Your Money, Your Future

A real-life handbook to finding financial freedom on any income, from the creator of New Zealand’s leading finance podcast Cooking the Books and author of Tales from a Financial Hot Mess.

“The biggest goals can be achieved when you’ve got a road map in hand. Quitting your job and living a good life, on your own terms, for decades to come? You can do it!”

In this book, top New Zealand finance podcaster and journalist Frances Cook shows you how to change your money so that you can live your ideal life.

Learn how, on an ordinary income, you can plan for and achieve true financial freedom, with expert advice and step-by-step information on:

• The basics of FIRE (Financial Independence, Retire Early): A Kiwi guide
• Your magic number: Learn how much money you need to design the life you want
• Finance 101: Change how you handle your money to gain control of debt and simplify your life
• Get paid: Techniques that work to boost your earning power in any industry
• You earn it, you keep it: How to save more and invest that extra income
• Hustle smarter, not harder: Side-hustles that work (and what to watch out for)
• Property investing: Making the right decision for you
• Give yourself options: Take time off, work part-time, or work a more meaningful job
• Retire early, retire often: Your tailor-made plan to take time out, retire early, or work as much as you like

…and loads more!

Author Biography

Frances Cook is a reformed money mess, currently managing podcasts for the New Zealand Herald, Newstalk ZB, and RadioSport. She is best known for hosting the personal finance podcast ‘Cooking the Books’, one of New Zealand’s top podcasts.

Gaining a Master’s in Media Studies from Victoria University of Wellington, Frances went on to work as a journalist, first at RadioLive then NewstalkZB, before moving to cover politics for ZB. She more recently made the switch to work at the Herald, first as a senior multimedia journalist, and now in her podcast role.

As well as hosting ‘Cooking the Books’, Frances also hosts ‘The Front Page’, which goes behind the scenes of the biggest investigations out of the Herald newsroom. She is the executive producer of podcasts ‘Speaking Secrets’ and ‘Trip Notes’, with others in the pipeline. She is a regular commentator for Newstalk ZB radio shows, particularly on politics and personal finance matters.