The UK Inflation rate has hit 10.1%, the highest it’s been for 40 years, and it’s set to go even higher. In this programme, our panel of experts hear about your saving habits and answer your questions on how to protect your savings from the record levels of inflation we now have. Sarah Coles, senior personal finance analyst at Hargreaves Lansdown, Mat Megens, CEO and founder of HyperJar, and Bukiie Smart, personal finance expert, will answer your questions. Presenter: Adam Shaw Producer: Amber M...
Oct 05, 2022•28 min
Millions of people living in social housing in England could see increases to their rent capped next year. A consultation has been launched by the Government. If the plans go ahead it would protect 3.8 million households from a rise of potentially more than 10 percent. We'll speak to renters on a housing estate in Cheshire and get reaction from the National Housing Federation and the Local Government Association. If you're a pensioner you may have heard about extra money you could get to help pa...
Oct 01, 2022•25 min
In this programme we'll provide answers and advice for those worried about the cost of energy. Household energy bills will rise again this autumn to two and a half times what they were last year. Bills for businesses are already climbing. Mike Foster, an energy analyst from Energy & Utilities Alliance, and Amy Taylor, a debt advisor and Chair of Greater Manchester Money Advice Group, will answer your questions. Email moneybox@bbc.co.uk Presenter: Felicity Hannah Producer: Amber Mehmood Edito...
Sep 28, 2022•29 min
In this special programme we'll answer your questions and provide advice for those worried about the cost of energy. Ofgem has announced that the typical household energy bill for people in England, Wales and Scotland will hit £3,549 a year from 1 October. People on prepayment meters will typically pay an additional £59 a year on top of that. Adam Scorer from the fuel poverty charity National Energy Action and Kathryn Porter from Watt-Logic, an energy analyst who's worked for EDF Energy and Cent...
Sep 24, 2022•25 min
A scheme offering interest-free loans to the financially vulnerable is being expanded to reach up to 20,000 people. After a successful trial at South Manchester Credit Union the No Interest Loan Scheme (NILS) will be rolled out across the UK from September. It's backed by the Treasury but will be run by credit unions and other lenders. The aim is to offer emergency loans to people who would normally be turned down because they can't afford the interest payments. We'll speak to Economic Secretary...
Sep 15, 2022•28 min
In England and Wales the school summer holiday is just beginning but Scotland and Northern Ireland are already well into their long and, often costly, summer. But for some families the challenge isn’t just keeping the kids busy, it’s keeping them fed – particularly when food prices are rising. Felicity Hannah, along with a panel of experts, are looking at what support is out there to help with food poverty and holiday hunger. Panel: Dr Megan Blake – Senior Lecturer, Food Security Expert Billy Mc...
Aug 24, 2022•29 min
Food banks across the UK have told Money Box they are facing increased demand, but falling donations, as the cost of living crisis bites people across the income range. This research, which took place in June, covered 116 out of 505 organisations which are part of IFAN - the Independent Food Aid Network. Those 116 organisations cover 203 food banks across the UK and 9 out of 10 of them told us they had seen an increase in demand since the start of this year. More than half said they've also seen...
Aug 20, 2022•29 min
Being transgender or non-binary means you can have a lot of extra things to manage and finances, along with the admin involved, can be a big one. Felicity Hannah is joined by a panel of experts to discuss changing your name and gender at the bank, the lack of options when filling in forms, and raising money for medical care. Panel: jane fae – Director – TransActual Cleo Madeleine – Spokesperson – Gendered Intelligence More info: https://genderedintelligence.co.uk/ https://www.transactual.org.uk/...
Aug 17, 2022•28 min
Families on a low income face spending more than a quarter of the money they have left after paying their mortgage or rent on energy bills from April next year. The Joseph Rowntree Foundation says it's even tougher for single people on a low income with no children, where it rises to more than two thirds. The calculations are based on latest predictions from the energy analyst Cornwall Insight, which says the typical annual bill could reach more than £3,300 in the new year. The data also shows t...
Aug 13, 2022•25 min
After two years of Covid restrictions, much of the world has now opened back up and plenty of us are planning to take full advantage this summer. But what if it all goes wrong? What are you entitled to? What kind of insurance cover should you get? And how can you make sure you have a happy holiday? Felicity Hannah, along with a panel of experts, are here to give you the answers on all things travel. Panel: Simon Calder - travel journalist Lisa Minot - travel editor - The Sun Producer: Drew Hyndm...
Aug 10, 2022•39 min
It's been quite the week in politics and on this week's Money Box we'll take a look at what it could mean for your personal finances. One of the biggest challenges the next PM will face is the economy and the many households feeling the squeeze. It's thought some of the candidates favour tax cuts, but there's also pressure to increase taxes to control government borrowing. Heather Self a tax expert at Blick Rothenberg and Tom Selby from the investment company AJ Bell will discuss. According to a...
Aug 06, 2022•26 min
Getting a cancer diagnosis can be a scary and fraught time, before you even begin to consider the financial pressures. Affording time out of work, the cost of getting to appointments, or even the price of drugs in different parts of the country can present issues for many. Ruth Alexander is joined by a panel of experts to hear caller experiences of the costs of cancer. Panel: Ceinwen Giles - Shine Richard Pugh - Macmillan Producer: Drew Hyndman and Amber Mehmood Editor: Beatrice Pickup...
Aug 03, 2022•29 min
From 6th July, everyone in work will see a cut in the taxes they pay. It's because the level of pay at which National Insurance begins will be raised. Two million people on part-time low pay will not pay any national insurance at all. Ministers say it's a tax cut of 330 pounds per year for a typical employee, but that is not the whole picture. The rate of national insurance rose three months ago. So this cut is in a tax that is already costing millions of workers more. We'll hear from families i...
Jul 30, 2022•25 min
Fraudsters are always trying to get at our money, and the pandemic has changed their tactics and their access to our data. Felicity Hannah and our expert panel discuss the latest fraud figures, how to protect yourself, what your rights are, and what to do if you're targeted by scammers. Reporter: Dan Whitworth Producer: Drew Hyndman Editor: Justin Bones and Elisabeth Mahy
Jul 27, 2022•33 min
Scottish Power has introduced late payments fees for its five million customers saying the move "brings us in line with other suppliers" and reflect the costs of collecting debt. The change comes at a time when consumers are facing record high energy prices with some estimates suggesting millions more households face the real prospect of falling into fuel poverty this winter. An employment tribunal rules that a man suffering from long covid is protected by the Equality Act. It means employers ha...
Jul 23, 2022•25 min
Do you want to write a book? How would you go about publishing one? Many people now look away from traditional publishing and towards self publishing. Whether it's doing it all yourself or using hybrid publishers, which offer publishing services for a cost, it can be a risky and potentially expensive option for would be authors. Felicity Hannah is joined by our panel of experts to discuss self publishing and to hear experiences, comments and questions from callers. Panel: Nicola Solomon - Chief ...
Jul 20, 2022•28 min
Single parents often face particular financial hardships, especially with the economy facing severe challenges and prices rising so fast. A single parent with no support can find it harder to get work, more expensive to find childcare and difficult to provide the basics needed for family life. In today's Money Box Live, Adam Shaw hears from listeners about the challenges and options available to single parent families. We also hear from Victoria Benson, the Chief Executive of Gingerbread, the na...
Jul 13, 2022•29 min
This week, energy analysts Cornwall Insight predicted that the already record breaking price for energy will rise further and the annual cost for a typical household would be £2880, which is £900 more than it is now. The Chancellor has promised more help but the questions we've received recently show that many listeners are still not clear about exactly what they will get and when. Our reporter Dan Whitworth finds investigates how it will work for people who live in park homes or pay their utili...
Jul 09, 2022•25 min
85% of families with disabled children use more energy, from electric hoists to extra heating and powered wheelchairs. Going without these can mean a significant decline in the standard of living and health for disabled people and their families. With energy costs soaring, how are disabled people coping? What support is available? We have tips on how can you save money on energy, food and other necessities as prices soar. Adam Shaw is joined by Emma Tracey from the Access All podcast as they dis...
Jul 06, 2022•35 min
Every time we buy food, put fuel in our car, or get an energy bill the cost of living hits us where it hurts - in our pocket. Prices are rising faster than at any time in the last 40 years and that is not predicted to get any better until well into next year. However, does the standard measure of prices rising overall by 9% a year reflect the reality of households? We'll hear from Jill Leyland of the Royal Statistical Society and from Michael Hardie of the Office for National Statistics about th...
Jul 02, 2022•28 min
How do you tighten the purse strings when you've always been a big spender? Could your hang-ups be holding you back? And how could changing your mentality help your wallet and your mental health? Ruth Alexander and a panel of experts chat to listeners and find our just how to change your money mindset. Panel: Norma Cassius - Psychotherapist and Founder - Think Like A Bank Julie Flynn - Independent Financial Adviser and Chartered Financial Coach - Bree Wealth Producer: Drew Hyndman Editor: Jon Bi...
Jun 29, 2022•29 min
This week, the chief executive of the energy regulator Ofgem warned the energy price cap could rise to £2,800 a year for a typical home. A few days later, the Chancellor, Rishi Sunak, unveiled a £15 billion package to help households with their fuel bills - the second in three months. We'll discuss the details of what that means for pensioners with Helen Morrisey from Hargreaves Lansdown. We'll hear from the CEO of Amigo loans on a new scheme, approved by the High Court this week, which will all...
Jun 25, 2022•25 min
Is that gym membership really worth it? Are there ways of getting fit for free? And can you ‘invest’ in your own health? Adam Shaw is joined by a panel of experts to answer your questions. Phill Wright - Business Transform Manager - Chartered Institute for the Management of Sport and Physical Activity Steven Scales - Director of Membership and Sector Development – UK Active To share your experiences or to ask a question email moneybox@bbc.co.uk Producer: Drew Miller Hyndman...
Jun 22, 2022•29 min
This week, the energy regulator Ofgem, announced that the price cap, which most of us now pay for our electricity and gas, would be set every three months, not six as it does now. It says updating it more frequently should help avoid the kind of price shocks people are seeing now - with some saying their bill is doubling. It will also help the suppliers because if prices rise sharply they will not have to sell electricity and gas at below market rates for so long. Ofgem is also introducing a new...
Jun 18, 2022•29 min
Are you ready for the start of university? From loans to bursaries, discounts to freebies, Charmaine Cozier puts your questions to our expert panel on all things student finances. We hear from Jordan, Andrew, Phoebe, and Susan as we try to prepare you for higher education. Panel: David Thomson - Head of Operational Support - Student Loans Company Tom Allingham - Save the Student
Jun 15, 2022•29 min
The National Pawnbrokers Association tells Money Box it will hold talks with the Financial Conduct Authority next week. That follows a report which shows people on low incomes are pawning goods to pay for food and fuel. As the cost of living crisis hits more households, pawnbrokers say they're becoming a more important source of credit. Critics argue that pawnbrokers charge annual interest rates of 120% and undervalue people's possessions whilst supporters say they're a vital source of finance f...
Jun 11, 2022•26 min
What happens when Long Covid means you just can’t work like you used to? What kind of support could you be entitled to? And do you qualify for any benefits? Seb Choudhury hears from Holly, Jules, Lesley, and Sara about their experience with Long Covid. Whilst our panel of experts offer their advice and tips for returning to and leaving work. Panel: Ruth Cornish – Founder and HR Expert – Amelore Will Hadwin – Benefits Adviser & Trainer More information: https://longcovidwork.co.uk/ Presenter:...
Jun 08, 2022•28 min
According to the charity National Energy Action 6.5 million households are now living in fuel poverty which is up 50% on October last year. Fuel poverty is defined differently across the UK, but if you cannot afford to heat your home to the temperature needed to be healthy then you are in fuel poverty. People struggling to afford their energy bill are always advised to contact their supplier. We've been finding out what help is available. A report has highlighted the need to ensure low-cost floo...
Jun 04, 2022•25 min
How much does it cost to rent an allotment? What food can you grow if you don’t have a garden? And can you really save money by growing your own food? Felicity Hannah chats to Sheila, Rebecca, Ross, Paul, and Jess about their growing questions and experiences. As always our expert panel is on hand to answer their questions and give their green fingered tips. Panel: Wilfred Emmanuel-Jones – The Black Farmer Russell Attwood – The National Allotment Society
Jun 01, 2022•28 min
Some government guidance to give some people a £150 council tax rebate in April to help with record energy bills has been changed. The treasury says it was always clear, including its press notice and the leaflet which went out to millions of households, that the £150 council tax rebate to help with the cost of living would be paid “from” April. More on this story. More than two million people who rely on six means-tested state benefits are going to be moved to the newer benefit Universal Credit...
May 28, 2022•25 min
