In a post-pandemic world, with the rise of working from home and flexible hours, there’s a whole new meaning to work life balance. In this episode, Joe Ryle from the Four Day Week Foundation joins our host Iona Bain to discuss how changing work patterns can lead to a healthier work culture with increased productivity and reduced burnout. They dive deep into the role of technology in blurring boundaries and offer practical advice on how you can begin advocating for more balance in your work life....
Mar 20, 2025•12 min•Season 2Ep. 4
With endless inspiration online, home improvements have never been more tempting - but is reality living up to the "property porn" hype? In this episode, our host Iona Bain is joined by Paula Higgins from the HomeOwners Alliance to explore the smartest ways to transform your home without breaking the bank. From deciding between a doer-upper and a move-in-ready home to prioritising renovations that actually add value, Paula shares expert advice on budgeting, managing tradespeople and making the m...
Mar 06, 2025•17 min•Season 2Ep. 3
Have you ever wondered what happens to some of the money you save in your pension? Beyond securing your financial future, your pension could be helping to build better communities, fund affordable housing and invest in innovative health technologies. In this episode, our host Iona Bain sits down with Legal & General’s Pete Gladwell to explore how pension funds can be used for social investments, while still delivering strong financial returns. Learn how your pension savings contribute to pro...
Feb 20, 2025•18 min•Season 2Ep. 2
In this special season opener of A Little Bit Richer , we turn the tables on our brand-new host, Iona Bain! Pension expert Kim Brown from Legal & General takes the interviewer’s seat to dig into Iona’s personal finance journey— from unexpected money lessons to navigating the challenges of millennial finances. They discuss everything from getting on the property ladder to balancing today’s financial needs with saving for the future. Iona shares her dreams, fears and working towards financial ...
Feb 06, 2025•18 min•Season 2Ep. 1
We’ve got an exciting announcement for you. In this new series we're delving deeper to help you with smart money choices. To guide us through we're thrilled to be welcoming Iona Bain to the team. Listen and follow on your favourite podcast app. Now you can also watch the full episodes on our YouTube channel And watch behind the scenes content on our TikTok and Instagram See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information....
Feb 04, 2025•1 min•Season 2Ep. 1
Moving in with someone is an exciting milestone, but it’s also a big decision that requires careful planning. In this episode our host Kia Commodore sits down with family lawyer Yasmin Khan-Gunns to uncover what you should consider before taking the plunge - whether you’re renting or buying with a partner, friend or family member. From financial considerations and tenancy agreements to the importance of cohabitation agreements, Yasmin shares expert advice on how to navigate potential challenges ...
Jan 23, 2025•16 min•Season 1Ep. 43
The new year is here and while we often focus on resolutions like fitness or dry January, what about setting yourself up for a brighter financial future? In this episode, our host Kia Commodore welcomes Sean Philip from Legal & General, who shares some great tips to improve your personal finances for the longer term. From rethinking financial sacrifices as ‘badges of honour’, the ‘Couch to £5k’ savings challenge, building an emergency fund and when to increase your pension contributions. Thi...
Jan 09, 2025•17 min•Season 1Ep. 42
Step into the new year armed with pearls of financial wisdom from A Little Bit Richer! In this special episode, our host Kia Commodore goes through the archives to share her top ten favourite money tips from the series so far. From building financial discipline to smart investing, tackling debt and planning for your dream retirement, this episode is packed with actionable advice from some of the most insightful guests we've had on the show, including Orann Coyle, Timi Merriman-Johnson, Kim Brown...
Dec 19, 2024•19 min•Season 1Ep. 41
Credit reports and scores play a vital role in your access to future credit. In this episode, our host Kia Commodore is joined by Experian’s John Webb to bring some clarity to this important topic. They cover where to check the information on your report, how credit scores are calculated, what impacts them, and how to improve yours. They also tackle common myths, explore how ‘Buy Now, Pay Later’ affects your rating, and discuss the steps errors in your credit report. Whether you're planning a bi...
Dec 05, 2024•17 min•Season 1Ep. 40
Everyone’s career journey is different and there are lots of ways you can get more experience and training to help with this. Our host, Kia Commodore, chats with Legal & General’s Sarah Evans about lifelong learning, qualifications vs experience and how you can upskill with a busy schedule. Some small simple strategies can propel you career forward, give you great experience and help get you a little but richer! You can play the podcast and find other useful content on Legal & General’s ...
Nov 21, 2024•17 min•Season 1Ep. 39
Our feelings around money can have a big impact on how we manage it. Whether we stick our heads in the sand, overspend when feeling overwhelmed or are afraid of spending, it’s helpful to understand our behaviours around money and what drives them. Financial coach and the author of Real-Life Money and Five Steps to Financial Wellbeing, Clare Seal joins our host Kia Commodore. They discuss the connection between money and wellbeing, how experiences as a child will influence your financial relation...
Nov 07, 2024•18 min•Season 1Ep. 38
Nowadays, weddings can come with a pretty hefty price tag and with higher living costs, it can be hard to make the day of your dreams a reality. But with proper planning and realistic research, you can build a budget to reduce financial stress and focus on the fun of your wedding day. Here to help navigate the cost of weddings is author and founder of ‘This Girl Talks Money’, Ellie Austin-Williams. Ellie shares insights and a safe space for her 42,000 followers to help them gain confidence and o...
Oct 24, 2024•18 min•Season 1Ep. 37
In this episode we’re focusing on pension savings again, to help you make the most of this important investment. This time we’re covering where your money can be invested. Here to help explore this is Jesal Mistry. He works in asset management at Legal & General and is part of the team who decide the best places to invest people’s pension savings. Jesal chats with our host Kia Commodore about what types of organisations pensions are invested in and the choices you have if you want to get mor...
Oct 10, 2024•14 min•Season 1Ep. 36
Is there ever a right time to have a baby? With living costs high, many people postpone parenthood until they’re in a more secure position. But there are plenty of ways to prepare your finances and plan for your future family. Financial educator and mom of two, Charlotte Jessop from Looking After Your Pennies, is back to give money tips for new parents and anyone thinking of starting a family. Charlotte joins our host Kia Commodore to cover spending priorities, building a support network, career...
Sep 26, 2024•17 min•Season 1Ep. 35
In previous episodes, we’ve taken you through why pension savings matter so much and helped you get to grips with your investment. And now we’re taking you one step further, for a masterclass. Taking us on this deeper dive into pension savings and what to consider if you want to take a more active role is Legal & General’s Michael Porter. Michael talks with our host Kia Commodore about how workplace pension savings are invested, the difference between actively and passively managed funds, in...
Sep 12, 2024•18 min•Season 1Ep. 34
With higher living costs, it can be hard to feel in control of your budget. But there are clever ways to rethink your spending and save cash. Here to the rescue is financial educator Charlotte Jessop from Looking After your Pennies. Charlotte joins our host Kia Commodore to talk through easy ways to trim your day-to-day spending, good budgeting habits and what to do if you overspend. Cutbacks big and small all make a difference and will help get you get a little bit richer. You can play the podc...
Aug 15, 2024•16 min•Season 1Ep. 32
With lots of people giving financial tips online, it’s tricky to tell the difference between good, bad and who’s credible. But what are financial advisers and how do they help people? Joining our host Kia Commodore is adviser and wealth planner, Orann Coyle. Orann is on a mission to help demystify financial advice and make things more accessible through his social media posts. Orann explains the difference between advice and guidance, when is a good time to seek advice, how to make your money wo...
Aug 01, 2024•18 min•Season 1Ep. 31
A new job brings happiness, career growth and hopefully a better salary but job hunting can feel daunting. From finding the roles to filling out applications, interview prep to salary negotiations. So here to help is Khalifa Mustapha, who works in recruitment at Legal & General. He shares with our host Kia Commodore some practical advice from an employer’s perspective to help you get a foot in the door, shine on the day and move up the career ladder. You can play the podcast and find other u...
Jul 18, 2024•18 min•Season 1Ep. 30
Owning a pet brings lots of joy and unconditional love. There’s lots to consider and clever ways to find the perfect pet for you and your lifestyle. Ben Simpson-Vernon, aka Ben the Vet on TikTok, joins our host Kia Commodore to give some great insights on choosing and looking after a furry friend and the potential costs involved. From the best breeds, the upfront and longer-term costs and what to look out for with insurance. Ben shares lots of helpful ways you can make your decision and manage t...
Jul 04, 2024•17 min•Season 1Ep. 29
In the UK, many younger people are reaching key life events later than previous generations. On average, people aren’t buying their first home until they’re 34, the highest age in decades. And the average age to get married has gone up to 32. Those big life events can be triggers for sorting out your finances. So people are also often putting off important decisions like getting life insurance, considering income protection and saving a bit of extra money into their pension pots. Our host Kia Co...
Jun 20, 2024•16 min•Season 1Ep. 28
Whether you’re travelling for work, visiting family or friends or off to have some fun, getting around can get expensive. If you’re thinking of taking the train, coach or hiring a car there are lots of clever hacks to save cash along the way. From ‘Big World, Small Pockets’, travel expert Steph Parker gives us plenty of UK travel tips and tricks. Steph shares with our host Kia Commodore the best ways to buy train tickets, ticket splitting, upgrade hacks and getting around the UK for less. Travel...
Jun 06, 2024•18 min•Season 1Ep. 27
From credit cards, personal loans, car loans, overdrafts, mortgages, owing friends and family, even a phone contract – debt comes in a number of forms and it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. But there are ways to climb out of debt and feel more in control. Here to dive a little bit deeper is friend of the show, Andy Webb – the man behind the award-winning Be Clever With Your Cash blog and host of the Cash Chats podcast. Andy and our host Kia Commodore talk through how to manage debt, strategies to re...
May 23, 2024•18 min•Season 1Ep. 26
Your workplace pension is a valuable way to save. It gets you extra money from your employer and the government. And an early start can have surprisingly big benefits – thanks to the power of compounding. Saving relatively small amounts in your 20s and early 30s is the best route to being a little richer when you retire. Legal & General’s workplace pensions expert and friend of the show Kim Brown is back to chat with our host Kia Commodore about easy ways to make your pension work for you. T...
May 09, 2024•14 min•Season 1Ep. 25
Scams aren’t something that just happen to older people, young people are also likely to get scammed. The scammers are getting smarter and have lots of clever ways to con you out of your cash - whether that’s pretending to be your bank, tricking you into becoming a money mule, buying stuff you don’t receive and much more. Head of Fraud Risk Management at Santander, Chris Ainsley, gives our host Kia Commodore insight on how the fraudsters work and plenty of tips on what to watch out for. After al...
Apr 25, 2024•17 min•Season 1Ep. 24
When being mindful with our spending, heading on holiday can feel like a splurge. From ‘Big World, Small Pockets’, Steph Parker shows us how to travel smarter so you can get away, without the price tag. Steph shares with our host Kia Commodore – the best time to book flights and hotels, how to manage spending while abroad and her favourite, more affordable destinations to discover. Money plays a big part in our holiday plans but by travelling a little bit smarter, you can still escape for an adv...
Apr 11, 2024•15 min•Season 1Ep. 23
Ever wondered about switching current accounts but couldn’t face the admin? Friend of the Show, Cash Chats podcaster and award-winning Be Clever With Your Cash blogger Andy Webb talk us through just how easy (and profitable) moving to a new bank can be – and why you might want to stay put too. Andy and our host Kia Commodore cover moving bank accounts, having multiple accounts, compare traditional high street banks with online ones and ask if it’s really worth regularly switching accounts for th...
Mar 28, 2024•14 min•Season 1Ep. 22
April will ring in the beginning of a new tax year so you may have noticed that there’s a lot of talk about ISAs. But what are they and might they be useful for you? Here to help us understand a little bit more is Legal & General’s ISA Product Manager, Fahad Ahmed. Fahad and our host Kia Commodore chat through the different types of ISAs for saving and investing your money, how the Lifetime ISA can help you get on the property ladder, what to consider when choosing a provider and the changes...
Mar 14, 2024•18 min•Season 1Ep. 21
More and more people are earning extra cash through side hustles. With so many options, from selling a few old clothes to starting a whole new business, how do you decide what’s best for you and leap into your own side hustle? To help us answer that, financial coach Tolu Frimpong joins our host Kia Commodore. Tolu and Kia chat about different kinds of side hustles and how to pick the right one for you. You’ll hear how it can help you with more than just your finances and to consider the costs th...
Feb 29, 2024•12 min•Season 1Ep. 20
Money and love can be a strange mix. It can feel like lots of unspoken rules and pitfalls start popping up when your emotional and financial lives come together. That’s true even when things go smoothly. But what if they don’t? Amy James, a Legal & General Product Manager, joins Kia Commodore to share how she navigated this journey. When Amy and her partner Dan decided to settle down together, he revealed that he’d built up some pretty big debts. That was hard enough for him to admit. Sortin...
Feb 15, 2024•14 min•Season 1Ep. 19
Credit can seem like a dirty word. But avoiding it altogether could mean you’ll miss out on some benefits. There is a happy medium – and that’s what Kia Commodore explores on this week’s episode. Kia’s joined by Andy Webb, who runs the award-winning Be Clever With Your Cash blog and hosts the Cash Chats podcast. They cover what credit actually means, explore its positive side and chat through risks to watch out for. And they talk about ways to embrace healthy credit to boost your credit score. Y...
Feb 01, 2024•13 min•Season 1Ep. 18
