Cash Chats UK Money & Personal Finance podcast

This week TV's Matt Allwright (Watchdog, Rogue Trader, The One Show) joins me to talk about his new book - The Consumer Survival Guide - as well as discuss our consumer pet hates. We talk about ticket touts, auto-renewals, retention centres, smart speakers and more. Plus a couple of hot deals to save you money. * Please do leave a review and rating if this saves you money. * FURTHER READING > Buy...

Every month I'm going to look in detail at a side hustle to earn you some extra cash on top of your 9-5 or to help make up for any lost earnings. This week I'm joined by money blogger Jordon Cox to look at freelance marketplace Fiverr. Jordon has been using it to get work as a voiceover artist and is able to tell us how it works and the ways to help boost the "gigs" you get. But as with all these...

So the latest figures show that the UK economy is officially in recession, with a whopping 20.4% contraction in the last quarter. In this week's episode I explain what that means and what impact that's likely to have on all of us. Plus the things we can do with our money to help weather the storm. * Please do leave a review and rating if this saves you money. * FURTHER READING The latest ONS figur...

With more people facing redundancy or starting their own side-hustles it's important to know just what going self-employed entails. I've been joined by David Thomas to discuss when to do it, when you're likely to make money, how to manage your finances and more. Don't forget to join the Cash Chats community on Facebook for more from this conversation. * Please do leave a review and rating if this...

With more job losses announced every day, and many more likely to happen as furlough begins to tail off, there's talk of 10% unemployment this year. That means there's a strong possibility we're all going affected personally. So it's really important we understand how redundancy works. To help, I've been joined in this episode by employment lawyer Jodie Hill. We talk about what your entitlements a...

If you were too ill to work or died suddenly, how would your family pay the bills? This week I'm joined by my friend Kara Gammell, a personal finance journalist and money blogger. She's passionate about spreading the word on protection insurance - from critical illness cover through to life assurance, so I thought she'd be the perfect person to help give some insight into why many of you should pr...

I've been joined this week by friend and money coach Catherine Morgan to talk about money personalities. * Please do leave a review and rating if this saves you money. * FURTHER READING > Catherine's Money Personality Quiz > Deals of the week ABOUT CASH CHATS Cash Chats is presented by money blogger and broadcaster Andy Webb. In 2020 the podcast has been featured as one of the top finance podcasts...

Find out how the government's latest financial plans will impact you - including measures to get us spending money in leisure and hospitality businesses, a big saving for people moving home and news of funding to create new jobs for young people. Don't forget to join the Cash Chats community on Facebook. * Please do leave a review and rating if this saves you money. * FURTHER READING BLOG : My sum...

I've very mixed feelings about freebies or heavily discounted trials. On one hand, I love them - who wouldn't, you get something for free. One the other hand I'm not sure they're always a good thing. For a start there's guilt. Guilt that I'm creating unnecessary waste, guilt that I'm taking advantage of someone And on top of that, there's also the danger that something that's free will be costing...

From the climate crisis to Black Lives Matter to struggling high streets, it's all very well liking a post on social media to show your support for a cause, but is that enough? It's time to put your money where it can hopefully make a difference to your community, society and the planet. Here's how to work out how your donations, spending and banking can align with what you want to change. * Pleas...

This week lockdown begins to ease further with the non-essential shops reopening across the UK. I've taken a look at how things are working and whether you should be taking a trip to the high street or not. I've also shared your consumer rights for purchases made before, during and after the shops were closed. Plus news of an offer to help you support small local shops and save yourself cash at th...

During lockdown, those that are still working are likely spending a lot less than normal. There's no commuting, no holidays, no nights out, no childcare costs. So what do you do with this extra cash you wouldn't normally have? In the second of highlights from my recent Lockdown Money Live event, I'm joined by Damian Fahy from Money to the Masses and Sara Williams from Debt Camel to discuss the bes...

Last week I hosted a free online event called Lockdown Money Live, and here's the first of the highlights. There were four sessions and this week on the podcast you'll get to hear my interview with money blogger Faith Archer about the schemes available to you if you can't work. We discuss what happens next to the furlough scheme and support for the self-employed, as well as share what you should b...

This week I'm looking at a vital part of your finances - the information that banks, lenders and other companies use to work out whether they want to give you a product or money. Known as a credit report, it holds details of all your accounts, payment history and more. And linked to this is your credit score. They're different things but both very important. Here's how they work, when they're used...

If you want to take some of the effort out of managing your money then it's worth thinking about the ways you can automate your finances. Tricks include moving money between multiple accounts, making sure you don't forget payments, boosting your savings pot, switching energy and earning cash when you spend. Please do leave a review and rating. Here's how to do it on Apple Podcasts and iTunes.  Fur...

I talk a lot about how to avoid debt in the first place, from getting the best price and value through to better managing your money. But sometimes that's not enough. A big factor is getting over the shame you might feel about your situation and the decisions you've made. So how do you do this? Well it can really help to know you aren't in this alone. That other people are going through the same t...

How side hustles can boost your income. In the second part of my making money series I've been joined by Ken Okoroafor from The Humble Penny blog to talk about how "side hustles" such as tutoring or setting up your own eBay / Amazon shop can make a big difference to your income. Please do leave a review and rating. Here's how to do it on Apple Podcasts and iTunes.  Further reading & links Episode...

If you're in need of some extra cash there are a couple of ways you can do this. In this first part I'm joined by money making blogger Emma Drew to talk about how things like online market research, eBay and receipt scanning can boost your coffers. * Please do leave a review and rating if this saves you money. Further reading & links Emma's guide to survey sites including Prolific and YouGov Sign...

Probably the biggest purchase we'll ever make is going to be buying a house. But once you're on the housing ladder it doesn't mean you can't still make savings. In this week's episode I've looked at two key ways you can reduce the overall interest you pay, which can be worth thousands of pounds. The first is to boost your LTV (Loan to Value) and the second is to make overpayments. Individually the...

This week I've looked at what you can do if you think you'll struggle to have enough cash left towards the end of the month and your next payday. FURTHER READING How to survive until payday How to make a budget How to stick to a budget How to stop spending money Spend less by using what you've already got What benefits are you entitled to Deals of the week ABOUT CASH CHATS Cash Chats is presented...

There are a couple of taboos people tend to avoid talking about. Money is one, another is dying. So combined must be some kind of super-taboo! But it's really important that you do have that conversation. Here's what you need to think about in terms of your own finances and plans, as well as how to discuss it with family members. It might not be the cheeriest of subjects but it's vital you have so...

From mortgage holidays through to interest-free overdraft buffers, here's what you need to know about how your bank is working during the crisis. I've looked at your borrowing (so credit cards, loans, mortgages and overdrafts), your banking (including customer support and bank switching) and your savings (how safe your money is and ways to access locked away cash). FURTHER READING Banking during t...

If you're now working from home there's a good chance you'll be spending less, but there are a few things you should be doing to make sure other costs don't get out of control.  In this week's episode I've shared how I've used home working to save cash over the last couple of years, plus a quick rundown of the latest deals of the week. FURTHER READING > Cut the cost of your broadband > How to find...

Covid-19 has come from nowhere and caused such unexpected disruption - which is likely to get worse. So how do you make sure you and your money are in the best place to deal with this? Well a bit of planning now could make things easier in the weeks and months to come as our movements become more restricted. Plus, my thoughts on what you should do if you're owed money due to cancellations. FURTHER...

It's been a big day for your finances with a surprise interest rate cut followed by the Budget where the new government set out its financial plans for the year. I've taken a look at how both of these will impact you and your money. Plus, important information about your sick pay rights if you get Covid-19 or have to self-isolate due to coronavirus. FURTHER READING > Budget 2020: What it means to...