Better With Money

Better with Money is on a break for Easter so we are revisiting our favourite episode from last year, all about the "sinking fund." It's a fancy way of saying you have separate of pots of savings for specific expenses. There's a legion of advocates who swear by the practice. One such enthusiast is Anita Collins, a maths teacher from Limerick who runs the Instagram page @efficientfamilylife. She jo...

The 'admin party' is the latest social media trend promising to save you money. The idea is it's a social, accountability-based way to tackle money-draining life admin. But does it work? Host Aideen Finnegan is joined by Irish Times journalists Niamh Browne, Conor Pope and Órla Ryan to see if they can fix their finances in real time. From gas bill hikes to health insurance, to claiming your expens...

No one knows more about organising an unforgettable holiday on a tight budget than Cork woman Stephanie Barry Woods . She and her husband Tim have been travelling the world for the past decade, having every type of experience imaginable. From road tripping around Spain to luxury stays in the Maldives to Bankok hostels and full moon parties in Thailand. (You can hear how they made that happen in an...

On this St. Patrick's Day, we are discussing gold as an investment choice; why it has soared in value, whether novice investors should get involved, and the approaches they could take. We're joined by MD of DNG Financial Services Cian Carolan and jewellery entrepreneur Chupi Sweetman who share their insights in dealing with fluctuating gold prices. Cian advises beginners to build an emergency fund...

We've spoken about investing before on Better with Money but today we're honing in specifically on how to invest in the stock market. If you've been wondering how you can generate a passive income from your smartphone but wouldn't know an investment fund if it jumped up and bit you in the face, don't worry because neither does our host Aideen. Today she speaks to The Irish Times' Fiona Reddan and...

Financial literacy isn’t just about understanding jargon. It’s about security and independence, says Leah McMahon - a financial planner with Castle Capital of Limerick. Women are among those being targeted in the government's National Financial Literacy Strategy 2025-2029. So ahead of International Women's Day on Sunday we are looking at the ways you can boost your financial literacy, tackle money...

It's tough making ends meet in 2026, let alone setting aside money for our children's future. But Robert Whelan of Rockwell Financial says it's worth putting away any amount, even to just to get started. In his professional opinion though, an investment strategy is needed to inflation-proof your savings. In this episode of Better with Money we explain some of the most accessible ways you can start...

Not everyone was brought up in an entrepreneurial environment, and most of us didn't study business beyond the Junior Cert. But that doesn't mean you shouldn't give it a go. Whether you're simply selling crafts on Etsy or giving school grinds on the side, the bureaucratic side of setting up a business can be a barrier for those who don't move in corporate circles. In this episode of Better with Mo...

The average Irish PAYE worker overpays €900 euro a year in tax. That's because many of us don't know we can claim money back on things like routine GP visits or pharmacy prescriptions. There are also tax reliefs that people mistakenly believe they're not entitled to, like the Home Carer Credit. The name might imply it's only available to carers of the elderly or a child with a disability. In fact,...

If you were moving in with someone and they earned more than you, would you ask them to pay more of the rent? Or in the case of a divorce, how would you divide assets like a pension? The thorny issue of money in relationships is not one that’s generally thrashed out early on in a romance but has huge consequences for couples. That’s before you even get to the stage of trying to understand married...

When it comes to buying a new car, financing options can vary widely. You have to factor in the total running cost (tax, fuel, insurance etc) and then watch out for the hidden ones. Throw in jargon like ‘PCP finance’ and ‘guaranteed future value’ and now you’re completely bamboozled. Irish Times motoring journalist Neil Briscoe joins the podcast to simplify and demystify the whole process of buyin...

The sinking fund trend is a fancy way of saying you have separate of pots of savings for specific expenses. There's a legion of advocates who swear by the practice. One such enthusiast is Anita Collins, a maths teacher from Limerick who runs the Instagram page @efficientfamilylife. She joins the podcast to explain in detail how sinking funds can help people manage their finances more effectively,...

Calling all financial hot messes: Better With Money from The Irish Times can help you – even during a time of crazy prices. We break down the money questions you care about, jargon free and with people who’ve been there and done that.   Subscribe to Better With Money from The Irish Times wherever you get your podcasts. Brought to you in association with PWC Ireland. PwC Ireland’s tax experts...

It's nearly Budget Day, and what better time to think about managing your finances? Better With Money will be back soon with new episodes helping you take advantage of tax breaks, survive in a world of high prices and finance that new car. Brought to you in association with PWC Ireland. PwC Ireland’s tax experts are here to help you prepare for Budget 2026, so you can move forward with clarit...

Alright fine, we'll admit it. This episode is about pensions. But we're unpacking them in a way that won't melt your brain, we promise. Whether you've started late or haven't even taken one out yet, deputy business editor Dominic Coyle explains: How to start from scratch, or level up a basic pension plan Understanding jargon How employer contributions can help double your pension pot How to maximi...

What’s traditionally been known as the ‘nixer’ in Ireland, is recognised more widely on social media as the side hustle . Most people’s understanding of the term is additional income that supplements a person’s PAYE earnings. As with many other trends, Instagram and Tiktok’s algorithms churn out an Americanised version of the phenomenon where grind culture is revered and stories of multi-million d...

If you've always thought investing is only for high-earning, suit-wearing, happy-hour cocktail swigging finance bros, Kel Galavan - aka MrsSmartMoneyHQ - is here to tell you why you're wrong. The Qualified Financial Advisor was in six figure debt after the 2008 financial crash, but has since turned her financial life around and now coaches others who are new to the investing game. In this episode...

Are you in the fortunate position of being able to save for a home or you're hoping to buy in the next few years? Purchasing a property in Ireland, especially when you are new to the process, can be daunting task at the best of times. But with the current housing crisis it’s tougher than ever and that’s before you even get to the stage of dealing with auctioneers, banks, quantity surveyors and sol...

In the aftermath of the financial crash, Ann-Marie Gaynor was getting over a marital breakdown, lone parenting three children under 7 and in five-figure debt. A self-described Celtic Tiger baby, Gaynor says she only ever saw her credit card limit as a target and would apply for a new card once she'd maxed out another. In this episode she shares how she turned her life around; kicking the debt...

Stephanie Barry Woods and her husband Tim quit their jobs in 2016 to travel the world. They haven't lived back home since. The Cork native goes by @StephMyLife on social media where she shares all her best travel tips, as well as how she and Tim managed to save €100,000 in four years to fund their adventure. In this episode, Steph elaborates on what she did as a formerly financially illiterate twe...

Your earliest money memories might be sabotaging your present day finances. That top you bought after a bad day at work? That savings account you keep meaning to open? Or that skimping you do on the bill at the end of a meal, that makes your friends’ eyes roll... Most of these behaviours can be traced back to attitudes and beliefs around money that we formed in childhood, according to Emma Edwards...

If you’re struggling to budget and wondering where you’re going wrong, Irish Times consumer affairs correspondent Conor Pope has you covered. From spending tracking to goal setting to switching providers, Conor breaks it down into accessible steps without bombarding you with jargon or berating you for your love of oat milk lattes. Yes, this stuff is hard but is possible to budget in a way that’s e...

If you’ve always been a bit a mess with money, and it’s really time you got your act together, Better With Money from The Irish Times is the podcast for you.   Whether you’re brutal at budgeting, interested in investing or hoping for your own home -  we speak to people who’ve been there and done that, to explain the “yeah but literally how”?   So don’t feel bad if you don’t know you...

If you find managing your money a struggle, this is the podcast for you. From The Irish Times, Better With Money is a podcast crash-course in how to spend responsibly, save effectively and make big financial decisions wisely. Coming soon on podcast platforms. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.