Money Box

Money Box episodes:

• 05.04.2024

  National Insurance Cut and Council Tax Debt

  National Insurance - a tax millions of working age people pay on their wages - is being cut this weekend, for the second time this year. The main rate of National Insurance has now fallen by a third -...

  
• 05.01.2024

  Money Box Live: Resenting Renting?

  April is a big month for our finances, some bills go up and one or two even come down. A big relief for many households will be the that energy prices are dropping, but one bill that is still...

  
• 04.27.2024

  April Changes: National Living Wage, ISAs and Energy

  April brings many changes for our money, and this programme has all you need to know. From Monday 1st, there will be higher pay for people on the various minimum wages. For the first time 21 and 22 year olds...

  
• 04.24.2024

  Money Box Live: How Do Wills Work?

  More than half of adults don't have a Will according to new research from insurance company Canada Life. The main reason people say they haven't sorted one is that they don't think they have enough money to leave behind. ...

  
• 04.20.2024

  Pension Freedoms and Flee Funds

  This week marks 10 years since a landmark shift in the way we could all use our pensions. Back in the Spring of 2014 the then Chancellor George Osborne announced plans for new freedoms, allowing people over the age...

  
• 04.17.2024

  Money Box Live: Mortgages and Debt

  Mortgage customers face rising rates, vanishing deals and latest figures have shown more people are struggling to keep up with their repayments. Mortgage arrears, hit a seven-year high in the final quarter of 2023. So what can...

  
• 04.13.2024

  Crypto-Related Fraud and Mortgage Arrears

  The number of people falling victim to fraud involving cryptocurrency has more than doubled between 2020 and 2023 according to Action Fraud. The value of such fraud has also increased. Our reporter Dan Whitworth has met one such victim, an...

  
• 04.10.2024

  Money Box Live: childcare

  New arrangements for childcare payments come into force in April in England. How will the new arrangements affect parents? Are they going to be better or worse off? The Chancellor Jeremy Hunt announced extended support for parents of pre-school children...

  
• 04.06.2024

  Frozen Tax Thresholds and Bailiffs

  The Chancellor has delivered his Spring Budget for 2024 announcing a 2p National Insurance cut for millions of working people under the age of 66. Jeremy Hunt says this will save the average worker £450 a year. But, analysis...

  
• 04.03.2024

  Money Box Live: Budget Special

  As Chancellor Jeremy Hunt presents his Spring Budget, Money Box Live sifts through the details - and the impact on all our finances. Expectations included a 2p cut in National Insurance contributions but will that look like on your payslip?...

  
• 03.30.2024

  The Future of Money and Universal Credit

  Money Box gets a special look at a new exhibition at the Bank of England Museum about the future of money. Paul Lewis picks up a gold bar, sees the new King Charles money, and finds out more about...

  
• 03.27.2024

  Hannah and Seagull: Learning Money

  How do schools teach children and teenagers about money? Learning about money is part of the curriculum but more than three-quarters of teachers say young people are leaving school without the money skills they need for adulthood. We’re going...

  
• 03.23.2024

  Energy Debt and Annuities

  As many as two million of the poorest households have seen the amount they owe their energy suppliers double over the past year. This new analysis of debt figures has been given to Money Box by the consultancy firm Baringa....

  
• 03.20.2024

  Money Box Live: Co-parenting Finances

  There are approximately four million children in Great Britain whose parents are separated. When couples break up they cut their finances apart, but for parents there's that ongoing relationship that comes with supporting those children - emotionally but also financially....

  
• 03.16.2024

  Probate Delays and Pension Charges

  When someone dies and leaves a property in their own name, or has significant savings or investments, the executors must apply for probate - a legal document which gives them the right to deal with the dead person's estate and...

  
• 03.13.2024

  Money Box Live: When Can You Retire?

  When do you think you'll be able to retire? Perhaps you can't wait to pick up your last pay check or maybe you love your job so much you want to work for the rest of your life. For those...

  
• 03.09.2024

  Citizens Advice Closure and Investment Platforms

  Dozens of Citizens Advice centres are at risk of closing because local councils which support them are running out of money. That warning came this week by the senior Labour MP Clive Betts in an exclusive interview with Money Box....

  
• 03.06.2024

  Money Box Live: Are Savers Getting a Good Deal?

  Are savers getting a good return on their cash? Although times are tight, we are actually saving slightly more according to the Bank of England. In December, we collectively saved £6bn. But, more than a trillion pounds is sitting...

  
• 03.02.2024

  Bereavement Support Deadline and Warm Home Discount

  Around twelve thousand unmarried parents with dependent children whose partner has died have just a few days to claim their share of an estimated £175 million in bereavement benefits. The figures came from Freedom of Information Requests to the Department...

  
• 02.28.2024

  Money Box Live: How to Start a Business

  Are you thinking of turning your 'side hustle' into a full time job? Perhaps you want to take the plunge but don't know your sole trader from your limited company. This Money Box Live is a toolkit for anyone planning...

  
• 02.24.2024

  Fraud Victims Treasury Meeting and Funeral Scams

  Campaigners for victims of pension and investment fraud met with the Treasury this week. We'll hear from the Conservative MP who is the co-chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Investment Fraud, Caroline Nokes, who was at that meeting....

  
• 02.21.2024

  Money Box Live: What's going on with Energy Bills?

  How are you dealing with energy costs this winter? Money Box Live has heard some people are skipping meals whilst others in full time employment are turning to warm banks and food hubs to cut costs. The energy price cap,...

  
• 02.17.2024

  Pension Scams & HMRC and Fuel Vouchers

  Some people who have been defrauded out of some or all of their pension fund are now being chased by HM Revenue & Customs for tax on money they no longer have. They were persuaded by advisers to cash in...

  
• 02.14.2024

  Money Box Live: Flooding and Insurance

  Flooding damages property, lives and can be incredibly financially damaging as well. There was £352 million pounds in insurance claims for damaged homes following storms Babet, Ciaran and Debi at the end of last year according to the Association of...

  
• 02.10.2024

  Fake Job Offers and Pension Pots

  New figures given to Money Box show there has been a big increase in the amount of money being stolen through fake text messages offering people jobs. These recruitment scams are usually sent via text or WhatsApp and offer high...

  
• 02.07.2024

  Money Box Live: The Childcare Challenge

  The price of nursery can be more than a mortgage. In fact, to send a two-year-old to nursery for 50 hours a week, allowing you to work full time, can set you back more than £14,000 a year according to...

  
• 02.03.2024

  National Insurance Cut and Fraud Refunds

  National Insurance will be cut for millions workers from today. It'll be cut from 12% to 10% - the lowest main rate for more than twenty years. The government says this cut will save an employee on average earnings...

  
• 01.31.2024

  Money Box Live: Financial Resolutions

  It can feel like new year, new you, with so much potential for change and improvement, but then reality can kick in. Around 1 in 3 of us will have made a financial resolution this year, but according...

  
• 01.24.2024

  Money Box Live: Survival Guide

  Are you putting down the mince pies and opening your bank statements? Well, you're in the right place as we're dedicating some time to the kinds of money topics that come up between Christmas and New Year.  Perhaps you...

  
• 01.20.2024

  Scottish Budget, Core Maths and Christmas Winners

  Higher earners in Scotland are to pay more income tax from April. That was one of the headlines from the Scottish government in its budget on Tuesday. We'll discuss that change and more with Professor Mairi Spowage, director of the...

  
• 01.17.2024

  Money Box Live: The Rising Cost of Rent

  A typical rental property gets 25 enquires from people who want to view it, according to the property listings site Rightmove. That high demand also comes alongside high prices. The estate agents Hamptons says tenants have been hit...

  
• 01.13.2024

  Inflation, Gift Cards and Energy Deals

  The Office for National Statistics has published the first of a new quarterly set of figures designed to reflect how inflation is experienced by households. They are called the Household Costs Indices and include things like mortgage costs, interest and...

  
• 01.10.2024

  Money Box Live: Christmas Spending and Scams

  This week we're tackling the cost of the festive season and looking at how to avoid scams. The cost of Christmas is up almost a quarter over the last three years according to the The Centre for Economics and...

  
• 01.06.2024

  Teenage Scam Ads and Mortgage Overpayments

  Teenagers are being bombarded on social media with promotions for financial products they might not understand and that are usually too risky or dangerous for them to invest in. The MP Robin Walker, who chairs the Commons Education Select...

  
• 01.03.2024

  Money Box Live: Banking

  This is a transformative time for banking. The last decade has seen an incredibly fast-paced increase in the use of technology and also a rapid decrease in the use of cash. High Street banks, where most of...

  
• 12.30.2023

  Cyber-Attack Hits Home Sales and Charity Bank Accounts

  Property buyers have said their home completions are being left in limbo after a company providing IT services to law firms was hit by a cyber incident. Money Box has found some of the UK's largest lenders have begun...

  
• 12.27.2023

  Money Box Live: Power of Attorney

  This week on Money Box Live we're talking about Power of Attorney. What it means, who needs one and some of the pros and pitfalls. Presenter and Strictly Come Dancing star, Angela Rippon shares her experiences with the programme and...

  
• 12.23.2023

  Tax Cuts, Housing Costs and Paying at the Pump

  We'll take a closer look at what the Autumn Statement means for your personal finances. On Wednesday the Chancellor, Jeremy Hunt, made announcements about tax, pensions and benefits. With his top takeaways, Paul Lewis talks tax cuts and the...

  
• 12.20.2023

  Money Box Live: Autumn Statement Special

  The Chancellor, Jeremy Hunt has opened the red briefcase once again to deliver the Autumn Statement in the Commons. But what does it mean for you and your money? Felicity Hannah will be looking at how today's announcements...

  
• 12.16.2023

  QR Code Scams and Bank Account Access

  The number of reported scams involving QR codes has nearly quadrupled in less than three years according to figures seen by Money Box. The data was revealed by City of London Police and gathered from reports made to Action Fraud....

  
• 12.13.2023

  Money Box Live: How to Save for Children

  Most people would like to save for their children but it's not always straightforward. There are questions about the best accounts, about how much you can afford - and about what those children might decide to spend the money on...

  
• 12.09.2023

  Help for people in mortgage arrears and deferring your state pension.

  As the number of homeowners behind on their mortgage jumps we look at a scheme in Wales trying to help people stay in their homes. Also on the programme we speak to experts who weigh up the pros and cons...

  
• 12.06.2023

  Money Box Live: Love and Money

  This week we are talking all things love and money and what co-habiting, marriage and divorce mean for your finances. Do you split the bills evenly or have a complicated spreadsheet to work out who pays what? It...

  
• 12.02.2023

  Fraud Refunds Report and Savings Tax

  For the first time we know the record of individual banks on reimbursing victims of fraud. The Payment Systems Regulator published figures this week which show, bank by bank, what proportion of the victims were reimbursed and what proportion of...

  
• 11.29.2023

  Lancaster Live: Can You Afford Your Home?

  This week the team is live at a community centre in Lancaster to look at all things housing. It's one of the biggest financial stories of the year. Rising interest rates led to hundreds of mortgage deals being pulled...

  
• 11.25.2023

  Loan Sharks and Car Insurance

  The official body which tackles loan sharks tells Money Box that for the first time in its almost 20 year history it is seeing people turn to loan sharks to pay for essentials like food and fuel. The England Illegal...

  
• 11.22.2023

  Money Box Live: Fighting Back Against Fraud

  More than £500m was stolen by fraudsters in the first half of 2023, according to figures from UK Finance. This is less than the same period in 2022, but Authorised Push Payment (APP) scams, where people are tricked into transferring...

  
• 11.18.2023

  £1.6m fraud investigation and Help to Buy

  We investigate the case of Kent Brushes, a hairbrush company founded in 1777, which has had £1.6m stolen by thieves. The money was transferred in 40 separate transactions, all to new payees, in less than 20 minutes. Dan Whitworth...

  
• 11.15.2023

  Money Box Live: Digital Divide

  Just how much does technology impact your finances? Do you search for the best deals on your laptop or phone? Perhaps you keep track of your money through online banking. As many as 40% of people in the UK...

  
• 11.11.2023

  Energy debt and Pension Withdrawals

  This week, the energy watchdog Ofgem released data showing energy debts reached £2.6 billion between April and June. It says the rise in debt was due to both the increase in wholesale energy prices and wider cost of living...