This is Money Podcast

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 discuss when they will finally go back to normal - and whether fixed rates are a good deal again.  The team also talk about an Octopus energy customer who was charged £5 to make a cup of tea thanks to a new smart meter.  For homeowners starting 2025 by sticking their property on the market, we get some tips from estate agents on how to spruce up your home - and which renovations aren't worth the bother.  We also discuss whether buyers really care about the smell of freshly baked bread, and what the best colour is to paint your front door.  Helen speaks about the companies This is Money readers have moaned about most in 2024, and her highlights from the Crane on the Case column.  And we finish off with some sensible tips from financial advisers about how to give your money a makeover in the new year. 

In a special epsiode, we hosted our first live podcast at our offices to celebrate a  decade of discussing Britain's personal finances. Georgie Frost, Simon Lambert, Lee Boyce and Helen Crane talk through 10 years of huge and unexpected financial developments, from Brexit and President Trump to Covid and the cost-of-living crisis. Some of our valued listeners were in the audience as we covered major themes that have erupted in our financial lives since 2014, including Liz Truss's infamous 'mini-Budget', the rollercoaster property market – and whether we can truly say we have put the cost-of-living crisis in the rearview mirror. In addition to looking at the bigger picture, we drilled into how these events have shaped our personal finances and affected our savings, mortgages, pensions, investments and aspirations. 'Producing a podcast episode every week for a decade felt like something we should celebrate, so I was delighted to welcome our guests – and especially our listeners – to a 10th birthday celebration,' This is Money publisher, Simon Lambert said. 'Launching a podcast was a fairly unusual move a decade ago and it turned out to be a good idea and also hugely enjoyable for us. 'We always wanted the podcast to make money engaging and accessible, help people improve their personal finances and enjoy the richer life that can bring.'

On this special bonus episode of the This is Money Podcast, Simon Lambert catches up with Alastair Humphreys about his quest to find adventure close to home. Alastair, a genuine global adventurer, who featured on our Making The Money Work Podcast series in 2020, recently published his book Local: A Search for Nearby Nature and Wildness. It told the story of his year spent swapping travelling the world for exploring the grid squares of the Ordance Survey map centred on his home location. In this extra podcast episode, we find out more about why he did it, what he learnt and how you could start your own money saving adventure on your doorstep right now.

How much spare cash do you have to spend? A new index shows we typically have £836 in disposable income each month. That’s the amount of money you have left over to spend or save after taxes and bills have been paid, according to comprehensive research. This week, Georgie Frost, Simon Lambert and Lee Boyce talk income and ask... does a £100,000 annual salary really not make workers feel wealthy anymore? The annual list of happiest and unhappiest towns to live in Britain has been released, with Slough in Berkshire being labelled the most miserable. Is that a fair tag for any town? Bitcoin topped $100,000 for the first time. It soared in the wake of Donald Trump's election.  So, have the crypto evangelists been proved right, can you still make money from bitcoin and what other coins are worth looking into? Lastly, wood stoves are back in the news. What are the rules around them - and are they really a polluting menace?

House price predictions for next year have started to roll in, so where do the experts think they are headed next?  Georgie Frost, Helen Crane and Lee Boyce discuss the property market - and delve into figures that attempt to tackle the tricky question: is it harder to buy a home now versus 50 years ago. And sticking with property, Halifax has launched a highly unusual fixed-rate mortgage - should borrowers be tempted? With the weather turning colder, we talk how to stay warm this winter without breaking the bank and whether it is worth getting a fixed tariff with your energy firm. We reveal the amount you should have saved in your pension in every decade of your life to guarantee a golden retirement - and how much notice you should pay to these formulas.  And lastly, Lee reveals his top tips for avoiding the out of contract rip-off trap - and how he's saving more than £400 in the next 12 months by doing so. 

Rising inflation is raising questions about interest rate cuts and their impact on borrowers and savers. The discussion includes whether now is the right time to fix mortgage rates and how changes in inheritance tax laws affect farmers. There's also a look at the hidden dangers of gift vouchers that often lead to lost funds. Finally, smart retirement planning is emphasized, highlighting the importance of professional advice amidst market volatility. Tune in for a lively discussion on navigating these financial challenges!

Crypto has been a little quiet of late. Out of the spotlight, minding its own business. But Donald Trump gets voted back in as US president and boom - bitcoin surged beyond $90,000 for the first time. The rest of the crypto market has also seen a boost, so what's going on? Where is it likely to head next and what do you need to be aware of if you are cashing out your gains? Simon Lambert, Lee Boyce and Georgie Frost delve into bitcoin and friends to give their verdict. The number of Isa millionaires has soared, with a 228% jump of investors joining the club in just two years.  And there are 25 of them who hold an average of £8.9million. Just how do you build such a big pot? Britain's first Isa millionaire, Lord Lee, gives his three tips. Fresh from her Budget speech, the Chancellor has announced plans to use our pension savings to boost economic growth by creating megafunds. Just what are they? We tackle an tricky question about IHT and giving away a home. And finally, Lee's Collecting Corner is back... this time, he reports from a trading card, and reveals two Paddington themed treasures sent in by readers... a 50-year-old stuffed toy, and a limited edition signed print snapped up at a charity shop for just £30.

President Trump is back. The US election finally came to a head this week and rather than the knife-edge result many expected, Donald Trump secured a decisive win over Kamala Harris. This podcast episode is a special double header: the team discuss that US election result and interest rate cuts in the first half and then celebrate the tenth anniversary of the This is Money podcast in the second. First up it’s President Trump. In a sense, he is more of a known quantity this time round – having already racked up four years in the White House before. But that’s only in so much that Donald Trump can ever really be a known quantity and the financial world is preparing to strap itself in for another rollercoaster ride. But why does Trump claiming a second run at US president matter to our finances in the UK? What could his policies and pronouncements mean for small investors in Britain? And will the President-elect really drive mortgage costs up on British homes? Georgie Frost, Lee Boyce and Simon Lambert discuss the potential impact of the new Trump presidency on the show this week. Plus, the Bank of England has cut base rate again to 4.75 per cent but cautioned that it sees higher inflation and slower rate cuts in future. The team discuss what that means for our mortgages and savings. The menace of out-of-control bamboo in people’s gardens and what you can do if a neighbour has some is also up for debate. And finally, podcast fans should listen to the end for the tenth birthday chat – and an announcement on some celebrations.