This is Money Podcast

A will may be considered the expression of someone’s last wishes, but more of them are being challenged.High property prices and increasingly complicated families are being blamed for the rise in disputes, but would you challenge someone’s will?In this week’s podcast, Simon Lambert, Lee Boyce and Georgie Frost dive into why inheritance rows are more commonplace and how difficult it is to try to overturn a will.Also this week, alongside some money-saving tips for millennials a heated debate kicks off about buying flat whites vs saving for homes at a time when house prices are sky high compared to ages.Simon reveals his lessons from holding Lloyds shares all the way up, all the way down and then all the time that they have bumped along since the financial crisis.And we dig into the case of a car park prang that led to countless phone calls from ambulance chasers – and how this manages to happen.Enjoy. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Inflation has slipped to 1.8 per cent - below the 2 per cent target - and the Bank of England has downgraded the UK's growth prospects and indicated interest rate hikes are on hold.But at the same time, wages are rising by more than inflation and unemployment remains low.So has the clock already started ticking on a slowdown in the UK economy, or is this just some pre-Brexit jitters that could eventually be followed by a bounce?This is Money editor Simon Lambert, alongside assistant editor Lee Boyce and host Georgie Frost, dig into what's going on, as the growth forecast is slashed to the lowest annual rate since the recession a decade ago.But there's also some good news: lower CPI also means that more savings accounts are now inflation-beating and we look at where you can get a real return on your money and what the prospects for rates are.Elsewhere, we talk about the property market and a recent slump in prices in London and the South, along with why you should consider carefully how long your mortgage term is for.And finally it's a holiday double header. Firstly, how to play the game to avoid the traps of the air miles reward credit cards with the steepest interest rates but the best points and, secondly, with all-inclusive trips on the rise are they a good idea?Enjoy. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Investing has proven to be the best way to beat inflation and grow your wealth over the long-term, but how do you get started?And if you do already invest but feel you’ve lost track of your goals or ended up with a jumble of investments, how can you improve things?In this second edition of a two-part podcast special on saving and investing, Simon Lambert and Georgie Frost dive into how to be a smarter investor.They bust the jargon and look at why people should invest, how to get started, what investments you can choose and how to find the right ones for you.Simon discusses his experience of investing, what he got right along the way and importantly the things he got wrong.But why should you invest? Well, between 1900 and 2017 owning UK shares would have delivered an average return of 5.5 per cent, beating cash savings at 1 per cent and property at 1.8 per cent, according to the respected Credit Suisse Investment Yearbook.There’s no guarantee that history will be repeated, but companies should always have the ability to put money to productive use and reward investors with rising share prices off the back of their profits, dividend payouts, or interest on bonds.Listen to the podcast and tell us what you think. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In part one of two This is Money podcast specials, we tackle savings. When savings are mentioned, the first thought that springs to mind for many is: rates are low, what's the point?In the latest This is Money podcast, assistant editor Lee Boyce and host Georgie Frost are joined by James Blower, the Savings Guru to explain why savings are important.James has inside knowledge of the industry, having helped a number of challenger banks set up their savings business.We talk about what the point of saving is and what you need to consider at different stages - and ages - of your life.How do you save for your children, what about Isas, does higher risk equal higher reward and how do you save for a house?We also talk about why the Financial Services Compensation Scheme is important and whether saving in cash over investing is ever a worthwhile exercise.James takes us behind the scenes at how rates are set and reveals why he believes better deals are on the horizon for savers.Furthermore, we call to action those who have left money languishing in poor paying accounts to help drive the banks and building societies to offer us better deals.Join us next week for part two when editor Simon Lambert tackles everything you need to know about investing. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Inflation is within a whisker of its long-term target of two per cent – does that mean an interest rate rise off the table in 2019?Assistant editor Lee Boyce and host Georgie Frost talk about the latest inflation figures in the This is Money podcast – including why it has fallen, where it is heading next and what it means for savers. Savings rates are up, with nearly 100 accounts now matching or beating inflation. Lee explains a nifty trick on how to beat inflation with a one year fixed-rate savings account and boost the rate even further.We also discuss the House of Lords report which let rip over RPI and CPI, and why it matters to the pound in your pocket. Meanwhile, we reveal why it is important to not penny pinch on your travel insurance and how the zero per cent beer market is booming – and it's not just because of 'dry January'.This week, we don't have one, not two, but three coin stories for your enjoyment. How euro coins rattling around in your home could be worth a pretty penny and why 50p coins have had a moment in the sun. Enjoy. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Just how bad was Christmas for Britain’s shops? Retailers sounded the alarm early when advent brought a string of warnings about a terrible November, but this week we started to find out what the crucial festive period really brought.A rush of results arrived, as everyone from the big supermarkets to M&S, Debenhams and John Lewis updated on Christmas sales.The bar had been set low, but it turned out to be not quite so bad as thought – with a few winners and a bunch of losers who escaped the drubbing feared.On this week’s podcast, This is Money’s retail expert Emily Hardy, joins Simon Lambert and Georgie Frost to sift through the figures and look at who did well and who didn’t.The team also look at the crucial question of whether retailers with decent sales will turn those into profit, or whether getting items off the shelves at a discount cost them dear?Also on the agenda is what’s causing the malaise. Is it the internet, a lack of quality, or simply Britain hitting peak stuff? Simon has a theory based on sales, Amazon, people buying presents later and being a bit more discerning.Away from the high street, we also discuss how to get a new job in 2019 and find out about the man whose expensive £4,000 wasted romantic trip after a break-up spurred him on to create Transfer Travel - the ‘eBay for unwanted holidays’. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Happy New NHS?Among last year's big stories was the 70th anniversary of our beloved health service and whether we are prepared to pay for it through higher taxes.Our campaign to out the rogue, sometimes criminal, private car park operatives began with a vengeance and will continue long into 2019.Editor Simon Lambert and host Georgie Frost also explain how to avoid losing your home because of inheritance tax.And are you ready to ditch your fossil-fueled car for an electric one yet? This story will run and run. Unlike the Range Rover Sport, which was judged to be the least reliable used car to buy last year.It's all part of our look back - and forward - over the big stories and campaigns of 2018.Enjoy., Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Happy Christmas and welcome to the last This is Money podcast of 2018. Today, we cover the ghosts of Christmas past, present and future.For the ghost of Christmas past, we look at what has gone wrong for high street retailers and if that is spilling over to online firms.Ghost of Christmas present… or presents, we give five reasons why you should think twice about giving gift cards this festive period.And for the ghost of Christmas future, how you can give friends and family a gift that will last through 2019 - avoiding the loyalty penalty.As part of our campaign, we reveal the companies stiffing customers and what you can do to combat the problem.Elsewhere, assistant editor Lee Boyce takes the reigns for the infamous This is Money Christmas taste test – with editor Simon Lambert and host Georgie Frost tucking into mince pies, crisps and more, then having to guess whether it is from a posh supermarket, or budget one.And like post-Brexit Britain, there are no Brussel(s) in sight.Georgie also throws a bonus fiendish Christmas quiz into the mix – how many can you get right?Thanks for listening in 2018 - we hope you enjoy the podcast as much as we do making it. See you next year! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Nobody can escape the Brexit bedlam that has been playing out before our eyes, especially in the last week.In between backstops, trade deals, Norway, contempt of parliament, no-confidence, withdrawing withdrawal votes… what is really going on? Editor Simon Lambert, assistant editor Lee Boyce and host Georgie Frost discuss Brexit in the latest This is Money podcast.Are we going to leave? Should we really have a second referendum and can you do anything to Brexit-proof your cash? We talk it all through in our Brexit special.Outside the Brexit bubble, we look into those DNA self-testing kits being plugged by a number of firms as the perfect Christmas gift – could you get more than you bargained for? Simon reveals the best and worst performing funds of 2018 so far, in Top of the Pops fashion and Lee runs down the clever apps from challengers looking to encourage the savings habit. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It might not be on the top of your to-do list when you have a child, but investing and saving for them to build a tidy nest egg for when they reach adulthood is best done sooner rather than later.In the latest This is Money podcast, editor Simon Lambert, assistant editor (and new parent) Lee Boyce alongside host Georgie Frost look at the best ways to save for your children.We discuss investment options, Junior Isas, a pension and other ways, and why 'the hardest step is the first, but it is also the most powerful'.Lee has a target of a £50,000 pot to build up for his new daughter ahead of her 18th birthday in 2036 – and discusses how he plans to achieve this, with a little help from Einstein's eighth wonder of the world, compounding.Elsewhere, we talk about how invest for your own retirement and Fidelity's 'Power of Seven' matrix, as it looks like the pensions dashboard is finally moving ahead.We talk about the collapse of online estate agent Emoov and the future of the industry with the Bank of England's latest Brexit predictions suggesting property values could fall 30 per cent in the worst case scenario.Finally, we reveal the latest British Gas rip off and whether could we have found the answer to expensive boiler replacements. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Inheritance tax is a conundrum. Just 5 per cent of estates currently incur it but it’s been voted Britain’s most unfair major tax.Even with the number of people hit by it expected to double, it seems we just don’t like the concept.It’s no wonder then that the Chancellor commissioned a report into it from the Office of Tax Simplification, but no one forecast that to be as damning about the system as it was.It’s complicated, more than ten times as many bereaved families have to fill in forms as pay it, and it turns out the very rich pay proportionally less than those directly below them.Does that make inheritance tax ripe for a change and how could it be adjusted? Simon Lambert and Georgie Frost discuss that on this week’s podcast.Also, on the show they discuss why tenants are still waiting for a fees ban, whether the latest move to curb private parking tickets goes far enough and the least reliable cars you can buy second hand.And finally, we’ve all heard the one about how airlines might use your browsing history to hike flight costs, but have you heard about error fares that can get you somewhere for a fraction of the normal price? And more to the point are both these true. We bust five flight booking myths.Enjoy. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hello, I’m Simon Lambert, the editor of This is Money, and I’d like to introduce you to our new podcast the Investing Show.It is not replacing the weekly This is Money podcast that you know and love.But it is the new podcast of our popular video show that helps you to make more of your money, through smarter investing.Every fortnight we invite fund managers and professional investors to explain how they invest and tell us about the companies and parts of the world that they think will deliver the best returns in the future.It’s an opportunity to get under the skin of the investment world and find out how the people who run tens of millions of pounds of investors’ money really work and think.We wanted to give our regular podcast readers a chance to listen to this new show, so we are publishing it here in the This is Money podcast feed as a one-off.On this week's show, we speak to the ever entertaining Tom Becket, chief investment officer at Psigma Investment Management, and get his views on whether US shares and the Faang stocks are overvalued, where the world's best investment opportunities lie and if the UK stock market is cheap enough to go fishing in yet.Please give it a listen and if you like it look out the next show - or even better subscribe - in our new Investing Show channel at your podcast provider, or at www.thisismoney.co.uk/investingshow Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A year ago bitcoin could do no wrong – now it has slumped to 79 per cent below its peak.So what went wrong for the much vaunted cryptocurrency?The mania of a year ago gave way to a bust after Christmas and apart from a few short-lived rallies bitcoin has been mainly on the slide since.That’s not to say it has no use - the cryptocurrency and underlying technology are fascinating - but just because something has some value does not mean it can’t end up in a bubble.On this week’s podcast, Simon Lambert, Georgie Frost and Myron Jobson look at what went wrong for bitcoin and the other cryptocurrencies and what we can learn from the boom and bust.Also on this week’s show, they look at some more durable investments, companies that have paid a rising dividend for a decade or longer – and how some have seen big rises in their share price.The potential return of 100 per cent mortgages and the sudden flurry of better savings rates are also on the agenda.And finally, Simon talks us through the 2,100 road trip he took with his family to test out VW’s California campervan – and whether swapping your family car for a van that’s ready for adventure could ever be a smart move? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

House prices move in an 18 year cycle. That is the theory of Fred Harrison, who used his cycle to forecast the 2008 slump after the financial crisis. If his theory holds, the housing market will have a short wobble this year and next, followed by a final sharp rise in prices to 2025.Does that stand up to scrutiny? Simon Lambert and Georgie Frost discuss the 28 year property cycle on this excerpt from the This is Money podcast. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This is Money has relentlessly campaigned to fight online fraud – and in a major victory, Britain's biggest banks are now trialling a new system to trace stolen money. Is the end nigh for scammers?Editor Simon Lambert and host Georgie Frost talk about bank fraud and our long-running campaign to help protect our readers from the growing crime.We also talk through new rules to come in early next year that will spell out exactly what banks have to do to help prevent customers falling victim of bank transfer scams and why we launched our Beat the Scammers section in 2016.Elsewhere, if you are in the market for a credit card, one of the more eye catching is Virgin Money's offering which could get you a trip to New York with its new bumper sign-up offer – but what's the catch?We also run the rule over Vanadium, the metal which has seen its price soar substantially in recent year.We also talk about the property market and how estate agents – especially across London and the South East - have come under pressure since the Brexit vote, which has triggered a considerable slowdown. This has seen Foxtons announcing branch closures this week.And rather than the gloom and doom predictions of a potential house price crash, Simon asks: are house prices preparing to go on something of a run? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Are you trying to save for retirement, make the most of your income in old age, navigate the state pension maze, or just feel baffled by some bit of pension jargon?In the This is Money podcast this week, former Pensions Minister and our regular columnist, Steve Webb, is on hand to help you out.Editor Simon Lambert and host Georgie Frost are also joined by The Pensions Advisory Service boss Michelle Cracknell to answer reader questions about retirement savings.Topics include:Am I being overcharged by a financial adviser to invest my pension?If I die, will my wife inherit some of my state pension?Will the transfer value of my final salary pension go up if I wait a while?The panel also tackles questions on getting married later in life, setting up a pension when you're self-employed and they explain some of the terrible jargon used by the pensions industry.Why might the GMP, or Guaranteed Minimum Pension, actually reduce your state pension?Is a PIE - a pension increase exchange - worth taking from a former employer?How does the Lifetime Allowance work and if you think you might breach it should you consider getting a Lifetime Isa?They also discuss some of the most popular pensions issues raised by This is Money readers, including pension freedoms and the flat rate state pension.Enjoy. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Is austerity really coming to an end? And are the rich getting richer thanks to the Government?In the This is Money podcast this week, editor Simon Lambert, assistant editor Lee Boyce and host Georgie Frost analyse the 2018 Budget.Money for the NHS, little extras for schools, cash for roads, help for the High Street and the baby rabbit in the hat - pulling the rise in the basic and higher rate tax thresholds to £12,500 and £50,000, respectively, a year earlier than promised.We also talk about what a no Brexit deal means for interest rates? We heard from the Bank of England this week about the likely impact such a scenario could have on interest rates and how quickly they will go up – or not.Despite sticking this week to 0.75%, the decision came with a few notes of warning – largely that it was based on a 'smooth transition' for Brexit.We talk about the latest in the easy-access savings war in which a small building society trumped Marcus by Goldman Sachs – but only for a short stint.And finally, we report on the latest in our 'stop the private parking sharks' campaign - how the good people of Essex town Basildon have taken to the streets to protest about one firm running a car park and dishing out charges.Enjoy. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As stock market turmoil spreads across the globe, the advice is to keep calm and carry on, folks.In the latest This is Money podcast, editor Simon Lambert and host Georgie Frost discuss what's causing it, how long will it go on for and how concerned we should be.Because we're a positive bunch, we also reveal the shares that have rocketed over the last five years, some by more than 1,000 per cent.Also, we answer a reader query about state pensions - can couples inherit it from each other and how much might they get?Elsewhere, we take a look at the best way to clear your buy-to-let loan and discover how to bag a property bargain.Enjoy. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

With this year’s Budget moved to Monday, 29 October, we bring you a pre-Budget special.This is Money editor Simon Lambert, assistant editor Lee Boyce and host Georgie Frost debate the key areas that might feature in Chancellor Philip 'Spreadsheet' Hammond’s tax and spending review.This includes housing, inheritance tax, pensions and a whole host more, as he tries to find £20billion down the back of the Treasury sofa for the promised NHS boost.But this Budget has some extra spice, with both Brexit and a Labour party whose main policy idea seems to be to force another General Election, which it thinks it can win.We discuss what the Government needs to focus on to stamp out the Labour challenge and just how the economy is looking ahead of Brexit.One time Labour donor Lord Sugar is threatening to leave the country if Jeremy Corbyn comes into power, thanks – in large part – to its threat of a barrage of tax rises.How big is the threat from Corbyn and co - and what can you do to protect your family from a potential overhaul of pensions, Isas, capital gains and even transferring wealth to a spouse?Enjoy. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, This is Money launched another campaign - and we have the private car parking sharks and the DVLA in our sights.We talk about the horrific cases of drivers being fined and penalised we have received from readers and listeners so far, ask how the DVLA is able to sell our details on without permission and what can be done about the menace – along with what we want changed.Elsewhere, editor Simon Lambert, assistant editor Lee Boyce and host Georgie Frost talk about Dave and Marcus.The latter is the Goldman Sachs backed offshoot offering savers 1.5 per cent interest – and has seen 50,000 people sign-up.The former is Dave Fishwick, who has gone on a crowdfunding drive this week to try and raise up to £7million to help get his Burnley Savings and Loans venture a banking licence.We also discuss Isas. We reveal why they are so good, why they should be part of most people's financial planning and how to become an Isa millionaire.Enjoy. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Child benefit and state pension - It’s not the most obvious link.But if you are a parent who is looking after a child instead of working, you need to register for child benefit in order to build up your entitlement in retirement age.Austerity swept away the universal child benefit and those households where one parent earns more than £50,000 have to start giving it back until it is removed altogether above £60,000.Unsurprisingly, many who fall into this bracket simply opt not to take it and see no point in registering. Unfortunately, mums and dads who stopped work to look after children are now finding they’ve missed building up their state pension.It should be easy to fix, but HMRC and the government have been stalling parents affected. That’s why This is Money has started a campaign to get this mess fixed, before it gets any worse.On this week’s podcast, Simon Lambert, Lee Boyce and Georgie Frost discuss how this all happened and why it matters to not just those affected.Also on this week’s show, we discuss whether it’s a good idea to delay your state pension and why banks and building societies are cutting mortgage rates, despite the Bank of England raising rates.And finally, can you really have a weekend away in Europe, flights and a decent hotel for £57? Yes you can, thanks to a very clever new website we tracked down.Enjoy. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On Budget day, March 2013, Chancellor George Osborne launched a scheme intended to help first-time buyers but was described at the time by This is Money as a 'very good day for builders'.Help to Buy was seen as just another ploy to prop up the UK housing market by helping first-timers borrow even more money to try to enter the housing market.It came in for flack then and is in the spotlight again, accused of forcing up house prices, benefiting the rich and trapping some people in homes they cannot afford.In this short clip, editor Simon Lambert, explains exactly what it is and whether the disaster waiting to happen from 2013, is happening. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The reports of buy-to-let’s death have been greatly exaggerated. That is the view of one of the few professional residential property fund managers in the UK. Alan Collett, who runs the Hearthstone fund, believes for the astute investor there is still money to be made from Britain’s homes.You could answer, ‘well, he would say that’, but for those interested in the property market, his reasons are worth listening to.In this week’s podcast, Simon Lambert, Sarah Davidson and Georgie Frost dig into the current state of buy-to-let and whether those without an entire property fund at their disposal can still turn a healthy profit if they think long-term.Also on this week’s show, they discuss where the most homes have been built over the past decade, why Goldman Sachs’ new bank Marcus has got everyone talking thanks to an eye-catching savings rate and whether insurers really do spy on you – including if you’re burgled while Instagramming your holiday.And finally, the new 68 registration plate was launched this month and that should have meant a surge in car sales, except as was suggested by one dealer we may already have reached peak new car and that has combined with diesel worries to sink sales.The good news is that means bargains for car buyers, with as much as £10,000 off some models. We reveal which ones. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As banks went kaput a decade ago, the safety of our savings was thrust into the limelight.Most had never considered that cash in the bank was at risk and knew little about the Financial Services Compensation Scheme. When Icesave blew up a year after the Northern Rock collapse things changed dramatically.We should all be up to speed now, but how safe are your savings?On this week’s podcast, Simon Lambert, Tanya Jefferies and Georgie Frost we look at savings protection but also how you could end up losing money by sticking with cash.Ironically, worries about banks a decade ago triggered a flight to safety and more people stashing money in savings accounts rather than investing.But had people invested as Lehman Brothers collapsed they would have more than doubled their money by now.Taking the risk as the world appeared to be falling apart would have been the right move. Yet, at that point the stock market was already down 20% and fell by that again before it hit the bottom, so how many would have been brave enough?Also on this week’s show, we discuss how easy it might be to hit the £1million pension lifetime allowance sand whether your car might fail its next MOT. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What do you do about the looming inheritance tax threat when you live with elderly parents along with your own child and the home is worth nearly £10million – and you want to continue living there?It sounds like a champagne problem, but IHT does hit ordinary people – including one reader who admits to being relatively cash poor. How can they make sure they aren't turfed out due to inheritance tax?This is Money editor Simon Lambert, assistant editor Lee Boyce and host Georgie Frost discuss the IHT issue.Elsewhere, we discuss the big responsibility of being a trustee with a pot of cash to invest for a younger sibling and why it is never too late to start sorting your pension.With a number of big firms suffering hacks, including British Airways, we discuss what people can do if they are a victim and how to prevent becoming one.And finally, we talk about electric cars as sales continue to rise with the UK pushing for an entirely zero-emissions road network by 2040. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What would you teach a student about money?It’s almost time for a fresh year of students to start university and as they find their feet with new friends and a new way of studying they will also face another challenge – being in charge of their financial life.But we don’t have to send them off ill-equipped to deal with that, a few helpful tips can stop students ending up down to their last few pounds before the clocks even change.And as well as offering guidance, it’s perhaps even more useful to tell students about where you went wrong with money at university, or in your younger life.On this week’s podcast Simon Lambert and Georgie Frost have some helpful advice for students and a few candid tales of the money mistakes they made.Also, on this week’s show, we discuss child trust funds and how the free money dished out to children has often been lost track of but could be a nice little windfall.And we put Help to Buy under the microscope. Asking whether it will be tweaked, ditched, or the new build property market is so hooked on this subsidy that we can’t get rid of it? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Established banks, challengers, fintech firms and payments providers – they all have one thing in common: none of them are immune to IT problems, glitches, hacks, meltdowns or customer service failures.Yet the momentum towards going cashless shows no signs of slowing down - but is Britain ready for it?In this week's podcast, assistant editor Lee Boyce along with host Georgie Frost talk about the future of payments.Elsewhere, we reveal what went 'wronga' at Wonga and why Lloyds Bank is now recording all product openings in branch.We also discuss the potential Aston Martin float, which could value the firm at £5billion.Lastly, motoring editor Rob Hull talks about two car brands from different ends of the spectrum – Ferrari versus Lada.A 250 GTO sold for a record auction price recently while a Lada could sell for £75,000 – yes, a Lada. Could it be a miracle? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Buying a home, whether it is your first-time or not, can be a daunting experience.From the initial hunt trawling through property websites, to finally getting the keys, it can be an arduous process with plenty of tricky hurdles to overcome.In this housing podcast special, This is Money editor Simon Lambert, assistant editor Lee Boyce and host Georgie Frost talk all things property.We have tips on taking the temperature of the local property market, working out what you can really afford, what to pay, how much to offer, how to do it and what happens next.We also reveal some of our personal experiences and tricks we learnt along the way to help you with the process. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Government's £11billion scheme to install 53million smart meters in homes and small businesses by the end of 2020 has been plagued by problems.Now it appears there may be more hidden nasties. A wireless tech expert says they have the power to take over customer accounts. In theory, this means suppliers could cut off a household's electricity or gas without visiting the property, add debt to a meter, remove credit on an account, change the charge levied or turn the meter into a pre-payment device.Authority to use these functions has yet to be granted – but it all sounds a little big brotherish.In this week's podcast Simon Lambert, Lee Boyce and Georgie Frost question, is it time to rethink the smart meter push? Also on this week's show, we talk secondary tickets after Ticketmaster axed Get Me In and Seatwave, discuss what to do with £10,000 in order to get onto the property ladder and the motivation you need to prevent becoming a CV cliché. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

From pubs to hotels and shops to petrol stations, Britain has gone parking mad.Private land owners have been signed up across the country by operators, who stick in automatic numberplate recognition cameras and then dish out tickets to motorists who stop there.We’ve had countless stories of over-zealous fines and this week Lee Boyce revealed how he fought back after he was sent a ticket for stopping briefly at a BP petrol station.What allows all this to happen is the DVLA selling people’s details to car park operators who snap their numberplate.So is it time to fight back against this parking madness? Why has it got so bad? And how do you beat a ticket?In this week’s podcast, Simon Lambert, Lee Boyce, Rachel Rickard Straus and Georgie Frost talk parking tickets.Also, on this week’s show, the banks doing the dirty on savers after the rate rise, how to make your child a pension millionaire and the curious case of Aldi and the food producers accusing it of copying them. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Interest rates have finally risen above 0.5 per cent for the first time in almost a decade.The Bank of England has decided that the UK's economy is healthy enough to finally get above the financial crisis emergency level, but was the hike a wise move or a mistake.Of those in favour, some have been calling for a rate rise for a long time, others believe we must try to get back to normal before recession hits.But those opposed believe even this tiny shift up to a very low base rate level of 0.75 per cent, is a gamble too far from the Monetary Policy Committee's ratesetters.On this week's podcast, Simon Lambert, Lee Boyce and Georgie Frost dive into the rate rise. Why did the bank hike rates, who will it affect, why do interest rates even move up and down and how did they end up at 0.5 per cent in the first place?Also on this week's show, Lee introduces us to the world of micro-saving, we discuss the case of the financial adviser who suddenly ask for £10,000 more and Simon tries to show he is down with the kids who are making money by selling on Depop. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We’re all going on a summer holiday! Don’t worry, podcast fans, we aren’t really, but we are dedicating this week’s show to the lucky among you who are.We cover all things money from planning your holiday to arriving back home again.We talk through what you need to know to make sure you have the best travel insurance while you’re away, to how to pay for things and withdraw cash while abroad to make your money go the furthest, to car hire tricks and getting compensation if something goes wrong.Seats and tray tables back to the upright position, seatbelts on and notepads at the ready…Enjoy! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Working out what to do with a life-changing sum of money is a nice problem to have but that doesn’t mean it’s not tricky. We’ve all read the stories of inheritances, lottery wins and other windfalls squandered - and even if you have spent a lifetime building your wealth, whether through investing or business, it would still be all too easy to rattle through the cash.On this week’s podcast, we look at a question from This is Money’s new Wealth Check section on what to do with £1.2million from a business sale: how to spend some enjoying life and invest the rest so that it is not at too much risk but still grows.From there, Simon Lambert, Tanya Jefferies and Georgie Frost dive into what a life-changing sum of money might be, why more people are getting them, and what you might do with it.For those without that luxury, we look at why engaging with your pension investments is being tipped as a way to retire early - and whether a bit less time panic scrolling on social media might buy you the time to do that.Also on this week’s podcast agenda are the cheap wills that could cost your family a fortune, the used electric cars rising in value – with the Renault Zoe up 30% in a year - and the annoying text messages that could replace Verified by Visa. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this five minute guide to what you need to think about when writing your will, This is Money editor Simon Lambert explains what he discovered when he wrote his - and the things you need to consider. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How soon will you be driving an electric car? The Government laid out its Road to Zero plan this week, adding some detail to previous announcements on how it wants to drum petrol and diesel cars off our streets.But is there enough in there to show how we will get from electric and hybrid cars currently making up a 2.2 per cent market share to 50 per cent by 2030?From 2040, new cars running only on petrol and diesel won’t be able to be sold and a decade after that we’re all meant to go electric.The crucial question though is what happens in the near future. How long before your next car is electric?Simon Lambert, Lee Boyce and Georgie Frost look at what it will take to tempt us into electric cars, where they will be charged and how long their range needs to be for drivers to take them seriously.They also look at how much a second-hand electric car might cost you.Also on this week’s podcast, Lee reveals a savings trick that could get you a 7 per cent return on £1,000 and we ask whether fixing your mortgage for a decade is wise.BT raising the cost of old email addresses to an astonishing £7.50 a month is also on the agenda.And finally, football isn’t coming home (yet) but has England’s good run at the World Cup boosted the economy?Enjoy. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The world of savings could be set for a shake-up when a new player comes to town – Marcus.Marcus is an online challenger bank and an offshoot of investment banking giant Goldman Sachs, and may just put a bit of welcome pressure on rates in the savings market.But that’s not the only change afoot in savings.Virgin Money is launching an account where interest is earned in air miles, best-buy fixed rate deals are at a two-year high and Monzo has seen losses quadruple. There’s a lot going on.On this episode of the This is Money podcast, consumer affairs editor Lee Boyce and assistant editor Rachel Rickard Straus join presenter Georgie Frost to discuss all this and what it means for savers.They also talk through hotel booking websites, their tricks and whether they work for or against holidaymakers.The trio also discuss how much we need to save for retirement, why a raffle to win a Brixton flat has just been extended, and finally… could success in the World Cup really boost the economy? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

If you are selling your home you need to make it look as good as possible.And that starts before you welcome any potential buyers through the door, as to even get them to consider visiting it needs to look great in estate agent's photos.In a world where people go online to hunt for properties, how can you do that? In this excerpt from the This is Money podcast we give sellers some tips to make their home shine. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The National Health Service is 70 years old this year and most of us are proud of the British institution, leaning on it in our times of need.However, we’re living longer with more complex problems and the service keeps crying out that it needs more money.Where does it come from? Do we make cost-cuttings or plough lots of money in, do we increase income tax, make the rich pay, or introduce a new special ring-fenced tax?Theresa May announced plans for £20.5billion-a-year cash boost – but was a little short on the detail. She hinted at tax rises and mentioned a ‘Brexit dividend’.This is Money editor Simon Lambert, along with consumer affairs editor Lee Boyce and presenter Georgie Frost look at ways to fix the NHS in the latest podcast. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What's the most important thing when you want to move home?Should you worry more about getting the best price or simply about getting your home sold?On this week's podcast we delve into the art of home selling, looking at how to make sure the price is right, whether to do work before you sell, or just a quick spruce up and why what's happening in the property market near you should be a deciding factor.Another month and another set of mixed messages about the state of the housing market is revealed.First-time buyers who have a deposit and home movers in the North are doing fine. But London is on the ropes and second and third movers are staying put, bringing the market to a standstill.According the Halifax, prices nevertheless managed to rise £3,000 last month in this ‘subdued’ market.Editor Simon Lambert, assistant editor Rachel Rickard Straus and money broadcaster Georgie Frost get into the aural attic to unbox the facts.The villain of the piece, they agree, is stamp duty. It used to be a 1% tax on purchases but it got tweaked into a giant cash cow for the Treasury by successive Chancellors.Stamp duty is stalling the market and needs to change but how?And is it really worth putting in a new kitchen before you put your home on the market if things get desperate?Also on the show: Paddington Bear 50p Gate.An exclusive This is Money report this week found an enterprising student in Caerphilly who had been handed a not-yet-released Paddington Bear 50p coin in her change.The shop happened to be down the road from Royal Mint, where the coin was made. The coin happened to end up on eBay with bidding topping £15,000.Find out how this happened and whether it’s true, spoiler alert: it is, what ridiculous lengths the Mint went to try to get its coin back and how you can get your hands on one.Finally, the clamour to tackle inner-city pollution has taken an unexpected twist with motorists in a huge new area of London bearing the brunt of a proposed new fee.Owners of reasonably new cars that don’t meet the emissions standards of brand new ones, face a £12.50 charge every time they drive - even if they live in the zone and need to take the kids to school.Not everyone is happy. Especially as it looks like the explosion in numbers of online shopping delivery vans and not cars might be the major cause of pollution.Enjoy, Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Whatever happened to bitcoin? After the mania at the end of last year when the price spiked to almost $20,000, the cryptocurrency took a tumble but more noticeably attention has drained away.You need no greater sign of that than figures showing bitcoin Google searches are down 90 per cent.That adds weight to the argument that much of the late 2017 big leg-up was driven by mainstream punters jumping on the cryptocurrency bandwagon.So with bitcoin largely out of the headlines, is that it for the cryptocurrency or is it time to buy for the long-term when things are quiet.On this week’s podcast we take a look at who’s buying, who’s holding and who might be waiting for the price to rise again and greater fool theory to deliver someone who will take their bitcoin off their hands.Simon Lambert, Lee Boyce and Georgie Frost also take a look at gold – and why people aren’t buying this traditional form of investment portfolio insurance – and the most consistent investment trusts of the past decade.And finally, the Government’s policy currently appears to be to confuse motorists as much as possible, with new MOT rules recently joining the car tax muddle. Are drivers now being held to ransom by mechanics over ‘dangerous’ faults – surely no garage would do that?Enjoy. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Global financial markets have been flying up and down and all over the place this week and it’s all got to do with one boot-shaped country in the Mediterranean.Italy has found itself embroiled in a power struggle between Eurosceptic populists – winners of the March general election – and the pro-EU establishment.The ramifications have spread across the globe and will affect Britons from big-time investors to anyone building up a pension pot.As we write this a coalition deal has been reached in Italy, likely to avert a proposed snap election. But this story is moving so quickly that just hours ago when we recorded the podcast there was no deal on the table. Even more reason as things helter-skelter forward to step back and work out what is going on and how on earth we got here – as This is Money editor Simon Lambert offers in his back-to-basics explainer.Also in this episode, Simon, presenter Georgie Frost and personal finance editor Rachel Rickard Straus talk about what you can do to stop your dream house move falling through, and whether proposals to make tax on savings and dividends simpler will work – or just see savers pay more tax.And finally, in troubled times for the high street, they look at one retailer bucking the trend.Enjoy. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ever heard of money flipping? It’s a new scheme doing the rounds on Facebook and social media that promises to turn your £50 into potentially thousands.So how do you do that? Simple really, you pay others to get onto the bottom rung of a pyramid and then recruit more people to move you up a level and get paid yourself.What makes it so dumb is that it doesn’t even try to have the legitimate veneer of famous pyramid schemes of the past. It’s a Ponzi scheme, plain and simple, but what is one of those and who was Charles Ponzi, the man the scams are named after.On this week’s podcast, Simon Lambert, Lee Boyce and Georgie Frost step back to America in 1920 to find out how Ponzi soared and then crashed – and look at the new money flipping scheme that has brought a trick as old as time to today’s digital age.Also on this week’s podcast, we look at TSB customers who are unfortunate enough to get scammed themselves after the bank’s meltdown and how it is failing them.And we take a look at whether the FTSE 100’s sudden 14% rise on its way to new record highs can still mean it is an unloved investment – and find out where pension millionaires invest.Enjoy. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

High house prices mean that the biggest barrier to buying a home in Britain is raising a deposit.With mortgage interest rates at near record low levels, many would-be homeowners could afford monthly payments - but saving the average £30,000 deposit would take years. For a lot of first-time buyers that means a trip to the Bank of Mum and Dad, but what if that's not an option?It is possible to buy a home without raising tens of thousands of pounds, if you take a 95% mortgage.With one of these deals, a first-time buyer able to pass mortgage affordability tests could put down a 5% deposit of £10,000 and buy a £200,000 home.But is that a good idea? Didn't small deposit mortgages crash the economy a decade ago? Are they not leaving themselves heavily overexposed to falling house prices?In this week's podcast, Simon Lambert and Georgie Frost dig into the world of buying a home with a small deposit mortgage, busting the myths and considering the benefits and the risks. They also look at whether giving buy-to-let landlords a tax cut to encourage them to sell could provide first-time buyers and home movers with a leg up, if a £10,000 bonus for all 25-year-olds would help, and after the dead cert rate rise that never happened, when will the Bank of England move?Enjoy. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

You don’t need to spend long reading the news to find a warning that Britain isn’t saving enough for retirement.But with a little bit of effort it is possible to get saving so that you can enjoy a richer retirement.On this week’s podcast Simon Lambert, Tanya Jefferies and Georgie Frost discuss how to start a pension, how to improve on the one you’ve got and how to work out if you are investing enough for retirement.They also take a look at how, if you are approaching retirement, you can check up on your state pension – and what to do if you think it's wrong.Enjoy. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A top bank has formed a 'money mule hunting squad' and is planning to share its secrets with rivals.How does this scam work and what is being done to fight it? Should banks, universities and schools take more action to prevent young people getting sucked into helping hardened criminals hide their cash? And as Nationwide starts turning away grandparents trying to deposit cash for their grandkids, what is behind this new curb on everyday cash transactions?The interest-only mortgage timebomb is a hot topic again after we featured the story of Len and Val, who never missed a mortgage payment but still face losing their home.This is Money Editor Simon Lambert and journalist Tanya Jefferies joined Georgie Frost to debate these issues.Plus, Simon has an impassioned rant about potholes... Hear it all on this week’s podcast. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Should you cash in on your home to help yourself or your kids?As a generation retires with more money in their houses than the bank, this question will only become more pressing.And it’s been a topic of much debate on This is Money this week, as we revealed how a new wave of retirement interest-only mortgages could be about to emerge.Homeowners could use one to have a more comfortable retirement, clear some debt, or hand the kids or grandkids an early inheritance – perhaps to buy a home for their own young family.Is that a good idea or a recipe for disaster – and how did we even end up here?In a conversation that tracks all the way back to the mortgage boom of the Thatcher years, Simon Lambert, Rachel Rickard Straus and Georgie Frost dive into the homes as a cash machine question on this week’s podcast.Plus, they also take a look at what happens when an inheritance doesn’t materialise as thought – can you contest a will if it’s all left to the dogs’ home.The TSB meltdown is also up for discussion, including why it happened, what next and what people’s rights are.And finally, we’re fans of money saving at This is Money and value for money – so a luxury car for the price of a Ford Fiesta sounds pretty good.Big luxury cars depreciate hard, but that is good news for the canny second-hand buyer who can pick up vehicles that might have cost £50,000 for £10,000 a few years down the line.But we’re not talking shed money here, so it needs to be reliable. This week we looked at the best bargain barges as scored by What Car? reliability tests. Which one would you have?Enjoy. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What has Mark Carney, the governor of the Bank of England, got to do with long-forgotten television soap Eldorado?Find out in the latest This is Money podcast, in which editor Simon Lambert and consumer affairs editor Lee Boyce discuss the inflation figures out this week and whether they have increased the likelihood of a base rate rise.Discover why Simon believes raising interest rates wouldn't be a bad idea but raising rates because the country finally got a pay rise would be.Meanwhile, house prices in London saw their first annual fall in price since 2009 and sellers across the UK are having to accept far less than their asking price.Are values in the capital about to fall even faster?Continuing the property theme, we take a look at new platform Raffle House which gives people the chance to win a home with a fiver – but is it too good to be true?They may be billed as good for the environment but not for our wallets - we look at the hidden costs of electric cars.And lastly, one for the gardening enthusiasts – how much of a drain on energy is the patio heater?Enjoy . Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

British Gas have revealed this week that more than four million households face a 5.5 per cent bill increase from the end of May thanks to changes to its standard variable tariff.Hot on its heels, EDF Energy announced it will be hiking the cost of energy bills by 1.4 per cent for 1.3million customers.In this week’s podcast, Rachel Rickard Straus and Lee Boyce say it is time for people to fight back and switch.Energy: The latest podcast looks at the latest energy price rises - and the furore around smart metersOn the energy theme, we talk about our campaign to stop power firms using bullying tactics in order to force households into getting a smart meter – and why it is better to wait until the end of the year.We take a look at some of the methods to make your home more energy efficient, including insulation and wood burning stoves.We also discuss how to give money to charity in a tax efficient way - and whether or not loyalty cards are still worth having.The latter comes as changes to Avios and Nectar are imminent, and Virgin Money unveils two credit cards to garner miles for Virgin Atlantic flights. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Good news. Chances are you just got a tax cut.Well an income tax cut at least, problem is your council tax is likely to be rising and if you are an investor the Government is after more of your dividends, or if you’re a landlord it wants your rental income.So who are the winners and losers of the new tax year that rolled round on 6 April? And what are the candidates for dumbest bits of Britain’s tax code.In this week’s podcast, Simon Lambert, Rachel Rickard Straus and George Frost take a look at who is getting the biggest tax cut and who is being hit.They also discuss whether we need a new hypothecated tax to pay for the NHS.Also on this week’s show we look at the best rural places to live in the UK and how to invest in wine without breaking the bank.And finally, Britain’s ten most hated driving moves have been revealed. Parallel parking we get, but why are there so many people who struggle to navigate a roundabout. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Building up a pension was once relatively simple, for each year you worked for a company it promised to pay you some money in retirement.The death of the final salary scheme put paid to that and now most people must invest into a pension instead - with their work helping out.But while it is tempting to put off a pension and think you have more pressing financial matters to deal with, that's a mistake.The earlier you start and the more you pay in, the greater your chance of having a richer retirement.So what do you need to know - and do?On this week's podcast, Simon Lambert, Lee Boyce and Georgie Frost talk pensions.Also on this week's show, some last minute Isa tips, how to share an inheritance if you want to divert it and the energy firm told it can't have any more new customers.And finally, selling used cars that are really new ones. Why on earth would a dealer do that? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.