Money Made Simple
Welcome to Money Made Simple, a family of NZ-based financial literacy podcasts from Simplicity which keep it simple and get straight to the point. We want ALL Kiwis to have dignity, and a dignified life is one with choices. What can help with more choices? More money. So we're here to make Kiwis richer and smarter with money.
MONEY MADE SIMPLE WITH JENNIE AND LIV:
Join co-hosts Liv Lewis-Long and Jennie O'Donovan on a fortnightly basis to help you understand the basics around money, finances, investing, KiwiSaver, and planning for a better future. We aim to provide information in a bite-sized, easy-to-listen way that simplifies the jargon. 'Cos who's got time for that! We want you to feel empowered and confident when thinking about money and investing - whether that be via KiwiSaver, investment funds, the share market, property, or your general finances.
THE ECONOMY MADE SIMPLE WITH SHAMUBEEL EAQUB:
Join Shamubeel Eaqub, Simplicity's Chief Economist, on a monthly basis to help you understand what's happening in the economy, job market, politics and financial markets. Tune in to get economic updates, interviews with NZ's key movers and shakers, and deep dives into topics you might want to understand better.
You can join the Simplicity community via the following channels:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/simplicity_kiwi/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/simplicitykiwi
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/simplicity-kiwi/
Or check out our website: https://simplicity.kiwi
Cheers for tuning in - we appreciate each and every one of you %)
Episodes
90 episodes
MMS #72 | Does ethical investing compromise your returns?
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 b...
MMS #71 | What's the right KiwiSaver contribution rate in 2026?
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 defa...
.png)
Economy Made Simple #15 | Migration in NZ: Who will the next generation of Kiwis really be?
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...
MMS #70 | What are asset classes? (and how they help you diversify)
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 ...
MMS #69 | The spending traps hurting your budget
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 (gen...
Economy Made Simple #14 | Oil shocks and war: What it means for NZ now - and in the future
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...
MMS #68 | Side hustle tax? What you need to know (from a real accountant)
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...
Economy Made Simple #13 | Economic update: Signs of recovery (but risks ahead)
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 t...
MMS #67 | How to switch KiwiSaver providers (it's easier than you think!)
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 an...
MMS #66 | The gender gap: Why are men retiring so much richer than women?
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 s...
Economy Made Simple #12 | Inflation in 2026: What's next for NZ?
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 ...
MMS #65 | Your Financial Ins & Outs for 2026
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 mo...
MMS #64 | Compounding returns: The “money makes money” episode
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 ...
Economy Made Simple #11 | A look into the future: NZ's long term choices explained
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 ...
MMS #63 | How does venture capital work? The inside word on startups, scaling up and global impact
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 connect...
MMS #62 | Real Kiwis share their top investing, saving and money hacks
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 co...
Economy Made Simple #10 | KiwiSaver 2.0: Future proofing our golden years
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 o...
MMS #61 | Volatility: Why market ups and downs are a good thing (yes, really!)
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 wha...
MMS #60 | Christmas on a budget - all the joy, without the stress of overspending!
The silly season is here! But, of course, so are the ongoing bills and cost of living crunch. In this festive episode, Jennie and Liv tackle one of the toughest challenges of the year: how to enjoy Christmas without blowing the budget. They sha...
MMS #59 | Living boujee, but on a budget - yes, it's possible!
In this episode of Money Made Simple, Liv chats with the sassy but very savvy Sabby Jey, the creator of the viral series Boujee on a Budget. They discuss how she turned her upbringing, values, and financial smarts into a platform that helps tho...
Economy Made Simple #9 | Why NZ keeps falling behind on infrastructure
In this special guest episode of the Economy Made Simple, Shamubeel Eaqub sits down with Geoff Cooper, CEO of the New Zealand Infrastructure Commission, to unpack the country’s infrastructure crisis: why it exists, what keeps driving c...
MMS #58 | Hedged vs Unhedged: What's the difference?!
In this much-requested episode of Money Made Simple, Jennie and Liv (finally!) demystify hedging, the financial safety net that can help protect your KiwiSaver and investment balances from foreign currency fluctuations. They exp...
MMS #57 | From $6k to success: The story behind startup Bear & Moo
In this inspiring episode of Money Made Simple, Jennie sits down with Hannah Porter - founder of baby and kids' brand Bear & Moo - to talk about building a successful startup from scratch, while juggling family life and fina...
Economy Made Simple #8 | Spring economic update - will this recession ever end?
Spring might be in the air, but the economy hasn’t quite joined the party yet. In this quarterly economic update, Shamubeel Eaqub, Simplicity’s Chief Economist, breaks down what’s really going on in New Zealand and across the globe. He explains...
MMS #56 | Index funds 101: Why they're simpler, smarter, better
In this episode of Money Made Simple, Jennie and Liv unpack one of the most simple and powerful (yet often misunderstood) tools for building wealth: index funds. They explain what index funds are, why they’re so popular with investors worldwide...
