Podcasts about money box live

US Trade tariffs, stock market ups and downs, economic uncertainty. What do they all mean for your money?Since last Wednesday, when Donald Trump announced huge increases in tariffs for goods being imported by the USA, global stock markets have been in turmoil. Money Box Live is discussing what these events might mean for your personal finances, over the short, medium, and longer term. Felicity Hannah is joined by Russ Mould of AJ Bell, and Kirsty Stone of The Private Office. And they'll be taking questions from listeners. Presenter: Felicity Hannah Reporter: Eimear Devlin Producer: Neil Morrow Editor: Jess Quayle

As the Chancellor, Rachel Reeves, presents her Spring Statement, Money Box Live sifts through the details about what it all means for your personal finances.Changes to the welfare system have already been announced. It will be harder to claim a disability benefit called Personal Independence Payment (PIP) under plans which the government says will get more people into work. We'll analysis any new details on that.The Spring Statement comes ahead of big plans already announced in last year's Autumn Budget such as changes to stamp duty for home buyers and an increase to National Insurance Contributions for some employers, so as well as dissecting new announcements we'll also remind you what else coming in and when.Felicity Hannah is joined by Sarah Pennells, Consumer Finance Specialist at pensions company Royal London; Elsa Littlewood, Tax Partner at the accountancy firm BDO and Mike Brewer, Chief Economist and Deputy Chief Executive of the Resolution Foundation.Presenter: Felicity Hannah Producer: Sarah Rogers Reporter: Emma Smith Editor: Jess Quayle(This episode was first broadcast at 3pm on Wednesday 26th March, 2025)

Politicians, banks and builders all talk about the dream of homeownership, but it's not easy to get on the property ladder.New figures given to Money Box Live show that, even though the Bank of England has reduced interest rates, it's now more expensive for a first-time buyer with a 10% deposit than it was two years ago. In this Money Box Live we hear from someone trying to save enough for a deposit, someone trying to navigate through conveyancing to complete their sale - and someone who overcame the obstacles and challenges to move into their dream home.Felicity Hannah is joined by Sarah Tucker, Director and Founder of the broker the Mortgage Mum and Emily Williams, Director, Residential Research at the estate agent Savills.Presenter: Felicity Hannah Producers: Sarah Rogers and Catherine Lund Editor: Jess Quayle(First broadcast at 3pm on Wednesday 26th February 2025)

People owe more money for gas and electricity bills than ever before. New calculations from the energy consultancy firm Baringa reveal the average typical energy debt is £1,500 - that's up £300 in a year. The total owed to energy companies is 3.8 billion pounds, which is almost double what it was two years ago.Energy prices are also forecast to rise by 5% from April, adding £85 a year to household bills meaning a household using a typical amount of gas and electricity would pay £1823 a year.In this Money Box Live, we're finding out how to manage energy debts and how to avoid getting into the red in the first place.Ruth Alexander is joined by Matthew Sheeran from the free debt advice provider, Money Wellness, and Eleanor Taylor from Baringa.Presenter: Ruth Alexander Producers: Sarah Rogers, Catherine Lund and Neil Morrow Editor: Jess Quayle(First broadcast 3pm on Wednesday 19th February 2025)

We all dream about what we will do when we don't have to work anymore. The perfect retirement looks different for everyone, from travelling the world and luxury holidays to spending more time with family and friends, but the cost of stopping work can be bit of a wake-up call.In this Money Box Live we'll look at how to make the most of the savings you have as retirement approaches to how to start planning for retirement at the start of your career.Felicity Hannah is joined by Sangita Chawla, Managing Director at Standard Life and Zoe Alexander, Director of Policy and Advocacy at the Pensions and Lifetime Savings Association to answer your questions - and offer tips on how to plan for a good retirement.Presenter: Felicity Hannah Producer: Catherine Lund Editor: Jess Quayle(This programme was first broadcast at 3pm Wednesday 12th February, 2025.)

Paying for care in later life is something many of us will face. Unlike other NHS services, social care is not free at the point of use, the average annual care home cost is £60,000, if additional care is needed that price will go up. After a recent special Money Box Live from Grange Care Residential Home in Sheffield we received so many questions that we simply couldn't get through them all on air, so we've raided the inbox and brought in the experts to return to the topic to answer as many was we can.From how to plan to pay for care, what your money pays for, and how to challenge fees, Felicity Hannah, is joined by Tish Hanifan, the Founder of the Society of Later Life Advisors and Vic Rayner, CEO of the National Care Forum and Chair of the Care Providers Alliance.Presenter: Felicity Hannah Producer: Catherine Lund/Sarah Rogers Editor: Sarah Rogers(This programme was first broadcast at 3pm on Wednesday the 5th of February, 2025).

Research from charity Scope suggests that disabled households have to find an extra £1,000 pounds a month to have the same standard of living as non-disabled households. Extra costs include, heating, equipment and transport. Having a disability can also mean navigating the benefits system - a system that Chancellor Rachel Reeves said today would undergo reform by the spring, as the government struggles to manage the rising cost of claims.Felicity Hannah is joined by Dan White from Disability Rights UK and Sarah Coles, Head of Personal Finance at Hargreaves Lansdown.Presenter: Felicity Hannah Producer: Sarah Rogers Editor: Jess Quayle(First broadcast 3pm Wednesday 29th January 2025)

Car, home, travel and life insurance are just some of the policies we might take out to protect ourselves if the worst happens.This year we've already seen floods followed by freezing temperatures and property claim pay outs hit £4.1 billion last year according to industry figures.So this week we look at whether insurance companies step up when we need them, and more widely at the rising costs of insurance, particularly for motorists.Felicity Hannah is joined by experts Mark Shepherd from the Association of British Insurers, and Sam Richardson, Deputy Editor of Which? Money.Presenter: Felicity Hannah Producer: Sarah Rogers and Craig Henderson Editor: Jess Quayle(This programme was first broadcast at 3p.m. on Wednesday 22nd of January 2025)

1 in 5 parents say they're struggling with the cost of sending their children to school according to the National Parent Survey.There're uniform costs, school trips, afterschool clubs and school dinners to consider, but is there a way to keep costs down?Some changes are on the way with government plans to give every parent of a child in a state primary school in England the legal right to a half hour breakfast club, as well as limits on how many branded uniform parents have to buy. This week Felicity Hannah will hear from parents and is joined by Jo Thurston, parenting coach from Action for Children's Parent Talk service, Sarah Coles, head of personal finance at the investment platform Hargreaves Lansdown and Neil Renton, Head Teacher of Harrogate Grammar School.Presenter: Felicity Hannah Reporter: Sarah Rogers Editor: Jess Quayle(This programme was first broadcast at 3pm on Wednesday the 15th of January 2025)

Money Box Live broadcasts from Grange Crescent Residential Care Home in Sheffield for a special programme on the cost of care.Unlike NHS services, social care is not free at the point of use. It costs an average of around £60,000 per year to live in a residential care home and considerably more if you need nursing care.Last week the Department of Health and Social Care announced a new review into care costs, but the independent commission tasked with the job will not publish it's final report until 2028.We'll be speaking to residents and family members about how they're paying their care bills and hearing from the care home manager about how it all works.Joining Felicity Hannah is Claire Rintoul, CEO of the charity Sheffcare which operates Grange Crescent Residential Care Home as well as eight others in the city, Professor Vic Rayner, Chair of the Care Providers Alliance which represents independent and voluntary adult social care providers in England and from the Society of later life advisors, Independent Financial Advisor Jonathan Rowley.Presenter: Felicity Hannah Producer: Sarah Rogers Production Coordinators: Emma Smith and Molly Pipe Editor: Jess Quayle(This programme was first broadcast 3pm on Wednesday the 8th of January, 2025)

Almost half of us are making money from side hustles according to the comparison site, Finder.But how do they work, what do you need to do if you have one and when do you need to tell the tax office?We will be meeting those using their hobbies to boost their bank balances this Christmas as well as clearing up the rules around selling on online platforms.Joining Felicity Hannah is Helen Thornley from the Association of Tax Technicians and Vicks Rodwell of IPSE, the association for self-employed people. Presenter: Felicity Hannah Producers: Sarah Rogers and Neil Morrow Production Coordinator: Emma Smith Editor: Jess Quayle(This episode was first broadcast at 3pm on Wednesday 18th December 2024)

The British public is expected to donate close to £3bn to good causes over the festive season according to research from the Charities Aid Foundation.If you are giving this year, how can you make sure all of your money gets to your favourite charity or if the charity is even real? We'll be considering the different ways to give and giving advice on how to avoid scams as well as hearing from some charities about how they're faring.Felicity Hannah is joined by David Holdsworth, CEO of the Charities Commission for England and Wales and Philippa Cornish, Head of Charities at the Charities Aid Foundation.She also chats to best friends and super fundraisers Hughie and Freddie, who have raised hundreds of thousands of pounds for Children's hospitals.Presenter: Felicity Hannah Producers: Sarah Rogers and Catherine Lund Researcher: Emma Smith Editor: Jess Quayle(This episode was first broadcast at 3pm on Wednesday the 11th of December 2024)

Almost a million women are trapped in dangerous relationships because of economic abuse, figures from a dedicated charity suggest.Economic abuse is now a legally recognised form of domestic abuse. It could include not allowing access to cash or bank accounts or the things money buys like food and clothing.The charity Surviving Economic Abuse reports that 1 in 7 women in the UK have experienced this kind of control and coercion at the hands of a partner and we know that men can face it too. Felicity Hannah is joined by Sam Smethers the CEO of Charity Surviving Economic Abuse and also solicitor Gary Rycroft.Presenter: Felicity Hannah Producer: Sarah Rogers Researcher: Emma Smith Editor: Jess QuayleIf you've been affected by any of the issues in this programme then details of help are available at bbc.co.uk/actionline, or you can call for free, at any time to hear recorded information on 08000 155 947.(This episode was first broadcast at 3pm on Wednesday the 4th of December 2024)

The Chancellor, Rachel Reeves, has announced her Budget but what does it mean for yours?Money Box Live is breaking down what the Budget mean for your finances, from pensions and Inheritance Tax to the cost of a pint. We hear from the experts who are on hand to answer your questions and comments.Felicity Hannah is joined by Dr Arun Advani, Professor of Economics at the University of Warwick and Kirsty Stone a partner at the independent financial advisers, The Private Office.Presenter: Felicity Hannah Producer: Sarah Rogers Editor: Jess Quayle(This episode was first broadcast at 3pm on Wednesday the 30th of October 2024)

More than half a million young people are yet to claim their Child Trust Fund which could be worth up to £2,200 according to the government, but how do you know if your child has one or even how to get it? Plus with the Chancellor's budget on the way, we know parents are topping up Junior ISAs and giving away monetary gifts ahead of any changes she might make.So, today we're looking at how to build a solid financial future for the children in your life and how to help get them get engaged when it comes to their finances.Felicity Hannah is joined by Stephanie Fitzgerald, Head of Young People at the Money Charity and Sarah Coles, personal finance analyst at Hargreaves Lansdown.Presenter: Felicity Hannah Producers: Sarah Rogers and Craig Henderson Editor: Jess Quayle(This programme was first broadcast at 3pm on Wednesday the 23rd of October 2024)

Each year it's estimated that £23 billion worth of help and support – from housing benefits to pension credit – goes unclaimed according to Policy in Practice. We look at the kind of help that is available, and hear from listeners on their experiences trying to claim the benefits they're entitled to, as well as who might be able to get money off their childcare or broadband bills.Presenter Felicity Hannah is joined by a panel of experts who answer your questions on how to make the best of the available support: Rachael Walker, research and policy director at Policy In Practice; Sam Hubbard, Head of Core Services at Citizens Advice in Staffordshire North and Stoke On Trent and David Samson, a benefits expert at Turn2Us.And we hear from a range of people with their own experiences of trying to secure benefits – sometimes during life-changing moments. Gary from Lincolnshire tells us how he had to become a carer for his poorly wife. But during a difficult journey to obtain benefits, it was only by chance that he discovered certain types of support he was entitled to. Meanwhile, Esther from London tells us how she wasn't aware she could be entitled to a carer's allowance for her children – two of whom have complex needs . Presenter: Felicity Hannah Producer: Craig Henderson Editor: Sarah Rogers(This episode was first broadcast on Wednesday 16th October 2024).

Buying a home is legendarily one of the most stressful events in life so today on Money Box Live we're going to try to take some of the pressure off by talking you through how it should work.Obviously there's much more to it than finding your dream house and a lot that can happen between viewing a property and getting the keys.We talk to first-time buyers on the property hunt in Stockport in Greater Manchester, and our panel of experts, Simon Gammon, Head of Finance at Knight Frank and Beth Rudolf from the Conveyancing Association joins Felicity Hannah to take questions from listeners.Presenter: Felicity Hannah Producer: Craig Henderson/Sarah Rogers Editor: Sarah RogersThis episode was first broadcast on Weds 9th October 2024.

This month the new government will reveal its plans for the nation's finances in the Budget.We've been told 'difficult decisions' lie ahead as the Chancellor Rachel Reeves seeks to plug what she says is a £22bn black hole left by the previous government.There's been plenty of speculation around Capital Gains Tax, Inheritance Tax and pensions tax relief - but what are they and who pays them?Our email inbox has been full of questions from listeners - so on this weeks Money Box Live we will be answering as many as we can.Felicity Hannah is joined by Elsa Littlewood, Tax partner at accountancy and business advisory firm BDO and Kirsty Stone a financial planner at The Private Office.We also have a new way to get in touch, WhatsApp Money Box on 03306 783183.Presenter: Felicity Hannah Producer: Sarah Rogers Editor: Jess Quayle(This episode was first broadcast on Wednesday the 2nd of October 2024)

Across the UK freshers are heading off to university, many leaving home for the first time and most of them are paying for at least some of that with their student loans. Graduates in England leave university with average debts of around £48,500 according to the Student Loans Company.Tuition fees vary depending on where you live in the UK. Last year students in England were told they'd be paying back their loans longer than the graduates who came before them.So, this week we're looking at how much a degree really costs. Felicity Hannah will be joined by Tom Allingham from Save the Student and Kellie McAlonan, Chair of the charity the National Association of Student Money Advisers.Presenter: Felicity Hannah Producer: Sarah Rogers Editor: Jess Quayle(This episode was first broadcast 3pm on Wednesday 25th September 2024)

There are nearly 70,000 children in the UK who are in foster care. Foster carers main concern has to be the children they look after, including many who have experienced neglect and trauma. But they are self-employed, so there are also financial considerations, from allowances and fees, to tax returns and receipts. In this programme we'll hear from charities, foster carers and care leavers. We'll also discuss new analysis from the Fostering Network, which found foster carers face a post code lottery when it comes to fees they're paid. Foster carers are given an allowance to pay for clothes and food - but they're also usually paid extra on top to recognise their time and skills. Those fees aren't fixed though, and local authorities can each individually decide how much to award.Using freedom of information requests the charity found 60% of local authorities across the UK are paying foster carers the equivalent of less than £5 an hour based on a 40 hour week. Local Authorities are given funding from central government and the devolved nations – the told us they are reviewing support for foster carers. Felicity Hannah, is joined by Sarah Thomas, Chief Executive of The Fostering Network and Brenda Farrell, Head of Fostering at Barnardo's.Presenter: Felicity Hannah Producer: Sarah Rogers Editor: Jess Quayle(This episode was first broadcast at 3pm on Weds 18th Sept 2024).

Figures given exclusively to Money Box Live show that almost two-thirds of people who called the National Gambling Helpline had gambling related debt. So what are the options and what support is available? This week Felicity Hannah speaks to those affected by gambling, either themselves or through a family member. Joining her to talk about it are Nicholas Hill from the Money and Pensions Service which is sponsored by the Department for Work and Pensions and Raminta Diliso Head of Gambling Related Financial Harm at the Charity GamCare which is in part funded by the gambling industry.If you've been affected by addiction - help is available at bbc.co.uk/actionline.Presenter: Felicity Hannah Producer: Sarah Rogers Editor: Jess Quayle(First broadcast 3pm on Wednesday 11th September 2024)

Working parents and carers of children aged 9 months or over are now entitled to 15 hours of funded childcare a week during term time.50 hours of nursery can cost around £14,000 a year, so it's a welcome relief for many. There had been warnings that parents would struggle to find places but the government says it is confident about meeting demand.From next September, the offer is set to rise to 30 hours, and include children up to school age too.Education Minister, Baroness Smith has said it'll be a challenge to meet that level of demand with the Department for Education estimating about 85,000 more childcare places and 40,000 extra staff will be needed by 2025.On today's programme we will be hearing from parents as well as the CEO of Kids Planet, one of the countries largest providers. Felicity Hannah will also be joined by Jonathan Broadberry, Policy Director at the National Day Nurseries Association and Emma Broome, Chief Executive of children's charity Coram.We'll also look at the new rules coming in to make childcare cheaper in Northern Ireland.Presenter: Felicity Hannah Producer: Sarah Rogers Editor: Jess Quayle(First broadcast at 3pm on Wednesday the 4th of September, 2024)

Not every dream job has an obvious route to success, so how do you make your passion project pay without falling behind on your bills?Visa research shows that around 45% of Gen Zs (people born between the late1990s and the early 2010) have a side hustle, but it's not just for the cash. More than a quarter of those are working at a passion project.So how do you make it if you want a career in comedy or to bag an Olympic gold? Do you have to tell your boss if you're doing extra work on the side? And what should you do about tax? Today we're talking to an Olympian who worked as a custody officer, a comic book writer who worked in a biology lab and an aspiring DJ who's on a zero-hours bar contract.Felicity Hannah is joined by Jack Gamble, Director and CEO of the Campaign for the Arts and employment lawyer Rupa Mooker.Presenter: Felicity Hannah Producer: Sarah Rogers & Catherine Lund Editor: Jess Quayle(First broadcast 3pm Wednesday 31st July 2024)

Felicity Hannah looks at giving someone Lasting Power of Attorney - that's the authority to manage your financial affairs in the event that you couldn't. What are they, how do they work and how much do they cost? This programme is dedicated to answering your questions. On the panel we have Sam Cox, knowledge officer from the Alzheimer's Society and Melinda Giles, partner and head of court protection at Giles Wilson Law.Presenter: Felicity Hannah Producer: Neil Morrow Editor: Jess Quayle(First broadcast 3pm Wednesday 24th July 2024)

Average rents in the UK rose by well over 8% in the past year, according to the ONS. In today's King's Speech, the new government has committed to introducing legislation to give greater rights and protections to people renting their homes. That included ending no fault evictions and reforming grounds for possession.So what will that mean for your money and your home?Joining us are Jasmine Basran from Crisis - a charity for people experiencing homelessness, Richard Donnell, from the property platform Zoopla and Richard Blanco, a landlord and property expert from the National Residential Landlords Association.Presenter: Felicity Hannah Producer: Sarah Rogers Studio Producer: Neil Morrow Editor: Jess Quayle(First broadcast 3pm Wednesday 17th July 2024)

A new government has taken office so what might that mean for the financial issues you've told us you care about?A big topic you got in touch with us about is the cost of care in old age.Unlike NHS services, social care is not free at the point of use and a place in residential care costs around £60,000 a year according to carehome.co.uk. The bill can go up enormously for anyone who needs extra support. Plus it's a devolved issue with different rules depending on where you live.A cap limiting the cost of personal care to £86,000 per person over a lifetime is due to come into force in October 2025 in England but will this still be the case? Felicity Hannah is joined by Nadra Ahmed from the National Care Association, which represents care homes and Simon Bottery, Senior Fellow in Social Care at The King's Fund, which is an independent think tank, specialising in health.Presenter: Felicity Hannah Producer: Sarah Rogers and Immie Rhodes Editor: Jess Quayle(First broadcast at 3pm on Wednesday July 10th 2024)

Almost 300,000 flights will take off over the summer months and whilst most holidays go without a hitch, others fail to get off the ground.Last year saw widespread disruption at airports, in August there was an exceptional IT failure at the UK's main air traffic services provider NATS over a bank holiday Monday which affected around three quarters of a million people. Strikes and staff shortages also caused disruption.In this programme we'll discuss what your rights are if your trip is delayed or cancelled, as well as a Brexit passport rule which has been catching thousands of passengers out.Felicity Hannah is joined by consumer rights champion Jane Hawkes and Sean Tipton from ABTA, which is the association of travel agents and tour operators.Presenter: Felicity Hannah Producer: Sarah Rogers Editor: Jess Quayle(This episode was first broadcast on the 3rd of July 2024.)

Around 38,000 children move into care every year in the UK. That's one every 15 minutes and a significant number of looked-after children will remain in the system until they reach adulthood. So what happens then? In this programme Felicity Hannah talks about what happens when you leave care. Without the bank of Mum and Dad, what financial support are those young people promised? We're joined by Jess and Callum, two care leavers as well as Kirsty Doull, Care and Transitions Lead at CELCIS, which is the Centre for Excellence for Children's Care and Protection, Carrie Wilson-Harrop from the Care Leavers Association and Clare Bracey, Policy, Campaigns and Communications Director at the care leavers charity, Become.Presented and Produced by Felicity Hannah. Producer: Neil Morrow Editor: Jess Quayle(First broadcast 3pm Wednesday 26th June, 2024)

The number of people working into their late 60s, their 70s and beyond is rising. In this programme we'll discuss what that means for their employment rights and what it tells us about their finances.Back in the 90s, only around 5% of peopled aged 65 or older were in work. In the early 2000s, that rose to around 6%. But recently released data from the Office for National Statistics shows that today almost 12% of people in that age group are in some form of employment. That's almost one and a half million people.Felicity Hannah is joined by older workers to explore their finances, their struggles and their rights to challenge discrimination. She'll be joined by Dr Emily Andrews, Deputy Director for Work at the Centre for Aging Better, and Sarah Jackman, an employment lawyer at the law firm Dentons.Presented and Produced by Felicity Hannah Studio production: Amber Mehmood Editor: Sara Wadeson(First broadcast 3pm Wednesday 19th June, 2024)

Do you get as much as you give when it comes to your job? We've had some important jobs numbers this week - with official data showing there are more vacancies than there were before covid but, the number is falling, while unemployment is rising. But alongside that, wages are going up too - by around 6%.In this episode, we ask if you're getting enough value out of your employer. We hear from listeners on how they asked their bosses for a pay rise, how they dealt with back pay and how they're making use of employee perks.Felicity Hannah is joined by Amanda Arrowsmith, People and Transformation Director for the CIPD, the professional body for HR and people development, and James Reed, Chairman and CEO at Reed Recruitment. Presenter: Felicity Hannah Producer: Amber Mehmood Editor: Sarah Rogers

This week marks two years since the historic reform in family law, known as the 'no fault divorce', was introduced. It was aimed at reducing conflict during separations and meant that couples could divorce without the need to apportion blame for the breakdown of their marriage. This change led to a surge in new applications at the time. Divorce itself hits the bank balance with annual incomes falling by an average of £9,700 in the year after separation, according to Legal & General. From living together to sharing bills, sharing debts and sharing accounts, the financial implications can be significant. In this Money Box episode we're looking at how to separate your finances after a split, and if you are breaking up, at what point should you make up a financial plan?Felicity Hannah is joined by Gary Rycroft, Senior Partner at Joseph A Jones, and Sarah Coles, Head of Personal Finance at Hargreaves Lansdown. Presenter: Felicity Hannah Producer: Amber Mehmood Editor: Sarah Rogers(This episode was first broadcast on the 8th May 2024).

Unpaid carers spend at least 35 hours a week looking after someone close to them. That someone may have an illness, a disability, a mental health problem or even an addiction, but what matters is that they cannot cope without that care.There are almost 6 million unpaid carers in the UK with 40% living in poverty according to charity Carers UK. This week we have a special audio diary from one carer trying to hold down a job around those care commitments, we will also hear from those who have given up work to care full time.The Department for Work and Pensions told us; 'We recognise the importance of carers, who play a vital role in our communities. We have increased Carer's Allowance by almost £1,500 since 2010, with those on low incomes potentially eligible for an extra £2,400 a year.'So if you're unsure about the rules around carers allowance, assessments and where you can get help and support, Felicity Hannah is joined by Emily Holzhausen, Director of Policy and Public Affairs at Carers UK and Caroline Abrahams, Head of Charity at Age UK,Presenter: Felicity Hannah Producer: Sarah Rogers Editor: Sara WadesonThis episode was first broadcast on the 1st May 2024.

Around 10 million people across the UK live in a leasehold property. That means they viewed the house or flat, bought it, may be paying off a mortgage to eventually own it outright. However, they are actually tenants of whoever owns the freehold. What they have bought is the right to live in the property for a given amount of time. Sometimes that's for the best part of a thousand years - sometimes it's for much less.In this episode we hear from leaseholders on what some of the issues are, including ground rent and service charges and what can be done about them. We'll also hear from a charity which relies on leasehold revenues.It's a system that even ministers have described as feudal - behind the scenes, work continues on the Leasehold and Freehold Reform Bill, which is being examined by members of the House of Lords this week. The Department for Levelling up, Housing and Communities say; “It is not fair that many leaseholders face unregulated ground rents for no guaranteed service in return."The Residential Freehold Association told us; “The Government's own report into leaseholder perspectives highlighted that the vast majority of leaseholders are content with the leasehold system." To answer your comments and questions, Felicity Hannah is joined by Matt Lewis, a Consultant Solicitor at Commonhold and Leasehold Experts Limited and Martin Boyd, chair of the government funded Leasehold Advisory Service and also chair of the Leasehold Knowledge Partnership, which supports and campaigns on behalf of leaseholders. Presenter: Felicity Hannah Producer: Sarah Rogers/Amber Mehmood Editor: Beatrice PickupThis episode was first broadcast on the 24th of April 2024

This week car insurance bosses, appeared in front of MP's as part of an investigation into the cost of premiums.They're continuing to rise and according to price comparison site Compare the Market are up 46% over the last year, making the typical payment for comprehensive insurance £892 a year. Consumer group Which? say some insurers are charging 'eye-watering' APR rates on those spreading the cost over the course of 12 months.So, we put your questions and comments to the Association of British Insurers who tell us it's been a difficult year for the industry.But it's not just insurance, we're also looking at the cost of fuel, maintenance and of course alternatives to running a car altogether.To answer your questions and comments Felicity Hannah is joined by Rachel Burgess the editor of magazine Auto car and Stuart Masson from online publication, The Car Expert. Presenter: Felicity Hannah Producer: Sarah Rogers Editor: Jess QuayleThis episode was first broadcast on Wed 17th April 2024

Data from the Financial Conduct Authority suggests fewer of us are struggling to pay our bills compared to last year, but the numbers are still high.The watchdog says more than 7 million people were finding it tough to pay bills and make repayments on borrowing at the start of the year, down from almost 11 million last year. However, despite the drop that's still far higher than before the cost of living pressures really started to bite.Price rises are slowing and energy bills have come down - so this could be a great moment to finally beat your bills back down and build a brilliant budget.In this episode we look at how to save money on your current repayments, budgeting, recovering from debt and hear from a super saver. Felicity Hannah is joined by consumer finance expert Martyn James and Jay Lowe, Head of Money Advice at Citizens Advice Staffordshire North and Stoke On Trent to answer your comments and questions.Presenter: Felicity Hannah Producer: Sarah Rogers Reporter: Neil Morrow Editor: Jess QuayleThis episode was first broadcast on the 10th April 2023.

April is a big month for our finances, some bills go up and one or two even come down. A big relief for many households will be the that energy prices are dropping, but one bill that is still going up is rent.UK rent prices rose 9% in the 12 months to February.Research shared exclusively with Money Box Live has revealed you're more likely to be in your overdraft if you're a renter compared to people with mortgages. You're also less likely to have savings to fall back on in an emergency.Meanwhile government plans to scrap no fault evictions for tenants in England have been delayed. Neither tenants nor landlords are happy with the current position.Felicity Hannah is joined by Sarah Pennells, Consumer Finance specialist at Royal London, Dan Wilson Craw, Deputy Director at Generation Rent UK, and Richard Donnell, director of research at the property platform Zoopla.Presenter: Felicity Hannah Producer: Neil Morrow and Sarah Rogers Reporter: Eimear Devlin Editor: Jess Quayle(This episode was first broadcast on the 3rd April 2024)

More than half of adults don't have a Will according to new research from insurance company Canada Life. The main reason people say they haven't sorted one is that they don't think they have enough money to leave behind. So what types of Will are there and what do they mean? We'll be hearing from one man who says he was disinherited over changes to a Mirror Will. We also speak to a mother concerned about digital assets following the death of her son.Plus, what happens if you don't have a Will at all, where will your estate go?Felicity Hannah is joined by Nina Sperring, Partner at Price, Slater, Gawne solicitors and is a member of STEP, the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners which specialises in estates and Wills and Jade Gani, Chief Executive of Circe Law and a Director of The Association of Lifetime Lawyers.Presenter: Felicity Hannah Producer: Sarah Rogers Reporter: Neil Morrow Editor: Jess Quayle(This episode was first broadcast at 3pm Wednesday March 27th 2024)

Mortgage customers face rising rates, vanishing deals and latest figures have shown more people are struggling to keep up with their repayments. Mortgage arrears, hit a seven-year high in the final quarter of 2023. So what can you do if that's you? Felicity Hannah is joined by Charlotte Harrison of Skipton Building Society, Sally Mitchell from the Mortgage Mum, and Richard Lane from the debt charity Step Change - to discuss what's going on in the mortgage market and what you need to know.Presenter: Felicity Hannah Reporter: Dan Whitworth Producer: Neil Morrow Editor: Jess Quayle(First broadcast 3pm Wednesday 20th March, 2024)

New arrangements for childcare payments come into force in April in England. How will the new arrangements affect parents? Are they going to be better or worse off?The Chancellor Jeremy Hunt announced extended support for parents of pre-school children in 2023. But many parents say the payments are still too low or that there aren't enough places available. Felicity Hannah is joined by Ellen Broome of the children's charity Coram, and Jonathan Broadbery, Director of Policy at the National Day Nurseries Association.Presenter: Felicity Hannah Producers: Will Harris and Neil Morrow Editor: Beatrice Pickup

As Chancellor Jeremy Hunt presents his Spring Budget, Money Box Live sifts through the details - and the impact on all our finances.Expectations included a 2p cut in National Insurance contributions but will that look like on your payslip? Money Box reporter Dan Whitworth answers those key questions.Felicity Hannah is joined by Sarah Coles, Head of Personal Finance at Hargreaves Lansdown; Simon Gammon, Managing Partner at the mortgage broker Knight Frank Finance, and Dawn Register, Tax Partner at the accountancy firm BDO.Presenter: Felicity Hannah Producers: Craig Henderson, and Kath Paddison Reporter: Dan Whitworth Researcher: Eimear Devlin Editor: Sarah Rogers(This episode was first aired on Wednesday the 6th of March at 3pm on Radio 4)

There are approximately four million children in Great Britain whose parents are separated.When couples break up they cut their finances apart, but for parents there's that ongoing relationship that comes with supporting those children - emotionally but also financially. So how do you manage that?Sometimes, of course, it breaks down and a parent has to ask the state to step in and make their ex pay support. We'll discuss some changes coming to how that's enforced.And we hear from parents who are sharing care and finding ways to make the finances and the new circumstances work. Joining Felicity Hannah is Leah Caldwell who is the Director of Mediation First and treasurer on the board of the Family Mediators Association and also Gemma Hope who is a solicitor at Family Law Partners.Presenter: Felicity Hannah Producers: Kath Paddison and Izzy Greenfield Editor: Jess Quayle(This episode was first broadcast at 3pm on Wednesday 21st February 2024)

When do you think you'll be able to retire?Perhaps you can't wait to pick up your last pay check or maybe you love your job so much you want to work for the rest of your life.For those who do hope to retire, the latest research suggests we'll all need an an extra £8,000 a year for a so-called moderate retirement according to the Pensions and Lifetime Savings Association. Meanwhile, the International Longevity Centre reckons we'll need to raise the state pension age to 71 by 2050.On this Money Box Live we're getting to the bottom of how realistic that is and what it all means.We'll hear from someone working well into their 70s as well as a super saver hoping to retire in her 40s! Felicity Hannah is joined by Helen Morrisey, Head of Retirement at financial services company Hargreaves Lansdown and Dr Emily Andrews, Deputy Director for Work at the Centre for Ageing Better charity to answer your questions and comments.Presenter: Felicity Hannah Reporter: Eimear Devlin Producer: Sarah Rogers Editor: Jess Quayle(This episode was first broadcast at 3pm on Radio 4 on the 14th of February 2023).

Are savers getting a good return on their cash?Although times are tight, we are actually saving slightly more according to the Bank of England. In December, we collectively saved £6bn.But, more than a trillion pounds is sitting in accounts earning around 2% interest - even though the base rate is still at 5.25% - according to analysis by Lightyear of the Bank of England's data.And £250bn is in accounts that are paying no interest at all.So are banks doing enough? UK finance which speaks on their behalf, says many of its members have been contacting their customers to let them know about different savings accounts that are available.As always we've got the experts to answer your savings questions - including where to start as well as some of the many emails you've sent us about when and how to pay tax on your money.Joining Felicity Hannah is Anna Bowes founder of savingschampion.co.uk, banking analyst Frances Coppola and Chris Gray, independent financial advisor with Forester Boyd Wealth management.(This episode was first broadcast on Wednesday the 7th of February 2024).

Are you thinking of turning your 'side hustle' into a full time job?Perhaps you want to take the plunge but don't know your sole trader from your limited company.This Money Box Live is a toolkit for anyone planning to start a new business - or those who've started one but might need a helping hand.And we have Dragons' Den star Deborah Meaden on the show to talk about what makes a good idea, the positives of running your own business as well as the pitfalls to look out for.Following the pandemic there was a huge drop in the number of self-employed people but last year more than 100,000 people decided to go it alone and work for themselves compare to the year before - and it's the over 50's taking the lead according to the freelancer organisation IPSE.It's also deadline day to fill out your self assessment tax return - so we'll be answering all your tax questions too.Felicity Hannah is joined by Vicks Rodwell from the Association of Independent Professionals and the Self-Employed and Richard Jones from the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales.Presenter: Felicity Hannah Producer: Sarah Rogers Editor: Jess Quayle(First broadcast 3pm Wednesday January 31st 2024)

How are you dealing with energy costs this winter?Money Box Live has heard some people are skipping meals whilst others in full time employment are turning to warm banks and food hubs to cut costs.The energy price cap, which is now what most of us pay, jumped 5% at the start of the year to £1928 for typical use - but what exactly does that mean and are you a typical user?Meanwhile, the charity Citizens Advice has estimated two million people on prepayment meters could have their gas and electricity cut off because they cannot afford to top up. The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero says its spending an average of £3,700 per household to support families with the cost-of-living. And there is some relief on the way as prices are predicted to fall in the spring.Answering all your questions and comments with Felicity Hannah is Peter Smith, Director of Policy at the charity National Energy Action and Deputy Policy Director Daniel Portis from Energy UK which speaks for the industry.Presenter: Felicity Hannah Producer: Sarah Rogers Editor: Jess Quayle(This episode was first broadcast oat 3pm Wednesday the 24th of January 2024)

Flooding damages property, lives and can be incredibly financially damaging as well.There was £352 million pounds in insurance claims for damaged homes following storms Babet, Ciaran and Debi at the end of last year according to the Association of British Insurers. We don't yet know the financial fall out of January's storm Henk - the eighth named storm of the season - but as the climate changes, insurers expect even more of this kind of weather.So what is flooding costing homeowners and businesses and what is the best advice if you've been affected?Felicity Hannah visits a flat owner in Worcestershire and we hear from the man who spent £80,000 taking matters into his own hands.This week we're joined by Heather Shepherd from the charity the National Flood Forum as well as Laura Hughes, Manager of General Insurance at the Association of British Insurers, which represents the industry.Presenter: Felicity Hannah Producer: Sarah Rogers Editor: Sara Wadeson(This episode was first broadcast on Wednesday the 17th of January on Radio 4 at 3pm)

The price of nursery can be more than a mortgage. In fact, to send a two-year-old to nursery for 50 hours a week, allowing you to work full time, can set you back more than £14,000 a year according to Coram the children's charity.But, from April this year, working parents in England can claim 15 government funded hours for two year olds, instead of waiting for them to turn three to get help. Applications for that support are now open - but there are concerns that not all parents will be be able to get their applications processed in time to use them. We've been investigating that, and what else is available to cut childcare costs for mums and dads.We'll also hear from a nursery owner on the financial pressures of caring for children and talk about the costs of having school age kids.Felicity Hannah is joined by Paul Rhodes from the Money and Pensions Service and Meghan Meek-O'Connor, senior policy adviser on child poverty at Save the Children UK.Presenter: Felicity Hannah Producer: Sarah Rogers Editor: Jess Quayle(This episode was first broadcast on the 10th of January at 3pm on Radio 4).

It can feel like new year, new you, with so much potential for change and improvement, but then reality can kick in. Around 1 in 3 of us will have made a financial resolution this year, but according to Hargreaves Lansdown, almost 20% of us won't even make it to the end of this week.So how do you make them stick? Felicity Hannah is joined by behavioural & data scientist Professor Pragya Agarwal, Laura Suter, Head of Personal Finance at AJ Bell and consumer rights expert Martyn James. Presenter: Felicity Hannah Reporter: Andrew Strachan Producer: Sarah Rogers Editor: Jess Quayle(This episode was first broadcast on Radio 4, Wednesday the 3rd of January 2024 at 3pm)

Are you putting down the mince pies and opening your bank statements? Well, you're in the right place as we're dedicating some time to the kinds of money topics that come up between Christmas and New Year. Perhaps you want to know your consumer rights before hitting the sales, what to do with unwanted gifts or maybe you've spent more than you can afford this festive season? If so, then you've come to the right place.We'll hear why for hundreds of thousands of people, their tax return has become a festive tradition. And we'll also look ahead to Summer 2024 and how to get some holiday bargains.Felicity Hannah is joined by, etiquette coach William Hanson, Emma Munbodh, the money news editor at The Telegraph, Anna Hall the head of money and debt operations at the Money and Pensions Service and Rob Staines an independent travel expert.Presenter: Felicity Hannah Reporter: Luke Smithurst Producer: Sarah Rogers Editor: Jess Quayle(This is a slightly shorter version of an episode was first broadcast on Wednesday the 27th of December 2023 at 3pm on Radio 4)

A typical rental property gets 25 enquires from people who want to view it, according to the property listings site Rightmove. That high demand also comes alongside high prices. The estate agents Hamptons says tenants have been hit with the biggest rise in rental costs in at least a decade. And it's not just tenants feeling the pinch. We look at the impact rising interest rates have had on those owning the homes people are renting.With Felicity Hannah today to go through your questions and comments we have Richard Blanco from the National Residential Landlords Association, Jasmine Basran - Head of Policy and Campaigns and CRISIS, and Richard Donnell - Head of Research and Insight at Zoopla.Presenter: Felicity Hannah Producer: Sarah Rogers Editor: Jess Quayle(First broadcast 3pm Wednesday 20th December, 2023)