AJ Bell Money Matters

Danni and Eve explore joy budgeting on this week’s episode - a different approach to managing your money that focuses on intentionally spending on the things that genuinely make you happy. From gym memberships and little everyday treats to holidays and concert tickets, they discuss how to identify what brings you joy, make room for it in your budget and avoid feeling miserable about cutting back on spending (plus how to save even when money is tight). They explore the psychology behind our spending habits, why overly restrictive budgets can be difficult to maintain and how making space for enjoyment can actually help you stick to your financial goals. Topics covered: What joy budgeting is and how it works Balancing spending on enjoyment with saving and investing The psychology behind emotional and impulse spending Why restrictive budgets can be difficult to sustain Helping younger people develop healthy money habits

Financial journalist Hannah Duncan joins the Money Matters podcast to discuss why personal finance isn't always as straightforward as the experts make it sound. From breaking traditional budgeting rules to making difficult financial decisions, Hannah shares her own experiences of freelancing, dealing with tax bills, managing financial stress and prioritising personal goals over conventional money wisdom. The conversation explores why financial plans should be built around the life you actually want to live, how to recover from money mistakes, the realities of managing finances as a couple and why being honest about your financial situation is often the most important step towards improving it. Topics covered: Why many traditional money rules don't work for everyone Adapting budgeting guidance to modern life Recovering from financial mistakes Managing money in relationships The realities of self-employment and irregular income Setting meaningful financial goals Balancing financial decisions with personal values

Many savers want better returns than cash but aren't comfortable taking stock market risk. So what are the alternatives? In this episode of the AJ Bell Money Matters podcast, Danni Hewson is joined by Alex Farrell from the AJ Bell Investments team to explain cash alternatives that can be held within a Stocks & Shares ISA. They discuss what money market funds are, how short-dated bonds work, how these investments compare with cash savings, and why some investors use them as a stepping stone between saving and investing. You'll learn: What a money market fund is How short-dated bonds work The key differences between cash savings and investments Risks and potential benefits of cash alternatives How money market funds can be used within a Stocks & Shares ISA Whether cash alternatives could suit short-term savings goals Why confidence can be a barrier to investing, particularly for women If you've ever wondered where to keep cash inside a Stocks & Shares ISA or want to understand low-risk investment options, this episode explains the basics in clear, straightforward language.

This week, Danni and Rachel reveal how retirees are really spending their pension pots and explore how it changes as you get older. From tax-free cash and pension freedoms to tracking down lost pensions and making the most of workplace contributions, they share practical tips to help you take control of your retirement future. Whether retirement feels a long way off or is fast approaching, this episode is packed with practical ideas to help you understand your pension, plan ahead and make your money work harder for your future.

Fancy buying a fixer-upper, renovating your home, or investing in a buy-to-let? This week, Danni and Sarah share their own renovation stories and explore whether property can really be a profitable investment. They discuss how first-time buyers can get on the housing ladder, the costs you need to factor into renovation projects, and why it's very easy to spend more than you planned. Plus, they cover the realities of buy-to-let investing, from mortgage costs and taxes to changing rules for landlords, and explain why it's important not to neglect your ISAs and pension while focusing on property.

Bills are rising, budgets are stretched, and making your money go further can feel tough. This week, Danni and Charlene are joined by Mortgage Free Leigh, who shares how her family overpaid their mortgage by more than £27,000 while juggling maternity leave, childcare costs and family life. Leigh shares the practical money habits, budgeting techniques and quick wins that helped her make progress, as well as the lessons she's learned about investing, building financial confidence and using social media to become more financially savvy. Plus, Leigh reveals the £4,000 purchase she made after being influenced online and why it taught her an important lesson about trying to "buy a feeling".

In this episode of the AJ Bell Money Matters podcast, Danni and Jenny explore why more couples are having conversations about protecting their finances before (and after) tying the knot. They’re joined by family law expert Susie Barter, partner at Burgess Mee, who explains what prenups are, who might benefit from them, and how they work in practice. From protecting family house deposits and inheritances to navigating pensions, property and even pets, Susie tells us all the financial conversations we should be having before and during marriage. Prompted by the buzz around growing social media interest in prenups and Belle Burden’s book Strangers, they discuss why younger generations are increasingly considering them and whether they’re becoming part of sensible financial planning rather than a sign of distrust.

On this episode of the AJ Bell Money Matters podcast, Danni and Laura take a closer look at the growing trend of solo travel, particularly among women, and what it tells us about changing attitudes to money, independence and life priorities. They discuss how to plan financially for travel at different stages of life – whether you're building a savings pot for a short-term trip or making sure your retirement plans leave room for adventure. Joining the conversation is Jen Atkinson, founder of Travel Seen and Club Avandra , who explains why more women are choosing to travel alone, how the industry is evolving, and the realities of costs, confidence and finding like-minded travel companions.

This week on the AJ Bell Money Matters podcast, Danni and Sarah are breaking down how global events affect the prices you see in day-to-day life. Inflation and interest rates fluctuate with both global and national turbulence, and whether you're seeing rising fuel prices or changes to your weekly shop, our experts remove the jargon. We're also joined by Rachel Springall from MoneyFacts to understand how mortgages and cash savings rates are directly impacted by geopolitical changes.

On this week’s episode of the AJ Bell Money Matters podcast Danni is joined by a new member of the team Eve Maddock-Jones to dig into alternative investments. From handbags to art, property to precious metals, alternative investments are one way to make sure your hard-earned nest eggs don’t sit in just one basket. With gold becoming a popular choice as its price hit a record high earlier in the year, they are joined by Stuart O’Reilly from the Royal Mint to discuss the different ways of investing in precious metals, when the price of gold might stabilise and why the Spice Girls featured on a recent coin.

On this episode of the AJ Bell Money Matters podcast, Danni is joined by AJ Bell experts Rachel Vahey and Charlene Young to share their thoughts on our new gender pension gap report. We explore the financial pressures women face in their late 20s and 30s, from childcare and career breaks to part-time work and pension blind spots. We look at why retirement savings often take a back seat, plus practical tips on boosting your pension, making the most of tax relief, and how even small contributions can make a huge difference later in life.

In this week's episode of the AJ Bell Money Matters podcast, Danni and Charlene are joined by Georgina Brittain from JP Morgan as they discuss how to keep a cool head when markets get choppy. As a fund manager who has worked through several stock market crashes, Georgina shares her wisdom and tips to look after your investments with a long-term view.

In this episode of the AJ Bell Money Matters podcast, Danni and Laura break down how to start the new tax year by investing. We're diving into allowances, key dates, debt, emergency funds, budgeting and building a long-term view with the right types of accounts to look after future-you.

This week on the AJ Bell Money Matters podcast, Danni and Laura are joined by Olivia Bowen from Castlefield to talk about wills. We're determined to break down taboos around money, and talking about finances in relation to death is both generally seen as a no-go and also one of the most important decisions you can make. March is Free Wills month so what better time to discuss common mishaps, pensions, how much a will costs to make and how long it tends to take. We also touch on inheritance tax and how to avoid leaving it "messy" for your loved ones.

This week on the AJ Bell Money Matters podcast, we're joined by tech start-up CEO Victoria Smith and tech recruiter Claire Simpson to share their career tips. Both finance and tech are still male-centric sectors, so how can women help shape company policies and boost their career prospects? We also discuss the key role of a good mentor and why a battle with confidence can hold women back.

This week on the AJ Bell Money Matters podcast, Danni and Laura are joined by financial psychotherapist and author Vicky Reynal. With couples mainly arguing about overspending and not saving for the future*, and younger couples having more disagreements about finances than those in retirement, we wanted to get to the bottom of the trend. Understanding why emotions are heavily linked to money, and importantly how to break cycles makes this a must-listen episode, for those coupled up or not. *Survey conducted for AJ Bell by Opinium of 2,000 nationally representative Brits of which 1,291 were in couples. Survey completed between 6-10 February 2026.

In this episode of the AJ Bell Money Matters podcast, Danni and Laura are joined by financial planner Kat Lowers, to discuss the sneaky effects of lifestyle creep. It may not be obvious at first, but when given a pay rise, many find the extra cash each month is disappearing as lifestyle creep takes hold. So how can you be aware of it and also enjoy good spending and saving habits?

On this episode of the AJ Bell Money Matters podcast, Danni and Laura are joined by AJ Bell expert Hannah Williford as they share simple habits that make a big difference to your wallet. Whether you fall foul of auto-renewals for things like insurance, forget how many subscriptions you've signed up to, or keep forgetting to pay future-you at the start of the month, no matter your level of financial knowledge, we have top tips to help build your confidence.

On this week's AJ Bell Money Matters podcast, we are celebrating our 100th episode! Laura and Danni are reflecting on their financial journeys and setting new year's resolutions. We hear from some of our most popular podcast guests and hear how their finances have changed since their interviews including Laura Ann Moore, Kalpana Fitzpatrick and Rachel Peru. The team also reveal that there are some changes coming to the podcast in 2026.

On the AJ Bell Money Matters podcast this week, Danni and Laura reveal that more than half of Brits in relationships are keeping some spending secret from their partner - find out what they’re buying. We also hear from Abbie Glew, accountant at The Orenda Collective - as 2025 comes to an end, the deadline for self-assessment tax returns draws closer. But how do you know if you need to file one? We break down all the key dates and share Abbie's top tools to set yourself up for a great 2026.