Cash Chats UK Money & Personal Finance podcast

With news that smart meters will probably only save you £11 a year, I've looked at what they do and why I think you should wait. Plus a look back at how Amazon Prime Day went. Were the savings good? And should you wait for Amazon's Black Friday weekend for similar discounts? Read more at https://becleverwithyourcash.com/cashchats65

Part two of my summer holiday specials, this time looking at the cheapest ways to pay when overseas, whether that's by cash or card. Read more at https://becleverwithyourcash.com/cashchats64

In this week's episode I've looked at fast fashion. Yes it's cheap, but when you factor in quality it can sometimes work out better value to spend more. Then there are the environmental and ethical consequences of producing so much disposable clothing. Listen in to find out what you can do to lessen the impact, including which high street retailers have ethical ranges, and how to get money off new...

Oversized luggage, inadequate insurance and expired visas are just some of the ways I've been caught out on holiday. Avoid these and other mistakes by preparing for your summer holiday now. Sorry it's been a few weeks since the last episode - filming for Shop Smart Save Money has been great but cut my available time. Anyway, I'm back, and this week I'm sharing my holiday prep checklist. Essentiall...

The high street has been back in the news with M&S and Carphone Warehouse the latest to announce massive store closures, and a survey from Which? revealing the shops we like the least. It doesn't look great for the high street. I now live in a relatively wealthy part of Yorkshire compared to other parts, and there are lots of independent shops and restaurants. But in the three months I've been her...

Wedding season well and truly kicks off this weekend, so I wanted to talk about the ways you can avoid spending a fortune, both as a guest and if you're the couple tying the knot. More at https://becleverwithyourcash.com/cashchats60

Another Ask Andy special where I answer your questions. This time I tackle the H&M clothes recycling scheme, paying off credit card debts and why you're getting so many emails from businesses thanks to GDPR. More over at https://becleverwithyourcash.com/cashchats59

Sometimes shopping around to save a few quid isn't worth the time. But when you're spending hundreds of quid you can make some big savings - if you put the time and effort in.  Having just moved house we need to buy some new appliances, and over the last few weeks, I've managed to get us far better appliances than we hoped for with the budget we have. So it made sense to share how I do it so you c...

Companies are happy to take our cash, but it's sometimes a different story when they owe us money. This week on the podcast I share how I've had to chase brands, from Council Tax to Three to Travelodge, for money they didn't automatically pay me back. Tune in to find out where you should be checking for some long forgotten cash. More and links over at https://becleverwithyourcash.com/cashchats57

April 6th sees the start of the new financial year, and with it some changes to the money you bring home, and the cost of things you buy. In this week's episode I've given you a quick rundown of the main changes, such as how much tax you pay, and the bills that'll increase. More over at https://becleverwithyourcash.com/cashchats56

I've never been 100% convinced by couponing, so I asked Coupon Kid Jordon Cox to join me on the podcast this week and convince me it's worth the time and effort. We talk about where to find coupons, how to make sure you don't get carried away, "wombling" and why you should tap your loyalty cards to get even more. Get links and more at https://becleverwithyourcash.com/cashchats55

As someone who is passionate about getting the best value for money, I've got issues with Easter. Easter eggs specifically. Nowhere else are manufacturers and supermarkets charging such a premium for something you can get in a different shape all year around for far less cash. So in this episode I've shared how to avoid overpaying for your Easter chocs. as well as some tips to save money all year...

I'm answering your questions this week on the podcast, including changes to Childcare Vouchers, Lifetime ISAs vs Help to Buy ISAs, and exactly how bank switching works. More info and links can be found at https://becleverwithyourcash.com/cashchats53

I love going to the cinema, but I hate paying full price which can easily hit £15 or more. So I've hunted out the best savings which I've shared in this week's podcast. From how anyone can get student prices, through to the best loyalty perk it's possible to pay around £5 on average. More over at https://becleverwithyourcash.com/cashchats52

There's a good chance your Council Tax bill will be bigger from April 2018, so I've taken a look at the ways you can potentially save some money - and possibly even get a backdated refund. Councils are allowed to hike your Council Tax bill by 3%, and some as much as 5.99% when the new bills are sent around in late March, adding yet more to the bills we have to pay. But there are a few ways you mig...

We've all got different reasons for picking the supermarket we shop in. It could be price, it could be quality, it could just be whichever is nearest. But we've all got our favourites too. So in this week's episode I've been joined by three other money bloggers to argue which is best. I've championed Waitrose, while Katy Stevens from Katy Kicker is on the side of Aldi, Helen Dewdney from The Compl...

It's been a while since I've tackled the questions you've sent me via email, Twitter and through comments on the blog, so I picked four of the recent ones to share my answers. Here's what's in this episode. - Do you have to keep putting the O2 SIM in your phone when you use the O2 Priority Moments app trick? And can you use it for priority tickets? - Should you cancel an unused credit card? - Can...

Get your money in shape so you can start working on your dream job. Five years ago I knew I want to do something different, something outside the normal corporate working regime. Now, I'm my own boss, doing something I love (that's this blog and podcast by the way). So how do you get yourself to something similar? Well there's a lot of hard work for sure, but one of the biggest barriers is money....

Banking is boring, right? Well, it doesn't have to be! I've made thousands of pounds over the last four and bit years by making sure my back account is working for me. So in today's episode of Cash Chats I share what you can do to get free cash, earn the highest interest, get cashback and reduce your overdraft fees - all from moving your business to a different bank.

Did you set a money resolution at the start of the year? We're at that point where willpower starts to falter and all our best intentions are forgotten. So in this episode I talk to money bloggers and journalists Faith Archer and Jane Wallace to share how you can keep motivated and stick to those financial goals. Read more over at https://becleverwithyourcash.com/cashchats46

If you're worried about your lack of savings or are looking over your shoulder at mounting debts it's time to take action. In this episode I share how you can start clearing debt and how to take back control of your finances. More and links at https://becleverwithyourcash.com/cashchats45

In the first episode of the podcast's second season I want to share how being clever with your cash can save you a huge amount of money this year. When I started the blog in 2014 I set myself a challenge. I wanted to see just how much money I could save in a year. And not through being frugal and cutting back. Instead it was just through making simple decisions to ensure I got the best value for m...

With the big end of year sales already underway in some shops, this episode is focused on whether you're actually likely to save money if you buy now, or if it's all a bit of a con. Plus I share how you can work out the real discount on offer. More over at https://becleverwithyourcash.com/cashchats43/

The savings that show up on energy comparison sites might not be true. With the cold snap, I'd be amazed if you didn't put the heating on. And doing that might have prompted you to think about how much you're paying for your gas and electricity. Switching is a GOOD THING,  and can save you hundreds of pounds. But with the vast majority of comparison sites I feel you're being misled, particularly i...

With Christmas Day rapidly approaching I've invited money bloggers Emma Drew, Katy Stevens and Nikki Ramskill to chat about buying Christmas gifts. We chat about budgeting, whether you should regift, the pros and cons of Secret Santa and the danger of leaving your presents under the tree. More, including links to articles covering some of the topics we cover, can be found at becleverwithyourcash.c...