

Money Box
BBC Radio 4
The latest news from the world of personal finance plus advice for those trying to make the most of their money.
Episodes
Mentioned books

May 10, 2023 • 29min
Money Box Live: Learning Disability and Neurodiversity
Trying to understand interest rates, credit card changes and mortgage deals is an effort for most of us, so how do you manage if you have a learning disability?Dan Pepper, a former Paralympian joins presenter, Ruth Alexander, to talk about how he manages his money, and what challenges he faces.We'll also be talking about how ADHD and other neuro differences can affect your personal finances.On hand to answer listener questions: Tony Lloyd, CEO of the ADHD Foundation, The Neurodiversity Charity, and Phillipa Gould, Financial Advocacy Manager at Dosh, a not-for-profit organisation. Presenter: Ruth Alexander
Producer: Amber Mehmood
Editor: Jess Quayle(First broadcast 3pm Wednesday 12th April, 2023)

May 6, 2023 • 25min
How to grow an entrepreneur
What are your children up to this weekend? Many will be busy eating chocolate eggs and enjoying their Easter break from school. Some youngsters are out there running businesses, balancing their books and even turning a profit. In this Money Box Easter special, we meet some of those remarkable kids and ask how we can help children learn entrepreneurial skills - and whether they should be?
Featuring: Precisa, Max and Louis
Plus, Julian Hall, CEO of Ultra Education, and Zoe Bennet, Managing Director at Training Personified.Presenter: Felicity Hannah
Editor: Jess Quayle(First broadcast 12pm, Saturday 8th April 2023)

May 3, 2023 • 28min
Money Box Live: New Financial Year
From 6th April, there's set to be a host of financial changes. From household bills, changes to pensions, national insurance and help for energy bills. Almost every household will be affected in some way.We breakdown the main things that you need to know and put your questions to a panel of experts - Helen Thornley, from The Association of Tax Technicians and Sam Richardson, Deputy Editor at Which? Money Magazine.Presenter: Dan Whitworth
Producer: Amber Mehmood
Reporter: Hannah Mullane
Editor: Jess Quayle(First broadcast 3pm, Wednesday 5th April, 2023)

Apr 29, 2023 • 24min
Your Household Bills: Lincoln Live
In this special extended programme broadcast live from Lincoln, the Money Box team covers all you need to know as the financial year comes to an end and a new one begins. For many household bills are going up, from broadband costs and water bills to council tax - but what can you do if you're struggling? The team are joined by organisations who're supporting people every day, to find out what help is out there.We're in Skegness to find out how local people and businesses are coping with energy costs.We'll discuss what tax changes are coming in from April, and what allowances you're entitled to. Plus we'll mark 50 years since the introduction of VAT - Value Added Tax.Don't miss music from the City of Lincoln Band and a special introduction from the Official Town Crier of Lincoln City too.Presenter: Felicity Hannah
Reporter: Dan Whitworth
Researcher: Sandra Hardial
Editor: Jess Quayle(First broadcast 1130am on Saturday 1st April, 2023)

Apr 26, 2023 • 29min
Money Box Live: Rental Health Special
Felicity Hannah and Winifred Robinson take questions on the legal rights of renters with experts Jasmine Basran from the housing and homelessness charity Crisis and Tessa Shepperson founder of the The Landlord Law Services she advises landlords of their legal rights and responsibilities.The number of people renting across England, Wales and Scotland has more than doubled in the last decade.The picture in Northern Ireland is similar with the numbers of people renting is up by nearly 2 thirds in the last 20 years. Producer: Catherine Lund
Studio Manager: Mitch Goodall
Editor: Clare Worden

Apr 22, 2023 • 29min
Rental Health: Housing benefits frozen as rents rise
Felicity Hannah starts a week of BBC coverage on the theme of Rental Health. For Money Box she examines the 3 year freeze in Local Housing Allowance (the portion of Universal Credit designed to cover housing) is leaving some on low incomes struggling to afford rental properties.Also on this episode as NatWest become the latest bank to impose restrictions on how much their customers can spend on crypto platforms and exchanges we ask if it’s ever a good idea to invest in this area.And we'll have advice for you if you've lost money through a push payment scam. Presenter: Felicity Hannah
Reporter: Dan Whitworth
Researcher: Sandra Hardial
Editor: Clare Worden

Apr 19, 2023 • 29min
Money Box Live: First-Time Buyers
In this podcast we hear from prospective and recent first-time buyers about the challenges, opportunities and top tips on taking the first steps into the housing market. The experts on the panel are, Ray Boulger, Senior Mortgage Technical Manager at John Charcol and Aneisha Beveridge, Head of Research at the estate and letting agents, Hamptons. Presenter: Adam Shaw
Producer: Amber Mehmood
Editor: Clare Worden

Apr 15, 2023 • 25min
Romance scam refund and prepayment meter penalty
A Money Box investigation has resulted in a £150,000 refund for a vulnerable romance fraud victim, after their bank initially refused to reimburse. The victim's family were told that a voluntary code, known as the Contingent Reimbursement Model or CRM, designed to protect victims of fraud would not apply in their case, because the payments had been made to an international bank account. We look at what, if anything, banks can do to prevent payments to criminal accounts overseas.In the Spring Budget the Chancellor promised to end the so-called prepayment meter penalty, where customers currently pay an extra £45 compared to direct debit customers. We look at how the new policy will work, and if it's feasible to level the playing field between pre-payment meter customers and direct debit customers long term. And where does this leave customers who pay by cash or cheque?The Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities has announced another extension to the Help to Buy Equity loan scheme. For many buyers this extension came at the last possible moment, the previous deadline was the 31st March and some stood to lose their sales. Other buyers had already received their deposits back and won't benefit from the two-month extension. We hear from a buyer and a conveyancing solicitor. Presenter: Dan Whitworth
Reporter: Aruna Iyengar and Dan Whitworth
Researchers: Sandra Hardial and Jo Krasner
Editor: Beatrice Pickup

Apr 12, 2023 • 29min
Money Box Live: Budget Day Special
In this podcast we breakdown what was in the Spring 2023 budget and how the chancellor’s announcements impact your finances. The experts on the panel are:Laura Suter, Head of Personal Finance at AJ Bell
Dawn Register, Head of Tax Dispute Resolution at BDO
Matt Copeland, Head of Policy and Public Affairs at National Energy Action
Subrahmanian Krishnan Harihara, Head of Research at the Greater Manchester Chamber of CommercePresenter: Felicity Hannah
Producer: Amber Mehmood
Editor: Beatrice Pickup

Apr 8, 2023 • 25min
HMRC National Insurance deadline extended
Felicity Hannah hears how HMRC have extended the National Insurance top up deadline after a surge in calls plus a listener asks if a drop in house prices means they should worry about negative equity?Presenter: Felicity Hannah
Editor: Clare Worden
Reporter: Dan Whitworth
Researcher: Eimear Devlin
Studio Manager: Olivia Miceli