Feel Better About Money

Feel Better About Money

By The TimesBusiness
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Feel Better About Money episodes

  • How to be budget ready - again!

    The budget is later than usual this year - November 26th -- so there's more time for speculation on what the budget might bring. Holly and her experts look at the possibilities, but is it a good idea to try and pre-empt what can be unpredictable! And what happens if you make big decisions about your finances, only to find the Treasury doesn't make the changes you've been expecting after all?


    For advice on how to keep calm this Autumn, Holly turns to Laura Suter, director of personal finance at AJ Bell, and Nimesh Shah, CEO at business advisory firm Blick Rothenberg. 


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    41 min
  • How to beat the Stone-Age you!
    Why does spending right now, too often beat planning for retirement later? Why do financial losses sting more than financial wins? And what tiny tweaks can make your brain work with you, and not against you? Holly tries to find the answers with finance coach, Laura Ann Moore, and Ben Kumar - from the investment firm 7IM. And we discover just 'behavioural economics' is - listen and feel (a little bit) wiser!

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    36 min
  • Money milestones before you are 30!
    We are told that by the time you hit 30, you’re 'supposed' to have it all figured out - savings, investments, maybe even a first home. But for many of us, financial milestones feel harder than ever to reach. So what money goals actually matter in your 20s? Holly Mead is joined by financial planner Lisa Conway Hughes to break down the practical money moves that make the biggest difference. Plus, we hear from someone on a mission to tick off 30 goals before turning 30, or as life expectancy lengthens should we just chill a little?

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    34 min
  • Credit scores: fact vs fiction
    Many of us will have heard the horror stories about people being refused a mortgage or a car loan because they’ve unknowingly racked up a poor credit rating. But how do these mysterious records of what we borrow, pay back and spend really work? Can an unpaid mobile phone bill really resurface in your credit history and scupper you just when you’re trying to get the finance together to buy your first home? Holly Mead is joined by Sarah Williams of online advice blog Debt Camel to dispel some of the myths — and to explain ways to improve your credit score.

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    37 min
  • Premium Bonds prize rate cuts - are they still worth it?

    Premium Bonds have had their prize rate cut again the third time this year. With 24 million people holding £130bn in them, are they still Britain’s favourite savings product, or just ‘lottery-lite’? Holly Mead is joined by The Times’s George Nixon, financial planner Rosie Hooper, and NS&I’s Andrew Westhead to ask why it's happening and whether Premium Bonds still deliver more than just excitement!


    Image: Getty

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    36 min
  • Are green home upgrades worth it?
    From solar panels to heat pumps, we’re told eco home upgrades will slash our bills and save the planet – but do they really add up? Holly Mead is joined by The Times’ Melissa York and Octopus Energy’s Nigel Banks to explore which improvements deliver real savings, how you can earn money from your energy, and why the benefits are sometimes about more than just pounds and pence.

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    33 min
  • The return of 100% mortgages - should you get one?
    100% mortgages are back, but is it a financial fix or a gamble? Following Chancellor Rachel Reeves’ Mansion House speech, Holly Mead and Sarah Tucker from The Mortgage Mum, break down what the proposed mortgage reforms could mean for first-time buyers. With permanent 95% mortgage deals and new 100% mortgages making a comeback, are we seeing real help for generation rent - or are we risking a return to 2008-style lending? 

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    33 min
  • Last minute holidays: Bargain or bust?

    Is the last minute holiday deal dead? Prices are up, planes are full, and algorithms are setting fares. So how do you actually save money if you’re booking a getaway at short notice? Holly Mead is joined by The Times travel editor Cathy Adams to unpack summer travel hacks - which destinations offer the best value? Is the package holiday always a good deal? And is it really possible to outsmart dynamic pricing?


    Guest: Cathy Adams, Travel Editor, The Times.

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    33 min
  • The FIRE paradox (Financial Independence Retire Early)

    Fired up to retire early? You’ll need more than just a dream. Holly is joined by financial planner Kirsty Stone to unpack what's known as the FIRE movement - short for Financial Independence, Retire Early - and whether it's a realistic path to freedom or just a social media fantasy. Does early retirement bring happiness?


    Guest: Kirsty Stone, Chartered Financial Planner, The Private Office.

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    40 min
  • Can you afford to have a baby?

    Thinking about starting a family? You might want to check your finances first. Holly Mead is joined by family finance expert Matilda Long to break down the real cost of raising a child in 2025, from prams and formula to the spiralling price of childcare. They dig into the numbers, explore how government support stacks up, and share practical tips on budgeting, benefits, and making smart spending decisions as a parent.


    Guest: Matilda Long, Nous.

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    34 min

About Feel Better About Money

From the publisher's feed

A weekly podcast for those who want to understand money better. A podcast from The Times and Sunday Times about what is possible.



Presented by Holly Mead, an expert in…