Your Money, Your Future

by Frances Cook

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 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.

Genres: Finance, Nonfiction, Money

272 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2022

About the author

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.

Reviews

[Sophie Dixon · Rating 4 out of 5]

I actually read most of this before I pivoted to her first book because of Libby wait times. I don’t think you need to read them in the order they were published in, but given I was reading five financial books at once this week perhaps I was overly used to jumping between ideas and concepts. The highlighter tool was USED. I am a girl who enjoys a bit of the psychological/systemic woowoo and you won’t get this from Frances Cook, but that’s easily found generically elsewhere - you can’t beat the NZ perspective. Would definitely recommend adding to your list: also a gamechanger, although I skimmed a couple of less applicable chapters.

[Ella · Rating 5 out of 5]

HIGHLY recommend this book.

Possibly not so useful if you already know a lot about money, investments, and financial jargon. But as someone in their early twenties that knows very little about those things, this book was incredible.

It's written in a really nice, colloquial, simple, and inspiring way. I feel like this book should be essential for young people living in New Zealand.

I found Cook's explanation of financial terms really helpful as I've never had anyone in my life actively teach me about that stuff before.

Great book and absolutely recommend it.

[Sonja Rose · Rating 5 out of 5]

This might be the best money book yet?? Love that it’s set in nz

[Jonathan Chan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great introduction to the FIRE concept

Great introduction to the FIRE concept and love that its from a kiwi perspective. It also helps that Frances in a very similar position to myself I.e. Just had a baby, in my 30's so can relate to her FIRE journey very much so.

[Charlotte · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you want advice on how to make your money work for you long term this is the book for you! I learnt a lot about how to be smarter and more intentional with my money. The writing is super easy to understand and there's lots of highly practical tips.

There's a lot of talk and little understanding about apps like sharesies these days and I have a much better grip on investing after reading this too. Should be required reading for every young person!!

[Sophia Miller · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the second book of Frances’s I’ve read and once again I flew through it!

This follows on from her other book and speaks more specifically to financial independence - aka having enough money passively compounding that you can either retire early OR adjust your work to fit your life rather than the other way around; or even a mixture of the two.

I love firstly how she’s a kiwi so it’s all geared around the New Zealand economy and how things work here but also how she involves lots of hard data and research but still makes it really easy and enjoyable to read!

I’ll honestly never stop recommending her content and books whenever someone brings up personal finance.

The highlighting I did for this book (which I read on my kobo) is out the GATE there is just so much that is worth referring back to.

[Grace Green · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the second time I have read this book (the first being in the summer of 2021). I find Cook's written voice incredibly easy to read. She isn't too serious and uses lots of 'real people, real life' examples throughout her writing. Cook makes these ideas feel accessible to everyone, not just those with strong understandings of personal finance.

I would say that I have benefitted from this book both right at the start of my journey with personal finance and now well and truely on my way. I specifically find the calculations and math side of things to be useful. Those are things I would otherwise be very easily overwhelmed by.

I would recommend this book to anyone at anyone looking for some sound advice on financial independence.

[Alana Plasmeyer · Rating 5 out of 5]

After reading Frances’s first book a couple of years ago this was the perfect follow on.
Having my good investment plan in place, and the successful execution of that plan for 2 years, this book gave me further tips and helped me to develop my FIRE goal, and how I can draw down on that over time.
Unlike other dry, boring financial books this book is entertaining and has more than a few laughs in it. I can’t wait to see what Frances does next!

[Heather · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great personal finance book. Detailed but also not too detailed that if feels like 'studying'. I love the experts from all the different people throughout the book, love the real life examples of what people have done or are doing with FIRE. I especially loved all the mindset content, it's one thing to want and get to FIRE but another thing to understand the why and what when retirement is possible.

[Felicity · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have heard a couple of podcasts by this writer but was unaware of the books. I will be going back to read her first book as well I think. This was a good read but a bit of a downer for those of us over 50 who didn't wake up young. This was accessible content and I think a reread wouldn't go amiss every so often (or maybe just the highlights. I liked the New Zealand context and its really important to have books like this around

[Thu · Rating 4 out of 5]

Probably a 3.5 star read - I enjoyed the tone, readability and the focus on being able to live an enjoyable and fulfilling life. I probably learnt the most from the investing chapters, the budgeting chapters were mostly not very applicable for me personally because of my age/lifestyle. Overall this was enjoyable and has given me some food for thought.

[Charlotte · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was okay and gave okay advice. I should have done more research before reading as I didn't realise it would be so fully about the retiring early concept. I honestly just want to find a finance book that isn't about becoming that level of financially free/wealthy. Maybe I need to reread it when we're not going through a living crisis where people's priorities are just different.

[Lena · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a really informative book if you are trying to achieve financial independence or early retirement. So good to have an NZ-based book, as a lot of overseas books aren't terribly relevant to our systems.

[Suhel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Snappy read on FIREing in NZ. Earn more, save more, invest in low fee boring global index funds, don't get into property unless you buy really well, make sure you have good relationships with friends and family, healthy so you are retiring into something rather than from something.

[Dalice · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love this book. Takes complex things into easy to understand steps and logical formulas. I now understand what I need to do to retire rather than stab in the dark you need a million $ and that sounding unachievable. Now to go back in time and read it 20 years ago 😂

[Cayla Lister · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely loved this book. Definitely a book I would recommend to literally everyone. Gives you some things to think about and motivates you to make some changes to better your future. Soo good

[Romany · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very good. Pro-union. Most relevant to Aussies and Kiwis.

[Danielle Julian · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m very glad I have read this book. It has help shift my mind to my relationship with money and not to fear it.

[Teao · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed reading this book, it’s given me some ideas to put in place for when I’m older.
I’ve been listening to her podcasts so thought I’ll give her book a read.

[Miriam Williams · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very useful. Nice that she read her own audiobook too!

[Benjamin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Approachable. And easy to consume.
Very applicable to my life but might not be to lots of people?
Nice to have this info come from someone in NZ rather than another American finance bro

[Gary Pointon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Been my audiobook at the gym lol

[Lauren · Rating 4 out of 5]

Heaps of helpful information

[Helen · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think this book contains fantastic and relevant info for people in their 20s, but as someone in their mid 40s with a mortgage and 2 kids, a lot of the advice is simply not achievable.

[Tessa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great book as an introduction to managing your money, lots to take in and learn. Might have to re read it!

[Guilherme · Rating 5 out of 5]

Even if you know already something about investments, it's a great read to see other insights for FIRE and what can bring to you

[Cassy Kenworthy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Highly recommended for anyone interested in personal finance. A bit more advanced than her 1st book, but I learned a few things and felt genuinely secure in my approach to money which was a great balance.

[Rachel · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars