This is 2025: What happened to our finances and the economy? This is Money podcast
On this final 2025 episode of the This is Money podcast, Georgie Frost and Simon Lambert take a quick ride through this year and what it meant for our finances.
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The flexible jobs that pay the most for the fewest hours worked - and don't need special skills
Striking the perfect work/life balance is easier said than done but there are a number of golden jobs that pay handsomely for a short working week.
Pick up a broadband bargain in the sales: Save money and get up to £150 in vouchers
You may be feeling stuffed after the Christmas splurge but your bank balance could be looking slim, so picking up a broadband bargain can pay off.
Britain's £20billion defence bonanza in record year for exports
Deals to sell warships to Norway and jets to Turkey helped drive the total to the highest level since records began more than 40 years ago, the Ministry of Defence said.
The surprise winner in the fund best-sellers lists all the way back to 2010: ANDREW OXLADE
Investors love to know what other investors are buying. I know this because the data we publish regularly ranks among the most popular pages on our website.
Why 2026 is forecast to be a good year for investing in the UK - and four shares experts tip to deliver profits
The stalling economy and London becoming a backwater for listings remain serious concerns, yet the FTSE 100 index was nudging record highs at the end of 2025.
Backing Britain's tech stars is the way to transform sluggish growth: ALEX BRUMMER
A remarkable aspect of British life is how well critical sectors of the economy are doing despite Labour's efforts at sabotage.
FTSE 100 on course for best year since the recovery from the financial crisis
With just two and a half trading sessions of 2025 to go, the blue-chip index has delivered total returns of 25 per cent.
Can you guess the best-selling models from every major car company? Part 3 of our series covers Renault to Volvo
In the third and final instalment of our three-part series, we cover the remaining car brands starting with the letters R to V.
Shoppers cut back on the Boxing Day sales as household budgets are tight
Half of these shoppers plan to brave the crowds on the high street, according to Barclays, with the rest seeking bargains online.
London residents quitting capital flock to the 'three Cs' - Caterham, Chatham and Chigwell...
Over half of London homeowners who bought a property this year moved within 50 miles of London, according to Hamptons.
My £208 Victoria Beckham perfume got lost in the post but Space NK won't help me: SALLY SORTS IT
I ordered two Victoria Beckham Beauty Portofino '97 perfumes for a total of £416.50. My package was delivered four days later, but one bottle was missing.
Can you guess the best-selling models from every major car maker? We cover Kia to Porsche in part 2 of the series
In the second of our three-part series running over the coming days, we cover the car brands from K to P.
We meet the man behind Yoto: How Ben Drury got kids dreaming of a screen-free Christmas
If there's an unusual quiet coming from your children or grandchildren's room this Christmas, it may not be a miracle - it may be a Yoto.
This is my number one tip to beat savings rate cuts - but you must act NOW, says SYLVIA MORRIS
Savers received an unwelcome early Christmas surprise when the Bank of England cut its base rate but if you follow my advice you can still secure a good deal.
Britain's dodgiest drivers revealed, including the area where one in NINE have penalty points. So how does YOUR area fare?
Motorists can accumulate points for offenses if they're caught speeding, ignoring road signs or using handheld mobile phones. Lower level offenses typically attract three point penalties.
Can you guess the best-selling cars ever from every major brand? From Alfa to Jeep, here's Part 1 of our list
In the first of our three-part series running over the coming days, we cover the car makers from A to J.
Trump hails tariff boom as US economy grows at fastest rate in two years
Gross domestic product increased at an annualised pace of 4.3% - smashing expectations of 3.3% growth - according to latest figures.
My most jaw-dropping cases and how I won back £1M this year... plus the rogue readers who tried to swindle me: SALLY SORTS IT
I am delighted to say that I won back a total of nearly £1.02million this year in another 100-plus cases of unfair treatment by companies and institutions exposed in the Sally Sorts It column.
Most and least reliable hybrid cars REVEALED: Which of these green(ish) motors can you really count on?
While always considered a stepping stone from ownership of a traditional petrol or diesel car before opting to go full electric, they tend to offer the best of both worlds with less compromise than...
Will the AI bubble burst in 2026? Experts reveal the red flags
Concerns of a bubble come as big technology firms continue to have sky high valuations and are becoming an increasingly large part of the global market.
Now scrap tax on ambition in full, say bosses after Chancellor's inheritance tax U-turn
Businesses cheered Labour's climbdown, which will see a rise in the threshold for death duties on family businesses and farms worth £1m to £2.5m.
Should I keep paying into my Lifetime Isa now that they could be scrapped?
In the Autumn Budget, it was announced that the Government will launch a consultation into Lifetime Isas in 2026. Where does this leave those saving for a house deposit in one?
Tractors score a victory: Inheritance tax U-turn shows how enfeebled the Chancellor has become, says ALEX BRUMMER
The government U-turn on inheritance tax relief for family firms and businesses takes advantage of a publication black hole.
Six most important pension questions of 2025 answered by STEVE WEBB
Interest in pensions was intense this year and our star columnist Steve Webb fielded many questions - on the state pension age, tax-free cash, artificial intelligence, and more.
Can I get a refund for 'non-drop' Christmas tree that's already dropping its needles? Consumer lawyer DEAN DUNHAM replies
I bought a Christmas tree from a local farm that was advertised as 'non-drop'. However, after a week the needles are shedding everywhere.
Aviva staff land £58,000 Christmas jackpot as shares surge under boss Amanda Blanc
Workers who entered a five-year 'save as you earn' scheme shortly after Blanc became boss saw it vest earlier this month in time for Christmas.
Barclays accused my partner of stealing £10,000 using my debit card - and then refused to give me the money back
When Roger Wall (pictured with partner Jaqueline) popped to the shops for bread, milk and other essentials in October, his account was debited for £7.89.
Pets At Home appoints former Waitrose boss James Bailey as its new top dog
Bailey takes up the role on March 30 after leaving the grocer in August and could earn up to £3.3m a year, including a salary of £639,770 plus bonuses.
Raise your £81bn bid for Warner Bros, top shareholder Harris Oakmark tells Paramount
Harris Oakmark, which owns about 4% of Warner, was responding after billionaire Larry Ellison personally guaranteed £30bn of Paramount's offer.
New smart meter reprieve for thousands of homes amid fears many would be cut off without heating this winter
The affected households are those with meters controlled by Radio Teleswitch Service technology. These may no longer work after the signal is stopped.
Inheritance tax climbdown as Government will set new threshold for farmers at £2.5million
From next April, 100% agricultural property relief will stay for the first £2.5million of combined agricultural and business assets to help protect family farms.
Leonardo boss: Delayed defence spending plan should have been 'a Christmas present rather than an Easter egg'
Labour has been told that the frustrated defence sector 'needs some decisions' after an investment plan was delayed into next year.
My pension firm 'blocked' me from moving £350k retirement fund overseas
Steve Bentley, pictured, contacted This is Money after his UK pension firm unfairly 'blocked' an overseas transfer following a minor administrative error by HMRC.
Britain's best paid woman Bet365 boss Denise Coates sees income soar to £261m
This was an increase of the £150million she was paid for the previous financial year - but is short of her record pay deal in 2021.
How to make £2,026 in an HOUR: From energy to car insurance, our expert guide can cut all your bills with minimal effort
The hazy time warp between Christmas and the New Year is a great opportunity to review all your bills and savings to ensure you step into 2026 on the front foot.
How low will interest rates go... and will they stall soon? This is Money podcast
The base rate is now the lowest it's been since 2023 but a split vote means markets and economists are now question how much lower they will go.
The latest ruse for MrBeast to get your cash with a 'bank': From crypto to credit cards and even loans, our financial experts reveal just what he's planning... and the very real risks
YouTube megastar MrBeast's business has announced the launch of a new financial firm as the popular social media personality expands his sprawling empire.
I took a ride in Jaguar's new £140,000 GT that starts its switch to EVs: ROB HULL reveals what he can...
The Daily Mail has been among the first people to have a passenger ride in Jaguar's new electric four-door GT that arrives next year. Here's what it's really like...
Equitable Life savers are caught in a financial scandal that never ends, says RUTH SUNDERLAND
The collapse of life insurance company Equitable Life happened 25 years ago this month but is still casting a long shadow.
Closure of rural pubs in tax raid to hit the elderly as they are robbed of social hubs
Bars face an average hike of 15% in business rates next year, costing them an extra £1,400, UK Hospitality analysis shows.
I own a flat with a 39 year lease that I want to extend: Why is it so expensive?
Since looking into extending my lease, I've been shocked at how much it could cost - £250,000, according to one estimate.
Best and worst breakdown providers revealed: When the worst happens, which patrols can you really count on?
To make sure your car is fixed quickly, here are the best and worst breakdown providers ranked by car owners.
Christmas Eve will be 2025's busiest day for cash withdrawals... but amount we take out has fallen 50% since 2017
Those in Northern Ireland are most likely to take out cash, with 28% believing physical money is important, followed by north east England at 26%.
Casino and Mecca Bingo owner Rank falls victim to £6.2m payment fraud in Spain
Maidenhead-based Rank said it was supporting police investigations and carrying out its own internal investigation with an external law firm.
Billionaire Larry Ellison backs Paramount bid for Warner Bros with £30bn guarantee
Paramount - which makes the Top Gun movies starring Tom Cruise (pictured), is trying to gatecrash a deal between Paramount and Netflix.
Pound rises to highest level against the dollar in two months as investors grapple with outlook for rates
Sterling edged up as much as 0.6% to $1.3457 amid suggestions rates may be cut faster in the US than the UK next year.
Last ever petrol Jaguar: Final F-Pace SUV rolled off the UK assembly line on Friday ahead of the brand's EV switch
The final Jaguar with a combustion engine under its bonnet was built on Friday 19 December. It is an £80,000 high-performance F-Pace SVR SUV finished in black paint.
Could the FTSE still reach 10,000 by the end of 2025 - or will gloomy economic data scupper Santa rally?
London's blue-chip index has teetered on the edge of 10,000 points for the past few months, but is yet to reach the milestone which is psychologically important for investors.
Cost of Gordon Brown's gold sale 25 years ago spirals to nearly £40BILLION as bullion price hits record high
The price of gold has soared to a new high - meaning the cost of Gordon Brown's decision to sell the nation's holdings on the cheap 25 years ago has ballooned to almost £40billion.
HALF of Britons are buying fewer Christmas presents to save cash
While many claim they are easing back on gifts, others say they plan to host fewer guests for dinner, or cut down on trips to the pub.
Aldi boss Giles Hurley: How we will topple Asda with a £1.6billion investment in the UK
Hurley, who joined the no-frills grocer in 2000, has seen Aldi turn itself from 'probably quite a quirky discount retailer' to the fourth-largest food retailer.
Another year of stagnation will kill businesses, Labour warned
Economists have warned the Government that British businesses cannot survive another year of stagnation, as figures pointed to a bleak start for the economy in 2026.
Drill, baby, drill! Harbour Energy snaps up Gulf of Mexico rival as it expands beyond high tax North Sea
The FTSE 250 firm said it would buy deepwater oil and gas group LLOG Exploration for £2.4billion.
Blackstone ploughing £100bn into UK as buyout giant gambles on staycation boom
Blackstone claims to already be Britain's largest overseas investor, with a portfolio of data centres, logistics and even railway arches.
CC JAPAN INCOME & GROWTH TRUST is a success story in the Land of the Rising Sun
The trust, managed by boutique investment house Chikara, has been a success story, with launch shareholders so far enjoying total returns of close to 190 per cent.
Government pushes investing - but Britons are more confused than ten years ago
In the Autumn Budget, Chancellor Rachel Reeves announced that the cash Isa allowance would be slashed to £12,000 from its previous £20,000 for those under the age of 65.
A fifth of Britons regret actions they made in a panic before the Budget
Concerns ranged from a cut to cash Isas, which did arrive, to fears the Chancellor would also take an axe to pension lump sum allowances, which did not.
I have a final salary pension with a firm that might go bust - should I transfer out now? STEVE WEBB replies
I received a letter from the scheme which said it might need to be taken over by the Pension Protection Fund. Am I trapped in a failing scheme with my money at risk?
When Mum died, her partner refused to move out - and sparked a legal battle costing us £260,000: This is why unmarried couples MUST draw up a cohabitation agreement, and exactly how to do it
Sharon Rate, who died after a diabetes-related illness, had always made it clear that she wanted her assets and belongings, including her four-bedroom home in Sunderland, to go to her three children.
Cashback for Christmas? You can earn up to £10,000 by opening a new investment account
Several investing and savings platforms are in the festive spirit, because they're currently offering cashback - there's a good amount on the table. This helps to give your pot a nice boost.
HAMISH MCRAE: Footsie's Santa rally shows we are a two-tier economy
A solid performance by the Footsie says nothing about the deeply troubling domestic outlook, or the prospects for firms that depend on it.
Can I stop neighbour removing my fence and trampling on the garden to build their extension? Consumer lawyer DEAN DUNHAM replies
My neighbour is building a kitchen extension and they want to temporarily remove part of my garden fence to give their builders more space to work.
Retailers warn workers' rights Bill will mean fewer jobs
The British Retail Consortium said that 'poorly aligned policies undermine job creation across the economy'.
Workers' rights bill will lead to 'fewer jobs not better ones', warns head of the British Retail Consortium
If government is serious about growth, it must start treating business as a genuine partner in delivering it.
RUTH SUNDERLAND: We need enlightened capitalism not crude socialism at Christmas
Without that, we will get neither prosperity nor social justice - just more Scrooges, and fewer Cadburys.
Eurovision legend DANA: I bought land on an Alabama mountain for $60,000... it was a huge mistake
Dana Scallon, 75, won the song contest in 1970 with All Kinds Of Everything, which became an international No 1. She went on to be a Member of the European Parliament.
Cheap modern classic cars you can enjoy through winter: Nine that will survive salted roads and sub-zero temperatures
These cars are easy to use on a daily basis, but old enough to offer more engagement and entertainment than many modern equivalents.
Vacancies fall yet again as cautious employers cut hiring
It means job vacancies are 15 per cent lower than in November last year, with uncertainty ahead of the Budget putting firms off hiring.
Leonardo helicopter plant 'may close over delay to deal'
In a private letter to Defence Secretary John Healey, Leonardo chief executive Roberto Cingolani even warned that the group could scrap all investment in Britain.
BP placed on bid alert as Shell takeover ban ends on Boxing Day
BP remains a target despite dramatically hiring its first outsider as chief executive in its history as it seeks to fend off potential suitors and drop its ill-fated push on Net Zero.
Offenders 'spared driving bans by claiming they need their taxpayer-funded Motability car to get around'
The programme allows disability benefit claimants to swap their mobility allowance for a lease on a new car, which are also exempt from VAT and insurance premium tax.
How electric car drivers can avoid charging queues when driving home for Christmas
Every year millions of drivers take to the roads before Christmas to reunite with friends and family. But what should you know if you're driving an electric car? Here's our savings guide.
Government seeks to impose sweeping restrictions on parking spaces 'to promote sustainable transport'
Documents seen by the Daily Mail show that the Prime Minister is mulling over the plans, which will see councils be required to impose a limit on the number of spaces on new housing developments.
Landlords face £40,000 fines if they break confusing new rules coming in next year. This is what you MUST know to avoid getting caught out
Landlords will face fines of up to £40,000 if they fall foul of new complicated rules - and experts warn even those who slip up unintentionally could face steep costs.
Fury as Ed Miliband's £4bn Net Zero project could use Chinese steel
Net Zero Teesside has admitted that nearly half the raw materials needed to build the power plant could come from abroad.
Millions of workers make this little-known but costly pensions mistake - this very easy fix could boost your pot by a THIRD
Millions of workers are saving less into their pension than they think - and it could cost them as much as £168,621 when they retire.
WH Smith set to claw back bonuses from bosses after accounting scandal
WH Smith, which runs about 1,200 stores in airports and other travel hubs, said it was seeking to claw back 'overpaid bonuses' from former bosses.
Traders bet £6bn against pound in snub to Chancellor
Sentiment against the currency is now even more negative among investors than it was before the mini-Budget during the Liz Truss era.
Retailers scent a perfume bonanza as shoppers continue to splash cash
Demand is driven by Gen Z, with Peter Ruis, boss of John Lewis, saying: 'You have 18-year-olds interested in £150 fragrances.'
Key Angela Rayner ally slams new town plan for 20,000 homes
Cooney says other areas should be considered instead. They include the existing commuter belt and brownfield sites in Greater Manchester where the 'biggest waiting lists' are.
DIY giant plunges into administration with jobs axed
The company was the sole distributer of more than 6,000 hand tools, power tools, fixings and workwear to retailers, wholesalers and merchants across Britain and Europe.
Chancellor hands hospitality firms £33,000 tax hike
Reeves said at the Budget she would introduce 'permanently lower tax rates for more than 750,000 retail, hospitality and leisure properties'.
Waterstones share offer would be fitting tribute to a creative Britain, says ALEX BRUMMER
Not long ago, the printed word was considered a bust, killed by Amazon's Kindle and audio books.
Nike shares get a kicking after China sales slump
Sales fell 17 per cent to £1.06billion for the three months to November 30, with footwear sales crashing by 21 per cent.
Make your money shine with gold, silver and platinum
If you're making an early New Year's resolution, here's how to add some shine to your portfolio.
£75m Hovis deal faces watchdog investigation
The CMA will look at whether the merger between the bread-maker and Associated British Foods would result in 'a substantial lessening of competition'.
Government's flip-flop policies putting motorists off buying electric vehicles, AA warns
Its latest UK EV Readiness Index concluded that 'political uncertainty is putting the brakes on drivers' willingness to switch'.
Less than half of women fully trust advice from financial firms
As few as 43% of women say they are confident that guidance from their financial services providers is in their best interests.
Third of EV owners are concerned they don't have enough range to drive home for Christmas - and some will instead use petrol cars
Thirty three per cent of electric car owners have major range concerns ahead of hitting the road for Christmas journeys longer than 200 miles, a new poll reveals.
Should I get a 95% mortgage? I'm desperate to escape renting and my parents can't afford to help out
I don't like the idea of borrowing so much, but my rent is always going up and I just want to be in a place of my own.
Leasehold reform delayed until next year as fears mount that Labour will not cap ground rents as promised
Details of the Leasehold and Commonhold Reform Bill were expected to be made public before the end of this year, but that has been pushed back.
Labour warned over future of UK's 'crown jewels' as Rolls-Royce threatens to build engines abroad
Labour has been warned it is not doing enough to protect Britain's industrial 'crown jewels' after it emerged that Rolls-Royce could build new engines overseas.
Christmas treat for high street stocks as UK investors pile in
Beleaguered UK retail shares saw a surge in new buyers this year, as investors bet on them being undervalued.
Arrivederci Roma, Ciao Amalfi: Why the new £200k 'everyday Ferrari' supercar is right on the button
It takes a big company - especially one with such a proud Italian heritage - to admit that it got something fundamentally wrong. And Ferrari has done just that, making a big change to its new Amalfi...
Home buyers pay almost 20% more in stamp duty this year - as Reeves rakes in more from inheritance tax too
The amount of money the Treasury rakes in from both stamp duty land tax and inheritance taxis on the rise, official figures show.
My son helped me with £90,000 when I was in need - if I repay him will we get a tax bill?
Six years ago, my son helped me financially to stay in my house when my relationship broke down. He paid off my partner then supported me financially by paying me a monthly amount.
Car production falls amid concerns it could get worse after EU turned its back on 2035 petrol and diesel ban
Britain's vehicle production fell 14.3% last month, as both car and commercial vehicle output declined, new industry figures.
First-time buyers drive house sales to highest level in three years in 2025 - as Zoopla reveals bold prediction for 2026
First-time buyers drove house sales to their highest in three years, spurred on by cheaper mortgage rates.
Number of home buyers taking out mega mortgages of 35 years or more has nearly tripled since 2020
Lengthy mortgages make borrowers' monthly bills lower, but they could pay tens of thousands more interest in the long run.