Your Real Money Stories Zopa X MoneyMedics

Have you ever played the National Lottery? If so, you may be one of over 45% of people in the UK who try their luck every month. That’s nearly half of the country! But, not everybody stops with the National Lottery - for others gambling becomes an essential part of their lives, an addiction that they begin to hide from their loved ones as it spirals... 
 
In this emotional story, an anonymous interviewee shares his story of gambling addiction. At his lowest, he hid his debt from his partner, borrowed money from friends and turned to payday loans to make ends meet. In this candid episode, he tells us how it all started, the impact of lockdown and we discuss how much addiction can cost as well as the signs to look out for.
 
For more information and resources to support anyone dealing with a gambling addiction and how to manage debts visit GamStop.co.uk and stepchange.org
 
You can also find more information about the podcast and extra resources by visiting our Instagram pages @zopamoney and @moneymedics as well as at www.zopa.com/podcast. 

It's bad enough to find you've been a victim of fraud, but imagine finding out that your parents were the perpetrators.
In this week's episode, we hear from someone whose parents took out loans in his name when he was just 16. He only found out when he went to open a student bank account, but by that time he had two defaults and a CCJ to his name.
What would you do in his situation? would you be able to forgive them? Listen to the full episode to find out how our anonymous interviewee dealt with this difficult situation.
You can find more information about the podcast by visiting our Instagram pages, as well as at www.zopa.com/podcast. Your Real Money Stories podcast is brought to you in association with Zopa.

 More than half of UK households own at least one pet, and many more have considered adopting a loyal, cuddly friend- but whilst the sentiment is altruistic, the reality remains that pets are a large financial responsibility that not everyone can afford. How ethical is it to adopt a pet without being able to afford the vet? Are there anyways you think you can cut your corners on pet care without sacrificing quality?
 
This week we join the Money Medics and an anonymous guest who reveals how she ended up spending over £7,000 on her cat in a space of a month! How much is too much when it comes to ensuring the health of a beloved pet and at what price does it become too much?
 
You can find more information about the podcast by visiting our Instagram pages, as well as at www.zopa.com/podcast. Your Real Money Stories podcast is brought to you in association with Zopa.

This episode’s anonymous interviewee shares the emotional and financial costs of divorce with the Money Medics. She went from being part of a two-parent household where her ex was the main breadwinner,  to raising a child alone with only minimal support. But as her opportunities have narrowed and she works all she can to pay for nursery fees, her ex-husband continues to enjoy a comfortable lifestyle.
 
How do you balance financial preparedness with going ‘all in’ on a relationship? what questions should you ask before you commit? The Money Medics discuss whether you can have a f**k off fund in a relationship without compromising it.
 
You can find more information about the podcast by visiting our Instagram pages, as well as at www.zopa.com/podcast. Your Real Money Stories podcast is brought to you in association with Zopa.

Sometimes we don’t exactly see the sacrifices people go through to afford nice things or the financial privileges people have over others. Context matters. 
 
The Money Medics are joined by money mindset coach Laura Ann Moore, who shares the story of how she saved £40,000 before 27. They talk about facing setbacks, changing your money habits and not cutting back at the expense of your mental health. And then they take on some of our listeners’ savings dilemmas, from out-of-control impulse spending to feeling unable to ever take money out of their savings.
 
You can find more information about the podcast by visiting our Instagram pages, as well as at www.zopa.com/podcast. Your Real Money Stories podcast is brought to you in association with Zopa.

“I’m sorry Martin, there’s no more money.”
This was the text that tipped off our anonymous interviewee to the fact that his mum had been the victim of a romance scam. From an initial contact on Words with Friends, to a carefully coordinated web across social media, the criminal gang took advantage of one woman’s loneliness to defraud her of her life’s savings.
We’ve watched Tinder Swindler, but as this story shows romance scams don’t all happen against the backdrop of a private jet and a CEO lifestyle. The interviewee talks the Money Medics through the techniques the scammers used to win his mum’s trust, the warning flags to look out for and the impact it’s had on his family’s lives. 
If you've been the victim of a romance scam, contact Action Fraud in confidence online or by phone 0300 123 2040.
For more information about romance frauds, check out the following websites:
Action Fraud's A - Z of fraud
The Met Police's Little Book of Big Scams