Podcast
The Martin Lewis Podcast
Hosted by BBC Radio 5 Live · EN
Martin Lewis answers your financial questions, offering valuable money-saving tips.
24episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
Question Time: Can AI improve my finances? Could clearing our mortgage hurt our credit score? Old paperwork boosted my pension!
3d ago00:45:58Tap to summarizeIn our Question Time podcast, Martin Lewis gives you answers on anything and everything, including: can I use AI to improve my finances, and if so, what’s the best and safest way? We’re in our 60s, is it better to not pay off the remainder of our small mortgage? Will a bit of fiddling give us Section 75 credit card protection on our new windows? Am I wrong to use Amex at small retailers? We have a success where keeping old paperwork, as Martin suggested on the podcast, boosted our caller’s pension by 20%! Plus, you ask Martin what products he wouldn’t be able to live without if he had to spend less. If you want to ask Martin a question, you now can! His Question Time podcast lets you ask Martin absolutely anything and everything (within reason!). So, if you’ve always wanted to know what his second favourite podcast is, how he feels about films that run for longer than three hours, or have a very complicated question about your finances, email it to MartinLewisPodcast@bbc.co.uk.
Transcribe →What is it you just don’t get about money? Beginners guide to pensions, energy, credit cards, return rights and far more
1w ago01:06:29Tap to summarizePart two of our ‘I don’t get money’ podcasts. Martin explains your consumer rights when returning purchases, including what protection you have when goods are faulty, bought online, or simply not what you expected. He also guides listeners through the practicalities of starting to draw from a pension, covering the key decisions retirees face and common mistakes to avoid. Credit card borrowers ask about balance transfer deals, with Martin discussing when they can save money, what fees to watch out for, and how to use them effectively to tackle existing debt. The podcast also delves into several important later-life financial topics. Martin answers questions on inheritance tax, clarifying who may be affected and the rules families should be aware of, while also explaining the importance of setting up a Lasting Power of Attorney before it becomes urgently needed. With savings rates remaining a key concern, Martin discusses when interest earned on savings could become taxable, helping listeners understand allowances. He also examines the latest concerns around energy prices, what households should be prepared for. Plus, Martin looks at the changing role of cash in everyday spending. Finally, he highlights social tariffs for broadband, explaining how eligible households could significantly reduce their internet bills and how to check whether they qualify.If you want to ask Martin a question, you now can! His Question Time podcast lets you ask Martin absolutely anything and everything (within reason!). So, if you’ve always wanted to know why he speaks so quickly, if he organises his wardrobe by colour or garment type, or have a very complicated question about your finances, email it to MartinLewisPodcast@bbc.co.uk.
Transcribe →Question Time: What money mistakes do married couples make? Can we afford to upsize? How do you repay two student loans?
1w ago00:52:18Tap to summarizeIn our Question Time podcast, Martin Lewis gives you answers on anything and everything, including: what are the financial benefits of marriage? We want to upsize to a bigger house; how do we know if we can we afford the bills? How do I deal with unfairness when investing for my children of different ages? We have a success, where our caller switched bank but was able to keep their linked regular saver. There’s also an update to the “which student loan do I pay back first?” question from last week, and Martin’s discovered a real problem with the answer! Plus, if Martin could go back in time, what event would he choose to go to, and why? If you want to ask Martin a question, you now can! His Question Time podcast lets you ask Martin absolutely anything and everything (within reason!). So, if you’ve always wanted to know if he’s green-fingered, how many books he’s read this year, or have a very complicated question about your finances, email it to MartinLewisPodcast@bbc.co.uk.
Transcribe →“I Don’t Get Money!” Back-to-basics special on pensions, savings, car insurance, energy and more
2w ago00:40:50Tap to summarizeIn this special I Don’t Get Money edition of The Martin Lewis Podcast, Martin goes right back to basics, tackling the financial concepts listeners have always found confusing but were perhaps too embarrassed to ask about.From understanding exactly how pensions work and what an energy ‘unit’ actually is when it appears on your bill, to unpicking the difference between saving and investing (and whether investing is really just a form of gambling), Martin breaks down the jargon and explains the fundamentals in plain English.Along the way, he answers listeners’ questions on why Section 75 credit card protection doesn’t extend to additional cardholders, why car insurance premiums can rise even after a no-fault accident, and whether responsibility for faulty goods lies with the retailer or the manufacturer.Plus, Martin demystifies one of the most misunderstood financial products of all: bonds. What are they, how do they work, and are they right for you?Whether you’re baffled by pensions, puzzled by investing, or simply want a clearer understanding of the financial rules that affect everyday life, this is a back-to-basics guide to money that aims to make the complicated simple.If you want to ask Martin a question, you now can! His Question Time podcast lets you ask Martin absolutely anything and everything (within reason!). So, if you’ve always wanted to know why he speaks so quickly, if he organises his wardrobe by colour or garment type, or have a very complicated question about your finances, email it to MartinLewisPodcast@bbc.co.uk.
Transcribe →Question Time: Overpay mortgage with savings? Can bank switching kill a credit score? How do I find my husband’s lost pensions?
2w ago00:41:32Tap to summarizeIn our Question Time podcast, Martin Lewis gives you answers on anything and everything, including: is it worth overpaying my mortgage, and when’s the perfect time to do so? I’m worried bank switching will kill my credit score, will it? I’ve got a Plan 2 and Plan 5 student loan; how do the repayments work? What’s the easiest way to track my husband’s lost pensions from various jobs? Plus, what’s the most unusual place Martin’s been asked a financial question? If you want to ask Martin a question, you now can! His Question Time podcast lets you ask Martin absolutely anything and everything (within reason!). So, if you’ve always wanted to know why he speaks so quickly, if he organises his wardrobe by colour or garment type, or have a very complicated question about your finances, email it to MartinLewisPodcast@bbc.co.uk.
Transcribe →Make £1,000s from switching bank? | Will government back track on Plan 2 Student Loan hike
3w ago01:07:18Tap to summarizeThis week on The Martin Lewis Podcast, is a bank account bonanza. Eight current accounts are now paying £175 or more to switch, and in some cases the rewards don't stop there. A number of packaged bank accounts are effectively paying you to sign up too, meaning you could get travel insurance, mobile phone cover and breakdown protection for the whole family thrown in — benefits that can easily be worth £500 a year or more. Martin cuts through the jargon, answers your questions and reveals the top bank account best buys right now. Plus, the long-awaited Treasury Select Committee report into Plan 2 student loans has finally landed. The report says many borrowers were effectively misled, echoing Martin's long-standing argument that the Government has a "moral duty" to reverse the planned increase in repayments for existing borrowers. Martin explains what the report says, what it means politically, and whether it could make a practical difference to those affected. And in this week’s Tell Us, we're uncovering the insider secrets of the restaurant trade. From the best ways to get value for money to what staff really think about the wine list, those who work in restaurants share their tips and tricks.If you want to ask Martin a question, you now can! His Question Time podcast lets you ask Martin absolutely anything and everything (within reason!). So, if you’ve always wanted to know how many potted plants he has in his house, if his clocks are all precisely synchronised (or not), or have a very complicated question about your finances, email it to MartinLewisPodcast@bbc.co.uk.
Transcribe →Question time: Will new ISA rules ruin my wedding savings? | Martin, you helped me find love! | Can I fix on a prepay meter?
3w ago00:45:12Tap to summarizeIn our Question Time podcast, Martin Lewis gives you answers on anything and everything, including: if I claim Marriage Allowance, will I have to do a tax return? My dad’s on a prepayment meter, is there anything he can do to cut the rate? If you have no National Insurance contributions, do you get a State Pension? Will the Chancellor’s new ISA rules ruin my marriage savings? Plus, we have a great success, where Martin not only helped their finances, but also helped them find love! If you want to ask Martin a question, you now can! His Question Time podcast lets you ask Martin absolutely anything and everything (within reason!). So, if you’ve always wanted to know how many potted plants he has in his house, if his clocks are all precisely synchronised (or not), or have a very complicated question about your finances, email it to MartinLewisPodcast@bbc.co.uk.
Transcribe →The Packing Pod! Cut out hidden holiday costs: foreign exchange, insurance, travelling with kids & more
4w ago01:15:02Summary readyThis week on The Martin Lewis Podcast, Martin is in full holiday mode – revealing everything you need to know right now to cut the cost of getting away. From the cheapest ways to spend overseas and avoiding costly currency conversion traps, to finding the right travel insurance, beating roaming charges and the single-person supplements, Martin answers listeners’ biggest travel money questions and shares the practical tips that could save you hundreds before you even leave home.Away from the holiday theme, Martin also takes on some of the biggest consumer issues closer to home. He explains when – and if – we're likely to see lower energy standing charges, why he believes recent regulator interventions have had the unintended consequence of pushing up the cost of broadband and mobile deals, and asks why Britain still doesn’t have a single, unified social tariff system for water bills to support those who need help most. For this week’s Tell Us, we're looking for the insiders' guide to travel. We hear the secrets of the trade from people who’ve worked as a holiday reps, in a hotel, for an airline, tour operator or anywhere in the travel industry, explaining what holidaymakers should know about – from getting the best room and avoiding unnecessary extras to making the most of your trip for less.And in Mastermind, Martin puts Adrian’s knowledge to the test with a questions focused on pensions.If you want to ask Martin a question, you now can! His Question Time podcast lets you ask Martin absolutely anything and everything (within reason!). So, if you’ve always wanted to know his favourite weather, which factor suncream he uses, or have a very complicated question about your finances, email it to MartinLewisPodcast@bbc.co.uk.
SummaryQuestion Time: Is saving 15% of my salary into my pension enough? How long do I keep financial docs? ISA rules when I die?
Jun 2900:40:15Tap to summarizeIn our Question Time podcast, Martin Lewis gives you answers on anything and everything, including: I’m 23 and saving 15% of my salary into my pension, is that enough? I’m starting to see my credit card debt grow, what should I do? How long should I keep my financial documents for? What happens to an ISA when you die? Plus, we have a shares Junior ISA success! If you want to ask Martin a question, you now can! His Question Time podcast lets you ask Martin absolutely anything and everything (within reason!). So, if you’ve always wanted to know his favourite weather, which factor suncream he uses, or have a very complicated question about your finances, email it to MartinLewisPodcast@bbc.co.uk.
Transcribe →The huge new ISA and Lifetime ISA changes explained | Flight crew secrets
Jun 2501:05:21Tap to summarizeIn this week’s episode, there’s a deep dive into first-time buyer savings, with a special focus on Lifetime ISAs (LISAs) and the now-closed but still widely held Help to Buy ISAs. Martin Lewis runs through the pros, pitfalls, and key differences between the schemes, including bonuses and withdrawal rules. Whether you’re saving for your first home or advising someone who is, this segment is packed with practical tips to maximise government support and avoid costly mistakes.Martin unpacks a major shake-up to Shares ISA rules, with what it means for savers, investors, and anyone trying to grow their money tax-efficiently. He breaks down the proposed changes and whether you should be thinking differently about where you put your savings going forward.In the Tell Us, Martin turns to listeners working in the travel industry - airlines, hotels, and beyond. Asking: what are the biggest mistakes holidaymakers make? From booking blunders and baggage errors to check-in timing and hidden costs, industry insiders share their top tips on how to travel smarter and smoother this summer.Finally, in the Mastermind section, Adrian tackles a tricky consumer issue: who do you complain to if you used a claims firm for car finance and feel you were misled?If you want to ask Martin a question, you now can! His Question Time podcast lets you ask Martin absolutely anything and everything (within reason!). So, if you’ve always wanted to know which letter of the alphabet is his favourite, how many marshmallows he can fit in his mouth at any one time, or have a very complicated question about your finances, email it to MartinLewisPodcast@bbc.co.uk.
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