The Which? Money Podcast

The way you choose to access your pension can have a big impact on the amount of money you have to live on in later life. So which option is right for you? Which? Money Editor Jenny Ross & Tom Selby, Director of Public Policy at AJ Bell explain how annuities and pension drawdown work, including the pros and cons of each method for turning your savings into a retirement income. Read our reviews of drawdown providers & sign up to our free weekly Money newsletter Find out the best annuity rates on the market right now Get 50% off a Which? membership This episode was originally released in December 2024

On this week's episode of Which? Shorts, we put Google and other online search engines to the test, to find out just how badly they're spamming us with dubious ads and potential scams.Read more about this & sign up for our Tech newsletter, it's free monthly Become a Which? member for 50% off the usual price

Long gone are the days where counting sheep was considered the best way to drift off at night. Now there are countless steps you can take to help you feel well rested after a night asleep in bed. From restricting your sleep, to buying the right pillow, we've put together an extensive guide on what you can try to improve the quality of your sleep. Read more tips on how to get a better night's sleep & sign up for our Food & Health newsletter, it's free monthly Read our reviews of the very best pillows & fitness trackers Find out which eye masks & earplugs are best for using at night Podcast listeners can get 50% off a Which? membership

Fraudsters are now using AI to their advantage, meaning scams are looking more and more believable. So what is the advice to help you spot the warning signs? In this episode, James Rowe is joined by Which? scams expert Faye Lipson and technology journalist David McClelland to talk about why scams look even more legitimate now, plus the steps you can take to sense check anything you see online. Sign up for our free Scam Alerts service & sign up to our free weekly Money newsletter Click here to send us an email Become a Which? Money member and receive a a £10 Amazon.co.uk gift card. Offer ends 14 May 2025. T&Cs apply Get 50% off a Which? membership

On this week's episode of Which? Shorts, we explore the crisis that's hitting UK pharmacies as a perfect storm of funding difficulties, staff shortages and manufacturing issues is impacting how easy it is to access the medication or advice we need.Read more about the crisis in UK pharmacies & sign up for our Food & Health newsletter, it's free monthly Become a Which? member for 50% off the usual price

With nearly one million people living with dementia in the UK, it's likely you know someone, directly or indirectly, who's impacted by the condition. But when it comes to dealing with your finances once you've been diagnosed, things are far from easy. In this episode, James Rowe is joined by Which? Money Content Editor Grace Witherden and Victoria Lyons, an Admiral Nurse at Dementia UK to explain what you can do now to ensure things are as simple as possible if you or a family member is diagnosed with the condition. Read more about what you can do to make banking with dementia easier & sign up to our free weekly Money newsletter Find out more about a power of attorney Click here to send us an email Become a Which? Money member and receive a a £10 Amazon.co.uk gift card. Offer ends 14 May 2025. T&Cs applyGet 50% off a Which? membership

On this week's episode of Which? Shorts, we analyse a range of tech features that often come as standard on new cars. From area view cameras to cruise control, we tell you which ones are worth it, and which ones are best turning down if they're an optional extra. Read more about the tech features that are ruining new cars & sign up for our Cars newsletter, it's free monthly Become a Which? member for 50% off the usual price

Since they were announced at the start of the month, Trump's tariffs have caused chaos on the markets. But is there any good news for your investments? In this episode, Rob Lilley-Jones is joined by Which? Investments expert Josh Wilson and Investments Director at AJ Bell Russ Mould to analyse what's happened to the markets this month, and explore what could happen in the near future. Read more about how tariffs could impact your investments & sign up to our free weekly Money newsletter Click here to send us an email Become a Which? Money member and receive a a £10 Amazon.co.uk gift card. Offer ends 14 May 2025. T&Cs applyGet 50% off a Which? membership

On this week's episode of Which? Shorts, we're revealing the broadband providers that we recommend. Here's a hint: it's not the big names you're expecting.Read more about the broadband providers we recommend & sign up for our Tech newsletter, it's free monthly Become a Which? member for 50% off the usual price

With Trump's tariffs causing turmoil on the markets over the last two weeks, could mortgage rates actually be one of the big winners? In this episode, Lucia Ariano is joined by Which? mortgages expert Stephen Maunder and Head of Research at Hamptons Aneisha Beveridge to analyse what impact the tariffs are having on mortgage rates and explain what it means for the housing market. Read our reviews of the best energy providers & sign up to our free weekly Money newsletter Click here to send us an email Become a Which? Money member and receive a a £10 Amazon.co.uk gift card. Offer ends 14 May 2025. T&Cs applyGet 50% off a Which? membership

On this week's episode of Which? Shorts, we've brought together the collective wisdom of Which? researchers and editors to create a shortlist of apps we think you can't live without. Read more about the apps we recommend & sign up for our Tech newsletter, it's free monthly Become a Which? member for 50% off the usual price

It's April again, which means another year of your bills going up in price. And your energy bills are no exception. In this episode, Lucia Ariano is joined by Which? energy expert James Aitchison and NerdWallet UK's Managing Editor, Adam French to discuss what the energy price cap means for you, how you could lower your monthly bills, and energy saving changes you can make to your home. Read our reviews of the best energy providers & sign up to our free weekly Money newsletter Click here to send us an email Get 25% off a Which? Money membership - offer ends 13th April 2025 Get 50% off a Which? membership

On this week's episode of Which? Shorts, we're shining a light on tipping culture in the UK. If you do give your waiter a tip, do you know if they get to keep it? And if you don't tip, could you say thanks in a different way?Read more about where your money actually goes & sign up to our free weekly Money newsletterBecome a Which? member for 50% off the usual price

In England, council tax bills have just risen by an average of 5%. In Scotland and Wales, it's likely to have increased even more. In this episode, Lucia Ariano is joined by Which? finance expert Matthew Jenkin, and Marcus Johns, senior research fellow at the Institute For Public Policy Research to discuss why bills have risen so much, and explain your options if you're looking at reducing your costs. Read more about this year's council tax increases & sign up to our free weekly Money newsletter. Click here to send us an email Get 25% off a Which? Money membership - offer ends 13th April 2025 Get 50% off a Which? membership

On this week's episode of Which? Shorts, we're revealing the dangers around shopping for goods on online marketplaces, plus explaining the steps you should take to keep yourself safe.Read more about our investigations & sign up for our Tech newsletter, it's free monthly. Become a Which? member for 50% off the usual price

Did you know that you could be forced into buying a new laptop this year? It's all because Microsoft is removing all security support for Windows 10 in October. In this podcast, exclusively available to our Which? members, we sit down with Which? Tech Editor Lisa Barber, and our resident laptops expert Oliver Trebilcock to find out what this means for you and what you can do if you're set to be impacted. This is just a short snippet of the full episode. To listen in full, click here. Click here to become a Which? member for 50% off the usual price. Get 25% off a Which? Tech Support membership - offer ends 13th April 2025. Find out if you're going to be impacted Check if your current machine is compatible with Windows 11

EVs are bad for the environment. Their batteries degrade too quickly. And there's nowhere to charge them. Today, we debunk the biggest myths about electric vehicles. James Rowe is joined by Which? Cars Editor Will Stapley, and writers Michael Passingham and Dino Buratti to answer questions from Which? members to help give you a better idea about the reality of owning an electric vehicle. Find out what happens when an EV goes wrong Read our reviews of the best car insurance companies for 2025 Should I buy an electric car? Read the pros and cons of EVs in 2025 Sign up for our free monthly Cars newsletter Get 50% off a Which? membership

The Chancellor Rachel Reeves took to her feet on Wednesday to update the country on the state of the economy. But how many of her announcements are going to impact your directly? In this episode, Lucia Ariano is joined by Which? finance expert Matthew Jenkin, and Susannah Streeter, Head of Money and Markets at Hargreaves Lansdown to analyse what the Chancellor's announcements could mean for the money in your pocket. Read more about what we learned from the Spring Statement & sign up to our free weekly Money newsletter. Click here to send us an email. Get 25% off a Which? Money membership - offer ends 13th April 2025 . Get 50% off a Which? membership.

On this week's episode of Which? Shorts, we've done a sweep of the shelves to find out which are the best and worst supermarkets - according to you. Read more about the best and worst supermarkets & & sign up to our free weekly Money newsletter. Become a Which? member for 50% off the usual price

Isa season is upon us once more. But rumours have been swirling suggesting that your allowance could be cut from £20,000 per year, down to just £4,000. In this episode, Lucia Ariano is joined by Which? Money Editor Jenny Ross, and Sarah Coles, Head of Personal finance at Hargreaves Lansdown to discuss how you can best maximise your allowance, and what to consider when choosing a stocks and shares Isa. Read the 7 biggest Isa myths & sign up to our free weekly Money newsletter. Click here to send us an email. Get 25% off a Which? Money membership - offer ends 13th April 2025 . Get 50% off a Which? membership.

On this week's episode of Which? Shorts, we're revealing the results from our EV reliability data. We examine the most common faults, problems you might face when it comes to repairs, and how much they might cost.Find out the truth about electric car battery degradation & sign up for our Cars newsletter, it's free monthly. Click here if you need to use our free complaints tool. Become a Which? member for 50% off the usual price

Food prices are on the up… again. So what can you do to beat the supermarkets, minimise waste and keep your costs down? In this episode, Lucia Ariano is joined by Which? Supermarkets expert Ellie Simmonds who reveals the results of our monthly cheapest supermarkets survey, plus Kate Hall, otherwise known as The Full Freezer shares her tips on how to make your food go further. Read our reviews of the best and worst supermarkets & sign up to our free weekly Money newsletter. Listen to our episode on supermarket loyalty pricing.Click here to send us an email. Become a Which? Money member. Get 50% off a Which? membership.

On this week's episode of Which? Shorts, we're looking at whether or not you're taking the right medicine for the job. We tell you how to get the most out of pain relief and when you should actually pay a bit more.Find out what are the best painkillers & sign up for our Food & Health newsletter, it's free monthly Become a Which? member for 50% off the usual price

New data suggests that more than two thirds of Generation X - those aged between 45 and 60 - are not on track to have enough money for retirement. In this episode Which? Money pensions expert Paul Davies and Director of Public Policy at AJ Bell, Tom Selby, discuss how much we need to put into our pensions each month, the importance of monitoring our pots, and how government contributions and tax relief boost our savings. Read more on how much you'll need to retire & sign up to our free weekly Money newsletter. Click here to send us an email. Become a Which? Money member. Get 50% off a Which? membership.

In this week's episode of Which? Shorts, we're investigating the key differences between the major cloud service providers, and reveal whether you really can trust them with your personal data. Read more on how to choose the best cloud storage service & sign up for our Tech newsletter, it's free monthly Listen to our podcast about Which? taking Apple to court Join Which? Tech now Become a Which? member for 50% off the usual price

In our final episode, we take a look at the many ways you can use apps to help you save money as you spend.Find out more, read The best budgeting apps of 2025 and sign up to our free monthly Money newsletter.

Getting into the nitty gritty of switching banks, we explore the switching offers available now, how the switching process works, and consider whether you might actually be better off sticking with your current provider. In this episode, Which? Money expert Grace Witherden and finance content creator Gabriel Nussbaum - AKA That Money Guy - discuss the pros and cons of switching, when you should consider it, and what to be aware of when looking at switching incentives. Read more about the current switching offers & sign up to our free weekly Money newsletter. Click here to send us an email. Become a Which? Money member. Get 50% off a Which? membership.

Following the Bank of England base rate dropping to 4.5% earlier this month, and with an impending stamp duty change, we're at a key point in time for anyone buying, selling, or remortgaging a property. In this episode Which? mortgage expert Stephen Maunder and David Hollingworth, Associate Director of L&C Mortgages, discuss how these changes will impact the market this year. Read more about the base rate cut & sign up to our free weekly Money newsletter. Find out how stamp duty changes could impact you.Become a Which? Money member.Get 50% off a Which? membership.

In this episode, we take a look at the most common banking security threats and what you can do to protect yourself from scammers preying on your information.Find out more, read How safe is online banking and sign up to our free monthly Money newsletter & our free Scam alert newsletter

To coincide with Valentine's Day, we're exploring joint accounts, spotting the signs of romance fraud, and finding the best Valentine's deals for you. In this episode Which? Money Expert Grace Witherden and Amy Knight, personal finance expert at NerdWallet UK, reveal the best joint accounts available, the pros and cons of sharing money, and alternative ways to pay bills together. Plus, Author Becky Holmes talks about her research into romance fraud, how to spot it, and why we need to talk about it. Read our reviews of the best joint accounts & sign up to our free weekly Money newsletter. Find out how your bank can help protect you from financial abuse.Read our advice on how to detect romance fraud.Become a Which? Money member and receive a special gift - offer ends 16 February 2025. Get 50% off a Which? membership.

Inheritance tax - it's something that's become a hot topic in recent months, following the government's proposals to make some changes to how it works, which will lead to more people facing a bill. It's often an emotive subject, but is also a complex one, with lots of rules that determine how and when inheritance tax is charged. In this episode Which? Money Editor Jenny Ross and Director of Public Policy at AJ Bell, Tom Selby discuss how inheritance tax works, how you can potentially avoid it, and whether you need to worry about it at all. Read more about the ways to avoid paying IHT & sign up to our free weekly Money newsletter. Become a Which? Money member and receive a special gift - offer ends 16 February 2025. Get 50% off a Which? membership.

This week we're looking at the impact of the government's 'freedom and choice' rules a decade on and the options available to access your pension now.Find out more, read Annuities vs pension drawdown: which option is right for you? and sign up to our free monthly Money newsletter.

Credit cards - used wrong and they can be a nightmare, but used right, they can be a great tool, whether that's the cheapest way to borrow, helping you get out of debt, or making the most of rewards. There are hundreds out there on the market with varying rewards, interest rates and functions. In this episode, Which? Money Expert Grace Witherden and Amy Knight, personal finance expert at NerdWallet UK, explain the different types, reveal the Which? Best Buys, and deep-dive into all things credit cards along the way. Read our best credit card deals and best providers & sign up to our free weekly Money newsletter. Become a Which? Money member and receive a special gift - offer ends 16 February 2025. Get 50% off a Which? membership.

Last week we released the Which? Cars podcast, where we sat down with our motoring experts to find out what they learned writing the 2025 Which? Car Guide. From revealing the data that shows new cars are spending more time off the road than old ones, to demystify the world of car finance, we've got you covered. We also answer some of your burning questions. Today, you can hear a teaser of what we got up to. You can listen to the full episode here - or become a Which? member for 50% off the usual price. Read the latest news from the cars team & sign up for our Cars newsletter, it's free monthly. Read about the most and least loved cars for 2025 & use our car reliability tool to check the reliability of your car.

Recent data shows that just 8% of us have actually received professional financial advice, while the number of financial advisors willing to work with smaller portfolios is falling. With that in mind, Money expert Megan Thomas and Chris Justham, Managing Director of Intermediary Solutions at financial advisors 7iM demystify the world of financial advice and explore whether or not AI could help bring the industry to the masses. Read more about financial advice & sign up to our free weekly Money newsletter. Become a Which? Money member and receive a special gift - offer ends 16 February 2025. Get 50% off a Which? membership.

In this week's episode of Which? Shorts, we warn you about the scams we think are going to be big in 2025, and give you the best advice on how to keep you, your money, and your data safe.Read more about scams you need to avoid & sign up for our free Scam Alerts service. Become a Which? member for 50% off the usual price.

This week we're looking at how setting up a trust could save your family money on a future inheritance tax bill.Find out more, read Ways to Avoid Inheritance Tax and sign up to our free monthly Money newsletter.

Car insurance prices finally fell in 2024, but you can be forgiven for not noticing. So what can you do to cut the cost of your premium, while ensuring you get the right amount of cover? Which? Insurance expert Dean Sobers and Richard Aucock, Director of Motoring Research and Vice Chair of the Guild of Motoring Writers share their tips to help you get the right cover for you. Read our car insurance reviews for 2025 & sign up to our free weekly Money newsletter. Sign our petition to end the insurance rip-off. Get 50% off a Which? membership.

In this week's episode of Which? Shorts, our Travel team share their insider tips on how to save big on your 2025 holiday. Whether it's a package holiday, a cruise, flights, or a just a hotel, we have the best advice to help you get the best deal.Find out the mistakes to avoid when booking a holiday & sign up for our free monthly Deals newsletter. Click here to join Which? Travel. Become a Which? member for 50% off the usual price.

January is an important month in the tax calendar, but there are wider changes that will impact more of us. So what do you need to know for the year ahead? Which? Senior Writer Matthew Jenkin and Mitch Young, the Director of Fusion Consulting Group, break down how to get your self assessment form right, and share their tips on how to reduce your tax bill. Read more about tax changes in 2025 & sign up to our free weekly Money newsletter. Use our tax calculator to help you with your tax return. Get 50% off a Which? membership.

In this week's episode of Which? Shorts, we show how online marketplaces like Vinted and eBay can help you earn money from your post-Christmas clear-out. Read about how to avoid scams on online marketplaces & sign up for our free monthly Deals newsletter. Become a Which? member for 50% off the usual price.

As January is the time for organisation, in this episode we take a look at some of the services that offer to do that for you, particularly those specialising in later-life advice.Find out more, read Could a professional 'life admin' service make your life easier and sign up to our free monthly Money newsletter.

With the festive period over, all eyes are on the new year when budgets are often tight. So what can you do to make more money in 2025? Which? Money Editor Jenny Ross and Claer Barrett, the Consumer Editor at the FT share their tips on switching banks, cutting investment fees and maximising your savings pots. Sign our petition to end the insurance rip-off. Read more ways to make and save money in 2025 & sign up to our free weekly Money newsletter. Save 25% off a Which? Money annual membership for the first year. Get 50% off a Which? membership.

Fraud and scam complaints hit their highest level on record in the first quarter of the year. So what are the biggest scams doing the rounds and what can you do to avoid them? Which? scam specialists Tali Ramsey and Faye Lipson join us to give their best tips on how to beat the scammers. Read more about the biggest scams of the year & sign up to our free weekly Money newsletter. Sign up for our free Scam Alerts service & take our quiz to test your knowledge on deepfakes. Listen to our Get Answers episodes on deepfakes and ticket fraud. Save 25% off a Which? Money annual membership for the first year. Get 50% off a Which? membership.

In this week's episode of Which? Shorts, we explain how to get your hands on a handheld thermal imaging camera, and why they're a useful tool to find out how to reduce your energy bills. Read more about using a thermal camera & sign up for our free monthly Sustainability newsletter. Try our free home energy planning service & look for a surveyor we recommend on Trusted Traders. Join Which? Tech for 25% off the usual price - offer ends 8 January 2025. Become a Which? member for 50% off the usual price.

We've taste tested hundreds of Christmas staples to find the very best food and drink, and awarded our favourites the coveted Which? Best Buy award. Today, we reveal the very best mince pies, champagne and roast potatoes that you should be buying this Christmas. Plus, we're joined by Ben Ebbrell from Sorted Food who gives us the very best advice on how to avoid a nightmare in the kitchen on the big day. Read more about how to prep for Christmas dinner & sign up for our free monthly Food & Health newsletter. Get 50% off a Which? membership.

With the Bank of England base rate coming down from its recent high of 5.25%, many of us will be looking at the best way to boost our savings. But how can you find the best deals currently on the market? Which? Senior Writer Matthew Jenkin & Andy Webb, founder of be Clever With Your Cash highlight some of the best rates currently available, plus discuss the benefits of utilising more than one savings account. Read our reviews of the best savings accounts & sign up to our free weekly Money newsletter. Save 25% off a Which? Money annual membership for the first year. Get 50% off a Which? membership.

In this episode, we investigate the purchase scams rife on online marketplaces and look at how you can avoid falling victim to them.Find out more, read Online marketplaces: what you need to know before you buy and sign up to our free monthly Money newsletter & our free Scam alert newsletter

The way you choose to access your pension can have a big impact on the amount of money you have to live on in later life. So which option is right for you? Which? Money Editor Jenny Ross & Tom Selby, Director of Public Policy at AJ Bell explain how annuities and pension drawdown work, including the pros and cons of each method for turning your savings into a retirement income. Read our reviews of drawdown providers & sign up to our free weekly Money newsletter. Find out the best annuity rates on the market right now. Save 25% off a Which? Money annual membership for the first year. Get 50% off a Which? membership.

There's a chance that, while scrolling online, you'll have seen a video of a celebrity trying to get you to part with your cash. The problem is, a lot of these videos are fake and have been made with artificial intelligence. Today we reveal the story of our investigation into a financial scam all linked in a tangled web of fraud.This investigation is into the Quantum AI scam network, not Google's initiative to build quantum computing that has the same name.Read more about our investigation & sign up for our free monthly Tech newsletter. Listen to the Which? Shorts episode on deepfake technology.Get 25% off a Which? Tech membership until 8 January 2025.Get 50% off a Which? membership.

Investing doesn't come cheap. From account fees to transaction fees, fund fees to foreign exchange fees, costs can soon mount up. But how can you reduce this? Which? Researcher Megan Thomas & Laura Suter, Director of Personal Finance at AJ Bell shine a light on the fees you have to pay, and reveal the best platforms on the market right now. Read more on how to tax-proof your portfolio & sign up to our free weekly Money newsletter. Save 25% off a Which? Money annual membership for the first year. Get 50% off a Which? membership.