Are the state pension's days numbered?
Planning on relying on the state pension to keep you afloat in retirement? After listening to this week’s podcast, you might want to have a rethink. On this episode, presenter Georgie Frost, consumer affairs editor Lee Boyce and personal finance editor Rachel Rickard Straus discuss what’s in store for the state pension. Will it still be around when they come to retire? A report this week sugg...
47m Jan 12, 2018
47m
Will house prices rise or fall in 2018? (Podcast cut)
House prices are coming off the boil, but it is London and the South East that are suffering, while some regional cities do well. But what happens next? Simon Lambert takes a look at the house price forecasts for 2018 and whether property will rise, fall or flatline in the year ahead.
3m Jan 08, 2018
3m
Will you get richer in 2018? From savings to house prices, we look at the forecasts
From savings rates, to property prices and the prospects for the UK economy, this week we take a look at what will (might) happen to our finances in 2018. Predictions – as we all know – are a mug’s game, but as it is the start of a new year, it’s time to have a look at what could happen in 2018 in the world of money. Inflation is forecast to subside, while interest rates are only tipped to ri...
43m Jan 05, 2018
43m
When facts cause friction: Tim Harford joins us for a special This is Money podcast on fake news and why statistics can be emotive
Facts are either right or wrong, right? ...wrong? In this special episode of the This is Money podcast Tim Harford, presenter of the BBC series More or Less and all-round Undercover Economist makes a second guest appearance. We talk about facts and stats - checking them, debunking them, reporting them, baffling with them, battling over them. But that's just the start. Tim argues that we th...
27m Dec 29, 2017
27m
Tim Harford special - the things that created our economy
Have you ever really thought about what it is that creates the modern economy? These are the things that surround us and we interact with, or depend on, everyday but rarely think about. From credit cards, to shipping containers, batteries and double-entry book-keeping, there are a lot of things that are more interesting than you may think. And for this special Christmas edition of the This i...
48m Dec 22, 2017
48m
The supermarket Christmas taste and value test (plus inflation, rates and house prices)
It’s time for the annual This is Money Christmas taste test – and our look at how the supermarket business is faring. This year, the contenders are Sainsbury’s for the mass market, Waitrose for the upmarket, and Lidl for the discount challenger. But which will come out on top across a range of Christmas food and who delivered the cheapest bill? Simon Lambert and Lee Boyce take on Georgie Fro...
58m Dec 15, 2017
58m
How to get an investing Plan B in case of a crash (Podcast cut)
It's been a decent year for investors and major stock markets around the world are trading near record highs.Things may continue to go up, but it always pays to have a Plan B just in case they don't and stock markets take a tumble.Simon Lambert, of This is Money, explains how you can build a disaster plan into your portfolio.
6m Dec 13, 2017
6m
Can training your brain make you richer?
Could you train your brain to get richer? Behavioural economics tells us that we regularly behave irrationally – and nudge theory has been used by governments and organisations around the world to try to make us better people. But could you take matters into your own hands, tackle your own temptations and make yourself wealthier, or just happier? On this week’s podcast, Simon Lambert, Lee Bo...
36m Dec 08, 2017
36m
Is Bitcoin in a bubble? (Podcast cut)
Bitcoin has risen more than tenfold this year and doubled in just seven weeks. But can it keep rising as adoption gets more widespread, does blockchain's promise justify the price, and does any of this matter as to whether it is in a bubble or not?In this excerpt from the This is Money podcast, Simon Lambert and Georgie Frost discuss Bitcoin's astonishing rise.
5m Dec 05, 2017
5m
Are diesel cars and bitcoin being demonised?
Britain’s car industry is crying foul, as not a single new diesel car avoids the Budget tax hike because the test they have to pass hasn’t come in yet. Car makers claim that new diesels are fine, but can we believe them? Meanwhile, campaigners want extra taxes and a serious crackdown on diesel drivers, but it’s ended up with councils leading the way with a piece-meal approach. Who should we b...
42m Dec 01, 2017
42m
Will cutting stamp duty push up house prices? (Podcast cut)
The Chancellor axed stamp duty for first-time buyers in the Budget up to £300,000, but his own watchdog claimed it would drive up house prices. So is the Office of Budget Responsibility right? Simon Lambert says its logic is flawed and that we need to be even more radical on stamp duty - maybe even making the seller pay.
5m Nov 29, 2017
5m
Will the Budget help you (or anyone)?
It was billed as a make or break Budget, so did the Chancellor pitch it right? Philip Hammond pulled a George Osborne-sized rabbit from the hat at the end with the abolition of stamp duty for first-time buyers, but was that enough to make us to forget the gloomy economic news and the gags?On the plus side, the Budget brought an income tax cut for most, the promise of more homes being built, and...
45m Nov 24, 2017
45m
What will be in the Budget (and what should be)?
Yes, it’s another Budget. On Wednesday, November 22, Philip Hammond will stand up and deliver his second Budget of the year and this is his chance to ride to the Conservatives’ rescue.After the last Budget mess, the snap election that went wrong, the unexpected rise of Corbynism, and the Brexit arguments that just won’t go away, the Chancellor will be hoping that he’s the one to get everything ...
31m Nov 17, 2017
31m
Could you achieve financial independence and retire early?
Have you ever dreamed of retiring early, or at least choosing to work on your own terms?There is a niche but growing movement that’s all about financial independence - it’s not necessarily about stopping work completely, but it is about having the choice to do so.So, could you achieve financial independence, how hard would it be and how long would it take?And why would you even want to retire e...
47m Nov 10, 2017
47m
How fast will UK interest rates rise? (Podcast cut)
How quickly does the Bank of England think that the base rate will rise after its first move up? Simon Lambert looks at the figures and outlines the good, the bad and the awkward, in this excerpt from the This is Money podcast.
3m Nov 08, 2017
3m
What the interest rate rise means for you
It finally happened. The Bank of England raised interest rates for the first time in more than a decade this week.But what was the point of that rate rise? It was certainly a curiosity, coming alongside a decidedly downbeat Inflation Report.Was it to dampen inflation, to send a warning sign to borrowers, or just to put a tiny smile on beleaguered savers’ faces?On this week’s podcast, Simon Lamb...
53m Nov 03, 2017
53m
What you need to know about your will
Do you have a will? If not you should probably get one. But if you do have one, do you understand what’s in it? According to Will Aid, MORE THAN HALF (54%) of parents with children under the age of 18 don’t have a will. That’s 54 per cent minus one person now, however, after This is Money editor Simon Lambert finally got his act together and sorted his out. So what do you need to know about...
46m Oct 27, 2017
46m
How to beat inheritance tax
Inheritance tax is one of the most hated around. Despite the fact that most people will never leave enough wealth to have it charged on their estates, we really don't like the idea of 40% above a certain amount going to the taxman. But IHT is also a tax that can be avoided. How? Listen to this week's podcast to find out, as Simon Lambert, Georgie Frost and Sarah Davidson discuss all things in...
47m Oct 20, 2017
47m
Can a nudge make you richer?
Behavioural economists believe a gentle nudge in the right direction can make you richer and over recent years they have managed to win the ears of governments around the world – including the UK’s.This week one of the thinkers who helped spread the word on behavioural economics, Professor Richard Thaler, won a Nobel Prize for economics.In the old world of economics textbooks, people behaved pe...
48m Oct 13, 2017
48m
The problem with smart meters (Podcast cut)
Households are being pushed into having smart meters fitted by energy giants trying to meet their own targets.But despite delivering accurate billing many are unhappy at having the meters fitted. So what's the problem with them?Lee Boyce, Georgie Frost and Simon Lambert, discuss smart meters on this excerpt from the This is Money podcast.
2m Oct 11, 2017
2m
Can the Tories really fix student loans, housebuilding and energy bills?
Forget coughing fits, pranksters and tumbling letters for a minute. Along with a car crash speech for Theresa May, the Tory party conference also brought a few policies that might make a difference to our financial lives.Student fees, housebuilding and an energy price cap all came up on the agenda.But was this just tinkering around the edges, or a solid plan to improve three highly controversia...
47m Oct 06, 2017
47m
How to get a good deal on a car scrappage scheme (Podcast cut)
In this excerpt from the This is Money Podcast, Simon Lambert, Rob Hull and Georgie Frost discuss how new car buyers can get the best deal from the car scrappage schemes being offered by dealers. The This is Money Podcast brings you everything you need to know about money each week, in partnership with NS&I
6m Oct 04, 2017
6m
What would a Labour Government do to the UK economy?
Labour didn’t win the last General Election but leader Jeremy Corbyn believes it could do next time. In case that comes around anytime soon, the party this week laid out some plans at its conference. Shadow Chancellor John McDonnell also revealed that the leadership would be doing war game planning should a Labour victory cause a run on the pound or a stock market slump. Depending on your poi...
49m Sep 29, 2017
49m
Are interest rates really about to rise - and should you fix your mortgage long-term?
This week the team ask the million dollar question: are interest rates really about to rise before the end of 2017?Are house buyers in property 'paradise' after a recent index showed a fall in monthly house asking prices - and should homeowners fix their mortgages for the long term?Brexit has thrown up many potential problems and could private expat pensions be one of them?And note mania is bac...
40m Sep 22, 2017
40m
Can you give money away and still control what happens to it?
This is Money has had a string of questions from readers looking to give their cash to children or grandchildren but who also wish to protect it from being squandered or lost in a relationship break-up.Whether the money is for a house deposit or to avoid inheritance tax, or for any other reason, it’s a major modern concern - especially as the sums involved can be tens or hundreds of thousands o...
45m Sep 14, 2017
45m
Are scrappage schemes a good deal and could your next car be electric?
Car scrappage schemes are back. After waiting in vain for the government to launch an official scrappage scheme to get dirty diesels off the road, car makers have taken matters into their own hands. But is this an altruistic move to help replace more polluting cars with greener ones, or are they just trying to flog more cars? These new scrappage schemes have coincided with falling sales of ne...
47m Sep 08, 2017
47m
How to boost your finances by claiming free cashback, ditching loyalty and taking heed of a very important deadline…
Hasta La Vista PPI! Arnold Schwarzenegger has been drafted in as a last-ditch attempt to get the millions of us who still haven't claimed compensation for mis-sold PPI to do so. In this episode of the podcast, top financial broadcaster Georgie Frost join Lee Boyce and Rachel Rickard Straus of the This is Money team to talk about Arnie's new PPI advertisement campaign and more. They have a go...
54m Sep 01, 2017
54m
What was the financial crisis, the credit crunch - and will it all happen again?
Ten years ago last week the greatest game of hide and seek was about to come to an end. Banks had been lending money to people who had no way of ever paying it back to buy houses they would never be able to afford. But rather than writing off the debts, they packaged them up into complex investments, pretended they were safe and selling them to investors who had no idea of what they were buyi...
30m Aug 18, 2017
30m
Are banks doing enough to track down fraudsters?
Are banks doing everything that they can to track down fraudsters who con you into transferring them money? They repeatedly tell us that they are, but one man says that’s not true. He got scammed, took matters into his own hands and got £20,000 back. How did Gideon Roseman do it? He used his experience as a barrister to follow the money. So, if he can, why don’t we see more banks doing that?...
51m Aug 11, 2017
51m
Will a diesel and petrol car ban work - and what are electric cars like?
Will a diesel and petrol car ban even work? If you believe the Government, in 23 years’ time new diesel and petrol cars will be banned. From 2040 the future is electric. But as these controversial plans were rolled out this week, the first question on many people’s lips was: where’s all that electricity going to come from? Simon Lambert, Lee Boyce and Georgie Frost discuss the prospects for ...
53m Jul 28, 2017
53m
Is it fair to keep raising the state pension age?
The state pension age will rise once more, it emerged this week - with those in their 40s set to lose out. But is it fair to continue to raise the state pension age in line with life expectancy, especially for those who cannot work through their 60s? Georgie Frost, Simon Lambert and Rachel Rickard Straus discuss how we handle the thorny and expensive issue of the state pensions. Also on this ...
49m Jul 21, 2017
49m
Could house prices really crash from here?
Mumblings of potential big house price falls have emerged again recently to delight the crashists.The 40% number was even mentioned - and that's not happened in a while.The property market is clearly slowing down - and prices are falling in London - but is all this talk of a crash overdone?After a report emerged from an LSE professor a fortnight ago, This is Money readers have been reliving the...
58m Jul 14, 2017
58m
Elvis has left the building, robots are taking over our investments, bozos are running our savings
If you pop into the bookies and bung a quid on Elvis Presley still being alive – he died in 1977 - and he shows up as the support act to his heir apparent Ed Sheeran at Wembley Stadium next year, you’ll win £2,000. Put that pound into a top paying savings account over the same period and you’ll earn just over 1p. This is why stupid savings gimmicks are becoming a thing. It works like this. ...
27m Jul 11, 2017
27m
The State we’re in: could higher pay for nurses and scrapping university fees boost the economy?
Nurses have had their pay cut every year for the last five years. Students are coming out of our universities with the highest level of debt in the West – higher on average than the USA. Rents are totally out of control. What then are the prospects for our youngsters and for our public sector workers? Is austerity really going to end? It’s complicated and there’s only one person who can ex...
46m Jul 07, 2017
46m
Could interest rates really rise this year and do we need to worry about car loans?
What do you mean you’ve never seen The Big Short? It was nominated for five Oscars, won one and features Brad Pitt, Christian Bale and the part-time stripper with five houses and a condo. Watch it. Now! It’s all true. It’s about the financial crisis and it might all be about to kick off again. The Bank of England this week issued its Financial Stability Report and it’s terrifying. We’re in ...
51m Jun 30, 2017
51m
What are stocks and shares? Introducing Big Money Questions - and a lot of enlightening answers
‘If you've ever wondered how you get triangles from a cow,’ sang British music legends Half Man Half Biscuit, ‘you need butter milk and cheese and an equilateral chain saw. ‘ It’s obvious when you know the answer! But what about the stuff you think you know the answers to… but do you? Really? The Big Money Questions. That’s the name of our fortnightly video presentation with Rachel Rickard S...
19m Jun 23, 2017
19m
The all new standard of living - and other related problems (and some solutions)
Wherever your heart lies in the debate about Britain’s role in the world, your head cannot escape the fact that we import a lot of what we consume. From the oil and gas that heats our homes and powers our cars to the hops that add flavour to our pints of beer. And that’s fine when you have a strong currency. Thing is, for roughly a year ours has been devalued by about 20% and it affects the ...
49m Jun 16, 2017
49m
Election 2017: Young voters changed the economic game plan - and what the DUP can bring to the party
It was meant to be an election about Brexit but it turned into one about new young voters and what they wanted. They wanted change.What they got was a minority Government, a coalition between the Conservatives and Northern Ireland’s Democratic Unionist Party (DUP). But there are five more years until the next election and anyone 14, 15, 16, and 17 years old now will be able to vote in the next ...
52m Jun 09, 2017
52m
The road to our future looks bright if only we were prepared to pay for it
Would you pay more tax for better health, housing, communications, green spaces, roads, social care, railways, education, defence? Or not? The consensus seems to be that we would if only people felt they could trust the people who spend it on our behalf. It’s a complex and fascinating issue for a country living way beyond its fiscal means - allow Georgie Frost, Simon Lambert and Rachel Ricka...
23m Jun 02, 2017
23m
Can you trust pensions, social care or anything else?
A row that erupted over the Tory manifesto social care plans led to accusations of a dementia tax and a swift U-turn.Voters had previously been told they would get a cap on costs, but instead they got a floor of £100,000 to which their wealth could be whittled down to.The issue highlighted a problem we have in planning our finances - trust.Do you trust the framework that the Government puts in ...
49m May 26, 2017
49m
Which party do you trust with the economy? Tories, Labour and Lib Dem head to head
The manifestos are out, but which political party would you trust with the UK economy?We look at Labour's plan to hike taxes, the Tories' plan to ditch the triple lock and the Lib Dem's plan to make a bit of cash on the side from selling weed.This week we finally got the triple whammy of what our three main political parties will do, so would any of these plans work and what do people think abo...
55m May 19, 2017
55m
The next financial crisis is inevitable - isn't it?
In part two of this week’s podcast, Georgie Frost, Rich Browning and Simon Lambert discuss the inevitability of another global financial meltdown and how we’re going to fix it this time round. Meanwhile, what’s in store in Europe now a former investment banker, Emmanual Macron, is president of France and looking to reinvigorate the European project? Perhaps this an opportunity for investors t...
20m May 17, 2017
20m
Is this finally it? Have house prices peaked? Dare we mention that word, crash?
The property data is out and it’s not looking good. House prices fell for the first time in five years. Homes are going for less than asking prices. Yet in some areas you need 17 times your salary to buy a place. Where’s it all going to end? Perhaps moving into tiny mobile sheds on trailers or a boat is the only answer. Or will prices start to tumble? Simon Lambert takes one of his legend...
41m May 12, 2017
41m
The supermarket squeeze on the way - and the tax breaks you just lost
Shoppers have enjoyed cheap prices off the back of a supermarket price war, but alarm bells were sounded in Sainsbury’s results this week, showing how cost inflation is squeezing its profits. How long is it before supermarkets give up trying to cushion the blow for households and price rises hit? Simon Lambert, Lee Boyce and Georgie Frost look at what next for our shopping bills and how the b...
53m May 05, 2017
53m
Should we ditch the pensions triple lock? (Podcast excerpt)
The pensions triple lock means that state pensions rise by wages, inflation or 2.5% - whichever is greatest. This promise has raised pensioner incomes but stands accused of being too expensive and has become an election hot potato. Should it be ditched? Simon Lambert, Rachel Rickard Straus and Georgie Frost discuss it on this excerpt from the This is Money podcast.
12m May 03, 2017
12m
How the probate fee hike was dropped (Podcast excerpt)
Plans to massively hike probate fees have been dropped, but was this due to the General Election or the government trying to distance itself from a move that saw a huge backlash? Simon Lambert, Rachel Rickard Straus and Georgie Frost discuss it on this excerpt from the This is Money podcast.
6m May 03, 2017
6m
The election is about your money - not just leadership battles - find out how
The result of the election on June 8 will determine the financial outcome of Britain possibly more than any other in recent memory. So sit down and listen to Simon Lambert, Georgie Frost and Rachel Rickard Straus explain in simple terms what is at stake. On the agenda: Pension triple lock – if you’ve never really understood this, you will now Energy price cap – that old thing. The only thin...
50m Apr 28, 2017
50m
It's not all Brexit... what does the UK election mean for your money?
Brexit this, Brexit that but what about the other stuff we need to worry about. Britain soon gets to vote in another election and inevitably the campaigns surrounding it will be about Brexit. Before you get bombarded with those, this week’s This is Money podcast looks at why Theresa May has even called another election and what that decision means for the economy, the pound and investors? Ye...
53m Apr 21, 2017
53m
This is Money show - the lucky dip of price hikes, the big investing question it's easy to overlook, Lifetime Isas and alarming credit card debt
The price of all sorts is going up this week - from stamps to council tax. This is Money's Rachel Rickard Straus and Lee Boyce play the lucky dip of price hikes - which involves a stop watch, chocolate eggs... and quick explanations of how bills are set to rise. Then it's on to debt - credit card, car... you name it. Is it a worry? Is it a big worry? What's going to happen next? (Spoiler alert ...
55m Apr 07, 2017
55m
It was a historic moment — Britain is leaving the affordable goods market
It was never about economics. But 52% or the 72% turnout voted for the UK to leave the European Union last June and now it’s official. Prime Minister Theresa May has written and delivered a letter that gives the country just two years to renegotiate tens of thousands of laws that took 40 odd years to draw up. It’s about taking control, she said, without expanding what that might mean. In the...
51m Mar 31, 2017
51m