a>e, and <a href="https://twitter.com/FrancesCook" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Twitter here</a>.See <a href="https://omnystudio.com/listener" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">omnystudio.com/listener</a> for privacy information.

Quick Hit: How to know if debt will help or hurt you

Nigel Latta

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.

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 <a href="https://www.facebook.com/FrancesCookNZ/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Facebook here</a>, <a href="https://www.instagram.com/francescooknz/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Instagram her</a>e, and <a href="https://twitter.com/FrancesCook" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Twitter here</a>.See <a href="https://omnystudio.com/listener" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">omnystudio.com/listener</a> for privacy information.

Nigel Latta on why the scam industry is booming

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.

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 <a href="https://www.facebook.com/FrancesCookNZ/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Facebook here</a>, <a href="https://www.instagram.com/francescooknz/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Instagram her</a>e, and <a href="https://twitter.com/FrancesCook" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Twitter here</a>.See <a href="https://omnystudio.com/listener" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">omnystudio.com/listener</a> for privacy information.

Quick Hit: Why you'll be a better investor than you think

Each week the New Zealand Herald and BusinessDesk's Cooking the Books tackles a different money problem. Hosted by Frances Cook.

There isn’t a lot of financial education in NZ. Studies say the biggest difference between rich and poor is agility for long term planning. Every kiwi should be listening to this to plant the seeds for long term financial plans in their life. Good, sound advice from someone who started out where most of us did. Unbiased financial advice from someone who isn’t trying to sell you a product and has your interest at heart. Solid, well produced listen.

Finance for the rest of us

Each week the New Zealand Herald and BusinessDesk's Cooking the Books tackles a different money problem. Hosted by Frances Cook.

Cooking the Books with Frances Cook

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 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 <a href="https://www.facebook.com/FrancesCookJournalist" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.facebook.com/FrancesCookJournalist</a>/  Instagram  <a href="https://www.instagram.com/francescooknz" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.instagram.com/francescooknz</a>/  Twitter <a href="https://twitter.com" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">https://twitter.com</a>/FrancesCookSee <a href="https://omnystudio.com/listener" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">omnystudio.com/listener</a> for privacy information.

Cooking the Books: Why the OCR is the key to your financial life

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 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 <a href="https://www.facebook.com/FrancesCookJournalist/" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.facebook.com/FrancesCookJournalist/</a>, Instagram <a href="https://www.instagram.com/franklysnapping" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.instagram.com/franklysnapping</a>/  Twitter <a href="https://twitter.com/FrancesCook" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">https://twitter.com/FrancesCook</a>.See <a href="https://omnystudio.com/listener" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">omnystudio.com/listener</a> for privacy information.

Cooking the Books: Know thy money personality

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 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 <a href="https://www.facebook.com/FrancesCookJournalist" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.facebook.com/FrancesCookJournalist</a>/  Instagram <a href="https://www.instagram.com/franklysnapping" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.instagram.com/franklysnapping</a>/  Twitter <a href="https://twitter.com/FrancesCook" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">https://twitter.com/FrancesCook</a>See <a href="https://omnystudio.com/listener" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">omnystudio.com/listener</a> for privacy information.

Cooking The Books: Why a simple savings account is the key to money happiness

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 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 <a href="https://www.facebook.com/FrancesCookJournalist/" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.facebook.com/FrancesCookJournalist/</a> Instagram here <a href="https://www.instagram.com/franklysnapping/" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.instagram.com/franklysnapping/</a> and  Twitter here <a href="https://twitter.com/FrancesCook" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">https://twitter.com/FrancesCook</a>See <a href="https://omnystudio.com/listener" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">omnystudio.com/listener</a> for privacy information.

Cooking the Books: How to squeeze the best mortgage out of your bank

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 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 <a href="https://www.facebook.com/FrancesCookJournalist/" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.facebook.com/FrancesCookJournalist/</a> Instagram here <a href="https://www.instagram.com/franklysnapping/" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.instagram.com/franklysnapping/</a> and Twitter here <a href="https://twitter.com/FrancesCook" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">https://twitter.com/FrancesCook</a> See <a href="https://omnystudio.com/listener" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">omnystudio.com/listener</a> for privacy information.

Cooking the Books: How to stop emotions hurting your finances

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 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 <a href="https://www.facebook.com/FrancesCookJournalist/" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.facebook.com/FrancesCookJournalist/</a> Instagram <a href="https://www.instagram.com/francescooknz" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.instagram.com/francescooknz</a>/  Twitter <a href="https://twitter.com/FrancesCook" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">https://twitter.com/FrancesCook</a>See <a href="https://omnystudio.com/listener" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">omnystudio.com/listener</a> for privacy information.

Cooking the Books: The smartest ways to buy a car

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 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 <a href="https://omnystudio.com/listener" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">omnystudio.com/listener</a> for privacy information.

Cooking the Books: How to stay warm this winter without going broke

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 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 <a href="https://omnystudio.com/listener" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">omnystudio.com/listener</a> for privacy information.

Cooking the Books: The good and bad news for first home buyers

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 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 <a href="https://www.yourmoneyblueprint.co.nz" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.yourmoneyblueprint.co.nz</a>/  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 <a href="https://www.facebook.com/FrancesCookJournalist" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.facebook.com/FrancesCookJournalist</a>/  Instagram <a href="https://www.instagram.com/francescooknz/" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.instagram.com/francescooknz/</a> Twitter <a href="https://twitter.com/FrancesCook" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">https://twitter.com/FrancesCook</a>See <a href="https://omnystudio.com/listener" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">omnystudio.com/listener</a> for privacy information.

Cooking the Books: The NZ family man saving 50 percent of his income

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 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 <a href="https://www.facebook.com/FrancesCookJournalist" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.facebook.com/FrancesCookJournalist</a>/  Instagram <a href="https://www.instagram.com/francescooknz" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.instagram.com/francescooknz</a>/  Twitter  <a href="https://twitter.com/FrancesCook" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">https://twitter.com/FrancesCook</a>See <a href="https://omnystudio.com/listener" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">omnystudio.com/listener</a> for privacy information.

Cooking the Books: Are you getting gouged on your electricity bill?

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 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 <a href="https://www.facebook.com/FrancesCookJournalist" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.facebook.com/FrancesCookJournalist</a>/  Instagram <a href="https://www.instagram.com/francescooknz" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.instagram.com/francescooknz</a>/  Twitter  <a href="https://twitter.com" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">https://twitter.com</a>/FrancesCookSee <a href="https://omnystudio.com/listener" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">omnystudio.com/listener</a> for privacy information.

Cooking the Books: How KiwiSaver can help and hurt first home buyers

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 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 <a href="https://kiwisaverriskquiz.co.nz/" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">https://kiwisaverriskquiz.co.nz/</a> 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 <a href="https://www.facebook.com/FrancesCookJournalist/" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.facebook.com/FrancesCookJournalist/</a> Instagram here <a href="https://www.instagram.com/francescooknz/" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.instagram.com/francescooknz/</a> and Twitter here <a href="https://twitter.com/FrancesCook" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">https://twitter.com/FrancesCook</a>.See <a href="https://omnystudio.com/listener" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">omnystudio.com/listener</a> for privacy information.

Cooking the Books: How to shelter your KiwiSaver from life's storms

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 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 <a href="https://omnystudio.com/listener" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">omnystudio.com/listener</a> for privacy information.

Cooking the Books: How much money do you need to retire?

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 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 <a href="https://www.facebook.com/FrancesCookJournalist" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.facebook.com/FrancesCookJournalist</a>/  Instagram  <a href="https://www.instagram.com/francescooknz/" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.instagram.com/francescooknz/</a> Twitter <a href="https://twitter.com" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">https://twitter.com</a>/FrancesCookSee <a href="https://omnystudio.com/listener" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">omnystudio.com/listener</a> for privacy information.

Cooking the Books: Are the highs of high risk investing worth it?

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 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 <a href="https://www.facebook.com/FrancesCookJournalist" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.facebook.com/FrancesCookJournalist</a>/  Instagram  <a href="https://www.instagram.com/francescooknz" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.instagram.com/francescooknz</a>/  Twitter  <a href="https://twitter.com/FrancesCook" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">https://twitter.com/FrancesCook</a>.See <a href="https://omnystudio.com/listener" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">omnystudio.com/listener</a> for privacy information.

Cooking the Books: What do the mortgage changes mean for you?

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. 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 <a href="https://www.facebook.com/FrancesCookJournalist/" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.facebook.com/FrancesCookJournalist/</a>, Instagram here <a href="https://www.instagram.com/francescooknz/" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.instagram.com/francescooknz/</a> Twitter here <a href="https://twitter.com/FrancesCook" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">https://twitter.com/FrancesCook</a>.See <a href="https://omnystudio.com/listener" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">omnystudio.com/listener</a> for privacy information.

Cooking the Books: The argument against maxing your KiwiSaver contributions

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 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 <a href="https://www.facebook.com/FrancesCookJournalist" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.facebook.com/FrancesCookJournalist</a>/  Instagram here <a href="https://www.instagram.com/francescooknz" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.instagram.com/francescooknz</a>/  Twitter <a href="https://twitter.com" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">https://twitter.com</a>/FrancesCookSee <a href="https://omnystudio.com/listener" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">omnystudio.com/listener</a> for privacy information.

Cooking the Books: How to successfully make money from your hobbies

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 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 <a href="https://www.facebook.com/FrancesCookJournalist/" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.facebook.com/FrancesCookJournalist/</a> Instagram <a href="https://www.instagram.com/francescooknz" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.instagram.com/francescooknz</a>/  Twitter  <a href="https://twitter.com" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">https://twitter.com</a>/FrancesCookSee <a href="https://omnystudio.com/listener" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">omnystudio.com/listener</a> for privacy information.

Cooking the Books: Can buying with a friend get you a house?

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 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 <a href="https://www.facebook.com/FrancesCookJournalist" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.facebook.com/FrancesCookJournalist</a>/  Instagram <a href="https://www.instagram.com/francescooknz" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.instagram.com/francescooknz</a>/  Twitter <a href="https://twitter.com/FrancesCook" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">https://twitter.com/FrancesCook</a>See <a href="https://omnystudio.com/listener" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">omnystudio.com/listener</a> for privacy information.

Cooking the Books: How to use the skills you have to get paid more

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.

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 <a href="https://omnystudio.com/listener" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">omnystudio.com/listener</a> for privacy information.

Cooking the Books: How to get started as a DIY investor

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