This is Money Podcast

There were a number of ways Kemi Badenoch could have tackled the much-hated issue of inheritance tax.
The Tory leader could have promised to cut the rate, remove gifting allowances from the deep freeze, raise thresholds, or stop pensions being pulled into the net.
Instead, she decide to announce family homes would be completely exempt under a Conservative government... and couples would still get to give away £1million tax-free on top of that.
Was that a good idea, or has Kemi just promised to make a bad tax even more complicated?
On this week's podcast Georgie Frost and Simon Lambert talk inheritance tax and as well as looking at Kemi's plan they discuss what you need to do to beat IHT now.
Plus, the Lifetime Isa is on the way out but savers are still being stung with penalties. Will the new first-time buyer Isa be an improvement.
In the stock market story of the week, Simon reveals why Tesco says it will be a less boozy Christmas.
We explain how to get a free will and what you should consider putting in it.
And finally, the new electric Jaguar has finally been revealed. It's very big, very fast and £120,000 - would you want one?

01:07 – Kemi Badenoch’s inheritance tax plans
08:25 – What can you do now to reduce an inheritance tax bill?
12:13 – The £3,000 gifting allowance and other gift exemptions
17:06 – Gifting out of surplus income
21:53 – Lifetime ISA penalties and the new First Time Buyer ISA
29:41 – Stock Market Story of the Week: Tesco, GLP-1s and alcohol
32:30 – Free Wills Month: why you need a will and how to get one free
38:39 – Jaguar’s £120,000 electric gamble
46:00 – Stat of the Week: families £2,900 worse off
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Hosts: Georgie Frost, Simon Lambert, Lee Boyce, Helen Crane
Producer: Georgie Frost
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The triple lock's days appear to be numbered. The Prime Minister Andy Burnham revealed bold plans to ditch the pension guarantee from 2030 and replace it with what has been dubbed a 'double lock' at the Labour party conference this week.

Is it the right move? Georgie Frost, Lee Boyce and Helen Crane discuss on this week's This is Money Podcast.

Elsewhere, Angela Rayner announced that councils could soon be allowed to take over empty buy-to-let properties, if they had been vacant for as little as six months. Helen explains EDMOs and who could be stung.

Fancy working for yourself? We reveal the ten most in-demand self-employed roles... plus what to do if you find out a colleague is being paid a lot more than you for doing something similar.

Finally, a new vape tax comes into force this week. What's changing, and will it really encourage people to kick the habit?

01:17 – Is the triple lock on the way out?
19:21 – State Pension myths busted
22:50 – Could councils take over empty homes?
30:00 – The most in-demand self-employed jobs
34:53 – My colleague earns £20,000 more than me – what can I do?
39:52 – The new vape tax: how much will it cost?
45:17 – Lee’s tip of the week
Follow us on Instagram @dmgnewmedia.
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Email us hello@dmgmedia.co.uk
Text us 020 7938 6000.

Hosts: Georgie Frost, Simon Lambert, Lee Boyce, Helen Crane
Producer: Georgie Frost
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Could the personal allowance be raised to £15,570 in the Budget? That's the off the wall idea that emerged this week as a way of Labour nudging ahead if Andy Burnham called an early election.
The podcast team discuss that and Simon's idea for how you could start to reform the tax system.

Time stamps

00:06 – Coming up: personal allowances, energy bills, buy-to-let and working from home
02:01 – Could the personal allowance rise to £15,570?
12:13 – How could Britain fix its tax system?
18:52 – Why are UK energy bills so high?
26:17 – Stock market story of the week: Airtel Money’s London listing
27:47 – Can landlords still make money from buy-to-let?
30:47 – Airbnb cameras: what are the rules?
35:55 – Working from home: is it time to get back to the office?
45:45 – Simon’s stat of the week: the rising cost of diesel
Follow us on Instagram @dmgnewmedia.
Follow us on TikTok @dmgnewmedia
Follow us on X @dmgnewmedia
Email us hello@dmgmedia.co.uk
Text us 020 7938 6000.

Hosts: Georgie Frost, Simon Lambert, Lee Boyce, Helen Crane
Producer: Georgie Frost
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Bank of England held the base rate again on Thursday but mortgage rates have soared this week.
Major lenders have made a wave of hikes and there are warnings that more are on the way, so what's going on?
Is this just another temporary spike as the mortgage market throws one of the wobblies we've seen a number of times in recent years or serious bad news, with rates set to stick higher?
On this week's podcast, Georgie Frost, Lee Boyce and Simon Lambert discuss interest rates, what this could cost people and what you can do if you need to remortgage.
Plus, what does this all mean for gilts and the Budget and did the Bank of England quietly make a decision that could make things materially better?
With more investors buying gilts direct, should you take advantage of the higher rates on offer and how do you invest in UK government bonds?
Or should you choose a fixed rate savings account at 5.2 per cent instead.
A This is Money reader question highlights the worst inheritance tax trap that lies at £2million.
And finally, would you do a Rokos and move to Greece – and other than the weather what are the attractions?

Helpful links
To check the best mortgage rates you could apply for go to www.thisismoney.co.uk/mortgage-finder
To check the best savings rates go to www.thisismoney.co.uk/save
Read Joanne Hart's guide to investing in gilts

TIME STAMPS

00:00 Welcome to the podcast
00:52 Interest rates held – so why are mortgages getting more expensive?
03:30 Mortgage rates are rising again: how bad could it get?
06:22 From 0.99% to 4.88%: the remortgage shock facing borrowers
10:57 Savings rates are back above 5% – should you lock in?
18:05 Five-year fix or invest instead?
19:43 Gilts 101: what are government bonds and how do they work?
24:24 Why are gilt yields so high – and how do they compare with savings?
27:18 How do you actually buy gilts?
29:59 Inheritance tax: could a £2m estate lose the home allowance?
33:07 Pensions and inheritance tax: what changes from April 2027?
36:02 The inheritance tax trap that could produce eye-watering tax rates
39:48 Why are wealthy Britons moving to Greece?
41:59 Greece's tax breaks – and who can benefit
42:08 Thinking of moving to Greece? What you need to consider
47:20 Seven energy deals that could beat the price cap rise
48:04 That's all for this week
Follow us on Instagram @dmgnewmedia.
Follow us on TikTok @dmgnewmedia
Follow us on X @dmgnewmedia
Email us hello@dmgmedia.co.uk
Text us 020 7938 6000.

Hosts: Georgie Frost, Simon Lambert, Lee Boyce, Helen Crane
Producer: Georgie Frost
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Retiring early, making your time your own and sticking it to the man is something many of us will have dreamed of.
But what would it take you to get there and how much would you need to start investing now depending on your age and when you want to kick back?
On this episode of the This is Money Podcast, Georgie Frost, Lee Boyce and Simon Lambert look at the early retirement dream. Is it realistic, what do you gain and what do you give up, and why is it vitally important for some to use an Isa as well as a pension?
One thing hampering many of our saving efforts is the cost of living and now inflation warnings are coming thick and fast again. How dire are the predictions, how likely are they to come true, what does it mean for the rest of your finances – and what’s the cost of a weekly shop got to do with things?
Plus, the Renters’ Rights Act is about to deliver a landlord register but is that a good idea or more red tape.
And finally, trading cards are worth big money and catching the attention at the moment, so how did Lee become an accidental collector?
Follow us on Instagram @dmgnewmedia.
Follow us on TikTok @dmgnewmedia
Follow us on X @dmgnewmedia
Email us hello@dmgmedia.co.uk
Text us 020 7938 6000.

Hosts: Georgie Frost, Simon Lambert, Lee Boyce, Helen Crane
Producer: Georgie Frost
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.