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This is Money Podcast

This is Money Podcast

648 episodes — Page 11 of 13

Can you trust pensions, social care or anything else?

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.

May 26, 201749 min

Which party do you trust with the economy? Tories, Labour and Lib Dem head to head

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.

May 19, 201754 min

The next financial crisis is inevitable - isn't it?

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.

May 17, 201719 min

Is this finally it? Have house prices peaked? Dare we mention that word, crash?

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.

May 12, 201741 min

The supermarket squeeze on the way - and the tax breaks you just lost

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.

May 5, 201753 min

Should we ditch the pensions triple lock? (Podcast excerpt)

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.

May 3, 201711 min

How the probate fee hike was dropped (Podcast excerpt)

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.

May 3, 20175 min

The election is about your money - not just leadership battles - find out how

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.

Apr 28, 201749 min

It's not all Brexit... what does the UK election mean for your money?

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.

Apr 21, 201753 min

This is Money show - the lucky dip of price hikes, the big investing question it's easy to overlook, Lifetime Isas and alarming credit card debt

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.

Apr 7, 201754 min

It was a historic moment — Britain is leaving the affordable goods market

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.

Mar 31, 201750 min

We’ve seen the future – and it’s long, we’re poorer and there’s not a bank branch in sight

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.

Mar 24, 201751 min

10 reasons our finances are in a mess (without even mentioning Brexit)

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.

Mar 17, 201752 min

Was the whole Budget a joke? Simon Lambert dissects a Chancellor's kamikaze attack on small business

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.

Mar 10, 201754 min

Is this the end of the bull run? A better explanation will be harder to find

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.

Mar 3, 201759 min

Dumb business decisions - banks vs BA, Ferrari and football clubs

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.

Feb 24, 201753 min

The three events that could bring about financial misery for millions

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.

Feb 17, 201748 min

Madness, madness, they call it (housing) madness

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.

Feb 10, 201754 min

REVEALED: There is a way to save your money without losing out

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.

Feb 3, 201753 min

Auf wiedersehen, adieu, so long, au revoir to the banks

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.

Jan 27, 201753 min

From Brexit plans to Trump, it's just got real - what does that mean for your money?

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.

Jan 20, 201748 min

Will the FTSE keep rising? We've never had it so good, or have we?

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.

Jan 13, 201750 min

Fed up with bad news... listen to the optimism edition of the This is Money podcast

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.

Jan 6, 201752 min

Economics, politics and Marmite – 2016 – an unusual year in focus

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.

Dec 23, 201652 min

The third annual supermarket Christmas dinner taste test and some economics

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.

Dec 16, 201651 min

What drives you mad. How mortgage lending works. The end of the world.

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.

Dec 9, 201650 min

How safe are your bank, your energy firm and your gig tickets?

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.

Dec 2, 201651 min

What the Autumn Statement means for you

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.

Nov 25, 201650 min

Will Brexit Britain get an Autumn Statement giveway - and what's Trumpflation?

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.

Nov 18, 201650 min

What will President Trump mean for you?

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.

Nov 11, 201647 min

Was the Bank of England wrong on Brexit? How to beat low rates and the robots after your job

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.

Nov 4, 201648 min

Can you save enough for retirement? Heathrow vs house prices

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.

Oct 28, 20161h 3m

It's time to stop meddling and making everything so complicated

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.

Oct 21, 201648 min

Love it or hate it - the pound is not as strong as we're used to

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.

Oct 14, 201650 min

Artificial intelligence, illusions and algorithms - the new market forces

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.

Oct 7, 201649 min

Germany leads the world... to financial Armageddon and other stories

Here’s our latest joyous look at the week’s events. Join Georgie Frost, Simon Lambert and Lee Boyce for money mirth with a few nervous laughs on top. We’re possibly staring global financial Armageddon in the face again as Germany’s biggest bank owes more money in fines than it’s worth while it sits on TRILLIONS of pounds of complex debt that no one appears to understand. UK banks were bailed out to the tune of around £500bn after the 2008 crisis, paid for by cutting Government spending and disability allowances and the like.But Germany is refusing to consider any such aid and austerity. The second biggest bank in Germany is also now in deep trouble as it announced 10,000 job cuts. The knock on effects are starting to resonate around the world. What happens next is worth a ringside seat. Also on the show:Help to buy is to die – it was a policy dreamt up by our already forgotten former PM David Cameron and sidekick George Osborne to increase house pricesAldi takes on Waitrose – the supermarket (German) too popular for its own car parks is set to expand Unusual money-saving tips – avoiding amazon, hiding money and moreBHS is back - but with 99.5% fewer employeesLong-term investing – it works How to choose a mortgage – as a lifestyle choice not a panic purchase And finallyThis week’s two-minute rant – why 2-year fixed mortgages are so popular probably has more to do with bankers’ commission than decent dealsReading list: Other People's Money: Masters of the Universe or Servants of the People? By John KayWatch list: The Big Short movie is now on Netflix Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sep 30, 201651 min

The economics of weddings, scones and packets of cereal

It’s a really fun show this week and a fantastic antidote to the Bake Off and Brangelina hysteria. For the initiated, two well-known Hollywood actors announced their divorce this week and the makers of televised cake-making competition revealed they were moving it to Channel 4 from the BBC. And we don’t care. Not that making cakes doesn’t get a look in. It does but with the usual financial twist. How to save money baking is one of the more popular stories of the week. Have you any idea just how cheap it is to make a scone? Rachel Rickard Straus, Lee Boyce and Georgie Frost also find time to be utterly horrified about the cost of a wedding. Tip: Get married abroad, says Lee. Also discussed are:Retweaked economic forecasts from the Office for National Statistics (ONS)The idiocy of the lifetime Isa – another ill-conceived, complicated tax change from the previous Chancellor House prices Fluffy surveys from banks Shrinking products – that get smaller and smaller to keep the price the same And are we losing control of our money? Enjoy. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sep 23, 201649 min

People on £5 notes and other financial injustices

Now that cash machines hardly ever distribute five pound notes, the Bank of England decided it was time to issue a new, modern plastic one - to great fanfare.But the question on everyone's lips is why was it Winston Churchill and not Keith Richards on the note. This is just one of the conundrums in this week's round-up of the best of the week's money news.Also on the show...Banks under investigation for using interest rate cuts to punish customersPensions are just too confusing aren't they?Why do we spend so much extra while on holiday?All that data you've handed over may come back to haunt you in a big wayAnd more... Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sep 16, 201651 min

Young vs old, bank insults and cheap mortgages

This week the team from This is Money join Share Radio’s Georgie Frost for an entertaining look back at the week’s big stories from the disgusting tricks hidden in cancer insurance small print to the birth of a new money superhero, Scam Man.Also on the show:Why banks are refusing to grant overdrafts to youngsters. Are they overeducated and misunderstood or just living in the wrong part of town? Did baby boomers really steal all the money and run away?Did Governor of the Bank of England Mark Carney cut interest rates too soon? Or was he misled by bankers who promised to pass on the cut to saving AND mortgage customers but didn’t.Editor Simon Lambert explains his new investing technique: Doing Nothing. Consumer Affairs Editor Lee Boyce lifts the mask to reveal himself as the face of a new Beat the scammers campaign. Everyone needs to know these terrifying tricks of the tricksters. Do you have too many legs to claim on your critical illness insurance?Banks insult their customers yet again – this time with another round of ‘We’ve cut your savings rate’ hate mail. ‘Just kill the account!’ says Simon. It’s a brilliant time to fix your mortgage – surely these rates won’t last for very long.Why are rare 2p coins so popular?Would you take a pay cut for an extra day off a week? And a bit more. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sep 9, 201652 min

Best bits from the This is Money podcast

We take a look back at some of the recent major financial events that have affected us all. It's been a bumpy ride and it's time to take stock. The team from This is Money with Georgie Frost of Share Radio explain the fallout of the EU referendum, the collapsing pound and interest rates, Santander 123, complicated Bank of England decisions, inheritance tax and loads more. As ever, they explain what it all means and what it means for the pounds, the euros and dollars in our pockets. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sep 2, 201656 min

If it feels that good, it's probably a scam

This week, as the country was feeling good about its record medal haul in the Rio Olympics, suddenly consumer confidence appeared to be looking healthy too. But behind the rose-tinted sunglasses, a bubble of household debt was competing in a new kind of race with rival, the house price bubble, to see which will burst first.It’s neck and neck.Household debt is at terrifying levels. If consumer spending is on the rise, it’s likely that credit cards are a driving force. More than one in 10 households (1.6m) are in extreme debt, where 25% of monthly spending is servicing cards, loans and other debts - not including mortgages. Wages are stagnant yet house prices appear to keep on rising. That cannot last. We’re here to help. But the conclusion from This is Money’s consumer affairs gurus Rachel Rickard Straus and Lee Boyce is there’s not a lot individuals can do. Best thing, at the very least, is to try to avoid the increasingly clever scams and rip-offs. There’s some horrific tricks and it's almost impossible to tell a deal from a con. We offer some tips on what to look out for. Also, further proof emerges that George Osborne’s legacy as Chancellor is peppered with the wacky and unworkable, as his help-to-buy Isas are shown to be largely useless. Mobile phone companies, energy companies and travel companies are as sneaky as ever. First Utility charges one of its customers to STAY with First Utility. Strange times. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Aug 26, 201651 min

Why on earth is inheritance tax so complicated? This is Money podcast

This week This is Money editor Simon Lambert and consumer affairs editor Lee Boyce explain the peculiarities of inheritance tax - and then ask why on earth it has to be so complicated. The team also discuss the watering down of the once quite fantastic 123 account from Santander - and whether it's still a good deal. Lee has a moan about train fares and they ask whether Essex really is the happiest place to live in the UK. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Aug 19, 201654 min

Is there any point trying to make people switch bank? This is Money Show

Yes, it's just what we've all been waiting for - another report on the banks.This week, the CMA delivered its recommendations to shake up the current account market. Were they any good? And should we even bother trying?After all, the banks themselves already offer us free money, savings account-smashing interest rates and lots of other goodies.Simon Lambert and Rachel Rickard Straus, join Georgie Frost in the Share radio studio for the This is Money Show to talk banks and much more.Also on today's show, we ask if now is the time to buy a bargain property as Brexit worries deliver price cuts, whether Help to Buy needs to be axed and if a fixed rate mortgage still beats a tracker.Simon also has an idea for a new Office of Budget Simplicity designed to cut through daft ideas like the family home inheritance tax break.Listen to the show, leave us a comment or rate it and subscribe to the podcast.Thanks This is Money Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Aug 12, 201650 min

Rate cuts: the losers and bankers of a failed system

The whole financial system has failed us. Bankers not content with stealing £500bn in the financial crisis have just been handed billions more by their boss at the Bank of England in a desperate attempt to prop up the economy. We have the lowest level of home ownership for 30 years – to the point of ‘national emergency’.The economy is regressing.House prices are falling. The pound is collapsing. Foreign companies are queuing up to grab our cut-price industrial crown jewels.As well as printing more money to hand to bankers this week, the head of the BoE Mark Carney also announced a cut in interest rates from 0.5% to 0.25% - tantalisingly close to zero. People will borrow more and spend more, is the idea. This time the bankers won’t keep the money for themselves. This time it’ll be different. The economy will be saved!Listen to Simon Lambert and Rachel Rickard Straus pull this argument to pieces as they explain the corruption and the social and financial divides that now define Britain. Of course, there are other winners from the Bank Rate cut.A few borrowers with tracker mortgages will pay less.Also under the microscope: Banks’ complaints procedures are still useless – don’t they just fob you off to the ombudsman at the first opportunity? PPI refunds are still on the agenda – some people seem to have forgotten that banks just added it to loans without asking.And cars. Thank heavens for classics and even the duff ones. They’ll always be there for a little light relief. Unless you’re not interested. With Georgie Frost. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Aug 5, 201649 min

How to beat Santander 123 cut threat and negative rates

It’s a well-known fact that everyone who works for a bank is a sociopath and thief who doesn’t sleep at night, not because they have a conscience, but because they’re vampires (ugly ones) feeding off the goodwill of the living. Ok, it’s not a fact. But the way some of them behave it’s not difficult to think bad things. This week, we expose Lloyds Bank as liars, look at just how sneaky NatWest has become with its charges and how Santander lured in millions of savers with a deal that’s suddenly proving that it was too good to be true after all. If you’ve had a letter from Lloyds bank apologising for having to drop its interest rates because of market pressures, this is not true. Simon Lambert has checked the company accounts. Lloyds has also this week announced the closure of branches and thousands of job losses. It blames Brexit. Really? Might it not be the rise of digital banking and the pointlessness of branches that are either shut when you need them or full of angry customers in long queues waiting to discuss the rubbish service, terrible accounts or the bank’s long history of mis-selling? NatWest charges business customers 66p for every £100 they deposit in their accounts IN CASH, (see paragraph one), along with other sneak-based atrocities. The bankers at this one might go down in history as being first to introduce negative interest rates to the UK. And the big one…Santander looks set to diddle its 123 account holders out of much-needed cash by slashing the interest rate on balances up to £20,000 – shortly after increasing the monthly fee by a blood curdling 150%. Is this true and if it is what’s the best way to deal with it if you’re a customer? Elsewhere, savings rates are now so low that an account offering an execrable 1.3% was closed after four days because it was so popular. This might be the end of banking as we know it. It’s certainly the end of saving. In other news, credit card debt is a massive problem. Around five million cardholders will need more than 10 years to clear their debts. More than a million will never clear it. This affects the whole economy.Also starring Lee Boyce and Georgie Frost, it’s actually a fun show. Listen now. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jul 29, 201655 min

Al-Arm bells ringing at the dawn of things

‘Exploited! Barmy Army!’ ‘Exploited! Barmy Army!’Come on? Who still remembers the early 80s war cry from post-punk nihilists, The Exploited?And who else thinks it could equally now apply to first of the big post-Brexit foreign business invasions – the Japanese takeover of British chip-making legend, Arm?With the pound down 20% against the yen since the referendum, heavily indebted Japenese company Softbank has made a massively overvalued offer to buy the crown jewels of mobile phone components. It’s apparently banking on Arm’s future role in the ‘internet of the things’.Barmy Arm-y! Is Britain about to be exploited by the suddenly wealthier rest of the world?What on earth is the internet of things? If none of this makes any sense, relax, Georgie Frost, Simon Lambert and Rich Browning are on hand to explain it all in this week’s fun look at week’s events. Also on the turntable… What should our new Government ministers tackle first? Pensions, Housing, Transport? Simon has a plan. Who is the greediest of them all? The Post Office is paying NOTHING to savers and tops the latest League of Shame. Why’s the country now obsessed with the idea of becoming a millionaire? Be prepared for a shock when you work out how many lifetimes it might take to achieve it.And finally…What would be your first job if you were Prime Minister? An extra holiday anyone? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jul 22, 201651 min

What's the point of... Chancellors to estate agents?

This week we meet Keith Richards of the Rolling Stones to talk about his guitar collection and... oh, sorry, that's not true.However we dress this up, the truth is that this week's show and probably next week and the week after features more Brexit.Not too much though. Saved by of all things, Milton Keynes and more specifically its car parks. To kick off, Simon Lambert, Rebecca Rutt and George Frost take a reflective look over the week's events and wonder in the wake of Brexit... What's the point of interest rates, and interest rates meetings and Bank of England musings on interest rates if they never change?What's the point of quantitative easing if all it does is stoke house prices?What was the point of George Osborne? Remember him? The Chancellor who gambled it all on house prices and fear... and lost.What's the point of estate agents now buyer demand for homes has fallen at the sharpest rate on record?What's the point of new Chancellor Phillip Hammond when we have no economic plan? At least this one's got a degree in economics and industry experience. What's the point of the new Cabinet? The government one, not a sideboard - or maybe there's not a lot of difference.What was the point of austerity when all it did was make the poorest pay for riches' mistakes. It's a great show. There's some stuff on pensions and when they're next going to be mucked about with and parking rage and portal juggling. And finally, the economy may be heading back to the dark ages but the future has arrived in Milton Keynes. It's been named the second best place to work in the country and it's going to get better with free parking for electric cars. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jul 15, 201651 min

Britain in gloom - This is Money podcast

It’s started. You can’t decide to leave the world’s biggest trading block and not expect some serious financial consequences. Especially when the boys responsible for it ran away. The economics of Brexit are suddenly looking dark.We could be living under the cloud for many years.Already, just two weeks on from the referendum, we are beginning to see the prospect of falling investment, falling house prices and job insecurity. Householders, especially those in debt, need to prepare. Investors in commercial property funds are also suffering. It was always, says one commentator, a ‘disaster waiting to happen’. You invest in a shopping centre but when you want to take your money out you realise the secondhand market for shopping centres has collapsed. Simon Lambert, Rachel Rickard Straus and Georgie Frost discuss the week’s events over a soundtrack of music and news clips from 1985, which is where, statistically, we’re back to. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jul 8, 201653 min

Over and out: our entertaining look at Brexit fallout

In the run up to the ‘greatest constitutional crisis of modern times’ it was said that no one knew what would happen if we voted ourselves out of the EU.But like so much of the twaddle peddled by both campaigns’ liars-in-chief, this was also not the case. We did kind of know if only we had listened. The cool head at the Bank of England, Mark Carney, laid out the prospects in pretty clear and certain terms. And it is coming to pass. The majority of people, it seems, only listened to the lies.You must listen to this week’s podcast though.You won’t get a more entertaining overview of the fallout from the EU-out until the dusty hysteria settles in about 2025. Simon Lambert, Georgie Frost and Lee Boyce take a look at…Whether an interest rate CUT is imminent – and just how badly savers will be affectedWhat we know for sure already about the economics of Brexit Airfares are definitely going upBanks are in trouble Annuity rates are trashedSavings rates look set to plummetTax credit and cash machines are safeAlso…What kinds of trading deals are on the table for little Britain outside the European Union?Tips for 20-somethings who’ll have to foot the bill for their debt-loving forefathersHow the flimsy looking pound is already affecting prices and jobsIs it all Richard III’s fault?And…How to spot a scams How to buy a second hand carAnd what was your first car – and, honestly, how rubbish was it? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jul 1, 201652 min

What will Brexit mean for your money and the UK economy?

Britain has voted to leave the EU in a historic referendum but what will Brexit mean for your money?As the world digested the 52-48 Leave vote, Simon Lambert and Lee Boyce, of This is Money, join Georgie Frost of Share Radio to discuss what next.The UK woke up a to a new era in its politics and markets have been see-sawing but beyond the short-term volatility, how will Brexit affect our finances? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jun 24, 201637 min