12 minutesEnergy prices podcast
Why Your Energy Bill Doubled
A plain-English look at wholesale energy costs, price caps and the delay between a market change and a household bill.
The household economics podcast
Your money, explained.
Inflation, energy bills and wages shape the weekly shop. We explain the forces behind your household budget in plain English, without personal financial advice.
Clear analysis for real household decisions.
This week in your budget
Prices tell a story.
Choose a starting point
Explore household topics
Economic changes land differently in every home. These short, focused topics connect the headline figures to household budgeting economics.
Inflation
8 episodesSee how the inflation basket works, why prices move at different speeds and what 5% means for a £100 shop.
Hear the explainersEnergy bills
6 episodesUnderstand price caps, wholesale costs and why a change in the market can reach your meter months later.
Hear the explainersWages & income
5 episodesNominal pay can rise while real-terms income falls. We show the difference with everyday examples.
Hear the explainersSavings & budgeting
7 episodesPut spending patterns into economic context, including interest rates, saving habits and fixed bills.
See practical contextTax & pensions
4 episodesFollow policy changes and understand the terms that appear in payslips, tax statements and pension updates.
Hear the explainersBeginner investing
3 episodesLearn the language of risk, returns and diversification before making sense of financial reporting.
Read the guidanceListen in order
Start with these episodes
Each episode uses a household example, a clear explanation and the figures that support it. No jargon. No sales pitch.
15 minutesInflation explained UK
Inflation: The Silent Budget Killer
The inflation rate is a measure, not a bill. This episode shows how a basket of goods becomes a number families feel at the till.
10 minutesUK wages and savings
Wage Growth vs Price Rises: Who Wins?
A quick guide to real-terms pay, purchasing power and why a larger payslip may still buy less.
20 minutesTax and pensions
Tax and Pensions: What Changes Mean for You
Hear how thresholds, contributions and policy announcements can alter the numbers people see in their payslips.
Plain-English explainer
Inflation in 60 seconds
Inflation measures how much more expensive things have become. If inflation is 5%, a £100 shop last year now costs £105.
A simple example
£100
£105
Same basket. Higher price.
Use the context
Budgeting in a high-inflation world
These are prompts for understanding your spending, not personal financial instructions. Start with the numbers you can see.
Hear the related episodes
01
Track the categories that move first
Separate food, transport and energy in your notes. Inflation is an average, so your household's pattern may rise faster or slower than the headline rate.
02
Review fixed bills at renewal points
Mark contract dates and tariff changes. A fixed monthly payment can hide a change in usage, standing charges or the underlying price.
03
Compare pay with prices over time
Look at what your income buys, rather than income alone. Real-terms income puts wages and household costs on the same page.
04
Give savings decisions an interest-rate context
Rates affect borrowing and saving at the same time. Listen for the explanation before drawing conclusions about your own circumstances.
Educational, not financial advice
Newman Finance Ltd explains the economy; we don't tell you how to invest your personal money. Economic conditions change, and your circumstances are specific. Speak with a regulated adviser before making financial decisions.