This is Money Podcast

Will the Government keep its state pension triple lock promise this time?

26 Aug 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Inflation is soaring and if predictions are correct, it would result in the Consumer Prices Index measure hitting 13 per cent this autumn. That could...

Inflation hits double digits for the first time since 1982: How does today compare to 40 years ago?

19 Aug 2022

Contributed by Lukas

 Inflation is up again with CPI now measured at 10.1 per cent, the highest since February 1982, when Margaret Thatcher was Prime Minister.  How doe...

Will rates keep rising and are cash Isas a good option again? Savings special podcast

12 Aug 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Rising bills and the cost-of-living crisis are forcing many to dip into savings pots, if they have one to begin with. At the same time, with base rat...

Why is the Bank of England raising interest rates into a recession?

05 Aug 2022

Contributed by Lukas

The idea of the Bank of England raising base rate by 0.5 percentage points at the same time as warning about a long and painful recession would have b...

Out of the holiday loop? Our overseas summer travel special - top tips for a successful trip

29 Jul 2022

Contributed by Lukas

This summer has seen travel demand rebound and for many, it could be their first overseas jaunt since before the pandemic. For that reason, there may...

How I became financially independent: An interview with The Escape Artist

25 Jul 2022

Contributed by Lukas

In this special bonus This is Money podcast interview, Simon Lambert speaks to Barney Whiter, whose The Escape Artist blog helps others to try to achi...

Could you save enough to get financial independence?

24 Jul 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Financial independence and retiring early sounds great, but could you sacrifice enough of your spending to get there? The so-called Fire movement i...

What would you teach someone about money?

15 Jul 2022

Contributed by Lukas

What will Boris's downfall, a new Prime Minister and Chancellor mean for the economy and our finances?

08 Jul 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Boris Johnson finally came unstuck this week and resigned as Prime Minister after one scandal too many caught up with him. Whatever you thought of th...

How to battle unfair charges from private parking firms… and win: The This is Money podcast

01 Jul 2022

Contributed by Lukas

In recent times, private parking firms have come under scrutiny from motoring organisations, the Government… and This is Money. Many motorists wi...

Is scrapping a mortgage stress test a wise move right now?

24 Jun 2022

Contributed by Lukas

A mortgage stress test designed to stop borrowers overstretching themselves will be scrapped, it was revealed this week. The mortgage industry has lo...

How will rapidly rising interest rates affect you?

20 Jun 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Base rate has gone from 0.1 per cent to 1.25 per cent in the space of six months, in a flurry of rate rising that would have been considered unthinkab...

Are you saving enough for retirement? (And another state pension blunder)

12 Jun 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Women have already been hit by a huge state pension blunder in recent years, but now it seems the DWP is messing up again. After This is Money's Stev...

How can you protect against holiday chaos this summer?

04 Jun 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Just when you thought it was safe to go back on holiday... Britain descended into holiday chaos this week, as airlines cancelled hundreds of flights,...

What would you do if you suddenly became super-rich?

27 May 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Sudden Wealth Syndrome. It's a thing apparently and something that many of us probably wouldn't mind suffering from. That's the term used to describe...

Is a recession inevitable as inflation hammers the UK?

20 May 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Inflation continues to surge, the Bank of England says there is little it can do to stall it but is raising rates any way, and at the same time is war...

Will rising rates stop the house price boom?

14 May 2022

Contributed by Lukas

The pandemic house price boom caught almost everyone by surprise and has continued to run for longer that most expected, but is it now about to end. ...

Right to buy home revival: How could a revamped scheme work and is it a good idea?

06 May 2022

Contributed by Lukas

More than 40 years after Margaret Thatcher introduced Right to Buy, the current Prime Minister is considering plans to revamp the scheme. Could it ...

What's the point in saving when inflation is so high?

29 Apr 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Is there any point trying to save when inflation is so high? Interest rates are rising and savers can now get a far better return than a year ago, ...

What can we do to tackle soaring energy bills - and are providers playing fair?

23 Apr 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Much bigger energy bills are on their way to households for and a warning was sounded this week that there is much worse to come. Energy bosses tol...

What to do in the mortgage crunch and will rates keep rising?

15 Apr 2022

Contributed by Lukas

For many homeowners it's been the case for some years that each time they remortgage, their rate comes down. But with the Bank of England liftng base...

Key April changes to your personal finances including NI hike and 'no fault' divorces

08 Apr 2022

Contributed by Lukas

This week has seen a number of changes to our personal finances in the wake of energy bill and council tax rises, along with a number of key utilities...

Pension, Isa or Lifetime Isa: What's the best tax-friendly investment for you?

31 Mar 2022

Contributed by Lukas

It's the time of year when we are urged to put our money into an Isa or pension, but faced with the choice which should you pick? After all, most of ...

How to invest in an Isa - and become a smarter investor

29 Mar 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Investing in the stock market has been proven over time to be the best way to grow your wealth and doing so in an Isa can turbo-charge those returns. ...

Why would you cut tax and raise tax at the same time? The Spring Statement and what it means for you

25 Mar 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Why would you cut tax and raise the same tax at the same time? That’s been the slightly baffled response from many people to Rishi Sunak’s Spring ...

Is raising interest rates the right move and will it slow inflation?

18 Mar 2022

Contributed by Lukas

It's a hat trick. After all those years of waiting in vain for a rate rise after the financial crisis, now the Bank of England has the wind in its sai...

Could you be an Isa millionaire - and would it get you financial independence?

13 Mar 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Do you harbour ambitions of investing your way to a £1million Isa pot – and what would you do with it if you got there? The lure of financial in...

Is the runway property market due a reckoning from rising rates and inflation?

04 Mar 2022

Contributed by Lukas

House prices have soared in the pandemic boom – with the average home an astonishing £44,000 more expensive at £260,000, according to Nationwide. ...

How will the Ukraine crisis hit your finances and what should investors do?

25 Feb 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Russia's invasion of Ukraine has created a tragic situation that goes far beyond worries about our finances but it will have an impact on them. The in...

What is a 'midlife MOT' and could it help you onto a path for a richer future?

21 Feb 2022

Contributed by Lukas

A free 'midlife MOT' course has been launched aimed at people who want to do a stock take of their current finances, career and health. This is an ...

Are we too worried about smart meters - or is surge pricing looming?

11 Feb 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Where do you stand on smart meters? This seemingly common sense technological advance in how we are billed for energy has proved hugely divisive. F...

Base rate rise, energy cap soars and inflation predicted to surpass 7%

04 Feb 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Thursday marked a big day for the pound in our pocket. First of all, it was announced the energy price cap was to rise 54 per cent. Georgie Frost, ...

Can we do anything to stop our energy bills soaring?

28 Jan 2022

Contributed by Lukas

It’s almost crunch time for our energy bills, with the new price cap that will kick in from 1 April due to be announced in just over a week. At t...

Steven Bartlett interview: We speak to the new Dragon in the Den for a bonus episode

20 Jan 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Steven Bartlett is the latest star of Dragons’ Den – and we recently caught up with him for a special bonus This is Money podcast episode. In t...

How to get your finances on track at 40: From pensions to property, how to get where you want to be

14 Jan 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Turning 40 is a milestone birthday – and perhaps the one that gets people thinking most about where they are at in life. It’s an age that invol...

Are building societies and banks playing fair with savers?

07 Jan 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Interest rates went up last month and banks and building societies have been busy upping mortgage rates, with Nationwide revealing a raft of rises thi...

From inflation to investing mistakes: Best of the This is Money podcast from 2021

31 Dec 2021

Contributed by Lukas

It's safe to say 2021 has been an eventful one for the economy and personal finance – and our podcast has covered it all. Georgie Frost takes a l...

Christmas isn't cancelled but what if your event is?

24 Dec 2021

Contributed by Lukas

There was some good news this week, or at least the absence of more bad news: Christmas isn't cancelled. In England at least, more Covid restrictions...

Was the Bank of England right to raise interest rates?

17 Dec 2021

Contributed by Lukas

They finally did it! The Bank of England's Monetary Policy Committee raised the base rate from its emergency 0.1% level to 0.25%.    That came the d...

How can first-time buyers get on the property ladder as prices soar?

12 Dec 2021

Contributed by Lukas

The greatest hurdle first-time buyers face after years of house prices rocketing far faster than wages is saving for a deposit. A 10 per cent depos...

How much will a lifetime cost you?

03 Dec 2021

Contributed by Lukas

We’ve all felt it, that moment when you look at your bank balance and think ‘I’ve spent how much?’ But what if you looked at an entire life...

How much tax do you really pay - and a year of Grace on the Case

27 Nov 2021

Contributed by Lukas

What makes a good consumer story to take up the cudgel on and fight a reader’s corner – and why don’t companies and organisations just do the ri...

Is 2022 looking bleak for our finances thanks to soaring inflation?

20 Nov 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Inflation hit its highest level in a decade this week off the back of soaring energy costs and petrol prices. Why is the cost of living on the rise...

The energy saving battle: Which household tasks use more?

12 Nov 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Is it better to leave the heating on low all the time, or switch it on in smaller bursts? Does an electric heater cost less to heat a room? Is the e...

Should the Bank of England have raised interest rates? Plus Steve Webb on pension delays

05 Nov 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Did the Bank of England bottle raising interest rates or should a rate rise have never been on the cards in the first place? Inflation is mounting ...

What you need to know about the 'inflation' Budget – are you set to be far worse off financially next year?

29 Oct 2021

Contributed by Lukas

On Wednesday, Chancellor Rishi Sunak delivered another Budget alongside a Spending Review. Much of what it contained had previously been revealed, ...

Are you willing to pay the price for going green?

22 Oct 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Going green used to be presented as a way of saving money, but the stark reality that dealing with climate change will mean us spending more is dawnin...

Are Premium Bonds worth holding onto - and will rates rise?

18 Oct 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Premium Bonds are probably Britain’s best loving savings product but are they worth holding? The savings lottery delivers 100% government-backed ...

From trackers to 10 year fixes: Mortgage war continues to spell record low rates

08 Oct 2021

Contributed by Lukas

With inflation on the rise, homeowners nearing the end of their mortgage deal could be tempted to lock in for longer – especially with murmurs of a ...

Rates may be on the rise but watch out for inflation

01 Oct 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Savings rates are on the rise but even if you do find a best buy, don't get complacent because inflation is running hot too. On this podcast, Lee Boy...

How bad will the energy crunch get? Plus an underpaid state pension update

24 Sep 2021

Contributed by Lukas

The week began with an energy crunch, as households woke up to the problems sending gas prices spiralling - and the impact that could have on their bi...

Could the inflation spike lead to stagflation - or is it the start of a growth spurt?

17 Sep 2021

Contributed by Lukas

The cost of living jumped by the largest amount on record to hit 3.2 per cent in August – is it set to run out of control and prompt the Bank of Eng...

The social care tax hike and the triple lock bust

10 Sep 2021

Contributed by Lukas

If you’re going to break one manifesto promise, then why not break two? Why not distract from telling pensioners they can’t have their potentia...

Are you a mover, a flipper, or a forever-homeowner? The tribes driving the property market

03 Sep 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Are you a mover, a flipper or a forever-homeowner? Among its many surprises, the coronavirus pandemic has delivered a property boom.  In pretty muc...

Is there a way to boost YOUR state pension and how easy is it to now retire abroad?

29 Aug 2021

Contributed by Lukas

When it comes to state pensions, there has been plenty of talk in recent weeks about the triple lock and what could mean next month when it comes to a...

Could you fall victim to a parcel scam?

20 Aug 2021

Contributed by Lukas

As Britain's streets are filled with drivers whizzing deliveries around, there's a new top scam in town. Parcel and package delivery scams are the mo...

How low will mortgage rates go?

16 Aug 2021

Contributed by Lukas

How low will mortgage rates go? The lowest two-year fixed rate has been cut to 0.83 per cent and five-year fixed rates are available at 0.99 per cent....

Are your energy bills about to soar? Latest on the Ofgem price cap and how to beat imminent rises

06 Aug 2021

Contributed by Lukas

From October, millions of households can expect to pay even more on their energy bills.  Ofgem is raising the energy price cap for the second time...

Home eco-improvements are being pushed by the Government – but do the sums stack up?

30 Jul 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Ministers want us to ditch gas boilers and line our houses with insulation to save the planet, but do the sums add up for cash-strapped homeowners? ...

With new plans to tackle bogus ratings online: How much can you trust reviews?

23 Jul 2021

Contributed by Lukas

The Government is planning a major crackdown on fake reviews. Under proposals, it will become illegal to pay someone to write, or host, bogus online r...

What's the link between rocketing car hire prices and inflation?

16 Jul 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Just when you thought that you could book to go back in the water.  As if sorting a holiday, ensuring the country you want to go to is okay for long...

Should the triple lock give an 8% state pension rise?

10 Jul 2021

Contributed by Lukas

The triple lock has always been a hot potato but things have stepped up another gear as it could deliver a bumper 8 per cent state pension increase du...

Underpaid state pension scandal update alongside the future of pensions and green bonds

02 Jul 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Yet more people caught up in the underpaid state pension scandal have been unearthed by This is Money – and tragically, in the two cases we highligh...

How much do you need for a comfortable retirement? (TiM podcast excerpt)

30 Jun 2021

Contributed by Lukas

How big a pension pot do you need to save for a comfortable retirement? Pension and investing editor, Tanya Jefferies, discusses research that puts a...

The stamp duty race to avoid a double false economy

25 Jun 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Home buyers are engaged in a last minute race to beat the stamp duty deadline – with some facing a potential double false economy. House prices h...

Would you invest in sneakers or the new space race?

18 Jun 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Sneaker investing – those in the know don’t call them trainers, apparently – has become a big thing in recent years and as values have risen, so...

Is loyalty starting to pay for savers and customers?

11 Jun 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Does loyalty pay or is it just a bizarre concept we have allowed businesses to convince us might exist while they take advantage? As banks and buil...

Could the 18-year property cycle really predict the next house price crash?

04 Jun 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Another week, another house price index stating record growth. This time it was the turn of Nationwide, which said prices had risen 10.9 per cent in ...

Could the 18-year property cycle really predict the next house price crash?

04 Jun 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Another week, another house price index stating record growth. This time it was the turn of Nationwide, which said prices had risen 10.9 per cent in ...

Are you a Premium Bond winner or loser?

28 May 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Have Premium Bonds turned you into a savings winner, or are you one of the losers who have been missing out on prizes for years? On this week’s p...

Is a little bit of inflation really such a bad thing?

22 May 2021

Contributed by Lukas

The UK’s official inflation figure more than doubled to 1.5 per cent in April, it emerged this week, as the stronger than expected recovery continue...

Holidays abroad are back on but would you book one?

15 May 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Holidays abroad are back on… or are they? The much-heralded green list proved to be something of a damp squib, with the only popular British holiday...

Build up a cash pot then buy and sell your way to profits: Never Go Broke/This is Money special

07 May 2021

Contributed by Lukas

This week saw the launch of new book - Never Go Broke: How To Make Money Out Of Just About Anything, co-written by This is Money personal finance edit...

Are you itching to spend after lockdown or planning to save?

30 Apr 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Are you itching to spend or planning to save? Lockdown savers are forecast by the Office of Budget Responsibility to have stashed away £180billion by...

Are 95% mortgages to prop up the property market wise?

24 Apr 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Life is tough for first-time buyers. House prices were already expensive before the coronavirus lockdowns and defying all logic a mini-boom has sent t...

Was the Coinbase listing bitcoin and crypto's coming of age?

16 Apr 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Was the blockbuster Coinbase stock market listing a coming of age for bitcoin and cryptocurrency or a top of the bubble moment? The world’s leadi...

Is working from home here to stay and how do you make a career leap?

09 Apr 2021

Contributed by Lukas

On Monday, we take a step towards normality – you can get your hair cut, have a beer outside at the pub and visit a clothes shop. But what about th...

What's behind the rising tide of financial scams?

05 Apr 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Financial scams are on the rise. The coronavirus lockdowns have seen a fresh burst of investment cons with fraudsters impersonating legitimate compani...

Hot or not? How to spot if you’re in a buyer’s or seller’s market

27 Mar 2021

Contributed by Lukas

The headlines are telling you the property market is running hot, that the stamp duty holiday extension is stoking the fires, and buyers are ignoring ...

How to save or invest in an Isa and why it's worth doing

19 Mar 2021

Contributed by Lukas

What’s the point in an Isa? This is a regular grumble as savings rates are now so low that earning 1 per cent would be a big deal. But wouldn’t...

Is the UK primed to bounce back - and what next for Scottish Mortgage?

12 Mar 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Is the economy primed to bounce back? That might sound like a strange question when you’ve just had the news that UK GDP fell by 2.9 per cent in ...

The 'escape velocity' Budget and the £3bn underpaid state pension victory

06 Mar 2021

Contributed by Lukas

The Budget this week was notable for two things: Firstly, The Chancellor decided to delay settling the coronavirus bill to another day and, secondly, ...

Should the stamp duty holiday be made permanent?

28 Feb 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Rumours are swirling ahead of the Budget that Rishi Sunak will extend the stamp duty holiday by three months? The idea is that this would help stop t...

What happens next to the property market and house prices?

19 Feb 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Since the stamp duty holiday came in last summer, there has been a property market mini-boom despite the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. Is it losing...

We dodged a double-dip recession, so what next?

12 Feb 2021

Contributed by Lukas

The double dip recession is off.  The GDP figures are in for the final three months of 2020 and the UK economy grew by 1%, according to the ONS, d...

Will you own up to your investing mistakes?

05 Feb 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Mistakes. We all make them, but whether we will admit them freely often depends on what they are and how we made them. Investing mistakes can be am...

Should the GameStop frenzy be halted to protect investors - or allowed to run its course?

29 Jan 2021

Contributed by Lukas

‘It’ll end in tears.’ How many times did you hear your parents sound that warning - and how often did you actually pay attention? The army of...

Should you cash in bitcoin profits or wait for the moon?

22 Jan 2021

Contributed by Lukas

In case you hadn’t noticed, bitcoin went on bit of a tear recently. And as the price of the leading cryptocurrency soared again, so did the number o...

Is this the answer to pension freedom without the pain?

17 Jan 2021

Contributed by Lukas

More than five years since pension freedom arrived a solution to take the pain out of investing in retirement is being lined up. Before pension fre...

Are investors right to buy British for better times after lockdown and Brexit?

08 Jan 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Happy new year, happy new lockdown. 2021 has seen off 2020, but schools and large chunks of the economy have shut down again and people have been o...

The look back at 2020 and Zoom Christmas taste test episode

24 Dec 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Making predictions can be a mug’s game and never has that proved more true than for any made at the start of 2020. It’s been an astonishing yea...

Is buy now, pay later bad news or savvy spending?

18 Dec 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Is buy now, pay later the demon it’s made out to be?  Klarna, Laybuy and the rest of the delayed spending crew are coming in for lots of scrutin...

Would a 'wealth tax' work in Britain and could it help pay off the huge coronavirus debt?

11 Dec 2020

Contributed by Lukas

This week, a new in-depth report from the Wealth Tax Commission recommended a one-off 'wealth tax' on the richest households rather than hiking taxes ...

How bad is the Christmas crisis on the High St?

05 Dec 2020

Contributed by Lukas

December had barely begun when two of Britain's biggest High Street names collapsed. Sir Philip Green's Arcadia, the group that contains Topshop and M...

Is there still time to go bargain hunting for investments?

27 Nov 2020

Contributed by Lukas

'Be greedy when others are fearful.' Warren Buffett's investment adage was tested this year when the coronavirus crash hit and sent stock markets tumb...

Is Britain ready for electric cars? We talk driving, charging and buying

20 Nov 2020

Contributed by Lukas

For better or worse the internal combustion engined car has shaped economies and the way we live over the past century. Now Britain has been told t...

Will the vaccine value rally continue for investors?

15 Nov 2020

Contributed by Lukas

There have been some clear winners and losers in the rebound from the stock market crash as coronavirus and lockdown hit. Tech stars, companies with a...

How bad will Lockdown 2 be for the economy?

07 Nov 2020

Contributed by Lukas

When lockdown arrived in March it sunk the UK economy.  The message was clear: Stay home.  And people did just that; there was a dramatic shif...

Is this the end of 'free' banking and who is winning the current account switching battle?

30 Oct 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Murmurs from HSBC HQ this week warned that an overhaul of its business model could leave customers paying a monthly fee for their current accounts. ...

Has the V-shaped recovery turned into a double-dip?

24 Oct 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Has the V-shaped recovery been put on hold?   Lockdowns across Britain’s major cities, the tier system and more businesses being forced to close th...