This is Money Podcast

This 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 Frost discuss why people are worried and what they can do – if anything.Can you really control money once it has been given away?Could partners – or even theoretical future partners – get their hands on it?And why give it away in the first place if you’re going to worry about how it’s used?Also, on the agenda is the 10-year anniversary of the run on Northern Rock – when customers feared for the bank’s future and queued up outside branches to withdraw all their cash. It was the birth of the financial crisis in the UK followed by the credit crunch.How did the decade that followed change our financial lives and who have been the winners and losers?With interest rates held again we look at whether they could still rise this year – as Simon has bravely predicted – and why you shouldn’t be suckered in by a stunning looking 7.75% fixed-rate bond claiming official FSCS protection that you found on Google.If it looks too good to be true it surely is – right? That’s the rule. But if someone told you that you could buy into something that’s up 70% in two years at a discount - and it still looks reasonably cheap - you’d walk away wouldn’t you? But that’s the deal with emerging markets investment trusts. Why?And finally, we see whether Simon, Georgie, or Rachel could pass a driving theory test today using the quiz we put to our readers. It sets off more discussions about towing a trailer than you’d ever expect on a money podcast.Enjoy. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Car 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 what This is Money editor Simon Lambert and deputy motoring editor Rob Hull are.But there’s another important question to tackle, are these scrappage schemes a good deal?Simon, Rob and host Georgie Frost take a deep dive into them – and the murky world of cars sales and finance.What you probably won’t be buying if you take advantage of a scrappage scheme is an electric car – but wait a few years and your next one could be. There’s been a string of news on this and in a show that goes more than a little electric we take a look at what the future holds.Will it be Nissan’s new £20,000 Leaf that wins out, Jaguar’s plan to offer every model with an electric or hybrid version, or could it even be a Dyson car that storms the market?If you’d prefer to go a bit off the beaten track and electric motorbike with a detachable battery you can charge in your office might even be the answer. Rob spent a week with a Super Soco to test out that theory and reports back here.And what about your house? This week we told the story of Darren Widdowson, from Northamptonshire, who decided to try generating his own electricity with solar panels and a battery storage unit from Ikea. He now pays just £4.50 every month for electricity to power his home and electric car.Also on this week’s show we look at the case where This is Money’s Tanya Jefferies won £7,000 back from HMRC for a couple who paid to bump up their state pension and then discovered that wasn’t possible and we ask if Neil Woodford, once one of the best performing fund managers in the UK, has lost the Midas touch.And finally, would giving your house a nice name add to its value – and exactly what are the rules on this? We explain what you need to do if you fancy calling your home Trevor, Nigel, or Dunroamin. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hasta 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 all heard about PPI a million times, but with half of those eligible still yet to claim, could you still be owed a little windfall?Lee gives his back to basics guide on what you can do to check – and how you could still be owed some cash even if you've had a claim declined in the past.Then Georgie makes a case for banning the word 'loyal' when used to describe customers who stay with the same utility or insurance provider for year after year.Are they loyal, apathetic or unaware that they could get a better deal elsewhere?Either way, we explain how you can help family and friends to save hundreds of pounds every year (and perhaps even take you on holiday with the proceeds… you never know).Rachel and Lee also go head to head over cashback websites. Rachel says you can't argue with free cash, Lee finds some arguments against it…All this and plenty more in another packed episode of the unmissable This is Money Podcast. Enjoy! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ten 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 while. It was insane. It was global. It was the financial crisis. Then came the credit crunch where the grease that turns the wheels of economies dried up. Banks collapsed. Governments went bust. Over the past week commentators have been recounting where they were and how they saw it coming. But they didn’t see it coming. Few did. This week, Simon Lambert and Georgie Frost offer up one of the best, honest and understandable accounts of what really happened after BNP Paribas shut down three hedge funds specialising in sub-prime mortgage debt, marking the beginning of the financial crisis when the global economy stared at the precipice. This episode really is a must listen. Enjoy. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Are 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, discusses whether banks are really doing everything they can.Also on the agenda in this week’s podcast with Simon Lambert and Georgie Frost is the exchange traded fund (ETF) that lets you invest in cows, coffee and gold all in one place (but would you want to?)And what you need to know about those bargain-priced ‘Cat D’ second-hand cars you see for sale. What does it mean, why is the system changing and are these previously damaged motors worth taking a punt on if the price is right?If you like the podcast please subscribe, leave us a review, share it, or just tell your friends the old-fashioned way by word-of-mouth. As someone once said, every little helps. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Will 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 the questions - with the help of Simon’s adventures in a top-of-the range electric Tesla:Can the power supply and grid cope?How long do electric cars take to charge?What’s it like to drive an electric car?Will carmakers deliver but the Government stuff it up?And is the booming car industry about to bust?Also on the show we look at how to build a pension if you’ve got to 45 and still don’t have any savings, what to do about Japanese knotweed and whether reading fiction can help you be a better investor.And finally…In one of the more intriguing questions This is Money has been sent recently by a reader – can you sue the council if it moves a school catchment area and harm’s your house’s value?Enjoy. If you like the show also please subscribe at your favoured podcast outlet and leave us a review or like us on iTunes. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The 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 chargesTips to avoid the car hire company rip-offs Attempts to solve the work productivity puzzleAnd it’s been a big week for news about gender equality – from the first female Doctor Who, to the FTSE’s most in-demand boss Carolyn McCall taking the top job at ITV, and then those BBC pay revelations. Is there still a lot more work to be done to promote women in business?Should stories about women getting top jobs even mention that they are women or mothers?The last ten minutes looks at how we can get more women to the top in business.Enjoy. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mumblings 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.So what's behind all this? Is the warning too dire, or just a dose of realism? Simon Lambert and Lee Boyce join Georgie Frost in the studio to delve into the figures, Britain's history housing boom and bust and ponder just how overpriced homes are.Also on this week's show, we look at whether the gig economy works or needs an overhaul and more protection, and why Jaguar decided to launch the E-Pace - the new car it expects to ramp up its sales ambitions - into the air at high speed. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

If 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% boost to your returns if an improbable event takes place.Not quite as unlikely as a resurrection but not that far off.First there were the Brexit bonds, where your 1% return will be tripled if you bet correctly on the pound / euro exchange rate once Britain leaves the EU and, depending on how you see this bet panning out, all of our successful businesses leave Britain. Now football fans are being targeted. If Manchester United win the FA Cup next year AND the English Premier League, unabashed Newcastle-based Virgin Money will bung you a bung in the form of 2% bonus on the savings rate. Other football clubs are available. As are better savings accounts. Also on the show, Simon Lambert, Lee Boyce and Georgie Frost explain robo investing – the cheap and easy new way of saving money without having to interact with expensive human advisers. And the latest wave of frauds filling an inbox near you are a terrifying as ever. Enjoy. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Nurses 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 Boyce, get to the bottom of the great public sector pay debate. Perhaps using more taxpayers money to give nurses and firefighters a pay rise will boost the economy? They also turn their attention to… The ‘absolutely hideous’ university fees students face in Britain. Nine grand a year for 4 hours a week and a lifetime of debt. A possible imminent interest rates rise and how one prepares for a battering on your costs of living.And with the dream of home ownership for graduates now pretty much over, rents are in the spotlight for the wrong reasons. What to do?Enjoy. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What 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, house prices and wages. People are buying cars on credit like they take out mobile phone contracts.Car companies have turned into money lenders, egged on by the banks. Yep the bank again. Did they learn nothing?Meanwhile, the Bank of England needs to combat inflation by raising interest rates. How on earth can they do that in this climate?Simon Lambert, Georgie Frost and Lee Boyce do their bejesus to explain. Also on the show, there’s some brilliant stuff on…Cash forever!Can ATMs survive? And what’s your favourite ATM fact? The one that makes Batman appear, maybe?Will the sneaky fund management industry finally reveal what charges they’re really skimming off?The future of final salary pensions and the triple lock. And the Queen’s beard. Enjoy. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

‘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 bookshelves. In a departure from our usual round-up of the week’s money events, this week we introduce you to an audio version of the show. The question: What are stocks and shares? And related…What’s the difference between a stock and a share?Is that different from a bond?Why do they exist?Why are they different prices? What makes the prices move? How do you know if it’s worth buying them?Dividends? Huh? Forget the cheese - this stuff is whey too important to ignore.Listen, learn, enjoy. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Wherever 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 this week show that in black and white in Excel. But wages aren’t going up. They might be in France and Italy but not in Britain. It means……well permit Georgie Frost, Lee Boyce and the undisputed king of financial common sense, Simon Lambert, to explain exactly what it means. Also on the show. Personal debt is spiraling out of control and set to get worse as our low wage economy bites and interest rate rises now look more likely than they have for a long time. For heaven’s sake don’t let the crooks take what little money you have! We review the latest scams and show how easy it is to glean personal information from your Facebook updates. Which card should you use when holidaying abroad? Not Simon’s that’s for sure. There’s a novelty savings account on the market. You get a bonus if you bet correctly on whether sterling will be higher or lower than 1.15 to the pound in two year’s time. Are the overheated markets the result of investor boredom? And finally, Mobile operators are this week spewing over themselves to claim victory in the Europe-wide harmonisation of roaming fees. It’s nothing to do with them. It’s revolting. Merci the EU for that one. Enjoy. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It 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 Lambert, Georgie Frost and Rachel Rickard Straus discuss how this is likely to affect our finances now and over the next five years. Can this Government even implement anything from their manifestos?How will they tackle impending debt and housing crises?What the hell will Brexit look like?Can they tackle the intergenerational inequality that the new voters clearly crave?Rachel explains the financial and economic plans in the DUP manifesto and how that’s likely to clash with Tory plans.You don’t get stuff like anywhere else.Enjoy. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Would 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 children in Britain is the panacea for the fair, just and healthy society we’ve all been waiting for.Isn’t it?Enjoy. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A 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 was reflected in Simon Lambert's column this week, looking at a reader who asked whether they could bank on the tax-free pension lump sum continuing to exist when they needed it in future.Simon, Rachel Rickard Straus and Georgie Frost discuss whether we can trust pensions, social care or anything else in this week's This is Money podcast.Also on the agenda, on the show that tells you everything you need to know about money each week, is whether the UK economy is doing well, badly or indifferently, the bank accounts that pay you the most money and whether the fuss over Vanguard's new investing charges is justified.Oh, and finally, there's a chance to invest in a deep sea treasure hunt. Listen, enjoy (hopefully), leave us a comment or rating and subscribe. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The manifestos are out, but which political party would you trust with the UK economy?We look at Labour's plan to hike taxes, the Tories' plan to ditch the triple lock and the Lib Dem's plan to make a bit of cash on the side from selling weed.This week we finally got the triple whammy of what our three main political parties will do, so would any of these plans work and what do people think about them?Simon Lambert, Adrian Lowery and Georgie Frost delve into the details in the latest This is Money podcast.And it's not just the election, also up on this week's show is Lloyds vanishing Avios points, as it moves out of state ownership, the question of whether people should ditch their diesel and whether we should worry about a car finance bubble. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In part two of this week’s podcast, Georgie Frost, Rich Browning and Simon Lambert discuss the inevitability of another global financial meltdown and how we’re going to fix it this time round.Meanwhile, what’s in store in Europe now a former investment banker, Emmanual Macron, is president of France and looking to reinvigorate the European project? Perhaps this an opportunity for investors to make a quick buck or euro away from the uncertainty of the outcome of any Brexit negotiations.Is putting bankers in charge of anything within a decade of them bringing the world financial system to its knees a bit foolhardy? Or is this a case of this time it’s different? World War II was the solution to the Great Depression. Enjoy. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The property data is out and it’s not looking good. House prices fell for the first time in five years. Homes are going for less than asking prices.Yet in some areas you need 17 times your salary to buy a place. Where’s it all going to end?Perhaps moving into tiny mobile sheds on trailers or a boat is the only answer. Or will prices start to tumble?Simon Lambert takes one of his legendary forensic looks behind the figures, joined by Rich Browning and Georgie Frost for a fun debate into the doomsday scenarios. Also on the show… Democracy only survives with a strong opposition. It seems Ed Miliband, former Labour leader, was stronger than his message on the tablet suggested. His idea to cap energy prices has now been adopted by the would-be next Tory government. Is this plan put forward by Theresa May really any different? Or is ‘Marxist meddling’ in the markets by the Conservatives really happening?Strange times. Enjoy. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Shoppers have enjoyed cheap prices off the back of a supermarket price war, but alarm bells were sounded in Sainsbury’s results this week, showing how cost inflation is squeezing its profits.How long is it before supermarkets give up trying to cushion the blow for households and price rises hit?Simon Lambert, Lee Boyce and Georgie Frost look at what next for our shopping bills and how the big supermarkets are doing, in this week’s This is Money podcast.But how much do we really care about those big chains? It’s independent shops that we say we love and the team also take a look at whether the High Street is changing for the better or worse.Also on this week’s show, we reveal the tax breaks that you just lost as the Government quietly dropped plans to let you earn a bit tax-free on the side.There’s also a look at why 4G mobile is so shonky, rip-off bank charges and whether the house of 0% credit cards will come crashing down.And finally, if you’ve got a parking ticket recently we explain how to beat it… and also why you might be getting more of them.Each week, the This is Money podcast brings you everything you need to know about money and what it means for you. Give it a listen, subscribe if you like it, and please leave us a rating or comment. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The pensions triple lock means that state pensions rise by wages, inflation or 2.5% - whichever is greatest. This promise has raised pensioner incomes but stands accused of being too expensive and has become an election hot potato. Should it be ditched? Simon Lambert, Rachel Rickard Straus and Georgie Frost discuss it on this excerpt from the This is Money podcast. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Plans to massively hike probate fees have been dropped, but was this due to the General Election or the government trying to distance itself from a move that saw a huge backlash? Simon Lambert, Rachel Rickard Straus and Georgie Frost discuss it on this excerpt from the This is Money podcast. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The result of the election on June 8 will determine the financial outcome of Britain possibly more than any other in recent memory. So sit down and listen to Simon Lambert, Georgie Frost and Rachel Rickard Straus explain in simple terms what is at stake. On the agenda:Pension triple lock – if you’ve never really understood this, you will nowEnergy price cap – that old thing. The only thing left for Theresa May to do to turn into Ed Miliband is to eat a bacon butty badly. Who will fix the housing crisis and how? Is GDP now suffering at the prospect of Brexit - and is it really best way to measure a country’s performance?Elections in Europe – how may they affect our economy?New probate fees ‘the equivalent of paying £20,000 to renew your passport’ have been scrapped – and other great Tory tax u-turns PlusLet’s increase the speed limit to 80mph on motorways. We need something to look forward to. Enjoy. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Brexit this, Brexit that but what about the other stuff we need to worry about. Britain soon gets to vote in another election and inevitably the campaigns surrounding it will be about Brexit. Before you get bombarded with those, this week’s This is Money podcast looks at why Theresa May has even called another election and what that decision means for the economy, the pound and investors?Yet this election should not just be about Brexit, there are other things to consider too. This is Money’s Simon Lambert and Lee Boyce, join Georgie Frost in the Share Radio studios to discuss what they might be.So, if that canvasser rings the doorbell asking for your vote, we run through some of the things from the world of money that you may want to ask them about. (And if Simon’s MP Jeremy Corbyn does come round to ask for his vote, he promises to ask him these questions and report back on the replies.)It’s not all about Brexit and it’s not just about then election though. This week, we also talk about why household debt is worrying the FCA and our banks, the secrets Lee uncovered behind the scenes at Costa coffee’s roaster and small cars for big people.Find out everything you need to know about money this week and what it means for you by listening to the podcast.And if you like it please share it – and also leave us a review. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The price of all sorts is going up this week - from stamps to council tax. This is Money's Rachel Rickard Straus and Lee Boyce play the lucky dip of price hikes - which involves a stop watch, chocolate eggs... and quick explanations of how bills are set to rise. Then it's on to debt - credit card, car... you name it. Is it a worry? Is it a big worry? What's going to happen next? (Spoiler alert - they think it's a worry.)The Lifetime Isa - Lisa - has just launched, so that's next on the agenda. Presenter George Frost and the This is Money team talk through whether Isas have had their day, why Lisas may or may not be a good idea, and the great whopping investing question that it's so easy to forget. And the grand finale... involves a lot of wretching. Well nearly -it would if the team weren't so well behaved. It's the Easter taste test, in which the supermarkets' not-very-finest chocolate eggs and bunnies are compared, as well as four types of hot cross bun. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It was never about economics. But 52% or the 72% turnout voted for the UK to leave the European Union last June and now it’s official. Prime Minister Theresa May has written and delivered a letter that gives the country just two years to renegotiate tens of thousands of laws that took 40 odd years to draw up. It’s about taking control, she said, without expanding what that might mean.In the absence of any credible positive analysis from the 'Leave' fraternity, please allow Simon Lambert, Rebecca Rutt and Georgie Frost to have a go at explaining where our economy now stands. The vote to leave the EU hit the pound immediately and that is likely to continue. Prices of just about everything are rising and are set to rocket. Five percent this year may not sound a lot but cumulatively, petrol, travel, clothes and food make up a lot of what we buy. But on the plus side?Also on the show Britain is in debt, nationally and personally at record levels. Should we be alarmed?The new pound coin is now in circulation. Is it really impossible to forge?What does investing post-Brexit look like? Investing overseas most likely.How much do you pay for a decent bottle of wine? Enjoy. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

One thousand years ago, life expectancy was about 30 years. In 30 years’ time, someone will be born who could live to 1,000. This causes a problem for the pensions industry and governments. It’s tough enough finding an income for a few months without working, never mind 935 years.This is the kind of problem experts have been grappling with lately and some of the results are emerging. On the table are joys such as working until you’re 105 years old, abolishing the State pension or coming up with ill-conceived alternatives such as the pointless Lifetime Isa. Most likely, if you’re under 30 now, you’ll probably retire at 70, or under 45 and you’ll work till you’re 68.The triple lock guarantee that ensures the State pension rises by inflation, earnings or 2.5% , whichever is higher, could be scrapped because the Government is ideologically against raising taxes to pay for it. Pensioners will be worse off without a solid alternative. Britain’s pensions used to be best in the world. Like a lot of things, we’ve slipped down that league table too. Women especially continue to lose out. But pensions are boring, right? Not when Simon Lambert, Lee Boyce and Georgie Frost get their hands on the subject. Also on this week’s show… Bank branches? Honestly, when was the last time you went into bank branch? What’s the point of them in 2017? More than 1,000 have closed in the past 12 months and the new thing of paying in cheques by photo could finish the rest off.You’re young, you earn money but never enough. Do you rent / buy a home or pay into a pension - or both? Inflation – it’s higher expected. Will Brexit make it spiral out of control and why did we move from to CPI from RPI? You CAN be a successful investor. If our new guide isn’t the easiest to read, most informative one you’ve read – we failed. We don’t think we did. Allow its author Simon to explain why investing is easier and more profitable than you might think. And finally… Ebay contracts aren’t binding. You can make anonymous joke bids that you never have to honour. It must be time for the online auction house to behave like an auction house. Enjoy #brexit #economy #money #pensions Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What a mess we’re in. Without too much effort this week, we spotted 10 messes. It was made pretty easy with the fallout from Chancellor Philip Hammond’s first go at a Budget making news all week. His attack on small business was up there with some of the made-up-as-you-go-along nonsense from his predecessor. Hammond learned well from George Osborne. Mess 1The Budget. Last week we wondered if the whole thing was a joke? It was. The main thrust, a rise in National Insurance contributions for people who don’t have a staff job, is in the bin. This leaves a big gap in the Government finances. They tried austerity, cut taxes for the richest, tried taking it out on small business. None of it has worked. What next? Tax needs to rise somewhere. Mess 2Ill-thought-out tax tweaks from the past come back to haunt policymakers. A change to flat-rate VAT announced in the last Autumn Statement is about to come into force and will be a further blow to small business. Listen for the great VAT explainer on how it works and who’ll be hit. Mess 3 A man who installed mouth-shaped urinals at work is named Britain’s best boss. Mess 4 New complicated emissions-based taxes on cars are coming in. Few motorists know what’s happening or why or how. Here’s an example: an emission-free electric car costing over £40,000 will be due more emissions tax than proud polluter the Ford Mustang V8. Plan for a bigger tax bill. Maybe. It’s a mess. Mess 5 It emerged while we were on air that the Chancellor responsible for some of the above messes – and still a sitting MP - is to become a newspaper editor. Politicians running the Press – and the one responsible for the short-lived sausage roll tax. Brilliant. Mess 6The latest job figures are out and look really good! This would be great news except too many of the jobs are zero hours contracts and wage growth and productivity are rubbish. When inflation caused by the devalued pound starts to bite, it’s likely to ravage spending power and could create a downward spiral of job insecurity and financial misery. Mess 7 Interest rates need to go up but the Bank of England won’t do it. It kind of can’t. Low rates are causing more harm than good, especially keeping wages down. See above. Mess 8Mortgage rates, however, will go up. The way mortgages are calculated isn’t based on the Bank Rate. Learn how they work and impress your friends with your new knowledge. Mess 9 People aren’t saving enough. There are easy ways to save and invest but people see investing as gambling and won’t do that either. Mess 10It’s Isa season – but cash Isas have been killed off. Who did that, George? Your entire £15,240 limit might earn you about one pound fifty a year in interest in the worst accounts. There are alternatives, This is Money editor Simon Lambert picks five ‘dividend heroes’ – but are you brave enough? Also with Georgie Frost and Rachel Rickard Straus.Enjoy. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It felt like there was something fishy going on during the Budget speech this week.Chancellor Philip Hammond peppered the few official announcements he made with low-rent panto gags and political jibes. Were these a distraction technique? With the benefit of hindsight, it’s clear that trying to be funny was silly Philly’s way of glossing over one of the more ‘spectacularly dumb’ decisions in modern politics. Big banks brought the economy to its knees in the late noughties, why now go after the self-employed and small businesses to shore up the country’s finances with a National Insurance hike? It was a short, sweet kamikaze mission, especially given the manifesto pledge of no increase in VAT, National Insurance or income tax. A U-turn beckons. As ever, This is Money editor Simon Lambert explains exactly what it all means and how National insurance works for the self-employed. Is it time to merge it with income tax?Also, on the show with Georgie Frost and Lee ‘spreadsheet’ Boyce…A pointless, below-inflation government-backed savings bond was also announced in the Budget. You can get better elsewhere. Diesel cars confusion – we need answers on where exactly the pollution problem lies and who is likely to be penalised and whenSavings deal of the week – Atom bank has an attractive account but it’s only available on a phone appRip-off insurance cover – IPT, the insurance tax, has doubled in two years. Expect to pay hundreds of pounds more to cover your car and home.Can you afford to ever retire? Listen to Simon’s advice and you can save without realising. How should couples manage their joint finances – and what if one has secret debts? And finally, who should pay for dinner if you dine with someone who earns less than you?Enjoy. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A speech this week from President Donald Trump sent the US stock market soaring to a record high.And where the US goes, the rest of the world follows. The FTSE 100 is also impressing investors. Trump stood at the podium, behaved like an adult and explained a little more about some of his less crazy policies, including the fiscal ones. Cash held offshore could start washing back into America and wind up in the pockets of shareholders, who clearly want a piece of that pie. There’s more to it than that. This is Money’s Simon Lambert explains how it all might work as other pundits ponder whether it’s the euphoria before the fall. A ‘bull run’ is when markets rise. ‘Bears’ usually spoil the party. The gloves are off. Also on the show, featuring Lee Boyce and Georgie Frost:Two more years of miserable savings ratesLifetime Isas – a totally flawed Government plot A new Range Rover ‘for women’Car insurance premiums are likely to rise because, oh do they really need an excuse?Hateful parking finesHateful probate fees A chance to win a radio Warm bath of homicideEnjoy. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

There are a lot of laughs this week as Simon Lambert, Lee Boyce and Georgie Frost take a sideways look at some of the week’s potty money stories.Banks are in the spotlight because it’s reporting season and there was a mix of good news, shock news and fraud news from Barclays, HSBC, Lloyds and the rest. But the pathetic attempts by RBS to lure customers to its headline 0.05% interest-paying cash Isa get taken to pieces by the This is Money team. Also on the show… A trendy new bank backed by the tech entrepreneur, haircut wearer and singing coach on TV’s The Voice, Will. i.am, is paying 2% to its savers. It’s a suspiciously high a rate say our judges. To open the account you have to take a selfie. How many moneyed 60-year-olds will take that seriously? Football. Bloody hell! It’s the metaphor for anything. Could the rise and fall of Leicester City be clever economic forecasting at play?A conversation about the state of our banking sector ensues: Tale of two bail outs – RBS v LloydsBritish Airways vs all the other airlines it used to be better than until it got into bed with Marks & Spencer’s sandwich department. Divorce vs capital gains taxScammers vs printer owners The new Ferrari vs critics of its odd new name And finally, How much is a coin worth when the Queen’s face has a goatee beard?Enjoy. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It’s the Holy Trinity of money-geddon (to mess up a couple of Biblical metaphors). But this could be big. We’re less well off than in 2008, prices are going up and wages aren’t.This adds up to trouble. The British economy is based on us all spending money on services but it’s increasingly money we haven't got. Join Georgie Frost, Rachel Rickard Straus and Simon Lambert for a cheery look at what lies ahead now that the impact of austerity, inflation and the devalued pound is becoming clear. Also, on the show… SAVE GOODBYE: The only place to get a savings account remotely worth saving money into is likely to be with a bank you’ve never heard of.STOPPING SHOPPING: The Government has mucked up business rates so seismically that many shops are likely to shut down. Surely a u-turn is the only hope. POUND ROUND-UP: Round pound coins are being killed off. If you’ve got a jar full at home you need to spend them now. DEAD MEAN: First they made disabled people pay for tax cuts of the rich and the crimes of the bankers, now the Government is hacking away at a financial lifeline for bereaved parents. It’s not civilised. Enjoy. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The property market is broken. Years of cheap money have allowed lenders to lend more and more to people earning less and less and we’re at crisis point. The politics of trying to boost the housing market to win votes has left us on the brink of potential disaster. Rents are likely to soar too, removing even that alternative to having a roof over our heads, and while all the economic focus rests on London there’s little incentive to move to Stoke-on-Trent. It was with this mess in mind that we’d been looking forward to the latest Government white paper that promised to outline plans for the ultimate rescue package for housing.It might as well have been 104 blank pages for all the piffle it contained. There is no plan. They don’t know what to do.The question is, can Simon Lambert, Rachel Rickard Straus and Georgie Frost come up with any better ideas?Also on the show… Could another idiotic car scrappage deal be on the cards? This time for our once eco-friendly diesels. Our failed energy regulator is allowing the big suppliers to get away with the heating equivalent of murder as nPower claims its seventh most disgraceful company of year award in a row. Aldi opens its door to This is Money as its assault on the Home Counties continues with old-school Tesco-like zeal. Where will it end? Car wars – there’s some prices in the showrooms definitely worth a lookAnd Rachel reveals the best school trip stories you’re ever likely to hear.Enjoy Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We haven’t left the world’s biggest trading block yet so measuring the success of Brexit is tricky. It hasn’t happened. There’s still no plan.But what we do know is this.The inequality gap between rich and poor in Britain is growing.More than 14million have not been able to save a penny in the last 12 months.And HALF of earners of £25,000 or less haven’t put cash aside for the rainy days ahead.But why would you save when the interest rates available are lower than inflation? It means saving is a way of losing money. Unlike Brexit, there is a plan and it’s possibly an investment plan. And what if there was a timeframe over which you definitely don't lose out?Join Simon Lambert, Georgie Frost and Lee Boyce for a round-up of how to save and invest, why and where, the pitfalls and the safety nets. Also on the show:Simon goes botty potty after an a artificially intelligent computer programme (bot) has beaten a team of leading human poker players. The ramifications for financial tools is colossal. Mini bonds look too good to be true. They probably are.How does pay-as-you go car insurance work and why does car finance fill us with dread?And finally, Lee, our coin correspondent, visited the Royal Mint coin making factory and is won over by the clinking of new pound coins.Enjoy. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We tried hard this week not to talk too much about Britain's exit from the European economic bedrock as it jumps headfirst into bed with Donald Trump’s protectionist America. Instead, and in related news, Georgie Frost, Adrian Lowery and Simon Lambert take a look at the exodus of banks from the UK.Not just those planning on moving to continental Europe post-Brexit, but the latest wave of branch closures announced by HSBC and Yorkshire Bank.But do we really need them? Simon, This is Money’s editor, would happily never set foot in one again. Also on the show.Can you beat inflation with savings?Probably not – so listen to our easy-to-follow look at how anyone can to get into investingEmail hacking sees no sign of relenting - and now there’s a scam based on Amazon to watch out forAnd finally… Tacky bespoke Rolls-Royces are all the rage among the stupid rich. Why?Enjoy. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week will go down in history for a couple of major events.A new US president being sworn in is always big news but that happens every four years. OK, Donald Trump might shake things up a bit if he's able to get his way.Most noteworthy in Britain was the revelation that 'Brexit’ means the total withdrawal from the EU, customs union and single market as a way of controlling immigration. Prime Minister Theresa May laid out her 'plan' for the future of Britain outside the world's largest trading block. How that stacks up economically remains to be seen. This is Money’s Simon Lambert has a pretty good stab at explaining, along with colleague Rachel Rickard Straus and Share Radio’s Georgie Frost. Some say Britain cannot afford to go it alone because of the unsustainable level of Government and industry debt. However, one commentator told This is Money this week that household debt is now a far greater worry than anything the Government can muddle along with. And now prices are starting to rise significantly. Will it all reach a tipping point this year? Also on the show:How will Donald Trump’s presidency affect global business?Why is car tax so complicated? Why don’t we just scrap it?Why do people like Amazon so much and hate Npower?Why are people still Npower customers when they’ve topped the worst customer services league for the 7th year running?Why does Rachel like John Lewis and loath Tastecard in equal measure?How do the train companies get away with it? Are the RAC really that good?% credit cards are just a trap – aren’t they?Enjoy. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Investors have been cheered by a stunning start to 2017 for the FTSE 100, which racked up a record-breaking run of closing highs.But does that mean we should be confident or worried? The FTSE 100 is made up of international companies with foreign earnings, booming on the back of the devalued pound. On this week’s This is Money podcast, Simon Lambert and Rachel Rickard Straus join Georgie Frost in the Share Radio studios to explore why shares have soared and discuss whether this is a good, indifferent or the absolute worst time to invest. Investors love to invest at the wrong time. Inevitably, also on the agenda this week are the two words on everyone’s lips, Trump and Brexit. We take a quick look at the devastating influence an angry tweet from the US President-elect can have on the pharmaceutical, car, defence and airline industries and the ongoing vagueness of Britain's relationship with Europe before swiftly moving on to more pressing matters.Among them are a look at how rich you are, the best paying jobs and the overheated property market.Median wealth is £35,000, a top 5th slot in wealth league costs £85,000. Farmers got the biggest pay rises last year and the average deposit for a first-time buyer is now £24,300 (61% of earnings) - 20 years ago it was £2,095 (12% of earnings).If you’re feeling flush from any of this, we reveal the UK’s most desired used cars too.Enjoy. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The glass is half full and we’re on the hunt for a silver lining as we look forward to what's in store for our finances in 2017.We also cast a quick glance back at the most entertaining money stories of 2016, which were about... well, money.We go behind the scenes with the man we hold responsible for the phenomenon that was stories about new fivers worth a more than £5 and coins worth a small fortune, consumer affairs editor Lee Boyce.Readers loved his stories about coins and notes last year, and they set a trend for stories about money worth more than face value across Britain's media and viral internet.Where did the ideas come from? Why are some of these coins and notes worth more? Is the round pound next?Lee gives us the lowdown in the studio with Share Radio's Georgie Frost and This is Money editor Simon Lambert.Also on this week's show, we look at whether 2017 will be a good year for investors as the FTSE 100 hits a run of record highs, or whether the view that the only way is up spells trouble.We also hunt for some decent savings rates, highlight why dividends from an income investment trust might be an alternative and discuss the stories we'd really like to see in 2017.And to round off the show, Simon and Lee take the This is Money podcast quiz of 2016. Do they remember the details about the stories we covered, or are their memories alarming short. Find out who wins the gold coin and who takes home the wooden spoon (which is actually a free rubber spatula Georgie got with a magazine). Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The phenomenal successes of British athletes at the Rio Olympics were quickly forgotten in 2016 as a confusing, unpredictable mix of politics and economics took over. The peculiarities began before Brazil, however, when Leicester City won the Premiership title at odds of 5,000 to 1. Then the British public were granted a vote on the country’s role in the European Union, which few appeared to understand. Markets crashed and recovered, the pound tanked and people got rather angry – but mostly about attempts to increase the price of the popular yeast spread, Marmite.Finally, a reality TV star with the language of a child and behaviour of a child became leader of the free world. Join Simon Lambert and Lee Boyce of This is Money and Share Radio luminary Georgie Frost for a look behind the sound bites and the hubris as they try to work out happened and why. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It might be the only time in history that four five-course supermarket Christmas dinners are taste-tested on live radio over a discussion about the state of the economy. There’s really not much more one can say. Other than will it be Lidl, Waitrose, Tesco or ‘the wildcard’ that proves more popular this year in the turkey, cheese, Prosecco, sprouts and cranberry sauce league? The result, as a clickbaiter might say, may surprise you. The journey might amuse you. Inflation hit 1.2% and the US Federal Reserve raised its main interest rate. Merry Christmas.From this week’s crew: Georgie Frost, Simon Lambert, Lee Boyce, Rich Browning and Tom the producer. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It’s amazing isn’t it? We’re a service economy with a heavy reliance on financial services but when it comes to customer services and financial services, we’re useless.Our email inbox is permanently full of complaints about companies that refuse to help their customers – as is our old-fashioned post bag. For the ninth year running the Wooden Spoon awards are upon us, where we highlight the most complained about companies and organisations of the year and ask readers, listeners and viewers to vote for the absolute worst. Last year the BT chief executive collected the award. This year, the execrable Southern Rail makes the shortlist as it enters the festive period without a timetable and none of the bosses in jail. Who gets your vote? Join Rachel Rickard Straus (British Gas), Lee Boyce (Banks – all of them) and Georgie Frost (Southern Rail) for a fabulously entertaining look at some of things we hate with a passion. Also on the show…We look at how mortgage lending works. Did you know they have lending quotas and when the cash runs low, the rates go up and vice versa. Nowt, necessarily, to do with any outside economic pressures. Hopefully, the withdrawal this week of the cheapest ever deal is not the start of a trend. Stupid house price surveys and their contradictory view of the state of the marketSpread betting is suddenly in the spotlight as people wake up to the fact that it’s gambling, not investing. And finally, the game’s over, according to the author of a new book about financial Armageddon. We’re heading for the biggest financial crash in history and the chances of recovery from this one are smaller than the interest you can get on savings account. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

An energy firm collapsed this week, but even if you were one of GB Energy's customers you might not have even realised.If you've ever wondered where all those strangely named energy firms have come from, listen to this week's This is Money Podcast to find out.Simon Lambert and Lee Boyce, of This is Money, join Georgie Frost in the Share Radio studios to discuss why our energy firms are feeling stressed.They also look at why our banks are being stress tested, with the majority state-owned RBS setting an example by failing.But how do you get from that to Guns N' Roses and OPEC? Listen to this week's podcast to find out. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The new Chancellor delivered his first Autumn Statement this week with the aim of distancing himself from his predecessor - but what will it mean for you?Philip Hammond grabbed the headlines with a ban on fees for tenants, a 2.2% savings bond, a minor splurge on infrastructure and an awful lot of debt.Will tenants bear the brunt of landlords hiking rents after being hit by crafty letting agents?Is a three-year bond paying 2.2% the answer to the savings crisis? What’s the key to productivity other than spending less time on Facebook?Are we really poorer than seven years ago and counting?How on earth will we ever pay off £2trillion of debt?Simon Lambert and Rebecca Rutt, of This is Money, join Georgie Frost, of Share Radio, in the studio for the This is Money Show podcast to try and answer all these questions and more.And if you’re all Autumn Statemented-out, there’s also some existential questions about Black Friday, a look at whether airport parking spaces really make good investments, and a Formula 1 car for the road that you can buy.It’s a fun show. Enjoy. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

After the Brexit vote rolled in, a tax giveaway and spending splurge was considered a nailed on certainty.Five months down the line, Britain's economy has surprised many with its resilience and it's not so clear cut.So what will Philip Hammond do in the Autumn Statement. Will the public get infrastructure bonds to invest in, will stamp duty see a cut to get people moving, and will anyone ever commit to properly fixing Britain's roads.Next Wednesday's Autumn Statement holds the key and Simon Lambert and Rachel Rickard Straus, of This is Money, discuss the outlook with Georgie Frost, of Share Radio, on this week's This is Money Show podcast.Also under the microscope is Trumpflation. What on earth is it, why are investors chasing this trade and will a big infrastructure spend and tax cut in the US help its economy?Simon has read Donald Trump's economic plan and takes us through what the President-Elect says he will do (unless of course he changes his mind).Also up for discussion is the white Ferrari 458 Speciale and McLaren 675LT that can only be bought as a £700,000 pair from an Essex car dealer. Is that the kind of thing you'd treat yourself too.Listen to the show and leave us a comment. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Simpsons predicted it but did you? Donald Trump will be the next president of the US after his election win this week - something many thought was impossible.But just how much of a part did economic dissatisfaction among those who feel left behind by a wealthy elite play in this? Did that wealthy elite spend too long ignoring ordinary hard-working families concerns and telling them they knew what was best? Why didn't the other side realise and do something that would have stopped the White House keys going to the most controversial president-elect ever?And what on earth does President Trump mean for the US economy and for the finances of us Britons on the other side of the Atlantic? Simon Lambert and Sarah Davidson, of This is Money, join Georgie Frost in the Share Radio studio for the weekly This is Money podcast to answer these questions and more.And it's not all Trump. We also get an update on Simon's will-writing adventure - where he promised to finally sort one out and explain what you need to think about, and talk about why mess can make you a success, what next for Tesco Bank and customers after its 21st century bank robbery and check up on some high street shopping giants.And finally, you know all that Toblerone fuss: want to know if it really does look that silly, or whether it tastes or feels different? We've got a new wide-valleyed bar in the studio, ready to test. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Bank of England updated us on post-Brexit vote Britain this week and managed to admit it was wrong while telling us it was right. Simon Lambert, Adrian Lowery and Georgie Frost rake through the inflation report and outlook for interest rates and the economy on the This is Money podcast with Share Radio.They also look at what that High Court victory means for Brexit, business and our money.While this rumbles on, savers are being stung by terrible rates and inflation rising. So what should you do with your spare cash and what even counts as spare? We look at whether you should switch banks, invest it, buy premium bonds, or perhaps just go on holiday (be warned this is now more expensive).Watch out though if you do go away, you might find a robot has nabbed your job by the time you get back. We also take a look at what the rise of the robots means – and the jobs we’d rather they had taken of us. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Cleared for take-off? Heathrow is given the green light for a third runway, but what does it mean for the economy, residents, house prices and the future of air travel from Britain?Some under 30s ARE saving enough for retirement while we explain why turning back the clocks this weekend makes our roads more dangerous.Has buy-to-let gone cold? Or should landlords look north to student towns such as Leeds for better yields? Buy-to-let and LS6 postcode expert Simon Lambert runs the rule. And PPI. It has been plague to banks for years – but one, NatWest, has been pulling sneaky tricks on some who were due fair redress… Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Enough already! Can’t everything just be simpler? ‘Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication’, said Leonardo da Vinci, whose basic thinking gave us art and helicopters to chat about and wonder over for centuries. It hardly goes without saying that top of the week’s meddles is from Ryanair, the low-cost airline MOST famous for concocting increasingly bizarre, arbitrary ways of charging people more.Now it’s levying a fee for checking yourself in at home on your computer and printing the boarding cards – but only if you do so four days before you fly. Stop it!George Osborne, remember him? Also known as Gideon U-turn, the Chancellor who used to think up stuff in bed then announce it as Government policy the next day without the slightest idea of whether it would work. Pasty tax was one meddle you may recall. This week, plans to create a secondhand market for annuities was scrapped – because no one wants to buy duff annuities from people who don’t want them for very that reason. Stop it.Also on the show. The complexities around the wobbly pound, the dangerous, complex ramifications of the latest inflation figures, the banks that aren’t great at looking after your money, more complicated tax ideas and the five pounds worth more than five pounds because people are… oh, you know?On a simple note, you can now buy things for a million pounds with a swipe of your iPhone – oh, but only if you’ve got a million pounds. There’s always a catch. Join Georgie Frost, Rachel Rickard Straus and Simon Lambert for this fun look at the week’s events in the world of money. Enjoy. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The country appeared to take leave of its senses this week. As the pound continues to take a steady route south through the Channel tunnel down to the capital of Armageddon, the effects are being felt by businesses across Britain. And bit-by-bit consumers are starting to notice. They’re not happy. News of the famous savoury black paste, Marmite, being taken off the shelves at Tesco spread across the internet like a yeast infection. People became hysterical - and not in a funny way.You don’t mess with people’s brands as Unilever found out when it stopped supplying the supermarket many of its famous-name products because of the rising cost of foreign-sourced ingredients. Join Simon Lambert, Georgie Frost and Lee ‘Bovril’ Boyce for an entertaining look at what it all means for the pound in your pocket. Also in the podcast: Former Bank of England governor Mervyn King believes the weak pound is a good thing for Britain. Don’t wait until to get to the airport to change your money – you’ll be in for a nasty shockThere are transfer services for larger amounts of foreign currency – particularly useful if you want to BUY pounds Are banks are a spent force? Lloyds seems to think so as it slashes rates on it accounts and slashes staff from its head count.Rant of the week: the best savings account now pays a pointless 1% interest and that is affecting the whole economy. How to spot a fund manager who talks sense and invests sensibly. There must be one or two. It’s not just the exchange rate that's back in the 1970s, brown cars are popular again. House prices might also get a mentions. Enjoy. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It’s the best money show on the radio. Of that we are in no doubt. What is in doubt, though, is what’s behind our ‘economic recovery’ and the small matter of the future of Britain. Georgie and Simon are joined by ace This is Money investment and business reporter Ellie Lawrie to pore over the week’s strange events. To the soundtrack of the Prime Minister’s pro-Brexit speech at the Conservative Party conference, the FTSE 100 was hitting near record highs. Behind the headlines, the story was somewhat different. The FTSE 100 index of leading shares is mostly made up of foreign companies so when their earnings are converted into pounds, they’re suddenly worth a lot more. That’s why the market is rising. But some clever maths shows that in real-terms the market is in fact down. Confused? Listen now.Also in the show A flash crash smashed sterling, Are we being controlled by algorithms and should we be worried?Among the platitudes aimed at loyal voters, PM Theresa May’s speech also included a promise to end corporate greed and corrupt banks. That would be a good thing but how would she pull it off?Wills – two in three of us haven’t got one and that’s an unnecessary problem. What would you do with £50,000? With rates so low, the traditional ‘overpay your mortgage’ answer is outdated.Fivers – should we keep them as collectors’ items or spend them? It’s a cashless society. Could they become valuable. As Christmas toys hit the shops, we ask what was your favourite toy? Did you kill Tamagotchis or make things with Lego?Enjoy. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.