Podcast appearances and mentions of rachel rickard straus

We believe that investing is for everyone. How to invest is a podcast series, brought to you by Moneywise and interactive investor, to help you get to grips with the basics of investing. In each episode we break down an important topic you need to know. In this, the fourth episode, we explain what a self invested personal pension (or Sipp) is. Join Moneywise's Brean Horne and Rachel Rickard Straus to find how Sipps work and whether they could be a good way to help you save for retirement. Meanwhile Moneywise's Sam Barker and interactive investor's Moira O'Neill discuss whether you need to be a seasoned investor before opening a Sipp. This material is intended for educational purposes only and is not investment research or a personal recommendation to buy or sell any financial instrument or product, or to adopt any investment strategy. The value of your investments can rise as well as fall, and you could get back less than you invested. The investments referred to may not be suitable for all investors, and if in doubt, an investor should seek advice from a qualified investment adviser. Past Performance is not a guide to future performance. Interactive Investor Services Limited is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority.

We believe that investing is for everyone.  How to invest is a podcast series, brought to you by Moneywise and interactive investor, to help you get to grips with the basics of investing.  In each episode we break down an important topic you need to know.  In this, the third episode, we discuss what you need to do to start investing. Join Moneywise's Brean Horne and Rachel Rickard Straus to hear what you need to do before starting your investment journey. Meanwhile Moneywise's Sam Barker and interactive investor's personal finance campaigner Myron Jobson discuss whether you need special skills or training before you get started.

Host Richard Hunter, head of markets at interactive investor, is joined by Money Observer editor Faith Glasgow, who offers insights into the most popular funds and investment trusts with interactive investor customers in April, the best performers during the first 50 days of lockdown, and why dividend cuts might not be as bad as they seem, while Moneywise editor Rachel Rickard Straus gives listeners a taste of a new podcast aimed at beginner investors. Finally, interactive investor’s Dzmitry Lipski names his fund of the week from the ii ACE 30 list of ethical investments. This material is intended for educational purposes only and is not investment research or a personal recommendation to buy or sell any financial instrument or product, or to adopt any investment strategy. The value of your investments can rise as well as fall, and you could get back less than you invested. The investments referred to may not be suitable for all investors, and if in doubt, an investor should seek advice from a qualified investment adviser. Past Performance is not a guide to future performance. Interactive Investor Services Limited is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority.

In this episode of How to Invest, we discuss the question on every beginner investor's mind: 'am I ready to start investing?' Join Moneywise's Brean Horne and Rachel Rickard Straus explain what you need to do before starting your investment journey. Meanwhile Moneywise's Sam Barker and interactive investor's personal finance campaigner Myron Jobson discuss how long you need to lock your money away for when you start investing.

How to invest is a podcast series, brought to you by Moneywise and interactive investor, to help you get to grips with the basics of investing. In each episode we'll breakdown everything you need to know and how to get started. In this episode we go back to the beginning and ask 'what is investing?' Moneywise's Brean Horne and Rachel Rickard Straus explain how investing works and how it can help you achieve your life goals. Meanwhile Moneywise's Sam Barker and interactive investor's head of personal finance Moira O'Neill discuss how risky investing is. This material is intended for educational purposes only and is not investment research or a personal recommendation to buy or sell any financial instrument or product, or to adopt any investment strategy. The value of your investments can rise as well as fall, and you could get back less than you invested. The investments referred to may not be suitable for all investors, and if in doubt, an investor should seek advice from a qualified investment adviser. Past Performance is not a guide to future performance. Interactive Investor Services Limited is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority.

In our latest Funds Fan podcast, host Faith Glasgow, editor of Money Observer, is joined by Money Observer deputy editor Kyle Caldwell, Moneywise editor Rachel Rickard Straus and Liberty Godfrey, funds analyst at interactive investor. The team discuss Terry Smith’s views on Neil Woodford, solve an investor dilemma and consider the appeal of a range of model portfolios, among other things. This material is intended for educational purposes only and is not investment research or a personal recommendation to buy or sell any financial instrument or product, or to adopt any investment strategy. The value of your investments can rise as well as fall, and you could get back less than you invested. The investments referred to may not be suitable for all investors, and if in doubt, an investor should seek advice from a qualified investment adviser. Past Performance is not a guide to future performance. Interactive Investor Services Limited is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority.

Why don’t women invest? What benefits does regular investing have? Why consider a stocks and shares ISA? Moira O’Neill, head of personal finance at interactive investor, hosts a podcast where three female investors, Faith Glasgow, editor of Money Observer, Rachel Rickard Straus, editor of Moneywise, and Jemma Jackson, head of PR at interactive investor, offer expert answers to these questions. This material is intended for educational purposes only and is not investment research or a personal recommendation to buy or sell any financial instrument or product, or to adopt any investment strategy. The value of your investments can rise as well as fall, and you could get back less than you invested. The investments referred to may not be suitable for all investors, and if in doubt, an investor should seek advice from a qualified investment adviser. Past performance is not a guide to future performance. Interactive Investor Services Limited is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority

Rachel Rickard-Straus, the editor at Moneywise has been writing about personal finance for a very long time, so who better to talk to?! Rachel speaks about the gender pay gap, maternity leave, and some typical saving habits. Often investing is seen as a risk – therefore, Rachel speaks about the best place and accounts to help you start, and you don’t have to do it all yourself... you can get someone to do it for you! There are tons of platforms which allow you to have different levels of participation in choosing your funds, based on how involved you want to be.

From pubs to hotels and shops to petrol stations, Britain has gone parking mad. Private land owners have been signed up across the country by operators, who stick in automatic numberplate recognition cameras and then dish out tickets to motorists who stop there. We’ve had countless stories of over-zealous fines and this week Lee Boyce revealed how he fought back after he was sent a ticket for stopping briefly at a BP petrol station. What allows all this to happen is the DVLA selling people’s details to car park operators who snap their numberplate. So is it time to fight back against this parking madness? Why has it got so bad? And how do you beat a ticket? In this week’s podcast, Simon Lambert, Lee Boyce, Rachel Rickard Straus and Georgie Frost talk parking tickets. Also, on this week’s show, the banks doing the dirty on savers after the rate rise, how to make your child a pension millionaire and the curious case of Aldi and the food producers accusing it of copying them.

The world of savings could be set for a shake-up when a new player comes to town – Marcus. Marcus is an online challenger bank and an offshoot of investment banking giant Goldman Sachs, and may just put a bit of welcome pressure on rates in the savings market. But that’s not the only change afoot in savings. Virgin Money is launching an account where interest is earned in air miles, best-buy fixed rate deals are at a two-year high and Monzo has seen losses quadruple. There’s a lot going on. On this episode of the This is Money podcast, consumer affairs editor Lee Boyce and assistant editor Rachel Rickard Straus join presenter Georgie Frost to discuss all this and what it means for savers. They also talk through hotel booking websites, their tricks and whether they work for or against holidaymakers. The trio also discuss how much we need to save for retirement, why a raffle to win a Brixton flat has just been extended, and finally… could success in the World Cup really boost the economy?

What's the most important thing when you want to move home? Should you worry more about getting the best price or simply about getting your home sold? On this week's podcast we delve into the art of home selling, looking at how to make sure the price is right, whether to do work before you sell, or just a quick spruce up and why what's happening in the property market near you should be a deciding factor. Another month and another set of mixed messages about the state of the housing market is revealed. First-time buyers who have a deposit and home movers in the North are doing fine. But London is on the ropes and second and third movers are staying put, bringing the market to a standstill. According the Halifax, prices nevertheless managed to rise £3,000 last month in this ‘subdued’ market. Editor Simon Lambert, assistant editor Rachel Rickard Straus and money broadcaster Georgie Frost get into the aural attic to unbox the facts. The villain of the piece, they agree, is stamp duty. It used to be a 1% tax on purchases but it got tweaked into a giant cash cow for the Treasury by successive Chancellors. Stamp duty is stalling the market and needs to change but how? And is it really worth putting in a new kitchen before you put your home on the market if things get desperate? Also on the show: Paddington Bear 50p Gate. An exclusive This is Money report this week found an enterprising student in Caerphilly who had been handed a not-yet-released Paddington Bear 50p coin in her change. The shop happened to be down the road from Royal Mint, where the coin was made. The coin happened to end up on eBay with bidding topping £15,000. Find out how this happened and whether it’s true, spoiler alert: it is, what ridiculous lengths the Mint went to try to get its coin back and how you can get your hands on one. Finally, the clamour to tackle inner-city pollution has taken an unexpected twist with motorists in a huge new area of London bearing the brunt of a proposed new fee. Owners of reasonably new cars that don’t meet the emissions standards of brand new ones, face a £12.50 charge every time they drive - even if they live in the zone and need to take the kids to school. Not everyone is happy. Especially as it looks like the explosion in numbers of online shopping delivery vans and not cars might be the major cause of pollution. Enjoy,

Global financial markets have been flying up and down and all over the place this week and it’s all got to do with one boot-shaped country in the Mediterranean. Italy has found itself embroiled in a power struggle between Eurosceptic populists – winners of the March general election – and the pro-EU establishment. The ramifications have spread across the globe and will affect Britons from big-time investors to anyone building up a pension pot. As we write this a coalition deal has been reached in Italy, likely to avert a proposed snap election. But this story is moving so quickly that just hours ago when we recorded the podcast there was no deal on the table. Even more reason as things helter-skelter forward to step back and work out what is going on and how on earth we got here – as This is Money editor Simon Lambert offers in his back-to-basics explainer. Also in this episode, Simon, presenter Georgie Frost and personal finance editor Rachel Rickard Straus talk about what you can do to stop your dream house move falling through, and whether proposals to make tax on savings and dividends simpler will work – or just see savers pay more tax. And finally, in troubled times for the high street, they look at one retailer bucking the trend. Enjoy.

Should you cash in on your home to help yourself or your kids? As a generation retires with more money in their houses than the bank, this question will only become more pressing. And it’s been a topic of much debate on This is Money this week, as we revealed how a new wave of retirement interest-only mortgages could be about to emerge. Homeowners could use one to have a more comfortable retirement, clear some debt, or hand the kids or grandkids an early inheritance – perhaps to buy a home for their own young family. Is that a good idea or a recipe for disaster – and how did we even end up here? In a conversation that tracks all the way back to the mortgage boom of the Thatcher years, Simon Lambert, Rachel Rickard Straus and Georgie Frost dive into the homes as a cash machine question on this week’s podcast. Plus, they also take a look at what happens when an inheritance doesn’t materialise as thought – can you contest a will if it’s all left to the dogs’ home. The TSB meltdown is also up for discussion, including why it happened, what next and what people’s rights are. And finally, we’re fans of money saving at This is Money and value for money – so a luxury car for the price of a Ford Fiesta sounds pretty good. Big luxury cars depreciate hard, but that is good news for the canny second-hand buyer who can pick up vehicles that might have cost £50,000 for £10,000 a few years down the line. But we’re not talking shed money here, so it needs to be reliable. This week we looked at the best bargain barges as scored by What Car? reliability tests. Which one would you have? Enjoy.

British Gas have revealed this week that more than four million households face a 5.5 per cent bill increase from the end of May thanks to changes to its standard variable tariff. Hot on its heels, EDF Energy announced it will be hiking the cost of energy bills by 1.4 per cent for 1.3million customers. In this week’s podcast, Rachel Rickard Straus and Lee Boyce say it is time for people to fight back and switch. Energy: The latest podcast looks at the latest energy price rises - and the furore around smart meters On the energy theme, we talk about our campaign to stop power firms using bullying tactics in order to force households into getting a smart meter – and why it is better to wait until the end of the year. We take a look at some of the methods to make your home more energy efficient, including insulation and wood burning stoves. We also discuss how to give money to charity in a tax efficient way - and whether or not loyalty cards are still worth having. The latter comes as changes to Avios and Nectar are imminent, and Virgin Money unveils two credit cards to garner miles for Virgin Atlantic flights.

Good news. Chances are you just got a tax cut. Well an income tax cut at least, problem is your council tax is likely to be rising and if you are an investor the Government is after more of your dividends, or if you’re a landlord it wants your rental income. So who are the winners and losers of the new tax year that rolled round on 6 April? And what are the candidates for dumbest bits of Britain’s tax code. In this week’s podcast, Simon Lambert, Rachel Rickard Straus and George Frost take a look at who is getting the biggest tax cut and who is being hit. They also discuss whether we need a new hypothecated tax to pay for the NHS. Also on this week’s show we look at the best rural places to live in the UK and how to invest in wine without breaking the bank. And finally, Britain’s ten most hated driving moves have been revealed. Parallel parking we get, but why are there so many people who struggle to navigate a roundabout.

It’s not long before the door slams shut on your chance to use this year’s Isa allowance. It’s always best not to leave Isa saving or investing until the last month of the tax year, but many of us will do so. If you do end up fixing your Isa against the deadline, it’s definitely wise not to leave it to the last week – or even the final few days. So, here is our special Isa podcast – with a comfortable three weeks to spare before the 5 April tax year end. In it, Simon Lambert, Rachel Rickard Straus and Georgie Frost dive into everything you need to know about Isas, from cash, to stocks and shares, and Innovative to Lifetime. The podcast tackles the basics and also tips for those who are experienced Isa savers or investors. It also looks at why investing is the best way to get inflation-beating returns over the long term, how savers can eke some precious extra interest from accounts, and why an Isa is worth having.

In this excerpt from the This is Money podcast, Simon Lambert outlines why he thinks interest rates should rise and Rachel Rickard Straus explains why savers need to switch to better deals and not just rely on rates going up.

Toys R Us and Maplin were sunk this week, investors are nervously watching Carpetright and Mothercare, and restaurants from Jamie Oliver’s, to Byron, and now Prezzo are closing their doors. This week’s shop closures could see more than 5,000 jobs lost. It looks like a slow motion crash on the High Street. But at the same time the economy is doing okay, and sales in the housing market are reasonably buoyant, so why the trouble? In this week’s podcast, Simon Lambert, Georgie Frost and Rachel Rickard Straus take a look at Britain’s high street woes and whether it is company debt, consumer confidence, overexpansion gone wrong, or a failure to keep up with the times that is sinking well-known names. Also on the show, we take a look at what Warren Buffett learnt from his ten–year tracker fund bet – and the twist in the tale of how he won it. Plus, how the value of your old £10 note changed through its lifetime and the things most likely to go wrong on a new car.

Just how does the mythical and bizarre world of credit ratings really work? How can you improve your score and what does the figure even mean? On this week's podcast, personal finance editor Rachel Rickard Straus and consumer affairs editor Lee Boyce join presenter Georgie Frost to discuss this and how one unknown fraud marker on a Cifas file left a reader with a 'do not employ' status when looking for job. Rachel describes how she saw a tourist defrauded at a cash point and what it made her realise. Lee explains why he is fed-up with car insurers taking motorists for a ride and how he beat a 67 per cent annual rise. Whisper it: but there could be a cash Isa season this year. For years, banks and building societies scrambled to offer attractive rates – and 2018 could see the tax-free accounts finally en vogue once more. Pensioner bonds – remember them? Well many are seeing the three-year versions of the accounts mature. But there could be a tax sting in the tail.

Interest rates are going to rise in May, if you believe economists, but will things get better or worse for you if they do? A few years ago, Mark Carney told us to enjoy the low inflation world while it lasted, but now wages are forecast to rise and keep inflation sticky, so interest rates are potentially going to inch up. Rising rates are often painted as bad news but for many a world in which they go up will look more enjoyable. What would be even more pleasurable is being paid more, so is Britain really finally about to break out of its low wage growth trap and get a pay rise? On this week’s podcast, Simon Lambert, Rachel Rickard Straus discuss why we don’t get paid enough, what we can do about it and how to look on the bright side of rising interest rates. Contrasting news on the struggles of first-time buyers, at the same time as they are at their highest level for a decade, is also on the agenda. Plus, there is good financial news for unmarried couples, the new car tax madness that is about to bite and the energy saving myths that apparently mean you shouldn’t turn the heating up to make your home warm up quickly.

The collapse of Carillion this week brought how Britain runs itself into the spotlight, but it also left many workers wondering about their money. And it's not just their wages that are a concern, the safety of people's final salary pensions is a major worry when a company collapses. In this week's podcast, Simon Lambert, Rachel Rickard Straus and Georgie Frost look at how safe your pension is and what backs it up.  They also discuss whether it is wise handing over so much of the UK’s public service and projects to private companies looking to turn a profit for shareholders - and what happens to people's finances when that goes wrong? If you’ve always wanted to understand the business of the private finance initiative (PFI) – this week’s show is a must listen. Alongside that we discuss the continuing madness of the cryptocurrency boom, including the alternatives to bitcoin and how ripple rose 84% in 24 hours. We also reveal the savings rate postcode lottery and ask that all important question, should you spend your money now and enjoy it or save it for the kids' inheritance? Enjoy.

Planning on relying on the state pension to keep you afloat in retirement? After listening to this week’s podcast, you might want to have a rethink. On this episode, presenter Georgie Frost, consumer affairs editor Lee Boyce and personal finance editor Rachel Rickard Straus discuss what’s in store for the state pension. Will it still be around when they come to retire? A report this week suggests something will have to change to make sure it is, whether that be everyone paying more in National Insurance, the retirement age rising again or a means-tested state pension. The team also discuss getting hold of our state pension forecasts – and if they’re at all reliable. And what about those who are already retired? The trio then discuss a growing trend of retirees extracting money from the value of their homes to pay off credit card debts. But it’s not all gloom. Lee has news of a 50p coin that could be worth considerably more than that – and that you can only get hold of by going on a lovely day out. Enjoy.

Have you ever really thought about what it is that creates the modern economy? These are the things that surround us and we interact with, or depend on, everyday but rarely think about. From credit cards, to shipping containers, batteries and double-entry book-keeping, there are a lot of things that are more interesting than you may think. And for this special Christmas edition of the This is Money podcast we have a treat for you. Tim Harford, author of Fifty Things that Made the Modern Economy, presenter of the podcast of the same name, and Undercover Economist makes a guest appearance. He joins Simon Lambert, Rachel Rickard Straus and Georgie Frost in the studio to talk about what it is that shapes the world around us, why it matters, and how what are commonplace things now were dreamed up and then completely changed the way we live.

It was billed as a make or break Budget, so did the Chancellor pitch it right? Philip Hammond pulled a George Osborne-sized rabbit from the hat at the end with the abolition of stamp duty for first-time buyers, but was that enough to make us to forget the gloomy economic news and the gags? On the plus side, the Budget brought an income tax cut for most, the promise of more homes being built, and no more stamp duty for most first-time buyers. On the negative side, economists say we are due another lost decade, Philip Hammond’s own financial watchdog said he would drive up house prices, and cough sweet jokes might be catching on. This week, Simon Lambert, Rachel Rickard Straus and Georgie Frost pick apart the Budget to try to find out who the winners and losers will be. From an up to £5,000 tax saving on a first home, to railcards for the under-30s, zero mentions of the word saver, and whether Just Eat can really solve the productivity puzzle, they round up what you need to know. Plus, what exactly was Simon’s stamp duty idea that drew 296 reader comments – of which about 295 were calling him an idiot? Listen to the podcast to find out.

Yes, it’s another Budget. On Wednesday, November 22, Philip Hammond will stand up and deliver his second Budget of the year and this is his chance to ride to the Conservatives’ rescue. After the last Budget mess, the snap election that went wrong, the unexpected rise of Corbynism, and the Brexit arguments that just won’t go away, the Chancellor will be hoping that he’s the one to get everything back on track. So what could he deliver – and what should he? From help for younger people, to stamp duty cuts, pension tinkering, building more homes and just fixing the roads, Simon Lambert, Rachel Rickard Straus and Georgie Frost take a run through what might come up and what it would mean for you. And they outline what they would like to see. The problem for the Chancellor, as he shifts the Budget to the autumn for the first time, is that there is a tension between his desire to do something and his lack of wriggle room due to Britain’s finances. How will he solve that problem? Listen to the podcast to see what we think – and tell us your thoughts in the comments. Enjoy.

It finally happened. The Bank of England raised interest rates for the first time in more than a decade this week. But what was the point of that rate rise? It was certainly a curiosity, coming alongside a decidedly downbeat Inflation Report. Was it to dampen inflation, to send a warning sign to borrowers, or just to put a tiny smile on beleaguered savers’ faces? On this week’s podcast, Simon Lambert, Rachel Rickard Straus and Georgie Frost look at why the Bank raised rates and what it means for you. They also dive into the really crucial question: how high will the base rate go from here and how fast will it rise? There’s also some ideas to get richer whatever happens next with interest rates, a jargon-busting look at what on earth is the bank of England talking about in its reports, and tips on how to find the best savings account… while one of the worst is shamed. And it’s not all interest rates, we’ve also got the state pension trap for those trying to boost payouts and the intriguing question of whether someone has to pay tax on an astonishing £3,995,000 profit on Bitcoin. Enjoy.

Behavioural economists believe a gentle nudge in the right direction can make you richer and over recent years they have managed to win the ears of governments around the world – including the UK’s. This week one of the thinkers who helped spread the word on behavioural economics, Professor Richard Thaler, won a Nobel Prize for economics. In the old world of economics textbooks, people behaved perfectly rationally and made the right choices. In the real world, of course, we don’t. We make irrational decisions that fly in the face of economic theory all the time. Yet, our irrational behaviour can be an asset. It means that we can be nudged into making the best choices. Professor Thaler’s catch-all advice is whether you’re a business or a government, if you want people to do something, make it easy. In Britain, one example adopted by the Government has been pensions. Instead of getting people to opt into a pension, we’re now automatically enrolled and then offered the chance to opt out. It’s now easier to have a pension than not to. Unsurprisingly, more people now save into pensions. On this week’s podcast, Simon Lambert, Rachel Rickard Straus and Georgie Frost take a look at Professor Thaler’s work, his prize, behavioural economics and the whole nudge idea. Does this all really work? Also, on the show we look at the ONS’ new price per square metre map of UK house prices and whether it tells us anything new – and we pick up on an interesting report from estate agent Savills on how to get homes built and sold for less than the market price. With mortgage rates suddenly taking a step up we look at whether now is the time to fix, how to find the best deal and what you should do if you’re already on a fixed rate but think you may miss out on the cheapest deals by the time it finishes. Also on the agenda, we lift the lid on a new batch of ‘better’ savings rates coming to the market and dive into why shares, bonds, property and other asset prices rise. And finally, Simon tells us about the new Great British Entrepreneur’s Challenge in which This is Money and entrepreneur Andy Yates are looking to find a start-up and help it grow. Enjoy.

This is Money has had a string of questions from readers looking to give their cash to children or grandchildren but who also wish to protect it from being squandered or lost in a relationship break-up. Whether the money is for a house deposit or to avoid inheritance tax, or for any other reason, it’s a major modern concern - especially as the sums involved can be tens or hundreds of thousands of pounds. On this week’s This is Money podcast, Simon Lambert, Rachel Rickard Straus and Georgie Frost discuss why people are worried and what they can do – if anything. Can you really control money once it has been given away? Could partners – or even theoretical future partners – get their hands on it? And why give it away in the first place if you’re going to worry about how it’s used? Also, on the agenda is the 10-year anniversary of the run on Northern Rock – when customers feared for the bank’s future and queued up outside branches to withdraw all their cash. It was the birth of the financial crisis in the UK followed by the credit crunch. How did the decade that followed change our financial lives and who have been the winners and losers? With interest rates held again we look at whether they could still rise this year – as Simon has bravely predicted – and why you shouldn’t be suckered in by a stunning looking 7.75% fixed-rate bond claiming official FSCS protection that you found on Google. If it looks too good to be true it surely is – right? That’s the rule. But if someone told you that you could buy into something that’s up 70% in two years at a discount - and it still looks reasonably cheap - you’d walk away wouldn’t you? But that’s the deal with emerging markets investment trusts. Why? And finally, we see whether Simon, Georgie, or Rachel could pass a driving theory test today using the quiz we put to our readers. It sets off more discussions about towing a trailer than you’d ever expect on a money podcast. Enjoy.

Hasta La Vista PPI! Arnold Schwarzenegger has been drafted in as a last-ditch attempt to get the millions of us who still haven't claimed compensation for mis-sold PPI to do so. In this episode of the podcast, top financial broadcaster Georgie Frost join Lee Boyce and Rachel Rickard Straus of the This is Money team to talk about Arnie's new PPI advertisement campaign and more. They have a good old chat about the big money stories from the past week and what it all means for you. We've all heard about PPI a million times, but with half of those eligible still yet to claim, could you still be owed a little windfall? Lee gives his back to basics guide on what you can do to check – and how you could still be owed some cash even if you've had a claim declined in the past. Then Georgie makes a case for banning the word 'loyal' when used to describe customers who stay with the same utility or insurance provider for year after year. Are they loyal, apathetic or unaware that they could get a better deal elsewhere? Either way, we explain how you can help family and friends to save hundreds of pounds every year (and perhaps even take you on holiday with the proceeds… you never know). Rachel and Lee also go head to head over cashback websites. Rachel says you can't argue with free cash, Lee finds some arguments against it… All this and plenty more in another packed episode of the unmissable This is Money Podcast. Enjoy!

The state pension age will rise once more, it emerged this week - with those in their 40s set to lose out. But is it fair to continue to raise the state pension age in line with life expectancy, especially for those who cannot work through their 60s? Georgie Frost, Simon Lambert and Rachel Rickard Straus discuss how we handle the thorny and expensive issue of the state pensions. Also on this week’s show: The end of sneaky card charges Tips to avoid the car hire company rip-offs Attempts to solve the work productivity puzzle And it’s been a big week for news about gender equality – from the first female Doctor Who, to the FTSE’s most in-demand boss Carolyn McCall taking the top job at ITV, and then those BBC pay revelations. - Is there still a lot more work to be done to promote women in business? - Should stories about women getting top jobs even mention that they are women or mothers? The last ten minutes looks at how we can get more women to the top in business. Enjoy.

‘If you've ever wondered how you get triangles from a cow,’ sang British music legends Half Man Half Biscuit, ‘you need butter milk and cheese and an equilateral chain saw. ‘ It’s obvious when you know the answer! But what about the stuff you think you know the answers to… but do you? Really? The Big Money Questions. That’s the name of our fortnightly video presentation with Rachel Rickard Straus and a host of exceptional guests from the worlds of economics, business, the City and the bookshelves. In a departure from our usual round-up of the week’s money events, this week we introduce you to an audio version of the show. The question: What are stocks and shares? And related… What’s the difference between a stock and a share? Is that different from a bond? Why do they exist? Why are they different prices? What makes the prices move? How do you know if it’s worth buying them? Dividends? Huh? Forget the cheese - this stuff is whey too important to ignore. Listen, learn, enjoy.

It was meant to be an election about Brexit but it turned into one about new young voters and what they wanted. They wanted change. What they got was a minority Government, a coalition between the Conservatives and Northern Ireland’s Democratic Unionist Party (DUP). But there are five more years until the next election and anyone 14, 15, 16, and 17 years old now will be able to vote in the next one. As well as some 13 year olds. They’re now part of the discussion like never before. Simon Lambert, Georgie Frost and Rachel Rickard Straus discuss how this is likely to affect our finances now and over the next five years. Can this Government even implement anything from their manifestos? How will they tackle impending debt and housing crises? What the hell will Brexit look like? Can they tackle the intergenerational inequality that the new voters clearly crave? Rachel explains the financial and economic plans in the DUP manifesto and how that’s likely to clash with Tory plans. You don’t get stuff like anywhere else. Enjoy.

Would you pay more tax for better health, housing, communications, green spaces, roads, social care, railways, education, defence? Or not? The consensus seems to be that we would if only people felt they could trust the people who spend it on our behalf. It’s a complex and fascinating issue for a country living way beyond its fiscal means - allow Georgie Frost, Simon Lambert and Rachel Rickard Straus to explain. Also on the show… A regular minimum payment to all men, women and children in Britain is the panacea for the fair, just and healthy society we’ve all been waiting for. Isn’t it? Enjoy.

A row that erupted over the Tory manifesto social care plans led to accusations of a dementia tax and a swift U-turn. Voters had previously been told they would get a cap on costs, but instead they got a floor of £100,000 to which their wealth could be whittled down to. The issue highlighted a problem we have in planning our finances - trust. Do you trust the framework that the Government puts in place on social care, pensions, investing and saving to still be there in years to come? That was reflected in Simon Lambert's column this week, looking at a reader who asked whether they could bank on the tax-free pension lump sum continuing to exist when they needed it in future. Simon, Rachel Rickard Straus and Georgie Frost discuss whether we can trust pensions, social care or anything else in this week's This is Money podcast. Also on the agenda, on the show that tells you everything you need to know about money each week, is whether the UK economy is doing well, badly or indifferently, the bank accounts that pay you the most money and whether the fuss over Vanguard's new investing charges is justified. Oh, and finally, there's a chance to invest in a deep sea treasure hunt. Listen, enjoy (hopefully), leave us a comment or rating and subscribe.

The pensions triple lock means that state pensions rise by wages, inflation or 2.5% - whichever is greatest. This promise has raised pensioner incomes but stands accused of being too expensive and has become an election hot potato. Should it be ditched? Simon Lambert, Rachel Rickard Straus and Georgie Frost discuss it on this excerpt from the This is Money podcast.

Plans to massively hike probate fees have been dropped, but was this due to the General Election or the government trying to distance itself from a move that saw a huge backlash? Simon Lambert, Rachel Rickard Straus and Georgie Frost discuss it on this excerpt from the This is Money podcast.

The result of the election on June 8 will determine the financial outcome of Britain possibly more than any other in recent memory. So sit down and listen to Simon Lambert, Georgie Frost and Rachel Rickard Straus explain in simple terms what is at stake. On the agenda: Pension triple lock – if you’ve never really understood this, you will now Energy price cap – that old thing. The only thing left for Theresa May to do to turn into Ed Miliband is to eat a bacon butty badly. Who will fix the housing crisis and how? Is GDP now suffering at the prospect of Brexit - and is it really best way to measure a country’s performance? Elections in Europe – how may they affect our economy? New probate fees ‘the equivalent of paying £20,000 to renew your passport’ have been scrapped – and other great Tory tax u-turns Plus Let’s increase the speed limit to 80mph on motorways. We need something to look forward to. Enjoy.

What a mess we’re in. Without too much effort this week, we spotted 10 messes. It was made pretty easy with the fallout from Chancellor Philip Hammond’s first go at a Budget making news all week. His attack on small business was up there with some of the made-up-as-you-go-along nonsense from his predecessor. Hammond learned well from George Osborne. Mess 1 The Budget. Last week we wondered if the whole thing was a joke? It was. The main thrust, a rise in National Insurance contributions for people who don’t have a staff job, is in the bin. This leaves a big gap in the Government finances. They tried austerity, cut taxes for the richest, tried taking it out on small business. None of it has worked. What next? Tax needs to rise somewhere. Mess 2 Ill-thought-out tax tweaks from the past come back to haunt policymakers. A change to flat-rate VAT announced in the last Autumn Statement is about to come into force and will be a further blow to small business. Listen for the great VAT explainer on how it works and who’ll be hit. Mess 3 A man who installed mouth-shaped urinals at work is named Britain’s best boss. Mess 4 New complicated emissions-based taxes on cars are coming in. Few motorists know what’s happening or why or how. Here’s an example: an emission-free electric car costing over £40,000 will be due more emissions tax than proud polluter the Ford Mustang V8. Plan for a bigger tax bill. Maybe. It’s a mess. Mess 5 It emerged while we were on air that the Chancellor responsible for some of the above messes – and still a sitting MP - is to become a newspaper editor. Politicians running the Press – and the one responsible for the short-lived sausage roll tax. Brilliant. Mess 6 The latest job figures are out and look really good! This would be great news except too many of the jobs are zero hours contracts and wage growth and productivity are rubbish. When inflation caused by the devalued pound starts to bite, it’s likely to ravage spending power and could create a downward spiral of job insecurity and financial misery. Mess 7 Interest rates need to go up but the Bank of England won’t do it. It kind of can’t. Low rates are causing more harm than good, especially keeping wages down. See above. Mess 8 Mortgage rates, however, will go up. The way mortgages are calculated isn’t based on the Bank Rate. Learn how they work and impress your friends with your new knowledge. Mess 9 People aren’t saving enough. There are easy ways to save and invest but people see investing as gambling and won’t do that either. Mess 10 It’s Isa season – but cash Isas have been killed off. Who did that, George? Your entire £15,240 limit might earn you about one pound fifty a year in interest in the worst accounts. There are alternatives, This is Money editor Simon Lambert picks five ‘dividend heroes’ – but are you brave enough? Also with Georgie Frost and Rachel Rickard Straus. Enjoy.

It’s the Holy Trinity of money-geddon (to mess up a couple of Biblical metaphors). But this could be big. We’re less well off than in 2008, prices are going up and wages aren’t. This adds up to trouble. The British economy is based on us all spending money on services but it’s increasingly money we haven't got. Join Georgie Frost, Rachel Rickard Straus and Simon Lambert for a cheery look at what lies ahead now that the impact of austerity, inflation and the devalued pound is becoming clear. Also, on the show… SAVE GOODBYE: The only place to get a savings account remotely worth saving money into is likely to be with a bank you’ve never heard of. STOPPING SHOPPING: The Government has mucked up business rates so seismically that many shops are likely to shut down. Surely a u-turn is the only hope. POUND ROUND-UP: Round pound coins are being killed off. If you’ve got a jar full at home you need to spend them now. DEAD MEAN: First they made disabled people pay for tax cuts of the rich and the crimes of the bankers, now the Government is hacking away at a financial lifeline for bereaved parents. It’s not civilised. Enjoy.

The property market is broken. Years of cheap money have allowed lenders to lend more and more to people earning less and less and we’re at crisis point. The politics of trying to boost the housing market to win votes has left us on the brink of potential disaster. Rents are likely to soar too, removing even that alternative to having a roof over our heads, and while all the economic focus rests on London there’s little incentive to move to Stoke-on-Trent. It was with this mess in mind that we’d been looking forward to the latest Government white paper that promised to outline plans for the ultimate rescue package for housing. It might as well have been 104 blank pages for all the piffle it contained. There is no plan. They don’t know what to do. The question is, can Simon Lambert, Rachel Rickard Straus and Georgie Frost come up with any better ideas? Also on the show… Could another idiotic car scrappage deal be on the cards? This time for our once eco-friendly diesels. Our failed energy regulator is allowing the big suppliers to get away with the heating equivalent of murder as nPower claims its seventh most disgraceful company of year award in a row. Aldi opens its door to This is Money as its assault on the Home Counties continues with old-school Tesco-like zeal. Where will it end? Car wars – there’s some prices in the showrooms definitely worth a look And Rachel reveals the best school trip stories you’re ever likely to hear. Enjoy

This week will go down in history for a couple of major events. A new US president being sworn in is always big news but that happens every four years. OK, Donald Trump might shake things up a bit if he's able to get his way. Most noteworthy in Britain was the revelation that 'Brexit’ means the total withdrawal from the EU, customs union and single market as a way of controlling immigration. Prime Minister Theresa May laid out her 'plan' for the future of Britain outside the world's largest trading block. How that stacks up economically remains to be seen. This is Money’s Simon Lambert has a pretty good stab at explaining, along with colleague Rachel Rickard Straus and Share Radio’s Georgie Frost. Some say Britain cannot afford to go it alone because of the unsustainable level of Government and industry debt. However, one commentator told This is Money this week that household debt is now a far greater worry than anything the Government can muddle along with. And now prices are starting to rise significantly. Will it all reach a tipping point this year? Also on the show: How will Donald Trump’s presidency affect global business? Why is car tax so complicated? Why don’t we just scrap it? Why do people like Amazon so much and hate Npower? Why are people still Npower customers when they’ve topped the worst customer services league for the 7th year running? Why does Rachel like John Lewis and loath Tastecard in equal measure? How do the train companies get away with it? Are the RAC really that good? % credit cards are just a trap – aren’t they? Enjoy.

Investors have been cheered by a stunning start to 2017 for the FTSE 100, which racked up a record-breaking run of closing highs. But does that mean we should be confident or worried? The FTSE 100 is made up of international companies with foreign earnings, booming on the back of the devalued pound. On this week’s This is Money podcast, Simon Lambert and Rachel Rickard Straus join Georgie Frost in the Share Radio studios to explore why shares have soared and discuss whether this is a good, indifferent or the absolute worst time to invest. Investors love to invest at the wrong time. Inevitably, also on the agenda this week are the two words on everyone’s lips, Trump and Brexit. We take a quick look at the devastating influence an angry tweet from the US President-elect can have on the pharmaceutical, car, defence and airline industries and the ongoing vagueness of Britain's relationship with Europe before swiftly moving on to more pressing matters. Among them are a look at how rich you are, the best paying jobs and the overheated property market. Median wealth is £35,000, a top 5th slot in wealth league costs £85,000. Farmers got the biggest pay rises last year and the average deposit for a first-time buyer is now £24,300 (61% of earnings) - 20 years ago it was £2,095 (12% of earnings). If you’re feeling flush from any of this, we reveal the UK’s most desired used cars too. Enjoy.

After the Brexit vote rolled in, a tax giveaway and spending splurge was considered a nailed on certainty. Five months down the line, Britain's economy has surprised many with its resilience and it's not so clear cut. So what will Philip Hammond do in the Autumn Statement. Will the public get infrastructure bonds to invest in, will stamp duty see a cut to get people moving, and will anyone ever commit to properly fixing Britain's roads. Next Wednesday's Autumn Statement holds the key and Simon Lambert and Rachel Rickard Straus, of This is Money, discuss the outlook with Georgie Frost, of Share Radio, on this week's This is Money Show podcast. Also under the microscope is Trumpflation. What on earth is it, why are investors chasing this trade and will a big infrastructure spend and tax cut in the US help its economy? Simon has read Donald Trump's economic plan and takes us through what the President-Elect says he will do (unless of course he changes his mind). Also up for discussion is the white Ferrari 458 Speciale and McLaren 675LT that can only be bought as a £700,000 pair from an Essex car dealer. Is that the kind of thing you'd treat yourself too. Listen to the show and leave us a comment.

Enough already! Can’t everything just be simpler? ‘Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication’, said Leonardo da Vinci, whose basic thinking gave us art and helicopters to chat about and wonder over for centuries. It hardly goes without saying that top of the week’s meddles is from Ryanair, the low-cost airline MOST famous for concocting increasingly bizarre, arbitrary ways of charging people more. Now it’s levying a fee for checking yourself in at home on your computer and printing the boarding cards – but only if you do so four days before you fly. Stop it! George Osborne, remember him? Also known as Gideon U-turn, the Chancellor who used to think up stuff in bed then announce it as Government policy the next day without the slightest idea of whether it would work. Pasty tax was one meddle you may recall. This week, plans to create a secondhand market for annuities was scrapped – because no one wants to buy duff annuities from people who don’t want them for very that reason. Stop it. Also on the show. The complexities around the wobbly pound, the dangerous, complex ramifications of the latest inflation figures, the banks that aren’t great at looking after your money, more complicated tax ideas and the five pounds worth more than five pounds because people are… oh, you know? On a simple note, you can now buy things for a million pounds with a swipe of your iPhone – oh, but only if you’ve got a million pounds. There’s always a catch. Join Georgie Frost, Rachel Rickard Straus and Simon Lambert for this fun look at the week’s events in the world of money. Enjoy.

It’s a really fun show this week and a fantastic antidote to the Bake Off and Brangelina hysteria. For the initiated, two well-known Hollywood actors announced their divorce this week and the makers of televised cake-making competition revealed they were moving it to Channel 4 from the BBC. And we don’t care. Not that making cakes doesn’t get a look in. It does but with the usual financial twist. How to save money baking is one of the more popular stories of the week. Have you any idea just how cheap it is to make a scone? Rachel Rickard Straus, Lee Boyce and Georgie Frost also find time to be utterly horrified about the cost of a wedding. Tip: Get married abroad, says Lee. Also discussed are: Retweaked economic forecasts from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) The idiocy of the lifetime Isa – another ill-conceived, complicated tax change from the previous Chancellor House prices Fluffy surveys from banks Shrinking products – that get smaller and smaller to keep the price the same And are we losing control of our money? Enjoy.

This week, as the country was feeling good about its record medal haul in the Rio Olympics, suddenly consumer confidence appeared to be looking healthy too. But behind the rose-tinted sunglasses, a bubble of household debt was competing in a new kind of race with rival, the house price bubble, to see which will burst first. It’s neck and neck. Household debt is at terrifying levels. If consumer spending is on the rise, it’s likely that credit cards are a driving force. More than one in 10 households (1.6m) are in extreme debt, where 25% of monthly spending is servicing cards, loans and other debts - not including mortgages. Wages are stagnant yet house prices appear to keep on rising. That cannot last. We’re here to help. But the conclusion from This is Money’s consumer affairs gurus Rachel Rickard Straus and Lee Boyce is there’s not a lot individuals can do. Best thing, at the very least, is to try to avoid the increasingly clever scams and rip-offs. There’s some horrific tricks and it's almost impossible to tell a deal from a con. We offer some tips on what to look out for. Also, further proof emerges that George Osborne’s legacy as Chancellor is peppered with the wacky and unworkable, as his help-to-buy Isas are shown to be largely useless. Mobile phone companies, energy companies and travel companies are as sneaky as ever. First Utility charges one of its customers to STAY with First Utility. Strange times.

Yes, it's just what we've all been waiting for - another report on the banks. This week, the CMA delivered its recommendations to shake up the current account market. Were they any good? And should we even bother trying? After all, the banks themselves already offer us free money, savings account-smashing interest rates and lots of other goodies. Simon Lambert and Rachel Rickard Straus, join Georgie Frost in the Share radio studio for the This is Money Show to talk banks and much more. Also on today's show, we ask if now is the time to buy a bargain property as Brexit worries deliver price cuts, whether Help to Buy needs to be axed and if a fixed rate mortgage still beats a tracker. Simon also has an idea for a new Office of Budget Simplicity designed to cut through daft ideas like the family home inheritance tax break. Listen to the show, leave us a comment or rate it and subscribe to the podcast. Thanks This is Money

The whole financial system has failed us. Bankers not content with stealing £500bn in the financial crisis have just been handed billions more by their boss at the Bank of England in a desperate attempt to prop up the economy. We have the lowest level of home ownership for 30 years – to the point of ‘national emergency’. The economy is regressing. House prices are falling. The pound is collapsing. Foreign companies are queuing up to grab our cut-price industrial crown jewels. As well as printing more money to hand to bankers this week, the head of the BoE Mark Carney also announced a cut in interest rates from 0.5% to 0.25% - tantalisingly close to zero. People will borrow more and spend more, is the idea. This time the bankers won’t keep the money for themselves. This time it’ll be different. The economy will be saved! Listen to Simon Lambert and Rachel Rickard Straus pull this argument to pieces as they explain the corruption and the social and financial divides that now define Britain. Of course, there are other winners from the Bank Rate cut. A few borrowers with tracker mortgages will pay less. Also under the microscope: Banks’ complaints procedures are still useless – don’t they just fob you off to the ombudsman at the first opportunity? PPI refunds are still on the agenda – some people seem to have forgotten that banks just added it to loans without asking. And cars. Thank heavens for classics and even the duff ones. They’ll always be there for a little light relief. Unless you’re not interested. With Georgie Frost.

It’s started. You can’t decide to leave the world’s biggest trading block and not expect some serious financial consequences. Especially when the boys responsible for it ran away. The economics of Brexit are suddenly looking dark. We could be living under the cloud for many years. Already, just two weeks on from the referendum, we are beginning to see the prospect of falling investment, falling house prices and job insecurity. Householders, especially those in debt, need to prepare. Investors in commercial property funds are also suffering. It was always, says one commentator, a ‘disaster waiting to happen’. You invest in a shopping centre but when you want to take your money out you realise the secondhand market for shopping centres has collapsed. Simon Lambert, Rachel Rickard Straus and Georgie Frost discuss the week’s events over a soundtrack of music and news clips from 1985, which is where, statistically, we’re back to.

It's not been a great week for big business? Sir Philip Green and the bosses at BHS have seen even greater criticism and Sports Direct's Mike Ashley was hauled in front of MPs. So is our modern of big business capitalism going badly wrong? Have we built an economy where it's low pay and bad conditions for the workers but huge rewards for the bosses? Do we need to worry about inequality? Simon Lambert and Rachel Rickard Straus, of This is Money, join Georgie Frost, of Share Radio, in the studio to tackle those thorny questions - and try to find some good news and put a smile on your face along the way. In that good news corner comes a victory for borrowers over a bank that ripped up the tracker mortgage rule book and a reader who wants to know if they've struck it lucky with a rare 50p. Listen to the show, leave us a comment and please rate it and share it if you like it.

This week on the show you’ve all been waiting for, broadcasting legend Georgie Frost, This is Money editor Simon Lambert and personal finance editor Rachel Rickard-Straus take a peak under the coffin lid of inheritance. It can get nasty when grief and greed meet in the financial graveyard. So what can you do if you feel you’re being ripped off by siblings and long-lost lovers? And what’s the best way to make a clear will of your own intentions when you step off planet Earth for the last time? Also on the show… How to make loads more money by using Einstein’s theory. No not that one. Well, yes that Einsten but this time it’s his theory ‘the 8th wonder of the world’ – or compound interest. And… Trouble brewing for property sellers Paying off your mortgage quickly for dummies – is it for dummies? The latest ruse to get your kids on property ladder The pitfalls of renting out your spare room to someone who burns it down Angry parking fees and fines When, where and how much to tip abroad

If Britain were to leave the EU, it MIGHT prove to be an economic disaster for us. The Bank of England governor Mark Carney, whose job it is to point things like this out, and other commentators, have said so. And the leavers don't like it. Interest rates, house prices and all the other things that make Britain's dinner parties great might be affected. Is this just politics dressed up as economics? Or should we be worried? Simon Lambert and Rachel Rickard-Straus of This is Money and newly crowned financial broadcaster of the year, Share Radio's Georgie Frost discuss this and... The fact that, Europe vote aside, UK growth is looking like a problem. Whether the middle class dream is over for young people who need to earn more than £100,000 a year to even hope of buying a property in London. Are these fancy new 'challenger banks' up to same sneaky old tricks as the established ones? Minor investor is back with a few new ideas. Why bother with 4 quid insurance for a theatre ticket and other possibly completely pointless things we're urged to insure? And finally... 'Mustang Sally... I bought you a brand new Mustang 'bout nineteen sixty five.' Well, 51 years later you can buy a right-hand drive one. What's it like?

Tax is suddenly exciting news. For normal people, it’s the start of a new tax year with another dump of - some ill-conceived - changes from Chancellor George Osborne to deal with. For the disgustingly rich and famous, thanks to a leaky law firm, details have been emerging of their attempts at avoiding paying into state coffers around the world. Even David Cameron is implicated. And after some blithering attempts to divert attention from his involvement there are calls for him to resign. Theoretically, the new tax year could see a new Prime Minister. But could it see a new you – maybe as an investor for the first time? Join This is Money’s Rachel Rickard Straus and Lee Boyce and Share Radio’s Georgie Frost for a leisurely audio stroll around this new world of rubbish cash Isas, complicated new other Isas and the lure of unknown returns from the stock market. Also in the spotlight… There’s a new bank only available on the iPhone. Should you trust it? The young people, property ladder Venn diagram is becoming more and more like two separate circles Do you use the internet to spy on your friends’ house price? There’s the latest instalment of Under Fire Buy-to-let – a divisive love-hate story of money and housing A fascinating look into how easy it is to trick the gullible with a pretty obvious fraud Plus a few pensions mentions – because that mess will be going on for years to come. It’s a fun one.

In the way that worried nuclear bunker owners are probably stock-piling food as the reality of a President Trump dawns on them, so the Bank of England is preparing for the financial equivalent. The bank that has its finger on the financial pulse of the nation is worried. Worried enough to create a ‘what if…’ model that incorporates total financial meltdown, a collapse in the value of housing and the end of banking as we know it. It maybe the stuff of nightmares but it’s also what This is Money editor Simon Lambert, personal finance editor Rachel Rickard Straus and Share Radio presenter George Frost tackle on in this week’s light entertainment look at the week’s money events. How will we cope if oil becomes so cheap there’s no point extracting it, if savings rates are so low they’re negative or if a lack of growth turns to depression? Are we really on the brink of another financial crisis? In other news… There’s tough new checks on buy-to-let – the clampdown continues (the Bank of England is worried about that too) Buy-to-let has caused a big fall in house prices – but only in Bolton People who trusted a unauthorised online bank that issued fake cheques may lose their homes You’ll learn how to use your body to make money (no, not like that) And… What’s the weirdest job you’ve ever had? Bog standard like Georgie or bog standards like Rachel?

The Chancellor, George Osborne, has earned a reputation for leaks, U-Turns and unworkable tweaks to our taxes. A captain of chaos, some might say. His recent achievement, killing the cash Isa and replacing it with a tax-free limit on ALL savings accounts, will be a particularly memorable mess if anyone ever works out how it’s going to work. He’s got another Budget speech planned for Wednesday 16 March. For once, we don’t know much about what’s going to be in it. This is a bad sign. There’s no general election any time soon so we can forget about bribes on that front. He’s given himself the seemingly impossible task of balancing the nation’s books by 2020. How on earth is he going to do that? This is Money editor Simon Lambert, consumer affairs editor Rachel Rickard Straus and Share Radio’s Ed Bowsher have a pretty good stab at coming up with a hit list. It’s not looking great. George is desperate to get his hands on the £21bn tax-free benefits of pensions. But we’re fairly sure, thanks to the one leak, his plans to rob us of that have been postponed. He’s already hit buy-to-let landlords – he could have another go at them without too much public anger. Fuel duty seems an easy target – and no one will mind if petrol suddenly shoots back over £1 a litre on Thursday morning. Will they? Maybe the disabled and other people on benefits could cope with further austerity measures? National Insurance is good one –it mainly affects the lower paid; possibly attractive to Osborne the political animal He’s already fiddled with stamp duty on house purchases – could he have another fiddle (on the roof) with that? A change to salary sacrifice could tackle the problem of people who get tax-free iPhones from their employers Whatever happens, we’re in for a fascinating ride and thankfully, HMRC is incredibly helpful and easy to deal with. The more complicated the tax reform the better. Also this week, and back in the real world, we’re not saving enough, some investments make money and the Ford Capri makes a surprising comeback. Georgie Frost is away.

Britain still holds a stake in two of its biggest banks, Lloyds and RBS, but how bad are they? We take a look at whether the banks' results, whether they are cleaning up their act and whether they are worth investing in. Meanwhile,... It was the best of times… it is now the most uncertain of times. With four months to go to before the people of England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and the 2 million expats living in continental Europe vote whether to stay in or out of the European single market, the country’s finances are starting to react to the inevitable uncertainty. One thing is for sure, the pound in our pockets is worth less than it was a week ago. A weak pound is not the end of the world – or Europe – but it’s enough already to make people think twice about booking a summer holiday abroad. Could Spain really become a luxury holiday destination reserved for the rich? It’s been a rocky week too for banks, with profits, bonuses and bailouts colluding to make even less sense than usual. Luckily This is Money editor Simon Lambert, personal finance editor Rachel Rickard Straus and Share Radio money expert Georgie Frost take listeners on an enlightening ride around the rollercoaster of riches. Also on the agenda… Will Chancellor George Osborne steal what’s left of your pension in next month’s Budget? House prices – what the hell? Are you a voucher victim? And… Loads of ways (14) to get your hands on FREE MONEY. Plus loads more.

Share prices around the world this week have been falling like dominoes in a record-breaking dominoes falling over attempt. London loses 2% in a day, New York opens and falls 2% then in Asia the sell-off continues, slashing 2% off its market value. London opens again and mirrors the previous losing sessions in Asia and the USA and so it goes on. And on. The FTSE 100 index of leading UK shares found itself at a three and a half year low. But why? Central bankers whose job is supposed to be to prevent this kind of mess know how to talk the talk but there is growing evidence that they don’t really know how to work the bank. Their policies of handing taxpayer money to bankers - rather than prison sentences - and of cutting interest rates to less than nothing have left them stuck in a hole without room to manoeuvre. Jobbing bankers lost any credibility in the last crisis. But without punishment or a conscience could they be to blame again this time? Or is it simply that traders aren’t human any more but mere automated algorithms that react to preprogramed instructions? Computer says sell. This is Money editor Simon Lambert, consumer affairs editor Rachel Rickard Straus and Share Radio money guru Georgie Frost try to work out where the blame lies. Also in the show. Apart from the free money and long-term benefits, what’s the point of a pension? Why do our privatised, apparently competitive energy companies raise and drop their prices by pretty much exactly the same amount? Why won’t idiot bankers lend to safe-as-houses people with secure incomes just because of their age? What’s so great about Hatton Garden – the jewellery capital in the capital? And what if… Crumbling share prices are nothing to worry about at all – just a great excuse to start investing?

Banks, the City, Wall Street, call them what you will – they use jargon to steal your money. It’s what caused the walloping financial crash in 2008. And it’s possibly what’s going to cause another one eight years later – that’s right, in 2016; this year! We’re in a bear market. What even is a bear market? The opposite of bull, of course. See how easy it is? This week, This is Money editor Simon Lambert and personal finance editor Rachel Rickard Straus join Share Radio’s Georgie Frost to help listeners understand some of this nonsense. There’s even a Hollywood movie just out about financial jargon, The Big Short, the story of how collateralized debt obligations brought down the world economy because no one knew what they were. It’s nominated for five Oscars, including best picture. A bear market is a bad one. Bear = bad. It’s when share prices fall. Bull = good. That’s it really. Listen to Rachel and Simon for more detail. Also in the podcast: Davos – why the hell do our financial leaders go to Davos to discuss the global economy? It’s a ski resort in Switzerland - the most expensive place they could choose. What do they do when they get there? Do they even go skiing? Why does a low oil price affect everything else so much? It’s not what you think. It’s what oil producers do with all that income and what they can’t do with it now that’s the problem. Why are broadband companies allowed to mislead customers with their advertising? Surely it’s not because of a supine advertising regulator? In ‘good on the face of it’ news of the week E.on customers are going to have their energy bills CUT by 5%. But the wholesale price of oil and gas has fallen 20% since its peak. E.on gets points for being first but that’s not enough E.on! Will the others follow suit? If you’re worried about the markets this year - keep worrying. If you’re thinking of ever retiring or voting Tory – you probably ought to understand what Chancellor George Osborne is planning to do with your pension. If you’ve ever had a job or fancy a change you must listen to the bit at the end about CVs. If you thought you knew what to put in your CV, such as volunteering experience and keeping it to two pages. You’ve been doing it it all wrong. Listen and learn. And then you might get a new job.

What happened in the financial crisis? Is it time to forgive the banks and move on? Do we need the City? Simon Lambert and Rachel Rickard Straus join Georgie Frost in the studio for a run through the week's essential money news. This week's show features a potted history of what on earth went wrong in the financial system - and whether eight years down the line it is time to forgive and move on. The team also look at how to fix Britain's tax mess, why the buy-to-let boom could blow up and quite why anyone would want a house with an underground showroom for 25 cars. (The answer to which to a certain car-mad This is Money editor, is obvious).

This week the Holy Trinity of financial entertainment, This is Money editor Simon Lambert, personal finance editor Rachel Rickard Straus and Share Radio supremo Georgie Frost sit around the digital fire with a mug of cocoa for a winter warmer of a show. On the agenda Putting the heating on and paying less for it How to prevent burglaries now it's dark a lot Is solar power worth the effort when the sun moves south and the Government switches off the subsidies? And then... How do you solve a problem like tax credits? Current accounts are officially uncompetitive but customers are to blame, says report First-time buyers vs buy-to-letters - who wins in the fight to buy? Equity release - what is it again? And finally You can now check to see if that old car you sold is still on the road

The Rolls-Royce edition. What's so special about a £250,000 Rolls-Royce? We asked the luxury car maker to explain the appeal of its new Dawn convertible and tell us more about its Made in England success story. The somewhat less salubrious subject of how to beat cold callers is also on the agenda this week, as Simon Lambert, and Rachel Rickard Straus, of This is Money, join Georgie Frost in the Share radio studios for the weekly whip through the money news. We ask why people wouldn't sell their own homes to save £7,000 over a High Street estate agent and take a look at whether the new national Living Wage is a good or bad idea. Oh, and there's a new Bentley 4x4 too - which readers aren't quite so sold on. Listen to the This is Money Show and please subscribe and leave us a review if you like it. #RollsRoyce #BentleyBentayga #coldcallers #LivingWage #bestbanks

This week Rachel Rickard Straus and Lee Boyce of This is Money talk to Share Radio's Georgie Frost about how to complain to the new ombudsman, misselling madness and high-frequency traders #complaints #ww2 #flashboys

Rachel Rickard Straus joins Share Radio's Georgie Frost and This is Money's Lee Boyce to unearth further evidence of why EE should be shut away in George's Orwell's horror Room 101, how the taxman can now empty your bank account if he feels like it, more on the official energy bills rip-off, savings deals, car insurance, road rage and a whistle-stop tour of the Budget for anyone still interested.

This week Rachel Rickard Straus joins editor Simon Lambert and Share Radio presenter Georgie Frost for a fun look at the week's money news. This week a shocker from Nationwide on savings rates (clue it was a rise), the DVLA's driving licence hire car madness, what to do if your holiday is hit by Spanish air strikes. And the RBS question: would you buy (or sell) a bank now?

Simon Lambert and Rachel Rickard Straus join Georgie Frost to talk about how much to offer on a property, how to make a pension last, why Sid could have made a mint on British Gas shares and Simon reveals an honest look at a year's investing.

This week, Share Radio's Georgie Frost and This is Money Editor Simon Lambert are joined by reporter Rachel Rickard Straus for an entertaining look at the latest money news and investigations. Including: Are you being paid enough to make you happy? Are 10-year fixed mortgages worth a punt? What does quantitative easing in the eurozone mean for you? Will changes to the lifetime allowance affect you? Legendary investor Warren Buffett writes to his fans And more...

It's time to run a bath and enjoy the dangerously warm glow from Simon Lambert, Lee Boyce and Rachel Rickard Straus as they join Share Radio's Georgie Frost for another entertaining insight into the week's money investigations. This time... What next for our broken untrusted energy market? Can you really earn 6% on your savings? Cash vs Property vs Stocks - who's the winner? Whatever happened to the bank set up by that man called Dave? And more...

Is the Governor of the Bank of England, Mark Carney, all talk or is he the Maradona of finance? Also in the show... What's going on with inflation? Why on earth is BT charging so much for calls to France? Why does a washing machine cost four times more for the poor? What's next for all-in-one media services? Plus an update on pensioner bonds. This week's entertaining investigations are brought to you by Share Radio's star presenter Georgie Frost and This is Money's Simon Lambert and Rachel Rickard Straus. With Lee Boyce calling in from This is Money HQ.

This week editor Simon Lambert and financial sleuth Rachel Rickard Straus join Share Radio's Georgie Frost to explain the horrors of house hunting, the financial horrors in Greece, Sky's entry into mobile phones, whether our energy bills have been cut enough and the modern phenomenon of the OAB - old age bikers

This week reporters Ed Monk and Rachel Rickard Straus join Share Radio's Georgie Frost to try to solve the mystery of neverending sofa sales, plus pensioner bonds and the latest on rip-off mobile phone tariffs and rip-off concert tickets.

This is Money's consumer affairs editor Rachel Rickard Straus joins editor Simon Lambert and presenter Georgie Frost to debate excessive house prices, mortgage rates, hateful rail fares, supermarket wars - and some positives for the year ahead.

This week: This is Money's Ed Monk and Rachel Rickard-Straus join editor Simon Lambert to investigate whether 'Black Friday' offers are as good as the retailers claim, whether building societies are ripping us off over interest rates and much more. With presenter Georgie Frost

PART 2: This is Money joins Share Radio’s Georgie Frost to discuss the week’s big money stories and tips. With Simon Lambert, Richard Browning, Amy Andrew and Rachel Rickard Straus #money #business #moneysavingtips #scams #banks

PART 1:This is Money joins Share Radio’s Georgie Frost to discuss the week’s big money stories and tips. With Simon Lambert, Richard Browning, Amy Andrew and Rachel Rickard Straus #money #business #moneysavingtips #scams #banks #shareradio