This is Money Podcast
547 episodes - English - Latest episode: 3 days ago - ★★★★ - 8 ratingsWhat you need to know about money each week and what the news means for you, from the UK's best financial website.
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Episodes
Everything you need to know about Isas
March 16, 2018 17:06 - 57 minutes - 52.6 MBIt’s not long before the door slams shut on your chance to use this year’s Isa allowance. It’s always best not to leave Isa saving or investing until the last month of the tax year, but many of us will do so. If you do end up fixing your Isa against the deadline, it’s definitely wise not to leave it to the last week – or even the final few days. So, here is our special Isa podcast – with a comfortable three weeks to spare before the 5 April tax year end. In it, Simon Lambert, Rachel Ricka...
Will building more homes make house prices cheaper?
March 09, 2018 17:24 - 50 minutes - 46.2 MBWe have a housing crisis. That’s the message, loud and clear, and it was reiterated by the Prime Minister this week. What’s the answer? Build more homes. Or is it? Because once you start digging into the subject, this housing crisis is a pretty ill-defined problem - and it’s not clear that a lack of homes is causing the problem of too high house prices. Many people suspect that actually it’s too much cheap money that made homes so expensive. On this week’s podcast episode, Simon Lambert,...
Why it's time to raise interest rates (Podcast cut)
March 07, 2018 09:15 - 2 minutes - 2.26 MBIn this excerpt from the This is Money podcast, Simon Lambert outlines why he thinks interest rates should rise and Rachel Rickard Straus explains why savers need to switch to better deals and not just rely on rates going up.
The slow motion crash on the High Street - and what Buffett learnt from his bet
March 02, 2018 17:00 - 47 minutes - 43.6 MBToys R Us and Maplin were sunk this week, investors are nervously watching Carpetright and Mothercare, and restaurants from Jamie Oliver’s, to Byron, and now Prezzo are closing their doors. This week’s shop closures could see more than 5,000 jobs lost. It looks like a slow motion crash on the High Street. But at the same time the economy is doing okay, and sales in the housing market are reasonably buoyant, so why the trouble? In this week’s podcast, Simon Lambert, Georgie Frost and Rach...
Secret world of the credit ratings unmasked – and why it could be Isa, Isa baby this year
February 23, 2018 15:33 - 54 minutes - 50.4 MBJust how does the mythical and bizarre world of credit ratings really work? How can you improve your score and what does the figure even mean? On this week's podcast, personal finance editor Rachel Rickard Straus and consumer affairs editor Lee Boyce join presenter Georgie Frost to discuss this and how one unknown fraud marker on a Cifas file left a reader with a 'do not employ' status when looking for job. Rachel describes how she saw a tourist defrauded at a cash point and what it made h...
Will a world of rising interest rates make you richer?
February 16, 2018 16:46 - 44 minutes - 41.3 MBInterest rates are going to rise in May, if you believe economists, but will things get better or worse for you if they do? A few years ago, Mark Carney told us to enjoy the low inflation world while it lasted, but now wages are forecast to rise and keep inflation sticky, so interest rates are potentially going to inch up. Rising rates are often painted as bad news but for many a world in which they go up will look more enjoyable. What would be even more pleasurable is being paid more, so...
Buy, sell, or hold? What to do when stock markets tumble
February 09, 2018 16:20 - 42 minutes - 39.3 MBBuy, sell, or hold? When stock markets take a tumble, it's decision time. Investors got a shock this week, when the prolonged period without a stock market correction – dubbed the Big Calm – came to an abrupt end. Many were not surprised by the fact that shares fell, after all warnings that a correction must arrive have not been in short supply. But what did catch them off guard was quite how hard they fell and that the only catalyst was the threat of slightly higher interest rates. On Wa...
Is it time to cut inheritance tax… or raise it?
February 02, 2018 16:34 - 51 minutes - 47.7 MBThe Chancellor asked for ideas for inheritance tax to be simplified this week, but should we even have a death tax at all? It is highly unpopular, and some who argue against it say that taxing someone when they are alive and then their estate when they die amounts to double taxation. In contrast, others argue for a lower inheritance tax-free threshold and an even higher tax rate than the current 40%. So how do you solve a problem like inheritance tax? On this week’s podcast Simon Lambert,...
Could a fraudster con you into handing over money?
January 26, 2018 17:06 - 49 minutes - 45.8 MBCould you get duped into sending a fraudster thousands of pounds? Many people think of course they wouldn’t, but then it happens to them. In this week’s podcast Simon Lambert, Lee Boyce and Georgie Frost look into the disturbing rise in fraudsters targeting ordinary people’s finances and how you can protect yourself – we also ask if the banks do enough to help. On the other side of the table from those looking to take your money, are the people who promise to make it for you – fund manage...
What protects your pension when a company like Carillion collapses?
January 19, 2018 16:46 - 44 minutes - 40.6 MBThe collapse of Carillion this week brought how Britain runs itself into the spotlight, but it also left many workers wondering about their money. And it's not just their wages that are a concern, the safety of people's final salary pensions is a major worry when a company collapses. In this week's podcast, Simon Lambert, Rachel Rickard Straus and Georgie Frost look at how safe your pension is and what backs it up. They also discuss whether it is wise handing over so much of the UK’...
Are the state pension's days numbered?
January 12, 2018 16:30 - 46 minutes - 43 MBPlanning 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 suggests something will have to change to make sure it is, whether that be everyone paying more in Nati...
Will house prices rise or fall in 2018? (Podcast cut)
January 08, 2018 11:19 - 3 minutes - 2.88 MBHouse 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.
Will you get richer in 2018? From savings to house prices, we look at the forecasts
January 05, 2018 16:42 - 43 minutes - 39.7 MBFrom 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 rise very gently. That would be a boost to people’s finances if wage inflation can get back up above ...
When facts cause friction: Tim Harford joins us for a special This is Money podcast on fake news and why statistics can be emotive
December 29, 2017 15:35 - 27 minutes - 25.3 MBFacts 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 think of facts as being either the truth or lies, but that actually factual claims can form part of o...
Tim Harford special - the things that created our economy
December 22, 2017 17:59 - 48 minutes - 44.4 MBHave 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 is Money podcast we have a treat for you. Tim Harford, author of Fifty Things that Made the Modern ...
The supermarket Christmas taste and value test (plus inflation, rates and house prices)
December 15, 2017 17:36 - 57 minutes - 53 MBIt’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 Frost’s festive feast to find out in this week’s podcast and discuss whether the big supermarkets are ...
How to get an investing Plan B in case of a crash (Podcast cut)
December 13, 2017 12:25 - 6 minutes - 5.62 MBIt'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.
Can training your brain make you richer?
December 08, 2017 16:46 - 35 minutes - 33.2 MBCould 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 Boyce and Georgie Frost look at some tricks you can deploy – and whether you can actually turn that ...
Is Bitcoin in a bubble? (Podcast cut)
December 05, 2017 11:05 - 5 minutes - 4.74 MBBitcoin 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.
Are diesel cars and bitcoin being demonised?
December 01, 2017 15:45 - 42 minutes - 38.9 MBBritain’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 believe, has the drive to get rid of diesel gone too far, and is it employing bad science? This w...
Will cutting stamp duty push up house prices? (Podcast cut)
November 29, 2017 11:07 - 5 minutes - 4.99 MBThe 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.
Will the Budget help you (or anyone)?
November 24, 2017 16:31 - 45 minutes - 41.6 MBIt 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 no more stamp duty for most first-time buyers. On the negative side, economists say we are due a...
What will be in the Budget (and what should be)?
November 17, 2017 16:10 - 30 minutes - 28 MBYes, 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 back on track. So what could he deliver – and what should he? From help for younger people, to sta...
Could you achieve financial independence and retire early?
November 10, 2017 15:45 - 47 minutes - 43.7 MBHave 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 early? On this week’s This is Money podcast, Simon Lambert, Laura Whitcombe and Georgie Frost sti...
How fast will UK interest rates rise? (Podcast cut)
November 08, 2017 09:42 - 3 minutes - 3.01 MBHow 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.
What the interest rate rise means for you
November 03, 2017 16:44 - 53 minutes - 48.8 MBIt 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 Lambert, Rachel Rickard Straus and Georgie Frost look at why the Bank raised rates and what it means...
What you need to know about your will
October 27, 2017 19:12 - 46 minutes - 42.5 MBDo 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 getting a will, what’s easy, what’s complicated and what are the things you don’t want to think ...
How to beat inheritance tax
October 20, 2017 17:27 - 46 minutes - 42.9 MBInheritance 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 inheritance. They look at how it works, ways to avoid it and the traps you could fall into. They al...
Can a nudge make you richer?
October 13, 2017 17:01 - 47 minutes - 43.8 MBBehavioural 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 perfectly rationally and made the right choices. In the real world, of course, we don’t. We make ir...
The problem with smart meters (Podcast cut)
October 11, 2017 09:33 - 2 minutes - 2.17 MBHouseholds 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.
Can the Tories really fix student loans, housebuilding and energy bills?
October 06, 2017 17:02 - 47 minutes - 43.7 MBForget 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 controversial areas? Last week, the This is Money Podcast asked what Labour would do to the UK economy and yo...
How to get a good deal on a car scrappage scheme (Podcast cut)
October 04, 2017 10:42 - 5 minutes - 5.55 MBIn 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
What would a Labour Government do to the UK economy?
September 29, 2017 17:06 - 48 minutes - 44.9 MBLabour 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 point of view, this may sound amusing, scary or exciting. But what does it actually mean and should we...
Are interest rates really about to rise - and should you fix your mortgage long-term?
September 22, 2017 15:48 - 39 minutes - 36.4 MBThis 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 back - last week saw the new polymer £10 note launched. We tell you what serial numbers to look out...
Can you give money away and still control what happens to it?
September 14, 2017 19:42 - 45 minutes - 41.4 MBThis 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 of pounds. On this week’s This is Money podcast, Simon Lambert, Rachel Rickard Straus and Georgie F...
Are scrappage schemes a good deal and could your next car be electric?
September 08, 2017 16:37 - 47 minutes - 43.9 MBCar 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 new cars, so you could be forgiven for being cynical, which if we’re going to be honest is exactly wh...
How to boost your finances by claiming free cashback, ditching loyalty and taking heed of a very important deadline…
September 01, 2017 18:24 - 54 minutes - 50.1 MBHasta 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 good old chat about the big money stories from the past week and what it all means for you. We've al...
What was the financial crisis, the credit crunch - and will it all happen again?
August 18, 2017 14:54 - 29 minutes - 27.4 MBTen 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 buying. The bad stuff was carefully hidden among a few quality loans and everyone was happy – for a...
Are banks doing enough to track down fraudsters?
August 11, 2017 11:28 - 51 minutes - 46.9 MBAre 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? This is Money’s fraud expert Lee Boyce, who has won thousands of pounds back for readers, discuss...
Will a diesel and petrol car ban work - and what are electric cars like?
July 28, 2017 18:06 - 53 minutes - 49.2 MBWill 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 electric cars now that we’re all going to have to learn to drive in near silence. They answer all...
Is it fair to keep raising the state pension age?
July 21, 2017 11:33 - 49 minutes - 44.9 MBThe 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 week’s show: The end of sneaky card charges Tips to avoid the car hire company rip-offs Attempt...
Could house prices really crash from here?
July 14, 2017 22:15 - 58 minutes - 53.3 MBMumblings 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 old house price crash article dream - and the debate in the comments has been as heated as ever...
Elvis has left the building, robots are taking over our investments, bozos are running our savings
July 11, 2017 12:20 - 26 minutes - 24.4 MBIf 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. The provider, bank, building society or app, pays a derisory interest rate but offers a 300% boos...
The State we’re in: could higher pay for nurses and scrapping university fees boost the economy?
July 07, 2017 16:54 - 45 minutes - 42.1 MBNurses 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 explain this in simple, understandable English - Simon Lambert, who, with Georgie Frost and Lee ...
Could interest rates really rise this year and do we need to worry about car loans?
June 30, 2017 12:03 - 51 minutes - 47 MBWhat 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 debt again folks. Last time it was houses and condominiums, this time it’s cars and credit cards,...
What are stocks and shares? Introducing Big Money Questions - and a lot of enlightening answers
June 23, 2017 17:37 - 18 minutes - 17.6 MB‘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 Straus and a host of exceptional guests from the worlds of economics, business, the City and the b...
The all new standard of living - and other related problems (and some solutions)
June 16, 2017 11:20 - 48 minutes - 45.6 MBWherever 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 price of just about everything. Prices are going up – the official inflation figures released th...
Election 2017: Young voters changed the economic game plan - and what the DUP can bring to the party
June 09, 2017 21:24 - 51 minutes - 48.3 MBIt 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 one. As well as some 13 year olds. They’re now part of the discussion like never before. Simon ...
The road to our future looks bright if only we were prepared to pay for it
June 02, 2017 12:37 - 23 minutes - 21.4 MBWould 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 Rickard Straus to explain. Also on the show… A regular minimum payment to all men, women and child...
Can you trust pensions, social care or anything else?
May 26, 2017 16:40 - 49 minutes - 44.9 MBA 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 place on social care, pensions, investing and saving to still be there in years to come? That wa...