This is Money Podcast

This is Money
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.

  1. Inflation strikes back: How worried do we need to be?

    12 HR AGO

    Inflation strikes back: How worried do we need to be?

    This is Money Podcast

    54 min
  2. Should cash Isas be made less generous to encourage us to invest more?

    14 FEB

    Should cash Isas be made less generous to encourage us to invest more?

    The future of the cash Isa has been in the spotlight of late, with rumours the Chancellor could tinker with one of Britain's best loved tax breaks. It's believed some city bosses are lobbying her to make the limit less generous, and push more people into investing their money instead. While just speculation, it's a move that would certainly ruffle a few feathers. This week, Lee Boyce, Georgie Frost and Angharad Carrick discuss the future of Isas and ask: Should people with cash parked in savings accounts be strong-armed into investing instead? Elsewhere, Octopus has launched an investment platform where you can buy into a wind turbine - is it a good home for your cash? Council tax has been in the spotlight, with some areas seeing increases in annual bills of up to 9.9% - and with it a social movement to cancel direct debits. Here's why that's not a wise move. Ang spoke to Virgin Media O2's customer service boss about their pledge to turn around their poor performance over the years. Will we just be shoved to chatbots? And does living in a hard water area make energy bills more expensive?

    50 min
  3. Will interest rates keep falling and can we dodge recession?

    7 FEB

    Will interest rates keep falling and can we dodge recession?

    The Bank of England has delivered another rate cut but big questions remain over what happens next? Forecasters had largely agreed that this year would see another two base rate cuts, but the Bank delivered a pair of verdicts that could push ratesetters down a different path. Firstly, it slashed its growth forecast for 2025 from 1.5 per cent to just 0.75 per cent. Secondly, it said inflation would rise well above target to 3.7 per cent. So what does this mean for the UK economy, interest rates, mortgage rates and savings rates? On this podcast episode, Georgie Frost, Simon Lambert and Helen Crane discuss the impact of the rate cut and the Bank of England's forecasts. Another major issue for investors and the UK is Donald Trump's trade war, Simon explains how this will affect markets and where the winners and losers are likely to be. On the investing theme, the team also look at the lessons we can learn from the Covid crash and rebound, five years on from when the pandemic first started to hit. Plus, the mortgage trick that could clear your loan early... but would your lender let you do it? And finally, has Nectar finally come up with something to stop points being stolen?

    57 min
  4. Is current account switching boom driven by cash carrots on offer from banks - or something else?

    31 JAN

    Is current account switching boom driven by cash carrots on offer from banks - or something else?

    More than a million people switched current account last year - the second time it has ticked over the 1m mark. So, who is winning the switching battle and is it all driven by people chasing a quick and easy buck from banks?  Lee Boyce and Georgie Frost dive into the data and also look at why you might not be rich enough to bank with HSBC anymore... if you want its exclusive account. The Government rules out forcing businesses to accept cash - is that a smart move? Need help with your tax return? HMRC slammed for poor customer service record via the telephone, is all the criticism justified?  And your next car insurance quote might just be significantly lower... as Lee sees a huge drop with an auto-renewal that had him smiling from ear-to-ear.

    49 min
  5. Should you avoid a 40-year mortgage? The rise of long-life loans

    24 JAN

    Should you avoid a 40-year mortgage? The rise of long-life loans

    This is Money Podcast

    50 min
  6. How much money are homeowners now making when they sell?

    17 JAN

    How much money are homeowners now making when they sell?

    How much homeowners are making when they come to sell up is shrinking - new data shows home-selling profits are at its lowest point for nearly a decade. This week, Simon Lambert, Georgie Frost and Lee Boyce discuss the figures and delve into the pockets of Britain where house asking prices have grown the most in the past year, bucking the trend. With looming stamp duty changes happening in April, what will that do to the property market... and is it a fair system? With billions of pounds worth of cash Isas maturing in the coming months, is the tax-free season kicking off early? It appears so, with a battle for easy-access cash. Inflation falls - so is the threat of stagflation over? And the Jellycat craze continues to sweep Britain - is it time to invest in the cult soft toys, or have a raid of your house for any rare ones potentially lurking in the loft.

    1h 1m
  7. What’s gone wrong for the UK's finances, is it Rachel Reeves’ fault and how bad is it?

    10 JAN

    What’s gone wrong for the UK's finances, is it Rachel Reeves’ fault and how bad is it?

    You have to feel for Rachel Reeves. After establishing a solid reputation in opposition, things haven’t gone to plan as Chancellor so far. Her Autumn Budget led to widespread criticism over tax rises on employment and extra costs for businesses, while questions abound over whether her plans will deliver the growth Labour promised voters. Now, a slow burn rise in the UK’s borrowing costs has led to gilt yields surpassing the levels seen after Liz Truss and Kwasi Kwarteng’s ill-fated mini-Budget.  Unfortunate, for a Labour party that has spend the past couple of years citing a gilt yield spike as evidence while banging on about Liz Truss ‘crashing the economy’ and Tory mortgage penalties. But is Britain’s current predicament Rachel Reeves and Sir Keir Starmer’s fault or do they just find themselves caught out by an unfortunate set of circumstances? Or is it a bit of both? Where did things start to go wrong? Was it the Budget, or was it the claimed ‘£22billion black hole’ and months of miserabilism? And what are gilts and why do yields even matter? On this This is Money podcast, Georgie Frost, Lee Boyce and Simon Lambert dig into what’s gone wrong with Britain’s finances and what it means for people. Plus, in better news Lee looks at the jobs that delivered the biggest pay rises last year and why. Simon explains what’s going on with the US hedge fund staging a raid on seven investment trusts – and why investors should make sure they vote. And finally, Lee catches up with Dave Fishwick as the new Bank of Dave film is released.

    1h 11m
  8. Why aren't energy bills going down - and what to do if your smart meter goes mad

    3 JAN

    Why aren't energy bills going down - and what to do if your smart meter goes mad

    In a not very happy start to the new year, Ofgem's energy price cap went up on 1 January from £1,717 to £1,738. Energy experts at Cornwall Insight say it will go up again in April - and by more than they initially expected.  So why are bills rising? After all, we are a long way from the peak of the gas price crisis back in 2021.  This week, Georgie Frost and Helen Crane discuss when they will finally go back to normal - and whether fixed rates are a good deal again.  The team also talk about an Octopus energy customer who was charged £5 to make a cup of tea thanks to a new smart meter.  For homeowners starting 2025 by sticking their property on the market, we get some tips from estate agents on how to spruce up your home - and which renovations aren't worth the bother.  We also discuss whether buyers really care about the smell of freshly baked bread, and what the best colour is to paint your front door.  Helen speaks about the companies This is Money readers have moaned about most in 2024, and her highlights from the Crane on the Case column.  And we finish off with some sensible tips from financial advisers about how to give your money a makeover in the new year.

    40 min
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What 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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