Money Box

Latest Episodes:

Money Box Live: Financial Resolutions Jan 31, 2024

Show notes

It can feel like new year, new you, with so much potential for change and improvement, but then reality can kick in.

Around 1 in 3 of us will have made a financial resolution this year, but according to Hargreaves Lansdown, almost 20% of us won't even make it to the end of this week.

So how do you make them stick? Felicity Hannah is joined by behavioural & data scientist Professor Pragya Agarwal, Laura Suter, Head of Personal Finance at AJ Bell and consumer rights expert Martyn James.

Presenter: Felicity Hannah Reporter: Andrew Strachan Producer: Sarah Rogers Editor: Jess Quayle

(This episode was first broadcast on Radio 4, Wednesday the 3rd of January 2024 at 3pm)

Money Box Live: Survival Guide Jan 24, 2024

Show notes

Are you putting down the mince pies and opening your bank statements? Well, you're in the right place as we're dedicating some time to the kinds of money topics that come up between Christmas and New Year.

Perhaps you want to know your consumer rights before hitting the sales, what to do with unwanted gifts or maybe you've spent more than you can afford this festive season? If so, then you've come to the right place.

We'll hear why for hundreds of thousands of people, their tax return has become a festive tradition.

And we'll also look ahead to Summer 2024 and how to get some holiday bargains.

Felicity Hannah is joined by, etiquette coach William Hanson, Emma Munbodh, the money news editor at The Telegraph, Anna Hall the head of money and debt operations at the Money and Pensions Service and Rob Staines an independent travel expert.

Presenter: Felicity Hannah Reporter: Luke Smithurst Producer: Sarah Rogers Editor: Jess Quayle

(This is a slightly shorter version of an episode was first broadcast on Wednesday the 27th of December 2023 at 3pm on Radio 4)

Scottish Budget, Core Maths and Christmas Winners Jan 20, 2024

Show notes

Higher earners in Scotland are to pay more income tax from April. That was one of the headlines from the Scottish government in its budget on Tuesday. We'll discuss that change and more with Professor Mairi Spowage, director of the Fraser of Allander Institute at the University of Strathclyde.

Tens of thousands of teenagers could benefit from studying the subject of core maths once they turn 16. That's according to the charity Maths in Education and Industry. The course was launched in 2014 and currently has around 12,000 teenagers studying it in around 30 per cent of schools across England. However, the MEI says it's vital to get as many students as possible signed up.

We have our top three Christmas crackers – tips to save you money in 2024. We also revisit some of the people we've helped this year.

Plus, festive music from the City of Lincoln Band.

Presenter: Paul Lewis Reporter: Dan Whitworth Researchers: Sandra Hardial and Jo Krasner Editor: Jess Quayle

(First broadcast 12pm Saturday 23rd December 2023)

Money Box Live: The Rising Cost of Rent Jan 17, 2024

Show notes

A typical rental property gets 25 enquires from people who want to view it, according to the property listings site Rightmove. That high demand also comes alongside high prices. The estate agents Hamptons says tenants have been hit with the biggest rise in rental costs in at least a decade. And it's not just tenants feeling the pinch. We look at the impact rising interest rates have had on those owning the homes people are renting.

With Felicity Hannah today to go through your questions and comments we have Richard Blanco from the National Residential Landlords Association, Jasmine Basran - Head of Policy and Campaigns and CRISIS, and Richard Donnell - Head of Research and Insight at Zoopla.

Presenter: Felicity Hannah Producer: Sarah Rogers Editor: Jess Quayle

(First broadcast 3pm Wednesday 20th December, 2023)

Inflation, Gift Cards and Energy Deals Jan 13, 2024

Show notes

The Office for National Statistics has published the first of a new quarterly set of figures designed to reflect how inflation is experienced by households. They are called the Household Costs Indices and include things like mortgage costs, interest and insurance. It showed that overall UK household costs rose by 8.2% in the 12 months to September. How does it compare to other measures and what impact could it have? Are you thinking of buying a gift card as a present for Christmas? There's a warning that people looking to use gift cards this Christmas need to be on the look out for scams and fraud.

And from 1st January the cost of heating and lighting your home and cooking your food will rise in England, Scotland, and Wales. The average increase in energy bills will be just over 5% adding £94 a year to the typical bill. As some suppliers begin offering deals to fix your costs we'll ask what should you do?

Presenter: Paul Lewis Reporter: Dan Whitworth Researchers: Eimear Devlin and Jo Krasner Editor: Jess Quayle

(First broadcast 12pm Saturday 16th December 2023)

Money Box Live: Christmas Spending and Scams Jan 10, 2024

Show notes

This week we're tackling the cost of the festive season and looking at how to avoid scams.

The cost of Christmas is up almost a quarter over the last three years according to the The Centre for Economics and Business Research. What can you do to keep costs down?

And as figures from UK Finance, the trade body for banks, suggest nearly £100m will be stolen from around 200,000 people through fraud and scams over the Christmas period we'll discuss what you can do to avoid them.

With Felicity Hannah today to go through your questions and comments we have Sarah Pennells, consumer finance specialist at Royal London and Professor Sharon Collard, Research Director at the University of Bristol's Personal Finance Research Centre.

We'll also be hearing from Paul Askew a chef and the owner of the Art School restaurant in Liverpool and he'll be giving us some tips on how to cut the cost of Christmas Dinner.

Presenter: Felicity Hannah Producer: Sarah Rogers Reporters: Dan Whitworth and Kath Paddison Editor: Jess Quayle

(First broadcast 3pm Wednesday 13th December, 2023)

Teenage Scam Ads and Mortgage Overpayments Jan 06, 2024

Show notes

Teenagers are being bombarded on social media with promotions for financial products they might not understand and that are usually too risky or dangerous for them to invest in. The MP Robin Walker, who chairs the Commons Education Select Committee, wants to see financial education for 16-18 year olds strengthened. The Department for Education told us "Financial literacy within citizenship is compulsory for 11-16-year-olds in the national curriculum, so young people are taught about the importance of personal budgeting, savings, money management and calculating interest.”

Figures indicate an increasing number of homeowners are making overpayments on their mortgages, to take the sting out of new interest rates. More than £21.3 billion was overpaid in the first ten months of this year - up more than 14% from the same period last year. But how much do you need to overpay, to make a difference?

The new project where people can get loans at zero interest to help with the cost of electricity, gas, and heating oil. We visit Ballyhackamore Credit Union in East Belfast to see how it works.

Presenter: Paul Lewis Reporters: Dan Whitworth, Sandra Hardial and Eimear Devlin Researcher: Jo Krasner Editor: Jess Quayle

(First broadcast 12pm, Saturday 9th Dec 2023)

Money Box Live: Banking Jan 03, 2024

Show notes

This is a transformative time for banking. The last decade has seen an incredibly fast-paced increase in the use of technology and also a rapid decrease in the use of cash. High Street banks, where most of us have our money, have adapted. From branch closures to online accounts, we'll discuss how banking is changing.

We look back at the history of banking with Cambridge University Economic Historian Dr Victoria Batemen.

We’ll also speak to Dave Fishwick whose life story became a movie after he set up his own bank in his community.

And Felicity Hannah is joined by independent banking analyst Frances Coppola and Cat Farrow, Chief Operating Officer at Cash Access UK

Presenter: Felicity Hannah Producers: Sarah Rogers and Kath Paddison Reporter: Eimear Devlin Editor: Jess Quayle

(This programme was first broadcast on BBC Radio 4 on Wednesday the 6th of December at 3pm)

Cyber-Attack Hits Home Sales and Charity Bank Accounts Dec 30, 2023

Show notes

Property buyers have said their home completions are being left in limbo after a company providing IT services to law firms was hit by a cyber incident. Money Box has found some of the UK's largest lenders have begun extending mortgage offers for those affected.

A national debt charity is calling on lenders to improve the way they identify customers who're getting into problem debt. StepChange says its recent research shows almost half of people with credit debt are experiencing difficulty with household bills and 1 in 6 adults are using credit to make ends meet. UK Finance which represents banks and credit card companies says lenders are committed to lending responsibly.

Charities are facing weeks or even months unable to access their own money thanks to the unexpected closures of their bank accounts. We've been getting emails about accounts being closed without people being given any reason or warning. UK Finance says banks will only take a decision to close an account after an extensive review and analysis.

Presenter: Paul Lewis Reporter: Dan Whitworth Researchers: Sandra Hardial and Jo Krasner Editor: Jess Quayle

(First broadcast 12pm Saturday 2nd December 2023)

Money Box Live: Power of Attorney Dec 27, 2023

Show notes

This week on Money Box Live we're talking about Power of Attorney. What it means, who needs one and some of the pros and pitfalls.

Presenter and Strictly Come Dancing star, Angela Rippon shares her experiences with the programme and Felicity Hannah is joined by a panel of experts to answer your comments and questions.

Solicitor Gary Rycroft helps clients set up and manage the legal side of Power of Attorneys and Sandra McDonald is former Public Guardian for Scotland and author of 'Power of Attorney: All you need to know: granting, it, using it or relying on it.'

Presenter: Felicity Hannah Reporter: Luke Smithurst Producer: Sarah Rogers Editor: Jess Quayle

(This programme was first broadcast on BBC Radio 4 on Wednesday the 29th of November at 3pm).

Our TOPPODCAST Picks

Follow Us

Stay Connected

Related Podcasts

Links

Stay Connected