The Martin Lewis Podcast

BBC Radio 5 Live
  • 4.4 (922)
  • Business
  • Updated weekly

Martin Lewis answers your financial questions, offering valuable money-saving tips.

  1. 59 min ago

    How it pays to be nice! The top ten big firms to haggle with and their call centre secrets

    Martin Lewis gives you his top ten list of big firms you can haggle with to get the best price on things like satellite TV, phone bills, breakdown cover, insurance, and loads more. He also reveals call centre secrets, including tips from their actual staff, and from listeners who’ve managed to save. As the US and Iran have agreement to extend the ceasefire, will energy bills start to fall? Plus, Mastermind this week is all about a tax-free savings allowance few people know about. If you want to ask Martin a question, you now can! His Question Time podcast lets you ask Martin absolutely anything and everything (within reason!) – so if you’ve always wanted to know his favourite bridge, if he can do a handstand for longer than a minute, or have a very complicated question about your finances, email it to MartinLewisPodcast@bbc.co.uk.

    58 min

  2. 3 days ago

    Question Time: Pay off my Student Loan with a 0% card? Shift kids cash ISA to shares? Success: ‘Saved £500 on breakdown cover!’

    In this episode, Martin is back answering your latest money dilemmas with a few surprises along the way. Should you pay off your student loan using a 0% credit card? Martin breaks down the risks, the maths, and who should and shouldn’t be looking to pay off their student loan early. Energy is in focus as a listener ask: is the Octopus Tracker tariff still a good idea in today’s volatile market? Martin explains who it works for—and who should steer clear. A question on whether to move a child’s Junior Cash ISA into a Stocks & Shares ISA. Martin helps you to decide what’s right for your child’s future. We also celebrate a listener win: how one savvy saver managed to cut £500 off their breakdown cover—and what you can learn from it. Plus, a glimpse behind the scenes: find out what Martin Lewis’s monthly step record is (it’s higher than you might expect), and producer Simon reveals the surprising mix of jobs he’s had before joining the team. If you want to ask Martin a question, you now can! His Question Time podcast lets you ask Martin absolutely anything and everything (within reason!) – so if you’ve always wanted to know his favourite ice cream flavour, if he’s ever pondered the meaning of life, or have a very complicated question about your personal finances, email it to MartinLewisPodcast@bbc.co.uk.

    46 min

  3. 11 Jun

    Car finance payouts! Will it happen? Have you unknowingly signed up to a claims firm?

    The Big Topic in this week’s episode, Martin Lewis explains the latest on Car Finance Mis-selling – what’s going on and why the wait? Martin unpacks it all, with up to 11 million motorists potentially owed a share of £9 billion due to mis-sold car finance deals. So why haven’t payouts started flowing? He explains the key reasons for the delay. Plus, there’s a crucial new development: the financial regulator is now urging consumers not only to complain about the original car finance but also to scrutinise and potentially challenge the claims management firms that many have relied on to handle complaints. Martin lays out what you should be doing right now to protect your claim and maximise any potential payout. Adrian Chiles found himself £15 out of pocket after being charged on his credit card for something he didn’t purchase. Martin explains the simple, powerful consumer protection that can help you reclaim your money quickly. Whether it’s through chargeback or Section 75 protections, he breaks down exactly what to do if you spot an unfamiliar transaction, and how to act fast for the best chance of success. Finally, Martin highlights a worrying trend affecting travellers. He explains how some British Airways customers are being nudged into paying significantly more than necessary for travel permits. If you’re planning a trip, this is essential listening: Martin shares how to avoid overpaying, what to watch out for, and how to make sure you’re only paying what you actually need. If you want to ask Martin a question, you now can! His Question Time podcast lets you ask Martin absolutely anything and everything (within reason!) – so if you’ve always wanted to know his favourite ice cream flavour, if he’s ever pondered the meaning of life, or have a very complicated question about your personal finances, email it to MartinLewisPodcast@bbc.co.uk.

    48 min

  4. 8 Jun

    Question Time: Get life insurance young, as its cheaper? Keep my bank account but get switchers’ bonus? When to STOP investing?

    This week Martin tackles a packed agenda of your questions—ranging from savings decisions in your twenties to navigating the tax system, investing timelines, and even a light-hearted consumer rights query. Martin answers a question from a 25-year-old wondering whether to lock in life insurance early while premiums are low. We look at how to bag lucrative current account switching bonuses without losing your main bank account. Martin explains how you can collect multiple bonuses while keeping your primary account untouched. An NHS employee asks whether moving into the higher tax band means they’ll need to file a self-assessment tax return. A listener calls in with concerns around their investing strategy: wanting to know if they should stop investing five years before needing your money? Things take a lighter turn when a listener asks about their “consumer rights” over obtaining a Question Time audience badge. And, strongman Eddie Hall asks Martin: “What’s the biggest thing you’ve ever lifted?” If you want to ask Martin a question, you now can! His Question Time podcast lets you ask Martin absolutely anything and everything (within reason!) – so if you’ve always wanted to know his favourite ice cream flavour, if he’s ever pondered the meaning of life, or have a very complicated question about your personal finances, email it to MartinLewisPodcast@bbc.co.uk.

    46 min

  5. 4 Jun

    Why the Price Cap rise is voluntary! £87bn of lost pensions & accounts. Reclaim student loans

    In this episode, Martin Lewis unpacks what’s really happening with energy prices and the energy price cap—what it means for your bills right now, what’s likely coming next, and the practical steps you can take to protect your household finances. From fixed vs variable tariffs to whether now is the right time to switch. We dive into the surprising world of lost and forgotten money, shining a spotlight on the billions that could be sitting unclaimed in old accounts, refunds, or schemes many of us have simply forgotten about. Martin explores where this money commonly hides, including dormant bank and savings accounts and unclaimed pension pots from previous jobs. Tell Us is all about when you have found money you didn’t know you had. From rediscovered savings accounts to surprise payouts decades later, the episode celebrates the unexpected windfalls—including a caller who found money in her knicker draw. Steffan Powell is presenting instead of Adrian Chiles this week. In Mastermind Martin asks him about reclaiming student loan overpayments before guiding listeners through how to check if they’ve paid too much and how to get that cash back. It’s quick, practical, and could put real money back in your pocket. If you want to ask Martin a question, you now can! His Question Time podcast lets you ask Martin absolutely anything and everything (within reason!) – so if you’ve always wanted to know his favourite ice cream flavour, if he’s ever pondered the meaning of life, or have a very complicated question about your personal finances, email it to MartinLewisPodcast@bbc.co.uk.

    1hr 4min

  6. 4 Jun

    Big Energy Bill Hikes Coming: Should You Fix Now, Even If You’re Already Fixed?

    Martin Lewis brings you everything you need to know about your future energy bills. Martin offers a live reaction to the Chancellor Rachel Reeves’ statement in the Commons on the cost of living. Tell Us this week is all about what’s the most bizarre way you’ve secured a discount? Fancy dress, sublime banter, a secret code phrase? And Mastermind this week is about defaulting on your credit file. Can Adrian earn the elusive hallelujahs? His Question Time podcast lets you ask Martin absolutely anything and everything (within reason!) – so if you’ve always wanted to know his favourite ice cream flavour, if he’s ever pondered the meaning of life, or have a very complicated question about your personal finances, email it to MartinLewisPodcast@bbc.co.uk.

    59 min

  7. 1 Jun

    Question Time: Cancel old credit cards? Martin: What 3 laws would you introduce? Pay v pensions?

    In this episode of The Martin Lewis Question Time Podcast, Martin takes on your consumer rights questions including to cancel or not to cancel old credit cards, higher paycheck or higher pension contributions, and if Martin were King for a day, what three laws would he introduce? There's a question about the rules when it comes to paying tax on benefit payments, Martin explains the rules and regulations. With so many competing credit card providers, Martin takes a question on how's best to balance closing old cards with maintaining your credit score, and how to hope between different cards unscathed. There's a question asked about a showdown between an impressively high pension contribution versus a potentially massive increase in pay. Martin explains the pros and cons of each. There’s also a feel‑good moment, with a success story from a listener who successfully used Gift Aid on their charitable donations, and Martin delivers a little refresher on Gift Aid for those who want to use it to the fullest. Plus, Martin considers an alternate universe where he is in charge of Britain, and thinks of three laws he would enact for the good of the consumer. If you want to ask Martin a question, you now can! His Question Time podcast lets you ask Martin absolutely anything and everything (within reason!) – so if you’ve always wanted to know his favourite ice cream flavour, if he’s ever pondered the meaning of life, or have a very complicated question about your personal finances, email it to MartinLewisPodcast@bbc.co.uk.

    33 min

  8. 18 May

    Question Time: Beginner investor: explain the risk? Faulty kitchen: getting money back? Self-employed: how to start a pension?

    In this episode of The Martin Lewis Question Time Podcast, Martin tackles a packed agenda of your real-life money dilemmas, bringing practical advice to your most pressing financial questions. For those new to investing, there’s a question from a beginner worried about risk. Martin unpacks what “risk” really means, how to assess your tolerance, and why understanding volatility is key before putting your money into the markets. Martin explains pension options for the self-employed - a crucial topic for anyone without automatic workplace contributions. Martin breaks down the key choices, from personal pensions to SIPPs, explains how to get started and how to make your money work harder for your future. A listener asks what rights they have when a kitchen starts to fail five years after installation. Martin explains consumer protection laws, including how long goods should reasonably last and how to challenge retailers or manufacturers when things go wrong well beyond the guarantee period, going through his SAD FART acronym so you can easily remember your statutory rights under the UK Consumer Rights Act. There’s also a feel‑good moment, with a success story from a listener who successfully claimed on their travel insurance - highlighting the importance of knowing how to navigate the claims process. Plus, Martin reflects on his own biggest money‑saving faux pas, listen to find out if he is on the Energy Price Cap. And, England fast bowler Mark Wood steps up to become the first cricket World Cup winner to also be awarded an ESQ. If you want to ask Martin a question, you now can! His Question Time podcast lets you ask Martin absolutely anything and everything (within reason!) – so if you’ve always wanted to know his favourite ice cream flavour, if he’s ever pondered the meaning of life, or have a very complicated question about your personal finances, email it to MartinLewisPodcast@bbc.co.uk.

    38 min
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Hosts & Guests

4.4
out of 5
922 Ratings

About

Martin Lewis answers your financial questions, offering valuable money-saving tips.

Information

  • Creator
    BBC Radio 5 Live
  • Years Active
    2012 - 2026
  • Episodes
    207
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © (C) BBC 2026
  • Show Website
    The Martin Lewis Podcast

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