Share Sounds. from This is Money related to Personal Finance - Cars

Stock markets around the world saw huge falls this week, but is it a sign of more trouble ahead or just a storm in a teacup? Simon takes a look at what’s behind it all, and why investors should avoid the temptation to start tinkering with their portfolios once the horse has already bolted. His advice is to ignore the voice in your head that says you should get out now to stave off disaster — but also pay attention to its existence. Good news for motorists, as car insurance premiums have started to fall for the first time in two years. Or is it? They still remain at near-record highs, and are up a whopping 48% since 2022. This is Money's Sam Barker discusses why premiums went so high, who has been worst affected, and how to keep costs down. Staying on the topic of insurance, the UK has been gripped by riots in the past week and This is Money has been looking at what your compensation rights are if your home or car gets damaged. Elsewhere, Sam explains the latest tactic broadband firms are using to squeeze cash out of their customers - and asks why the regulator Ofcom appears to be looking the other way. Mortgage rates have been shifting fast this week, and Simon rounds up the latest deals. We also answer a question from a reader who wants to know what to do with his £80,000 redundancy pay-off.

Inflation is easing, food prices are coming down from their peak and the energy price cap dropped last weekend. But you are still paying around 10% more for your groceries now than last year, petrol prices are rising, mortgage rates are still high, and you may end up paying more for your gas and electricity this winter too. But how is that possible? Angharad Carrick, Georgie Frost, Lee Boyce and Helen Crane tackle energy bills and look at who might be paying more in the next three months. And when it comes to water bills, some firms are looking at charging 44% more over the next seven years. Why? Crane on the Case tackles a parking charge issued after someone waited too long in a McDonald’s drive-thru queue. Despite that, Helen managed to get a positive result – but why are so many parking charges being dished out every day, and where is the promised government help to stop it happening? Lee gives you a run through of another busy week in the world of savings and banking. NS&I has pulled its best buy one year fix paying 6.2%; NatWest has a secret top 5.2% easy-access deal; Moneybox is offering the top cash ISA of 5%; and Starling Bank is now offering to pay you for having a current account. It’s also been a hairy week for Metro Bank – but we explain why FSCS has you covered. And finally — the list of the UK's 'perfect' retirement locations has been revealed - and there are some surprising names on it, including the Outer Hebrides. Consumer group Which? has taken retirees' wish-lists for their later-life locations to work out its own grouping of the 12 top places to spend your golden years. But does it tally up to what you think is a perfect retirement location?

The mortgage crunch has stalled the pandemic property boom and sent house prices down, but could they fall 20%? The risk of a severe house price downturn of that magnitude was flagged by Rightmove founder and property market veteran Harry Hill. Hill’s CV includes setting up property giant Rightmove and selling estate agency group Countrywide for £1 billion a year before the 2008 banking crisis. Hill told the The Mail on Sunday and This is Money: 'My view on the housing market is that it's going down in every direction. Transactions are going to go down. Prices are going to go down.’ He added that a bad recession would mean ‘we could see 20% price reductions’. Could house prices fall 20% from here? Why would it happen? How bad would that be? Georgie Frost and Simon Lambert discuss the prospects for the housing market, how the rapid rise in mortgage rates is affecting it and what prospective home movers or first-time buyers should do. Plus, they are joined by a very special guest: Lee Boyce, now Money Mail editor, is back on the programme to discuss the Wooden Spoon award for the worst customer service of the year. Who are the runners and riders, what did they do wrong, and why does Simon nominate a couple of firms that aren’t even on the shortlist? Savings rates have been a rare bit of good new recently and Simon talks through the attraction of small building societies and how some are offering market beating rates, but you might struggle to secure them. And finally, it’s time for a second special guest, John Mayhead of classic car specialist Hagerty, who is joins Simon to discuss the insurer’s Bull List of ten classics it tips to rise in value next year. How do these classic cars get on the list, what makes them ripe for appreciation and what’s a Citroen BX doing rubbing shoulders with a Lamborghini Diablo?

In recent times, private parking firms have come under scrutiny from motoring organisations, the Government… and This is Money. Many motorists will have received a dreaded charge in the post and in some cases, unjustifiably so. If that’s you, it’s time to fight back. Georgie Frost, Simon Lambert and Lee Boyce take a look at whether private parking firms are playing fair. It comes as Lee received a third private parking charge in the post in four years, and for the third time appealed and had it magically cancelled. He explains his case and questions how he was issued the charge despite paying the correct amount and displaying the paid-for ticket in the windscreen. Also, is it fair to remove parking machines and replace them with apps? Halifax has been embroiled in a Twitter storm this week when it comes to pronouns and its bank branches – but what about the move to reduce new build deposits from 10% to 5%? Is it good news for first-time buyers? The energy price cap is set to surge to around £3,000 in October. Is it wise to try and find a fix with your supplier? Also, Simon explains why five FTSE-100 firms have seen their share price fall more than 40% since the start of the year, including Ocado and Royal Mail. And lastly, This is Money business doctor Dave Fishwick answers the question on many small business owner’s lips: how do I pass on price increases without annoying the loyal customer base?

Host Georgie Frost is joined by Assistant Editor Lee Boyce and motoring Editor Rob Hull. It’s the cash and cars edition. Are reports of it’s death greatly exaggerated? If not, are we as a society and our financial institutions ready to go cashless?! Big Brother claims at Lloyds; Aston Martin Gears up for a £5bn float and £48.5m for a Ferrari anyone? Bad luck, that one has just sold – but don’t worry. What about a Lada for the bargain price of 75 grand?!

Welcome to the This is Money Show on Share Radio, brought to you in partnership with NS&I. After its controversial announcement last week Philip Hammond has finally had to U-turn on national insurance hikes in an attempt to win back public trust. Whilst the Budget provoked considerable backlash less publicised has been changes in road tax coming in April which will see some drivers paying as much as seven times more. Meanwhile across the pond the US Fed has raised interest rates with attention now turning to what the Bank of England will do next. Speculating on where all this leaves our finances Georgie Frost is joined by Editor Simon Lambert and Personal Finance Editor Rachel Rickard Straus. Plus is a castle, a Star Wars themed cinema and beer Fridays really what it takes to be named Britain’s best boss? This is Money is presented by Georgie Frost in partnership with NS&I.

Welcome to the This is Money and Share Radio Podcast, brought to you in partnership with NS&I. Dominating the financial headlines this week has been Chancellor Philip Hammond's final Spring Budget. Described by some as a tax raid on the self-employed and small businesses the announcements of hikes in national insurance and dividend tax have come as a surprise to many given previous Conservative election pledges. There has been some good offerings though with a multi-million pound fund put aside for 'disruptive' technologies from robots to driverless cars. Unpicking all the announcements Georgie Frost is joined by Editor Simon Lambert and Consumer Affairs Editor Lee Boyce. Plus how tax rises are also being extended to council tax and insurance premiums. This is Money is presented by Georgie Frost in partnership with NS&I.

Welcome to the This is Money and Share Radio Podcast, brought to you in partnership with NS&I. It’s been a mixed week of results for the banks with HSBC seeing sliding profits whilst Lloyds has undergone something of a comeback with a rebounding share price. Is it fair for HSBC to point the finger at market conditions or does the success of its rivals prove it’s scapegoating? Meanwhile we’re also seeing a divide among savers as the gap between the richest and poorest households grows. Looking through the figures Georgie Frost is joined by Editor Simon Lambert and Consumer Affairs Editor Lee Boyce. Plus we look at the domestic challenges for the UK car industry and find out how to spot a rare coin.

Welcome to the This is Money and Share Radio Podcast, brought to you in partnership with NS&I. It’s housing madness this week as the Government finally unveiled its white paper aimed at fixing Britain’s “broken” housing market. Decisive action or damp squib? We take a closer look at what the proposals will mean and what exactly is going on with property and rental prices, which experts claim could rise at least 20% in the next four years. Unpacking all this Georgie Frost is joined by Editor Simon Lambert and Personal Finance Editor Rachel Rickard Straus. Plus a special guest appearance from Consumer Affairs Editor Lee Boyce to reveal everything he learnt during an inside look at German discounter Aldi. This is Money is presented by Georgie Frost in partnership with NS&I.

Welcome to the This is Money and Share Radio podcast, brought to you in partnership with NS&I. It’s been another Super Thursday for the Bank of England as Mark Carney announced upgraded growth forecasts whilst still clinging doggedly to a rock bottom base rate. So good news or bad news? Despite the Governor’s optimism some are warning of a general slowdown to come which will hit the poorest households hardest, particularly given the lack of people able to save at the moment. Georgie Frost is joined by Editor Simon Lambert and Consumer Affairs Editor Lee Boyce to consider some of new alternative investments available from mini-bonds to a new high street peer to peer lender. Plus we find out where money’s really made with a look inside the Royal Mint. This is Money is presented by Georgie Frost in partnership with NS&I.