Share Sounds related to Personal Finance

Energy bills are going up in January and are expected to rise again in April, with the push for net zero being partly to blame: but could the hated standing charge be on the way out? Also, with many people opting for cash this Christmas, half of us are having trouble paying in notes and coins — should the Government step in? The team also discuss neighbourly disputes over fences, the best way to give money, and Lee Boyce continues to hold onto his premium bonds.

If you’re hosting a Christmas bash this year, it’s never been more important to make sure you’re catering to everyone’s dietary requirements and food preferences – and not serving up something that could result in an allergic reaction. But is food labelling and nutritional information clear enough? New research from the public health organisation, NSF, suggests many of us would like things to be a little easier to understand. Joining Adam Cox to discuss this is Katie Glover – food regulations and trading law expert. https://www.nsf.org/

Dame Julia Hoggett is Chief Executive of the London Stock Exchange, and featured in a half-page interview in The Sunday Times Business last weekend. She is a strong advocate for encouraging personal share ownership, which demonstrates clearly how a sense of responsibility builds from individual ownership: this is also particularly evident in employee share ownership. The correlation between ownership and responsibility at an individual level throughout society needs to be more fully understood and supported by business and politicians. Background music: 'Waiting' by Andrew Langdon

How much spare cash do you have to spend? A new index shows we typically have £836 in disposable income each month. That’s the amount of money you have left over to spend or save after taxes and bills have been paid, according to comprehensive research. Georgie Frost, Simon Lambert and Lee Boyce talk income and ask — does a £100,000 annual salary really not make workers feel wealthy anymore? The annual list of happiest and unhappiest towns to live in Britain has been released, with Slough in Berkshire being labelled the most miserable. Is that a fair tag for any town? Bitcoin topped $100,000 for the first time. It soared in the wake of Donald Trump's election. So, have the crypto evangelists been proved right, can you still make money from bitcoin and what other coins are worth looking into? Lastly, wood stoves are back in the news. What are the rules around them - and are they really a polluting menace?

Adam Cox is joined by Dr. Frances from Stetson & Associates. With VAT charges on private school fees in place from January, leading inclusivity experts are urging the UK government and local authorities to commit funds to meaningful change. With it being Inclusive Schools Week, Dr. Stetson offers her insight and perspective. https://stetsonassociates.com/

House price predictions for next year have started to roll in, so where do the experts think they are headed next? Georgie Frost, Helen Crane and Lee Boyce discuss the property market - and delve into figures that attempt to tackle the tricky question: is it harder to buy a home now versus 50 years ago? And sticking with property, Halifax has launched a highly unusual fixed-rate mortgage — should borrowers be tempted? With the weather turning colder, we talk how to stay warm this winter without breaking the bank and whether it is worth getting a fixed tariff with your energy firm. We reveal the amount you should have saved in your pension in every decade of your life to guarantee a golden retirement — and how much notice you should pay to these formulas. And lastly, Lee reveals his top tips for avoiding the out of contract rip-off trap — and how he's saving more than £400 in the next 12 months by doing so.

Inflation's spell below the Bank of England's 2% target has been brief and the latest CPI figure came in at a higher than expected 2.3%. Meanwhile, Bank of England boss Andrew Bailey has joined the Office of Budget Responsibility in stating that the recent Autumn Budget is likely to lift inflation, as employers face higher costs from national insurance and the rising minimum wage. On the other side of the Atlantic, President-elect Donald Trump is seen as bringing his own inflationary pressure, which could spread from the US to the rest of the world. So what does this mean for interest rates? Are cuts about to stall — and what happens next for borrowers and savers? Georgie Frost, Helen Crane and Simon Lambert, talk inflation, rates, mortgages and savings. The team also look at whether those needing to get a mortgage now should fix for two or five years. Plus, why the row over inheritance tax and farmers is symptomatic of Britain's bad tax system — and Simon's plan for a trade-off on IHT-free land. Crane goes on the case of money refunded for a faulty coffee machine much later to an empty gift voucher that had understandably gone in the bin. And finally, the listener question of the week is up and running, and it's one on sticking it to the man and having enough money to quit work for good.

As winter approaches and heating use increases, it's crucial to raise awareness of the dangers of carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning, otherwise known as the "silent killer". Despite the threat, almost one in three UK households still don’t have a CO detector, putting many at risk. Joining Adam Cox to discuss this is SGN’s Social Impact Programme Lead, Dan Edwards.

Last Wednesday was World Children’s Day – a chance to not only celebrate the youngest members of our society, but also those who dedicate their lives to caring for and educating them. And with the government committing to opening 300 new nurseries in the next 12 months, the industry needs more early year educators. Could that be you? Joining Adam Cox to discuss this is Charlotte Hutchings from Busy Bees Nurseries. And she’s joined by Jazmine Waring who is an early years apprentice.

Gordon Brown and Ruth Kelly set out a comprehensive plan to tackle child poverty with the Child Trust Fund. We've learnt a huge amount from putting it into practice over the past two decades, and we're now ready for a more focused 'Mark 2' which will embody all of the lessons learnt. But will our new Labour Government have the strategic determination to follow their example? Or will it fall to today's philanthropists, walking in the footsteps of people like Andrew Carnegie, to take up the baton? The encouragement to make significant charitable endowments remains intact in inheritance taxation arrangements, and can support 75% of the commitment necessary to deliver a new scheme. Background music: 'Generations Away' by Unicorn Heads Image source: Telegraph Newspapers