Aligning our love lives and our financial lives is not always easy. Presenter Claer Barrett sources advice from Dr Nicola Sharp-Jeffs, founder of Surviving Economic Abuse, Tobi Asare from My Bump Pay, and Davinia Tomlinson, founder of Rainchq and author of Cash is Queen, on everything from talking about money in a relationship, the single tax, spotting the signs of financial abuse and planning for a baby. 

This episode is taken from a recording of an event Claer hosted in partnership with FLIC, the FT’s financial literacy charity.

Want more?

Flying solo with your finances: managing money as a single person

Mind the gap! What women need to know about investing

Childcare in the UK: ‘Dysfunctional, unaffordable, inaccessible’

‘I was a victim of financial abuse’

If you would like to talk to Claer about a future episode, please email the Money Clinic team at money@ft.com with a short description of your problem, and how you would like us to help. You can follow Claer on Twitter and Instagram @Claerb. Presented by Claer Barrett. Produced by Persis Love. Our executive producer is Manuela Saragosa. Sound design is by Jake Fielding and Breen Turner, with original music from Metaphor Music.

Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Simran Kaur thinks the stock market is a lot more straightforward than it is made out to be. The 26-year-old is the founder of Girls That Invest, an investing community and podcast that she set up with her best friend Sonya Gupthan when they realised that, as women of colour, there were not many people who looked like them in the financial world.

Presenter Claer Barrett sources her tips on getting started as an investor, how to balance your portfolio and when to have a portfolio review.

Check out the Girls That Invest website here 

If you would like to talk to Claer about a future episode, please email the Money Clinic team at money@ft.com with a short description of your problem, and how you would like us to help. 

You can follow Claer on Twitter and Instagram @Claerb

Presented by Claer Barrett. Produced by Persis Love. Our executive producer is Manuela Saragosa. Sound design is by Jake Fielding and Breen Turner, with original music from Metaphor Music.

Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How does the global monetary system work and what should investors bear in mind about it? Professional investor Rob Dix had been investing for years before he set out to understand the mechanisms behind his money. Why do we have inflation? Why do central banks increase interest rates? Will this monetary system last? Dix shares his view on the financial world with presenter Claer Barrett, plus she asks what rules he follows with his own investments.

Rob Dix is author of The Price of Money: How to Prosper in a Financial World that’s Rigged Against You

We'd love to hear from you. Please help us by filling in our listener survey at ft.com/moneyclinicsurvey. It will take you about 10 minutes to complete and you can have a chance to win a pair of Bose QuietComfort Earbuds. 

If you would like to talk to Claer about a future episode, please email the Money Clinic team at money@ft.com with a short description of your problem, and how you would like us to help. 

You can follow Claer on Twitter and Instagram @Claerb

Presented by Claer Barrett. Produced by Persis Love. Our executive producer is Manuela Saragosa. Sound design is by Jake Fielding and Breen Turner, with original music from Metaphor Music. 

Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Bank of England raised its key base rate to 4.25 per cent last week, its highest level in 14 years. But if interest rates are going up, why are some mortgage lenders putting their rates down? Presenter Claer Barrett is joined in the studio by Chris Giles, the FT’s economics editor and Andrew Montlake, chief executive of Mortgage Broker Coreco. They explain how the uncertain outlook for base rates is affecting mortgages, the pros and cons of fixed rate and variable rate mortgages and what mortgage rates are available at the moment.

Want more?

Read Claer’s latest column about mortgage rates here

Check out last week’s Money Clinic: Interest rates, bank crises and your money

We'd love to hear from you. Please help us by filling in our listener survey at ft.com/moneyclinicsurvey. It will take you about 10 minutes to complete and you will be in with a chance to win a pair of Bose QuietComfort Earbuds! 

If you would like to talk to Claer about a future episode, please email the Money Clinic team at money@ft.com with a short description of your problem, and how you would like us to help. 

You can follow Claer on Twitter and Instagram @Claerb

Presented by Claer Barrett. Produced by Persis Love. Our executive producer is Manuela Saragosa. Sound design is by Jake Fielding and Breen Turner, with original music from Metaphor Music. 

Clips: Bloomberg

Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What does a week of turmoil in the banking sector - with the collapse of California’s Silicon Valley Bank and the Swiss state-backed rescue of Credit Suisse - tell us about what central banks will do next with interest rates? And what does it all mean for your money and investments? Host Claer Barrett hears from Financial Times markets editor Katie Martin, and author of the FT’s Unhedged newsletter Ethan Wu. 

Want more?

Are banks on the edge of another 2008-style precipice?

Central banks announce dollar liquidity measures to ease banking crisis

Banking turmoil intensifies the need for better Federal Reserve policymaking

We'd love to hear from you. Please help us by filling in our listener survey at ft.com/moneyclinicsurvey. It will take you about 10 minutes to complete and you will be in with a chance to win a pair of Bose QuietComfort Earbuds!

If you would like to talk to Claer about a future episode, please email the Money Clinic team at money@ft.com with a short description of your problem, and how you would like us to help.  

You can follow Claer on Twitter and Instagram @Claerb 

Presented by Claer Barrett. Produced by Persis Love. Our executive producer is Manuela Saragosa. Sound design is by Breen Turner, with original music from Metaphor Music. 

Clips: BBC, CNN, CNBC, Bloomberg TV, ABC News 

Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What should you be thinking about for your finances when you are just about to enter the adult world? In today’s episode Claer Barrett meets four sixth-form students Demi, Patrick, Lucinda and Loisse-Lhana, who are trying to figure out how to manage their money as they get ready to leave school. Claer answers their questions about investing, saving and how to budget so that your earnings last the month.

Want more?

What They Don't Teach You About Money: Habits to Get You Unstuck and on the Road to Financial Freedom by Claer Barrett is in bookshops from March 16.

Got questions for Claer? Join the FT Live webinar on April 21 where she’ll be discussing her book. 

Read Claer’s latest column The first lesson for female financial education? Money is power

Thanks to Cardinal Wiseman Catholic School, Cardinal Vaughan Memorial School and Nationwide Building Society.

If you would like to talk to Claer on a future episode, please email the Money Clinic team at money@ft.com with a short description of your problem, and how you would like us to help.  

Say hello on social media: You can follow Claer on Twitter and Instagram @Claerb 

Presented by Claer Barrett. Produced by Persis Love. Our executive producer is Manuela Saragosa. Sound design is by Breen Turner and Jake Fielding, with original music from Metaphor Music. 

Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Divorce inquiries tend to peak in the first few months of a new year, so in this episode presenter Claer Barrett, the FT’s consumer editor, sources expert advice on how to manage your costs and finances through a legal separation. Listeners Jane and Tina recount their stories - and what they wished they had known at the start of the process - and Claer speaks to Brett Frankle from the law firm Withers as well as financial planner Tamsin Caine of Smart Divorce about how to ensure your finances survive a divorce.

Links to organisations mentioned in the episode:

https://resolution.org.uk/

https://www.judiciary.uk/family-justice-council/

If you would like to talk to Claer about a future episode, please email the Money Clinic team at money@ft.com with a short description of your problem, and how you would like us to help.  

You can follow Claer on Twitter and Instagram @Claerb 

Presented by Claer Barrett. Produced by Persis Love. Our executive producer is Manuela Saragosa. Sound design is by Breen Turner, with original music from Metaphor Music. 

Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It’s called the ‘cash stuffing’ or ‘cash envelope’ method: separating your money into different envelopes of cash to control your spending. Host Claer Barrett speaks to ‘cash stuffer’ Euphemia Senna, better known on TikTok as She’s On a Budget, about the pros and cons of budgeting this way (and the digital equivalent). She also goes inside the Bank of England, the UK’s central bank, to speak to its chief cashier Sarah John about why there are record levels of banknotes in circulation. Is there any evidence that people are turning their back on digital payments and that cash stuffing is on the rise amid the cost of living crisis?

If you would like to talk to Claer about a future episode, please email the Money Clinic team at money@ft.com with a short description of your problem, and how you would like us to help.  

You can follow Claer on Twitter and Instagram @Claerb 

Presented by Claer Barrett. Produced by Persis Love. Our executive producer is Manuela Saragosa. Sound design is by Breen Turner, with original music from Metaphor Music. 

Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Former asset manager Stuart Kirk writes about investing for FT Weekend in a column where he shares both his investment successes and failures with readers. He tells host Claer Barrett what he’s investing in now, how he chooses stocks, why he isn’t keen on funds that follow a particular theme and what he thinks needs to change in the world of ESG or sustainable investing.

Want more?

Being honest about my portfolio’s performance https://www.ft.com/content/91e59c79-1275-49c3-986c-f1c6778ecfa5

Sectors make sense for investors, not themes https://www.ft.com/content/19a0a68f-c3fd-4267-96a7-f2698b38b19e

If you would like to talk to Claer on a future episode, please email the Money Clinic team at money@ft.com with a short description of your problem, and how you would like us to help.  

Say hello on social media: You can follow Claer on Twitter and Instagram @Claerb 

Presented by Claer Barrett. Produced by Persis Love. Our executive producer is Manuela Saragosa. Sound design is by Breen Turner, with original music from Metaphor Music.

Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Chris Pitt, chief executive of First Direct, the UK’s first ever telephone bank, tells presenter Claer Barrett why banks should be doing more to help customers through the cost of living crisis, and shares his own tips on saving and investing.

We'd love to hear from you. Please help us by filling in our listener survey at ft.com/moneyclinicsurvey. It will take you around 10 minutes to complete and you will be in with a chance to win a pair of Bose QuietComfort earbuds!

If you would like to talk to Claer about a future episode, please email the Money Clinic team at money@ft.com with a short description of your problem, and how you would like us to help.  

You can follow Claer on Twitter and Instagram @Claerb 

Presented by Claer Barrett. Produced by Persis Love. Our executive producer is Manuela Saragosa. Sound design is by Breen Turner, with original music from Metaphor Music. 

Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Bank of England has raised its key interest rate to 4 per cent, the highest level the UK has seen since the 2008 financial crisis. Presenter Claer Barrett is joined by Helen Saxon, deputy editor of Money Saving Expert, James Pickford, deputy editor of FT Money, and Katie Martin, the FT’s markets editor, to discuss how you can best navigate those higher rates with your savings, mortgages and investments.

We'd love to hear from you. Please help us by filling in our listener survey at ft.com/moneyclinicsurvey. It will take you around 10 minutes to complete and you will be in with a chance to win a pair of Bose QuietComfort Earbuds!

If you would like to talk to Claer about a future episode, please email the Money Clinic team at money@ft.com with a short description of your problem, and how you would like us to help.  

You can follow Claer on Twitter and Instagram @Claerb 

Presented by Claer Barrett. Produced by Persis Love. Our executive producer is Manuela Saragosa. Sound design is by Breen Turner, with original music from Metaphor Music. 

Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

One in six women in the UK has experienced financial abuse in a relationship. That’s according to charity Surviving Economic Abuse. Anyone can become a victim, as Sarah Coles, senior personal finance analyst at Hargreaves Lansdown, found out. She tells presenter Claer Barrett about her experience of surviving an economically abusive relationship. Claer also hears from another victim, Francesca, and sources advice on recognising and escaping financial abuse from Dr Nicola Sharp-Jeffs OBE, founder and CEO of Surviving Economic Abuse

Useful links:

The Surviving Economic Abuse website is packed with useful resources, helplines you can call and information on what to do if you or someone you know is in a financially abusive relationship.

For domestic abuse, you can call the freephone National Domestic Abuse Helpline, run by Refuge on 0808 2000 247. If you are in immediate danger, please call the police on 999. For mental health support, you can speak to the Samaritans on 116 123.

We'd love to hear from you. Please help us by filling in our listener survey at ft.com/moneyclinicsurvey. It will take you around 10 minutes to complete and you will be in with a chance to win a pair of Bose QuietComfort Earbuds!

If you would like to talk to Claer on a future episode, please email the Money Clinic team at money@ft.com with a short description of your problem, and how you would like us to help.  

Say hello on social media: You can follow Claer on Twitter and Instagram @Claerb 

Presented by Claer Barrett. Produced by Persis Love. Our executive producer is Manuela Saragosa. Sound design is by Breen Turner, with original music from Metaphor Music.

Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Best of Money Clinic: Against the backdrop of market turbulence, investors Jonathan Hollow and Robin Powell explain why they believe investing in broad-based index funds is the cheapest way to increase long-term wealth. This investment masterclass breaks investing down into six simple steps, with tips for those just getting started and those further along their investment journey.

If you would like to be a future guest on Money Clinic, email the team via money@ft.com or send Claer a DM on social media - she’s @Claerb on Twitter, Instagram and TikTok. How to Fund the Life You Want: What everyone needs to know about savings, pensions and investments by Robin Powell and Jonathan Hollow is out now.

Want more?

Why do we still bother with active funds? https://www.ft.com/content/c2e9abd0-0edd-4805-b1ab-d55b661c24de

Passive investing has increased US stock volatility, study finds https://www.ft.com/content/818f9e83-52a8-4170-a148-80f9d9139809

We'd love to hear from you. What do you like (or not)? What topics should we tackle? Please help us by filling in our listener survey at ft.com/moneyclinicsurvey  It will take you around 10 minutes to complete and you will be in with a chance to win a pair of Bose QuietComfort Earbuds!*

Your personal information will be processed in accordance with the FT's privacy policy. If you have any queries about the survey please let us know at customer.research@ft.com">customer.research@ft.com.

Presented by Claer Barrett. Produced by Persis Love and Philippa Goodrich. Executive producer is Manuela Saragosa. Sound design is by Breen Turner, with original music from Metaphor Music

Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Thirty-year-old Henrietta wants to start investing but has found herself lost in the small print of stocks and shares ISAs. How to choose the right one? Which fee structure is right for the amount she is investing? And should she go for passive or active investing? Presenter Claer Barrett is joined in the studio by FT personal finance and investing columnists Moira O’Neill and Jason Butler to discuss everything new investors need to know about opening a stocks and shares ISA.

Want more?

For more about passive vs active investing, listen to Money Clinic investment masterclass The cheapest way to invest

Still sorting out your new year’s finances? Check out Claer’s column Five financial new years resolutions for 2023

You can follow Moira @moironeill on Twitter, and check out her column Where to park a lump sum if you’ve got a bit of money you are looking to put somewhere. 

Jason’s Twitter is @jbthewealthman, and his latest column Are you heading for a financial car crash? is available on FT.com

Money Clinic would like to hear from you. If you have an episode idea or want to get in touch, please email us at money@FT.com or DM Claer on social media. She is @ClaerB on Twitter, Instagram and TikTok

Presented by Claer Barrett. Produced by Persis Love. Our executive producer is Manuela Saragosa. Sound design is by Breen Turner, with original music from Metaphor Music. 

Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How to invest when you’re cash-strapped? What to do if you think your landlord is unfairly demanding more rent? Could moving out of the city save money? Host Claer Barrett and a panel of personal finance experts field questions at the ‘Young, Gifted and Broke: how to navigate the cost of living crisis’ event, organised by the FT Financial Literacy and Inclusion Campaign. With expert tips on renting, investing and budgeting from Margot de Broglie, founder of Your Juno app, Dan Wilson Craw, deputy director at Generation Rent, Timi Merriman-Johnson aka Mr MoneyJar, and Jason Butler, FT columnist and former financial advisor.

For more free money-mastering resources, check out FT Flic or watch the full recording back here.

Money Clinic would like to hear from you. If you have an episode idea or want to get in touch, please email us at money@FT.com or DM Claer on social media. She is @ClaerB on Twitter, Instagram and TikTok. 

Presented by Claer Barrett. Produced by Persis Love. Our executive producer is Manuela Saragosa. Sound design is by Breen Turner, with original music from Metaphor Music.

Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The past 12 months have not been kind to investors — but will the going get rougher or smoother in the year ahead? Presenter Claer Barrett hears from three of the FT’s most experienced investment writers who pass on tips on how to handle volatility, what’s driving change in the markets and where they think the best opportunities could lie in 2023. With Rob Armstrong, the FT’s US financial correspondent and author of the Unhedged newsletter, Stuart Kirk, the FT’s new Skin in the Game columnist, and Rosie Carr, editor of Investors Chronicle.

Please note that Money Clinic is a general discussion around financial topics and does not constitute an investment recommendation or individual financial advice. For that, you’ll need to find an independent financial advisor. If you would like to talk to Claer on a future episode, please email the Money Clinic team at money@ft.com with a short description of your problem, and how you would like us to help.  

Say hello on social media: You can follow Claer on Twitter and Instagram @Claerb 

Presented by Claer Barrett. Produced by Persis Love. Our executive producer is Manuela Saragosa. Sound design is by Breen Turner, with original music from Metaphor Music. 

Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The new year is a perfect time to rethink and reorganise your financial affairs but where should you start? Host Claer Barrett is joined by Iona Bain of Young Money blog, financial educator Timi Merriman-Johnson, aka Mr Money Jar, and Sara Williams of the Debt Camel. They discuss their own new year’s resolutions, whether it’s worth overpaying on your mortgage as interest rates are set to rise, and why paying more into your pension could be a good idea. Plus, advice on how to keep to your new year’s financial goals.

Money Clinic is keen to hear from listeners and readers. If you would like to get in touch, please email us at money@FT.com or DM Claer on social media. She is @ClaerB on Twitter, Instagram and TikTok. 

Presented by Claer Barrett. Produced by Persis Love. Our executive producer is Manuela Saragosa. Sound design is by Breen Turner, with original music from Metaphor Music. 

Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How does one of the UK’s most popular comedians handle his money and investments? In a repeat of one of Money Clinic’s most popular episodes, host Claer Barrett interviews Joe Lycett, the consumer campaigner and TV comedian. Joe shares his own personal money story - including his charity shop thrifting, ESG investments and money rules - and explains why he campaigns on consumer issues.

If you would like to talk to Claer on a future episode, please email the Money Clinic team at money@ft.com with a short description of your problem, and how you would like us to help.  

Say hello on social media: You can follow Claer on Twitter and Instagram @Claerb 

You can follow Joe Lycett on Twitter and Instagram @JoeLycett and FT Money on Twitter @FTMoney

Presented by Claer Barrett. Produced by Persis Love. Our executive producer is Manuela Saragosa. Sound design is by Breen Turner, with original music from Metaphor Music.

Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

More than a million crypto investors around the world stand to be wiped out by the collapse of crypto exchange FTX. Presenter Claer Barrett is joined by Scott Chipolina, the FT’s digital assets correspondent, and Rob Armstrong, the FT’s US financial commentator, to discuss what the collapse means for the future of crypto. What should people still holding crypto investments do? Will crypto recover? What role should regulators play? And is there a way of keeping your crypto investments safe?

Want more?

Bahamas reels from FTX collapse: ‘Crypto was going to be our way out’

More from Scott Chipolina and the FT’s cryptofinance newsletter

More from from Rob Armstrong on crypto regulation: The SEC should not touch crypto

More from Rob Armstrong and his Unhedged newsletter

Money Clinic is keen to hear from listeners and readers. If you would like to get in touch, please email us at money@FT.com or DM Claer on social media. She is @ClaerB on Twitter, Instagram and TikTok. 

Presented by Claer Barrett. Produced by Persis Love. Our executive producer is Manuela Saragosa. Sound design is by Breen Turner, with original music from Metaphor Music. 

Clips: BBC, CBS

Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com



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With more than 10mn people in the UK set to file their tax returns by January 31, are you dreading the annual nightmare - or have you already got it licked? This week presenter Claer Barrett revisits Money Clinic’s tax return guide from last year, with guests Jacquetta Brown, tax specialist at HMRC, and chartered accountant Deborah Edwards, who runs the money mentoring programme Raised Up Finance. They discuss how much extra income you need to earn before you have to submit a return, how apps can make the whole process easier, and whether it pays to get an accountant. Plus, how freelancers can legitimately reduce their bills by claiming tax-deductible expenses, or negotiate extra time to pay. 

If you would like to be a guest on the show, email the podcast team money@ft.com or follow Claer on Twitter and Instagram @Claerb.

You can follow Deborah on Instagram @raisedup.finance 

Want more?

For more about using salary sacrifice to legitimately reduce your tax bills, check out this free-to-read FT piece from Claer: https://www.ft.com/content/ff8021b9-7847-4ef5-9f20-abb2ea2d6d93

And if you’re looking for more tips about running a freelance business, this free-to-read piece has plenty of them: https://www.ft.com/content/3462f359-8a1d-4a1e-9098-a14bded3f00d

To check out the HMRC YouTube channel, click here

Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Thirty-year-old Brooke struggles with a shopping addiction and feels as if no one is taking it seriously. With thousands of dollars of credit card debt spent at thrift stores and bargain clothes sales, shopping is an obsession that leaves her both mentally and financially exhausted. Presenter Claer Barrett speaks to financial therapist Amanda Clayman, and addiction specialist Pamela Roberts about why people get addicted to shopping, and what they can do to break the cycle. 

You can find Amanda Clayman through her website or follow her on Instagram. Pamela Roberts works for addiction and recovery hospital the Priory Group, and her personal website is roberts.co.uk/">here.

Pamela has recommended the following resources for anyone struggling with a shopping addiction:

directory.org.uk">Counselling Directory UK

Addiction Counselling Psychology Today

Addiction Professionals

Spenders Anonymous 

Spent: Break the Buying Obsession and Discover Your True Worth by Sally Palaian

Money Clinic is keen to hear from listeners and readers. If you would like to get in touch, please email us at money@FT.com or DM Claer on social media. She is @ClaerB on Twitter, Instagram and TikTok. 

Presented by Claer Barrett. Produced by Persis Love. Our executive producer is Manuela Saragosa. Sound design is by Breen Turner, with original music from Metaphor Music.

Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

UK chancellor Jeremy Hunt’s Autumn Budget Statement spelled out gloomy times ahead for the UK economy, but what does it mean for your money? Host Claer Barrett, the FT’s consumer editor, is joined by political editor George Parker and Chris Giles, economics editor, to discuss taxes, energy bills, mortgages rates and why this Budget will squeeze the finances of lower and middle earners. Plus, why were young people left out of the new Budget plans?

Money Clinic is keen to hear from listeners and readers. If you would like to get in touch, please email us at money@FT.com or DM Claer on social media. She is @ClaerB on Twitter, Instagram and TikTok. 

Want more?

Votes for rents as Autumn Statement squeezes younger workers

Jeremy Hunt offers no jam today and none tomorrow

The FT’s quick guide to the autumn statement

A dismal outlook for the UK economy

Presented by Claer Barrett. Produced by Persis Love. Our executive producer is Manuela Saragosa. Sound design is by Breen Turner, with original music from Metaphor Music. 

Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Should you overpay on your student loan to try and beat rising interest rates? Or are you better off putting your hard-earned salary towards other things? Presenter Claer Barrett hears from recent graduate James who is struggling with these very questions, and speaks to Ben Waltmann, research economist at the Institute for Fiscal Studies. Ben explains how student loan repayments work and what the statistics tell us about repayments. Plus, FT columnist and former financial adviser Jason Butler gives his view on how graduates should approach their loans as part of a long-term financial plan.

Money Clinic is keen to hear from listeners and readers. If you would like to get in touch, please email us at money@FT.com or DM Claer on social media. She is @ClaerB on Twitter, Instagram and TikTok. 

Want more?

Student loans: should the bank of mum and dad step in?

Don’t raise more hurdles to university entrance

Economic distress lifts stigma of discussing money troubles

Presented by Claer Barrett. Produced by Persis Love and Philippa Goodrich. Our executive producer is Manuela Saragosa. Sound design is by Breen Turner and Jan Sigsworth, with original music from Metaphor Music. 

Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Childcare in the UK is among the most expensive in the world, with parents spending an average of two thirds of their salary on nursery costs for children under two. Host Claer Barrett speaks to Joeli Brealey, author and founder of campaign group Pregnant then Screwed, about why the UK childcare system is in crisis. She also hears from Megan Jarvie, the head of Coram Family and Childcare, about how to navigate a complicated system of government support for families with young children. Plus, mother Jess tells Claer how unaffordable nursery costs pushed her out of full-time work..

Money Clinic is keen to hear from listeners. If you would like to get in touch, please email us at money@FT.com or DM Claer on social media. She is @ClaerB on Twitter, Instagram and TikTok.

Want more?

England’s childcare in crisis as costs rise and staff leave https://www.ft.com/content/f07886fa-becc-4491-88e0-dbfe2c07c225

What’s driving the rich world’s falling fertility? https://www.ft.com/content/2f90b924-3122-4548-85fa-4c5a775c2cae

Childcare: female-led social enterprises tackle dysfunctional system https://www.ft.com/content/d576fedd-6577-4c4c-98ac-f3c73fcf6346

Joeli Brearley and Pregnant then Screwed can be found at https://pregnantthenscrewed.com/

Further details on childcare options in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, can be found here: https://www.familyandchildcaretrust.org/help-your-childcare-costs

To download the FT Edit app, click here https://apps.apple.com/app/apple-store/id1574510369?pt=246269&ct=FT-E-22Q4-HAD-AD-US-Anon&mt=8

Presented by Claer Barrett. Produced by Persis Love and Philippa Goodrich. Executive producer is Manuela Saragosa. Sound design is by Breen Turner, with original music from Metaphor Music. 

Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How can you make the most of your savings at a time when inflation is eating into the value of your cash? Host Claer Barrett, the FT’s consumer editor, speaks to Iona Bain, personal finance writer and author, and Sarah Coles, senior personal finance analyst at Hargreaves Lansdown, and sources, for practical advice about how to get the best interest rates on your savings and how to use savings to achieve your financial goals. Plus, should you use your cash savings to overpay your mortgage?

If you would like to be a future guest on Money Clinic, email the team via money@ft.com or send Claer a DM on social media — she’s @Claerb on Twitter, Instagram and TikTok. 

Iona Bain can be found at https://www.youngmoneyblog.co.uk/

Sarah Coles is on Twitter @sarahecoles

Presented by Claer Barrett. Produced by Persis Love and Philippa Goodrich. Executive producer is Manuela Saragosa. Sound design is by Breen Turner, with original music from Metaphor Music. 

Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Pension funds have been the focus of some worrying news over the past few weeks. But don’t panic! Money Clinic host Claer Barrett is joined by the FT’s global pensions correspondent, Josephine Cumbo, and chartered financial planner David Hearne to explain what’s going on, and to offer some reassurance. Whatever type of retirement fund you have, this episode is packed with information to help you understand your pension better.

If you would like to be a future guest on Money Clinic, email the team via money@ft.com or send Claer a DM on social media - she’s @Claerb on Twitter, Instagram and TikTok. 

Presented by Claer Barrett. Produced by Persis Love and Philippa Goodrich. Executive producer is Manuela Saragosa. Sound design is by Breen Turner, with original music from Metaphor Music. 

Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Against the backdrop of market turbulence, investors Jonathan Hollow and Robin Powell explain why they believe investing in broad-based index funds is the cheapest way to increase long-term wealth. This investment masterclass breaks investing down into six simple steps, with tips for those just getting started and those further along their investment journey.

If you would like to be a future guest on Money Clinic, email the team via money@ft.com or send Claer a DM on social media - she’s @Claerb on Twitter, Instagram and TikTok. 

How to Fund the Life You Want: What everyone needs to know about savings, pensions and investments by Robin Powell and Jonathan Hollow is out now. 

Want more?

Why do we still bother with active funds? https://www.ft.com/content/c2e9abd0-0edd-4805-b1ab-d55b661c24de

Passive investing has increased US stock volatility, study finds https://www.ft.com/content/818f9e83-52a8-4170-a148-80f9d9139809

Presented by Claer Barrett. Produced by Persis Love and Philippa Goodrich. Executive producer is Manuela Saragosa. Sound design is by Breen Turner, with original music from Metaphor Music

Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

When former banker Emilie Bellet discovered that an average woman in her twenties would have to work 37 years longer than her male counterparts to accumulate the same pension wealth, she thought it was time to do something about it.

She launched Vestpod seven years ago with the ambition of empowering 1mn women financially. In this Money Clinic Investment Masterclass, Emilie talks to host Claer Barrett, the FT’s consumer editor, about how to get started investing, when to start saving for a pension and why some of the myths around women investors are just that.

Vestpod is focused on women, but the episode is packed with useful tips for all budding savers and investors.

You can listen to Emilie’s podcast, The Wallet, here: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-wallet/id1520695849

And follow her on Instagram here: https://www.instagram.com/vestpod/

And if you’re interested in becoming a member of the Vestpod community, check out the website: https://www.vestpod.com/

For tips and strategies for investing during market volatility, listen to our previous Money Clinic episode: https://www.ft.com/content/fb93bdbe-957f-4e50-97f5-840d800ddbeb

If you would like to be a future guest on Money Clinic, email the team via money@ft.com or send Claer a DM on social media - she’s @Claerb on Twitter, Instagram and TikTok.

Presented by Claer Barrett. Produced by Persis Love and Philippa Goodrich. Executive producer is Manuela Saragosa. Sound design is by Breen Turner, with original music from Metaphor Music

Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What does this mortgage tumult mean for individuals? Will borrowers be able to remortgage? How high could rates go? Will there be a property crash? In this special episode of Money Clinic, host Claer Barrett, the FT’s consumer affairs editor, puts listeners’ and readers’ questions to Andrew Montlake, managing director of mortgage broker Coreco, and James Pickford, deputy editor of FT Money. 

Please note: This is an updated, corrected edition of an earlier version of the podcast which contained incorrect figures on the interest rate mechanism for Help To Buy properties.

Want more? Check out our online mortgage Q&A: https://www.ft.com/content/6dd96b0e-6b39-492e-9040-4f4b4d247a84

Money Clinic is keen to hear from listeners and readers. If you would like to get in touch, please email us at money@FT.com or DM Claer on social media. She is @ClaerB on Twitter, Instagram and TikTok. 

You can find Andrew Montlake on Twitter, @montysblog, and James Pickford @MrJamesPickford

Presented by Claer Barrett. Produced by Persis Love and Philippa Goodrich. Our executive producer is Manuela Saragosa. Sound design is by Breen Turner, with original music from Metaphor Music. 

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

UK Chancellor Kwasi Kwarteng’s mini-budget includes what he claims are the biggest tax cuts in a generation. He’s hailing it as a new era for the UK economy and a way of kick starting growth, but what does this mini-budget mean for your wallet? Who gains and who loses out? Host Claer Barret unpicks the details with George Parker, the FT’s political editor, and Mary McDougall, the FT’s acting tax correspondent.

Want more?

A mini-budget for those on maxi incomes https://www.ft.com/content/cdbf7a95-8ddf-48df-a9fc-8e40100caac7

Traders bet on emergency UK interest rate rise https://www.ft.com/content/c7f815b6-e7f2-43d2-b160-b7b3182e63b4

Kwarteng’s ideological approach will leave the Treasury with ‘no money’ https://www.ft.com/content/53709418-7ed6-4b10-b6b0-b2e2d5b77683

Kwasi Kwarteng vows to stick with tax cuts despite investor jitters https://www.ft.com/content/5b9d1f87-dc78-4626-bb08-507561c6176a

Money Clinic is keen to hear from listeners and readers. If you would like to get in touch, please email us at money@FT.com or DM Claer on social media. She is @ClaerB on Twitter, Instagram and TikTok. 

Presented by Claer Barrett. Produced by Persis Love and Philippa Goodrich. Our executive producer is Manuela Saragosa. Sound design is by Breen Turner, with original music from Metaphor Music.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How much does the way you cook your meals affect how much you are spending? Host Claer Barrett speaks to Suzanne Mulholland, aka The Batch Lady, about how batch cooking can save both time and money. Plus, Archie Lasseter, sustainability lead at energy company Utilita, reveals which kitchen appliances are the most energy- and cost-efficient. How much could switching from oven cooking to an air fryer save?

You can find The Batch Lady and many of her recipes on instagram @thebatchlady or on her website https://thebatchlady.com/

Don’t forget to check out last week’s episode about how to keep the cost of your food shop down: https://www.ft.com/content/6dc26bb8-55a1-4176-ba15-58cddf73bda0

And if you would like to get in touch with us about your experiences of renting property, please email us at money@FT.com or DM Claer on social media. She is @ClaerB on Twitter, Instagram and TikTok. 

Presented by Claer Barrett. Produced by Persis Love and Philippa Goodrich. Our executive producer is Manuela Saragosa. Sound design is by Breen Turner, with original music from Metaphor Music. 

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Claer Barrett takes to the supermarket aisles to find the best tips for keeping the cost of the weekly food shop to a minimum. She hears from Laura Gaga aka Reduction Raider on how and where to find bargains, while Richard Walker, managing director of Iceland supermarkets, explains why his chain has introduced interest-free buy-now-pay-later loans for struggling customers.

Follow Laura Gaga on instagram @reduction_raider1

And if you would like to get in touch with us about your experiences of renting property, please email us at money@FT.com or DM Claer on social media. She is @ClaerB on Twitter, Instagram and TikTok. 

Presented by Claer Barrett. Produced by Persis Love and Philippa Goodrich. Our executive producer is Manuela Saragosa. Sound design is by Breen Turner, with original music from Metaphor Music. 

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Forget about being a day trader, you need to let the money come in slowly and take a serious, business-like approach if you want to succeed - that’s the advice of Robbie Burns, better known as the Naked Trader. In this repeat of a popular Money Clinic Investment Masterclass from last year, Robbie gives host Claer Barrett his top tips about trading, still relevant now amid uncertain financial and economic times. 

Want more?

Here is Robbie’s Naked Trader site

Listen to our previous episode about the advantages of tax free Isas

If you want to get started in investing, listen to this episode

Claer’s free-to-read column about day trading

Presented by Claer Barrett. Produced by Persis Love. Sound design is by Breen Turner, with original music from Metaphor Music

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How to match your money to your relationship status. Nearly one in four of us live on our own, but dealing with the financial and emotional strain of handling everything by yourself can be difficult. Jenny, 27, from Leeds, is being hit by the ‘single penalty’ and is exhausted trying to find everyday ways to save money. She’s looking for tips on investing in the stock market, whether to try to buy or stay renting and how to ease the worries that come with financial independence. In this Money Clinic episode, Claer is joined by ‘Alonement’ guru Francesca Specter who champions the single life and Iona Bain, a personal finance author and founder of the Young Money blog. Follow them on social media @ClaerB @chezspecter @ionajbain

Further reading:

Here is Francesca Specter’s Alonement site: https://www.alonement.com/

Iona Bain’s Young Money blog: https://www.youngmoneyblog.co.uk/

Listen to our previous episode about budgeting: https://www.ft.com/content/962982cf-8d63-4d01-bcf1-8304983e8e05

If you want to get started in investing, listen to this episode: https://open.spotify.com/episode/3vrvbPLIxReR2ACvgH9q6t?si=WAdkHgdwRlKlLoXa9bAOGg&dl_branch=1

A free-to-read column about the costs of dating: https://www.ft.com/content/222445d5-ba61-4161-a900-ed2b7d74dab2

Presented by Claer Barrett. Produced by Persis Love and Philippa Goodrich. Executive producer is Manuela Saragosa. Sound design is by Breen Turner, with original music from Metaphor Music

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We know that investing in crypto is a popular topic with Money Clinic listeners, so we thought you might like to hear the first episode in the new season of the FT's Tech Tonic podcast.A Sceptic's Guide to Crypto asks whether crypto and its supporting technology - the blockchain - have a future following a market crash. In the first episode of this five-part series, FT columnist and host Jemima Kelly casts a sceptical eye on what led to the boom in digital assets and their subsequent collapse. She assesses the damage with the FT’s digital assets correspondent Scott Chipolina (whose voice you'll recognise from Money Clinic's last episode about crypto) and hears from big-time bitcoin investor Michael Saylor, Dogecoin co-creator Jackson Palmer, and crypto YouTuber, Wajahat Mughal.

Want to hear more? Subscribe to Tech Tonic here: https://link.chtbl.com/rzVNVcs_?sid=Ep1

Check out stories and up-to-the-minute news from the FT’s technology team at ft.com/technology 

The FT’s Cryptofinance Hub is at https://www.ft.com/cryptofinance 

Scott Chipolina’s reporting can be found at https://www.ft.com/scott-chipolina 

For a special discounted FT subscription go to https://www.ft.com/techtonicsale 

Tech Tonic is presented by Jemima Kelly. Special thanks to Scott Chipolina. Edwin Lane is senior producer. Produced by Josh Gabert-Doyon. Executive producer is Manuela Saragosa. Sound design by Breen Turner, with original music from Metaphor Music. The FT’s head of audio is Cheryl Brumley. News clips credits: CNBC, Saturday Night Live  

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Listen and subscribe to Tech Tonic here.

Even after the crypto markets crashed this year, there are still a number of people who believe there’s a future for digital assets and blockchain technology. FT columnist and avowed crypto sceptic, Jemima Kelly, isn’t so sure. On this season’s Tech Tonic, she takes a trip deep into cryptoland to hear from critics, converts and hardcore believers to find out whether crypto technology has a future.

Check out stories and up-to-the-minute news from the Technology team at ft.com/technology

Presented by Jemima Kelly. Edwin Lane is senior producer. Produced by Josh Gabert-Doyon. Executive producer is Manuela Saragosa. Sound design by Breen Turner, with original music from Metaphor Music. The FT’s head of audio is Cheryl Brumley.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Are you working to live, or living to work? Followers of the FIRE movement (Financial Independence Retire Early) budget carefully so they can invest a greater proportion of their take-home pay. Is a life of extreme frugality worth the extra years of financial freedom later on - and how could you apply the principles of FIRE to your own finances? 

This week, Claer helps listeners Amy and Rory on their FIRE journey, with expert tips from Mr Money Mustache, AKA the US blogger Pete Adeney, and Kristian Danielson, the person behind the r/FIREUK subreddit. 

Money Clinic is presented by Claer Barrett and produced by Persis Love. Manuela Saragosa is the executive producer and the sound engineer is Breen Turner. The original music is by Metaphor Music.

Further reading:

Mr Money Mustache’s blog: https://www.mrmoneymustache.com/

You can get involved in the FIREUK subreddit here: https://www.reddit.com/r/FIREUK/

If you want to get started in investing, listen to our previous episode: https://open.spotify.com/episode/3vrvbPLIxReR2ACvgH9q6t?si=WAdkHgdwRlKlLoXa9bAOGg&dl_branch=1&nd=1

Claer’s free-to-read column about the problems with FIRE is here: https://www.ft.com/content/f4283596-c967-11e9-a1f4-3669401ba76f

And her column about active vs. passive funds is here: https://www.ft.com/content/c2e9abd0-0edd-4805-b1ab-d55b661c24de

Presented by Claer Barrett. Produced by Persis Love and Philippa Goodrich. Executive producer is Manuela Saragosa. Sound design is by Breen Turner, with original music from Metaphor Music

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Increasing rents, bidding wars and queues to view properties – for 28-year-old Will, finding a place to live is proving very difficult. He moved out of his last flat because the landlord increased the rent, and has just two months to find his next place. Greg Tsuman, president-elect of Propertymark, a trade body for UK estate agents, offers insider tips on how prospective tenants can get ahead of the competition. He also explains why rental properties are in such low supply at the moment. Plus, presenter Claer Barrett gets a rundown of renters’ rights from Shelter policy manager Ruth Ehrlich – when can your landlord increase your rent and what can you do if you are served an eviction notice?

To listen to our previous episode about why it pays to check your credit score, click here: https://www.ft.com/content/3fb08997-b49f-4e14-b283-9abd1a648b1f 

And here’s a free to read link for Claer’s FT column “Why should I let my landlord spy on my finances?” https://on.ft.com/3c1cq6f 

And if you would like to get in touch with us about your experiences of renting property, please email us at money@FT.com or DM Claer on social media. She is @ClaerB on Twitter, Instagram and TikTok. 

Presented by Claer Barrett. Produced by Persis Love and Philippa Goodrich. Executive producer is Manuela Saragosa. Sound design is by Breen Turner, with original music from Metaphor Music

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Do you ever long for an extended period of time off? Maybe you’d travel the world, try out a new career, or just put your feet up for some proper R&R. While the prospect of taking six months off work to do something completely different may well appeal to you, could you afford to do so? 

Thirty-four-year-old podcast listener Ali has reached a crossroads in her career and is keen to plan some time off. Presenter Claer Barrett speaks to Isabel Berwick, the host of the FT’s Working It podcast, on the career implications of taking a sabbatical - both good and bad. Plus, financial planner Joanna Little, chief executive of Emery Little, talks listeners through how to prepare for six months without an income - and what flexibility could be on offer. 

If you would like to be a guest on the podcast, email the team money@ft.com or send Claer a DM on social media - she’s @ClaerB  

Presented by Claer Barrett. Produced by Persis Love and Philippa Goodrich. Our executive producer is Manuela Saragosa. Sound design is by Breen Turner, with original music from Metaphor Music. 

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The cost of living is rising at its fastest pace for 40 years, and economists warn prices will increase further this autumn — with some fearing annual inflation could hit 15 per cent.

On this week’s episode, presenter Claer Barrett hears how the soaring cost of fuel, energy bills and food is causing podcast listeners to cut back in other areas in order to balance their budgets. Chris Giles, the FT’s economics editor, explains what’s causing the price rises and why this in turn is pushing up interest rates — and how effective this might be in getting inflation under control.

Sarah Coles, senior personal finance analyst at Hargreaves Lansdown, notes how all of these pressures are being reflected on world stock markets, as well as looking at strategies people are taking with cash savings and mortgages on their homes.

If you would like to be a future guest on Money Clinic, email the team via money@ft.com or send Claer a DM on social media — she’s @Claerb on Twitter, Instagram and TikTok.

Follow Chris Giles on Twitter @ChrisGiles_

Follow Sarah Coles on Twitter @SaraheColes

To listen to our previous episode “How to get a pay rise” https://www.ft.com/content/eeb84e5e-acf2-4b92-a99a-bd3514e1837d 

Presented by Claer Barrett. Produced by Persis Love and Philippa Goodrich. Executive producer is Manuela Saragosa. Sound design is by Breen Turner, with original music from Metaphor Music

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

There’ve been thousands of flight cancellations and scenes of chaos at UK airports, so this Money Clinic episode is packed with advice about your consumer rights if your travel plans go wrong. Host Claer Barrett, the FT’s consumer editor, hears from listeners battling to get their money back from airlines and third-party booking sites, including one listener who was forced to wear her husband’s underpants after her suitcase went missing! Can she help them obtain compensation - and track down the missing suitcase? Claer sources tips about air passenger rights, travel insurance and Covid cancellation cover from veteran travel journalist Simon Calder, and Harry Kind, a Which? consumer expert.

Want more?

Claer’s latest FT column is packed with more tips for travellers, including how to get the best deal on holiday currency: https://www.ft.com/content/0044cce2-d9e3-4599-9615-5c2546830071

Simon Calder hosts an Instagram Live on his account @Simon_Calder answering travel questions every Saturday and Sunday at 3.30pm UK time, and also has his own travel podcast - You Should Have Been There.

If you would like to be a future guest on Money Clinic, email the team via money@ft.com or send Claer a DM on social media - she’s @Claerb on Twitter, Instagram and TikTok. 

Presented by Claer Barrett. Produced by Persis Love and Philippa Goodrich. Executive producer is Manuela Saragosa. Sound design is by Breen Turner, with original music from Metaphor Music

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Record numbers of people are falling victim to online fraud attempts, but there are no guarantees that your bank will refund the lost money. Thirty-one-year-old Jenny was distraught when fraudsters impersonating her bank made off with her life savings of £17,000. Money Clinic helped her to take her case to the UK’s Financial Ombudsman, and in this episode host Claer Barrett explains how listeners could use the free ombudsman service to obtain compensation themselves. Plus Pat Hurley, the lead ombudsman at the Financial Ombudsman service, and Katy Worobec, managing director of economic crime at the banking trade body UK Finance, pass on valuable fraud prevention tips. 

Want more?

Claer’s column on record online fraud in the UK: https://www.ft.com/content/a6c5ab95-7be4-432c-83a5-79b7471afc1a

How to make a claim using the Financial Ombudsman service: ombudsman.org.uk/">https://www.financial-ombudsman.org.uk/

To stay on top of the latest scams being reported: https://www.actionfraud.police.uk/ 

If you would like to appear as a future guest on Money Clinic podcast, email the team via money@ft.com or send Claer a message on Instagram, Twitter or TikTok - she’s @Claerb

Presented by Claer Barrett. Produced by Persis Love and Philippa Goodrich. Executive producer is Manuela Saragosa. Sound design is by Breen Turner, with original music from Metaphor Music

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Would you fall for a £17,000 scam? You might think you are too smart, but criminals keep coming up with frighteningly convincing ways of parting us from our hard-earned cash. Figures released last week showed that online fraud hit a new record in 2021, with under-35s increasingly the target of ‘impersonation scams’. Fewer than half of those tricked into transferring cash to criminals ever get their money back from their bank. Victims include 31-year-old Money Clinic listener Jenny. In this repeat episode, she tells presenter Claer Barrett about how professional scammers conned her out of £17,000 in April 2021 after she clicked on a text message — and the compensation battle she’s been fighting since then. Bank fraud expert Steven McMillan provides practical advice on how to spot scams and Gareth Shaw from Which? tells listeners how to get compensation if they fall victim. Next week, we will reveal what happened when Claer helped Jenny to take her case to the financial ombudsman.

For more on the online fraud ‘epidemic’ in the UK:

https://www.ft.com/content/df5c61b1-3430-45c3-976a-3af8789a2dae

Claer’s column on record online fraud in the UK:

https://www.ft.com/content/a6c5ab95-7be4-432c-83a5-79b7471afc1a

To learn more about making a claim using the Financial Ombudsman service:

ombudsman.org.uk/">https://www.financial-ombudsman.org.uk/

To stay on top of the latest scams being reported:

https://www.actionfraud.police.uk/ 

If you would like to appear as a future guest on Money Clinic podcast, email the team via money@ft.com or send Claer a message on Instagram, Twitter or TikTok - she’s @Claerb

Presented by Claer Barrett. Produced by Persis Love and Philippa Goodrich. Executive producer is Manuela Saragosa. Sound design is by Breen Turner, with original music from Metaphor Music

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Most people know that you need a good credit score to be able to borrow money, but how to start building one up is a bit of a mystery. Money Clinic listener Emma, 22, has never been in debt before, apart from her student loans. However, she has heard that getting a credit card could increase her chances of being able to take out a mortgage in the future. Before she applies for one, what does she need to consider? Plus, if your credit score isn’t great, how can you improve it and why is this worth doing? Claer Barrett, Money Clinic presenter and the FT’s consumer editor, scrutinises Emma’s credit score, with help from Katie Watts, a consumer expert at moneysavingexpert.com and debt adviser Sara Williams, who runs a blog called The Debt Camel (@debtcamel on Twitter and Instagram). Together, they explain the hidden world of credit scores, credit files and tips on how to use credit responsibly. 

Want more?

This free-to-read FT article How to Improve Your Credit Score includes lots more tips and pointers:

https://www.ft.com/content/24b2df98-2bae-11e9-9222-7024d72222bc

If you would like to be a guest on a future episode of Money Clinic, email us at money@ft.com or send Claer a DM on social media — she’s @ClaerB on Twitter, Instagram and TikTok. 

Presented by Claer Barrett. Produced by Persis Love. Our executive producer is Manuela Saragosa. Sound design is by Breen Turner, with original music from Metaphor Music

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Global stock markets have suffered their biggest weekly drop since the start of the pandemic, and cryptocurrencies have crashed. As younger investors struggle to absorb the losses, they also have the rising cost of living to contend with. This week, Money Clinic host Claer Barrett speaks to Ashley, a 28-year-old investor who has lost thousands of pounds, about how he’s weathering the financial storm, and two of the FT’s top investment brains unpick exactly what has been happening in world markets and where things could go from here. Katie Martin, the FT’s markets editor, and Robert Armstrong, the FT’s US financial commentator and author of the Unhedged newsletter, have plenty of ideas for new investors thinking about their next move.

Want more?

Claer’s most recent FT column offers pointers to young investors: 

https://www.ft.com/content/83aa143b-1f84-48e9-a6f7-6c21deef278d

The financial advice that older FT readers would pass down to younger investors: 

 https://www.ft.com/content/1d71cdc1-5a7d-464a-9d82-bbf7b29a4656

If you would like to be a guest on a future episode of Money Clinic, email us at money@ft.com or send Claer a DM on social media — she’s @ClaerB on Twitter, Instagram and TikTok. 

Presented by Claer Barrett. Produced by Persis Love. Our executive producer is Manuela Saragosa. Sound design is by Breen Turner, with original music from Metaphor Music

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Who taught you the most about money — your dad, your mum or the internet? Traditionally, parents had the biggest influence on how people managed money in their adult lives. But all that is changing. In an unofficial Money Clinic poll ahead of Father’s Day this Sunday, while 20 per cent of listeners said their dads had been the strongest financial influence in their lives, the vast majority (71 per cent) said it was the internet, raising important questions about the role of online influencers and the lack of financial education in schools. Presenter Claer Barrett discusses with Aimée Allam, director of the FT’s Financial Literacy and Inclusion Campaign (FLIC), and millennial financial educators Andreea Ion and Jamie Galvin, who run the Stocks and Savings pages on Instagram and TikTok. 

If you would like to be a guest on a future episode of Money Clinic, email us at money@ft.com or send Claer a DM on social media — she’s @ClaerB on Twitter, Instagram and TikTok. 

To follow Andreea and Jamie on social media, look for @stocksandsavings 

To learn more about FLIC, and read lots of free FT articles about financial literacy, visit www.ft.com/flic 

Presented by Claer Barrett. Produced by Persis Love. Our executive producer is Manuela Saragosa. Sound design is by Breen Turner, with original music from Metaphor Music

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As the cost of living rises, securing a pay rise is likely to be the top item on your financial to-do list. So how can you maximise your chances of getting one?  This week on Money Clinic, we’ve joined forces with the FT’s Working It podcast to return to one of our most popular episodes: “How to ask for a pay rise - and get one!” Back in November, podcast listener Max told presenters Claer Barrett and Isabel Berwick about how he hoped to negotiate a raise with his current employer after being approached by headhunters offering more money elsewhere. In this special episode, Max tells us what happened next, and whether the experts’ advice paid off. Plus, Isabel explores what managers can do to help their teams asking for higher pay, especially if there is no budget for it. This episode will help you gather the tools and tips you need – and also tell you what not to do. 

Want more?  

Listen again to the advice from Claer, Isabel and Jonathan Black, the FT’s “Dear Jonathan” careers agony uncle, on the Money Clinic podcast from November  https://www.ft.com/content/04b1176f-b6c8-4488-971b-9ded3358a324

Two FT features by a behavioural economist on how to craft a case for a pay rise and how to use storytelling to make your argument https://www.ft.com/content/09ce507b-914a-4988-9a56-cf5181e1678d

https://www.ft.com/content/967db31f-f49b-4039-a295-23db588d2a1c

How to ask for a raise: HBR tips and video https://hbr.org/2021/11/christine-vs-work-how-to-ask-for-a-raise

FT subscriber? Sign up for the weekly Working It newsletter. We cover all things workplace and management — plus exclusive reporting on trends, tips and what’s coming next. One-click sign up at www.ft.com/newsletters

We love to hear from you. What do you like (or not)? What topics should we tackle? Email the team at workingit@ft.com or Isabel directly at isabel.berwick@ft.com">isabel.berwick@ft.com. Follow @isabelberwick on Twitter. Subscribe to Working It wherever you get your podcasts — please listen, rate and subscribe! 

Presented by Isabel Berwick. Editorial direction from Renée Kaplan and Manuela Saragosa. Assistant producer is Persis Love. Sound design is by Breen Turner, with original music from Metaphor Music. Produced by Novel.

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Introducing Behind the Money. This is part 1 of 2 in a mini-series on crypto. Part 2 is available now here: https://link.chtbl.com/BTMMC

First up, we're wondering: is a crypto vibe shift underway? Bitcoin’s price has been dropping for weeks and earlier this month, a popular stablecoin collapsed. FT reporter Ethan Wu explains how the effects of that rippled into other areas of the crypto universe. Michela and Ethan will talk about what stablecoins are and why they matter — even for people who aren’t crypto investors.

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Rishi Sunak has just unveiled a £15bn support package to help households as the average UK energy bill is predicted to hit £2,800 a year. Even with the chancellor’s help, plenty of people will still be feeling the pinch - but this episode is packed with practical tips and advice to help you save on your energy bills. 

Presenter Claer Barrett hears from Bella who is renting a draughty Victorian flat, and wants to know her rights before she tackles her landlord. Homeowner Sam has seen his bills skyrocket, and wonders if insulating his property would be a wise investment. On hand with tips for Bella and Sam are Gemma Hatvani, founder of the Facebook group, Energy Support and Advice UK, and Brian Horne, a senior advisor at the Energy Saving Trust.

If you would like to be a guest on a future episode of Money Clinic, email us at money@ft.com or send Claer a DM on social media - she’s @ClaerB on Twitter, Instagram and TikTok. 

To read a free FT.com article about how the new energy help measures will work, click here: https://on.ft.com/3lQlGPz 

Presented by Claer Barrett. Produced by Persis Love. Our executive producer is Manuela Saragosa. Sound design is by Breen Turner, with original music from Metaphor Music.

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This month’s crash in the value of cryptocurrencies has wiped out investments for people all over the world. In Bangalore, 29-year-old Subbaiah watched in horror as his $7,000 crypto holdings in luna and terra collapsed. Even investors holding other cryptocurrencies as part of a diversified portfolio are feeling the sting.

Scott Chipolina, the FT’s digital assets correspondent, and Ilan Solot, a partner at crypto group Tagus Capital, discuss what the future could hold for crypto as an asset class, what more could be done to protect consumers — and the steps investors can take to protect themselves.

If you’ve lost money in the crash and need to talk to someone, here’s a link to the Reddit thread containing all of the national helplines you could turn to for support: https://www.reddit.com/r/terraluna/comments/un57df/for_everyone_panicking_here_are_some_national/

Presented by Claer Barrett. Produced by Persis Love. Our executive producer is Manuela Saragosa. Sound design is by Breen Turner, with original music from Metaphor Music. 

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If you hated maths at school, does it follow that you’ll be bad at managing money as an adult? Money Clinic host Claer Barrett hears from Jade, a 21-year-old self-employed graduate, who says even thinking about numbers makes her feel anxious, bringing back memories of not knowing the answer in school maths lessons. In her adult life, it’s affecting Jade’s ability to manage her finances, particularly as the cost of living rises. But Jade’s problem is far from uncommon — half of working-age adults in the UK have the numeracy skills expected of a child at primary school – and ahead of National Numeracy Day on Wednesday May 18, Money Clinic hears from a trio of experts on how to improve your numeracy skills. They are Bobby Seagull, the TV personality and Britain’s most famous maths teacher, Mr MoneyJar, aka Timi Merriman-Johnson, and Suzanne Dale, who teaches adult numeracy in the workplace.

To take the 10-minute National Numeracy Challenge and download many other free resources, visit the National Numeracy website: https://www.nationalnumeracy.org.uk/challenge/

Got a money issue that you’d like to talk to us about? Please email the team via money@ft.com or send Claer a DM on social media - she’s @ClaerB 

Presented by Claer Barrett. Produced by Persis Love. Our executive producer is Manuela Saragosa. Sound design is by Breen Turner, with original music from Metaphor Music. 

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A year ago, 24-year-old Evvia, a full-time care assistant in Norwich, started a vintage knitwear business from her bedroom. Today, her Loupy Studio label has more than 40,000 followers on Instagram, and she’s receiving orders from all over the world. Evvia’s creations are in such hot demand she’s going to have to scale back her hours at her day job — but she wonders how this might knit together financially.

Money Clinic host and FT consumer editor Claer Barrett gets advice from Jo Ellison, editor of the FT’s How to Spend It, about whether Evvia should increase her prices, and the financial challenges facing young designers. Plus, chartered accountant Deborah Edwards from Raised Up Finance unravels important questions about tax, different company structures and how entrepreneurs like Evvia can develop a growth mindset for their businesses.

To listen, click on the link above, or search for Money Clinic wherever you get your podcasts.

If you would like to be a future guest on the show, please email money@ft.com or follow Claer on social media @ClaerB 

Check out last season’s episode about side hustles here and here 

Presented by Claer Barrett. Produced by Persis Love. Our executive producer is Manuela Saragosa. Sound design is by Breen Turner, with original music from Metaphor Music.

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Buying your first home is one of the biggest financial decisions you’ll ever have to make, so how can you prepare for it? On the Money Clinic podcast this week, presenter Claer Barrett meets a couple  — 29-year-old Alex and her partner 31-year-old Sarah — who are midway through their property buying journey. They have lots of questions: Did they get the right kind of mortgage? Should they prepare for unexpected costs? And what other financial questions should they consider before signing on the dotted line? Claer sources advice from Daniel Knott, the mortgage broker who posts as @DanDoesMortgages on Instagram, as well as Jo Little, who runs chartered financial planning firm Emery Little. 

If you would like to be a guest on a future episode, you can email the team at money@ft.com or drop @ClaerB a DM on Twitter, Instagram or TikTok.

Follow Dan on social media @DanDoesMortgages 

You can read Jo Little’s blog here: https://emerylittle.com/author/joannalittle/

This free to read FT article goes into more detail about the legal aspects of joint property ownership: https://www.ft.com/content/f321264f-bb8e-472b-9f95-a4bd26b6d89b

This will help you find out how much you might have to pay in stamp duty: https://www.which.co.uk/money/mortgages-and-property/home-movers/stamp-duty/stamp-duty-calculator-ar7uu5s1fycx

Presented by Claer Barrett. Produced by Persis Love. Our executive producer is Manuela Saragosa. Sound design is by Breen Turner, with original music from Metaphor Music. 

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How financially compatible are you as a couple? On Money Clinic podcast this week, presenter Claer Barrett meets newly-weds Sahil and Priya, who have very different attitudes to money.

Sahil is a spender and a high-risk investor. Priya is a diehard saver who finds it hard to enjoy spending her hard-earned cash. The couple want to iron out their financial differences, but confess that conversations about money often end in arguments or nagging.

Financial psychotherapist Vicky Reynal examines the roots of the couple’s attitudes to money and suggests how they could move forward. Ken Okoroafor, money expert and co-founder of The Humble Penny website, advises how couples can communicate and work towards shared financial goals. 

If you have a money question you’d like to see tackled on the show, email money@ft.com or send Claer a DM on social media - she’s @Claerb on Instagram, Twitter and TikTok. 

Follow Ken on Instagram https://instagram.com/thehumblepenny and visit his website at https://thehumblepenny.com. Find Vicky here: psychotherapist.co.uk/">https://www.reynal-psychotherapist.co.uk/

And for more ideas, check out Claer’s free to read FT column: Six ways to manage money - and not fall out with your partner: https://on.ft.com/35qQJZd

Presented by Claer Barrett. Produced by Persis Love. Our executive producer is Manuela Saragosa. Sound design is by Breen Turner, with original music from Metaphor Music.

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Record inflation! Soaring energy prices! Tax rises! Those are the gloomy economic and financial headlines, but three-quarters of the readers who answered an FT poll said they expected their bonus to be bigger, or substantially bigger, than last year’s.  

If you’re lucky enough to be one of those people, this episode is for you, because the squeeze on living standards and turbulent world markets mean it’s even more important to use your bonus wisely.

Claer is joined in the FT studio by three experts, FT columnist and former investment banker James Max, Nimesh Shah, chief executive of tax specialists Blick Rothenberg, and Susannah Streeter, senior investment and markets analyst at Hargreaves Landsdown. The three of them give their views on the comments from the FT readers who bravely bared their financial souls to tell us whether they intended to spend, save or invest their bonus.

If you would like to be a future guest on Money Clinic podcast, please email the team via money@ft.com or follow Claer on social media @Claerb. 

Read the results of Claer’s bonus season survey here: https://www.ft.com/content/4deb9688-5c35-4d4b-a364-a43e0d000995

James Max on how to get a bigger bonus: https://www.ft.com/content/aacbd190-535c-47dc-8046-b9ea31415aca

Want advice getting a pay rise? Listen to this episode of Money Clinic: https://www.ft.com/content/eeb84e5e-acf2-4b92-a99a-bd3514e1837d

Presented by Claer Barrett. Produced by Persis Love. Our executive producer is Manuela Saragosa. Sound design is by Breen Turner, with original music from Metaphor Music.

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Why does the crew of the world’s biggest rock band have its own financial literacy programme? Well, life in the music industry is rife with financial instability - workers are often on short-term contracts, missing out on employee benefits such as pension savings and health insurance. A tour can stop at the drop of a hat - when a rockstar breaks their leg, or a pandemic hits - and workers are left without any income.

That's why, when the retirement planning nonprofit, Alliance for Lifetime Income, became the Stones tour's latest sponsor, production manager Dale Skjerseth came up with an idea for helping the younger roadies manage their money better. 

This episode is packed with financial tips for budgeting and long-term saving, especially for gig and short-term contract workers. Featuring Stones roadies Nick and Dale, and Alliance for Lifetime Income chief executive Jean Statler.

If you would like to be a future guest on Money Clinic podcast, please email the team via money@ft.com or follow Claer on social media @Claerb. 

Check out Claer’s column ‘The mere thought of retirement stresses me out’ ​​https://www.ft.com/content/d44f0e55-5726-47f3-af31-bfc49aae0e16

And her free to read retirement planning guide for readers of all ages - How Covid-19 rebooted retirement: https://www.ft.com/content/2984f010-3496-4859-875d-deb23edcd2baC

If you’re in the US, you can access loads of information about saving for retirement on the website of the Alliance for Lifetime Income - https://www.protectedincome.org/

You can also delve into the Money Clinic back catalogue. Our previous episodes include getting started in investing: https://www.ft.com/content/e035ebf1-a9ff-4057-a1bb-591f2be296e4

Sorting out your pension: https://www.ft.com/content/99d962b7-dd15-4a7c-a3c8-40ba883ea1be

And financial tips for the self employed: https://www.ft.com/content/9889e9c6-1168-4a5d-b5a6-8ab84ea36c92

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Ashley dreams of owning his own home, but is well aware that the cash he is saving for a deposit is at the mercy of rising inflation. Would he be better off investing his money in his pension, in stocks and shares, or should he stay focused on getting on the property ladder?

Expert guests Paul Johnson, director of the Institute for Fiscal Studies, and Jason Butler, financial guru and FT columnist, have lots to say about the challenges facing younger investors, and offer tips for devising a long-term financial strategy.

If you would like to be a future guest on Money Clinic podcast, please email the team via money@ft.com or follow Claer on social media @Claerb. 

To read Claer’s FT column about how 20-somethings are being forced to choose between targeting property or pensions, click on this link: https://www.ft.com/content/2815d35d-2297-4712-a4c5-0178de343eb1 

To hear Claer chatting to Paul Johnson in-depth about the pensions challenges facing young people on the IFS podcast, click here: https://ifs.org.uk/podcast/should-people-be-saving-more-for-retirement 

To listen to our previous episode ‘How to get a pay rise’, click here: https://www.ft.com/content/eeb84e5e-acf2-4b92-a99a-bd3514e1837d 

You may also be interested to hear our previous episode about using the Lifetime Isa or Help to Buy Isa to save up for a property: https://www.ft.com/content/bf08da37-7901-4446-811b-ceef108824b4 

Presented by Claer Barrett. Produced by Persis Love. Our executive producer is Manuela Saragosa. Sound design is by Breen Turner, with original music from Metaphor Music. 

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With so many investing options out there, getting the right balance for your portfolio can be difficult. So this week presenter Claer Barrett has invited two listeners in for a portfolio makeover. Thirty-seven-year-old James holds UK-focused equities in his stocks and shares Isa. He was doing well, but market movements and rising inflation have made him think he might need to diversify. Thirty-four-year-old Gillian has taken a different approach, investing as much as she can into her company pension. However, she hasn’t paid much attention to what her pension is actually invested in.

Investment experts Rosie Carr, editor of the Investors Chronicle, and Russ Mould, investment director at AJ Bell, give their views on how James and Gillian can get the best out of their investments. Tips include how investors can manage the threat of rising inflation, different ways of approaching asset allocation and building a diversified portfolio.

If you want to hear more about how to get started on your investment journey, try this episode of Money Clinic:  https://www.ft.com/content/e035ebf1-a9ff-4057-a1bb-591f2be296e4

Want to talk to Claer on the show? Email money@ft.com or drop her a line on Instagram @Claerb

Finally, Money Clinic is a general discussion about investment topics, and does not constitute an investment recommendation or individual financial advice. Your capital is at risk when you invest.

Presented by Claer Barrett. Produced by Persis Love. Our executive producer is Manuela Saragosa. Sound design is by Breen Turner, with original music from Metaphor Music.

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Investors traditionally turn to gold as a ‘haven investment’ during volatile times so it will come as no surprise that Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, as well as rising global inflation, have caused a jump in its price. But there are many ways to invest in gold and in this episode, presenter Claer Barrett, the FT’s consumer editor, visits the vault of a gold shop in Mayfair and speaks to FT columnist Merryn Somerset Webb about what role gold can play in an investment portfolio.

Read Merryn’s column at https://www.ft.com/merryn-somerset-webb

Presented by Claer Barrett. Produced by Persis Love. Our executive producer is Manuela Saragosa. Sound design is by Breen Turner, with original music from Metaphor Music. 

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Next month has been dubbed ‘Awful April’ as the cost of pretty much everything is going up — but is your budget ready to withstand the strain? 22-year-old podcast listener Lil is worried about how she’ll cope with higher energy bills, rising rent and bigger food bills at the supermarket — not to mention National Insurance increases and changes to her student loan repayments. She’s already pretty thrifty — so can presenter Claer Barrett come up with more ways that Lil could stretch her money further?

Charlotte Jessop, founder of the website Looking After Your Pennies, explains easy ways everyone can get to grips with budgeting and saving money, as well as ideas for boosting your income. Plus, Claer visits the home of Miguel Barclay, better known on Instagram as the £1 chef, to see what budgeting tips he’s been cooking up in his latest book.

You can follow all of the podcast experts on Instagram: @Claerb, @lookingafteryourpennies, @miguelbarclay 

To make the fried rice recipe Miguel cooked up for Claer, click here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JT2bzS-vnF4

Here’s the link to claim tax relief worth up to £125 if you’ve worked from home in the UK: https://www.gov.uk/tax-relief-for-employees/working-at-home

To listen to our previous episode How to get a payrise, click here: https://www.ft.com/content/eeb84e5e-acf2-4b92-a99a-bd3514e1837d

Charlotte’s recommended websites that offer small payments for completing consumer surveys include YouGov, Prolific and UserTesting.

Presented by Claer Barrett. Produced by Persis Love. Our executive producer is Manuela Saragosa. Sound design is by Breen Turner, with original music from Metaphor Music.

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From the highs and lows of crypto, to weathering the cost of living crisis, to your financial compatibility with your partner - Money Clinic is here to help you feel more in control of your finances.

New episodes every Tuesday from March 15.

Presented by Claer Barrett. Produced by Persis Love. Our executive producer is Manuela Saragosa. Sound design is by Breen Turner, with original music from Metaphor Music.

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REPEAT: This week, Money Clinic is having a pay rise takeover - we’ll be pulling apart that big, scary box labelled ‘Asking for a pay rise’ - and unpacking the dos, the don’ts, the tips and tricks for getting the salary you think you are worth.

Visiting our pay-rise clinic today are three podcast listeners with three different financial predicaments: Natalie keeps getting knocked back when she asks for a raise; Max knows that he could get paid more elsewhere, and Charlotte is trying to negotiate a bonus that really matches the effort she puts into her job. With expert advice from Isabel Berwick, the Financial Times’ work and careers editor and presenter of the Working It podcast, and Jonathan Black, director of the University of Oxford’s careers service and the brains behind the FT’s popular ‘Dear Jonathan’ advice column, this is a podcast you can’t afford to miss. 

Listen and subscribe to the Working It podcast: https://link.chtbl.com/0mRZG4fx

Check out the Dear Jonathan column: https://www.ft.com/dear-jonathan

Plus the FT’s recent article: Want to get a pay rise? Here’s how! https://www.ft.com/content/967db31f-f49b-4039-a295-23db588d2a1c

Want to be a future guest? Email us at money@ft.com or reach out to Claer on Instagram and Twitter: @ClaerB. 

Presented by Claer Barrett. Executive producer is Manuela Saragosa. Produced by Persis Love. Assistant producer is Talia Augustidis. Sound design by Breen Turner.

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With nearly 11m people in the UK set to file their tax returns by January 31, are you dreading the annual nightmare - or have you already got it licked? In this bonus episode of Money Clinic, we answer all of the questions about tax returns that you wanted to ask. With more people starting side-hustles and small businesses during the pandemic, how much extra income do you need to earn before you have to submit a return?

Presenter Claer Barrett discusses how apps can make the whole process easier, and whether it pays to get an accountant. Plus, she explores how freelancers can legitimately reduce their bills by claiming tax-deductible expenses, or negotiate extra time to pay. Jacquetta Brown, tax specialist at HM Revenue & Customs, and chartered accountant Deborah Edwards, who runs the money mentoring programme Raised Up Finance, are on hand to demystify the jargon and pinpoint sources of help.

If you would like to be a guest on the next season of the show, email the podcast team money@ft.com or follow Claer on Twitter and Instagram @Claerb.

You can follow Deborah on Instagram @raisedup.finance 

Further reading: 

To find out more about using salary sacrifice to legitimately reduce your tax bills, check out this free-to-read FT piece from Claer: https://www.ft.com/content/ff8021b9-7847-4ef5-9f20-abb2ea2d6d93

And if you’re looking for more tips about running a freelance business, this free-to-read piece has plenty of them: Financial Tips for the self-employed https://www.ft.com/content/3462f359-8a1d-4a1e-9098- a14bded3f00d

To claim the working from home allowance, follow this link to the Gov.uk website: https://www.gov.uk/tax-relief-for-employees/working-at-home

To check out the HMRC YouTube channel, click here https://www.youtube.com/user/HMRCgovuk/playlists

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When Lucy Kellaway left the Financial Times and retrained as an economics teacher, she could not have predicted how the cryptocurrency craze would sweep through British classrooms. But is there anything on the school curriculum to teach teens about the risks of unregulated investments, or even basic financial literacy? Lucy thinks not.

The FT’s Financial Literacy and Inclusion Campaign — FLIC for short — is hoping to change all that.

In this special Christmas edition of the Money Clinic podcast, presenter Claer Barrett hears why Lucy and other top FT writers are supporting a greater focus on teaching finance in schools, as they recall their own formative experiences with money.Taking listeners on a tour of the FT’s City of London office, she hears from Patrick Jenkins, the FT’s deputy editor and trustee of the charity, who shares financial mistakes he made as a teenager in the 1980s, and US managing editor Peter Spiegel who explains why he thinks there’s a specific culture around money in the US.

If you would like to read more about FLIC’s charitable aims, or to make a donation to support the charity’s work, please visit www.ftflic.com 

You can follow FLIC on Twitter and Instagram @FT_Flic 

There are dozens of free-to-read articles about financial literacy here https://www.ft.com/ft-seasonal-appeal 

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REPEAT: 2021, like 2020, was another turbulent year for most people’s finances, but the new year provides the perfect opportunity to set some “financial resolutions”.The guests on Money Clinic are millennial couple Toby and Siobhan and they’re looking for some timeless “fin-spiration” to get their money to work harder. They’ve paid off their credit cards under lockdown, and are wondering where to direct their spare cash. How much could they save if they overpaid their mortgage — and how would that compare to putting more into their pensions or other investments. There’s also one financial to-do that they’re been putting off for a long time — making a will. Money experts Ken Okoroafor from The Humble Penny and Dan Garrett, co-founder of digital will-writing service Farewill, provide expert tips.

If you would like to talk to Claer for a future podcast episode, email the Money Clinic team money@ft.com with a brief description of your story. Follow Claer on Twitter and Instagram @Claerb and read her weekly Serious Money column in the FT Money section of the FT Weekend newspaper.

You can follow Ken Okoroafor on Twitter and Instagram @TheHumblePenny

If you’re looking for fresh ideas about what to do with your money in 2021, Claer has asked podcast hosts from the finance and business world to share their financial New Year’s resolutions for 2021. Covering investing, saving, financial planning and side hustling, you can read insights from Patricia Bright (Caught Off Guard), Emma Gannon (Ctrl Alt Delete), Chris Browning (Popcorn Finance), the FT’s former editor Lionel Barber (What’s Next?) and many more by clicking on this link: https://www.ft.com/content/8a09fc2d-4c25-4d81-8835-a5517c6cb3d3

And here’s some further reading for listeners who are considering making a will. The pandemic has forced through legal changes making it much easier for people in England and Wales to make a “digital will” online. Read this FT Money piece to find out how: https://www.ft.com/content/4df16e49-940f-46f2-b0b4-6a82c011c3ba

And for a more general grounding in the topic, read this FT article - 10 things you need to know before making a will: https://www.ft.com/content/c5559861-6c19-4fdb-a652-4059cf5e6bd0

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REPEAT: Claer explores how young people can use the popular tax-free Isa accounts to invest or buy their first property. This week, she meets Ryan, a 22-year-old graduate who confesses he has three Isa accounts, but doesn’t know how best to use them — or how to unlock savings bonuses potentially worth tens of thousands of pounds. 

Expert and practical help is on hand from Harleigh Reid, who used a Help to Buy Isa to buy her first flat at the age of just 24, and Young Money blogger Iona Bain who explains the rules of the new Lifetime Isa, which can be used for property or investing.  

If you would like to talk to Claer for a future podcast episode, email the Money Clinic team money@ft.com with a brief description of your story. Follow Claer on Twitter and Instagram @Claerb and read her weekly Serious Money column in the FT Money section of the FT Weekend newspaper.

Further reading:

If you’re new to investing, listen to this past Money Clinic episode on starting out https://www.ft.com/content/caedf0b3-4052-430c-99b4-107ea093d3fc

If you’re ready to rock with an investment Isa, check out this free-to-read FT column by Claer: https://www.ft.com/content/684dbb86-40b4-11e9-b896-fe36ec32aec

Harleigh Reid also hosts her own YouTube site: https://www.youtube.com/user/TheHarlsz

Check out Iona Bain’s Young Money blog here https://www.youngmoneyblog.co.uk/ or read her FT column about her Lifetime Isa here https://www.ft.com/content/52ad32d8-ac7b-11e9-b3e2-4fdf846f48f5

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REPEAT: Putting all of your pension savings in one place to make it easier to manage your retirement plans sounds like a sensible idea — but it’s not necessarily the right solution for everyone. Claer Barrett meets 51-year-old Tina who has spent lockdown searching for all of her old pensions: some have performed better than hoped, but others have had high charges, and she has a gap in her UK state pension contributions due to working overseas. Experts Sir Steve Webb of Lane Clark & Peacock and Catherine Morgan, a financial planner behind the ‘In Her Financial Shoes’ podcast, provide tips for people of all ages looking to sort out their pension savings.

If you would like to talk to Claer for a future podcast episode, email the Money Clinic team money@ft.com with a brief description of your story. Follow Claer on Twitter and Instagram @Claerb and read her weekly Serious Money column in the FT Money section of the FT Weekend newspaper.

Further reading

Let’s start with the basics. If you’re struggling to get your head around what a pension is, why you need one, and how they work, then check out this free to read column from Claer https://www.ft.com/content/05e5ded2-7a74-11e6-b837-eb4b4333ee43

To track down lost pensions, try the UK government’s Pensions Tracing Service, which is free to use - but please do be careful of copycat websites run by commercial firms https://www.gov.uk/find-pension-contact-details

To check how many years’ worth of UK state pension contributions you’ve made, what you could receive in retirement and if you have any missing years, use the government’s free Check your State Pension service https://www.gov.uk/check-state-pension

The UK government page Your State Pension Explained contains more information on what counts as a qualifying year https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/your-new-state-pension-explained/your-state-pension-explained

Read this UK government advice page about extra National Insurance contributions to your UK state pension https://www.gov.uk/voluntary-national-insurance-contributions

Contact the Future Pension Centre to find out if you would benefit from voluntary NI contributions https://www.gov.uk/future-pension-centre

The UK government’s International Pension Centre provides advice and information for those who have lived or worked overseas https://www.gov.uk/international-pension-centre

Want to talk to someone about your pensions options? If you’re over 50, then you can use the UK government’s free Pension Wise service to get detailed guidance from an adviser on your retirement options https://www.pensionwise.gov.uk/en

Emma Maslin, who blogs as The Money Whisperer, wrote this FT column asking self-employed women how good their pensions are

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This week, Money Clinic is having a pay rise takeover - we’ll be pulling apart that big, scary box labelled ‘Asking for a pay rise’ - and unpacking the dos, the don’ts, the tips and tricks for getting the salary you think you are worth.

Visiting our pay-rise clinic today are three podcast listeners with three different financial predicaments: Natalie keeps getting knocked back when she asks for a raise; Max knows that he could get paid more elsewhere, and Charlotte is trying to negotiate a bonus that really matches the effort she puts into her job.

With expert advice from Isabel Berwick, the Financial Times’ work and careers editor and presenter of the Working It podcast, and Jonathan Black, director of the University of Oxford’s careers service and the brains behind the FT’s popular ‘Dear Jonathan’ advice column, this is a podcast you can’t afford to miss. 

Listen and subscribe to the Working It podcast: https://link.chtbl.com/0mRZG4fx

Check out the Dear Jonathan column: https://www.ft.com/dear-jonathan

Plus the FT’s recent article: Want to get a pay rise? Here’s how! https://www.ft.com/content/967db31f-f49b-4039-a295-23db588d2a1c

Want to be a future guest? Email us at money@ft.com or reach out to Claer on Instagram and Twitter: @ClaerB. 

Presented by Claer Barrett. Executive producer is Manuela Saragosa. Produced by Persis Love. Assistant producer is Talia Augustidis. Sound design by Breen Turner.

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Following the COP26 conference in Glasgow, many climate-conscious investors want to know how to match up their investments with their values. 

The short answer is environmental, social and governance investing — ESG for short. But there are plenty of questions around how ‘green’ this really is.

Thirty-year-old Harri appeared on one of the first episodes of Money Clinic last year, and his decision to invest in ESG funds appears to have paid off: he has made a decent return. However, he wonders how much this has been down to the underlying investment performance and how much because of the soaring popularity of ESG investments. With a record $3.9tn now held in sustainable assets worldwide, is this outperformance sustainable? 

Claer is joined by the FT’s Manuela Saragosa and Share Action’s Catherine Howarth, who have put ESG investing to the test. They offer practical tips on how to make greener choices with your pension,Isa and becoming an activist shareholder. Plus, they debate how worried investors should be about ‘greenwashing’. 

If you enjoyed this episode, check out five ESG themed episodes on the FT podcast Behind the Money. Want to be a future guest? Email us at money@ft.com or reach out to Claer on Instagram and Twitter: @ClaerB. 

Presented by Claer Barrett. Executive producer is Manuela Saragosa. Produced by Persis Love. Assistant producer is Talia Augustidis. Sound design by Breen Turner.

Clips: Sky News, CNBC International, UN Climate Change, Guardian News. 

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Many dream of being an elite footballer, but what’s it like actually earning a professional player’s salary? 

In the second half of this two-part podcast special, Claer Barrett explores the darker side of earning staggering sums as a young player. Unscrupulous financial advisers, risky investments, gambling, injuries and early retirement can all cut short your earning potential - and there are lessons here for all of us. She hears from Gareth Farrelly, a former Premier League footballer who narrowly avoided death - and financial ruin - when his playing career ended, but has now reinvented himself as a top sports lawyer. Plus, former England player Sol Campbell and AFC Bournemouth full-back Jack Stacey reveal how they manage their money, and what listeners can learn from this. 

If you liked the show, please leave a review. Want to be a future guest? Email us at money@ft.com or reach out to Claer on Instagram and Twitter: @ClaerB

For more about the business of sport, head to Scoreboard, the FT’s weekly briefing on the key financial issues affecting the global sports industry, at www.ft.com/scoreboard. 

If you enjoyed this episode, check out this Financial Times article by sports reporter Sam Agini https://www.ft.com/content/6d074e57-adf3-494a-98b9-6d0bc169c440

Or this article on the perils of making a fortune at a young age https://www.ft.com/content/a5297c2c-03fe-47e0-b13a-6d20f7d2b3f8

Presented by Claer Barrett. Executive producer is Manuela Saragosa. Produced by Persis Love. Assistant producer is Talia Augustidis. Sound design by Breen Turner.

Clips: afcbTV

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Many dream of being an elite footballer, but what’s it like actually earning a pro player’s salary? Top football players earn staggering amounts of money, but even they are not immune from financial challenges. These range from planning for a career that could end by the age of 35 to teenage players struggling to manage such large financial windfalls. In the first half of this two-part podcast special, Claer Barrett speaks to former England player Sol Campbell and AFC Bournemouth full back Jack Stacey about the reality, both good and bad, of earning a footballer’s salary. Plus, Daniel Geey on why there’s so much money in football.

If you liked the show, please leave a review. Email us at money@ft.com or reach out to Claer on Instagram and Twitter: @ClaerB

If you enjoyed this episode, check out this Financial Times article by sports reporter Sam Agini https://www.ft.com/content/6d074e57-adf3-494a-98b9-6d0bc169c440 Or this article on the perils of making a fortune at a young age https://www.ft.com/content/a5297c2c-03fe-47e0-b13a-6d20f7d2b3f8

Check out Daniel Geey’s book and podcast here: https://www.danielgeey.com/

Presented by Claer Barrett. Executive producer is Manuela Saragosa. Produced by Persis Love. Assistant producer is Talia Augustidis. Sound design by Breen Turner.

Clips: afcbTV

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This is the podcast about doing work differently. Join host Isabel Berwick every Wednesday for expert analysis and watercooler chat about ahead-of-the-curve workplace trends, the big ideas shaping work today — and the old habits we need to leave behind. 

Subscribe on Apple https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/working-it/id1591925469 - On Spotify https://open.spotify.com/show/5vNDHxEOc1pI1acJS7He5e Or wherever you get your podcasts.

The wellness industry is a trillion-dollar business, and the pandemic has turbo-charged it. One of the biggest trends has been the rise in employers buying their staff access to meditation and fitness apps. But does this ‘quick fix’ approach work? And are there better ways to boost wellbeing ? 

Isabel talks to Lorna Borenstein, chief executive of Grokker, a corporate wellness app about the reasons why she set up the platform and how clients and her own staff use it. It’s all part of a culture of taking care of employees - a topic Lorna has explored more deeply in her book It’s Personal, offering advice to other managers on how to help staff feel better [tl;dr: talk less, listen more].We also speak to FT colleague Emma Jacobs, about the corporate care culture. She is a little more skeptical. 

We would love to hear from you - email us at workingit@ft.com. You can also follow @isabelberwick on Twitter and Instagram or reach out via email: isabel.berwick@ft.com">isabel.berwick@ft.com. Thanks. 

Mentioned in the podcast and other interesting reading:

• Emma Jacobs’ prophetic pre-pandemic guide to workplace wellness by app: https://www.ft.com/content/d1d58aae-437c-11ea-abea-0c7a29cd66fe
• FT series, Burnout: https://www.ft.com/burnout
• Deloitte report [2020] on employee mental health showing £5 benefit for every £1 spent: health-and-employers-refreshing-the-case-for-investment.html">https://www2.deloitte.com/uk/en/pages/consulting/articles/mental-health-and-employers-refreshing-the-case-for-investment.html  
• Video, Emma Jacobs on how to detox from your smartphone: ft-com.newman.richmond.edu/video/b4115321-b915-3a42-9814-ad0be4c0e7f5?playlist-name=section-0b83bc44-4a55-4958-882e-73ba6b2b0aa6&playlist-offset=206">https://www-ft-com.newman.richmond.edu/video/b4115321-b915-3a42-9814-ad0be4c0e7f5?playlist-name=section-0b83bc44-4a55-4958-882e-73ba6b2b0aa6&playlist-offset=206

Presented by Isabel Berwick. Editorial direction from Renée Kaplan. Assistant producer is Persis Love. Sound design is by Breen Turner, with original music from Metaphor Music. Produced by Novel.

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Have you ever wondered what it would be like to manage an investment portfolio worth hundreds of billions of pounds? Global equities specialist Malcolm MacColl is one of two managing partners at the helm of Baillie Gifford, the Scottish asset management company, which manages more than £350bn worth of investors’ cash. An early investor in Amazon, Tesla and Moderna, Baillie Gifford’s long-term approach to investing in tech companies has paid dividends. However, its approach is being tested by volatile markets in China, where the value of Chinese tech companies has been hit by a government crackdown. 

On today’s episode, Malcolm reveals how Baillie Gifford’s fund management team build an “investment hypothesis” for each company they choose to back, and why every investor should build a “coffee can portfolio” of shares they’d like to hold for 20 years. We also hear from FT investment columnist Merryn Somerset Webb who is less upbeat about China’s long-term prospects.

Further reading:

To listen to Merryn’s own Investment Masterclass, click here 

Read the FT’s profile on Baillie Gifford here 

Follow Claer on Instagram and Twitter @ClaerB and send her a DM if you’d like to appear as a future guest, or email the team on money@ft.com 

The podcasts Malcolm mentioned are:

Farnam Street 

https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-knowledge-project-with-shane-parrish/id990149481

Coburn Ventures 

https://open.spotify.com/show/3aKPYkLblhxAAPMj3BCgR6?si=QmAPgFCUSVWA5ENKXETuJA

Patrick O’Shaughnessy

https://open.spotify.com/show/22fi0RqfoBACCuQDv97wFO?si=QjYqX5dVRLC2K6e2uf8zyA

Presented by Claer Barrett. Produced and edited by Clare Williamson and Persis Love. Sound design by Breen Turner.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Students were up in arms after reading the Financial Times scoop that the UK government is considering lowering the salary level at which graduates have to start repaying their loans. 

Currently, student loan repayments start when you earn more than £27,225 per year, but the FT has reported this could be reduced to around £23,000 in future. Any changes are expected to apply retrospectively to those who started university courses after 2012, including this week’s podcast guest, 24-year-old graduate Ola, who fears how much any changes could cost her. 

“If this is retrospective, then for me it's a breach of natural justice and it's certainly something I would be yelling about,” Martin Lewis tells Claer. “Should students be scared? Yes.”

As well as exploring the likely impact on young people’s budgets, we hear from FT reporter Bethan Staton about the political motivation for any changes to the loans system. 

Further reading:

Vote for Money Clinic in the Lovie Awards here (deadline Thursday Oct 21)

Check out Claer’s free to read FT column on how student loan changes could add up for you

Watch Martin’s YouTube video on why he opposes changes to the system 

Here’s the original FT news story on the expected changes 

Follow Ola on Instagram @AllThingsMoney     

Follow Claer on Instagram and Twitter @ClaerB and send her a DM if you’d like to appear as a future guest, or email the team on money@ft.com 

Presented by Claer Barrett. Produced and edited by Persis Love. Sound design by Breen Turner.

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Plenty of people in their 30s, 40s and even 50s have yet to start saving for retirement, and are anxious about how to begin. Today’s show is packed with tips for so-called ‘late starters’ like this week’s guest David, who is 38 and self-employed. Incredibly, David is planning for a retirement that he never thought he’d live to see. As Claer hears, a revolutionary new treatment for cystic fibrosis has transformed his life expectancy. Financial experts Claire Walsh and Moira O’Neill offer guidance for fellow late starters, weighing up the merits of pensions and stocks and shares Isas. Plus, they advise David how to factor in the additional challenges of living with a disability. 

Further reading:

Check out our episode on finances for the self-employed here 

Or listen to our episode about tracking down and consolidating old pensions

Moira’s FT column about pension saving in your 40s is available here

Claire Walsh’s website is walsh.co.uk/">here

The Cystic Fibrosis Trust has published this guide about employment rights

Presented by Claer Barrett. Produced and edited by Persis Love. Sound design by Breen Turner.

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Peter McCormack, bitcoin bull and voice of the hugely popular 'What Bitcoin Did' podcast, joins Claer for a Money Clinic Investment Masterclass about cryptocurrencies. Recently back from a trip to El Salvador, the first country to make bitcoin legal tender, Peter tells Claer why he believes the cryptocurrency is the 'best form of money' and why regulatory crackdowns, volatile pricing swings and the divergent opinions of professional investors have failed to dampen his enthusiasm. An investor with a long-term view, Peter shares the highs and lows of his personal investment journey, and sets out the risks younger investors should know about before risking a single satoshi. With insight from Katie Martin, the FT’s market’s editor.

Further reading:

Check out Peter’s podcast 'What Bitcoin Did' 

Have you heard this Money Clinic episode? “Bitcoin: I’ll either be rich, or wrong”

There’s a free-to-read column from Claer: Why young investors bet the farm on cryptocurrencies 

Here’s Vijay Boyapati’s The Bullish Case for Bitcoin

Presented by Claer Barrett. Produced by Clare Williamson. Edited by Persis Love. Sound design by Breen Turner.

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How to match your money to your relationship status. Nearly one in four of us live on our own, but dealing with the financial and emotional strain of handling everything by yourself can be difficult. Jenny, 27, from Leeds, is being hit by the ‘single penalty’ and is exhausted trying to find everyday ways to save money. She’s looking for tips on investing in the stock market, whether to try to buy or stay renting and how to ease the worries that come with financial independence. In this Money Clinic episode, Claer is joined by ‘Alonement’ guru Francesca Specter who champions the single life and Iona Bain, a personal finance author and founder of the Young Money blog. Follow them on social media @ClaerB @chezspecter @ionajbain

Further reading:

Here is Francesca Specter’s Alonement site

Iona Bain’s Young Money blog

Listen to our previous episode about budgeting

If you want to get started in investing, listen to this episode

A free-to-read column about the costs of dating 

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Forget about being a day trader, you need to let the money come in slowly and take a serious, business-like approach if you want to succeed - that’s the advice of Robbie Burns, better known as the Naked Trader. In this Money Clinic special Investment Masterclass Robbie shares his top tips about getting into trading - from whether you can combine trading with a full time job, why you need to be like a detective, what shares to be careful of and learning from his mistakes.

Further reading:

-Here is Robbie’s Naked Trader site

-Listen to our previous episode about the advantages of tax free ISAs

-If you want to get started in investing, listen to this episode

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Are you working to live, or living to work? Followers of the FIRE movement (Financial Independence Retire Early) budget carefully so they can invest a greater proportion of their take-home pay. Is a life of extreme frugality worth the extra years of financial freedom later on - and how could you apply the principles of FIRE to your own finances? 

This week, Claer helps listeners Amy and Rory on their FIRE journey, with expert tips from Mr Money Mustache, AKA the US blogger Pete Adeney, and Kristian Danielson, the person behind the r/FIREUK subreddit. 

Further reading:

-Here is Mr Money Mustache’s blog

-You can get involved in the FIREUK subreddit here

-If you want to get started in investing, listen to our previous episode

-Claer’s free-to-read column about the problems with FIRE is here

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In an extra special Money Clinic Meets, Claer Barrett interviews Joe Lycett, the consumer campaigner and TV comedian. As the new season of his award winning show Joe Lycett’s Got Your Back returns to Channel Four, he drops into the Financial Times studio to tell us what he really thinks about the world of finance. 

Joe shares his own personal money story - including his charity shop thrifting, ESG investments and money rules - and the pair discuss why holding big consumer corporations to account is important. Plus, we get the low down on why Joe recently stormed off a daytime TV appearance.

If you would like to talk to Claer on a future episode, please email the Money Clinic team at money@ft.com with a short description of your problem, and how you would like us to help. 

If you want to read more about the topics covered in this week's episode, check out the following free to read FT articles:

Clear wrote about rental fraud and the trap Joe laid for an unwitting scammer: Renters Beware is the column, and Joe’s telling of the story is available on YouTube.

Summer vacations may be over, but car hire firms are still using high pressure sales tactics. Read about Joe’s consumer investigation: Don’t let politicians ruin your half-term holiday

Say hello on social media: 

You can follow Claer on Twitter and Instagram @Claerb

You can follow Joe Lycett on Twitter and Instagram @JoeLycett  

You can follow FT Money on Twitter @FTMoney

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REPEAT: Have you ever dreamt of starting your own business? It might sound more fulfilling — but being an employee has some perks you might miss. 33-year old Rhiannon set up her first business three years ago, offering virtual PA services. Even though she’s making a profit, Rhiannon is struggling to find a mortgage lender who will help her buy a property. Plus, she’s unsure about whether to leave her savings in cash — or risk tying them up inside a pension. Expert help is on hand from Holly Mackay, founder of Boring Money and mortgage broker Will Rhind from Habito.

If you would like to talk to Claer for a future podcast episode, email the Money Clinic team money@ft.com with a brief description of your story. Follow Claer on Twitter and Instagram @Claerb and read her weekly Serious Money column.

Further reading:

-Writing a will is one thing that’s been on Rhiannon’s financial to-do list for a while. Listen to this Money Clinic to find out how to set one up online.

-The pandemic has been tough on the self-employed. This Money Clinic with jewellery designer Roseanna Croft has expert tips to turn around a small business

-Pensions have long been an issue for the self-employed. This free-to-read FT column has practical tips: Self-employed women - how good is your pension? 

-This free-to-read FT piece reviews the apps that can help the self-employed manage their finances

-And this Money Clinic from the New Year has the lowdown on wills

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REPEAT: In this week's episode of the Money Clinic, Claer chats to Naureen about getting started in investing. Naureen had a wake up call when she received her annual pension statement through the post, and saw that her projected income in retirement would not even cover the basics. But with so much information out there on investing, she doesn’t know where to begin. Experts Jason Butler, the FT columnist and Charlotte Brayton, financial planner at James Hambro & Partners join Claer to give their two pennies worth.

If you would like to talk to Claer on a future episode, please email the Money Clinic team at money@ft.com with a short description of your problem, and how you would like us to help. 

If you want to read more about the topics covered in this week's episode, check out the following FT articles - some of which are free to read:

Even if you are not a fan of 90s rapper Vanilla Ice, Claer’s free primer on the tax advantages of investing through a stocks and shares Isa is a must-read for UK listeners: https://www.ft.com/content/684dbb86-40b4-11e9-b896-fe36ec32aece

If you want to read more about budgeting, here is another free column of Claer’s: https://on.ft.com/2WTh1PP

A more serious read for investors to get their teeth into is this piece by John Kay - How to build your own investment portfolio with £10,000: https://www.ft.com/content/24b98a82-b55e-11e6-961e-a1acd97f622d

We also heartily recommend John Kay’s book "The Long and the Short of It - A guide to finance and investment for normally intelligent people who aren’t in the industry".

Say hello on social media: 

You can follow Claer on Twitter and Instagram @Claerb

You can follow Jason Butler on Twitter and Instagram @JBtheWealthMan 

You can follow FT Money on Twitter @FTMoney

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Would you fall for a £17,000 scam? You might think you are too smart to be duped by fraudsters, but under lockdown, criminals have come up with frighteningly convincing ways of parting us from our hard-earned cash. Claer Barrett talks to 31-year-old listener Jenny about how professional scammers conned her out of £17,000 after she clicked on a text message - and the battle she’s fighting with her bank to get the money back. 

Bank fraud expert Steven McMillan provides practical advice about spotting scams and how criminals use ‘phished’ data to fool victims, and Gareth Shaw from Which? tells listeners how to get compensation if they fall victim. 

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When 29-year-old Sam found out that his younger brother had made £30,000 trading bitcoin, he couldn’t believe what he was hearing. The self-employed musician decided to put the last £2,000 of his savings into various cryptocurrencies, hoping he could double his money. However, wild swings in crypto valuations are proving a test of his strategy. Presenter Claer Barrett explores the highs and lows of investing in cryptocurrencies with experts Abhishek Sachdev, a professional investor who has personally invested £20,000, and Eva Szalay, the FT’s currencies correspondent. They discuss crypto’s long-term potential as an asset class and the risks that investors such as Sam need to be aware of, as well as the allure of investing in highly volatile unregulated assets. Review clips: BBC Newsnight, CNBC.

If you would like to be a guest on Money Clinic and chat to Claer about a money issue that’s bothering you, get in touch — our email is money@ft.com -— and you can follow Claer on Twitter and Instagram @ClaerB.

 Further reading:

-Read Eva Szalay’s article Bitcoin: too good to miss, or a bubble ready to burst?

-Following Elon Musk’s tweets about the environmental impact of mining Bitcoin, check out this FT article Bitcoin’s growing energy problem: ‘It’s a dirty currency’ 

-Here is how the FT covered the story of the Bitcoin price crash last week 

-Check out our recent investment masterclass episode with FT columnist Merryn Somerset Webb, where she chats to Claer about Bitcoin and all kinds of other investment trends

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It’s easy to create a budget to manage your spending - but can you stick to it? 32-year old project manager Rosie contacted Money Clinic as she kept making the same mistakes. Despite starting the month with good intentions, online shopping sprees frequently pushed her into the red. Battling with ‘buyer’s remorse’ as she returned her impulse purchases, Rosie asked Claer what psychological factors could be causing her to break the budget? Tim Harford, FT columnist and author, turns to behavioural economics to show how we can train our brains to resist the urge to splurge. Financial coach and blogger Ellie Austin-Williams, known online as This Girl Talks Money, encourages Rosie to explore her ‘money mindset’ and probe her emotional connections with money. 

If you would like to be a guest on Money Clinic and chat to Claer about a money issue that’s bugging you, get in touch — our email is money@ft.com. Follow Claer on Twitter and Instagram @ClaerB.

Further reading:

Tim Harford writes the ‘Undercover Economist’ column in the Financial Times. His bestselling book How to Make the World Add Up is out now in paperback. Follow him on Twitter @TimHarford

Read Ellie Austin-Williams’s blog on exploring your ‘money mindset’ on her website This Girl Talks Money and follow her on Instagram @ThisGirlTalksMoney

If like Rosie, you need some help working through maternity pay and pensions issues, check out our previous episodes Will having a baby break my finances? and Should I combine my pension pots?

And if you’re after budgeting tips, check out Claer’s recent column: Lock down your budget before the economy opens up

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Accountant Peter knows that to grow a business, you have to take on debt. But can he apply that same logic to his personal finances? He tells Claer how he is tempted to take out a bigger mortgage against his London flat and invest that money in a buy-to-let property - or even in the stock market. Has he come up with a brilliant shortcut to making some extra money, or is his plan to leverage up a recipe for disaster? Personal finance expert and FT columnist Jason Butler stresses that debt is no shortcut to wealth, while the FT’s European economics commentator Martin Sandbu looks at recent consumer debt trends.

If you are a regular Money Clinic listener and want to be in with a chance of winning £250, then let us know what you think of the show at www.ft.com/moneyclinicsurvey 

If you would like to be a guest on Money Clinic and chat to Claer about a money issue that’s bugging you, get in touch — our email is money@ft.com

Claer and Jason will be doing an Instagram Live on Tuesday 18th May at 7.30pm UK time discussing the issues raised on this episode. If you would like to take part and ask questions, follow Claer @ClaerB or Jason @JBtheWealthman on Instagram

Further reading

Here’s our Money Clinic episode on how to get out of problem debt, and here’s the one about whether it's a good idea to pay off credit cards 

Follow Martin on Twitter and check out his book, The Economics of Belonging

Jason’s FT columns are available here. You can follow him on twitter and instagram and be sure to checkout hisbutler.com/podcast"> podcast

Jason recommends reading John Kenneth Galbraith’s The Great Crash 1929 and watching Capital in the Twenty-First Century

For the latest on market trends, follow the FT’s markets page.

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Retail is not dead. Brexit could help UK companies. Take a small punt on bitcoin, keep your money invested in fossil fuel companies, and reassess your holdings in expensive tech stocks. These are pretty punchy opinions about the investment world — and they come from one of the FT’s top opinion writers, columnist Merryn Somerset Webb. In this special episode of the Money Clinic podcast, Merryn chats to presenter Claer Barrett about her personal investment strategy — and the forces she believes will shape the stock market in the years to come.

Listeners should be aware that the discussion of investment trends on this podcast is for information only, aimed at people who feel confident making their own investment decisions. It doesn’t constitute an investment recommendation, or individual financial advice — if you want that, you’ll need to see an independent financial adviser.

Find out more:

- Both Merryn and Claer write a weekly column in the FT Weekend and you can follow them on Instagram and Twitter @MerrynSW @Claerb 

- Hear Merryn’s tips for 19-year-old investor Ross in a previous Money Clinic, Beyond GameStop: The day trader turned investor

- For a different take on ESG investing, check out this episode Can ESG investing really change the world? And if you’re new to investing, listen to How can I get started as an investor?

- If you would like to chat to Claer about a real-life money problem on a future episode of the podcast, then drop us an email: money@ft.com 

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If I take a job outside the UK, what are the options for my investments, property and pension? 

After months spent in lockdown, 31-year-old finance professional Viktoria is longing for a change of scene, and is planning to relocate overseas.

She talks to Claer about her desire to escape the corporate lifestyle in London and her concerns about what would happen to her property, pensions and investments if she were to uproot. 

David Denton, chartered financial planner at Quilter International, reveals the financial dilemmas commonly faced by Brits taking jobs overseas, and what someone in Viktoria’s position needs to consider. Theresa Wallace of property firm Savills talks through the pros and cons of renting out your home versus selling it when you move to another country. 

Useful links:

For tips and guidance on investing in ISAs, listen to How can I get started as an investor? 

If you’re considering becoming a landlord and want to know more, check out Should I rent out my property?

The FT’s Family Money columnist Lucy Warwick-Ching has some useful articles on the tax implications of working abroad during lockdown, and the need for sound financial advice when moving abroad. You can follow her on twitter here.

Follow Claer @ClaerB on Instagram and Twitter. If you’d like to talk about a real-life money problem on a future episode of the podcast, then drop us an email money@ft.com

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Anne Boden spent over three decades in the traditional banking sector, watching the world around her being transformed by technology. In 2014, she decided that the time had come for banking to undergo the same shift, and quit her job to found Starling Bank. Since then, Anne has built Starling from an idea into a digital bank with 2m customers. 

Claer talks to her about making the leap into fintech, the determination needed to turn an idea into a business and how she persuaded investors to back her. Budding business owners should sit tight as Anne shares some of the key lessons she learnt along the way - and why she thinks we should prepare for cash to completely disappear. 

Read Claer’s review of Anne Boden’s autobiography, ‘Banking On It: How I Disrupted an Industry’. If you want to know more about how Anne Boden set up Starling Bank, you can buy a copy boden.html">here.

Follow Claer @ClaerB on Instagram and Twitter. If you’d like to talk about a real-life money problem on a future episode of the podcast, then drop us an email money@ft.com 

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Making the ‘greener choice’ comes naturally to listener Ros. As more people become increasingly aware of how their daily decisions affect the environment, Ros is wondering if she can make a difference to the planet - and her pocket - through her bank account, pensions and plans for investing. Claer talks to the FT’s Alice Ross, author of 'Investing to Save the Planet' and Bevis Watts, chief executive of Triodos Bank UK. Review clip: Global Ethical Finance Initiative.

If you would like to be a guest on Money Clinic and chat to Claer about a money issue that’s bugging you, get in touch — our email is money@ft.com or follow her on Instagram and Twitter @ClaerB

Further reading:

-Follow Alice Ross on Twitter and check out her book here

-To read further about greening your money, check out Ethical Consumer Magazine, with-money.com/">Good with Money or Make My Money Matter

-You can read an FT interview with Bevis here or check out the FT’s climate hub for the latest on climate change

-For a deep dive into ESG investing, listen to this episode of Money Clinic 

-Here’s some further reading on Danone’s sustainability credentials and on Natwest’s climate pledge

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Jenny and her partner are planning to have a baby but, beyond forking out for nappies and a pushchair, she has no idea how much becoming a parent will cost. How big a budget will the couple need to cover parental leave, childcare costs, and other unexpected expenses? Claer talks to Tobi Asare, founder of parental finance blog My Bump Pay, and Maike Currie, FT columnist and investment director at Fidelity International.

If you would like to be a guest on Money Clinic and chat to Claer about a money issue that’s bugging you, get in touch — our email is money@ft.com or follow her on Instagram and Twitter @ClaerB

Further reading:

-Tobi’s blog My Bump Pay can be found here and has a wealth of resources for soon-to-be parents and she is on instagram @mybumppay You can download her baby equipment spreadsheet here, or use her planner to calculate how to spread out the ‘income shock’ of parental leave

-Follow Maike Currie on Twitter @MaikeCurrie and check out her FT columns here

-Check if you are eligible for the UK government’s Tax-Free Childcare account

-Hiring a nanny: what I wish I’d known. Click here to read 

-More than one million parents in the UK are estimated to have lost state pension credits by mistakenly not registering for Child Benefit. This free article explains what to do

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Last October Claer spoke to listener Lucy who was on the cusp of buying a shared ownership flat with her partner — but was getting cold feet. The shared ownership model enables buyers to take out a mortgage on part of the property, and pay rent on the rest. Lucy was hoping that this would be her first step towards being able to afford to own 100 per cent of her home, but worried about how much it would cost. Six months later, is she comfortably settled in the flat or did the couple stay renting? Claer hears from experts, independent property expert Henry Pryor and mortgage broker Andrew Montlake from Coreco.  

If you would like to talk to Claer for a future podcast episode, email the Money Clinic team money@ft.com with a brief description of your story. Follow Claer on Twitter and Instagram @Claerb and read her weekly Serious Money column.

Further reading: 

-Henry Pryor tweets @HenryPryor and has a website packed with tips for property buyers

-Andrew Montlake tweets @Montysblog and blogs about the mortgage market (which is genuinely more interesting that it sounds!) Read it here

-This Millennial Money column from Kate Beioley, the FT’s legal correspondent, reveals how being single made it practically impossible for her to pursue the shared ownership route

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In this special ‘What happened next’ Money Clinic episode, Claer catches up with US financial services worker Josh. When they spoke last October, he was hiding thousands of dollars in credit card debt from his wife. Under lockdown, the couple had managed to save up enough money to pay them off - but she wanted to use this cash for a deposit on their first home. The podcast experts had plenty of advice about dealing with credit card debt, and what could happen if Josh took on even more debt with a mortgage. Six months later, has he paid off his debt and cut up his cards, did he buy a property, and are he and his wife still talking openly about money? The experts were Sara Williams aka The Debt Camel, and the FT’s US finance editor Robert Armstrong. The original podcast was released on October 20 2020.

If you would like to talk to Claer for a future podcast episode, email the Money Clinic team money@ft.com, with a brief description of your story. Follow Claer @Claerb and read her Serious Money column. 

Further reading:

-Free UK sources of debt advice include StepChange and Citizens Advice 

-In the US the government’s Dealing with Debt has plenty of pointers

-Read, for free, Claer’s article on the UK’s biggest debt helpline and advisers’ tips, and her column Six ways to manage money - and not fall out with your partner

-For a different take on debt, listen to this previous episode: Starting your debt free journey

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Claer catches up with 30-year-old jewellery designer Roseanna Croft. When they spoke last October, her small business was reeling from the impact of coronavirus and cancelled weddings. Money Clinic experts advised Roseanna on accessing financial support, and finding a new direction for her business under lockdown. Five months on, has she managed to hammer out her financial issues? The experts were Suli Breaks, the entrepreneur, poet and presenter of the 7even Figures Business podcast, and Andy Chamberlain, head of policy at the Association of Independent Professionals and the Self Employed. The original podcast was released on Nov 10th 2020.

If you would like to talk to Claer for a future podcast episode, email the Money Clinic team money@ft.com, with a brief description of your story. Follow Claer @Claerb and read her Serious Money column. 

Further reading:

-Claer has written extensively about issues facing small business owners during the pandemic, and has more advice in this recent Money Clinic

-Follow Suli @SuliBreaks  and Andy @AndyChamberlain

-Thehub.html"> IPSE website has lots on the help available for the self-employed and limited company directors

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Young investors have rushed to open day trading accounts under lockdown, using tips gleaned from chat rooms and social media as they attempt to make a fast buck. But betting on short-term market movements carries a high risk of losing money — something that 19-year-old Ross has found out the hard way trading stocks like GameStop and AMC. If he invested his money for a matter of years instead of a matter of minutes, would he get a better return? Claer Barrett hears from experts Merryn Somerset Webb, the FT columnist and editor-in-chief of MoneyWeek, and Damien Fahy, founder of investment website Money to the Masses.

If you would like to talk to Claer for a future podcast episode, email the Money Clinic team money@ft.com with a brief description of your story. Follow Claer on Twitter and Instagram @Claerb and read her weekly Serious Money column.

Read more:

-Claer’s thoughts about good investment habits to build for the future: Where do the next generation of investors go from here? 

-Merryn Somerset Webb’s column every Saturday in the Weekend FT. Follow her @MerrynSW 

-Damien Fahy’s website Money to the Masses for information about investing, including a blog about his own £50,000 portfolio and a podcast. Follow him @Money2theMasses 

-And finally… those book recommendations. From Merryn: Investing for Growth by veteran fund manager Terry Smith; Effective Investing by former Hargreaves Lansdown research director Mark Dampier, and The Anatomy of the Bear by Russell Napier, the equity market strategist (disclaimer: Merryn wrote the introduction to the new edition). From Damien: How to own the world by Andrew Craig, adding that this book “explores the whole concept of why you’d want to invest”

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Gina Miller’s campaigning spirit has made her front-page news — but what’s less well known is the personal story behind her own financial journey.

As one of the highest profile women working in the City of London, the anti-Brexit campaigner has raised awareness of unfair investment charges, the impact of the gender pay gap and the need for women to embrace investing. Her latest fear? That the pandemic has set back women's’ careers and earnings prospects.

In honour of International Women’s Day next week, the co-founder of wealth management firm SCM Direct chats to Claer for a special edition of Money Clinic.

Aptly, the theme of IWD this year is Choose to Challenge. Follow the hashtags #ChoosetoChallenge and #MoneyClinic on social media, and follow Claer and Gina @Claerb and @ThatGinaMiller.

If you would like to be a guest on Money Clinic and chat to Claer about a money issue that’s bugging you, get in touch - our email is money@ft.com 

If the podcast has left you wanting to learn more about managing your money, this free to read column by Claer is a great place to start - Six financial mistakes that women need to avoid. 

Finally, we promised to link to some sources of support for who are experiencing domestic abuse or seeking to leave abusive relationships. Here are links to the websites of UK charities Refuge, Women’s Aid and Respect Men’s Advice Line (for male victims of domestic violence). For listeners in the US, this website has links to charities and organisations.

Acknowledgements: Brass in Pocket by The Pretenders. Hipgnosis.

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Have you ever dreamt of starting your own business? It might sound more fulfilling — but being an employee has some perks you might miss. 33-year old Rhiannon set up her first business three years ago, offering virtual PA services. 

Even though she’s making a profit, Rhiannon is struggling to find a mortgage lender who will help her buy a property. Plus, she’s unsure about whether to leave her savings in cash — or risk tying them up inside a pension. Expert help is on hand from Holly Mackay, founder of Boring Money and mortgage broker Will Rhind from Habito.

If you would like to talk to Claer for a future podcast episode, email the Money Clinic team money@ft.com with a brief description of your story. Follow Claer on Twitter and Instagram @Claerb and read her weekly Serious Money column.

Further reading:

-Writing a will is one thing that’s been on Rhiannon’s financial to-do list for a while. Listen to this Money Clinic to find out how to set one up online.

-The pandemic has been tough on the self-employed. This Money Clinic with jewellery designer Roseanna Croft has expert tips to turn around a small business

-Pensions have long been an issue for the self-employed. This free-to-read FT column has practical tips: Self-employed women - how good is your pension? 

-This free-to-read FT piece reviews the apps that can help the self-employed manage their finances

-And this Money Clinic from the New Year has the lowdown on wills

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Many people would like to move to a life with less or no debt, but taking the first step requires great courage. This week Claer hears from a couple in their 30s who have each run up large credit card debts. Duncan and his partner found that the pandemic made their debt problems worse. How can they get their finances back on track? Could a debt adviser help? Chris Browning, presenter of US podcast Popcorn Finance, has practical tips, and debt advice specialist Alan McIntosh explores different solutions.

If you would like to talk to Claer for a future podcast episode, email the Money Clinic team money@ft.com with a brief description of your story. Follow Claer on Twitter and Instagram @Claerb and read her weekly Serious Money column.

Further reading:

-If you’re struggling with problem debt, this week’s experts say don’t wait for things to get worse before seeking advice. The earlier you seek help, the more options you’re likely to have

-Free UK sources of debt advice include StepChange and Citizens Advice 

-In the US the government’s Dealing with Debt has plenty of pointers

-For a different take on debt and budgeting, check out this previous episode: Should I pay off my credit cards, or buy a house? 

-Read, for free, Claer on the UK’s biggest debt helpline and advisers’ tips

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