This is Money Podcast
What you need to know about money each week and what the news means for you, from the UK's best financial website. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Inflation and the Budget - are things about to get better or worse?
Inflation is back on the rise again and it is forecast to keep going up.
What does this mean for our finances and how bad are things going to get?
Meanwhile, the Budget is looming and while it's certainly been a much quiter build-up this year, can we be sure that there's no bad news lurking?
On this week's podcast Georgie Frost, Rache Rickard Straus and Simon Lambert unpick what's going on and look at where we could end up next.
Plus, are we seeing rent controls by the back door...
Bonus: What you need to know about investing in a Sipp
Saving in a self-invested personal pension is a great way to create a side pot from your workplace pension or to build a retirement fund if you are self-employed.
On this special bonus episode of the This is Money Podcast, Simon Lambert is joined by Trading 212's chief operating officer, George Mantilas, to discuss everything you need to know about investing in a Sipp.
From how to get easily get started, to what you can do to improve your pension saving and keep fees low, they discuss Sipp essentials.
These...
Steve Webb answers your pension questions
On this special This is Money podcast episode to celebrate his 500th column as our retirement agony uncle, Steve Webb is back to answer your pension questions.
The former pensions minister joins Georgie Frost and Simon Lambert to talk through what he has learnt over those 500 columns and reply to the questions he has been sent in specially for this episode.
01:54 – The £118,000 state pension underpayment that exposed a huge scandal
05:01 – Inheritance tax: What's changing for pensions in April 2027?
07:39 – Will final salary pensions be caught by inheritance tax?
09:02 – How to make l...
Should we axe inheritance tax on family homes?
There were a number of ways Kemi Badenoch could have tackled the much-hated issue of inheritance tax.
The Tory leader could have promised to cut the rate, remove gifting allowances from the deep freeze, raise thresholds, or stop pensions being pulled into the net.
Instead, she decide to announce family homes would be completely exempt under a Conservative government... and couples would still get to give away £1million tax-free on top of that.
Was that a good idea, or has Kemi just promised to make a bad tax even more complicated?
O...
Is axing the pension triple lock the right move?
The triple lock's days appear to be numbered. The Prime Minister Andy Burnham revealed bold plans to ditch the pension guarantee from 2030 and replace it with what has been dubbed a 'double lock' at the Labour party conference this week.
Is it the right move? Georgie Frost, Lee Boyce and Helen Crane discuss on this week's This is Money Podcast.
Elsewhere, Angela Rayner announced that councils could soon be allowed to take over empty buy-to-let properties, if they had been vacant for as little as six months. Helen explains EDMOs and who could...
Should we hike the income tax-free allowance to £15,000?
Could the personal allowance be raised to £15,570 in the Budget? That's the off the wall idea that emerged this week as a way of Labour nudging ahead if Andy Burnham called an early election.
The podcast team discuss that and Simon's idea for how you could start to reform the tax system.
Time stamps
00:06 – Coming up: personal allowances, energy bills, buy-to-let and working from home
02:01 – Could the personal allowance rise to £15,570?
12:13 – How could Britain fix its tax system?
18:52 – Why are UK energy bills so high?
26:17...
What next for interest rates and how bad will it get for mortgages?
The Bank of England held the base rate again on Thursday but mortgage rates have soared this week.
Major lenders have made a wave of hikes and there are warnings that more are on the way, so what's going on?
Is this just another temporary spike as the mortgage market throws one of the wobblies we've seen a number of times in recent years or serious bad news, with rates set to stick higher?
On this week's podcast, Georgie Frost, Lee Boyce and Simon Lambert discuss interest rates, what this could cost people...
How much money do you need to retire early?
Retiring early, making your time your own and sticking it to the man is something many of us will have dreamed of.
But what would it take you to get there and how much would you need to start investing now depending on your age and when you want to kick back?
On this episode of the This is Money Podcast, Georgie Frost, Lee Boyce and Simon Lambert look at the early retirement dream. Is it realistic, what do you gain and what do you give up, and why is it vitally important for some...
Why the UK has a bond market problem - and what it means for you
Is it crunch time on the bond markets or is this just another episode in a long-running soap opera that always leaves us on a cliff hanger?
Turmoil on global bond markets has sent yields soaring on major countries' debt but the UK is suffering more than its rivals.
So, what’s going on with the bond blowout? How bad is it? Why does the UK pay more to borrow than similar countries? And why is it bad news for the Budget and our finances?
On this episode of the This is Money Po...
Is Britain headed for a retirement renting crisis?
From next year, those in receipt of the full state pension will have to start giving some of it back to the government in income tax.
The Treasury has put in place a ‘waiver’ system for less well-off pensioners – but it has been revealed this week that those who chose to defer their state pension could miss out because of the extra income they receive.
On this week’s podcast, Georgie Frost is joined by This is Money’s Helen Crane and Tanya Jefferies to discuss whether that is fair, and how Britain’s state pension got...
Bumper rate rise for Premium Bonds - are they now a no-brainer?
NS&I has just boosted the Premium Bonds underlying rate again to its highest level in nearly two years. The odds of winning are better too, with more £50,000 and £100,000 prizes to boot.
More than 22million of us hold Premium Bonds but after years of being beaten by the best savings accounts, are they suddenly looking like a good option again? And why raise the rate at all? Lee Boyce, Georgie Frost and Helen Crane discuss.
11.34: Imagine you bought a house years ago, pay your mortgage every month... only to discover the Land Registry st...
Is the property market coming back to life?
After years of stagnant sales and plummeting prices…is the housing market about to take off again?
Lee Boyce, Helen Crane and Georgie Frost discuss what's going with property values and hunt for green shoots of recovery.
14:46: Some of Britain's biggest banks are offering far better savings rates under different brands. We look at where the deals are hiding and how much more you could earn.
22:47: Crane is back on the case - this time, she resolves a reader problem with an £11,500 heat pump. It left some rooms at just 12°C –...
Do you need to worry about Making Tax Digital?
Has tax just got a little more taxing? Making Tax Digital has come in, meaning hundreds of thousands of people need to make their first quarterly report to HMRC this week - and during the summer holidays to boot.
Georgie Frost, Simon Lambert and Lee Boyce cover what you need to know about the changes and whether it’s a good move.
How easy is it to find the right software, will it help reduce the ‘tax gap’ and who will need to start using it?
A retirement giant has warned...
We need to finally fix social care but who will pay?
Is the can finally going to stop being kicked down the road on social care?
Andy Burnham has promised to correct what he has called a ‘dereliction of duty’ by a generation of politicians.
But how does he plan to succeed where so many before him have failed, can he pull it off and who is going to end up paying?
On this episode of the This is Money Podcast, Georgie Frost, Helen Crane and Simon Lambert discuss how to solve a problem that has defeated successive governments and created a reverse lottery wher...
Does Andy Burnham have the right ideas - and can we afford them?
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Hosts: Georgie Frost, Simon Lambert, Lee Boyce, Helen Crane
Producer: Georgie Frost
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Should we raise state pension age or axe the triple lock?
The rise in the state pension age looks likely to speed up again, as it was revealed this week that the Government has already been banking the gains.
It is now almost certain that the state pension age will rise to 68 between 2037 and 2039, seven years earlier than the official timetable.
But will it have to go up again and when? And is a further rise fair when life expectancy has stalled and it's the triple lock that's driving up costs?
On this episode of the This is Money Podcast, Georgie Frost, Lee Boyce...
Is a mansion tax for properties 'worth' £1.5m or more fair?
Twice as many households could be forced to pay a new 'mansion tax' latest speculation suggests - the threshold may fall from £2million to £1.5million.
That rumour comes with Andy Burnham expected to be Prime Minister before the end of the month.
So exactly who will be affected, which regions are most at risk and is the High Value Council Tax Surcharge fair?
Georgie Frost and Lee Boyce discuss as more middle-class homeowners potentially face an annual bill, which won't be ringfenced for local services.
Also, the sc...
Halifax to vanish as Lloyds ditches the brand - should we care?
Goodbye Halifax! It’s being scrapped by Lloyds after 173 years. But why would you kill off one of Britain’s best known and trusted banking brands?
Georgie Frost, Lee Boyce and Simon Lambert discuss the end of a very familiar name and talk through the history of what started out as a building society... and ask: is another historic name next?
Also, Britons suffer the sharpest drop in wealth of any developed nation - what’s behind it and can we arrest the decline?
The pensions gender pay gap is still...
Bonus episode: Bank of England's Victoria Cleland on the future of cash - and wildlife on banknotes
On this bonus episode of the This is Money podcast, Lee Boyce speaks to Bank of England chief cashier Victoria Cleland on her views over the future of cash.
We talk about why preserving choice in payments is important, whether she fears physical money will die out and how we can stop Britain going totally cashless.
How do we encourage retailers to accept cash and why are people turning away from using it? And how do we keep cash relevant.
We also talk about the 'paradox of cash' where cash...
Can Andy Burnham fix Britain's tax and financial headaches?
Another one bites the dust. Sir Keir Starmer has resigned just two years in to being Prime Minister.
This latest rotation of Britain's PM merry-go-round comes despite Starmer having done nothing particularly wrong. It wasn't scandal that brought down the Prime Minister, dramatic events, a vote of confidence, or a proper leadership challenge, just his party seemingly deciding it ws fed up with the man who won Labour a huge election majority.
Andy Burnham is almost certainly set for a coronation as Prime Minister rather than a leadership contest, so what could that mean for...
Should you ask for an early inheritance?
Most families don't pay inheritance tax but those that do can get hit with huge bills running into hundreds of thousands of pounds.
With pension pots soon to be included in calculations, this is going to be an issue facing more families in the years ahead.
So if you know your parents or grandparents will get caught in their inheritance tax net, and you also know they don't want to 40 per cent of a chunk of their hard-won wealth going to the government, should you ask for an early inheritance to solve the problem.
<...House prices vs inflation: The slow motion property slump
Follow us on Instagram @dmgnewmedia.
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Email us [email protected]
Text us 020 7938 6000.
Hosts: Georgie Frost, Simon Lambert, Lee Boyce, Helen Crane
Producer: Georgie Frost
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
The big inheritance shake-up for unmarried couples - and what it means
The government is planning a major inheritance shake-up for unmarried couples but does it go far enough and will it trigger a wave of disputes?
On this week's podcast Georgie Frost, Lee Boyce and Simon Lambert discuss the planned rules for co-habiting couples, who it covers, whether it goes too far or not far enough and why they still lose out on tax.
Plus, how much do you need for a comfortable retirement and will you get there... plus what it will take in 25 years' time.
How to invest in index funds and...
Would you take a £1m lump sum or £1,000 a week for life?
It's the sort of theoretical question you might discuss at the pub with your mates. If you won the lottery and had the choice, would you pick a £1million lump sum, or take £1,000 a week for life?
Pollster YouGov posed the question to 7,000 Britons recently, and it is fair to say opinions are divided. According to two money experts, there is a right answer - so which is the best strategy, and why is likely to make you much richer? Georgie Frost, Lee Boyce and Helen Crane discuss.
Easy access savings rates have bar...
Are you saving enough for a comfortable retirement?
Follow us on Instagram @dmgnewmedia.
Follow us on TikTok @dmgnewmedia
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Email us [email protected]
Text us 020 7938 6000.
Hosts: Georgie Frost, Simon Lambert, Lee Boyce, Helen Crane
Producer: Georgie Frost
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
What does more political chaos mean for your money and the economy?
A week is a long time in politics... and what a week it’s been. But what does all the turmoil mean for our money? And can we blame it all on Labour?
Georgie Frost, Simon Lambert and Lee Boyce discuss the threat to Keir Starmer's leadership and why it has caused some market panic.
If the Prime Minister is ousted, what could the new man or woman in charge change when it comes to tax and wealth?
Nearly a quarter of retailers now no longer accept cash - but th...
Should you worry about flights being cancelled and jet fuel shortages?
With millions of seats being cut from flights worldwide, it's safe to say many Britons may be worried about future travel plans - or are being put off booking holidays altogether.
The Middle East conflict has pushed up the price of jet fuel and airlines are having to plan ahead to try and ensure as little disruption as possible.
But what can you do if you end up getting swept up in cancellations or delays? Helen Crane, Georgie Frost and Lee Boyce discuss.
Also this week, Helen steps in to...
Will the Renters' Rights Act work or backfire?
It's been a long time in the making and the idea has run through successive governments, but a new law to improve the life of those who rent their home has finally kicked in.
Whether it's much-needed or much-feared depends what side of the landlord fence you are on, but what's not in doubt is that the Renters' Rights Act is a massive shake-up.
The assured shorthold tenancy system that has been the backbone of renting a home for almost 40 years has been torn up and replaced with rolling contracts that tenants can get out...
Bonus interview: Why we need a campaign to get people investing
A new campaign has been launched to turn Britain's savers into investors. In this bonus episode, This is Money's Simon Lambert speaks to Karen Northey, of the Investment Association about the Take The Next Step campaign, backed by members of the investment industry and supported by the government and Chancellor Rachel Reeves.
They discuss why investing matters, how it can grow people's wealth and why Britain's savers can seem reluctant to dip their toes into something that has the power to substantially improve their chance of beating inflation and improving their finances.
Follow us on...
Will the younger generation be worse off than their parents?
Is the younger generation going to end up worse off than their parents?
A new survey shows young people aged 18 to 29 say the events of 2026 have left them feeling particularly pessimistic about the future, and the number who believe they will be worse off than their parents has doubled in the past year.
Georgie Frost, Simon Lambert and Lee Boyce discuss whether the idea the next generation will have it better than previous ones is now bunkum.
Elsewhere, what do you want to see less of on the high street? A...
Are we about to become a nation of investors?
A new government-backed campaign to get Britain to become a nation of investors is about to kick off.
The message that you can be making more of your money will be spread in adverts that we know will feature a squirrel... but not much more about.
It's a campaign being led by the Investment Association, the fund management industry body, and backed by 20 financial firms, ranging from investing platforms to wealth managers.
So, will it make a difference - and why are we being told to invest?
On the This is...
Is the generational wealth gap narrower than we thought?
Many younger adults think they are substantially less well-off than their parents.
But while there are inequalities, new research suggests the wealth gap may be far narrower than previously reported - and it is largely down to the cash those in their twenties and thirties have stashed in their pensions.
On this week's episode of the This is Money podcast Lee Boyce, Helen Crane and Georgie Frost discuss why official figures got it wrong, and whether property versus pension is a pointless comparison.
The team also ask what will happen to interest rates an...
Can plug-in solar panels save out energy bills - plus what's the fuss about private credit?
A solar revolution is on its way to Britain and can help save us from volatile and high energy bills, if you believe Ed Miliband.
Plug-in solar panels are popular across Europe but currently rules in the UK mean that we can’t buy them and, as it says on the tin, simply plug them into our home’s electricity supply.
But changes are afoot that will mean we could soon be buying individual panels that cost £400 and simply plugging them into a three-pin wall socket, where thanks to the magic of an inverter they would...
What you need to do with your Isa and pension before the tax year ends
There's just a week to go until the end of the tax year and if you haven't sorted your Isa, pension or the rest of your finances it's time to get your skates on.
On this episode, Georgie Frost, Helen Crane and Simon Lambert discuss the important things you need to think about before 5 April... and ideally right now.
From how your Isa allowance works, to parking cash and drip-feeding it, and why a pension can not only boost your retirement savings but also cut your tax bill, they explain what you need to know.<...
Isa investing bestsellers revealed - but is cash still king?
Isa season is in full swing as savers and investors race to beat the clock to fill up their allowance - but where are people putting their money?
Simon Lambert, Lee Boyce and Georgie Frost take a look and reveal stocks and shares Isa bestsellers of 2026. And even before the current markets turmoil caused by the Iran conflict, Lee reveals just how much is pouring into cash.
There are fresh warnings sounded over Britain's midlife pensions crisis - but it's not too late to build a healthy retirement pot. We reveal how and...
Mortgage rates are spiking - how bad will it get?
Mortgage rates have shot up this week as the impact of the conflict with Iran for inflation and interest rates sinks in.
Banks and building societies have been racing to raise their fixed rates - with some even pushing them up twice in the space of a few days.
It comes in response to a sudden switch around in expectations for the Bank of England base rate, but will this flurry of hikes continue or are the concerns overdone.
On this episode of the This is Money Podcast, Georgie Frost, Helen Crane and...
What does the Middle East conflict mean for your money?
In the past week, news headlines have been dominated by the conflict in the Middle East. It has pushed up oil and gas prices, and as such, concerns over our household finances in Britain.
Georgie Frost, Lee Boyce and Helen Crane discuss what the conflict means for investors, mortgage rates, price at the petrol pumps and energy bills - is there anything you can realistically do to keep a lid on the potential for runaway inflation?
With the potential for inflation to spike, does that spell the end of a 'nailed on' base...
Why is the FTSE 100 soaring – and can its run continue?
The flying Footsie is on course for the best start to the year since 1998 and driving it are 20 stocks that have risen by 50% or more in the past year.
Simon Lambert, Lee Boyce and Georgie Frost discuss what's going on for the flagship UK index and whether the run can continue.
They also zoom in on Rolls Royce... its shares have soared by more than a thousand per cent in five years. Is it too late to join the party?
When it comes to Junior Isas, many parents worry that once their children g...
What you need to know about pensions with Steve Webb
Pensions are a topic that dominate the financial landscape and for the past decade This is Money readers have had Sir Steve Webb on hand to answer their questions.
A former pensions minister, Steve has been our weekly columnist for ten years and helped guide people through the maze of retirement finances.
On this episode of the This is Money Podcast, Steve joins Georgie Frost and Simon Lambert to talk about what's happened over those ten years and discuss what you need to know about pensions.
Whether they've been about saving for retirement, turning a pension into...
Bonus: How we turned start-up Heidi into one of the biggest ski holiday firms
In this bonus This is Money podcast episode, Simon Lambert interviews Marcus and Alexander Blunt, the brothers behind travel firm Heidi, to find out how they turned a start-up into the UK's second biggest ski package holiday firm in eight years - and survived the pandemic's threat to the business along the way.
Eight years ago, brothers Marcus and Alexander Blunt were passionate skiers frustrated by the difficulty of trying to organise the mountain holidays that they and their friends really wanted.
Deciding on a ski resort, sorting flights, accommodation, transfers and getting friends from d...
