What would you spend a lottery win on? It could be you (but it probably won't)
It could be you. It probably won't, of course, but maybe, just maybe, it could be.  That's the attraction of Britain's lottery for its millions of players and this week it reached its 25th birthday.  For self-proclaimed Lottery mug, Simon Lambert, that's two-and-a-half decades of spending money on the draw week-in, week-out because foolishly he has six numbers committed to memory. For some luck...
47m Nov 17, 2019
47m
Motoring special: Buying electric cars and are insurers gaming drivers?
What’s the best new or used electric car on the market, would buying your insurance on the day you need it drive up the price, and does London’s diesel-crunching ULEZ make sense? Those are the questions and more on this motoring special edition of the This is Money Podcast. On it, Georgie Frost and Simon Lambert are joined by deputy motoring editor Rob Hull to talk cars and money. First up, is ...
41m Nov 08, 2019
41m
How to burglar proof your home with thefts soaring in the winter months
Insurance claims for burglary rise by a third in the winter months and sometimes it can be down to households not doing basic checks.  This week, editor Simon Lambert, assistant editor Lee Boyce and host Georgie Frost take a look what you can do to protect your home. Elsewhere, can you use Section 75 when booking a holiday on a credit through a third party? We take a look at what common myths m...
49m Nov 01, 2019
49m
Does loyalty pay? As Nationwide axes its savings rewards and Tesco brings in paid-for Clubcards, we take a look
What's the difference between loyalty and inertia? Do we get too little reward for the former and show too much of the latter when it comes to shopping and banking? That's the question Simon Lambert, Lee Boyce and host Georgie Frost tackle in the podcast this week. It comes as Tesco – one of the original loyalty scheme pioneers – revealed its new paid-for Clubcard Plus, costing £7.99 per month....
53m Oct 25, 2019
53m
Will investors benefit from Woodford being axed and what happens next?
Neil Woodford's Equity Income Fund, which has locked in investors' money since June, will never reopen – the star fund manager has seen his empire toppled. Editor Simon Lambert, assistant editor Lee Boyce and host Georgie Frost, ask: what is next for investors and what lessons will be learnt? We also talk about where it went wrong and what it could mean for the investment industry. Elsewhere, w...
49m Oct 18, 2019
49m
Does buying a property at auction really get you a good deal?
If you want a good deal, an undervalued gem, or a fixer-upper to make money on - buy a home at auction. That's the common theory, but does it actually work in practice? There's a chance you might find an underrated home, but there's also the risk that you may get caught up in competition with another buyer and overpay - as many who end up in a bidding war do. On this week's podcast, we switch o...
54m Oct 11, 2019
54m
It's crunch time for Brexit, but should you protect your finances or try to profit?
It’s crunch time for Brexit and things could go one of three ways. Theoretically, a no-deal Brexit shouldn’t be able to happen and the Prime Minister has to ask for an extension instead, but we are faced with the bizarre prospect of the Government saying it might be able to dodge the law… and so maybe no-deal could still happen. And then, of course, there is the possibility that instead of no-d...
51m Oct 04, 2019
51m
How much do you need to save into a pension?
We are regularly told that we aren’t saving enough into a pension, but how much is enough?    A recent report suggested that while auto enrolment has dragged more people into saving for retirement, it has also lulled them into a false sense of security.   Currently, the system means 8 per cent of a worker’s salary must be going into a pension – unless they opt out – but that includes their cont...
20m Sep 27, 2019
20m
Is a tough property market the best time to buy a home?
The best time to get a good deal on buying something is when other people don’t want to. That should theoretically make now a decent time to try to buy a property, but will that work in practice? The property market has run out of steam and house prices are rising at a far more moderate rate than in recent years  While the headline figures mask regional differences – London and the South East h...
31m Sep 20, 2019
31m
Should we rip up capital gains tax rules? And how to save 40% off a new car
Entrepreneurs and investors pay less tax on their profits to reflect the risk they take.    That’s the principle that lies behind capital gains tax being lower than the rates charged on employment income.   But the influential think-tank, the Institute for Public Policy Research, wants to rip up that system and charge the same rate on gains from selling shares or property as income tax – and ha...
37m Sep 13, 2019
37m
Was that as good as it gets for savers this time round?
Savers have been dealt a series of blows over the summer and the latest came this week with an NS&I cut, so was that as good as it gets this time round?   On this week’s podcast, Simon Lambert, Sarah Davidson and Georgie Frost look at why savings rates have started to slip again, and how the mortgage price war, stuttering UK property market and even Donald Trump’s trade spat with China fit in w...
45m Sep 06, 2019
45m
Those born in the 1980s are financially worse off than the generation before: are they really facing a state pension age of 75?
This week, This is Money takes a look at a raft of inter-generation financial divide stories that have popped up in August. This includes why those born in the 1980s have less disposable income than those born in the 1970s according to the Office for National Statistics and why the Bank of Mum and Dad is creaking. Assistant editor Lee Boyce, reporter George Nixon and host Georgie Frost run the ...
45m Aug 30, 2019
45m
Can consumer power help the planet? Green investing, eco-travel, electric cars and your own back yard
It's fair to say environmental issues have moved to the forefront of the agenda in recent times – a large chunk of households in Britain are becoming more eco-conscious. This week, editor Simon Lambert, assistant editor Lee Boyce and host Georgie Frost take a look at potential changes you can make to help the pound in your pocket turn a little greener. Simon explains his rallying cry for us to ...
26m Aug 23, 2019
26m
Is there a recession looming, will the pound keep falling and what next for interest rates?
The pound has been battered and bruised of late and it took another blow last week with gloomy news about the UK economy. With a no-deal potentially in the offing, how much more of a pounding will sterling take? Editor Simon Lambert, assistant editor Lee Boyce and host Georgie Frost look at what lies behind the decline, why it's fallen so much when jobs, wages and inflation aren't doing badly a...
36m Aug 16, 2019
36m
Tricks ruthless scammers use to steal your pension revealed on the This is Money podcast – would you fall victim?
If you think you're too savvy to fall victim to a pension scam - or any scam for that matter - you might want to think again.  Almost half of 45-65 year olds would potentially fall victim to six common tactics used by fraudsters, Financial Conduct Authority research claims. Editor Simon Lambert, assistant editor Lee Boyce and host Georgie Frost take a look, as it's revealed the average victim l...
52m Aug 09, 2019
52m
Self-employed workers could soon see incomes hit thanks to tax changes – will you be one of them?
Changes in tax rules that will be introduced next year could hit the income of anyone who's self-employed - such as IT experts and business consultants. Editor Simon Lambert, assistant editor Lee Boyce and host Georgie Frost look at why it is being called a 'ticking timebomb' for contractors. Elsewhere, as the PPI deadline fast approaches, what will it mean for banks and consumers – and why you...
49m Aug 02, 2019
49m
Will there be a Boris bounce or Brexit hangover? How the new PM could affect the pound in your pocket
Out go Theresa May and Philip Hammond, in come Boris Johnson and Sajid David – will it result in your finances falling out of top gear, or going on a grand tour? That's the question editor Simon Lambert, assistant editor Lee Boyce and host Georgie Frost tackle this week, as we have a new Prime Minister at the helm, and a new Chancellor as his sidekick. Boris has hinted at a stamp duty cut, an i...
51m Jul 26, 2019
51m
Who’s afraid of a no-deal Brexit? What the next PM taking us out Europe without a deal means for your money
  The threat of no deal is looming larger – just a few months after people had decided a softer Brexit was on the cards.    This week we had the Office of Budget Responsibility’s verdict on what a ‘benign’ no-deal Brexit scenario might look like for the economy. It would cost us £30billion, unemployment would rise to 5%, the pound would fall 10% and house prices would go down by the same amount...
48m Jul 19, 2019
48m
Inheritance Tax is the most hated of all taxes – should it be overhauled?
It's official: IHT is the country's most hated tax. That's according to the Office of Tax Simplification, who have been looking into the quirks of the system at the request of the Chancellor. What needs to change – and could a Labour plan, bubbling away in the background, really be the answer? Editor Simon Lambert, assistant editor Lee Boyce and host Georgie Frost take a look. Whatever happens ...
40m Jul 12, 2019
40m
What have we learnt from the Woodford fiasco - and will anything change?
t’s been more than a month since Britain’s most high profile fund manager Neil Woodford was embarrassingly forced to close the doors to his flagship fund. Since then, investors have been unable to sell out and this week - after the first 28 days of closure rolled round - Woodford Equity Income locked savers in for another four weeks. Over the past month, Woodford, his business, its associates a...
37m Jul 05, 2019
37m
Would you sign up to an estate agent offering to sell your home for free?
The bumper fees we pay to estate agents to sell our homes are a common gripe, so what’s not to like about one that offers to do it for free? Yes, free.  Online agent Housesimple says that it will sell your home at no charge, rather than the 1.5 per cent you might pay a traditional High Street agent, or even the £900 or thereabouts that rival fixed fee agents charge. So, what’s the catch and wou...
50m Jun 28, 2019
50m
Will there be a mis-selling scandal over final salary pension advice?
Two-thirds of savers are being told to abandon final salary pensions - and this is despite the Financial Conduct Authority saying that advisers should start with the standpoint this is not a suitable option.   That revelation arrived this week as the FCA said too much advice on valuable pensions is 'still not of an acceptable standard.'   Are people getting the right advice about their gold-pla...
46m Jun 21, 2019
46m
Upsize, downsize: Is swapping your home ever a good idea – and what are the pitfalls?
Much is made of the difficulties faced by first-time buyers to get onto the property ladder, but less talked about is the problem facing second steppers and those looking to downsize. As growing families struggle to afford to move up the property ladder could intergenerational house-swaps be the answer?  That's the question editor Simon Lambert, assistant editor Lee Boyce and host Georgie Frost...
40m Jun 14, 2019
40m
What's gone wrong for fund manager Neil Woodford and retail mogul Sir Philip Green?
It's been a rocky week to say the least for Britain's most recognisable fund manager Neil Woodford – he suspended trading in his flagship fund, leaving savers unable to access their cash. And we still don't know the future of Sir Philip Green and his Arcadia empire, after a crucial rescue vote was suspended. This is Money assistant editor Lee Boyce, retail reporter Emily Hardy and host Georgie ...
48m Jun 07, 2019
48m
Incorrect state pension forecasts means many face a poorer retirement – how big a problem is it?
We often talk about good retirement planning being key to more secure and happier future – but what happens if the figures you were working on were completely wrong – and it's not your maths to blame… Editor Simon Lambert, assistant editor Lee Boyce and host Georgie Frost discuss a string of incorrect state pension forecasts sent out that will result in many facing a poorer retirement than expe...
40m May 31, 2019
40m
It might save you money but does the mortgage price war spell trouble in the future?
The mortgage price war claimed a high profile victim this week as Tesco Bank scrapped lending.   A great adventure into the world of banking - billed as a major challenge to the High Street banking giants with mortgages promoted in the aisles – has come to an end.   Tesco Bank will continue with its other products, but why has it ditched mortgages, why have a string of other smaller players shu...
47m May 24, 2019
47m
Would being richer make you happy?
There’s an old saying that money doesn’t buy happiness, which is often swiftly countered with the suggestion that while this may be the case, having enough not to worry about it definitely helps. There are no shortage of cautionary tales that tell us it is better to be happy than rich, but does it matter if some people have an awful lot more money than others? And does it matter to both them ...
54m May 17, 2019
54m
Have you ever wanted to build your own home?
Many people say they would like to have a crack at a Grand Design of their own – or even a more modest one – but finding somewhere to build it is a problem. That’s why despite self-builders typically turning an immediate paper profit of 15 to 30%, according to specialist BuildStore, not many of us take the plunge. Things could be about to change for the better, however, as keen to encourage m...
43m May 10, 2019
43m
Would you pay more tax to make sure you get care in old age?
Social care is a mounting problem for Britain but the issue is a can that has been kicked down the road repeatedly. Rather than tackle the fact that the state can't afford to care for today's elderly - let alone those that our ageing population will deliver in future - politicians have dodged and fudged. This week a new suggestion emerged involving a hike in National Insurance contributions f...
57m May 03, 2019
57m
Is it possible to help the planet and save cash – and would a Prius make you happy?
We haven't glued ourselves to train carriages, politician fences or the London Stock Exchange. No, this week's This is Money podcast opts for a less confrontational approach to the environment, with useful tips and tricks that are good for the planet as well as your wallet. Simon Lambert, Lee Boyce and Georgie Frost look at the green movement and what it means for the financial industry and b...
47m Apr 26, 2019
47m
As TSB commits to refund all defrauded customers, will other banks follow suit – and should they?
TSB says defrauded customers will now always get their cash back, which has piled pressure on other banks to do the same. But will they – and should they have to? That's the question assistant editor Lee Boyce, reporter George Nixon and host Georgie Frost tackle in this week's podcast. In all, £354million was stolen last year authorised push-payment frauds and until now, banks had refused to ...
50m Apr 18, 2019
50m
Are you one of the millions in line for a pay rise this tax year?
There are three certainties in life. You know the drill. You’re born, you will die and you will listen to this podcast about tax. As another new tax year is upon us, editor Simon Lambert and host Georgie Frost explain the tax changes that will affect you. There is a nice pay rise for more than 20 million people as the personal allowance is raised. And Simon answers some of the questions on e...
32m Apr 12, 2019
32m
Is the 8% return on your 'savings' really just a complex fraud?
As we fast approach one fifth of the way through the 21st century, the world of finance is modernising in ways that would have been unimaginable a few years ago. And not always in a good way. The language of ‘savings’ has evolved to the point of dishonesty and even fraud. On this week’s podcast editor Simon Lambert and reporter George Nixon join host Georgie Frost to look at fancy new Innovat...
39m Apr 05, 2019
39m
It's not too late to sort your Isa or pension before the tax year ends
The end of the financial year is looming - April 5 - and it means the clock is ticking if you haven't sorted your Isa or pension. Editor Simon Lambert, assistant editor Lee Boyce and host Georgie Frost have an Isa special for your ears this week. When it comes to cash Isas, you may already be too late as some banks and building societies have already pulled their best buys. Lee reveals his t...
37m Mar 29, 2019
37m
With gas boilers set to be banned in new builds, what will power our homes in the future?
The Government wants to scrap gas boilers in new homes by 2025 – but what are the viable alternatives? And how much will they cost? This week, This is Money editor Simon Lambert, reporter Grace Gausden and host Georgie Frost explore the options. And on the energy theme, you can now ask Alexa: when will my electricity bills be cheapest? Energy company Octopus has teamed up with Amazon, the cr...
43m Mar 22, 2019
43m
Can Britain afford to pay MORE tax? Why the tax burden has hit its highest level since 1969
With all the shenanigans in Westminster this week you could be forgiven for failing to register we had a Spring Statement at all – let alone clocked its finer points. Editor Simon Lambert, assistant editor Lee Boyce and host Georgie Frost fill you in on what you may have missed. It includes forecasts from the Office for Budgetary Responsibility on the UK economy, along with income growth, int...
45m Mar 15, 2019
45m
Is the cash Isa finally bouncing back – and is it still worth having?
Put on your party hats, it's Isa season! After years in the doldrums could we have a proper Isa battle on our hands in 2019? Santander and Coventry Building Society have launched two best-buy easy-access tax-free deals, and that appears to have put some wind in the sails of This is Money assistant editor Lee Boyce. Editor Simon Lambert and host Georgie Frost – along with Lee – talk all things...
46m Mar 08, 2019
46m
What would YOU do if you won a tidy windfall from the Premium Bonds?
National Savings and Investments has launched Ernie 5.0 – its fifth generation machine that draws the Premium Bond numbers. It now takes just 12 minutes for numbers to be generated by the Electronic Random Number Indicator Equipment compared to 10 days back in the early 1970s. This week, editor Simon Lambert, assistant editor Lee Boyce and host Georgie Frost answer the question – what would y...
46m Mar 01, 2019
46m
Would you challenge a will? Why inheritance disputes are on the rise
A will may be considered the expression of someone’s last wishes, but more of them are being challenged. High property prices and increasingly complicated families are being blamed for the rise in disputes, but would you challenge someone’s will? In this week’s podcast, Simon Lambert, Lee Boyce and Georgie Frost dive into why inheritance rows are more commonplace and how difficult it is to tr...
48m Feb 22, 2019
48m
Is this the clock ticking on a slowdown in the UK economy, or are we primed for a Brexit bounce?
Inflation has slipped to 1.8 per cent - below the 2 per cent target - and the Bank of England has downgraded the UK's growth prospects and indicated interest rate hikes are on hold. But at the same time, wages are rising by more than inflation and unemployment remains low. So has the clock already started ticking on a slowdown in the UK economy, or is this just some pre-Brexit jitters that co...
45m Feb 15, 2019
45m
How to start investing or become a smarter investor
Investing has proven to be the best way to beat inflation and grow your wealth over the long-term, but how do you get started? And if you do already invest but feel you’ve lost track of your goals or ended up with a jumble of investments, how can you improve things? In this second edition of a two-part podcast special on saving and investing, Simon Lambert and Georgie Frost dive into how to b...
50m Feb 01, 2019
50m
Everything you need to know about savings - and why you should ditch the big banks
In part one of two This is Money podcast specials, we tackle savings. When savings are mentioned, the first thought that springs to mind for many is: rates are low, what's the point? In the latest This is Money podcast, assistant editor Lee Boyce and host Georgie Frost are joined by James Blower, the Savings Guru to explain why savings are important. James has inside knowledge of the industry...
56m Jan 25, 2019
56m
Boost for savers as CPI inflation falls to 2.1% - but the RPI controversy rumbles on
Inflation is within a whisker of its long-term target of two per cent – does that mean an interest rate rise off the table in 2019? Assistant editor Lee Boyce and host Georgie Frost talk about the latest inflation figures in the This is Money podcast – including why it has fallen, where it is heading next and what it means for savers. Savings rates are up, with nearly 100 accounts now matchin...
50m Jan 18, 2019
50m
Trouble on the high street: The winners and losers of the Christmas battle
Just how bad was Christmas for Britain’s shops? Retailers sounded the alarm early when advent brought a string of warnings about a terrible November, but this week we started to find out what the crucial festive period really brought. A rush of results arrived, as everyone from the big supermarkets to M&S, Debenhams and John Lewis updated on Christmas sales. The bar had been set low, but it t...
42m Jan 11, 2019
42m
New Year Special - the impact of last year's big stories and campaigns
Happy New NHS? Among last year's big stories was the 70th anniversary of our beloved health service and whether we are prepared to pay for it through higher taxes. Our campaign to out the rogue, sometimes criminal, private car park operatives began with a vengeance and will continue long into 2019. Editor Simon Lambert and host Georgie Frost also explain how to avoid losing your home because...
57m Jan 04, 2019
57m
Are you penalised for your loyalty? This is Money Christmas podcast special with posh vs budget supermarket taste test
Happy Christmas and welcome to the last This is Money podcast of 2018. Today, we cover the ghosts of Christmas past, present and future. For the ghost of Christmas past, we look at what has gone wrong for high street retailers and if that is spilling over to online firms. Ghost of Christmas present… or presents, we give five reasons why you should think twice about giving gift cards this fest...
57m Dec 21, 2018
57m
Can you Brexit-proof your finances – and what happens next with Britain leaving the EU?
Nobody can escape the Brexit bedlam that has been playing out before our eyes, especially in the last week. In between backstops, trade deals, Norway, contempt of parliament, no-confidence, withdrawing withdrawal votes… what is really going on? Editor Simon Lambert, assistant editor Lee Boyce and host Georgie Frost discuss Brexit in the latest This is Money podcast. Are we going to leave? Sh...
50m Dec 14, 2018
50m
How to invest and save for your child to give them a bumper pot of cash when they turn 18
It might not be on the top of your to-do list when you have a child, but investing and saving for them to build a tidy nest egg for when they reach adulthood is best done sooner rather than later. In the latest This is Money podcast, editor Simon Lambert, assistant editor (and new parent) Lee Boyce alongside host Georgie Frost look at the best ways to save for your children. We discuss invest...
52m Dec 07, 2018
52m
What should we do about inheritance tax - and is it time to cut it?
Inheritance tax is a conundrum. Just 5 per cent of estates currently incur it but it’s been voted Britain’s most unfair major tax. Even with the number of people hit by it expected to double, it seems we just don’t like the concept. It’s no wonder then that the Chancellor commissioned a report into it from the Office of Tax Simplification, but no one forecast that to be as damning about the s...
41m Nov 30, 2018
41m
The Investing Show special - introducing our new podcast
Hello, I’m Simon Lambert, the editor of This is Money, and I’d like to introduce you to our new podcast the Investing Show. It is not replacing the weekly This is Money podcast that you know and love. But it is the new podcast of our popular video show that helps you to make more of your money, through smarter investing. Every fortnight we invite fund managers and professional investors to e...
15m Nov 27, 2018
15m