Money Made Simple

Epizody

• MMS #73 | The Self-Employed Guide to KiwiSaver, tax, and not getting caught out 02.06.2026 18min

  In this week's episode of Money Made Simple, Liv and Jennie tackle a topic that deserves some airtime: the finances of self-employment. Nearly 1 in 5 Kiwis work for themselves - and the financial scaffolding that employees take for granted simply doesn't come with the territory. They break down what that means in practice, what to set up early, and how to make sure your future self doesn't miss out. This episode covers: The scale of self-employment in New Zealand - and why it's a growing slic...
• Economy Made Simple #16 | Can we still trust the news? Bernard Hickey weighs in 25.05.2026 25min

  In this episode of Economy Made Simple, Shamubeel Eaqub sits down with journalist and publisher Bernard Hickey to talk about how economic stories are told, why trust in media matters, and what’s changed in journalism over the past few decades. Bernard reflects on the major economic shifts in NZ, how his own views on markets and capitalism have evolved, and why good reporting still matters in a world shaped by social media, misinformation, and AI. This episode covers Bernard Hickey...
• MMS #72 | Does ethical investing compromise your returns? 18.05.2026 17min

  In this episode of Money Made Simple, Jennie sits down with Barry Coates, CEO of Mindful Money, to unpack what ethical investing really means and how Kiwis can put their KiwiSaver and other investments behind the values they care about. Barry brings decades of experience from the UK and NZ ethical investment communities, and more recently founded Mindful Money as a charity to give New Zealanders free, comparable information on what's actually inside their funds. This episode covers: What ethi...
• MMS #71 | What's the right KiwiSaver contribution rate in 2026? 04.05.2026 16min

  In this episode of Money Made Simple, Jennie and Liv revisit one of the most important - and most overlooked - parts of your KiwiSaver: your contribution rate. With changes coming into effect in 2026, including a lift to the default minimum, now's the perfect time to check in and ask whether you're actually contributing enough. From what's changed and what it means for your take-home pay, to how to think about contributions based on your income, life stage and goals, this ep...
• Economy Made Simple #15 | Migration in NZ: Who will the next generation of Kiwis really be? 28.04.2026 27min

  In this episode of Economy Made Simple, Simplicity's Chief Economist Shamubeel Eaqub is joined by Money Made Simple host Liv to unpack one of the biggest quiet shifts happening in New Zealand right now: our rapidly changing ethnic make-up, and what it will take to turn that into something genuinely good for everyone. Drawing on his recent research for the Auckland Policy Office, Shamubeel walks through the numbers, the tensions and the choices in front of us, and why Auckland is the place to ...
• MMS #70 | What are asset classes? (and how they help you diversify) 20.04.2026 18min

  The world feels a bit uncertain right now - headlines are full of market volatility, rising oil prices, and global tensions. In stories about investments, you might be hearing a lot about the importance of “diversification”… but what does that actually mean? And how do you put it in to practice? In this episode of Money Made Simple, Liv and Jennie break down the main investment asset classes - what they are, how they work, and why spreading your money across them is one of the simplest and mo...
• MMS #69 | The spending traps hurting your budget 07.04.2026 19min

  Cost of living is spiralling higher and higher - but we're here to help you tackle it. In this episode of Money Made Simple, Liv and Jennie discuss the psychology of spending, the traps that make it easier to overspend, and how to (gently) retrain your brain so your money decisions feel more intentional and less impulsive. We unpack the “Want Monster” - that little voice in your head telling you to buy the coffee, click the sale, upgrade the phone, or treat yourself because you “deserve it”.&...
• Economy Made Simple #14 | Oil shocks and war: What it means for NZ now - and in the future 25.03.2026 16min

  In this episode of Economy Made Simple, Shamubeel Eaqub breaks down the recent surge in oil prices driven by conflict in the Middle East - and what it means for NZ households, businesses and the wider economy. While price shocks like this are not new, the episode highlights why they may become more frequent and what we need to think about as a country, as we prepare for the future. This episode covers: What’s behind the current spike in oil prices, and why conflict in the Middle East has gl...
• MMS #68 | Side hustle tax? What you need to know (from a real accountant) 23.03.2026 14min

  In this episode of Money Made Simple, Liv sits down with Annè Lensink from Villa Chartered Accountants & Business Advisors to break down “Accounting 101” for everyday Kiwis. Whether you’ve got a side hustle, are freelancing, or just feeling a bit unsure about tax, this episode helps make sense of the basics in plain English. Annè is a Chartered Accountant based in Northland, known for helping people understand their numbers and feel more confident making financial decisions. Together, sh...
• Economy Made Simple #13 | Economic update: Signs of recovery (but risks ahead) 14.03.2026 15min

  Note for listeners: This episode was recorded just before the recent escalation of conflict involving Israel, the United States and Iran. While those developments are likely to influence the global and local outlook, the economic trends and data discussed here remain relevant to understanding the current state of the New Zealand economy. In this latest episode of Economy Made Simple, Shamubeel Eaqub takes a step back to look at where the NZeconomy sits right now, and what might lie ahea...
• MMS #67 | How to switch KiwiSaver providers (it's easier than you think!) 09.03.2026 19min

  In this week's episode of Money Made Simple, Liv and Jennie tackle a surprisingly common KiwiSaver question: how do you switch providers, and is there a “right” time to do it? They break down what happens behind the scenes with your provider and the IRD, why switching can be a smart long-term move (without trying to time the market), and the most common worries that stop people from taking smart action. This episode covers: What “switching providers” actually means (and how that’s diffe...
• MMS #66 | The gender gap: Why are men retiring so much richer than women? 23.02.2026 18min

  In this episode of Money Made Simple, Liv and Jennie unpack a stubborn and confronting reality: the retirement savings gap between men and women. While the gender pay gap has narrowed in recent years, the KiwiSaver gender gap remains - and in some age groups, it’s even widening. With International Women’s Day in mind, this episode dives into the data behind the gap, why it exists, and what it means for women’s financial security in retirement. Most importantly, Jennie and Liv share practical,...
• Economy Made Simple #12 | Inflation in 2026: What's next for NZ? 17.02.2026 17min

  In this episode of Economy Made Simple, Shamubeel Eaqub breaks down inflation in plain English, explaining what’s actually driving rising prices in NZ and what households can realistically expect in 2026. Inflation has dominated headlines and kitchen table conversations alike. From groceries and electricity bills to mortgage rates and job prospects, Shamubeel explores why the cost of living still feels intense, even as headline inflation "moderates". This episode covers: What inflation actual...
• MMS #65 | Your Financial Ins & Outs for 2026 09.02.2026 19min

  In this episode of Money Made Simple, Liv and Jennie jump on the popular “ins and outs” trend - but give it a practical money twist for 2026. They share realistic financial habits to bring in this year, and the common money mindsets and behaviours to leave out. This isn’t about perfection, restriction or hustle culture - it’s about small, sustainable tweaks that can make managing your money feel simpler and less stressful. This episode covers: What to automate (and what to review) to make mon...
• MMS #64 | Compounding returns: The “money makes money” episode 27.01.2026 19min

  In this episode of Money Made Simple, Jennie and Liv unpack one of the most powerful, and not always well understood, ideas in personal finance - compounding returns. They explain how money can make money itself over time, why the “snowball effect” is such a game-changer for long-term savings and investing, and how it can work not just for you, but also against you when it comes to debt. Using simple, relatable examples, they show why starting early really matters. This episode covers...
• Economy Made Simple #11 | A look into the future: NZ's long term choices explained 21.01.2026 28min

  In this episode of Economy Made Simple, Shamubeel Eaqub breaks down the Long Term Insight Briefings published by New Zealand’s key government agencies and explains why they matter far more than most of us realise. These reports look decades ahead and ask some uncomfortable but necessary questions about NZ’s future, including how we fund public services, care for an ageing population, respond to climate and geopolitical risks, and balance today’s needs with those of future generations. Rather ...
• MMS #63 | How does venture capital work? The inside word on startups, scaling up and global impact 14.01.2026 20min

  In this episode of Money Made Simple, Liv sits down with Robbie Paul, CEO of Icehouse Ventures, to unpack how venture capital really works in New Zealand - and what it takes to build successful startups in a small, but globally connected market. From arriving in NZ as an unpaid intern to leading one of the country’s most influential venture capital firms, Robbie shares his journey, lessons learned, and why he’s more optimistic than ever about the future of Kiwi entrepreneurship. T...
• MMS #62 | Real Kiwis share their top investing, saving and money hacks 15.12.2025 18min

  In this (crowd-sourced) episode of Money Made Simple, Jennie and Liv dive into the best money tips submitted by our lovely Simplicity community! From simple mindset shifts to clever day-to-day hacks, this episode brings together the collective wisdom of everyday Kiwis navigating saving, spending and investing during a pretty tough cost-of-living environment. This episode covers: Why starting small and starting early matters (and why it’s never too late to begin) How to get clear on...
• Economy Made Simple #10 | KiwiSaver 2.0: Future proofing our golden years 05.12.2025 15min

  KiwiSaver has changed the way New Zealanders save - but with an ageing population and growing fiscal pressures, the current system won’t be enough to support future generations. In this episode, Simplicity Chief Economist Shamubeel Eaqub lays out his vision for KiwiSaver 2.0: a bolder, more sustainable approach to retirement savings that draws inspiration from successful global models. He explains why New Zealand’s "pay-as-you-go" superannuation system is becoming increasingly unaffordable, w...
• MMS #61 | Volatility: Why market ups and downs are a good thing (yes, really!) 02.12.2025 19min

  In this episode of Money Made Simple, Jennie and Liv dive into a topic that can make even seasoned investors nervous - market volatility. What causes the sudden ups and downs in your KiwiSaver or Investment Fund balance? And what should you do when markets are unsettled? From global news and investor emotion to algorithms and exchange rates, this episode explains what’s really behind those squiggly lines in your fund performance graph - and why they’re not always a bad thing. This episode cov...