Thrift

Episodes

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  Building An Emergency Fund 10.08.2026 13m

  What happens when your car breaks down or you suddenly need the dentist? We should all have an emergency fund to cover those unexpected bills but how many of us actually do? Katy Gosset looks at how to get started. Guest:  Julie, Kingdom ResourcesGo to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details
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  Trailer: Thrift Season 8 07.08.2026 1m

  Thrift is back and in Season Eight: could you cope with an expected bill? We've got tips on setting up your Emergency Fund. More people are batch cooking, saving time and money. We visit the kitchen of one woman who's got it down to an art. Then, how does the cost-of-living crisis affect younger family members? School children share their thrifty advice. We talk to a handyman about home maintenance hacks. And could you survive for a week just by eating what's in your cupboards? How about trying a 'panty challenge'? Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details
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  Investing with Share Trading Apps 11.05.2026 13m

  How do you take your first steps on the investment ladder? About a million New Zealanders now have a DIY share investing account. Katy Gosset meets some of them. Guests:Cam Scott, Share Trading App InvestorRachel Pratt, Share Trading App InvestorSusan Edmunds RNZ Money CorrespondentGo to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details
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  Getting Frugal With Fuel 04.05.2026 13m

  How are you dealing with the rise in fuel prices? Whether its jumping on a bike or choosing public transport, more people are trying to ditch their cars. Katy Gosset talks to a transportation engineer about different and thrifty ways to get around. Guest: Glen Koorey, Transportation EngineerGo to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details
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  Ready for Retirement? 27.04.2026 13m

  Ready or not, here it comes. Forget your investment portfolios, what are the budget basics you need for a comfy retirement? Katy Gosset looks at what you need to tick off before you knock off. Guests: Tracey O'Çallaghan, Retirement Coach,              Madeleine Burdon, RetireeGo to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details
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  Pruning Petcare Costs 20.04.2026 13m

  We love our pets, but they can be pricey. There's nothing like a flea infestation or a sudden surgery to throw out your weekly budget. Katy Gosset gets a vet's view on keeping pet costs down without compromising your animal's health.Guest: Elora Saha, Veterinarian, At The Vets  Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details
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  Ditching the Lazy Tax 13.04.2026 13m

  Are you paying a lazy tax? A lot of us stick with the same internet or phone providers out of habit. But not shopping around could be costing us money. Katy Gosset asks, should we stay or should we go? Guest: Ekant Veer, Marketing Professor, Canterbury UniversityGo to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details
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  Are Loyalty Cards Worth It? 06.04.2026 13m

  How loyal are you and why? New Zealanders are signing up for more and more loyalty cards. In the first of a two-parter, 'Loyal or Lazy?', Katy Gosset asks: are they really saving us money?Guest: Ekant Veer, Marketing Professor, University of Canterbury               Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details
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  Trailer: Thrift Season 7 30.03.2026 1m

  Thrift is back with a new season of helpful hacks! We find out just how much money we can save with loyalty cards (or how little!) and look at how to trim our petcare costs. Also, are you paying a lazy tax by not shopping around for your power or internet? We learn about negotiating better deals and how to prepare for a comfortable retirement. Then we meet some of the many New Zealanders turning to share trading apps to grow a nest egg.Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details
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  Buying a Home With Friends 15.12.2025 13m

  Owning a home has long been part of the Kiwi dream. But these days people are having to get a bit more creative to stake their claim on the property ladder. Katy Gosset meets two friends who've pooled resources to co-own a property. Guests: Claudia Gray, Co-homeowner             Scarlet Bennett, Co-homeownerGo to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details
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  Splurge and Save 08.12.2025 14m

  Now for something different: Normally we're telling you how you can trim your costs but, in this episode, what can't, or won't you give up? Katy Gosset takes a look at that one indulgence that remains a priority and asks, what are you sacrificing to keep it? Guests: Sharon             Terrie             Linda Smith, Financial MentorGo to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details
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  Students, Style and Sustainability 01.12.2025 14m

  Te Oraka is a secondhand shop and social enterprise run by students, for students and it operates a circular economy where all profits are fed back into the business. Katy Gosset visits the thriving hub at the University of Otago.Guests:Jes Triscott, Project Manager for Student Engagement, University of Otago Sustainability Office Maggie Craw, Student Lead, Te OrakaEmerson Kane, Volunteer, Te OrakaGo to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details
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  Making Ends Meat 24.11.2025 14m

  As food bills rise, how do we keep meat on the menu? Katy Gosset visits one of Christchurch's oldest butcheries and talks cheap cuts and thrifty options. Guest: Lisa Willert, Christchurch ButcherGo to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details
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  Secondhand Styling 17.11.2025 13m

  If you want to re-decorate, you shouldn't have to re-mortgage. In this second episode with an op shopping expert, Katy Gosset looks at home design and decor on a budget and tags along on a thrift shop mission.Guest: Anna Easton, Op Shopping ExpertGo to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details
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  Homely Hacks for Renters 10.11.2025 14m

  About a third of New Zealanders don't own their own homes but a few cheap tweaks can help turn a rental into a home. In the first of two parts, we meet an op-shopping queen and regular renter whose homely hacks won't stretch the budget. Katy Gosset pops in for a visit.Guest: Anna Easton, Renter and Op-Shop QueenGo to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details
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  Thrifty Road Trip 01.09.2025 13m

  Who doesn't love a road trip? But any kind of holiday can be pricey. Katy Gosset heads off on her own thrifty roadie, staying with friends. She gets their tips for a low-cost holiday and meets some seasoned travellers who've gone a long way on a shoestring. Guests:Mathilde O'SullivanJohn DavidsonBridget DavidsonHugh DavidsonNicky PorterGo to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details
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  Tips For a Smart Start in NZ 25.08.2025 13m

  Juggling bills is hard, especially in a new country. As Ashburton's Pasifika community grows, they're sharing their hacks on heating, local resources and gardening. And Katy Gosset visits the new community plot where taro is surviving the Mid-Canterbury winter! Guests:Semi Ratuniyauravu, Salvation Army MinisterPercy Tilialo, Pacific Outreach Navigator, Tangata Atumotu TrustIfereimi Ratuniyauravu Samisoni Ratuniyauravu Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details
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  Feeding A Crowd 18.08.2025 14m

  How do you feed a lot of people for not much money? Who better to ask than the folk at The Bowling Club, a Dunedin community eatery that serves up 700 low-cost meals every day. They've got cheap bulk cooking down to an art, so Katy Gosset headed south to pick their brains. Liam Arthur, Co-Founder, The Bowling ClubMoana KyleAmye MartinValeska OliveraGabrielle Gosling-Walker Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details
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  Thrifty Words from the Wise 11.08.2025 14m

  They've lived through rationing and enjoyed a simpler life. So, what can our older community members teach us about eating and socialising on a budget? Katy Gosset takes a peek in an 80-year old's freezer and looks through his diary. Turns out they're both pretty full! Guests: Neil Macandrew             Betty LaingGo to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details
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  Savvy Students: Prize Garden 04.08.2025 13m

  We visit what might just be the best student flat garden in Dunedin. Katy Gosset meets the hunting, fishing lads who can also grow a mean cauliflower. She checks out their award-winning vege plot and gets their tips for a thrifty flat fit-out. Kieran Halforty, Otago University StudentAngus Henry, Otago University StudentJake Corney, Otago University StudentCam Pooley, Otago University StudentA previous version of this episode incorrectly stated that meat that has been hunted could be bartered. Barter constitutes trade, and the barter of homekill and recreational catch is prohibited under the Animal Products Act.This episode has now been corrected and updated. Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details