Each week the NZ Herald and Newstalk ZB's Cooking The Books podcast tackles a different money problem. Today, it's the strategies for getting through a housing renovation. Hosted by Frances Cook.

It's easy to look at a TV show on housing renovation, and start to feel the itch yourself.

Maybe you start to see the improvements you could make to your own home. Or you fancy yourself a house flipper, doing up a house to sell on for monster profits.

The problem is that behind the TV editing lies hours and hours of hard work.

There's also the sponsorship and reality television budgets that make the issue of money a non-issue.

I called Canstar general manager Jose George to find out what us mere mortals should expect, and where to find the money to make it happen.

We talked about what mindset you'll need from the start, tips for keeping the costs down, and the best and worst finance options.

For the interview, listen to the podcast.

If you have a question about this podcast, or an idea for the next one, come and talk to me about it.

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