Money Made Simple

Epizódy

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  MMS #80 | Retirement around the world: Is NZ getting it right? 14.09.2026 16min

  In this episode of Money Made Simple, Jennie and Liv take a trip around the world to see how different countries tackle the very large question of retirement. New Zealand has NZ Super and KiwiSaver, but elsewhere the mix of government support, compulsory saving and personal choice can look quite different. From Australia's compulsory super contributions to Singapore's all-purpose CPF, the Netherlands' three-pillar model and America's 401(k), Jennie and Liv compare who pays, who carries the ri...
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  MMS #79 | Reddit's best NZ money tips and tricks from r/PersonalFinanceNZ 31.08.2026 16min

  In this episode of Money Made Simple, Jennie and Liv take the show to Reddit, asking the often wise, very debate-happy r/PersonalFinanceNZ community for their very best money tips and tricks. More than 40 people came to the party, and the ones that made the cut are the ones the community upvoted most, so this is a genuinely crowd-sourced list from everyday Kiwis who think hard about their money. Jennie and Liv work through the top ten, from the deceptively simple to the slightly technical.&nb...
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  Economy Made Simple #20 | Why do New Zealanders work so hard for so little? 26.08.2026 18min

  In this episode of Economy Made Simple, Shamubeel invites Liv over to the green side, to unpack one of the most used and least understood words in New Zealand economics: productivity. Not how hard we work, but what we get back for the effort. New Zealanders work roughly two weeks more a year than Australians, yet our wages and business profits are about a third lower. Shamubeel explains why, and where the real levers sit. This episode covers: What productivity actually measures, and why "we'r...
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  MMS #78 | Dark patterns: the tricks websites use to make you spend more 17.08.2026 20min

  Ever felt pressured to hit Buy now by a countdown clock, struggled to cancel a subscription, or been told there is “only one left” while shopping online? You may have encountered a dark pattern. In this episode of Money Made Simple, Jennie is joined by Chandni Gupta from the Consumer Policy Research Centre in Melbourne, Australia and Jon Duffy from Consumer NZ to unpack the design tricks businesses use to steer our choices online - often encouraging us to spend more, stay subscribed longer or...
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  MMS #77 | How much should be in your emergency fund? 03.08.2026 13min

  It's officially Sorted's Money Month - and we have a special guest in to celebrate! In this episode of Money Made Simple, Liv sits down with Kate Hannah from Te Ara Ahunga Ora Retirement Commission - the team behind Sorted.org.nz, to unpack what financial resilience really means, and why it's about much more than just having enough money. With cost-of-living pressures still biting, Kate explains why an emergency fund is the foundation for getting your finances sorted. She shares the research ...
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  Economy Made Simple #19 | Can you still afford to insure your home? 29.07.2026 8min

  In this episode of Economy Made Simple, Chief Economist Shamubeel Eaqub unpacks why insurance has become one of the fastest-rising costs in NZ, and what that means for the assets we most need to protect. Insuring everything you own would now swallow close to 15% of the average income, and with disasters growing more frequent, Shamubeel argues the days of leaning on a government bailout may be numbered. He explains how to keep meaningful cover as premiums climb. This episode covers: Why insuri...
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  MMS #76 | Can I trust TikTok for financial advice? 13.07.2026 15min

  There’s no shortage of money info out there. Everyone seems to have something to say about budgeting, investing, mortgages, KiwiSaver and more. But how do you know what’s helpful, what’s marketing, what’s just someone’s opinion, and when you might actually need personalised financial advice? In this episode of Money Made Simple, Liv and Jennie unpack the surprisingly important question of who to trust when it comes to money. They look at the difference between general financial information,...
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  Economy Made Simple #18 | Is New Zealand's economic recovery back on track? 06.07.2026 15min

  In this episode of Economy Made Simple, Shamubeel Eaqub takes a moment to unpack NZ's mid-2026 economic outlook, from the fallout of the war in Iran to signs of a tentative peace. With inflation pressures building, interest rates trending up again, and an election year adding noise, Shamubeel separates the cyclical shocks from the structural challenges Aotearoa NZ still needs to face. This episode covers: Why the tentative truce in Iran doesn't mean cost pressures disappear overnightHow the w...
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  MMS #75 | What you need to know before buying your first home 29.06.2026 20min

  Buying your first home can feel exciting, overwhelming, and full of unfamiliar jargon, forms and deadlines. In this episode of Money Made Simple, Liv and Jennie break down the first-home buying process into three key stages: getting your finances ready, making an offer and doing your due diligence, and understanding what happens from going unconditional through to settlement. This is a practical, plain-English guide to help you understand what’s coming, feel more prepared, and avoid being ca...
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  Economy Made Simple #17 | Getting KiwiSaver right, with Susan Edmunds 23.06.2026 19min

  In this episode of Economy Made Simple, Shamubeel Eaqub chats with journalist, author and personal finance expert Susan Edmunds about KiwiSaver, the questions New Zealanders are asking, and why getting the basics right still matters. Susan has just written a book about KiwiSaver, based on the questions people regularly ask her - from choosing the right fund and contribution rate, to hardship withdrawals, first-home access, fees, self-employment, and what happens once people reach retirement. ...
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  MMS #74 | Retirement planning - whatever age you are! 15.06.2026 17min

  Retirement can feel like something to worry about “later” - especially when you’re in your 20s or 30s. But every decade comes with opportunities to improve your financial future. In this episode of Money Made Simple, Jennie and Liv talk about what retirement planning looks like at different ages and stages of life. From making the most of KiwiSaver early on, to checking whether you’re on track in your 40s and 50s, to thinking about how you’ll actually use your savings in retirement, this epis...
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  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...
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  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...
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  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...
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  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...
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  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 ...
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  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...
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  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”.&...
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  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...
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  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...