Money Clinic with Claer Barrett

Are you working to live, or living to work? Followers of the FIRE movement (Financial Independence Retire Early) budget carefully so they can invest a greater proportion of their take-home pay. Is a life of extreme frugality worth the extra years of financial freedom later on - and how could you apply the principles of FIRE to your own finances? This week, Claer helps listeners Amy and Rory on their FIRE journey, with expert tips from Mr Money Mustache, AKA the US blogger Pete Adeney, and Kristian Danielson, the person behind the r/FIREUK subreddit. Money Clinic is presented by Claer Barrett and produced by Persis Love. Manuela Saragosa is the executive producer and the sound engineer is Breen Turner. The original music is by Metaphor Music.Further reading:Mr Money Mustache’s blog: https://www.mrmoneymustache.com/You can get involved in the FIREUK subreddit here: https://www.reddit.com/r/FIREUK/If you want to get started in investing, listen to our previous episode: https://open.spotify.com/episode/3vrvbPLIxReR2ACvgH9q6t?si=WAdkHgdwRlKlLoXa9bAOGg&dl_branch=1&nd=1Claer’s free-to-read column about the problems with FIRE is here: https://www.ft.com/content/f4283596-c967-11e9-a1f4-3669401ba76fAnd her column about active vs. passive funds is here: https://www.ft.com/content/c2e9abd0-0edd-4805-b1ab-d55b661c24dePresented by Claer Barrett. Produced by Persis Love and Philippa Goodrich. Executive producer is Manuela Saragosa. Sound design is by Breen Turner, with original music from Metaphor Music Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Increasing rents, bidding wars and queues to view properties – for 28-year-old Will, finding a place to live is proving very difficult. He moved out of his last flat because the landlord increased the rent, and has just two months to find his next place. Greg Tsuman, president-elect of Propertymark, a trade body for UK estate agents, offers insider tips on how prospective tenants can get ahead of the competition. He also explains why rental properties are in such low supply at the moment. Plus, presenter Claer Barrett gets a rundown of renters’ rights from Shelter policy manager Ruth Ehrlich – when can your landlord increase your rent and what can you do if you are served an eviction notice?To listen to our previous episode about why it pays to check your credit score, click here: https://www.ft.com/content/3fb08997-b49f-4e14-b283-9abd1a648b1f And here’s a free to read link for Claer’s FT column “Why should I let my landlord spy on my finances?” https://on.ft.com/3c1cq6f And if you would like to get in touch with us about your experiences of renting property, please email us at money@FT.com or DM Claer on social media. She is @ClaerB on Twitter, Instagram and TikTok. Presented by Claer Barrett. Produced by Persis Love and Philippa Goodrich. Executive producer is Manuela Saragosa. Sound design is by Breen Turner, with original music from Metaphor Music Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Do you ever long for an extended period of time off? Maybe you’d travel the world, try out a new career, or just put your feet up for some proper R&R. While the prospect of taking six months off work to do something completely different may well appeal to you, could you afford to do so? Thirty-four-year-old podcast listener Ali has reached a crossroads in her career and is keen to plan some time off. Presenter Claer Barrett speaks to Isabel Berwick, the host of the FT’s Working It podcast, on the career implications of taking a sabbatical - both good and bad. Plus, financial planner Joanna Little, chief executive of Emery Little, talks listeners through how to prepare for six months without an income - and what flexibility could be on offer. If you would like to be a guest on the podcast, email the team money@ft.com or send Claer a DM on social media - she’s @ClaerB  Presented by Claer Barrett. Produced by Persis Love and Philippa Goodrich. Our executive producer is Manuela Saragosa. Sound design is by Breen Turner, with original music from Metaphor Music.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The cost of living is rising at its fastest pace for 40 years, and economists warn prices will increase further this autumn — with some fearing annual inflation could hit 15 per cent.On this week’s episode, presenter Claer Barrett hears how the soaring cost of fuel, energy bills and food is causing podcast listeners to cut back in other areas in order to balance their budgets. Chris Giles, the FT’s economics editor, explains what’s causing the price rises and why this in turn is pushing up interest rates — and how effective this might be in getting inflation under control.Sarah Coles, senior personal finance analyst at Hargreaves Lansdown, notes how all of these pressures are being reflected on world stock markets, as well as looking at strategies people are taking with cash savings and mortgages on their homes.If you would like to be a future guest on Money Clinic, email the team via money@ft.com or send Claer a DM on social media — she’s @Claerb on Twitter, Instagram and TikTok.Follow Chris Giles on Twitter @ChrisGiles_Follow Sarah Coles on Twitter @SaraheColesTo listen to our previous episode “How to get a pay rise” https://www.ft.com/content/eeb84e5e-acf2-4b92-a99a-bd3514e1837d Presented by Claer Barrett. Produced by Persis Love and Philippa Goodrich. Executive producer is Manuela Saragosa. Sound design is by Breen Turner, with original music from Metaphor Music Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

There’ve been thousands of flight cancellations and scenes of chaos at UK airports, so this Money Clinic episode is packed with advice about your consumer rights if your travel plans go wrong. Host Claer Barrett, the FT’s consumer editor, hears from listeners battling to get their money back from airlines and third-party booking sites, including one listener who was forced to wear her husband’s underpants after her suitcase went missing! Can she help them obtain compensation - and track down the missing suitcase? Claer sources tips about air passenger rights, travel insurance and Covid cancellation cover from veteran travel journalist Simon Calder, and Harry Kind, a Which? consumer expert.Want more?Claer’s latest FT column is packed with more tips for travellers, including how to get the best deal on holiday currency: https://www.ft.com/content/0044cce2-d9e3-4599-9615-5c2546830071Simon Calder hosts an Instagram Live on his account @Simon_Calder answering travel questions every Saturday and Sunday at 3.30pm UK time, and also has his own travel podcast - You Should Have Been There.If you would like to be a future guest on Money Clinic, email the team via money@ft.com or send Claer a DM on social media - she’s @Claerb on Twitter, Instagram and TikTok. Presented by Claer Barrett. Produced by Persis Love and Philippa Goodrich. Executive producer is Manuela Saragosa. Sound design is by Breen Turner, with original music from Metaphor Music Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Record numbers of people are falling victim to online fraud attempts, but there are no guarantees that your bank will refund the lost money. Thirty-one-year-old Jenny was distraught when fraudsters impersonating her bank made off with her life savings of £17,000. Money Clinic helped her to take her case to the UK’s Financial Ombudsman, and in this episode host Claer Barrett explains how listeners could use the free ombudsman service to obtain compensation themselves. Plus Pat Hurley, the lead ombudsman at the Financial Ombudsman service, and Katy Worobec, managing director of economic crime at the banking trade body UK Finance, pass on valuable fraud prevention tips. Want more?Claer’s column on record online fraud in the UK: https://www.ft.com/content/a6c5ab95-7be4-432c-83a5-79b7471afc1aHow to make a claim using the Financial Ombudsman service: https://www.financial-ombudsman.org.uk/To stay on top of the latest scams being reported: https://www.actionfraud.police.uk/ If you would like to appear as a future guest on Money Clinic podcast, email the team via money@ft.com or send Claer a message on Instagram, Twitter or TikTok - she’s @ClaerbPresented by Claer Barrett. Produced by Persis Love and Philippa Goodrich. Executive producer is Manuela Saragosa. Sound design is by Breen Turner, with original music from Metaphor Music Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Would you fall for a £17,000 scam? You might think you are too smart, but criminals keep coming up with frighteningly convincing ways of parting us from our hard-earned cash. Figures released last week showed that online fraud hit a new record in 2021, with under-35s increasingly the target of ‘impersonation scams’. Fewer than half of those tricked into transferring cash to criminals ever get their money back from their bank. Victims include 31-year-old Money Clinic listener Jenny. In this repeat episode, she tells presenter Claer Barrett about how professional scammers conned her out of £17,000 in April 2021 after she clicked on a text message — and the compensation battle she’s been fighting since then. Bank fraud expert Steven McMillan provides practical advice on how to spot scams and Gareth Shaw from Which? tells listeners how to get compensation if they fall victim. Next week, we will reveal what happened when Claer helped Jenny to take her case to the financial ombudsman.For more on the online fraud ‘epidemic’ in the UK:https://www.ft.com/content/df5c61b1-3430-45c3-976a-3af8789a2daeClaer’s column on record online fraud in the UK:https://www.ft.com/content/a6c5ab95-7be4-432c-83a5-79b7471afc1aTo learn more about making a claim using the Financial Ombudsman service:https://www.financial-ombudsman.org.uk/To stay on top of the latest scams being reported:https://www.actionfraud.police.uk/ If you would like to appear as a future guest on Money Clinic podcast, email the team via money@ft.com or send Claer a message on Instagram, Twitter or TikTok - she’s @ClaerbPresented by Claer Barrett. Produced by Persis Love and Philippa Goodrich. Executive producer is Manuela Saragosa. Sound design is by Breen Turner, with original music from Metaphor Music Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The FT just launched a new podcast on porn, power and profit. When FT reporter Patricia Nilsson started digging into the porn industry, she made a shocking discovery: nobody knew who controlled the biggest porn company in the world. Now, she and her editor, Alex Barker, reveal who is behind it and much more. This eight-part investigative podcast reveals the secret history of the adult business and the billionaires and financial institutions who shape it. Brought to you by the Financial Times and Pushkin. To listen to new episodes, search ‘Hot Money’ wherever you listen. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Most people know that you need a good credit score to be able to borrow money, but how to start building one up is a bit of a mystery. Money Clinic listener Emma, 22, has never been in debt before, apart from her student loans. However, she has heard that getting a credit card could increase her chances of being able to take out a mortgage in the future. Before she applies for one, what does she need to consider? Plus, if your credit score isn’t great, how can you improve it and why is this worth doing? Claer Barrett, Money Clinic presenter and the FT’s consumer editor, scrutinises Emma’s credit score, with help from Katie Watts, a consumer expert at moneysavingexpert.com and debt adviser Sara Williams, who runs a blog called The Debt Camel (@debtcamel on Twitter and Instagram). Together, they explain the hidden world of credit scores, credit files and tips on how to use credit responsibly. Want more?This free-to-read FT article How to Improve Your Credit Score includes lots more tips and pointers:https://www.ft.com/content/24b2df98-2bae-11e9-9222-7024d72222bcIf you would like to be a guest on a future episode of Money Clinic, email us at money@ft.com or send Claer a DM on social media — she’s @ClaerB on Twitter, Instagram and TikTok. Presented by Claer Barrett. Produced by Persis Love. Our executive producer is Manuela Saragosa. Sound design is by Breen Turner, with original music from Metaphor Music Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Global stock markets have suffered their biggest weekly drop since the start of the pandemic, and cryptocurrencies have crashed. As younger investors struggle to absorb the losses, they also have the rising cost of living to contend with. This week, Money Clinic host Claer Barrett speaks to Ashley, a 28-year-old investor who has lost thousands of pounds, about how he’s weathering the financial storm, and two of the FT’s top investment brains unpick exactly what has been happening in world markets and where things could go from here. Katie Martin, the FT’s markets editor, and Robert Armstrong, the FT’s US financial commentator and author of the Unhedged newsletter, have plenty of ideas for new investors thinking about their next move.Want more?Claer’s most recent FT column offers pointers to young investors: https://www.ft.com/content/83aa143b-1f84-48e9-a6f7-6c21deef278dThe financial advice that older FT readers would pass down to younger investors:  https://www.ft.com/content/1d71cdc1-5a7d-464a-9d82-bbf7b29a4656If you would like to be a guest on a future episode of Money Clinic, email us at money@ft.com or send Claer a DM on social media — she’s @ClaerB on Twitter, Instagram and TikTok. Presented by Claer Barrett. Produced by Persis Love. Our executive producer is Manuela Saragosa. Sound design is by Breen Turner, with original music from Metaphor Music Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.