This is Money Podcast
Episodes
What does it take to win the Premium Bonds - and is it worth you trying?
07 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
How much do you need in Premium Bonds to win the jackpot? And if you haven’t maxed them out to the full £50,000, is it even worth bothering? This...
The consumer champion's guide to getting what you want
31 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
This is Money's consumer champion Helen Crane celebrated the 100th edition of her Crane on the Case column this week. Helen has won back more than £...
What could the general election mean for your money?
24 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
The Prime Minister put an end to all the speculation this week by giving us the date for the general election: July 4. That comes as the latest infla...
The mystery of the stolen Nectar Points - and the loyalty card price sting
17 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Supermarket loyalty schemes have become even more of a big thing in recent years as the two giants Tesco and Sainsbury's have rolled out Clubcard and ...
Should the Bank of England have cut interest rates instead of holding firm?
10 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
The Bank of England decided to hold the base rate for the sixth time in a row this week – but was it the right decision? Should the MPC have been b...
Mortgage rates are rising again - should we be worried?
03 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
With not one but two mortgage spikes fresh in our minds, a flurry of rate rises have got home owners and potential buyers worried again. A bunch of m...
Is the FTSE 100 finally having its moment in the sun?
26 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
You can wait a long time for a FTSE 100 record high but for peak-starved British investors this week delivered a bonanza. Four record highs were rack...
Is there a risk that inflation falls and then spikes again?
19 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
State pension boosted by 8.5% from this week - will it ever become means tested?
12 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Older people received another boost to the state pension this week taking the full rate to over £11,000 a year. This year's increase of 8.5 per cent...
Beware fixed-rate savings trap… and secrets from an Isa millionaire
05 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
There's a warning for savers who's fixed term deals are coming to an end - don't take your eye off the ball now or risk having your returns wiped out ...
Is a 99% mortgage really that bad?
29 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
The row over small deposit mortgage is the gift that keeps on giving. Hot on the heels of the Budget plan that never appeared arrives Yorkshire Build...
How to sort your pension and Isa before the tax year ends
25 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
There is less than a fortnight to go before the end of the tax year and that means it's time to sort your Isa, pension and finances before it's too la...
Will the Bank of England cut rates as soon as people think?
22 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
The Bank of England held interest rates again this week as inflation dropped once more. So, are we out of the woods yet? Will inflation keep coming b...
Are you about to have to pay for your bank account?
15 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Was the Budget too little, too late - and what will it mean for your money?
08 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Jeremy Hunt bounced around delivering his Budget on Wednesday, proudly declaring his commitment to tax cuts and supporting working families. Another ...
Quick Budget reaction: Investing experts on the Chancellor's speech
06 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
On this bonus episode of the This is Money Podcast, Simon Lambert is joined by Charles Stanley Direct’s Lisa Caplan and Garry White for a quick run ...
Tale of the state pension underpaid for 20 YEARS
01 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
The debacle over widespread errors in the state pension that This is Money and Sir Steve Webb uncovered, continues. As of the end of October last yea...
Will the Budget cut taxes and get rid of these traps?
23 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
With the Budget tipped to be the Chancellor’s last roll of the dice before a General Election, expectations over tax cuts are growing. But what tax...
The UK is in recession but does that matter (and could things be about to get better)?
16 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
It's finally happened. After months of will-we, won't-we speculation, the UK economy has finally succumbed to recession. The ONS revealed this week t...
Interview: Sir Stelios on how he launched easyJet - and backing young entrepreneurs
13 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this special bonus This is Money podcast episode, Simon Lambert speaks to easyJet founder Sir Stelios Haji-Ioannou. Sir Stelios tells the story of...
Will you be able to afford a comfortable retirement?
09 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
The cost of a comfortable retirement has jumped over the past year - but what do you need to get one and will you get there? As the Pension and Lifet...
Why would the Bank of England cut rates this year?
02 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
The Bank of England held base rate once again at 5.25 per cent, the fourth hold in succession – but this time, it was a genuine split by MPC members...
Why has Britain fallen behind on getting richer?
26 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Britain's disposable income has dropped substantially over the past 14 years compared to where it should be, according to a new report this week. The...
You can bag a £10k heat pump discount... would that tempt you to get one?
19 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
The Government wants us to get heat pumps fitted in our homes and it's offering up to £7,500 for us to do so. Now Worcester Bosch is bumping that up...
Should you stick your money in Premium Bonds, a savings account or invest?
12 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
After a good year for Premium Bonds when the only way was up for the prize fund rate, savers got a blow this week as a cut arrived. The prize fund ra...
Is the taxman really going after Ebay sellers?
05 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Have you ever sold anything on Ebay, Vinted or Facebook Marketplace to make a bit of extra cash? Those who do may have been worried this week, as new...
Will investors have a good year in 2024 - and what do they need to look out for?
22 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
How fast will interest rates fall - and where's the new normal?
15 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
The Bank of England has reached the peak with interest rates in this cycle. That's the firm view of the markets and most analysts, despite three memb...
Will mortgage rates keep falling and is the crisis over?
10 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
It's been a rollercoaster year for mortgage rates and after the inflation panic spike over summer, lenders have been slashing costs for borrowers. Th...
The pandemic start-up that can turn your floorplan into a grand design: Bonus interview with Peek Home's founders
04 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
We love the idea of transforming our homes so much that an entire cottage TV industry has sprung out of it, ranging from Grand Designs, to Ugly House ...
What drives you mad about going to the shops?
01 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
What drives you mad about going to the supermarket? Is it self-service tills, scanning receipts to get out, loyalty scheme dual pricing, or prices be...
Will the mixed bag Autumn Statement boost your wealth?
24 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
The Autumn Statement was the definition of a mixed bag. There was a National Insurance cut, but the stealth income tax raid continued. The Isa syste...
Autumn Statement: What would you do if you were Chancellor for the day?
17 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
The Autumn Statement arrives next week and the rumour mill has gone into overdrive. The idea of it being a simple update on the economy seems to have...
How to turn your work pension into a moneyspinner and boost your pot
10 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
We all know pensions are important but most of us rarely engage with them. Yet, with a little bit of time and effort, you can get your work pension w...
Have interest rates peaked - and what happens next?
03 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Have interest rates peaked? After an inflation spike rudely awoke them from their slumbers, the Bank of England and the US Federal Reserve have shown...
Pension blunders and why a bond spike is worrying investors
28 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
This week, This is Money's pensions expert Tanya Jefferies joins Simon Lambert and Georgie Frost. Among the topics being discussed: State pensi...
How much will frozen income tax bands suck out of your pay packet?
20 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Wages are up, but inflation is… the same. What does it all mean for mortgage rates, the state pension, benefits and the economy generally? One th...
How much further could house prices fall?
13 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
House prices will continue to fall, says an influential poll of estate agents. The latest survey by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors fo...
Will your energy bills rise this winter despite a falling price cap?
06 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Inflation is easing, food prices are coming down from their peak and the energy price cap dropped last weekend. But you are still paying around 10 pe...
Could the most hated tax in Britain be axed?
29 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
It’s been called the most hated tax in Britain - but only four per cent of people pay it. You could be forgiven for thinking inheritance tax is som...
Have interest rates peaked and what next for savings and mortgages?
22 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
And suddenly they stopped. After 14 interest rate rises in a row, the Bank of England stalled and kept base rate on hold. A lower than expected infla...
Podcast cut: How young workers can boost their pension (and maybe double their money)
19 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
This is Money's Simon Lambert gives his tips for young pension savers on how to give their retirement fund a big boost - and in some instances double ...
Should we keep the triple lock or come up with a better pension plan?
15 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
If the triple lock is stuck to, the state pension should rise by 8.5 per cent next April. That will be an inflation-busting rise but a promise is a p...
Should we gift every newborn £1,000 to invest?
08 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Every child could receive a pot of £1,000 at birth to be channelled into long-term investments in UK growth under proposals to give the young a leg u...
Are you on track for a comfy retirement and do you really need a £600k pot?
01 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Inflation has been ravaging our finances, but it is also threatening our future. According to new research, if you want a comfortable retirement, y...
Where would YOU put money for five years? This is Money podcast
26 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Many people may be feeling in a state of financial flux at the moment and wondering where to put their money. And it's not an easy choice. Savings ra...
Have we turned the corner on high inflation or could it bounce back?
18 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
The inflation spike took central banks, governments and many ordinary people by surprise but Britain’s cost of living problem has proved more stubbo...
Mortgage mayhem has stalled but what happens next?
11 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
After months of mortgage mayhem some better news finally arrived this week with major lenders delivering a slew of hefty rate cuts. Halifax, Nationwi...
Taxman customer service troubles unmasked and probate problems in the spotlight
04 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
When it comes to HM Revenue & Customs, it's safe to say that many business owners and accountants have become well-acquainted with chaos. The pus...
Energy firms rapped for bad customer service... while still making mega profits
28 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Energy firms have had their feet held to the fire this week. The industry as a whole has been blasted by the regulator Ofgem over poor customer servi...
Inflation eases to 7.9% - what does that mean for mortgage and savings rates?
21 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Earlier in the week, the consumer prices index measure of inflation fell by more than expected thanks to a fall in transport and food prices. It ease...
Do you really want your pension invested in risky unlisted companies?
17 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Could your bank really close YOUR current account with little warning?
07 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Banks have come into the firing line this week over current account closures and slowness to pass on base rate rises to savers. Nigel Farage claims h...
Podcast extra: How investors can back AI - Simon Lambert speaks to Sam North
07 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Artificial intelligence has burst into the headlines over the past year and generated excitement among investors. But as with any exciting new techno...
Energy price cap falling and savings rates race past the 6% barrier
30 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
There has been plenty of doom and gloom in recent months – and today, we go searching for cheerier news. The energy price cap will fall from the we...
Was hiking interest rates again the right move or is the Bank of England in panic mode?
23 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
The Bank of England’s bumper 0.5 per cent rate hike this week was the 13th rise in a row. After sitting on their hands for more than a decade, rate...
Mortgage mayhem, savings frenzy: What on earth is going on?
17 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
The mortgage market is mayhem, with lenders pulling deals and rapidly hiking rates. Average fixed mortgage rates have soared over the past month and ...
Money for nothing: Is universal basic income a good idea?
09 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Universal basic income is a controversial idea and not just because it's money for nothing. Paying everyone a set amount every month as a baseline le...
Inflation-busting savings rates of 9% and cash Isas back in the sun as billions pour into them
02 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Forget 5 per cent savings rates. Forget 7 per cent. A new regular savings deal has landed paying a headline-grabbing 9 per cent. But, is it actually a...
When will energy bills fall, and could the fixed tariff finally be making a return?
26 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
We had some good news this week about our energy bills - or did we? Ofgem's price cap is coming down - saving households around £400 a year on avera...
Should we stop dragging people into tax designed for the rich?
19 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Almost five times as many people will soon be paying 40 per cent tax than in the early 1990s, when it was seen as a tax bracket reserved for the rich,...
How high will interest rates go... and why are they still going up?
12 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
And there it was, another interest rate hike. Another quarter point move up seems almost commonplace now but cast your mind back to the era after the...
How can we build more homes and make them better?
05 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
A row over housebuilding has erupted again. Labour leader Keir Starmer has said he would bring back a 300,000 annual housebuilding target, after Rish...
Home improvement snakes and ladders: How to add value - and how to lose it
28 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
It's got easier to win big on the Premium Bonds but should you invest?
21 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Premium Bonds are a national institution and their prize-giving place in British savers' hearts was only cemented further through the low interest rat...
How long should you fix your mortgage for - and what next for rates?
14 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
As if buying a home wasn’t enough of a lottery, borrowers are now facing a major gamble on their mortgage. Whether buying or remortgaging, they nee...
State pension goes above £10,000 - but has something got to give?
06 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
The state pension is getting a boost this week, meaning many pensioners will see their payments go above £200 per week or £10,000 per year for the f...
Can you beat the April bill hikes - and is it time we ditched the tax traps?
30 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Just when you thought the cost of living crisis was meant to be on its way out another round of bill hikes are hitting. From council tax to mobile bi...
Should we worry about the banks... and why raise interest rates now?
24 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Just when you thought it was safe to go back in the water... A banking crisis has seemingly emerged out of nowhere, in a system that we've been told ...
The Budget verdict: Pensions, childcare, energy bills and dodging recession
17 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Jeremy Hunt had a spring in his step this week as he delivered his Budget. It was a considerably different air to the gloomy warning of trouble ahe...
Can you trust the state pension system as more blunders emerge?
10 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
You'd like to imagine that when it came to the state pension, you'd be dealing with a more robust system than the ones that deliver the average custom...
Are we on the verge of a house price crash?
03 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
How to make the most of saving and investing into an Isa
24 Feb 2023
Contributed by Lukas
There's not long left until the end of the tax year - and that means it is time to sort your Isa if you haven't already. This year's Isa allowance ru...
Would you dispute an inheritance if you thought it was unfair?
17 Feb 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Where there's a will, there's often a grumble... and potentially a full on dispute. The amount of money involved in inheritances derived from even mod...
Why is food inflation so high and when will it stop?
10 Feb 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Inflation is theoretically running out of steam but there's one essential that's still going up in price rapidly: food. Even as energy prices and oth...
Could this be the peak for interest rates - and what will it mean for you?
03 Feb 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Are we nearly there yet? The Bank of England hiked interest rates again this week, adding 0.5 per cent to take base rate to 4 per cent. That’s a le...
Will the Government raise state pension age to 68 sooner than planned - and what should those about to retire do about it?
27 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Those aged between 43 and 54 may have been concerned by rumours this week that the Government is planning to increase the state pension age to 68 much...
Could an Isa tax raid really cap savings at £100,000? Plus Bank of Dave's Dave Fishwick on his Netflix hit
20 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
An astonishing idea for an Isa tax raid was outlined by the Resolution Foundation this week, with the proposal that tax-free savings and investments s...
Will you be able to afford the retirement you want?
13 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
What do you picture in retirement? Is it an early exit from the rat race to travel the world, a gradual step back and a bit of golf, or working until ...
Will 2023 be a better year for our finances... or worse?
06 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
The New Year has arrived and with it promises of inflation falling and a ray of hope on energy bills. But even if Rishi Sunak halves inflation, as he...
The big financial events of 2022 and what happens next?
30 Dec 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Tumultous is a word that doesn't really do 2022 justice. Most people were looking forward to a year of calm as the Covid pandemic faded, but instead g...
Would you be tempted to 'unretire' after quitting work early? The mystery of Britain's missing workers
23 Dec 2022
Contributed by Lukas
First we had the great resignation and now we may be seeing a new trend emerge 'unretirement'. Amid the turmoil of the pandemic, Britain's economy th...
When will interest rates stop rising? Plus, energy-saving tips to help you afford the heating
16 Dec 2022
Contributed by Lukas
The Bank of England has hiked base rate from 0.1 per cent to 3.5 per cent in the space of 12 months, a move that would have been considered unthinkabl...
Could house prices really fall 20% and how bad would that be?
09 Dec 2022
Contributed by Lukas
The mortgage crunch has stalled the pandemic property boom and sent house prices down, but could they fall 20 per cent? The risk of a severe house pr...
Do you need to worry about tax on your savings and investments?
02 Dec 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Many people have not had to worry about paying tax on their savings and investments for some time. The advent of the £1,000 personal savings allowan...
Have savings and mortgage rates already peaked?
25 Nov 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Savings and mortgage rates rocketed after what must now always be known as the 'ill-fated mini-Budget', but even as the Bank of England continues to r...
What does Jeremy Hunt's tax raid budget mean for you?
19 Nov 2022
Contributed by Lukas
‘Jeremy Hunt’s mini-Budget was like the tax part of the Corbyn manifesto with none of the benefits of the extra spending.’ That was This is Mon...
The everything tax raid: Will the threat of higher taxes backfire?
11 Nov 2022
Contributed by Lukas
‘If they could tax the air you breathe they’d do it.’ That age-old moan about taxes going up has sprung to mind over the past week, as rumours a...
What do rapid rate rises mean for you - and is this the right move?
05 Nov 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Have we come down too hard on buy-to-let? Plus, Rishi the PM vs Rishi the Chancellor
28 Oct 2022
Contributed by Lukas
The tense situation between tenants and landlords is escalating: the former have seen rents spiral but the latter have faced a big jump in costs jump ...
Is the UK economy heading for stability or just more trouble?
21 Oct 2022
Contributed by Lukas
There's a new Chancellor in town and he means business. Serious business. After Kwasi Kwarteng tried to spread some joy to get growth going with tax ...
The Wave founder Nick Hounsfield interview: How I built my £27m surfing lake dream from £500 in the bank
20 Oct 2022
Contributed by Lukas
If you were asked to name a world-class place to surf, a field near Bristol isn’t the first location that would spring to mind. But this slice of t...
What you need to know about gilts and why markets freaked out so much it toppled the Chancellor
14 Oct 2022
Contributed by Lukas
When gilts hit the headlines it’s a clear sign that trouble has not only been brewing but has been unleashed. Government bond yields only tend to b...
How bad will the mortgage chaos get and will it sink house prices??
07 Oct 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Rocketing rates have sent the average two and five-year fixed rate mortgage through the 6 per cent barrier. This is a level that would have been cons...
Did the UK stage its own mini-financial crisis... and who was responsible?
30 Sep 2022
Contributed by Lukas
As markets went haywire and the Bank of England staged a bond market intervention earlier this week, it felt like a mini-financial crisis had been tri...
In brief: Why is the pound falling and why are UK borrowing costs spiking?
26 Sep 2022
Contributed by Lukas
In this excerpt from the This is Money podcast, Simon Lambert and Georgie Frost discuss why the mini-Budget has combined with last week's interest rat...
What does the tax-cutting mini-Budget mean for you and the UK?
23 Sep 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Britain's new Chancellor Kwasi Kwarteng delivered a blistering mini-Budget this week that was anything that small. A wave of tax cuts were unleashed....
The pound, inflation, interest rates and energy bills... what happens next?
16 Sep 2022
Contributed by Lukas
The Bank of England is tipped to raise interest rates by at least 0.5 per cent this week, but the pound fell to a 37-year low last week - reaching $1....
How to get a better pension: Steve Webb answers your questions
10 Sep 2022
Contributed by Lukas
This is Money's pensions guru Steve Webb racked up his 300th column answering readers' questions this week. Over the past six years, Steve, with the ...
The cost of living crisis cutbacks that could harm your long-term wealth
02 Sep 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Belts are already being tightened but as bills head even higher more people will look to save where they can. But are there some things that you shou...