This is Money Podcast

What President Trump means for your money - and the TiM podcast's tenth birthday

President Trump is back. The US election finally came to a head this week and rather than the knife-edge result many expected, Donald Trump secured a decisive win over Kamala Harris. This podcast episode is a special double header: the team discuss that US election result and interest rate cuts in the first half and then celebrate the tenth anniversary of the This is Money podcast in the second. First up it’s President Trump. In a sense, he is more of a known quantity this time round – having al...

Bonus episode: The big Budget pension and investing questions answered

On this special bonus episode of the This is Money Podcast, Rob Morgan, chief analyst at Charles Stanley Direct, joins Simon Lambert to answer the big questions that have emerged from last week's Budget. On this podcast, Simon and Rob cover among other things. Pensions and inheritance tax: Who will be caught out What can investors do – should they spend their pensions before other savings? What has happened with capital gains tax - and who will it catch? What are the best ways to keep a CGT bill...

What does the Budget mean for you - and did Rachel Reeves do a good job?

Rachel Reeves' maiden Budget this week saw the first-ever female chancellor make £40billion of sweeping tax rises to plug funding gaps, everywhere from the NHS and schools. While it left many of us with something to be miserable about when it comes to our money, there were also some important dodged bullets, as Simon Lambert, Georgie Frost and Helen Crane discuss on this week's podcast. Among the losers were landlords, investors and those who have stashed wealth in their pension, as stamp duty, ...

Private vs public sector pensions - and how to avoid a race to the bottom

What would YOU do if you were Chancellor for the Budget?

Whether you voted Labour or not, with any new government, there is a sense of optimism. Things can only get better… apparently. But within days, Rachel Reeves and co poured cold water over all that - and the gloom and doom about the economy and what then could be (and crucially not be) in the Budget hasn’t stopped. Well Simon Lambert is fed up. So he has put forward an alternative budget with less than two weeks to go. Do you agree with him? And what would you do? Alongside Georgie Frost and Lee...

Can we turn pension saving into a fix for our finances?

How to manage your money - and what we do with ours

How well do you manage your money? Where would you rate your budgeting, saving, investing and pension efforts out of ten? It's not often that we think about these things but mulling them over and making improvements where needed and patting yourself on the back when deserved, is a major step on the road to financial success. On this week's podcast, Georgie Frost and Simon Lambert dial down the noise of the news and dive into how we can manage our money better instead. They discuss tips on how to...

Should you invest in a work pension or Sipp? Steve Webb and Simon Lambert in a bonus podcast cut

The This is Money podcast recently welcomed Sir Steve Webb for a special episode where he answered listeners' questions on everything you need to know about pensions. In this excerpt, Steve and Simon Lambert discuss whether you should invest in a work pension or Sipp - and how to make the most of them. > Listen back to the full Steve Webb pensions episode

How to protect your finances before the Budget (and what to avoid)

What you need to know about pensions with Steve Webb

Sir Steve Webb has been This is Money's pensions agony uncle for the past eight years - and this week he celebrated an astonishing 400 columns. Every week, Steve, in partnership with This is Money's pensions and investing editor Tanya Jefferies, answers readers' questions about retirement. On this special episode of the This is Money podcast, Steve joins Georgie Frost and Simon Lambert to answer your questions about pensions. From how to invest for retirement, to the state pension and tax , this...

Don’t make these savings mistakes – how to make more of your cash

Do you keep savings in your current account? It’s an easy trap to fall into, with a third of people admitting they do it in a recent poll. If you do keep a savings pot in a bank account you are likely to be missing out on a big chunk of interest you could otherwise earn. But even if they don’t do this, there’s two more mistakes people make – using convenient ‘insult’ accounts with their existing bank that pay pitiful interest and not using a cash Isa and losing out to tax. On this podcast, Georg...

The way to beat inheritance tax (but what's the catch?)

Inheritance tax- punches above it s weight. It is paid by only a small minority of estates, yet manages to be Britain's most hated tax and its most controversial. Some believe it's immoral double taxation and should be axed altogether, others say crank it up - and somewhere in the middle there are many people who feel that taking 40 per cent is just too much. But it's also a tax that even those with an expensive home and plenty of savings can generally avoid if they choose, by spending more and ...

Could you get hit by a Labour tax raid?

A bad news Budget looks to be on the cards after Labour continued to pour cold water on optimism its own election victory this week. Prime Minister Keir Starmer delivered a gloomy speech saying the Budget was going to be painful, hot on the heels of Chancellor Rachel Reeves' own gloom-mongering. But having made a promise not to raise the rates of income tax, national insurance, VAT and corporation tax, where will the goverenment try to raise cash. Starmer said tax rises would target those with t...

Gold price hits record high - should you invest in the precious metal?

Gold has hit record highs this week and has rocketed so far this year. What’s driving the price and how do you invest? This week, Tanya Jefferies, Georgie Frost and Lee Boyce turn their attention to the precious metal – a notoriously volatile investment, but yet seen as a safe haven. Energy bills will be back on the up, with the new Ofgem price cap announced for October. Is it worth fixing before the hike comes in? And one in four are expected to struggle this winter with their energy bills – ju...

What does the latest inflation data mean for our finances for the rest of 2024?

This week, the consumer prices index measure of inflation nudged higher to 2.2 per cent. But what does this mean for future base rate decisions - and then in turn, mortgage rates and savings rates. This week, Lee Boyce and Georgie Frost discuss the latest inflation figures and what the rest of the year has in store for the economy. Meanwhile, experts predict a busier housing market this autumn - but what makes them so sure? And watch out if you plan on taking your kids out of school during term ...

Will stock markets keep stumbling - and how to be calm in a storm

Stock markets around the world saw huge falls this week, but is it a sign of more trouble ahead or just a storm in a teacup? Simon takes a look at what’s behind it all, and why investors should avoid the temptation to start tinkering with their portfolios once the horse has already bolted. His advice is to ignore the voice in your head that says you should get out now to stave off disaster - but also pay attention to its existence. Good news for motorists, as car insurance premiums have started ...

How far will interest rates fall - and what does it mean for you?

Saving, investing, property and pensions: How to grow your wealth long-term

Building up a savings pot and then investing to growing your wealth and provide a decent pension for retirement is the key to long-term financial success. But there's lots to consider at each step - and most people will want to buy a home along the way. So what do you need to think about when sketching out your lifetime finances and then trying to achieve your goals? On this podcast, Georgie Frost and Simon Lambert take it step by step and look at each element of saving, investing, buying a home...

Is being a Nimby really that bad - and what to do with awkward neighbours

It's official - we're complaining about our neighbours more, new data shows. When it comes to noise, many appear sick of barking dogs, squeaky trampolines and loud music ruining the enjoyment of our homes. This week, Simon Lambert, Lee Boyce and Georgie Frost talk about neighbour wars - and what we can do about it. And sticking to the property front, does it matter if you're a 'super' nimby? And if you do want to fight back against developments in your area, what's the sensible way to do it? We ...

Have you got financial confidence - could it make you richer?

Do you feel financially confident? When it comes to budgeting, saving, investing, and building your pension, are you clueless, comfortable, or cracking on? A piece of research this week by Moneybox claimed that being financially confident could add £67,000 to your lifetime wealth – on average those with confidence were worth £145,000 on average, compared to £78,000 for the unconfident. But what does being financially confident actually mean and how can you get there? On this week’s podcast, Geor...

What the Labour government means for your money

All change, please. In a radical reshaping of the political landscape, Britain has elected a Labour government for the first time in 14 years. New prime minister Keir Starmer and Chancellor Rachel Reeves have made bold promises of revival, growth and wealth creation. But many fear that Britain’s troubled public finances will also mean that promises not to raise taxes will prove empty. So, what has Labour said it will do, what important things have been left unsaid, what will it mean for the econ...

More of us are falling into the savings tax trap - is it fair?

You find a decent paying savings account, diligently squirrel away your money, watch it grow… only for the taxman to come along and swipe a chunk. And since savings rates have been much better in recent years, the amount HMRC is taking in in savings tax revenue has gone up significantly It's only going to increase according to estimates, to the tune of £10.37billion in 2024/25, up from £6.6billiion in 2023/24 - and £1.2billion in 2021/22. So, how can you dodge the trap? This week, Georgie Frost,...

Inflation is back on target, so is life about to get easier?

Inflation is back on target at 2 per cent. After the spike into double-digits that triggered talk of a cost of living crisis and sent interest rates spiralling, we are now back at the Bank of England's target level. So, is the great inflation panic over and is life about get easier? Or will we be feeling the after effects of high inflation for years to come? And what's going to happen to interest rates? On this episode of the This is Money podcast, Georgie Frost, Helen Crane and Simon Lambert lo...

The manifesto episode: Do Labour, the Tories or the Lib Dems have the plan Britain need?

It’s manifesto week and Labour, the Conservatives and the Lib Dems have laid out their vision for the country – along with the Green Party, Reform and others. The economy, tax and people’s finances are a cornerstone of the all the manifestos, but what are the main parties proposing and what could it mean for you? On this week’s podcast, Georgie Frost, Angharad Carrick and Simon Lambert take a deep dive into the manifestos to see what’s there. If the country votes for a change and we do get the w...

What does it take to win the Premium Bonds - and is it worth you trying?

How much do you need in Premium Bonds to win the jackpot? And if you haven’t maxed them out to the full £50,000, is it even worth bothering? This is Money has run some in-depth analysis on all the £1million prizes over the past four years and this week revealed how much those lucky people held. On this week’s podcast episode, Georgie Frost, Lee Boyce and Simon Lambert look at what it takes to win the Premium Bonds. Simon gives us his tax manifesto to get us out of the mess Britain’s tax system i...

The consumer champion's guide to getting what you want

This is Money's consumer champion Helen Crane celebrated the 100th edition of her Crane on the Case column this week. Helen has won back more than £1.2million for readers over the course of all those columns and learnt a thing or two along the way about how to battle consumer problems and bad customer service. On this podcast, she discusses the big wins, the satisfying victories, the worst cases of bad customer service - and gives her tips on how to get what you want. Also on the show, Georgie F...

What could the general election mean for your money?

The Prime Minister put an end to all the speculation this week by giving us the date for the general election: July 4. That comes as the latest inflation reading was 2.3 per cent, a little above forecasts making a base rate cut next month now unlikely. Simon Lambert, Georgie Frost and Lee Boyce delve into the economic state of affairs and what the upcoming election could mean for your money , when it comes to tax, pensions, property and everything in-between. Nationwide Building Society posted p...

The mystery of the stolen Nectar Points - and the loyalty card price sting

Supermarket loyalty schemes have become even more of a big thing in recent years as the two giants Tesco and Sainsbury's have rolled out Clubcard and Nectar Prices. But while cards bring lower prices, the points collected still mean prizes for some loyalty scheme fans. So, what happens if a fraudster steals your points? This is Money's Angharad Carrick recently went on the trail of some stolen Nectar points and uncovered a story that delivered as many questions as it did answers. On this podcast...

Should the Bank of England have cut interest rates instead of holding firm?

The Bank of England decided to hold the base rate for the sixth time in a row this week – but was it the right decision? Should the MPC have been bold and made a cut? What does it mean for our mortgages and savings? And when will a move come - and in what direction? This week, Georgie Frost, Simon Lambert and Lee Boyce talk about the base rate decision and what happens next. In the world of property, the number of homes being devalued is on the rise . So, what's going on? And what can you do if ...

Mortgage rates are rising again - should we be worried?

With not one but two mortgage spikes fresh in our minds, a flurry of rate rises have got home owners and potential buyers worried again. A bunch of major mortgage lenders raised their rates this week - and Santander did it twice. So, are we about to see another mortgage spike or is this just what brokers and lenders like to optimistically call a mere 'repricing'? And what does this all mean if you need to remortgage soon or want to buy a home? On this podcast, Georgie Frost, Helen Crane and Simo...