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
97 episodes
MMS #76 | Can I trust TikTok for financial advice?
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...
Economy Made Simple #18 | Is New Zealand's economic recovery back on track?
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...
MMS #75 | What you need to know before buying your first home
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 financ...
Economy Made Simple #17 | Getting KiwiSaver right, with Susan Edmunds
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.Susa...
MMS #74 | Retirement planning - whatever age you are!
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 L...
MMS #73 | The Self-Employed Guide to KiwiSaver, tax, and not getting caught out
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 gra...
Economy Made Simple #16 | Can we still trust the news? Bernard Hickey weighs in
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 ...
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...
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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...
