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6 episodes with Council Tax
2 episodes with Council Tax
4 episodes with Council Tax
4 episodes with Council Tax
3 episodes with Council Tax
4 episodes with Council Tax
3 episodes with Council Tax
2 episodes with Council Tax
3 episodes with Council Tax
Why have the city's bin collectors gone on strike? Jessica Murray reports. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus
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
Part 1 of 2. In his most in-depth and wide ranging interview since becoming First Minister of Scotland, John Swinney joins Bernard and Alex. "I was exhausted" when Nicola Sturgeon stood down in 2023. My year out revitalised me and allowed me to become First Minister.If I'm elected as First Minister in 2026, I'll stand again in 2031.2024 General Election was a "punishing defeat" delivered by people "disappointed in the SNP". The SNP government needs to rebuild trust by showing the electorate it is delivering. Independence will be in the manifesto and a referendum if there's the appetite. I have sympathy on Council Tax but won't re-value properties. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
All news content gratefully provided by the West Lothian Courier, for more news check them out online. You can also listen to the West Lothian Boomerang Podcast on your smart speaker just say "play latest West Lothian Boomerang Podcast"
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All news content gratefully provided by the West Lothian Courier, for more news check them out online. You can also listen to the West Lothian Boomerang Podcast on your smart speaker just say "play latest West Lothian Boomerang Podcast"
First today we hear from the dad of a Harrietsham woman who died in her sleep just hours after an ambulance was stood down while on its way to her home.Mum of two Karen Ovenell had called 999 after suffering sharp chest pains in August last year.An inquest into the 43-year-old's death has heard how the initial call handler booked an ambulance - but Karen was then told to sleep and book a GP appointment the following day or go to A&E.Also in today's podcast, members of Kent County Council are meeting to vote on their draft budget for the next financial year.In order to balance the books, bosses are likely to look at a range of measures including a 5% increase of council tax.Work's started no transforming a Grade II listed building in Medway into a state of the art creative hub.The Docking Station at Chatham Historic Dockyard will be in the former Police Section House.A dog is recovering after being run over by a cyclist near Whitstable.Bonnie the Chihuahua was rushed to a vet and put on oxygen and medication for shock after it happened on a path in Swalecliffe.And finally, work's nearly finished on a new centre in Kent for five lions that have been rescued from Ukraine.The Big Cat Sanctuary has raised £500,000 to create special enclosures at their site near Ashford.
A landlady has described how her village pub “shook visibly” as a juggernaut smashed into the building twice after getting stuck in a road closure.Villagers watched in dismay as the driver, who was trying to turn the vehicle round, backed into the function room. Also in today's podcast, you can hear from the boss of Medway Council ahead of a meeting today to discuss their spending plans for the next financial year.It could see a hike in parking charges and sports centre membership - with council tax also set to increase.Horrified guests have been left stunned at the state of the holiday let they had booked on the Kent coast.The pair discovered nappies, sanitary towels and broken glass strewn across the garden on arrival at the Ramsgate accommodation.A pub landlord whose business has been plagued by roadworks says the decision to close the road again is absolutely ridiculous.He fears trade could fall by almost half when Newtown Road shuts for five weeks later this month – and then again in the summer.And bosses at a Kent restaurant have been left stunned after being awarded a second highly prestigious Michelin star.They were given the hugely impressive accolade following a Michelin Guide unveiling event.
Half a dozen cash-strapped local authorities in England have been told they will be allowed to raise council tax by more than five per cent this year in a bid to stave off bankruptcy.The London Standard's chief political correspondent Rachael Burford reports the government signed off its final funding settlements for town halls and announced six authorities have been given permission to increase bills by larger than normal amounts - without holding a referendum.She joins us to discuss councils' financial outlook for the year ahead as London boroughs say they still face a £500 million shortfall.In part two, The London Standard's business editor Jonathan Prynn on reasons behind an exodus of millionaires from the capital - and how countries including Abu Dhabi want a slice of the financial action. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
In tonight’s show we catch up on Edwin’s predictions – does NOSTRADAMUS walk among us? We look at the massive rise in Council Tax, and also the rise in listings, but only in some places. And given the upcoming election we examine some of the early promises being made in the quasi campaign, despite the … Continue reading "Its Edwin’s Monday Evening Property Rant!"
This week on The Tax Factor, Nimesh Shah and Heather Self explore potential updates to non-dom tax rules, the fluctuating figures in wealth tax discussions, and a new loan charge review aimed at resolving the long-running controversy. They also examine a recent High Court case in which American actor Mercer Boffey unsuccessfully argued that his Richmond home was exempt from Council Tax. With the self-assessment deadline upon us, Nimesh and Heather share last-minute filing tips and highlight the latest HMRC scams to watch out for.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Rob discusses two significant topics affecting the UK: projected net migration and its impact on the population, as well as alarming council tax hikes across various regions. The Office for National Statistics forecasts that the UK population will rise to 72.5 million by 2032, primarily driven by net migration, which could lead to increased demand for housing. Rob encourages listeners to consider investing in property, emphasising that a growing population will necessitate more housing. KEY TAKEAWAYS The UK population is expected to rise to 72.5 million by 2032, marking a 7.3% increase over the decade, primarily driven by net migration. An increasing population will likely lead to a higher demand for housing, which presents opportunities for those looking to invest in property despite prevailing negative sentiments about the housing market. Council Tax Hikes: Significant council tax increases are planned in various regions, with some councils proposing hikes as high as 25%, which could affect nearly 4 million residents. Financial Mismanagement: Many local councils, particularly in the South, are facing financial difficulties, with some declaring bankruptcy due to mismanagement of public funds, leading to increased tax burdens on constituents. Call for Efficiency: There is a need for local councils to streamline operations and reduce workforce sizes to improve efficiency, drawing parallels to successful practices in the private sector, such as those implemented by Elon Musk at X. BEST MOMENTS "Net migration is to push the UK population up to 72.5 million, a projected population growth of 7.3% between 2022 and 2032." "If the population is set to increase sustainably, then from a housing point of view, that could be quite beneficial." "Council tax hikes are going to be taking place from April, and it seems that councils are really taking the piss." "We've been taken for a ride in the UK, and it's really not good. It's not healthy by any stretch of the imagination." VALUABLE RESOURCES GET YOUR PROPERTY DEVELOPMENT FINANCE HERE: https://propertyfundingplatform.com/WharfFinancial#!/borrowerinitialregistration SOCIAL MEDIA/CONTACT US https://linktr.ee/thepropertynomadspodcast BOOKS Property FAQs = https://amzn.to/3MWfcL4 Buy To Let: How To Get Started = https://amzn.to/3genjle 101 Top Property Tips = https://amzn.to/2NxuAQL uk property, Investment, Property, Rent, Buy to let, Investing for beginners, Money, Tax, Renting, Landlords, strategies, invest, housing, properties, portfolio, estate agents, lettings, letting, business: https://patreon.com/tpnpodcast
Local councils nationwide are preparing to reveal the bad news to residents about this year's council tax rises.So, why are our rates rocketing, how much more can we expect to pay - and which authorities are impose the biggest hikes?The London Standard's chief political correspondent Rachael Burford discusses local government finances and policy for the year ahead.In part two, as millions of Britons reach the halfway mark for Dry January, we look at the benefits and challenges of quitting alcohol for a month.We're joined by Dr Richard Piper, chief executive of the London charity Alcohol Change UK, and The London Standard culture and lifestyle writer Vicky Jessop, who's now on her third booze-free new year. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
In today's local news some weather stories about Petersfield falling into the grip of the season's first icy blast and a new way to find out about storm water overflows in our area. Your views are being sought on a Council Tax increase for the police service and we find out what's needed at the foodbank this week To share your news email team@shineradio.uk or call 01730 555 500.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
In today's local news some weather stories about Petersfield falling into the grip of the season's first icy blast and a new way to find out about storm water overflows in our area. Your views are being sought on a Council Tax increase for the police service and we find out what's needed at the foodbank this week To share your news email team@shineradio.uk or call 01730 555 500.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Peter Wilson explains how to deal with the debt collectors, Chemtrail, wild herds in the Uk and lots more About my Guest: Ex Royal Navy gunner and armourer, turned professional fighter. Owned and ran own martial arts gym for about 30 years. Always been aware of something not being right in the world, went deep into it after losing over £1million of property in 1 week including own home. So been up and been down even living in a car for a while with his wife Janine and 4 dogs. --- Help Support the show through my Business Partners : Upgrade Your Brain Unleash & Use Your Uniqueness https://braingym.fitness/ -------------------------- Awakening Podcast Social Media / Coaching My Other Podcasts https://roycoughlan.com/ Health & Wellness Products https://partnerco.world/ My Website https://partner.co/?custid=N6543249 ------------------ What we Discussed: - The Power of GDPR ( 1 min) - What the Debt Collectors do not have (3:45 mins) - Is it legal that they redact the information (5:20 mins) - Debt is intangible Property (7 mins) - Deed of assignment must be Signed (13 mins) - Baliff Vs Debt Collectors (15 mins) - Court case for Council Tax (22 mins) - Councils cause most of the homelessness (31 mins) - When the Debt Collectors send muscle men to your door (32 mins) - Being Sovereign and Using the Sytem at the same time (35:30 mins) - Advantages of a Company Vs the sovereign man (38 mins) - Liberland (39 mins) - Pushing Conscription (40:30 mins) - Why are they blocking how Tenessee stopped Chemtrails (43:30 mins) - Zig Zags in the Sky is not Normal (46:20 mins) - Wild Herd in the UK (49 mins) - Tidal Charts are always the same (51:30 mins) - Whatis in Antartica that we are not allowed visit (54 mins) - When I got Flat Earth Dave on my Podcast (55 mins) - When he was a gunner in Navy and Suez canal (57 min to 1 hr) - UK Leader Stamer attacking the Pensioners (1 hr 1 min) and more - The pathetic carry on in the House of Commons (1 hr 5:30 mins) - BBC Presenter prosecuted for Pedophilia gets suspended sentance( 1hr 7 mins) - Censorship and How Joe Rogan and Russel Brand are not removed (1 hr 11 mins) - Why David Icke exposed a lot for 30+ years (1 hr 15 mins) - The Tartarian Empire (1 hr 19 mins) - Why is there lots of stories about Dragons (1 hr 21 mins) - Was there 13 months in the year (1 hr 22 mins) - Season hr changes are not benefical to us ( 1 hr 24 mins) - What were the years BC actually ( 1 hr 25 mins) - Wyatt Earp (1 hr 27 mins) - Why is cutting the cables under the ocean so Important if we have all the satellities (1hr 31:30 mins) How to Contact Peter: https://www.claimyourstrawman.com/ https://www.checkmatethematrix.com/ https://linktr.ee/PeterWilsonReturnToDemocracy ------------------------------ More about the Awakening Podcast: All Episodes can be found at www.awakeningpodcast.org Help Support the show through my Business Partners : Upgrade Your Brain Unleash & Use Your Uniqueness https://braingym.fitness/ -------------------------- Awakening Podcast Social Media / Coaching My Other Podcasts https://roycoughlan.com/ Health & Wellness Products https://partnerco.world/ My Website https://partner.co/?custid=N6543249 Our Facebook Group can be found at https://www.facebook.com/royawakening
On this week's podcast Martin gives his energy tips ahead of the energy price cap on 1 October.Listeners TELL US about their stock of old stamps that they're still using ahead of the 22% increase in the cost of standard first-class stamps on 7 October. And Adrian Chiles attempts his first ever Mastermind – will he have beginners luck?
We are proud to present Episode 7 P3 of new Season 19 of Cheshire Matters, your favourite 'digital' pub with discussions from the 'quirky three', filled with satire, humour (and more than a dash of sarcasm) featuring your absolutely fabulous, amazingly brilliant, witty and ridiculously talented 'Ab Fab', the delicious, delightful and delovely digital pub landlord (with the great hair do) podcast host Jonathan Starkey, with regular panelists Trevor Nicholls (the Gazelle) and Mark Hartley (Stats Man). The 'Flab Two' and Skinny Minny 'Stats' are here for another lively discussion. In this episode we discuss the Warrington Debt now forecast to be approaching £2.3 Billion!!!!! This is a must listen to for everyone worldwide but also residents in Cheshire, MPs, counils and Councillors in Cheshire and all other public officials (in case we don't survive another week in the UK). Hope all public officials in authority are enhanced DBS checked? Cheshire Matters will be checking up on you. You don't really know who in public office you can trust these days!!!!!!! Join us for our often humorous but sometimes serious commentary and insights on these subjects and more from the best digital pub with the best and most deliciously witty digital pub landlord in the UK (the guest panellists, apart from Stats and the Gazelle, are extremely minor entities along for the ride). Opening Music - Moving ON © and ℗ JMN 2015 Another absolutely brilliant (and we mean absolutely brilliant and better than anything else that jumps out of your phone from Cheshire and beyond) JMN production for Cheshire Matters. Disclaimer At the time of recording and publishing Cheshire Matters believes all information relayed to be correct to the best of our knowledge. Any information and opinions given are not intended to cause any non-trivial, psychological or physical harm to a likely audience.
How to Protect Your Pension Fund from a Stock Market Crash Worried about the impact of a stock market crash on your pension fund? You're not alone. Market volatility can significantly affect your retirement savings, but there are strategies you can implement to safeguard your investments. Watch video https://youtu.be/e2iiYBYCUOw?si=enFe6LD0M8jt3hQG Diversify Your Portfolio: One of the best ways to protect your pension fund is through diversification. By spreading your investments across different asset classes—such as bonds, real estate, and cash—you reduce the risk of a market downturn affecting your entire portfolio. Diversification ensures that even if one asset class takes a hit, others may remain stable or even gain value. Regularly Rebalance Your Portfolio: Market conditions change over time, so it's crucial to regularly review and rebalance your portfolio. This involves adjusting your asset allocation to maintain your desired level of risk. Rebalancing helps you lock in gains from outperforming assets and reinvest them into underperforming ones, maintaining a balanced risk exposure. Consider Safe Haven Assets: Investing in safe haven assets like gold, government bonds, or cash equivalents can provide stability during market crashes. These assets tend to hold their value or even appreciate when stock markets decline, offering protection for your pension fund. Stay Informed and Seek Professional Advice: Keeping up with market trends and seeking advice from a financial advisor can help you make informed decisions. A professional can guide you on how to adjust your pension investments to minimize risks during turbulent times. Protect your retirement savings by taking proactive steps today! See also: Why Are UK Taxes So High? 10 Easy Tips To Drastically Reduce Your Tax Liability – Legally - https://youtu.be/PZ9IFiI2Tio How will Labour's new Renters Rights Bill 2024 affect buy-to-let landlords? The Labour Party's Renters' Rights Bill 2024 is poised to bring significant changes to the UK's rental market, impacting both tenants and buy-to-let landlords. Understanding these changes is crucial for landlords to navigate the evolving landscape effectively. Watch video version - https://youtu.be/Wx1HXgVW1bM A Lifetime of taxes Income tax, VAT, Council Tax, Car Tax, Insurance and Travel Tax, Green Energy Taxes, BBC Licence Tax, Stamp Duty, Capital Gains Tax, Section 24, Business Taxes and the final kicker; Inheritance Tax for your dependents! You can legally reduce and mitigate your taxes and inheritance tax for your dependents. Wills and Trusts New research from Canada Life reveals that over half of UK adults (51%)1 have not written a will, nor are they currently in the process of writing one. This includes 13% of people who state they have no intention to write a will in the future. Section 24 Landlord Tax Hike Interview with Chartered Accountant and property tax specialist who reveals options and solutions to move your properties from your own name into a limited company or LLP whilst mitigating the potential HMRC pitfalls. Email charles@charleskelly.net for a free consultation on how to deal with Section 24, Wills and Trusts. Watch video now: https://youtu.be/aMuGs_ek17s #UKTaxes #TaxTips #CharlesKellyMoneyTips #FinancialFreedom #LegalTaxReduction #section24 #stampduty #PensionFundProtection #StockMarketCrash #RetirementPlanning #FinancialSecurity #Diversification #SafeHavenAssets #InvestingWisely #MoneyTips #CharlesKellyMoneyTips #FinancialAdvice
Taxes in the UK can feel overwhelming, from income tax and National Insurance to VAT and council tax. There are a raft of business taxes, landlord tax hikes under Section 24, as well as taxes on your savings, Capital Gains Tax and Inheritance tax. But why do we pay so much tax? The answer lies in funding public services like the NHS, education, and infrastructure. High taxes are designed to support the welfare state and maintain social programs. Watch video on YouTube - https://youtu.be/PZ9IFiI2Tio 10 Money Saving Tips However, there are legal ways to reduce your tax bill. Here are 10 money-saving tips from Charles Kelly Money Tips Podcast: Utilise Tax-Free Allowances: Make sure to use your personal allowance, savings allowance, and dividend allowance effectively. Invest in ISAs: Individual Savings Accounts (ISAs) offer tax-free interest, dividends, and capital gains. Contribute to a Pension: Pension contributions can reduce your taxable income. Claim Business Expenses: If you're self-employed, claim all allowable business expenses. Gift Aid Donations: Donations to charity through Gift Aid can reduce your tax bill. Marriage Allowance: Transfer part of your personal allowance to your spouse if they're a basic rate taxpayer. Make a Will and Plan for Inheritance Tax: Making a Will and planning ahead could substantially reduce taxes and stress for your dependents. Use Trusts: Protect your assets for you and your family using the laws of trusts. Avoid Section 24: Legally take steps to mitigate landlord taxes under Section 24. Take Professional Advice: Using professional advisers can save you money and even reclaim some overpaid taxes, such as Stamp Duty. By staying informed and using these strategies, you can legally minimize your tax liabilities and keep more of your hard-earned money. For more tips on managing your finances and reducing your tax bill, subscribe to Charles Kelly Money Tips Podcast on YouTube! How will Labour's new Renters Rights Bill 2024 affect buy-to-let landlords? The Labour Party's Renters' Rights Bill 2024 is poised to bring significant changes to the UK's rental market, impacting both tenants and buy-to-let landlords. Understanding these changes is crucial for landlords to navigate the evolving landscape effectively. Watch video version - https://youtu.be/Wx1HXgVW1bM A Lifetime of taxes Income tax, VAT, Council Tax, Car Tax, Insurance and Travel Tax, Green Energy Taxes, BBC Licence Tax, Stamp Duty, Capital Gains Tax, Section 24, Business Taxes and the final kicker; Inheritance Tax for your dependents! You can legally reduce and mitigate your taxes and inheritance tax for your dependents. Wills and Trusts New research from Canada Life reveals that over half of UK adults (51%)1 have not written a will, nor are they currently in the process of writing one. This includes 13% of people who state they have no intention to write a will in the future. Section 24 Landlord Tax Hike Interview with Chartered Accountant and property tax specialist who reveals options and solutions to move your properties from your own name into a limited company or LLP whilst mitigating the potential HMRC pitfalls. Email charles@charleskelly.net for a free consultation on how to deal with Section 24, Wills and Trusts. Watch video now: https://youtu.be/aMuGs_ek17s #UKTaxes #TaxTips #CharlesKellyMoneyTips #FinancialFreedom #LegalTaxReduction #section24 #stampduty
Steph is joined by economics commentator Grace Blakeley to answer your questions, including what a world without landlords would look like, how Labour might reform council tax and whether community fundraising would help improve local infrastructure. Sign up to our newsletter to get more stories from the world of business and finance. Email: restismoney@gmail.com X: @TheRestIsMoney Instagram: @TheRestIsMoney TikTok: @RestIsMoney goalhangerpodcasts.com Assistant Producer: India Dunkley, Becki Hills Producer: Ross Buchanan Head of Content: Tom Whiter Exec Producers: Tony Pastor + Jack Davenport Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
After months of dithering, the Bank of England has finally cut the base rate to 5 per cent, the first time the central bank has voted to cut the base rate since 2020. On seven consecutive occasions the central bank voted to hold rates at 5.25 per cent between August 2023 and June 2024, despite falling inflation. There had been 14 consecutive base rate hikes since December 2021. The bank's successive interest rate rises between December 2021 and August 2023 were bad news for borrowers but good news for savers. The average two-year fixed mortgage rate is now 5.78 per cent, according to Moneyfacts, and the average five-year fix is 5.39 per cent. Right now, the lowest five-year fix is 3.99 per cent and the lowest two-year fix is 4.42 per cent, but lenders have already started cutting rates, but beware for excessive arrangement fees. Savers Rates Say goodbye to great savers deals, including Santander's 5.2 per cent special edition easy-access rate and NS&I's one-year bond paying 6.2 per cent, which launched in September 2023. One of the best one-year fixed-rate account on the market now pays 5.4 per cent, down from a high of 6.2 per cent in October 2023. Savers should note that 1,638 savings accounts still beat inflation which is now at the Bank of England's target of 2 per cent, according to the Mail Online. This means the value of your money is growing in real terms against inflation. NS&I revealed it will offer a new one-year Guaranteed Growth Bond paying 5.15 per cent or a Guaranteed Income Bond at 5.03 per cent. The offer is exclusive to existing 6.2 per cent bond holders and will be available when their current one matures, starting from the end of next month. A saver putting £10,000 in Union Bank of India's one-year fix will earn a guaranteed £554 interest over one year. It comes with full protection under the Financial Services Compensation Scheme up to £85,000 per person. Are Buy-to-Let property deals still worth it? How will Labour's new Renters Rights Bill 2024 affect buy-to-let landlords? The Labour Party's Renters' Rights Bill 2024 is poised to bring significant changes to the UK's rental market, impacting both tenants and buy-to-let landlords. Understanding these changes is crucial for landlords to navigate the evolving landscape effectively. Watch video version - https://youtu.be/Wx1HXgVW1bM A Lifetime of taxes Income tax, VAT, Council Tax, Car Tax, Insurance and Travel Tax, Green Energy Taxes, BBC Licence Tax, Stamp Duty, Capital Gains Tax, Section 24, Business Taxes and the final kicker; Inheritance Tax for your dependents! You can legally reduce and mitigate your taxes and inheritance tax for your dependents. Wills and Trusts New research from Canada Life reveals that over half of UK adults (51%)1 have not written a will, nor are they currently in the process of writing one. This includes 13% of people who state they have no intention to write a will in the future. Section 24 Landlord Tax Hike Interview with Chartered Accountant and property tax specialist who reveals options and solutions to move your properties from your own name into a limited company or LLP whilst mitigating the potential HMRC pitfalls. Email charles@charleskelly.net for a free consultation on how to deal with Section 24, Wills and Trusts. Watch video now: https://youtu.be/aMuGs_ek17s #finance #moneytraining #moneymanagement #wealth #money #marketing #sales #debt #leverage #property #investment #Homeownership #financialplanning #moneymanagement #financialfreedom #section24tax #financialindependenceretireearly #RentersRightsBill #BuyToLet #LandlordLife #UKPropertyMarket #TenantsRights #RentalProperty #PropertyInvestment #LandlordChallenges #RentControl #PropertyStandards #interestratecut #bankofengland #mortgagerates
Host Simon provides a detailed guide on managing the end of a tenancy. Simon addresses a listener's question about handling council tax, utilities, and other administrative tasks, especially for properties owned by limited companies. He shares his own experiences as a self-managing landlord, highlighting the need for effective communication, documentation, and thorough inspections. Simon's insights offer valuable advice for landlords and property managers to ensure a smooth transition and address key administrative tasks efficiently. Join our email newsletter (http://eepurl.com/icl-1f) for extra, exclusive resources. Episode links: * Building a Time Efficient £Million Property Portfolio (https://www.thebusinessofproperty.com/237). * How to make £1 million from buy-to-let property (https://www.thebusinessofproperty.com/238). * Streamlined property management with PaTMa Manager (https://www.patma.co.uk/property-manager/). * Find us on YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCRfrbvIJfodFK8tikisCjVw) or LinkedIn: Simon (https://www.linkedin.com/in/simonpither/). Subscribe to The Business of Property podcast on Spotify (https://open.spotify.com/show/73chI0Nqi9eRFUM7tkHc6r), iTunes (https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-business-of-property/id1495635728), and all podcast platforms (https://www.thebusinessofproperty.com/subscribe). Join our email newsletter (http://eepurl.com/icl-1f) for extra, exclusive resources. Please leave a rating and review if you're enjoying the show. This podcast is produced in association with PaTMa (https://www.patma.co.uk/), the leading application for self managing landlords who want to save time and stay compliant. Easily track properties, tenancies, tenants, repairs, rent, mortgage payments and safety certificates. Get your FREE account today (https://www.patma.co.uk/).
This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.theflyingfrisby.comI started out with the intention of writing just one article on this subject, but it has become three. It's a big subject … (Here is part one and here is part two, if you are not already up to speed)The latest polls show Labour comfortably in excess of 400 seats, maybe even 500.They are going to have such a thumping majority (with less than 50% of the vote - how crap is first past the post), together with a Blob which, broadly speaking, is theologically aligned, that they are going to be able to do pretty much what they like. There is scope for a lot of invasive government. The socialist mindset does not respect private property. It feels entitled to it. So today I wanted to further explore wealth taxes and what Labour might do, should the socialist-leaning instincts in the party come to the fore during those first 100 days and beyond.Wealth taxes are hard to collectLet us start with the golden rule of taxation, something with which readers of Daylight Robbery, the definitive book on taxation, will be familiar, as articulated by Louis XIV's minister of finance, Jean-Baptiste Colbert.The art of taxation consists of so plucking the goose as to obtain the most possible feathers with the least possible hissing(If you haven't read Daylight Robbery - How Tax Shaped Our Past and Will Change Our Future, by the way, I urge you too. I think it's the best of my books and one of the things I will go to my grave feeling proud of).With that Colbert quote in mind, let us turn to wealth taxes. I've often argued that one reason we don't see as many wealth taxes as you might expect is that, in practical terms, they are not as simple as they might seem. Income Tax works well because it is easy to collect. The employer collects it for the government - and faces harsh penalties if they don't, so the onus is on them. Ditto VAT: only it is the seller on whom the responsibility to collect falls.Wealth taxes, however, rely on declarations. There is much more scope for non-compliance, whether deliberate or accidental. Say the government wanted to impose a 5% net worth tax. It would have to find out about your real estate, both at home and abroad, and reach a fair valuation for that. It would have to find out about your stocks and bonds, your possessions, your vehicles, your savings, your ISAs, your pensions, your cryptocurrencies, your art, your antiques. Anyone who has ever had to value an estate for Inheritance Tax purposes knows what a headache this is. It can take many months.The government can force banks to collect a lot of this information, and the bank can then get heavy with you, if you don't comply (this is a route I think we will go), but there is still an awful lot of scope for non-compliance, avoidance, and evasion. Most will be truthful about what they own; but many will not - and hope that HMRC does not have the resources to investigate them properly, which it doesn't. Many people have valuable things - from antiques to lost bitcoin wallets - that they don't even know have value or can't access. Note: I'm not saying a “net worth tax” won't happen - I'd give it a 50:50 chance - just that they are not quite as easy as they sound. The goose will hiss a lot.That said, I do think that, for sure, we will see changes to wealth reporting requirements, which is a first step in that direction.You really should subscribe to this letter.But if not a net-worth tax, here are some wealth taxes that could quite easily be imposed:* A savings tax. Savings are relatively easy to prove and then tax. Banks are the ally of government here. There is some £1.5 trillion held in savings accounts in the UK, so there is plenty there to be tapped (though a lot of this is in ISAs, which are supposed to be tax free). Starmer has made noises about ordinary working people not having savings, so I doubt he will have too many qualms about sticking his snout in that particular trough. The complaint is that people have already paid tax on their savings when they earned the money in the first place, plus they pay taxes on the interest.* An equity and bonds holdings tax. Again, relatively easy to prove - banks and brokers to report and collect. I doubt, however, Starmer will tax gilt holdings or remove the CGT exemption on gilts: he will want that particular income tap to remain free-flowing.* Taxes on ISAs. The tax-free goalposts on ISAs can quite easily be changed, and there are a lot of people who have built up large pots, which no doubt Labour will be eying. The £20 grand annual allowance might be reduced or, more likely, there will be a maximum tax-free cap of, say, £100 grand. As to whether they can tax existing holdings, difficult but not impossible.* Tax relief on pension contributions. The sixty grand limit will probably come down and the tax-free lump sum will probably not be quite so tax-free.* An off-shore wealth tax. You have to declare any holdings you have overseas and then pay tax on them. Lots of scope for dispute and non-compliance, of course. Doesn't mean it won't happen.* A luxury goods tax. It's not right that you should be able to afford luxury goods and that others can't, so we are going to tax them, just as we do alcohol, fuel, and cigarettes.* Exit taxes. A lot of rich people are already leaving, others will follow. Labour will know this. I would not rule out some kind of exit tax, as reader AK pointed out to me. The USA, Canada, Australia, Germany, France, Spain, and Denmark all have exit taxes - in many cases, taxes on unrealised capital gains. (Imagine paying a tax on the gain, not realising it, and that gain turns to a loss. Horrible).If you are interested in buying gold to protect yourself in these frightening times, check out my recent report. I have a feeling it is going to come in very handy.My recommended bullion dealer is the Pure Gold Company. I also like Goldcore.The equalisation of Capital Gains Tax and Income Tax, as mentioned in part two, looks more likely than ever. Wrong, of course. Capital gains are not something most people experience year in year out. For many, they are one-off events on the sale of a major asset or company. But such morals do not enter into it.Similarly, Inheritance Tax is likely to go to 50%, also as mentioned in part two.Angela Rayner has said that Labour is not planning rises to Council Tax “at the moment,” presumably with the permission of the party strategists, though Keir Starmer conspicuously did not rule rises out earlier in the week. As previously outlined, Council Tax is an obvious target because the banding - the prices at which homes are valued - is so out of date (based on 1991 valuations), but the money does not go to central government, which is what Labour would want. Local taxes also tend to create a lot of agro - Colbert's hissing - which governments prefer to avoid. There is, in addition, the fact that Council Tax rises target the “wrong” people (council taxes tend to be higher in Labour-voting boroughs, which are often less well off, and Labour will not want to tax these people as much as they will the “capitalist classes”). One solution is to levy much higher Council Taxes on the most expensive properties. As with wealth taxes, I'm not saying Council Tax rises are not coming. They probably are, but they are not the prime target. One final thought: thanks to VAT on school fees, there is going to be even more pressure for places at good state schools, which will mean homes in catchment areas will command an even higher premium than they do already. (Labour says it's going to modernise the curriculum. Oh, God. Is it not modern enough already?)Right, I think that's your lot on Labour's tax rises. Look out for pieces in the near future on Turkey's inflation and the damage it has done to its people (I am actually writing today's piece from Istanbul); on my picks from the Weird S**t Investment Conference; and I've got a great piece coming on wages and gold).If you are in the Edinburgh neck of the woods this August, look out for me at the Edinburgh Fringe. I'll be performing one of my “lectures with funny bits”. This one is all about the history of mining. As always, I shall be delivering it at Panmure House, where Adam Smith wrote Wealth of Nations. It's at 2pm most afternoons. You can get tickets here.Condor Gold (CNR.L/COG.TSX)
This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.theflyingfrisby.comI started out with the intention of writing just one article on this subject, but it has become three. It's a big subject … (Here is part one and here is part two, if you are not already up to speed)The latest polls show Labour comfortably in excess of 400 seats, maybe even 500.They are going to have such a thumping majority (with less than 50% of the vote - how crap is first past the post), together with a Blob which, broadly speaking, is theologically aligned, that they are going to be able to do pretty much what they like. There is scope for a lot of invasive government. The socialist mindset does not respect private property. It feels entitled to it. So today I wanted to further explore wealth taxes and what Labour might do, should the socialist-leaning instincts in the party come to the fore during those first 100 days and beyond.Wealth taxes are hard to collectLet us start with the golden rule of taxation, something with which readers of Daylight Robbery, the definitive book on taxation, will be familiar, as articulated by Louis XIV's minister of finance, Jean-Baptiste Colbert.The art of taxation consists of so plucking the goose as to obtain the most possible feathers with the least possible hissing(If you haven't read Daylight Robbery - How Tax Shaped Our Past and Will Change Our Future, by the way, I urge you too. I think it's the best of my books and one of the things I will go to my grave feeling proud of).With that Colbert quote in mind, let us turn to wealth taxes. I've often argued that one reason we don't see as many wealth taxes as you might expect is that, in practical terms, they are not as simple as they might seem. Income Tax works well because it is easy to collect. The employer collects it for the government - and faces harsh penalties if they don't, so the onus is on them. Ditto VAT: only it is the seller on whom the responsibility to collect falls.Wealth taxes, however, rely on declarations. There is much more scope for non-compliance, whether deliberate or accidental. Say the government wanted to impose a 5% net worth tax. It would have to find out about your real estate, both at home and abroad, and reach a fair valuation for that. It would have to find out about your stocks and bonds, your possessions, your vehicles, your savings, your ISAs, your pensions, your cryptocurrencies, your art, your antiques. Anyone who has ever had to value an estate for Inheritance Tax purposes knows what a headache this is. It can take many months.The government can force banks to collect a lot of this information, and the bank can then get heavy with you, if you don't comply (this is a route I think we will go), but there is still an awful lot of scope for non-compliance, avoidance, and evasion. Most will be truthful about what they own; but many will not - and hope that HMRC does not have the resources to investigate them properly, which it doesn't. Many people have valuable things - from antiques to lost bitcoin wallets - that they don't even know have value or can't access. Note: I'm not saying a “net worth tax” won't happen - I'd give it a 50:50 chance - just that they are not quite as easy as they sound. The goose will hiss a lot.That said, I do think that, for sure, we will see changes to wealth reporting requirements, which is a first step in that direction.You really should subscribe to this letter.But if not a net-worth tax, here are some wealth taxes that could quite easily be imposed:* A savings tax. Savings are relatively easy to prove and then tax. Banks are the ally of government here. There is some £1.5 trillion held in savings accounts in the UK, so there is plenty there to be tapped (though a lot of this is in ISAs, which are supposed to be tax free). Starmer has made noises about ordinary working people not having savings, so I doubt he will have too many qualms about sticking his snout in that particular trough. The complaint is that people have already paid tax on their savings when they earned the money in the first place, plus they pay taxes on the interest.* An equity and bonds holdings tax. Again, relatively easy to prove - banks and brokers to report and collect. I doubt, however, Starmer will tax gilt holdings or remove the CGT exemption on gilts: he will want that particular income tap to remain free-flowing.* Taxes on ISAs. The tax-free goalposts on ISAs can quite easily be changed, and there are a lot of people who have built up large pots, which no doubt Labour will be eying. The £20 grand annual allowance might be reduced or, more likely, there will be a maximum tax-free cap of, say, £100 grand. As to whether they can tax existing holdings, difficult but not impossible.* Tax relief on pension contributions. The sixty grand limit will probably come down and the tax-free lump sum will probably not be quite so tax-free.* An off-shore wealth tax. You have to declare any holdings you have overseas and then pay tax on them. Lots of scope for dispute and non-compliance, of course. Doesn't mean it won't happen.* A luxury goods tax. It's not right that you should be able to afford luxury goods and that others can't, so we are going to tax them, just as we do alcohol, fuel, and cigarettes.* Exit taxes. A lot of rich people are already leaving, others will follow. Labour will know this. I would not rule out some kind of exit tax, as reader AK pointed out to me. The USA, Canada, Australia, Germany, France, Spain, and Denmark all have exit taxes - in many cases, taxes on unrealised capital gains. (Imagine paying a tax on the gain, not realising it, and that gain turns to a loss. Horrible).If you are interested in buying gold to protect yourself in these frightening times, check out my recent report. I have a feeling it is going to come in very handy.My recommended bullion dealer is the Pure Gold Company. I also like Goldcore.The equalisation of Capital Gains Tax and Income Tax, as mentioned in part two, looks more likely than ever. Wrong, of course. Capital gains are not something most people experience year in year out. For many, they are one-off events on the sale of a major asset or company. But such morals do not enter into it.Similarly, Inheritance Tax is likely to go to 50%, also as mentioned in part two.Angela Rayner has said that Labour is not planning rises to Council Tax “at the moment,” presumably with the permission of the party strategists, though Keir Starmer conspicuously did not rule rises out earlier in the week. As previously outlined, Council Tax is an obvious target because the banding - the prices at which homes are valued - is so out of date (based on 1991 valuations), but the money does not go to central government, which is what Labour would want. Local taxes also tend to create a lot of agro - Colbert's hissing - which governments prefer to avoid. There is, in addition, the fact that Council Tax rises target the “wrong” people (council taxes tend to be higher in Labour-voting boroughs, which are often less well off, and Labour will not want to tax these people as much as they will the “capitalist classes”). One solution is to levy much higher Council Taxes on the most expensive properties. As with wealth taxes, I'm not saying Council Tax rises are not coming. They probably are, but they are not the prime target. One final thought: thanks to VAT on school fees, there is going to be even more pressure for places at good state schools, which will mean homes in catchment areas will command an even higher premium than they do already. (Labour says it's going to modernise the curriculum. Oh, God. Is it not modern enough already?)Right, I think that's your lot on Labour's tax rises. Look out for pieces in the near future on Turkey's inflation and the damage it has done to its people (I am actually writing today's piece from Istanbul); on my picks from the Weird S**t Investment Conference; and I've got a great piece coming on wages and gold).If you are in the Edinburgh neck of the woods this August, look out for me at the Edinburgh Fringe. I'll be performing one of my “lectures with funny bits”. This one is all about the history of mining. As always, I shall be delivering it at Panmure House, where Adam Smith wrote Wealth of Nations. It's at 2pm most afternoons. You can get tickets here.Condor Gold (CNR.L/COG.TSX)
This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.theflyingfrisby.comNext week, I'm putting out my top ten picks from the Weird S**t Investment Conference, so look out for that, and at the end of today's piece, there is also a short note on Condor Gold, which will be of interest to some readers.But we have a General Election coming up in the UK, and citizens of this once-great nation want to know how to protect what they have worked for from the incoming Labour Government, which, you can be sure, is going to be sniffing around like a spaniel on luggage in an airport. We now have the Labour Manifesto, so we can start to be a bit more specific than we were in part one of this series.I stress: this is only the manifesto. There is a long history of governments doing things they didn't mention in their manifestos or failing to honour manifesto commitments. Roosevelt's confiscation of Americans' gold is one example that springs to mind, but that might just be because I have just been writing about it. There are plenty of examples in the UK too, even with the current government - increases to National Insurance, the Covid money splurge, failures on renters' reform, home building, immigration pledges, social care, and so on. Circumstances change and so will pledges, especially with a Prime Minister who has quite a track record when it comes to changing tack. Do not be surprised by the surprises that are inevitably coming.The broad argument of part one is that the pound will continue to be debased. It will buy you a lot less in five years than it does now. Whether we will see the 33% declines in the pound's purchasing power we have seen since 2020, I'm not sure, but the way to hedge yourself is to own non-government money - gold and bitcoin.Labour has pledged to “keep mortgage rates low” and to “retain the 2% inflation target,” which means it will keep a lid on interest rates, or try to, especially with official inflation now having come down to 2%. That all furthers my argument that the pound will continue to lose purchasing power.Labour has a gazillion things it wants to spend money on, ranging from Great British Energy to new teachers, breakfast clubs, and increased NHS appointments, so it is going to need low rates. It has also said it plans to move the “current budget into balance” and “ensure debt is falling.” All I can say is good luck with that. No chance. Spending is going to increase, and, even with the inevitable currency debasement, it is going to need to find tax revenue too. That means higher taxes.But higher taxes where? Taxes, relative to GDP, are already at their highest levels since World War Two, and Labour has promised no increases in National Insurance, Income Tax rates, or VAT. It has also pledged to cap corporation tax at 25% throughout the Parliament.Some increased revenue, it says, will come from clamping down on tax avoidance and modernising HMRC. A lot easier said than done.The big unmentionables have been Council Tax, Capital Gains Tax, and Inheritance Tax. All three, I expect, will go up. Council Tax valuation bands are based on 1991 property prices. That is an obvious anachronism to “update,” though council tax goes to local coffers and Labour will be more interested in revenue at the national level. Even so, it is an obvious area of tax revenue growth. Not a lot you can do to avoid it, except move.Inheritance Tax, meanwhile, will not come down and will probably go up. It is, of course, morally wrong to want to pass the wealth you have earned and already paid taxes on to your heirs. Changes will be justified on the grounds of unearned wealth and exploit the politics of envy. The rate could rise to 50%, I suppose, while areas of relief - the seven-year gift rule, perhaps, the relief on main homes - could be removed. All I can say is plan early.Capital Gains Tax, meanwhile, is likely to rise. Starmer has avoided saying it won't. I expect to see it rise to levels concomitant with Income Tax with similar bands (i.e., 40% above £37k and 45% above £125k). The way to avoid this is by not transacting, which is what most will do unless they really have to, and so the effect of CGT rises will be market atrophy.Labour will also come after your pensions too - there is so much capital there - with those in the private sector likely to take a bigger hit than those in the state.There is also a lot of blurb about the launch of Great British Energy to “harness Britain's sun, wind and wave energy” with a windfall tax on oil and gas giants. That makes British oil and gas companies uninvestable. It says it will “deliver one hundred percent clean power by 2030,” though we know that clean power is neither clean nor green . They clearly haven't read their Alex Epstein, and it all means that essential fossil fuel will inevitably get more expensive, and the country will function less well as a result. Labour says it is going to reduce energy bills. Not possible without subsidies somewhere else, and these have to be paid for.The Housing MarketFollowers of Fred Harrison and the 18-year property cycle will note that Britain's housing market is heading towards a cycle high, with collapse starting in 2026. Perhaps that will be triggered by Labour's plans. It wants to fix planning and build a lot of social housing - that means a bet on builders and builders' merchants (Travis Perkins and Vistry, for example) might make sense, at least in the short run. There is a long history of governments failing to deliver on this, and I don't think Labour has any chance of meeting targets. If it comes anywhere close, it means Britain's housing stock is about to get even uglier.Labour's Freedom to Buy scheme, like Help to Buy, is just another means to pump more money into the housing market, and the general drift seems to be to subsidize at the bottom and tax at the top. It has ruled out Capital Gains Tax on your main residence, but I wouldn't be surprised to see it anyway. Meanwhile, Stamp Duty will continue, even if it means atrophy at the top end of the market. The attack on non-doms will also hit homes at the top end. For homes above £1 million, the costs of moving - high stamp duty especially, more if we get CGT too - just points to stagnation.Meanwhile, I expect the introduction of numerous schemes to protect tenants, which will only drive away landlords and end with higher rental costs.You know that I am a free-market guy, and I dislike on instinct market intervention, subsidy, and all the rest of it. All Labour's grand plans to encourage investment just reek of crony capitalism to me, so I tend to avoid, but I've no doubt that industrialists, who position themselves correctly, might make good money out of them. More on this after the election.My theory used to be this: that in the same way a Conservative Party that was so scared of the left-wing press became a social-democrat party, so will this Labour Government, scared of the right-wing press, end up lurching to the centre-right. I no longer see that. Labour is trying to present itself as centre-left, but the instinct is for government intervention and I see a lot more of it coming. The civil service, the Blob, and the government are theologically aligned and that is not good. It means they can progress their agenda. I'd love to be more optimistic, but, despite Starmer's purges, there is still a lot of socialist instinct in that party.Bottom line. Taxes are going to go up. Freedom is going to be eroded. The pound is going to lose purchasing power.If you are interested in buying gold, check out my recent report. I have a feeling it is going to come in very handy.My recommended bullion dealer is the Pure Gold Company. I also like Goldcore.Don't forget Life After the State - Why We Don't Need Government (2013), my first book, and many readers' favourite, is now back in print - with the audiobook here: Audible UK, Audible US, Apple Books. I recommend the audiobook ;)And if you are in the Edinburgh neck of the woods this August, look out for me at the Edinburgh Fringe. I'll be performing one of my “lectures with funny bits”. This one is all about the history of mining. As always, I shall be delivering it at Panmure House, where Adam Smith wrote Wealth of Nations. It's at 2pm most afternoons. You can get tickets here.Thoughts on Condor Gold
This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.theflyingfrisby.comNext week, I'm putting out my top ten picks from the Weird S**t Investment Conference, so look out for that, and at the end of today's piece, there is also a short note on Condor Gold, which will be of interest to some readers.But we have a General Election coming up in the UK, and citizens of this once-great nation want to know how to protect what they have worked for from the incoming Labour Government, which, you can be sure, is going to be sniffing around like a spaniel on luggage in an airport. We now have the Labour Manifesto, so we can start to be a bit more specific than we were in part one of this series.I stress: this is only the manifesto. There is a long history of governments doing things they didn't mention in their manifestos or failing to honour manifesto commitments. Roosevelt's confiscation of Americans' gold is one example that springs to mind, but that might just be because I have just been writing about it. There are plenty of examples in the UK too, even with the current government - increases to National Insurance, the Covid money splurge, failures on renters' reform, home building, immigration pledges, social care, and so on. Circumstances change and so will pledges, especially with a Prime Minister who has quite a track record when it comes to changing tack. Do not be surprised by the surprises that are inevitably coming.The broad argument of part one is that the pound will continue to be debased. It will buy you a lot less in five years than it does now. Whether we will see the 33% declines in the pound's purchasing power we have seen since 2020, I'm not sure, but the way to hedge yourself is to own non-government money - gold and bitcoin.Labour has pledged to “keep mortgage rates low” and to “retain the 2% inflation target,” which means it will keep a lid on interest rates, or try to, especially with official inflation now having come down to 2%. That all furthers my argument that the pound will continue to lose purchasing power.Labour has a gazillion things it wants to spend money on, ranging from Great British Energy to new teachers, breakfast clubs, and increased NHS appointments, so it is going to need low rates. It has also said it plans to move the “current budget into balance” and “ensure debt is falling.” All I can say is good luck with that. No chance. Spending is going to increase, and, even with the inevitable currency debasement, it is going to need to find tax revenue too. That means higher taxes.But higher taxes where? Taxes, relative to GDP, are already at their highest levels since World War Two, and Labour has promised no increases in National Insurance, Income Tax rates, or VAT. It has also pledged to cap corporation tax at 25% throughout the Parliament.Some increased revenue, it says, will come from clamping down on tax avoidance and modernising HMRC. A lot easier said than done.The big unmentionables have been Council Tax, Capital Gains Tax, and Inheritance Tax. All three, I expect, will go up. Council Tax valuation bands are based on 1991 property prices. That is an obvious anachronism to “update,” though council tax goes to local coffers and Labour will be more interested in revenue at the national level. Even so, it is an obvious area of tax revenue growth. Not a lot you can do to avoid it, except move.Inheritance Tax, meanwhile, will not come down and will probably go up. It is, of course, morally wrong to want to pass the wealth you have earned and already paid taxes on to your heirs. Changes will be justified on the grounds of unearned wealth and exploit the politics of envy. The rate could rise to 50%, I suppose, while areas of relief - the seven-year gift rule, perhaps, the relief on main homes - could be removed. All I can say is plan early.Capital Gains Tax, meanwhile, is likely to rise. Starmer has avoided saying it won't. I expect to see it rise to levels concomitant with Income Tax with similar bands (i.e., 40% above £37k and 45% above £125k). The way to avoid this is by not transacting, which is what most will do unless they really have to, and so the effect of CGT rises will be market atrophy.Labour will also come after your pensions too - there is so much capital there - with those in the private sector likely to take a bigger hit than those in the state.There is also a lot of blurb about the launch of Great British Energy to “harness Britain's sun, wind and wave energy” with a windfall tax on oil and gas giants. That makes British oil and gas companies uninvestable. It says it will “deliver one hundred percent clean power by 2030,” though we know that clean power is neither clean nor green . They clearly haven't read their Alex Epstein, and it all means that essential fossil fuel will inevitably get more expensive, and the country will function less well as a result. Labour says it is going to reduce energy bills. Not possible without subsidies somewhere else, and these have to be paid for.The Housing MarketFollowers of Fred Harrison and the 18-year property cycle will note that Britain's housing market is heading towards a cycle high, with collapse starting in 2026. Perhaps that will be triggered by Labour's plans. It wants to fix planning and build a lot of social housing - that means a bet on builders and builders' merchants (Travis Perkins and Vistry, for example) might make sense, at least in the short run. There is a long history of governments failing to deliver on this, and I don't think Labour has any chance of meeting targets. If it comes anywhere close, it means Britain's housing stock is about to get even uglier.Labour's Freedom to Buy scheme, like Help to Buy, is just another means to pump more money into the housing market, and the general drift seems to be to subsidize at the bottom and tax at the top. It has ruled out Capital Gains Tax on your main residence, but I wouldn't be surprised to see it anyway. Meanwhile, Stamp Duty will continue, even if it means atrophy at the top end of the market. The attack on non-doms will also hit homes at the top end. For homes above £1 million, the costs of moving - high stamp duty especially, more if we get CGT too - just points to stagnation.Meanwhile, I expect the introduction of numerous schemes to protect tenants, which will only drive away landlords and end with higher rental costs.You know that I am a free-market guy, and I dislike on instinct market intervention, subsidy, and all the rest of it. All Labour's grand plans to encourage investment just reek of crony capitalism to me, so I tend to avoid, but I've no doubt that industrialists, who position themselves correctly, might make good money out of them. More on this after the election.My theory used to be this: that in the same way a Conservative Party that was so scared of the left-wing press became a social-democrat party, so will this Labour Government, scared of the right-wing press, end up lurching to the centre-right. I no longer see that. Labour is trying to present itself as centre-left, but the instinct is for government intervention and I see a lot more of it coming. The civil service, the Blob, and the government are theologically aligned and that is not good. It means they can progress their agenda. I'd love to be more optimistic, but, despite Starmer's purges, there is still a lot of socialist instinct in that party.Bottom line. Taxes are going to go up. Freedom is going to be eroded. The pound is going to lose purchasing power.If you are interested in buying gold, check out my recent report. I have a feeling it is going to come in very handy.My recommended bullion dealer is the Pure Gold Company. I also like Goldcore.Don't forget Life After the State - Why We Don't Need Government (2013), my first book, and many readers' favourite, is now back in print - with the audiobook here: Audible UK, Audible US, Apple Books. I recommend the audiobook ;)And if you are in the Edinburgh neck of the woods this August, look out for me at the Edinburgh Fringe. I'll be performing one of my “lectures with funny bits”. This one is all about the history of mining. As always, I shall be delivering it at Panmure House, where Adam Smith wrote Wealth of Nations. It's at 2pm most afternoons. You can get tickets here.Thoughts on Condor Gold
Participants:Dr Hannah Randolph, Associate Economist, Fraser of Allander Institute, University of StrathclydeProfessor Mairi Spowage, Director, Fraser of Allander Institute, University of StrathclydeJoão Sousa, Deputy Director, Fraser of Allander Institute, University of StrathclydeTimestamps:(00:20) £2k rise in taxes per household to fund Labour's commitments?(12:30) Council Tax reform and capital gains tax(22:00) Child Benefit charge threshold(30:00) FAI General Election coverage and events to look forward to
National Insurance - a tax millions of working age people pay on their wages - is being cut this weekend, for the second time this year. The main rate of National Insurance has now fallen by a third - from 12% last year to just 8%. The Treasury says combined with above-inflation increases to personal tax thresholds since 2010, this will save the average earner over £1,500 compared to what they would otherwise have paid. What difference will it make to your pay?The debt charity StepChange has told Money Box a third of people they helped last year were behind on their Council Tax payments with an average debt of more than £1,700. What can you do if you're struggling to pay?Plus, changes to Child Benefit mean it will become available to thousands more families from this weekend - how will that work?Presenter: Paul Lewis Reporters: Sarah Rogers and Eimear Devlin Researchers: Sandra Hardial and Jo Krasner Producer: Craig Henderson Editor: Jess Quayle(First broadcast 12pm Saturday 6th April 2024)
In the latest episode of the pod Andy is talking about: Could you cut your council tax? How many ISAs could or should you have New £175 bank switch deal with First Direct Andy's deals of the week For links and further reading head to becleverwithyourcash.com/cashchats ABOUT CASH CHATS Cash Chats is presented by money blogger and broadcaster Andy Webb. The podcast was "Show of the Week" in the Radio Times, and it has been featured as one of the top money podcasts by publications including Apple, Good Housekeeping and the Independent. In 2021 and 2019 it was awarded Best Money Podcast at the SHOMOS - the UK Money Bloggers community annual awards, and runner-up in 2020. On each Cash Chats episode you can hear Andy share ways to get the most from your money. Andy also runs the award-winning website Be Clever With Your Cash, presented Channel 5's Shop Smart Save Money and founded the community ukmoneybloggers.com. To contact Andy email Andy@Becleverwithyourcash.com ANDY ON SOCIAL twitter.com/BeCleverCash instagram.com/becleverwithyourcash youtube.com/@becleverwithyourcash GET ANDY'S WEEKLY NEWSLETTER You'll also get a free Quidco bonus for signing up https://becleverwithyourcash.com/newsletter/ MUSIC The music is Easter Island by Lonely Punk and provided on a creative commons licence
As the majority of councils across England and Wales raise their bills, we discuss the ways you could look at lowering your annual outgoings. We hear how you can apply to have your property re-evaluated, and why some parts of England are increasing council tax by more than most. Check out our council tax calculator to see how much you'll be charged from April & sign up to receive our free weekly Money newsletter.
Rob discusses the government's plans to double council tax for empty homes in an effort to bring more properties into use and address housing shortages. The Department for Levelling Up is proposing to reduce the time before charging double council tax from two years to one year for empty properties. However, inherited properties will be exempt from this increase for up to 12 months to support grieving families. The Strengthened Empty Homes Premium is set to take effect in April 2024, with the increased revenue going to local authorities. Rob questions the effectiveness of doubling council tax on wealthy individuals who own second homes, suggesting it may not incentivise them to sell. KEY TAKEAWAYS Council tax in England is set to increase by 4.99%, affecting most councils. The government plans to double council tax for empty homes in an effort to bring more properties into use. The Strengthened Empty Homes Premium will come into effect in April 2024, with the effects not being felt until April 2025. The extra money raised from the increased council tax will go to local authorities, who can spend it as they see fit. The government's aim is to make housing more affordable for local residents, but the effectiveness of doubling council tax for empty homes is questionable, especially for wealthy individuals with second homes. BEST MOMENTS "Long-term empty properties are shutting local families and young people out of the housing market." "If you are rich enough to afford a second home and leave it empty, doubling the council tax probably won't work." "It's always a bit of a pill to swallow because some person at Westminster thinks this is a really good idea." "The extra money raised will go to local authorities who can spend it as they like, which means it will probably get spent badly or inappropriately." VALUABLE RESOURCES GET YOUR DEVELOPMENT FINANCE HERE: https://propertyfundingplatform.com/WharfFinancial#!/borrowerinitialregistration SOVEREIGN MAN PREMIUM INTELLIGENCE MEMBERSHIP https://dash.sovereignman.com/a/smc12m995/tpnpodcast SOVEREIGN MAN 4th PILLAR https://dash.sovereignman.com/a/4pmain/tpnpodcast WEALTH BUILDERS https://www.wealthbuilders.co.uk/propertynomad ABOUT THE HOST Rob Smallbone is the author of the Amazon best-seller Buy-To-Let: How To Get Started as well as 101 Top Property Tips and Property FAQ's. BOOKS Property FAQs = https://amzn.to/3MWfcL4 Buy To Let: How To Get Started = https://amzn.to/3genjle 101 Top Property Tips = https://amzn.to/2NxuAQL WHERE TO FIND US https://linktr.ee/thepropertynomadspodcastuk property, Investment, Property, Rent, Buy to let, Investing for beginners, Money, Tax, Renting, Landlords, strategies, invest, housing, properties, portfolio, estate agents, lettings, letting, business: https://patreon.com/tpnpodcast
Wandsworth council tax the lowest in London at £961-a-year. Neighbouring Kingston taxes residents the most at £2,374. Just how badly are councils struggling? Are Sadiq Khan's tax hikes behind the latest rise? Our Local Democracy Reporter Noah Vickers explains the capital's council tax rises, and discusses what needs to be done to better support local authorities in London. In this episode:Are many London councils struggling financially?Why is there such a disparity between local authorities' tax rates?What can the government do to support them?Follow us on X or on Threads. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
For most of us, our council tax bills are going up - with nearly every local authority in the country increasing it by the maximum amount. Nottingham City Council is the latest to declare itself bankrupt and has already approved huge cuts. Today, councillors in Birmingham consider whether to do the same.On this edition of the Sky News Daily, Niall Paterson is joined from Birmingham by Midlands correspondent Becky Cotterill and local campaigner Shuranjeet Singh to look at what's gone wrong in the city and how it's affecting residents. Plus, Jessica Studdert from the thinktank New Local discusses why so many councils are struggling with their finances.Senior podcast producer: Annie Joyce Assistant producer: Iona Brunker Interviews producer: Melissa Tutesigensi-Charles Promotion Producer: David Chipakupaku Editor: Wendy Parker
In the latest episode of the pod Andy is talking to Amelia Murray about the stories from the last four weeks that most affect your money, including: What we can expect from the next UK budget The UK is in recession could the State Pension age rise to 71? Is this goodbye for Body Shop Council tax and train price hikes Banks and savings & more For links and further reading head to becleverwithyourcash.com/cashchats ABOUT CASH CHATS Cash Chats is presented by money blogger and broadcaster Andy Webb. The podcast was "Show of the Week" in the Radio Times, and it has been featured as one of the top money podcasts by publications including Apple, Good Housekeeping and the Independent. In 2021 and 2019 it was awarded Best Money Podcast at the SHOMOS - the UK Money Bloggers community annual awards, and runner-up in 2020. On each Cash Chats episode you can hear Andy share ways to get the most from your money. Andy also runs the award-winning website Be Clever With Your Cash, presented Channel 5's Shop Smart Save Money and founded the community ukmoneybloggers.com. To contact Andy email Andy@Becleverwithyourcash.com ANDY ON SOCIAL twitter.com/BeCleverCash instagram.com/becleverwithyourcash youtube.com/@becleverwithyourcash GET ANDY'S WEEKLY NEWSLETTER You'll also get a free Quidco bonus for signing up https://becleverwithyourcash.com/newsletter/ MUSIC The music is Easter Island by Lonely Punk and provided on a creative commons licence
We bring you the news from Tuesday's Full Council meeting at which Portsmouth City Council's budget was focus of the agenda. Was it all plain sailing or was there drama and disagreement? Tell us what you think about Portsmouth City Council's budget, the fight to protect services and the planned increase in Council Tax? Full Documents available on PCC's website https://democracy.portsmouth.gov.uk/ieagenda.aspx?M=4979 Links to Full speeches on our website www.pppodcast.uk
Hello! I invited these two wonderful ladies onto the podcast to promote their campaign to increase the current single occupancy discount on our council tax from 25% to 50%. They are at 11k signatures, which is a real achievement! If you live alone in the UK or if you would like to support anyone you know who does live alone, please support this campaign by adding your signature! Link below https://linktr.ee/singlecounciltaxcampaignThank you! Thank you so much for listening to my show!You can follow and contact me here;Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/onesinglewoman/Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61551831488278email - onesinglewomanpodcast@gmail.com
Do you really pay more in council tax on a semi in Hartlepool than a mansion in Westminster? How do the Office for National Statistics work out how much the UK population is going to grow by? How much do junior doctor strikes cost? Is home grown veg worse for climate change than veg grown on a farm?Tim Harford investigates the numbers in the news.Presenter: Tim Harford Producers: Nathan Gower, Debbie Richford and Perisha Kudhail Series producer: Tom Colls Production co-ordinator: Brenda Brown Sound Mix: James Beard Editor: Richard Vadon
This week on the podcast Martin talks about how you can find out if you've been paying too much in Council Tax and how you could get a discount. We also hear from landlords who ‘Tell Us' what tenants should do to get the best deal. And, as always, Martin shares his latest Money Saving Tips.
(If you prefer, you can watch this article in video form here)The youngster setting out on life in the west has a major problem. We live in a society that penalises hard work. Punitively and relentlessly.As Daylight Robbery readers will know, over the course of a life, half of everything a typical worker earns will be taken from him by the government. More if you factor in inflation. People think a house is the most expensive purchase you will ever make. It isn't. It is, by far and away, your government. And it's a forced purchase as well.Not only is the produce of your labour confiscated, it is spent on things on which you may often be philosophically opposed: wars, waste, masks, rainbow road crossings, corruption, human rights lawyers, Stonewall. I could go on.But that is the bind in which the western citizen finds himself. It is the price he must pay for a civilised society.So the typical worker finds himself working hour upon hour merely to stay afloat, his produce confiscated, week in week out. We can't all be Elon Musk, much as we would like to be. Unless you have a very well paid job indeed, this is your reality. It is very hard to get on. You are trapped.To make it worse, the money you are paid in also loses its value. Relentlessly. Thus what you got to keep is taken from you too.This will remain your reality, unless you change it.One solution, as I outline here, is to convert as much of your pay as possible into strong currency, but with 50% of your earnings constantly confiscated it is still a rough deal. (And don't say income taxes are lower than that, I know they are. There are many other taxes we must pay too.)So what to do?The answer is leave. Go somewhere where taxes are lower and the currency is stronger. Then you will be rewarded for your labour. And through your labour, you might actually be able to save and improve your lot.I have never been crazy about Dubai. I've always found the place a bit false. It lacks culture. I prefer places that are a bit more organic. I'd rather be in a quaint English village with an old pub and a beautiful church, wandering through the City with its mysterious, historical back alleys or lounging in some terracotta Mediterranean villa. What's more, the thought of the slave labour on which Dubai was built makes me feel very uncomfortable. In my stand-up act I sometimes do a joke: “as a stand-up you need some ready-made put-downs in case you have problem people in the audience, so I have been working on my put-downs, and the best I've been able to come up with is … You look like the sort of person that likes Dubai.” (Some audiences - usually cultured ones - love that joke, others are baffled by it)But all that said, every time I have been to Dubai I have had a good time. A very good time in fact. And I have always been well looked after.But here's the thing. There is no Income Tax in Dubai. VAT is just 5%. There is no Stamp Duty. There is no TV tax. There is no Council Tax. Petrol is cheap. Corporation tax is much lower. Booze, fags and sugary drinks face 50% excise duties. But who cares? You drink too much anyway.As for the money you are paid in, UAE dirham, well, that's pegged to the US dollar. It's not ideal, but it's better than the pound. So go the UAE, work, keep what you earn and, even in a relatively low-ranking job, in five years you will suddenly you'll find yourself in a very different, much stronger position than if you had stayed in UK, Europe or any high tax jurisdiction.Look at how crap our governments are. Why enable them? Live shows coming upIf you have not seen my lecture with funny bits about gold, we have two more dates in London lined up for Feb 14 and 15. Please come.And I am taking my musical comedy show, An Evening of Curious Songs, on a mini tour in the spring with dates in London, Somerset, Hampshire, Surrey and Essex. This is a really fun show.Here are the dates and places.* London, Crazy Coqs, W1. Wednesday March 20th. On sale now.* Bordon, Hampshire. Saturday March 23. On sale now.* Guildford, Surrey. Friday April 5. On sale now. * Bath, Somerset. Saturday April 6. On sale now.* Southend, Essex . Sunday April 14. On sale now.Buying gold?Interested in protecting your wealth in these extraordinary times? Then be sure to own some gold bullion. I use The Pure Gold Company, whether you are taking delivery or storing online. Premiums are low, quality of service is high, you can deal with a human being. I have an affiliation deal with them. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.theflyingfrisby.com/subscribe
Rob discusses two lighthearted yet absurd stories involving councils and their inefficiencies. The first story revolves around a West London council that sent bailiffs to collect unpaid council tax for a property that the council itself owned. This level of incompetence not only wasted taxpayer money but also caused distress to the individual involved. The second story highlights the financial struggles of councils, with Nottingham City Council and Birmingham City Council filing for bankruptcy. KEY TAKEAWAYS Inefficiency costs taxpayers money and is a serious concern. The council in question failed to check its own records and communicate internally, resulting in unnecessary expenses and distress for the property owner. Nottingham City Council and Birmingham City Council have filed for bankruptcy, indicating financial mismanagement and potential shortfalls in their finances. This raises concerns about the ability of some councils to effectively manage their constituencies. Councils may resort to increasing taxes to cover their financial shortcomings, which could negatively impact property owners and taxpayers in those areas. BEST MOMENTS "And this is why a lot of councils and whatnot are going bankrupt." "They're looking to treble people's council tax to pay for bus lane improvements, because they've got like a super bus network in that part of the country." "And there's been a massive misallocation of finance. There's been a massive misallocation of public funds and funds are being put into the hands of people that have no idea how to run it." "Because chances are the councillors are going to need to raise cash. And of course, landlords, landladies, land people, just people that own housing in general, they're gonna get the short end of the stick as they normally do." VALUABLE RESOURCES GET YOUR DEVELOPMENT FINANCE HERE: https://propertyfundingplatform.com/WharfFinancial#!/borrowerinitialregistration SOVEREIGN MAN PREMIUM INTELLIGENCE MEMBERSHIP https://dash.sovereignman.com/a/smc12m995/tpnpodcast SOVEREIGN MAN 4th PILLAR https://dash.sovereignman.com/a/4pmain/tpnpodcast ABOUT THE HOST Rob Smallbone is the author of the Amazon best-seller Buy-To-Let: How To Get Started as well as 101 Top Property Tips and Property FAQ's. BOOKS Property FAQs = https://amzn.to/3MWfcL4 Buy To Let: How To Get Started = https://amzn.to/3genjle 101 Top Property Tips = https://amzn.to/2NxuAQL WHERE TO FIND US https://linktr.ee/thepropertynomadspodcastuk property, Investment, Property, Rent, Buy to let, Investing for beginners, Money, Tax, Renting, Landlords, strategies, invest, housing, properties, portfolio, estate agents, lettings, letting, business: https://patreon.com/tpnpodcastThis show was brought to you by Progressive Media
Rob examines an interesting law change that could potentially double council tax for second homeowners in Bath and North East Somerset, UK. As he explains, it is primarily a means for the council to generate more revenue, and Rob questions whether doubling the council tax will actually incentivise second homeowners to bring their empty properties back onto the market, as the affluent nature of the area may mean that the increased tax is easily affordable for most... KEY TAKEAWAYS The council in Bath and North East Somerset is considering doubling the council tax for second homeowners in an effort to bring long-term empty homes back onto the market. The council believes that there are 858 homes in the area that would be impacted by this tax increase, which could generate an additional £1.84 million per year. However, it is unlikely that doubling the council tax will have a significant impact on second homeowners in Bath and North East Somerset, as the area is relatively affluent and most homeowners can likely afford the increase. If the tax increase does not incentivise second homeowners to sell their properties, they may instead choose to rent them out or use them for short-term rentals like Airbnb, which would not result in any additional council tax revenue. BEST MOMENTS "What the council were trying to do, apart from make cash, which they won't admit, but let's be honest, that's what they're looking to do." "If the council tax were to be doubled and there's no restrictions in those areas, i.e. let's just say there's not an Article 4 restriction or whatever, these people might then decide to rent out the property." "The council probably just needs to turn around and say, look, we're a bit short on cash and we're going to do other videos about other councils that have gone bankrupt in a future video and episode." VALUABLE RESOURCES GET YOUR DEVELOPMENT FINANCE HERE: https://propertyfundingplatform.com/WharfFinancial#!/borrowerinitialregistration SOVEREIGN MAN PREMIUM INTELLIGENCE MEMBERSHIP https://dash.sovereignman.com/a/smc12m995/tpnpodcast SOVEREIGN MAN 4th PILLAR https://dash.sovereignman.com/a/4pmain/tpnpodcast ABOUT THE HOST Rob Smallbone is the author of the Amazon best-seller Buy-To-Let: How To Get Started as well as 101 Top Property Tips and Property FAQ's. BOOKS Property FAQs = https://amzn.to/3MWfcL4 Buy To Let: How To Get Started = https://amzn.to/3genjle 101 Top Property Tips = https://amzn.to/2NxuAQL WHERE TO FIND US https://linktr.ee/thepropertynomadspodcastuk property, Investment, Property, Rent, Buy to let, Investing for beginners, Money, Tax, Renting, Landlords, strategies, invest, housing, properties, portfolio, estate agents, lettings, letting, business: https://patreon.com/tpnpodcastThis show was brought to you by Progressive Media
Host David McClemont @DavoMc82 with Debra Torrance @HeathPeaPict & Brian Findlay @WeeSociologist This week's topics; - Tory request for Israel flag to be flown at Scottish Parliament - Tories lose 2 By-Elections - Lisa Cameron MP defection to the Tory party - FM proposed Council Tax freeze
Peter Wilson - Private Trusts and Dealing with Corrupt Systems About my Guest: Ex Royal Navy gunner and armourer, turned professional fighter. Owned and ran own martial arts gym for about 30 years. Always been aware of something not being right in the world, went deep into it after losing over £1million of property in 1 week including own home. So been up and been down even living in a car for a while with his wife Janine and 4 dogs. --------------------------------------------- Thanks to my Sponsors for Helping Support me: If you or know some body you know is struggling with anxiety and want to know how to be 100% anxiety free, in 6 weeks, without therapy or drugs, fully guaranteed - then let me tell you about our sponsor Daniel Packard. His research company spent 8 years testing to develop an innovative process that solves your anxiety permanently in just 6 weeks - with an astounding 90% success rate. Because their program is so effective, people who join their program only pay at the end, once they have clear, measurable results. If you're interested in solving your anxiety in 6 weeks - fully guaranteed - and you want to learn more and have a free consultation with Daniel, go to https://www.danielpackard.com/ -------------------------- Do you have High Blood Pressure and/ or want to get off the Meds Doctors are amazed at what the Zona Plus can do $50 Discount with my Code ROY https://www.zona.com/discount/ROY ------------ A safe and secure way to buy and sell crypto claims —----- Speaking Podcast Social Media / Coaching My Other Podcasts https://bio.link/podcaster ------------------ What we Discussed: - Celtic Salt ( 5 mins) - Flouride in Water ( 6:30 mins) - True Democracy ( 9 mins) - Only one Law from the Creator ( 18 mins) - Spirituality go within ( 22 mins) - Tartarian Empire ( 28 mins) - Baning videos to make us think it must be true (31:30 mins) - Sycamore Gap Tree ( 32 mins) - Controlled Opposition ( 36 mins) - Dealing with Balliffs ( 42 mins) - Fighting the Council Tax ( 47 mins) - Private Trusts ( 53 mins) - Corrupt Mainstream Media ( 1hr 3 mins) - How to Set up a Trust ( 1hr 8 mins) - What to be aware of people setting up your trust ( 1 hr 12mins) - Inheritance Tax ( 1 hr 20 mins) - Dangers from Speed Cameras ( 1 hr 24 mins) and more How to Contact Peter: https://www.claimyourstrawman.com/ https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCne3h6d7qH2hLTG4lalSVCg https://linktr.ee/PeterWilsonReturnToDemocracy ------------------------------ More about the Awakening Podcast: All Episodes can be found at www.awakeningpodcast.org All Social Media + Donations link https://bio.link/podcaster Our Facebook Group can be found at https://www.facebook.com/royawakening
The majority of us are paying council tax, it's one of our biggest bills a month, and you might be surprised to know the amount you pay was probably decided decades ago. Our experts take a deep dive into the workings of this old system, and importantly, whether you could be paying too much.Sign up to our free Money newsletter & become a Which? member today.
In this episode I share my thoughts on the scrapping of proposed Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards of EPC C+ for properties to be legally rented out. The tables were turned and I joined Rod Turner on his Property Business Investment ‘Rodcast' in my capacity as CEO of GreenResi, which helps residential investors with portfolios worth £100m+ to make efficient, reliable buy, sell and upgrade decisions at scale, so that they can future proof and grow portfolios in the context of the urgent need to retrofit homes. We covered topics including Why scrapping planned MEES is likely to be positive for the Private Rental Sector, its renters and the environment Why our clients, institutional investors, were and are self-regulating, and targeting better than the ex-proposed minimum EPC of C What other policies would work better than MEES, such as using Council Tax to incentivise upgrades. Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) Guidance: https://bpf.org.uk/media/4534/bpf-residential-esg-guidance.pdf Listen to The Rodcast: https://www.podpage.com/the-rodcast-property-business-investment/ Rod Turner Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rod-turner-936a837/ Anna Clare Harper LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/annaclareharper/ GreenResi website: https://www.greenresi.com/
In the latest episode of the pod I'm talking about: The ways to save money on Council Tax Whether Sainsbury's new Nectar Prices will save you money How to stack a new Amex welcome offer with other promos to make £815 Listeners question Deals of the week For links and further reading head to becleverwithyourcash.com/cashchats315 ABOUT CASH CHATS Cash Chats is presented by money blogger and broadcaster Andy Webb. The podcast was "Show of the Week" in the Radio Times, and it has been featured as one of the top money podcasts by publications including Apple, Good Housekeeping and the Independent. In 2021 and 2019 it was awarded Best Money Podcast at the SHOMOS - the UK Money Bloggers community annual awards, and runner-up in 2020. On each Cash Chats episode you can hear Andy share ways to get the most from your money. Andy also runs the award-winning website Be Clever With Your Cash, presented Channel 5's Shop Smart Save Money and founded the community ukmoneybloggers.com. To contact Andy email Andy@Becleverwithyourcash.com ANDY ON SOCIAL Andy's handle is @AndyCleverCash and you can follow him over at: twitter.com/AndyCleverCash instagram.com/andyclevercash youtube.com/andyclevercash GET ANDY'S WEEKLY NEWSLETTER You'll also get a free Quidco bonus for signing up https://becleverwithyourcash.com/newsletter/ MUSIC The music is Easter Island by Lonely Punk and provided on a creative commons licence
**Our apologies to any early listeners of this episode, a Tired Simon Error with an incomplete edit being uploaded has now been resolved*** On Tuesday, Portsmouth City Council held its last meeting of the full council before May's local elections where 14 of the 42 councillors face re-election. Was it a point-scoring exchange of leaflet writing soundbites or did harmony break out ahead of the electoral battle ahead? The agenda included; Council tax for 2nd homes, Plans for an Anaerobic Digester, Pay Policy Settlement, Tesco pulling recycling from stores in the city, Extending safe spaces, Southern Water's continued dumping of sewage into our waters, Stopping bailiffs chasing Council Tax debt, young carers & What's happening to the fireworks in Cosham.
The Martin Lewis Podcast is here. Founder of Money Saving Expert, Martin Lewis answers your financial questions. In this episode we look at how to check if you could save on your council tax, ahead of the 5% rise due for many of us in April. Plus, the council tax discount many people can apply for - that they may know nothing about. Elsewhere in the podcast you Tell Us your best ‘Money-piphany' - that moment when your eyes were opened to how something in debt or budgeting worked, which changed your approach to finances forever. Plus Nihal takes on Martin's Money Mastermind and is quizzed about who currently sets the overall maximum amount that most consumers in England, Scotland and Wales pay for their energy bills.
We know that rising inflation and increases in taxes are set to leave millions worse off in 2022 and beyond. Households are already grappling with the worst cost of living crisis in a generation. Budgets have been further squeezed by a raft of price and tax rises, and inflation is the highest it has been for 30 years. Tony offers ten tips to help you manage through this difficult period. KEY TAKEAWAYS Save money on your energy bills. If you are finding budgeting for energy bills difficult consult your energy provider or a debt advice charity. Check out how to cut your energy use. Try using a petrol price checker site to ensure you always buy your fuel from the cheapest source. Change your driving style to avoid hard acceleration and high speeds to reduce your consumption. Plan your meals for a week and stick to it to avoid unnecessary impulse purchases. Check if you would save money if switching to a water meter. You can pay a lower Council Tax if you live alone and if you are in receipt of certain benefits or on a low income you can gain a reduction of up to 100%. Review your bank statements and credit card bills to ensure you are aware of all your outgoings and cut out unnecessary spending. Draw up a monthly budget. If you are paying high interest rates on your cards or loans then consolidate. BEST MOMENTS ‘The government website which is simply “Energy Advice” has tips on how to keep your energy bills down so that's worth checking out.' ‘You can use The Consumer Council For Waters calculator and if you are on certain benefits and have a large family or someone with a particular medical condition you may qualify for the Water Sure Scheme, which caps water bills.' ‘Check if your are entitled to state benefits. Billions of pounds of state benefits go unclaimed each year and you could be missing out. The national charity “Turn 2 Us” has a free and confidential benefits calculator on its website.' VALUABLE RESOURCES Government Energy Saving Advice https://www.simpleenergyadvice.org.uk/ Fuel Price Checker https://www.petrolprices.com/ Water Sure Scheme https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/consumer/water/water-supply/problems-with-paying-your-water-bill/watersure-scheme-help-with-paying-water-bills/ Turn 2 Us Benefits Calculator https://benefits-calculator.turn2us.org.uk/ Money Helper Budget Planner https://www.moneyhelper.org.uk/en/everyday-money/budgeting/budget-planner Tony Talks Wealth - https://omny.fm/shows/tony-talks-wealth Sign Up Now For Exclusive Tony Talks Wealth Content at https://www.patreon.com/TTWealth ABOUT THE HOST Tony Thomas is a published author, one of the top financial advisers in the UK voted for by his clients, the first Chartered Financial Planner in the UK, Independent Financial Adviser, Mentor, Trainer. Life Planner and Money Coach. He is also a pension and investment specialist as well as the regional Chartered Champion for South Wales. “Live For Today, Invest For Tomorrow” CONTACT Tony's official website: https://ttwealth.co.uk/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TonyThomas.IFA/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tonythomas2/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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