Making Cents

Ever wanted to turn to your boss and say, "I could run this place better, and you should let me"?

In reality, you probably want to phrase it a little more diplomatically than that. But it is possible - because Sarah Murray did exactly that.

Sarah Murray, owner and editor of FQ, shares the raw reality of stepping from employee to business owner.

From valuing a legacy media brand and writing a winning bank business plan with no prior corporate finance background, Sarah pulls back the curtain on taking the ultimate career swing.

In this episode:
The audacity of buying the company: how Sarah built up the courage to pitch her boss
What it takes to value an established business and get bank approval with no formal business background
The "part-time work" trap for working parents, and taking on your dream role with young kids
Navigating the shift from coworker to editor-in-chief and business owner
Balancing creative integrity vs the bottom line: why "bougie" brand details sometimes matter
The modern media blueprint: turning a print magazine into a 360-degree ecosystem of events and memberships
Practical advice for pitching your boss if you want to buy out or take over a company

Whether you're dreaming of turning your career into business ownership or navigating the high-stakes world of running a brand, this episode breaks down what it really takes to back yourself and build something on your own terms.

This episode of Making Cents is proudly supported by Odoo. Go to https://www.odoo.com/r/hpl now and try it for free, for 15 days.

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Production and video editing by Lana Byrne
Audio engineering by Tash Chittock
Filmed by Fanaticals

With the election ramping up, promises to change KiwiSaver are flying thick and fast.
Time to break down what each party is suggesting, what the experts think is missing from the debate, and what it could all mean for your retirement savings.
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With petrol prices spiking to record highs, hitting $3.52 a litre, switching to an electric or hybrid car can look like the ultimate way to wipe out a massive daily living cost. But is it actually the right financial move for your lifestyle, or could hidden ownership costs end up costing you more?

Financial journalist Frances Cook breaks down the real numbers on petrol, hybrid, and fully electric cars.

From real-world running costs and road user charges to battery lifespan facts and a brutal warning on vehicle depreciation, Frances shares the exact maths you need to know before making a move.

In this episode:
The real cost to charge an EV: running the numbers on off-peak power vs $3/litre petrol
Factoring in NZ Road User Charges: what EV driving actually costs per 450km
The hybrid trap
EV insurance and servicing costs: the trade-off between higher premiums and lower maintenance
Will the battery die and bankrupt you? Real-world data on EV battery degradation and warranties
The depreciation rule: why buying a 2–3 year old EV saves you tens of thousands
How green loans work: using 0% to 1% interest bank financing without touching high-interest car loans
Frances’s golden rule: why the cheapest car is almost always the one already in your driveway

Whether you are feeling squeezed at the pump or weighing up your next vehicle purchase, this episode breaks down the practical numbers to help you make the right call on your own terms.

Follow me everywhere!
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Production and video editing by Lana Byrne
Audio engineering by Tash Chittock
Filmed by Fanaticals

Election season is here, and every political party is lining up to promise fixes for your wallet. But behind the political promises on KiwiSaver, grocery prices, and power bills, are any of their proposed solutions actually going to fix the real problems?

Independent financial journalist and founder of The Kaka, Bernard Hickey, joins Frances Cook on Making Cents to pull back the curtain on the economic realities facing New Zealand. From the truth about making KiwiSaver compulsory to why a food-producing nation has a million people relying on food banks, Bernard breaks down the big structural flaws and the radical changes needed to actually move the dial.

In this episode:
Why making KiwiSaver compulsory without tax breaks is effectively a tax on everyday workers
The overseas investment problem: why 60% of KiwiSaver funds head offshore instead of building NZ infrastructure
The first-home buyer dilemma: why using KiwiSaver as a deposit fund pumps up house prices
How Australia built the world’s third-largest pension pool, and the sliding door moment New Zealand missed
Supermarket duopolies: why splitting up Foodstuffs and Woolworths needs a telecom-style breakup to work
Why New Zealand can feed 40 million people while grocery bills push families to the brink
The real driver behind youth unemployment and why inflation targets are punishing the wrong people
How New Zealand could become self-sufficient in food, energy, and housing during global disruption

Whether you're trying to figure out what election promises mean for your retirement fund or wondering why your weekly grocery shop keeps climbing, this episode breaks down what’s really going on with your money and our economy.

This episode of Making Cents is proudly supported by Odoo. Go to https://www.odoo.com/r/hpl now and try it for free, for 15 days.

Follow me everywhere!
Facebook / https://www.facebook.com/FrancesCookNZ
Instagram / https://www.instagram.com/francescooknz
TikTok / https://www.tiktok.com/@francescooknz

Join the Money Memo newsletter for a free weekly money tip in your inbox each week https://www.francescook.co.nz/subscribe
Become a confident sharemarket investor by signing up to the Market Memo newsletter https://www.francescook.co.nz/invest

#MakingCents #FrancesCook #MakingCentsPodcast #InvestingPodcast #MoneyPodcast #FinancialFreedom

Production and video editing by Lana Byrne
Audio engineering by Tash Chittock
Filmed by Fanaticals

While global sharemarkets are booming, New Zealand is sitting quietly near the bottom of the table. I break down why our market is built differently, what that means for your returns, and how to think about whether you should be investing here or looking overseas.

Follow me everywhere!
Facebook / https://www.facebook.com/FrancesCookNZ
Instagram / https://www.instagram.com/francescooknz
TikTok / https://www.tiktok.com/@francescooknz

Join the Money Memo newsletter for a free weekly money tip in your inbox each week https://www.francescook.co.nz/subscribe
Become a confident sharemarket investor by signing up to the Market Memo newsletter https://www.francescook.co.nz/invest

#MakingCents #FrancesCook #MakingCentsPodcast #InvestingPodcast #MoneyPodcast #FinancialFreedom