The bonkers.ie Podcast

In this episode of the  bonkers.ie  podcast, Daragh had an online chat with Bianca Zwart, the Chief Strategy Officer at Bunq, who joined from Amsterdam. They discuss what sets Bunq apart, how it's shaking up the banking industry, and why it could be a good banking option for you. #bonkers #savings #banking #bunq

In this episode of the bonkers.ie podcast, Daragh sat down with Kate Connor from Irish Life to discuss all things life insurance. Life insurance is an affordable way to get peace of mind about the future, but it can seem confusing at times. So whether you already have cover, or want to learn more, you've come to the right place!

In the latest episode of the bonkers.ie podcast we chat with Eoghan O'Hara from Raisin. We discuss how Raisin’s service works, its benefits, and why it's become an increasingly popular option for Irish people seeking a better return on their money.

News of AIB, EBS, Haven and Bank of Ireland’s newest green mortgage rates dominated the Irish mortgage news this month. In this episode, Caoimhe and Daragh take a closer look at the potential pros and cons of these eco-friendly rates, examine who is eligible for them and discuss the knock-on effects these rates may have. If you’re thinking of applying for or switching to a green mortgage rate, mak...

Do you want to learn about Ireland's latest recycling initiative? From the 1st of February, the Deposit Return Scheme will come into effect. Considered to be one of the biggest social and behavioural changes since the introduction of the Plastic Bag Levy and the smoking ban, Caoimhe and Daragh take a look at the scheme in detail and examine its benefits as well as its potential pitfalls.  So i...

Caoimhe sat down with David Brady, the Director of Spry Finance to address common myths and misconceptions surrounding lifetime loans. If you or your loved one is considering taking out this form of equity release, check out our interview with David to hear everything you need to know! You can apply for a lifetime loan on bonkers.ie! #bonkers #bonkerspodcast #lifetimeloans #equityreleasemortgage #...

Caoimhe talks to budgeting advisor and author, Ann-Marie Gaynor about how you can have a budget-friendly Christmas this year.  Ann-Marie, also known as the 'Irish Budgeting Mammy', shares how she manages her finances at Christmas as a mother of four , the dangers of relying on credit cards , and the importance of setting financial boundaries with friends and family.  So if you want to find...

The Budget 2024 has been announced, and with it plenty of major talking points.  In episode 36, Caoimhe speaks to Daragh Cassidy, Head of Communications at bonkers.ie, to break down everything you need to know about the key announcements.  How much will the income tax changes impact you? What’s the deal with the electricity credits? Listen on to find out, and more. #bonkersiepodcast #bonkers #podc...

In this month's podcast, Caoimhe speaks to money mentor, author, and podcast host, Santis O'Garro, about financial wellness and how you can manage your finances in the midst of a cost of living crisis. Santis, also known as the Carribean Dub, shares her top budgeting tips, how to tackle debt, and explains how she managed to pull herself out of €15,000 debt in one year. #bonkersiepodcast #b...

Retrofitting is becoming an ever more popular option for homeowners looking to increase the efficiency of their homes. In episode 34, Caoimhe speaks to two special guests. First, she hears from Dr. Oliver Kinnane, an associate professor at UCD, and a leading mind in the world of retrofitting. They discuss the wider state of retrofitting in Ireland, and what the future of housing may look like. The...

Car insurance is a fact of life for anyone owning a vehicle. But how can you lower the cost of this unavoidable bill? In episode 33, Caoimhe speaks to Daragh Cassidy, Head of Communications at bonkers.ie, to discuss how you can lower your car insurance costs in 7 ways, as well as delving into the car insurance market in Ireland.  You’ll also hear from Enda Brazel, our Head of Insurance, and other...

Installing solar panels on your roof promises to cut the cost of your electricity bills, make you money, and lower your carbon footprint, but are these renewable energy generators a good investment for you? In episode 32, Caoimhe speaks to Dr. Paul Deane, a Senior Research Scientist in Clean Energy from University College Cork, about the benefits of solar panels and the micro-generation scheme. Pa...

Home insurance is designed to protect your most important assets; your home and your possessions. However, more and more policyholders are finding themselves underinsured or with the incorrect type of cover.  In episode 31, Caoimhe and Daragh speak to the CEO of Insurance Ireland, Moyagh Murdock about the dangers of underinsurance and how to avoid it. Our hosts also discuss the difference between...

From saving for a mortgage deposit to getting all of your documents organised, getting ready to apply for a mortgage can be a daunting task for first time buyers (FTBs) in Ireland. With that in mind, Caoimhe and Fionn sat down with our special guests to find out what mortgage lenders consider to be a desirable mortgage application, as well as what FTBs can expect to experience while applying for a...

As public and private electric vehicle (EV) charging points spring up across the country, motorists have become more incentivised to switch to EVs due to the grants and incentives that are available. In light of this, Caoimhe and Fionn sat down with a series of guests to discuss electric vehicles in Ireland. Our hosts talk to Michele Collins, Senior Account Executive for Ireland at Wallbox, a comp...

On the latest episode of the bonkers.ie podcast, Daragh and Caoimhe sit down to discuss their top tips and tricks for saving money and making more environmentally-friendly decisions this Christmas.  From savvy gifting ideas, to clever ways for you to cut the cost of your Christmas food shop, this episode will help you prepare for the festive season without having to face a hefty price tag.

On the latest episode of the bonkers.ie podcast, Daragh and Caoimhe dispel some of the most common energy savings myths, so that you can separate fact from fiction. With so many energy-saving tips and tricks out there, it’s difficult to know what advice to follow. Listen back to this episode of our podcast to determine what works and what doesn’t.

On the latest episode of the podcast, Daragh and Caoimhe discuss the launch of the Government’s First Home Scheme. The new initiative is aimed at helping first-time buyers to bridge the funding gap and get their foot on the property ladder. The team talk you through everything you need to know from how the scheme works, to the specific criteria you need to be aware of before applying.

On this month’s show we're joined by Pádraig Power, Marketing Manager for Refurbed.ie in Ireland, an online marketplace for refurbished electronic devices.  We chat about the company’s success to date, the services it offers, as well as some interesting data on the types of people who use its site. And with the holiday season in full swing, in the second half of the podcast Daragh and Caoimhe...

When it comes to choosing a new bank, its fees and charges, its customer service and the size of its branch network used to be the main considerations. Increasingly though, the quality of a bank's mobile app is what interests customers the most. And with KBC and Ulster Bank exiting Ireland soon, hundreds and thousands of people will be on the lookout for a new current account provider and may be w...

Households nationwide are currently getting to grips with their new smart electricity meter, with more than 750,000 having already been installed by ESB Networks in homes across the country. Smart meters are the next generation of electricity meter and are designed to help households be more energy efficient. But what exactly is a smart meter and how do they work? What types of energy tariffs can...

Inflation in Ireland has shot up over the past year and is currently near a 20-year high.  But what exactly is inflation? Why is it increasing? What goods and services are rising the most? And is there a way to offset the price hikes? In the latest episode of the bonkers.ie podcast Rob and Daragh sit down to discuss just that! So if you’re looking for ways to put some money back into your poc...

In this episode, we sat down with David Kerr, the founder and group CEO of bonkers.ie to chat about our new car insurance service as well as the simple ways to reduce the cost of your cover. And listen in for details on how to win two tickets to see Derren Brown's new show in the Gaiety in April.  

In 2022 Ulster Bank and KBC are set to start closing up. This means over 500,000 of you will soon be looking for a new home for your daily banking. So in the latest episode of our podcast Rob and Daragh discuss what to consider when choosing a new current account.

Earlier this month Virgin Media announced that it is to invest €200 million on upgrading its broadband infrastructure to full fibre over the coming three years. Meanwhile, SIRO has announced a further expansion of its fibre broadband network to over 700,000 premises over the coming months. In this podcast we chat to Cian O’Mahony, Head of Operations at SIRO, to talk about the growth in the demand...