Money Box

The Bank of England has held interest rates at 5.25%, ending a run of 14 consecutive increases. What does that mean for mortgages? We'll also look back one year on from the mini-budget. Hear from Clare Beardmore the Director of the Mortgage Club at Legal and General and Nimesh Shah the CEO of Blick Rothenberg.Nearly half of our universities are now encouraging students to work part time by promoting it on their websites. The Higher Education Policy Institute, which carried out the research, has described it as a major change in the attitude of universities. Dan Whitworth reports from St. Andrews.And what does the rates freeze mean for savers - we'll speak to Anna Bowes the founder of SavingsChampion.co.uk.Presenter: Paul Lewis Reporters: Dan Whitworth and Sam Clack Researchers: Luke Smithurst and Jo Krasner Editor: Jess QuayleMortgages 00:00 Students and Part-time Work 10:26 Energy Report 18:35 Savings and Best Rates 19:29(First broadcast 12pm, Saturday 23rd September, 2023)

This podcast discusses the impact of inflation on rising bills and provides tips for reducing personal inflation rates. Topics include saving money on groceries, understanding the consumer price index, the impact of rising prices on everyday expenses, and overpaying for dating app subscriptions.

Exclusive data for Money Box suggest that 1 in 5 UK adults have had to ration things like heating or electricity to keep up with their debt repayments. 1 in 8 have changed the food they eat for less healthy options. The survey, carried out by debt charity StepChange, found a third of adults say they are in financial difficulties, but half would be reluctant to contact their lenders to try to sort things out. We'll speak to the CEO of StepChange Vikki Brownridge.Listeners who run community groups battle their banks over unexplained account closures. What are your rights?Millions of pounds of Pension Credit has been claimed by thousands of people in London who didn't know they were eligible. A recent campaign saw 8,200 older households in 17 London boroughs receive targeted letters to make them aware that they might be able to get the benefit. As a result there were more than 2,000 successful claims, worth just under £8.4 million. Plus, Money Box journalism leads to questions being asked in parliament over an energy scheme that thousands of people missed out on.Presenter: Paul Lewis Reporter: Dan Whitworth Researcher: Sandra Hardial Editor: Jess Quayle(First broadcast 12pm, Saturday 16th Sept, 2023)00:00 Rationing to pay debts 08:40 Bank Account Closures 14:44 Energy Bills 16:59 Pension Credit

Richard Curtis, Sophie Smith, and Helen Morrisey discuss the importance of green investments for engaging young people in pensions. They also explore the problem of self-employed individuals not saving enough, the power of retirement funds in addressing climate change, and taking ownership of your financial future through pensions dashboards.

This week there have been warnings that millions of people aren't saving enough for retirement and calls for pension contributions to be increased. One thinktank - New Financial - released a report saying that despite the success of auto-enrolment nearly a third of the UK workforce are not saving for a pension at all. Most aren't saving enough and will have smaller pensions in future. The government says auto-enrolment means billions more is being saved into pensions. If you are one of the millions of people who own shares directly in a UK company then you may have to give them up. There are just two weeks left to have your say about the future of how those shares are held. It's because paper share certificates are on the way out to be replaced by digital versions. We'll discuss what this means. If want to have your say email "digitisationtaskforce@hmtreasury.gov.uk".If you're wondering where your favourite show on Netflix or Paramount has gone it might be a victim of the strikes in Hollywood where 11,000 writers and more than 150,000 actors have been on strike for the last few months. It means a large number of productions being filmed or produced in the UK have been put on hold, leaving the mainly self-employed crew members with no work and no financial support. We'll hear from those affected.Plus Royal Mail has announced that the price of posting a letter will rise in October for the second time this year. We'll have the details on that.Presenter: Paul Lewis Reporters: Dan Whitworth and Sarah Rogers Researcher: Sandra Hardial Editor: Jess Quayle(First broadcast 12pm, Saturday 9th September 2023)

15 million adults in the UK feel financially insecure as a result of the rising cost of living. And almost 1 in 10 say they have debt they don’t know how they will repay – that’s according to the charity Christians Against Poverty.Felicity Hannah and a panel of experts answer your questions on everything debt related - from the cost of childcare, bankruptcy and support if you have been the victim of financial abuse.Featuring, Alice Haine, Personal Finance Analyst at Bestinvest and Richard Lane from the debt charity StepChange.Presenter: Felicity Hannah Producer: Sarah Rogers Researcher: Luke Smithurst Editor: Jess Quayle(First broadcast 3pm, Wednesday 6th September, 2023)

One in five people are using Buy Now, Pay Later for essentials, with many struggling to manage repayments. Building more accessible homes could save millions annually and improve the lives of wheelchair users. The government is exploring changes to pensions, including accessing surplus funds. Concerns arise regarding pension fund surpluses, regulations, and risks of early withdrawals.

Podcast discusses recent changes to student finance in England, including extended loan repayment period and lowered income threshold. Guests explore impact on current and future students, struggles and concerns of student finance, financial challenges faced by students in England, and benefits of student discounts and financial support options.

The podcast explores the challenges and adaptability of high street businesses in Barnsley. It discusses the impact of inflation on the market, contrasting experiences of Dave and David, and the economic value of local high streets. Katie's side hustle and plans for expansion are also highlighted. The podcast ends with an exploration of Barnsley market and upcoming topics.

Sally Herbert, Principal at Oasis Academy Harpur Mount, primary school in Manchester, discusses the impact of the cost of living on children's education. They touch upon challenges like staff turnover, managing school finances, funding and budget constraints, and the dedication of teachers amidst financial difficulties. Laura McInerney and a Department for Education spokesperson also provide insights on the future of schools.