This is Money Podcast

Mar 07 2025 500 ep. 47 mins 2.6k

This is Money Podcast artwork

What you need to know about money each week and what the news means for you, from the UK's best financial website.

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Pension gurus on top-ups and sums behind a comfortable retirement

Mar 07 2025 68 mins

People with gaps in their state pension records have just one more month to take advantage of a special offer to buy missing years going as far back as 2006. As long as you get your payment or a callback request in by 5 April you can still benefit from the deal, but after that you will only be able to fill gaps from the past six years. And many are facing a backlog with payments

How much do you need to earn to feel rich?

Feb 28 2025 47 mins

If you earn a six figure salary then you have a far bigger income than most of the population. That's a multiple of the £37,500 median full-time salary and represents the kind of money that most people will only ever dream of. But would that equate to feeling rich? The cost of living and tax mean that increasing numbers of six figure earners are saying they aren't that wealthy.

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

Feb 21 2025 54 mins

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

Feb 14 2025 49 mins

The future of the cash Isa has been in the spotlight of late, with rumours the Chancellor could tinker with one of Britain's best loved tax breaks. It's believed some city bosses are lobbying her to make the limit less generous, and push more people into investing their money instead. While just speculation, it's a move that would certainly ruffle a few feathers. This week, Lee

Will interest rates keep falling and can we dodge recession?

Feb 07 2025 57 mins

The Bank of England has delivered another rate cut but big questions remain over what happens next? Forecasters had largely agreed that this year would see another two base rate cuts, but the Bank delivered a pair of verdicts that could push ratesetters down a different path. Firstly, it slashed its growth forecast for 2025 from 1.5 per cent to just 0.75 per cent. Secondly, it s

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

Jan 31 2025 49 mins

More than a million people switched current account last year - the second time it has ticked over the 1m mark. So, who is winning the switching battle and is it all driven by people chasing a quick and easy buck from banks? Lee Boyce and Georgie Frost dive into the data and also look at why you might not be rich enough to bank with HSBC anymore... if you want its exclusive acco

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

Jan 24 2025 49 mins

How much money are homeowners now making when they sell?

Jan 17 2025 61 mins

How much homeowners are making when they come to sell up is shrinking - new data shows home-selling profits are at its lowest point for nearly a decade. This week, Simon Lambert, Georgie Frost and Lee Boyce discuss the figures and delve into the pockets of Britain where house asking prices have grown the most in the past year, bucking the trend. With looming stamp duty changes ha

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

Jan 10 2025 70 mins

You have to feel for Rachel Reeves. After establishing a solid reputation in opposition, things haven’t gone to plan as Chancellor so far. Her Autumn Budget led to widespread criticism over tax rises on employment and extra costs for businesses, while questions abound over whether her plans will deliver the growth Labour promised voters. Now, a slow burn rise in the UK’s borr

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

Jan 03 2025 40 mins

In a not very happy start to the new year, Ofgem's energy price cap went up on 1 January from £1,717 to £1,738. Energy experts at Cornwall Insight say it will go up again in April - and by more than they initially expected. So why are bills rising? After all, we are a long way from the peak of the gas price crisis back in 2021. This week, Georgie Frost and Helen Crane discus