Smile and Save Podcast

In this second instalment of our Pensions Awareness Week series, we are joined by Steve Grange from Anns & Grange Associates to break down everything you need to know about your police pension scheme, whether you're just starting out or counting down the years to retirement. Police pension schemes can be confusing, especially with three different schemes in play: the 1987 scheme, the 2006...

In Episode 15 of the Serve and Protect podcast, we sit down with The Savvy Squaddie, the number one online financial wellbeing expert for Armed Forces personnel, for a jargon-free guide to the Armed Forces Pension Scheme. We break down the essentials, from how the different schemes work depending on when you joined, to contributions, length of service, immediate pension, and the Early Departure Pa...

We will all need to borrow at some point in our lives. Whether it is to purchase your first home, make some home improvements, or consolidating existing debt, there are lots of times where borrowing money can be beneficial. However, managing your debt can sometimes be tricky. With the ever increasing cost of living and unexpected expenses occasionally popping up, prioritising your debt can be diff...

Worried about how gambling makes you feel? Concerned about a loved one's gambling? This episode is for you. Let's open up about gambling. We are delighted to welcome GambleAware's Chief Communications Officer, Alexia Clifford, as our latest guest to the Smile and Save Podcast. In this episode we discuss:  Early signs of gambling harms Those who might be more vulnerable to harm than...

This Debt Awareness Week, we are joined by Paul Fox from the Money and Pension Service to explore the UK's consumer debt problem, why the stigma around debt is so difficult to overcome, and the support available for those struggling with problem debt. This year, Debt Awareness Week is exploring the shame and stigma around debt. Part of this episode explains how to make opening up to loved one...

You may have heard of 'loan sharks' before, but do you know what makes someone a loan shark and the devastating impact they can have on people's lives? Today we are joined by Cath Wohlers from Stop Loan Sharks to explore some common misconceptions around loan sharks, some real stories from those affected, and how you or your organisation can get support to combat these illegal lende...

Managing your money can be stressful, especially when making big financial decisions. Approaching these decisions with a more focused mindset can give you the clarity to make managing your money easier. That's where mindfulness comes in! Join the Staff Wellbeing team from Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust as we explore what mindfulness is, how it can help you navigate your financial j...

Your credit score is the single most important number related to your finances. It will impact many financial decisions you make throughout your life. But what is your credit score? And how do you improve it? You may be looking to refresh your finances for the new year going into 2025. Or you may be setting some new year's resolutions focused on your finances. Boosting your credit score is a...

It can be easy to fall for clever marketing tactics around Black Friday and you may find yourself spending more than you should, or buying things you don't really need. We have put together 10 simple tips to help you save money the smart way this Black Friday and Cyber Monday. Hopefully, these tips will give you some ideas to save money and secure the items you really need. Enjoy! Don't...

In this episode, you will discover some of the money habits you may want to consider avoiding to keep your personal finances healthy. We all have our own habits when it comes to money. There are some financial habits which are really good - they may help us to save money or even build our credit scores over time. Then there are habits which you may want to reconsider your use of. The three money h...

Learn how to take control of your spending and save more for the future with this episode of the Smile and Save Podcast. Today, we take a look at the 50-30-20 budgeting method. We explore why budgeting is helpful when understanding your spending habits, and how it can help you to reach your savings goals sooner. By the end of the episode, you will know how to complete your first 50-30-20 budget pl...

Transitioning from the armed forces to civilian life can be an uncertain time. With so many factors to consider and changes to plan for, it could easily become quite overwhelming. In this episode, we are joined by someone with lived experience of transitioning from the armed forces to 'civvy street'. Jon Sykes served close to 37 years in the Royal Air Force, joining straight from school...

It is almost guaranteed that you will experience financial difficulties throughout your life. Whether it comes in the form of health issues, losing your job, or your car breaking down, nobody is immune from financial emergencies. That's why having the options to turn to in these situations is vital, so that you can bounce back and not be dragged into permanent financial struggles. In this epi...

The UK public sector is full of incredible people who want to make a difference within society. They perform some of the most challenging roles without complaint. However, they can often be some of the most susceptible to difficulties outside of the job, such as financial struggles. So who is there to support those who serve and protect the nation? In this episode, we are joined by our first guest...

Financial resilience is one of the most important aspects of your finances. But unfortunately, financial resilience is often misunderstood. You may have heard about financial wellbeing, which is important for navigating through life financially, but financial resilience is vital for dealing with those rainy days. Building financial resilience takes time, so understanding some of the financial emer...

Credit unions are one of the best kept secrets in the world of finance. Offering an easy way to save money, an ethical and affordable option to borrow, all while supporting either your community or colleagues.  There are over 375 million credit union members around the world. If you have never heard of credit unions, you are missing out. In the first episode of the Smile and Save Podcast, we are e...

The Smile and Save Podcast aims to simplify personal finance and make money management easy to understand and do. From creating your first budget plan, to checking your credit score and taking steps to reach your savings goals, we aim to make personal finance simple. Each episode will explain a different financial topic without the jargon and give you actionable takeaways to improve your personal...