Your Real Money Stories

Have you ever played the National Lottery? If so, you may be one of over 45% of people in the UK who try their luck every month. That's nearly half of the country! But, not everybody stops with the National Lottery - for others gambling becomes an essential part of their lives, an addiction that they begin to hide from their loved ones as it spirals...    In this emotional story, an anonymous interviewee shares his story of gambling addiction. At his lowest, he hid his debt from his partner, borrowed money from friends and turned to payday loans to make ends meet. In this candid episode, he tells us how it all started, the impact of lockdown and we discuss how much addiction can cost as well as the signs to look out for.   For more information and resources to support anyone dealing with a gambling addiction and how to manage debts visit GamStop.co.uk and stepchange.org   You can also find more information about the podcast and extra resources by visiting our Instagram pages @zopamoney and @moneymedics as well as at www.zopa.com/podcast. 

It's bad enough to find you've been a victim of fraud, but imagine finding out that your parents were the perpetrators. In this week's episode, we hear from someone whose parents took out loans in his name when he was just 16. He only found out when he went to open a student bank account, but by that time he had two defaults and a CCJ to his name. What would you do in his situation? would you be able to forgive them? Listen to the full episode to find out how our anonymous interviewee dealt with this difficult situation. You can find more information about the podcast by visiting our Instagram pages, as well as at www.zopa.com/podcast. Your Real Money Stories podcast is brought to you in association with Zopa.

 More than half of UK households own at least one pet, and many more have considered adopting a loyal, cuddly friend- but whilst the sentiment is altruistic, the reality remains that pets are a large financial responsibility that not everyone can afford. How ethical is it to adopt a pet without being able to afford the vet? Are there anyways you think you can cut your corners on pet care without sacrificing quality?   This week we join the Money Medics and an anonymous guest who reveals how she ended up spending over £7,000 on her cat in a space of a month! How much is too much when it comes to ensuring the health of a beloved pet and at what price does it become too much?   You can find more information about the podcast by visiting our Instagram pages, as well as at www.zopa.com/podcast. Your Real Money Stories podcast is brought to you in association with Zopa.

This episode's anonymous interviewee shares the emotional and financial costs of divorce with the Money Medics. She went from being part of a two-parent household where her ex was the main breadwinner,  to raising a child alone with only minimal support. But as her opportunities have narrowed and she works all she can to pay for nursery fees, her ex-husband continues to enjoy a comfortable lifestyle.   How do you balance financial preparedness with going ‘all in' on a relationship? what questions should you ask before you commit? The Money Medics discuss whether you can have a f**k off fund in a relationship without compromising it.   You can find more information about the podcast by visiting our Instagram pages, as well as at www.zopa.com/podcast. Your Real Money Stories podcast is brought to you in association with Zopa.

Sometimes we don't exactly see the sacrifices people go through to afford nice things or the financial privileges people have over others. Context matters.    The Money Medics are joined by money mindset coach Laura Ann Moore, who shares the story of how she saved £40,000 before 27. They talk about facing setbacks, changing your money habits and not cutting back at the expense of your mental health. And then they take on some of our listeners' savings dilemmas, from out-of-control impulse spending to feeling unable to ever take money out of their savings.   You can find more information about the podcast by visiting our Instagram pages, as well as at www.zopa.com/podcast. Your Real Money Stories podcast is brought to you in association with Zopa.

“I'm sorry Martin, there's no more money.” This was the text that tipped off our anonymous interviewee to the fact that his mum had been the victim of a romance scam. From an initial contact on Words with Friends, to a carefully coordinated web across social media, the criminal gang took advantage of one woman's loneliness to defraud her of her life's savings. We've watched Tinder Swindler, but as this story shows romance scams don't all happen against the backdrop of a private jet and a CEO lifestyle. The interviewee talks the Money Medics through the techniques the scammers used to win his mum's trust, the warning flags to look out for and the impact it's had on his family's lives.  If you've been the victim of a romance scam, contact Action Fraud in confidence online or by phone 0300 123 2040. For more information about romance frauds, check out the following websites: Action Fraud's A - Z of fraud The Met Police's Little Book of Big Scams

How do you manage money in a relationship? Is a 50:50 split fair? What about the unpaid labour that keeps a household going? Or if you earn very different amounts?   Money Medics are joined by Suli and Linda Breaks, a creative and entrepreneurial power couple, who share how they approach their joint household and business finances. They take on some tricky relationship and money dilemmas that have been sent in by our listeners - like what you should expect your partner to pay for and whether you should be compensated for work at home.    You can find more information about the podcast by visiting our Instagram pages and as well as at www.zopa.com/podcast. Your Real Money Stories podcast is brought to you in association with Zopa.

How do you spot the signs of a financially abusive relationship? What are the red flags and what do you do if it happens to you?   Today's anonymous guest ‘Julie' talks to the Money Medics about her experience of a financially abusive relationship, as well as how she got out, recovered her finances and rebuilt her life.    Listen to discover Julie's experience and Money Medics' guidance on what signs to spot and which resources can help when it comes to financial abuse.    If you think you might be experiencing financial abuse, phone the police in the first instance. You can also contact the National Domestic Violence Helpline for support on 0808 2000 247. For more information and resources to support you visit the website Surviving Economic Abuse.   You can also find more information about the podcast and extra resources by visiting our Instagram pages @zopamoney and @moneymedics.

  While it seems it's more difficult than ever to get your foot on the property ladder as a first-time buyer in the UK, it's also never been more overwhelming when it comes to first-time buyers and renters' advice. You can read countless advice columns and guides, but your dilemmas persist. Do I buy or rent? Do I invest in a property with my friend? Do I save for a new build or buy a house I can renovate?  With special guests Bricks & Disorder, Money Medics will be discussing all your dilemmas, unpopular opinions, and spilling the tea on where to start when it comes to buying a property in 2022 You can find more information about the podcast by visiting the Zopa and Money Medic Instagram pages and as well as at www.zopa.com/podcast. Your Real Money Stories podcast is brought to you in association with Zopa.

What's it like to be married to a millionaire? It's a question most of us have dreamed of, but for this episode's anonymous caller it actually came true. She tells our hosts, the Money Medics, about her journey from a housing estate in Glasgow to a glamorous life abroad. They talk about maintaining financial independence in a relationship with unequal incomes, whether wealth is an acceptable dating criteria and why a millionaire still buys value yogurts. You can find more information about the podcast by visiting our Instagram pages and as well as at www.zopa.com/podcast. Your Real Money Stories podcast is brought to you in association with Zopa.

How do you manage family expectations of what you'll spend? How do you trade-off homemade gifts with a shiny wishlist? And what to do if your other half is determined not to spend much at all?   The Money Medics are back for a Christmas special, taking on gifting dilemmas from the Your Real Money Stories audience.  And this time they're joined by special guest Rita Balogun, content creator and TikTok comedian, who offers her takes on the world of gifting, money and adulting.

Our One Minute Money Stories share some of our most powerful and shocking stories from season 1. Here, we take a listen to one woman's story of a financially abusive relationship – how it started, how it made her feel and how she finally left. Subscribe to listen to the full episode.

Our One Minute Money Stories share some of our most powerful stories from season 1. Here, our anonymous interviewee describes her shock at finding out how expensive babies are. Subscribe to listen to the full episode. 

Our One Minute Money Stories share some of our most powerful and shocking stories from season 1. What would you do if this happened to you? Subscribe to listen to the full episode.

Now lockdown has been lifted, many of us are attending postponed weddings and celebrating the long-awaited union of loved ones. But does anyone ever mention the cost of weddings for people other than the bride and groom? In this episode our anonymous interviewee shares their experience and expenditure after being a bridesmaid FOUR times in one year.    Then the Moneymedics discuss their own experiences of budgeting for these celebrations, as well as how to manage feelings and finances if you're put in an expensive situation. And they're joined by special guests – the bridesmaids and groomsmen from Moneymedics co-founders Nick and Eve's wedding – to find out if they practice what they preach…   This is the last in season one of Your Real Money Stories. Make sure you hit subscribe to be the first to know when season two launches. And if you loved season one, please leave us a review. We'll be back soon to share more of Your Real Money Stories, in association with Zopa.  

Many of us have asked our parents to lend us money, but what about when they ask you? What if they took advantage of your generosity? This week, our anonymous interviewee reveals the financial and emotional cost of their mother coercing them to pay for their lifestyle.  So how do you balance supporting the older generation with your own financial wellbeing. And, if you need to, how do you draw the line? The Money Medics discuss their own experience of navigating these situations. You can't choose your family, but you can choose what to do with your money.  You can find more information about the podcast by visiting our Instagram pages @zopamoney and @moneymedics as well as at www.zopa.com/podcast. Your Real Money Stories podcast is brought to you in association with Zopa.

Heard of John Legend? But did you know that music wasn't his first career? He started out as a strategy consultant, before finding musical success. But what's it really like to quit the 9-5 to follow your dream? What does it mean for your finances, your lifestyle and your goals? This week our anonymous interviewee shares how they left the security of the corporate world to pursue a career in acting, and the financial struggles they encountered along the way. Then the Money Medics discuss whether the cost of your dream is worth the cut to your current salary and what lifestyle changes you need to make to pursue your dream career.  You can find more information about the podcast by visiting our Instagram pages @zopamoney and @moneymedics as well as at www.zopa.com/podcast. Your Real Money Stories podcast is brought to you in association with Zopa.  

MLM (Multi-Level Marketing) schemes are touted as a way to get rich quick, but what's it really like if you sign up? Our anonymous guest shares how they joined a scheme to supplement their income, but found it impacted their credit score rather than increased their cash.    Then the Money Medics discuss their personal encounters with MLM schemes. Find out how to spot the red flags, and what questions to ask if a friend or a family member tries to recruit you. If the deal seems too good to be true, that might be because it is…   You can find more information about the podcast by visiting our Instagram pages @zopamoney and @moneymedics as well as at www.zopa.com/podcast.   Your Real Money Stories podcast is brought to you in association with Zopa.

Bought too many shoes for your two feet? Ever thought about purchasing for profit rather than wear? This week our anonymous interviewee will share their story of how they turned a sneaker collection into a successful side hustle. Find out what our interviewee learnt from their experience of selling Air Jordans and Yeezy's, and the tips you need to hear if you're interested in investing your finances in fashion. If you dream of having your Depop account supply your bank account, stay tuned for their full story.  You can find more information about the podcast by visiting our Instagram pages @zopamoney and @moneymedics as well as at www.zopa.com/podcast. Your Real Money Stories podcast is brought to you in association with Zopa.

Can you obtain wealth simply by willing it into existence?    Our interviewee this week shares how a desire to switch career left her in a financially precarious position, and why she turned to a moneymanifestation to help resolve her situation. What did the course consist of and how did she end up financially worse off?    Then the Money Medics will discuss whether you can truly manifest money and what their approach is to becoming financially and emotionally better off.   You can find more information about the podcast by visiting our Instagram pages @zopamoney and @moneymedics as well as at www.zopa.com/podcast. Your Real Money Stories podcast is brought to you in association with Zopa.

How far would you go to earn some extra cash?  This week's anonymous interviewee set up an OnlyFans account to help save for a house. She gives the inside story of what it's like as an OnlyFans creator, what it meant for her money and the impact it had on her personal life.  Stay tuned as the Money Medics discuss whether society should be more accepting of how people earn a living, or if some ways of earning money should be regarded differently. You can find more information about the podcast by visiting our Instagram pages @zopamoney and @moneymedics as well as at www.zopa.com/podcast. Your Real Money Stories podcast is brought to you in association with Zopa.

When you join the working world, you're just grateful to be paid right? Then you gradually realise that not everyone is paid the same and you can sometimes get more - if you know the right way to ask. This week's anonymous interviewee describes her experience of not getting paid fairly, how she started to understand her worth and what she's learnt from her years in the workplace. From dreams of property purchasing in London to successfully negotiating a salary that enables her to do that, stay tuned for her full story.   You can find more information about the podcast by visiting our Instagram pages @zopamoney and @moneymedics as well as at www.zopa.com/podcast.   Your Real Money Stories podcast is brought to you in association with Zopa.

Going to university is many people's first taste of financial freedom, but many of us find it hard to take on that responsibility.   We hear from someone who went ONE PENNY over her agreed student overdraft, and spent the next few years repaying and repairing the damage that student spending did to her credit score. But she's managed it, she's learned from it and she shares her killer strategy for keeping her finances on course today.   But we've all been there, right? So the Money Medics share their experiences of managing money at university and give tips on to manage your student finances.   You can find more information about the podcast by visiting our Instagram pages @zopamoney and @moneymedics as well as at www.zopa.com/podcast.   Your Real Money Stories podcast is brought to you in association with Zopa.

This week's anonymous interviewee shares how she went from spending £1,000s to fund her drug addiction, to owning her own home. She tells the Money Medics how her addiction started, what it really cost and the process she went through to recover and get on top of her finances. If you're affected by the issues covered in this episode, there are lots of places to seek support online. Here are the ones the Money Medics mention at the end of the podcast: Adfam: a national charity tackling the effects of alcohol, drug use or gambling on family members and friends Drugwise: providing evidence-based information on drugs, alcohol and tobacco NHS Live Well: advice, tips and tools to help you make the best choices about your health and wellbeing. Mind.org: a mental health charity Cocaine Anonymous UK: reach out to their helpline on helpline@cauk.org.uk or call 0800 612 0225 to get support to quit an addiction Turning Point: health and social care services in over 300 locations across England. You can find more information about the podcast by visiting our Instagram pages @zopamoney and @moneymedics as well as at www.zopa.com/podcast. Your Real Money Stories podcast is brought to you in association with Zopa.

Imagine going to pay for your wedding, but the payment bounces and it turns out your fiancee has been LYING about saving the money... That's what happened to this week's podcast interviewee. Download our latest episode find out what happened next, why she hadn't been saving and what it meant for their relationship. And stay tuned as the Money Medics talk about financial infidelity: how it comes about, how it feels and what are the implications for a relationship.    You can find more information about the podcast and extra resources by visiting our Instagram pages @zopamoney and @moneymedics as well as at www.zopa.com/podcast.   Your Real Money Stories podcast is brought to you in association with Zopa.

Do you trust your friends and family enough to lend them money? This week's anonymous interviewee lent £3000 to a friend to go on holiday, but her friend refused to repay.  How did it happen, what did she do and did she eventually get her money back? Stay tuned as the Money Medics reveal their hints and tips for managing friendships and finances.    You can find more information about the podcast and extra resources by visiting our Instagram pages @zopamoney and @moneymedics as well as at www.zopa.com/podcast.   Your Real Money Stories podcast is brought to you in association with Zopa.

After seeing some shiny ads on social media, this week's anonymous interviewee invested some money through an online trading platform. The only catch was that it was an investment scam. How did it happen? What did he learn? Does he still invest online? All is revealed to the Money Medics.   You can find more information about the podcast and extra resources by visiting our Instagram pages @zopamoney and @moneymedics as well as at www.zopa.com/podcast. Your Real Money Stories podcast is brought to you in association with Zopa.

"It's a proper job, not just posting a selfie."   This episode's anonymous guest lifts the lid on life as a social media influencer. Stay tuned as she reveals how much she gets paid, the hidden costs and what she does to earn her money. Do influencers have a responsibility to be transparent with their audience, or is it up to us to be more cautious of their carefully curated lifestyles? Join the Money Medics team as they unravel the truth behind social media influencing.   You can find more information about the podcast and extra resources by visiting our Instagram pages @zopamoney and @moneymedics as well as at www.zopa.com/podcast. Your Real Money Stories podcast is brought to you in association with Zopa.

Are Buy Now Pay Later schemes a friend or a foe?  With over a third of Brits admitting to using them to pay for things, it's the fastest growing payment method in the country. But it's also been dogged by allegations of unfair treatment of consumers.  In this episode, we hear from BNPL user, ‘Cindy', who was hit by calls from debt collectors and extra fees after she missed a payment. Then the Money Medics share their experiences and discuss whether it's ever a good way of paying for things.   You can find more information about the podcast and extra resources by visiting our Instagram pages @zopamoney and @moneymedics as well as at www.zopa.com/podcast.   Your Real Money Stories podcast is brought to you in association with Zopa.

Are your shopping habits contributing to a throwaway culture or are you already a careful shopper? In this episode our anonymous guest ‘Jenny' talks about her experience of sustainability and why her financial situation makes it impossible to be 100% green. The Money Medics team also share if they see themselves as sustainable shoppers and discuss whether you can really be eco-friendly without compromising your budget. You can find more information about the podcast and extra resources by visiting our Instagram pages @zopamoney and @moneymedics as well as at www.zopa.com/podcast. Your Real Money Stories podcast is brought to you in association with Zopa.

“I had this plan that I was going to build up savings, then get an emergency fund, but these are all things I've had to put on the backburner and I see myself being set back years”   In this week's episode, our anonymous guests talks about the impact of Covid on her finances and mental health. After being furloughed, she lost her job and ended up claiming Universal Credit.  She talks honestly and emotionally about how this felt, how she got through and how she's slowly turning her situation around. Then, the Money Medics discuss the shame they also faced when claiming Universal Credit and even using pay day loans to navigate difficult times.   You can find more information about the podcast and extra resources by visiting our Instagram pages @zopamoney and @moneymedics as well as the Zopa website.  If money worries are affecting your mental health during this challenging time, visit the Mind website for more support.   Your Real Money Stories podcast is brought to you in association with Zopa.

“I personally think people should think long and hard about whether they can afford to have a child.”   Childcare, nappies, Christmas presents and more… Having children is a reality check on how good you are at managing money, but can you ever be financially prepared?  Our anonymous guest ‘Amy' shares her experience of bringing up two children to discuss the true cost of parenting.  Stay tuned for further heated discussion from the Money Medics team on the financial reality of having kids. Find more information about the podcast and extra resources by visiting our Instagram pages @zopa and @moneymedics as well as our website. Your Real Money Stories podcast is brought to you in association with Zopa.  

Why do men spend more money on their girlfriends than their wives?  Do we live in a materialistic culture or is gift-giving an act of love?  From birthday presents to push presents, our anonymous guest ‘Vicky' talks about why gifts are so important to her even though they caused some serious tensions in her previous marriage…   Afterwards, the Money Medics will take on some uncomfortable questions around gift-giving in relationships, what it can mean for your finances and how to make sure you're on the same page as your partner.   You can also find more information about the podcast and extra resources by visiting our Instagram pages @zopamoney and @moneymedics as well as our website.  If you would like some resources about autism in relationships, visit The National Autistic Society.   Your Real Money Stories podcast is brought to you in association with Zopa.    

What are the signs of a financially abusive relationship? Our anonymous guest ‘Charlie' shares her story of financial abuse and how she reached out for help after the breakdown of her relationship. From her partner asking her for money, to being plunged into dodgy investments without her knowledge, what can we learn from her experience? Money Medics will also discuss what warning signs we should be looking out for when finances and relationships overlap and how to support people who might be experiencing financial abuse. If you think you might be experiencing financial abuse, phone the police in the first instance. You can also contact the National Domestic Violence Helpline for support on 0808 2000 247. For more information and resources to support you visit the website Surviving Economic Abuse. You can also find more information about the podcast and extra resources by visiting our Instagram pages @zopa and @moneymedics as well as our website.  Your Real Money Stories podcast is brought to you in association with Zopa.  

Anonymous. Honest. Real.   The Money Medics talk to callers about their private financial dilemmas and help shed some light on that most taboo topic: money. They'll cover the topics everyone wants to hear about, but that no one wants to discuss, like money in relationships, the stigma of renting and how claiming benefits really feels. Welcome to Your Real Money Stories podcast, in association with Zopa.