ICR149: Money matters at Christmas

This week on the show, Martin has run out of things to talk about in 2016, so instead he’s looking through some seasonal press releases about money.

There’s also a roundup of the latest personal finance news.

Money matters at Christmas

In this episode of Informed Choice Radio, we’re getting festive with a look at some of the seasonal money and personal finance research that has landed in Martin’s email inbox recently.

It’s that time of the year, again, when financial services companies try their best to put a festive spin on what they do. Some of it is genuinely interesting and useful; some of it is just fluff. In this episode of Informed Choice Radio, Martin takes a look at some of the best ones.

He talks about returning unwanted Christmas gifts, last minute shopping, spending money to avoid upsetting family and friends, the cost of insuring Father Christmas, putting Christmas on credit cards, and a different approach to Christmas shopping.

Personal finance news update

-Price inflation has been driven higher in the year to November, with the biggest rise in clothing prices in six months a major factor.

-Transfer values on offer from defined benefit pension schemes are shooting up, according to pension provider Royal London.

-The total value of privately owned housing stock in the UK has grown to over £5.5 trillion for the first time, according to new research by Halifax.

-Savings rates offered by so-called challenger banks is double that offered by traditional banks, according to new research.

-The government has announced a review of automatic enrolment to encourage more people to save into a workplace pension.

-The Bank of England has voted to keep interest rates on hold at 0.25%.

Get answers to your personal finance questions

Do you have a personal finance or investing question for Martin?

Email martin@icfp.co.uk or ask on Twitter @martinbamford.

You can call our dedicated podcast voicemail line on 020 8144 2745 with your question or visit www.icradio.co.uk/voicemail to leave an online voice message.

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