This is Money Podcast

It's safe to say it was a mixed bag for the property market last year, with a mixture of Budget speculation and stamp duty costs weighing on house prices, but mortgage lending rules loosening helping first-time buyers. So, what will happen in 2026 - Georgie Frost and Lee Boyce discuss, and ask - will it be another stagnant year for house prices. Elsewhere, there's a warning top cash Isa rates are set to fall. Can you really retire at 50? We reveal the top tips to do and what to plan for - and Georgie and Lee reveal their new year resolutions. And finally, have we reached peak coffee shop? Costa is struggling as owner Coca-Cola looks to offload it at a loss - but have we had enough of +£4 cups of coffee at chains?

We are almost at the end of a year that turned out to be rollercoaster ride for our finances. Investors have had a good year but there was certainly some twists and turns along the way. The economy started off strong and then began to stutter, interest rates came down by a full percentage point and inflation spiked again. Meanwhile, the most hotly anticipated Budget turned out to be not as bad as it could have been but has not gone down well with businesses and taxpayers. On this final 2025 episode of the This is Money podcast, Georgie Frost and Simon Lambert take a quick ride through this year and what it meant for our finances.

The Bank of England has cut interest rates for the fourth time this year. The base rate is now the lowest it's been since 2023 but a split vote means markets and economists are now question how much lower they will go. On this podcast, Georgie Frost, Lee Boyce and Simon Lambert discuss what a 3.75 per cent base rate means for borrowers, savers and investors... and more importantly where rates are going next. Plus, the social media savings tricks that Gen Z love - and what the rest of us can learn from them. Where has the highest household income and why how it is balanced matters. How to not get caught out by a counterfeit Christmas. And finally, another thorny question about a fence... but what's the answer? Merry Christmas from all of us at the This is Money Podcast.

Mortgage lenders are battling to offer borrowers lower rates - running ahead of the Bank of England making an expected cut next week. That's good news for anyone buying a home but it's even better for the 1.9million people who need to remortgage next year - many of whom will be facing a payment shock as they come off much lower fixed rates. So, will the mortgage cuts revive the moribund housing market - and what should you do if your fixed rate is running out? On this episode of the This is Money podcast, Georgie Frost, Helen Crane and Simon Lambert talk mortgages and the property market - including why experts say now is the best time in a decade to negotiate on a new build home. Plus, what does the Fed rate cut mean for investors, would you give a child or grandchild shares for Christmas, and finally, where are Britons trying to buy homes abroad... and why?

The dust has settled on the Budget but while we now know what Rachel Reeves plans for our finances, many questions remain. The Budget featured a raft of tax rises – but also left out some moves that were widely rumoured to happen. On this special bonus episode of the This is Money podcast, Simon Lambert is joined by Lisa Caplan, of Charles Stanley Direct, to find out what people are asking after the Budget - and the answers to those important questions.

After the endless speculation, the Budget finally arrived this week. Rachel Reeves seemed happy with her statement and Sir Keir Starmer has been out singing its praises, but was the Budget a diamond in the rough or a dud? On this Budget 2025 podcast, Georgie Frost, Lee Boyce and Simon Lambert dive into a Budget that many have commented is the most chaotic they can remember. After all the rumours, worries and waiting, how good or bad was it? Some of the expected financial pain didn't arrive but there were plenty of tweaks to tax our pocket and our patience. Did the Chancellor cut the right balance between getting more money in and supporting the economy, did she articulate a clear plan, or are we back to drifting about aimlessly in the tax and spending doom loop doldrums? And most importantly, what will all the measures mean for your money?

Nvidia is the talk of the town after posting better than expected earnings results - has the chip maker genuinely eased fears of an AI bubble bursting… or just bought the market a bit more time? Georgie Frost, Simon Lambert and Lee Boyce discuss what it means for investors in Britain and how much weight this multi-trillion dollar company holds. The Financial Services Compensation Scheme deposit protection limit will rise 41% to £120,000 from 1 December and data suggests young people are too focused on saving for short term goals and risk falling behind - does it matter? What is really likely to be in the Budget? With a week to go, we have a quick last minute briefing on what Chancellor Rachel Reeves could be cooking up. There might finally be a crackdown on ticket touts for gigs and other events - Simon reveals just how passionate he is about it and why action is needed. And finally, find out what former England and Arsenal goalkeeping legend 'safe hands' David Seaman did with his £100,000 Aston Martin DB7.

This week we've had some worrying looking unemployment figures and disappointing GDP growth. Meanwhile, the FTSE 100 soared within touching distance of 10,000, before hitting a Friday slump. Mix it all together and what does it show about the UK economy? Lee Boyce, Helen Crane and Georgie Frost discuss. Nationwide Building Society has promised to keep all of its branches open until 2030 while major banks exit the high street. Does it make business sense? The Royal Mint has launched some yellow gold coins that has investors excited and what about gold's 'annoying little brother' silver - is it set to see prices soar? Lastly, we reveal the tale of a reader who had their flights to Dubai cancelled by BA at the last minute... before being quoted £20,000 one-way by Emirates to get away for half-term.

Can you do a financial podcast and not mention the Budget right now? No, not really. But you can give it a good shot at keeping Budget chat to the minimum. On this week's podcast, Georgie Frost, Lee Boyce and Simon Lambert take breather from talking about Rachel Reeves and the endless cycle of madness that is the Budget 2025 build up to discuss some other stuff. Can they get through it without mentioning the Budget anymore than five times? Listen to find out. First up it's interest rates. Why did the Bank of England hold, will there be a cut next month and how far will they fall? Plus, how have rate expectations shifted and where exactly do mortgage borrowers and savers stand now? Next, it's house prices. Leading estate agent Savills says property values are due to rise 22 per cent in five years, but is that a lot or a little - and could homes actually be getting cheaper. Lee explains why savers are stashing so much cash and Simon sounds a clarion call for moving your money out of insult accounts. Then via a quick diversion avoiding sneaky speed cameras, it is on to the turf war. Is it ever okay to consider artificial grass and what will it do to your house price? Listen to the end for B***** mentions score.

Despite repeated assurances that Labour would not break its election manifesto by hiking income tax, it appears it is now under consideration by the Chancellor in the Autumn Budget. Why is Rachel Reeves mulling over this U-turn, how much would it cost us, and would she really dare to do it? This is Money's Angharad Carrick, Helen Crane and Georgie Frost discuss. Speculation over a 'mansion tax' in the Budget has also reared its head again. The team discuss whether it's a good idea to tax people with pricey homes, and how on earth HM Revenue & Customs would decide whether someone's house is worth more than £2million or not. Elsewhere, some good news in store, as Goldman Sachs has predicted the Bank of England will cut interest rates at its meeting next week. Does fading inflation and sluggish growth mean this is now on the cards, and would the Bank dare to make a move before the Budget beast is unleashed? The team discuss. They also look at why we're now paying three times the energy standing charges we were six years ago, and why some chocolate biscuits can no longer call themselves chocolate.

The dream of becoming an Isa millionaire will be a common ambition among many This is Money podcast listeners. Most will probably dismiss it as fantasy but what if you could actually get there? Recently a long-time This is Money reader got in touch to tell us that he had managed just that... at the age of 36. Ollie Perry was happy to share his story, not to boast but to try to inspire others and to show that it isn't just wealthy boomers who can manage to make an Isa million. On this podcast, Georgie Frost, Lee Boyce and Simon Lambert discuss his story and what we can learn from it. How did he do it, are the big risks he took suitable for others, and what if you if prefer to get rich slower but with less chance of something going wrong? With a new top rate in town, Lee takes a look at the best buy savings deals on the market, Simon delves into why so many homes are seeing asking prices cut, and Georgie ponders why people are rushing to pay big money for retro tech that doesn't work.

Rachel Reeves is in a sticky position ahead of the Budget. Forecasts suggest she will need £30billion to balance the books - and having made such a fuss about the Tory 'black hole' and her fiscal rules, the Chancellor is in a bind. Problematically, the government also painted itself into a corner with Labour's election pledge not to raise income tax, national insurance or VAT - which amount for two-thirds of tax revenue. So what can Rachel Reeves do? Should she fiddle at the edges and try to raise bits here and there, distorting behaviour with tax even more, or should she break that promise and hike one of the big three. On this week's podcast, Georgie Frost, Helen Crane and Simon Lambert look at why the Chancellor is in a pickle and what leading economists at the IFS say she could do. And whether just because she could, does it mean she should? Plus, should you doom prep your finances, why are millennials becoming landlords and would you ride in a driverless taxi?

AI hype is still driving share prices higher but there are a growing number of voices warning of a stock market bubble that might soon burst. The Bank of England added its name to the list of those raising concerns this week, as its Financial Policy Committee drew comparisons with the ‘dotcom’ boom 25 years ago that soon turned to bust. The red flags include a number of high profile, huge money deals involving OpenAI, with Oracle, Nvidia and now AMD, along with a massive data centre infrastructure splurge and questions over the robustness of credit markets. But why has AI gone from great investment hope to potential market super villain in a short space of time? What on earth is going on with US tech giants' 'I give you money, you buy my stuff' deals? And are there genuine parallels to be drawn with the dotcom boom, or the months before the credit crunch? On this podcast, Georgie Frost, Angharad Carrick and Simon Lambert, look at why people are worried about an AI bubble popping and what investors can do to protect themselves. Plus, could you claim some money back from the car finance compensation that the FCA announced this week? Could we really scrap stamp duty - and would that be a good idea? And why did some households manage to may nothing for their electricity last week?

Britain's weather is famous for its ability to go from stunning to downright miserable in the blink of an eye. The nation's jobs market has a habit of doing the same. Not so long ago, workers finally had the upper hand and were celebrating a post-Covid jobs boom, where almost all roles were in-demand and some decent salary rises could be negotiated. Now, the chat down the pub is more likely to be about redundancies, recruitment freezes and endless rejections that can end with someone accepting a lower salary and position just to get a job. It will almost certainly swiftly also turn to artificial intelligence and its threat to employment, particularly the white collar kind. But can you AI-proof a career, are the machines really coming for our jobs and what are the roles that are in hot demand at the moment? On this podcast, Georgie Frost, Lee Boyce and Simon Lambert dive into the employment market and look at the list of the 30 most in-demand roles to see what they can uncover. Plus, is Rachel Reeves being irresponsible in allowing another pension tax-free lump sum rush to occur, if she isn't going to stage a Budget raid? Why is Lee not happy about his football club and cash? What did the team discover after a shout out to listeners to tell them about mystery flight delays? And finally, if you don't get unlimited Yorkshire puddings with a pub roast, can you really go to Trading Standards?

It's the latest social media craze, allegedly... revenge saving. But what on earth is it and can it really encourage people to get into the savings habit? This week, Lee Boyce, Simon Lambert and Georgie Frost dive into the world of revenge saving. And while this new buzz-term does the rounds, we have a stab at making our version - the mind-trick savings method. We discuss why you shouldn't get hung up on saving large amounts, chasing high interest rates and to visualise money like a snowball going downhill. Meanwhile, we look at the little known government savings account that has seen £220m in bonus payments – could you benefit from opening one? A current account with a 6 per cent savings rate but it’ll set you back a whopping £17 a month - can it really be worth it? HMRC can now take money DIRECT from your bank account or Isa if you haven't paid taxes and Steve Webb answers a reader question: why can't I get my state pension on my 66th birthday?

Pensions and inheritance are at the forefront of many people's minds ahead of the Budget. In her last Budget, Rachel Reeves announced she will pull pension pots into the inheritance tax net from April 2027. Meanwhile, there are concerns that pension tax-free lump sums and inheritance tax allowances could fall victim to another raid as the Chancellor tries to balance the books again. On this special episode of the This is Money Podcast, Simon Lambert is joined by Lisa Caplan, director of Charles Stanley Direct Advice and Guidance, a regular guest in our weekly Investing Explained feature. Lisa spends her days helping customers understand how to protect their wealth, make their pension last in retirement, and importantly enjoy their hard-earned money. She discusses with Simon the questions people are asking right now about pensions and inheritance tax - and the answers she gives.

First-time buyers are borrowing big to try to skip the first rungs of the property ladder and buy bigger homes, a new report suggests. That comes alongside a slump in demand for flats, as buyers push for houses instead. So whether you are a first-time buyer or a home mover should you extend as far as you can to buy a home that will last you longer, or do you risk damaging your finaces by overstretching? Georgie Frost, Helen Crane and Simon Lambert talk property on this episode of the This is Money podcast, from mortgages, to house prices, why buyer tastes have shifted and why flats can be great. Plus, how does this all fit in to the fading buy-to-let dream and can investing in property still work out? Also on the show, why Britain has an inflation problem and what we can do about our sketchy public finances. And finally, there's a new savings account with a prize draw on offer - should you open one?

Britain is suffering from an epidemic of people who are theoretically rich saying that they don't feel flush at all. If you're a higher rate tax payer on more than £50,000 then you are up in the top chunk of the country's earners, but chances are that unless you are well into six figures you don't feel particularly wealthy. And even many of those on £100,000-plus complain that they aren't comfortably living the lifestyles they expected when they dreamed of that kind of money. So, what's going on, what income does it take to make someone rich, does wealth matter more, or is it all to do with how much you have going out? As This is Money launches a new calculator that tells you how you compare, Georgie Frost, Lee Boyce and Simon Lambert discuss the state of the nation's incomes on this podcast. Plus, where are the best places to retire to and how does Britain score, how hard is it to take your mortgage with you when you move and are EPCs a swizz. Plus, listen to Lee speak to Ross Kemp for a special Me & My Money interview.