Inflation and the Budget - are things about to get better or worse?

Inflation is back on the rise again and it is forecast to keep going up.What does this mean for our finances and how bad are things going to get?Meanwhile, the Budget is looming and while it's certainly been a much quieter build-up this year, can we be sure that there's no bad news lurking?On this week's podcast Georgie Frost, Rachel Rickard Straus and Simon Lambert unpick what's going on and look at where we could end up next.Plus, are we seeing rent controls by the back door, how often should you be winning the Premium Bonds and what are your Budget moans?Follow us on Instagram @dmgnewmedia.Follow us on TikTok @dmgnewmediaFollow us on X @dmgnewmediaEmail us [email protected] us  020 7938 6000.Hosts: Georgie Frost, Simon Lambert, Lee Boyce, Helen CraneProducer: Georgie Frost Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Saving in a self-invested personal pension is a great way to create a side pot from your workplace pension or to build a retirement fund if you are self-employed.On this special bonus episode of the This is Money Podcast, Simon Lambert is joined by Trading 212's chief operating officer, George Mantilas, to discuss everything you need to know about investing in a Sipp.From how to get easily get started, to what you can do to improve your pension saving and keep fees low, they discuss Sipp essentials.These include:The benefits of a SippHow they workWhy people invest in Sipp as well as a work pensionWhy investing in a Sipp mattersDo fees matter as much as what you invest in?Follow us on Instagram @dmgnewmedia.Follow us on TikTok @dmgnewmediaFollow us on X @dmgnewmediaEmail us [email protected] us  020 7938 6000.Hosts: Georgie Frost, Simon Lambert, Lee Boyce, Helen CraneProducer: Georgie Frost Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this special This is Money podcast episode to celebrate his 500th column as our retirement agony uncle, Steve Webb is back to answer your pension questions.The former pensions minister joins Georgie Frost and Simon Lambert to talk through what he has learnt over those 500 columns and reply to the questions he has been sent in specially for this episode.01:54 – The £118,000 state pension underpayment that exposed a huge scandal 05:01 – Inheritance tax: What's changing for pensions in April 2027? 07:39 – Will final salary pensions be caught by inheritance tax? 09:02 – How to make life easier for loved ones when you die 10:09 – Can you give money to relatives' pensions without paying inheritance tax? 12:07 – Gifting from surplus income: What records do you need? 13:47 – Can you access your pension at 55 without triggering a tax trap? 15:53 – Why is the private pension access age rising to 57? 19:19 – Tax-free lump sums: Can you take another 25% if your investments grow? 23:36 – Why is the state pension taxable when other benefits aren't? 30:54 – Is deferring your state pension for nine years a costly mistake? 33:31 – The McCloud ruling: Why are public sector pensions still delayed? 36:47 – What would Steve Webb change about the pension system? 38:37 – The biggest pension mistake people make 39:39 – Are you missing out on a better workplace pension? 41:19 – Why checking your pension paperwork could save you thousandsFollow us on Instagram @dmgnewmedia.Follow us on TikTok @dmgnewmediaFollow us on X @dmgnewmediaEmail us [email protected] us  020 7938 6000.Hosts: Georgie Frost, Simon Lambert, Lee Boyce, Helen CraneProducer: Georgie Frost Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

There were a number of ways Kemi Badenoch could have tackled the much-hated issue of inheritance tax.The Tory leader could have promised to cut the rate, remove gifting allowances from the deep freeze, raise thresholds, or stop pensions being pulled into the net.Instead, she decide to announce family homes would be completely exempt under a Conservative government... and couples would still get to give away £1million tax-free on top of that.Was that a good idea, or has Kemi just promised to make a bad tax even more complicated?On this week's podcast Georgie Frost and Simon Lambert talk inheritance tax and as well as looking at Kemi's plan they discuss what you need to do to beat IHT now.Plus, the Lifetime Isa is on the way out but savers are still being stung with penalties. Will the new first-time buyer Isa be an improvement.In the stock market story of the week, Simon reveals why Tesco says it will be a less boozy Christmas.We explain how to get a free will and what you should consider putting in it.And finally, the new electric Jaguar has finally been revealed. It's very big, very fast and £120,000 - would you want one?01:07 – Kemi Badenoch’s inheritance tax plans08:25 – What can you do now to reduce an inheritance tax bill?12:13 – The £3,000 gifting allowance and other gift exemptions17:06 – Gifting out of surplus income21:53 – Lifetime ISA penalties and the new First Time Buyer ISA29:41 – Stock Market Story of the Week: Tesco, GLP-1s and alcohol32:30 – Free Wills Month: why you need a will and how to get one free38:39 – Jaguar’s £120,000 electric gamble46:00 – Stat of the Week: families £2,900 worse offFollow us on Instagram @dmgnewmedia.Follow us on TikTok @dmgnewmediaFollow us on X @dmgnewmediaEmail us [email protected] us  020 7938 6000.Hosts: Georgie Frost, Simon Lambert, Lee Boyce, Helen CraneProducer: Georgie Frost Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The triple lock's days appear to be numbered. The Prime Minister Andy Burnham revealed bold plans to ditch the pension guarantee from 2030 and replace it with what has been dubbed a 'double lock' at the Labour party conference this week. Is it the right move? Georgie Frost, Lee Boyce and Helen Crane discuss on this week's This is Money Podcast. Elsewhere, Angela Rayner announced that councils could soon be allowed to take over empty buy-to-let properties, if they had been vacant for as little as six months. Helen explains EDMOs and who could be stung.Fancy working for yourself? We reveal the ten most in-demand self-employed roles... plus what to do if you find out a colleague is being paid a lot more than you for doing something similar. Finally, a new vape tax comes into force this week. What's changing, and will it really encourage people to kick the habit? 01:17 – Is the triple lock on the way out?19:21 – State Pension myths busted22:50 – Could councils take over empty homes?30:00 – The most in-demand self-employed jobs34:53 – My colleague earns £20,000 more than me – what can I do?39:52 – The new vape tax: how much will it cost?45:17 – Lee’s tip of the weekFollow us on Instagram @dmgnewmedia.Follow us on TikTok @dmgnewmediaFollow us on X @dmgnewmediaEmail us [email protected] us  020 7938 6000.Hosts: Georgie Frost, Simon Lambert, Lee Boyce, Helen CraneProducer: Georgie Frost Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Could the personal allowance be raised to £15,570 in the Budget? That's the off the wall idea that emerged this week as a way of Labour nudging ahead if Andy Burnham called an early election.The podcast team discuss that and Simon's idea for how you could start to reform the tax system.Time stamps00:06 – Coming up: personal allowances, energy bills, buy-to-let and working from home02:01 – Could the personal allowance rise to £15,570?12:13 – How could Britain fix its tax system?18:52 – Why are UK energy bills so high?26:17 – Stock market story of the week: Airtel Money’s London listing27:47 – Can landlords still make money from buy-to-let?30:47 – Airbnb cameras: what are the rules?35:55 – Working from home: is it time to get back to the office?45:45 – Simon’s stat of the week: the rising cost of dieselFollow us on Instagram @dmgnewmedia.Follow us on TikTok @dmgnewmediaFollow us on X @dmgnewmediaEmail us [email protected] us  020 7938 6000.Hosts: Georgie Frost, Simon Lambert, Lee Boyce, Helen CraneProducer: Georgie Frost Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Bank of England held the base rate again on Thursday but mortgage rates have soared this week.Major lenders have made a wave of hikes and there are warnings that more are on the way, so what's going on?Is this just another temporary spike as the mortgage market throws one of the wobblies we've seen a number of times in recent years or serious bad news, with rates set to stick higher?On this week's podcast, Georgie Frost, Lee Boyce and Simon Lambert discuss interest rates, what this could cost people and what you can do if you need to remortgage.Plus, what does this all mean for gilts and the Budget and did the Bank of England quietly make a decision that could make things materially better?With more investors buying gilts direct, should you take advantage of the higher rates on offer and how do you invest in UK government bonds?Or should you choose a fixed rate savings account at 5.2 per cent instead.A This is Money reader question highlights the worst inheritance tax trap that lies at £2million.And finally, would you do a Rokos and move to Greece – and other than the weather what are the attractions?Helpful linksTo check the best mortgage rates you could apply for go to www.thisismoney.co.uk/mortgage-finderTo check the best savings rates go to www.thisismoney.co.uk/saveRead Joanne Hart's guide to investing in giltsTIME STAMPS00:00 Welcome to the podcast 00:52 Interest rates held – so why are mortgages getting more expensive? 03:30 Mortgage rates are rising again: how bad could it get? 06:22 From 0.99% to 4.88%: the remortgage shock facing borrowers 10:57 Savings rates are back above 5% – should you lock in? 18:05 Five-year fix or invest instead? 19:43 Gilts 101: what are government bonds and how do they work? 24:24 Why are gilt yields so high – and how do they compare with savings? 27:18 How do you actually buy gilts? 29:59 Inheritance tax: could a £2m estate lose the home allowance? 33:07 Pensions and inheritance tax: what changes from April 2027? 36:02 The inheritance tax trap that could produce eye-watering tax rates 39:48 Why are wealthy Britons moving to Greece? 41:59 Greece's tax breaks – and who can benefit 42:08 Thinking of moving to Greece? What you need to consider 47:20 Seven energy deals that could beat the price cap rise 48:04 That's all for this weekFollow us on Instagram @dmgnewmedia.Follow us on TikTok @dmgnewmediaFollow us on X @dmgnewmediaEmail us [email protected] us  020 7938 6000.Hosts: Georgie Frost, Simon Lambert, Lee Boyce, Helen CraneProducer: Georgie Frost Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Retiring early, making your time your own and sticking it to the man is something many of us will have dreamed of.But what would it take you to get there and how much would you need to start investing now depending on your age and when you want to kick back?On this episode of the This is Money Podcast, Georgie Frost, Lee Boyce and Simon Lambert look at the early retirement dream. Is it realistic, what do you gain and what do you give up, and why is it vitally important for some to use an Isa as well as a pension?One thing hampering many of our saving efforts is the cost of living and now inflation warnings are coming thick and fast again. How dire are the predictions, how likely are they to come true, what does it mean for the rest of your finances – and what’s the cost of a weekly shop got to do with things?Plus, the Renters’ Rights Act is about to deliver a landlord register but is that a good idea or more red tape.And finally, trading cards are worth big money and catching the attention at the moment, so how did Lee become an accidental collector?Follow us on Instagram @dmgnewmedia.Follow us on TikTok @dmgnewmediaFollow us on X @dmgnewmediaEmail us [email protected] us  020 7938 6000.Hosts: Georgie Frost, Simon Lambert, Lee Boyce, Helen CraneProducer: Georgie Frost Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Is it crunch time on the bond markets or is this just another episode in a long-running soap opera that always leaves us on a cliff hanger?Turmoil on global bond markets has sent yields soaring on major countries' debt but the UK is suffering more than its rivals.So, what’s going on with the bond blowout? How bad is it? Why does the UK pay more to borrow than similar countries? And why is it bad news for the Budget and our finances?On this episode of the This is Money Podcast, Georgie Frost, Helen Crane and Simon Lambert discuss the bond market, explain what's going on and why it matters to you.Stoozing is back. Do you stooze, would you stooze, what on earth is stoozing and is it wise?Plus, could you get duped by the British boutiques that are actually shoddy Chinese shops?And finally, a property report this week claimed the death of the dining room… but is it time to be contrarian and revive them? Revealing his true identity as a fully paid-up member of the property-owning bourgeoisie, Simon puts up a defence for the dining room - but do Helen and Georgie agree?00:00 Welcome to the This is Money podcast00:57 Why are UK government borrowing costs surging – and why should we care?06:36 Is the world’s debt problem getting out of control?10:46 What could the bond market turmoil mean for the Budget?17:35 What does it mean for mortgages, savings and your money?19:11 Stoozing is back: could you really make £750 from a 0% credit card?29:46 Fake British boutiques: are you really buying cheap clothes from China?38:03 Death of the dining room: do we still need one?45:37 Simon’s stat of the week: more than 1million pensioners paying higher-rate tax46:37 Podcast closeFollow us on Instagram @dmgnewmedia.Follow us on TikTok @dmgnewmediaFollow us on X @dmgnewmediaEmail us [email protected] us  020 7938 6000.Hosts: Georgie Frost, Simon Lambert, Lee Boyce, Helen CraneProducer: Georgie Frost Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

From next year, those in receipt of the full state pension will have to start giving some of it back to the government in income tax.The Treasury has put in place a ‘waiver’ system for less well-off pensioners – but it has been revealed this week that those who chose to defer their state pension could miss out because of the extra income they receive.On this week’s podcast, Georgie Frost is joined by This is Money’s Helen Crane and Tanya Jefferies to discuss whether that is fair, and how Britain’s state pension got so complicated. Staying on the subject of retirement, estimates of how much we have to save for old age usually assume we will own our homes and have paid off the mortgage by the time we quit work.But for a growing number of people, that isn’t the case – and a new study suggests those who rent during retirement could have to save £419,000 extra to afford it.With today’s youngsters expecting to get on the ladder later, or perhaps not at all, the problem is only set to worsen. The team discuss this shift and what people can do to prepare.Despite a greater need for rented homes, the property market is awash with landlords trying to offload flats. Who is going to buy them, and is it an opportunity for first-time buyers?And finally, from Lidl trainers to pizza menus and even Argos catalogues, we reveal the everyday items that could be tomorrow's collectables.00:00 – Introduction01:04 – Why some pensioners could face income tax on the State Pension05:00 – Who could miss out on the Government’s proposed tax waiver?09:47 – Should you still defer your State Pension?14:35 – The looming problem of renting in retirement19:00 – How much more do renters need to save for retirement?23:36 – Why are so many landlords selling their flats?27:28 – Are flats still worth buying?30:58 – Is buy-to-let becoming a professional investors’ game?36:08 – Could the junk in your house actually be worth money?39:56 – Why old Argos catalogues and pizza menus could become collectables41:08 – Crane’s compliment of the week: Sainsbury’s42:05 – OutroFollow us on Instagram @dmgnewmedia.Follow us on TikTok @dmgnewmediaFollow us on X @dmgnewmediaEmail us [email protected] us  020 7938 6000.Hosts: Georgie Frost, Simon Lambert, Lee Boyce, Helen CraneProducer: Georgie Frost Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.