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Time is the scarce resource in human lives, and technology in its various forms swallows a lot of it for many of us. When its absorption into our lives becomes almost a habit or an addiction, it can cause us to miss opportunities and it can impact our character and even our identity. Whether it's gaming, social media or other online activity that turns you on, the emotional appeal is generally that instant gratification which pulls us away from experiencing real life and relationships. If you're concerned about being drawn into this trap of gaming and virtual experience, this episode could help you restore balance into your life.

Unemployment hit a 53-year low as Apple, Amazon, and Alphabet delivered their latest earnings reports. Ron Gross and Jason Moser discuss another interest rate hike and a surprising jobs report, Apple's first sales drop since 2019, Guidance overshadowing Amazon's holiday quarter, Starbucks struggling outside the U.S. and the latest from Alphabet, Meta Platforms, Exxon Mobil, and AMD. Then from 19 minutes in, Jason and Ron keep earnings-palooza going and discuss McDonald's ending the fiscal year on a high note, Match Group's disappointing results and layoff announcement, the latest from Qualcomm, Peloton, and Snap, and two stocks on their radar: Kinsale Capital Group and Samsara. Stocks discussed: AAPL, AMZN, GOOG, SBUX, META, XOM, INTC, AMD, MCD, QCOM, PTON, SNAP, MTCH, KNSL, IOT. Host - Chris Hill; Guests - Ron Gross, Jason Moser.

For the first time in a long time, Meta Platforms gave shareholders a reason to smile. Tim Beyers discusses 4th-quarter revenue coming in higher than expected for Meta, that $40 billion share buyback plan, and why AMD is demonstrating not all semiconductor chip companies are alike. Plus, 11 minutes in, how did Planet Fitness get the attention of the Federal Trade Commission? Ricky Mulvey and Sanmeet Deo discuss whether the low-cost gym deserves a spot on your watch list. Stocks discussed: META, INTC, AMD, PLNT. Host - Chris Hill; Guests - Tim Beyers, Sanmeet Deo.

Are we nearly there yet? The Bank of England hiked interest rates again this week, adding 0.5% to take base rate to 4%. That’s a level that it was almost unthinkable we’d reach so quickly a year ago, but rates have gone up hard and fast. The questions now are will base rate stall and when will it come back down again? But while the Bank of England has sent rates up like a rocket, its forecasts show that they will only fall like a feather. Georgie Frost, Tanya Jefferies and Simon Lambert look at how likely those forecasts are to be correct and what this all means for the economy, mortgages, savings and first-time buyers. Also on the show, Tanya explains another potential state pension scandal that she and Steve Webb have uncovered and Steve joins the podcast to talk through it. Sam North, of eToro, gives us a market update and explains why investors have sent stock markets soaring at the start of 2023. The clock is ticking on the tax year and Simon explains why he thinks the next couple of months are vitally important for getting money into an ISA and potentially selling some investments to do so. And finally, do you love your tumble dryer? Many do, but worry they can’t afford to run them. Fear not, help might be at hand.

Russ Mould of A J Bell looks at the MPC's decision to increase rates to 4%, the highest since 2008. Is it doing the right thing? He has crunched the numbers to reveal that the All Share has risen 11.5% during Sunak's 100 days as PM, second only to the rise when Edward Heath entered Number Ten (15.4%) and slightly ahead of Tony Blair (10.1%).

James Cameron-Wilson on the UK box office, up 18% week-on-week. With Avatar 2 still #1, Hindi film Pathaan is #2 while #3 is Gerard Butler thriller Plane, which James found gripping and great fun. Steven Spielberg's semi-autobiographical film The Fabelmans is #4, which James thought playful and funny, with a dark undertone. Chinese film The Wandering Earth 2 makes #9 while James also enjoyed Netflix's Bank of Dave about Dave Fishwick taking on the banking establishment, despite it being cliche-ridden.

It's gadget time with Steve Caplin, who tells Simon Rose about plans to reintroduce genetically-engineered dodos to Mauritius. There's also news of journalists being replaced with AI, music being generated by text and an audio prompt, AI passing the US law exams, how a flashing light can help you learn faster, Google laying off massage therapists, a robot to pick flowers, an app for when your phone battery is dying and why stargazing may soon become a thing of the past.

Political commentator Mike Indian looks at the political lie of the land after Rishi Sunak's first 100 days as Prime Minister. While believing he did the right thing when it came to Nadhim Zahawi, Mike feels that the Prime Minister needs to show more ruthlessness when it comes to his own party. As for the country as a whole, the current batch of strikes simply feed into the picture that nothing in Britain is working as it should.

If you’re currently aged between 43 and 59, start watching the news carefully: the chances are that the Government has you firmly in its sights. Of course there's much talk of getting you back to work, if you're one of the 'economically inactive' following the pandemic — but they also have it in mind to make you wait a couple of years longer before your pension can start. For every downside there is, of course, an upside: but that flows 100% to the Government, since HM Treasury would see a windfall of c. £10 billion pa. Be prepared to roll your sleeves up, unless you can master new technologies! Background music: 'Officer of the Day March' by the United States Marine Band

Those aged between 43 and 54 may have been concerned by rumours this week that the Government is planning to increase the state pension age to 68 much sooner than planned. Officially, the rise to 68 is set to happen between 2044 and 2046, but ministers allegedly want to bring forward the change to 2035 with the policy being floated for inclusion in the March Budget. It comes as warnings have been sounded that those retiring in future decades will face a gap between the income that pension savings and the state pension will provide, and what they need to live even a moderate retirement. This is Money's pensions and investment editor, Tanya Jefferies, deputy editor Helen Crane and host Georgie Frost discuss how likely this is to actually happen - and what pension savers could do to prepare for it. We also look at mortgage rates which, having gone from all-time lows to unexpected highs in the last year and a half, could now be edging down past the 4% mark. Why have a raft of high street lenders cut their rates in recent days, and will they simply hike them back up again if the Bank of England decides to increase the base rate again next week? And what should borrowers in the unenviable position of needing to remortgage at the moment be factoring in when they make their decision? Another group set to be impacted by next week's base rate decision are savers. With NS&I having increased the interest rate on its ever-popular Premium Bonds from 1% to 3.15% in the space of a year, is that now the best place to keep your rainy day fund? EToro's Sam North also lets us know why next week is going to be a big one for the investment market. Helen gives us the lowdown on which companies are doing right by their customers, and which are not. Once renowned for its tip top service (free coffee, anyone?) John Lewis has taken a battering in Money Mail's wooden spoon awards - but it also placed high on a separate survey of the firms that customers liked best. So what is going on? Finally, we dish out some advice on how to spot bargains in charity shops, haggle down prices at car boot sales and then make money selling things on.