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 joins the podcast to explain in detail how sinking funds can help people manage their finances more effectively, help create a buffer for those hefty energy bills and make spending on yourself a guilt-free experience.

Presented by Aideen Finnegan.
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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 expenses from work; the procrastination ends here.

Presented by Aideen Finnegan.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 earlier episode of Better with Money) In today’s episode Steph shares the best tips and tricks she’s learned over the years; from getting the best price on flights and accommodation to alternative family breaks to organising a holiday in south east Asia for the same price as a week on a Greek island. You'll be submitting your annual leave request by the time you get to the end of this episode.

Better with Money is for information purposes only and does not constitute advice.

Presented by Aideen Finnegan.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 first and clear high-interest debt, then consider gold only as a small diversifier within a broader portfolio, warning against market timing and knee-jerk selling. He compares buying physical gold (storage/insurance costs and risks) versus indirect exposure via funds or ETFs that track gold’s price, which can be bought in small amounts via investing apps. Chupi speaks about gold through the lens of the jewellery industry, which accounts for up to half of global gold demand. She joins the podcast as her company gets ready to announce its B Corp certification - which recognises high standards of social and environmental performance, accountability, and transparency.

Better with Money is for information purposes only and does not constitute financial advice.

Presented by Aideen Finnegan. Produced by Declan Conlon and Aideen Finnegan
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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 CEO of the Trinity Student Managed Fund Senan Delargy about how to get started today with as little as €1 (you can do it via apps like Revolut or Davy Select) or take on less of the work by choosing life-wrapped funds where providers handle the taxes but charge higher fees.

Fiona breaks down the jargon and tax implications in plain English (33% capital gains tax on shares with a €1,270 annual allowance, 38% exit tax on funds, deemed disposal every eight years, and possible dividend withholding tax, alongside advisor allocation rates.) There are practical tips from Trinity undergrad Senan - who's investing journey began during Fresher's Week - like starting with products you know and basic stock analysis ideas.

This podcast is for information purposes only and does not constitute financial advice. Sure, tis a minefield, how could it!?

Presented by Aideen Finnegan. Produced by Declan Conlon and Aideen Finnegan.

The first of Fiona Reddan's eight week series on how to invest begins today in The Irish Times. Go to irishtimes.com/subscribe so you don't miss any.

You can listen back to our introduction to investing with @MrsSmartMoneyHQ Kel Galavan and our pensions deep dive with Irish Times deputy business editor Dominic Coyle.
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