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Premium Bonds are probably Britain’s best loving savings product but are they worth holding? The savings lottery delivers 100% government-backed protection, a theoretical 1% return – dependent on luck – and relatively easy access to your cash. But a new report this week highlighted just how unlikely people are to win big prizes. In fact, unless you have a sizeable amount in bonds, you should expect a long wait for anything over £25. But does the study stack up? What about all the readers telling us they’ve won lots? And does it matter that you’d have to wait ages to win £50 or more – or are those uninspiring regular £25 prizes a much more useful source of returns? Georgie Frost, Adrian Lowery and Simon Lambert dig into Premium Bonds, looking at the odds, the study on big prizes, what our readers have told us, and also how many people hold. Plus, interest rate rise chatter has stepped up a gear this week. Is a hike really imminent? Also under discussion: are the energy saving measures you can take to try to cut your bills, as the price spike sends more providers bust and threatens household finances? As Meghan and Harry get the ethical invest bug, we a look at ESG, greenwashing and how to invest to make an environmental impact. And finally, the topsy-turvy Covid world has thrown a new curveball: one-year-old used cars are now more expensive than brand new ones. How does that work? The team try to explain and reveal the used cars rising in value the most.

Adam Cox is joined by Amy Smith and Jodie Philips, from Apricot Learning Online, to discuss what some of the more challenging areas of online learning have been for students and how this disconnect may continue when children go back to the classroom. They look at the type of students continued online learning may be beneficial for and how Apricot Learning Online plays into the conversation.

Adam Cox is joined by WEALTH at Work Director, Jonathan Watts-Lay, to discuss new research from WEALTH at Work which shows how the COVID-19 pandemic has changed over 50's retirement plans. They look at what workers can do if they're struggling with finances, and Jonathan gives tips on what Brits can do to save more.

What's your idea of wealth? The ability to over-indulge, or to have an impact on the world? Does it estrange or embarrass you, or empower you to make a difference? Adam Cox explores this complex web of attitudes in his introduction to hypnotic wealth, and shows how generosity can dispel negative reactions.

What do surprisingly good retail sales in September indicate for holiday shopping? Will Google’s new Pixel phone be a hit? Which major retailer could be the next to drop tobacco products? Are we in for a record-setting Halloween? Maria Gallagher and Jason Moser answer those questions, analyze the latest from Domino’s Pizza, Virgin Galactic, Shopify, Microsoft, Oracle, Restaurant Brands International, and share two stocks on their radar: Zillow Group and Marvell Technology.

Foolish analysts share the stock that taught them their biggest investing lesson. Bro interviews saving for college expert Mark Kantrowitz about… well, saving for college. And we answer your questions about options for rolling over your old 401k.

James Cameron-Wilson looks at the UK box office chart, still dominated by A Time To Die, now the most successful Bond film ever. His heart sinks at the advent of The Addams Family 2 but admires Antoine Fuqua's The Guilty with Jake Gyllenhaal on Netflix and the Polish-Irish drama I Never Cry. And, taking a trip down memory lane, he revisits the 1961 film Whistle Down the Wind with Hayley Mills, the first movie to be directed by Bryan Forbes.

Steve Caplin, Share Radio's technology editor, on William Shatner's brief trip into space, expressing disappointment that we didn't all wear monkey masks. With news that Prince Charles's Aston Martin runs on cheese whey, he hopes he drives "caerphilly". There's news of Sky Glass, ending satellite dishes, a lost Picasso palimpsest revealed, IKEA's flat-pack houses, a clever system for recharging e-bikes, Facebook's robot for spinning fibre cables and an app for those who are afraid of spiders.

Russ Mould, Investment Director of A J Bell, states the case for us heading into a period of inflation, deflation and stagflation. But which will it be? Cautioning that while it might be too early to tell for sure, investors should not expect more of what we've had for the past decade or so. Russ gives some guides to indicators investors should keep an eye on. He also reminds investors that it is always sensible to have some cash in hand - just in case.

Political commentator Mike Indian discusses the reported plans to amend the Northern Ireland Protocol and considers whether they could solve the problem. He reviews Boris Johnson's party conference speech ("brief and insubstantial") and wonders where the strategic direction of the government is. He looks forward to the Chancellor's autumn Budget ahead of what might be a winter of discontent. And in the light of the waiting list of people in England waiting for hospital treatment growing to 5.7m, he ponders where the plan is to ameliorate the situtation.