Podcast · Business

Better With Money

by The Irish Times · English · Business

If you find managing your money a struggle, this is the podcast for you. From The Irish Times, Better With Money is a crash-course in how to spend responsibly, save effectively and make big financial decisions wisely. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

New episodes: Weekly
Typical length: 32 min
Latest: 13 Oct 2026
Language: English

Latest episode

13 Oct 2026 · 26 minNew

'Am I being ripped off?': Understanding changes to childcare in the budget

Parents around the country were left confused last week when the Minister for Public Expenditure Jack Chambers said he was reducing the “maximum childcare fees paid by parents from €735 to €550 per month” for children up to senior infants from September of next year. It led to a slew of emails to The Irish Times with parents wondering why they are currently paying well above that figure - from €959 up to €1,400. Irish Times deputy business editor Dominic Coyle explains that "not for the first time, there appears to be a substantial “reality gap” between the Government’s understanding of the…

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Earlier episodes 29 most recent

6 Oct 2026 · 25 min
Revealed: Ireland's new personal investment account - so how will it work?
Aideen Finnegan is joined by Dan Malone of Honest.ie for a debrief on the new personal investment account scheme unveiled by Finance Minister Simon Harris in Budget 2027. Dan explains it's a tax-advantaged “home” for investing in assets like stocks, funds, bonds and ETFs, with a €12,000 annual contribution cap and a €50,000 tax-free threshold. Once you go above that, a flat 1% tax rate kicks in on the portion above €50k. The bad news is that will happen even in years when markets fall and you lose money, with Dan warning that could meaningfully "drag on long-term returns." They discuss…
29 Sep 2026 · 41 min
"Most people are overpaying for their health insurance": here's how to save on yours
Not everyone can afford or even wants health insurance. But for those who do - or those who worry affordability will force them to drop theirs - this episode of Better with Money is your ultimate guide to saving at a time of stringent price hikes. Dermot Goode has been working in the area of health insurance for over 35 years and what he doesn't know about the industry isn't worth knowing. He explains how many people are on outdated, overly expensive plans and could save by switching within the same insurer. Families can split cover for different members to reduce their bills. There are key…
22 Sep 2026 · 34 min
Wills, windfalls and inheritance tax: Here’s how to understand them in Ireland
Irish Times deputy business editor, Dominic Coyle, and trust and estate practitioner,Trea McGuinness, discuss what’s set to be the biggest transfer of generational wealth ever in Ireland. That’s because the over 65s own the lion’s share of the country’s private wealth and they’re set to pass on billions of euro – much of it tied up in property – over the coming decades. But McGuinness, who’s a partner with BHSM, emphasises it’s important for younger people to draw up a will and not to fall into the trap of thinking they don’t have an estate to pass on. In this conversation with host Aideen…
15 Sep 2026 · 25 min
'I get asked this almost by every client I have': ETFs with Kevin Elliott
Investment expert Kevin Elliott returns to the podcast to answer the most commonly asked questions about Exchange Traded Funds, including the one he gets asked by almost every client: "Should I start investing in ETFs now, or wait for the personal investment account set to be announced by the government on budget day?" In this conversation with host Aideen Finnegan, he also gives his take on whether the scheme will help "middle Ireland" on the basis of what we know so far (annual contribution cap, tax-free gains up to a threshold, and providers handling Revenue reporting). Kevin uses the…
8 Sep 2026 · 33 min
Thinking of buying a derelict property to create your dream home? Here’s what you need to know
As "Cheap Irish Homes" returns to TV screens, Better with Money explores whether vacant and derelict properties could actually offer a route to home ownership for first-time buyers, or would it be a rookie mistake to take on a "fixer-upper" that big? Rachael Uí Bhaoill – aka @the.renovation.strategist - believes it’s “absolutely doable” adding her own first home was “a dump” she bought in recession. Now she flips properties and advises clients on renovations through her company Spreag.ie . The former corporate banker shares how she does it with "financials first" approach, warning she won't…
1 Sep 2026 · 24 min
New investment scheme: Here's what we now know - and what we still don't
For months there's been a maddening drip feeding of information about the Minister for Finance's proposed state-backed investment scheme for ordinary Irish savers. Yesterday the government finally nailed some colours to the mast revealing it will be tax free up to a certain threshold, financial institutions will report your tax liability to Revenue, and there'll be no fixed term where your money is "locked away." But key details are being held back for budget day on October 6th. The biggest unknowns are what that maximum threshold will be and what is the flat rate tax that will be applied by…
25 Aug 2026 · 27 min
Back to School: Conor Pope's guide to surviving the September squeeze
Yes schoolbooks are now free and non-crested uniforms are more widely available, but there remains an unavoidable financial burden for parents every September. Digital devices, app fees, voluntary contributions, new shoes, extra-curricular activities… It all adds up to a very tight September. And it comes right after an expensive few months of summer camps, Gaeltacht stays and perhaps unpaid parental leave to cover gaps in childcare. Not to mention the fact that the September squeeze on parents of school-aged children comes just three pay cheques before the festive season and its associated…
18 Aug 2026 · 32 min
Paul Merriman on pensions: ‘I’d rather see clients mortgage-free by 66 even if that means delaying contributions’
If you think €40,000 a year would give you a comfortable life in retirement, the maths might give you a land. A 30 year old on just over €60k per annum would need to start saving 22% of their monthly income (€1,135) to secure that figure by the time they’re 66. And that’s assuming they have the PRSI contributions to qualify for the full State pension; currently a maximum of €15k a year. Who has that amount of money to squirrel away every month, we hear you cry! Precisely Paul Merriman’s reaction. The financial adviser and founder of AskPaul.ie is here reassure you there’s no need to panic.…
11 Aug 2026 · 33 min
How the viral 'admin party' saved €1,169
The idea of an “admin party” has gone viral since the term was coined last year. It probably shouldn’t come as a surprise given how we are all drowning in our own quicksand of “I must get around to that” jobs. Whether it’s disputing a charge with your bin company, wading through health insurance or getting your car ready for the NCT, these “small” tasks coalesce to become one big soup of digital paperwork. When the overwhelm becomes so great, the instinct to withdraw wins out for many of us. So can an admin party help? Aideen Finnegan is joined by journalists Conor Pope, Niamh Browne and…
4 Aug 2026 · 34 min
Impulse shopping ruining your finances? Here's how to break the cycle
This episode first aired in April.It's exactly the one you need to hear if you buy so many items online, you feel you need to sneak them past your partner / family / housemates before they see another package arrive at the door. Even at a time of spiralling fuel prices and huge increases in the cost of living, it is possible for someone to overspend on holidays, clothes or even just the “little treats” when they can least afford it. Why? Because an abundance of credit, modern consumer culture, frictionless shopping experiences and a desire to feel control are all working in consort to part…
28 Jul 2026 · 41 min
Buying a car: should you go Hire Purchase, PCP or a loan from your bank?
This episode was first published in September 2025 so the prices quoted will reflect a time when Donald Trump hadn't started a war with Iran, the Strait of Hormuz was open and inflation wasn't as high as it is now. However the information is rock solid because Neil Briscoe is breaking down the different ways to buy a car; Hire Purchase, PCP or a personal loan from the bank. Which option is the cheapest, which is the best value and are they always the same thing? Neil has practical tips, highlights the importance of trade-ins and weighs up the advantages and disadvantages of leasing. Plus, he…
21 Jul 2026 · 32 min
Solar Panels: 'Our electricity bill now averages €208 a month'
If you’ve been wondering whether solar panels are worth the costly initial outlay, this is the episode for you. “At no stage have I ever heard anyone say ‘I wish I didn’t put so many solar panels up.’ It’s usually ‘I wish I put a bigger battery in,’” says Garrett Fox, a landscaper and retrofitting enthusiast from Co. Galway. In 2018 during “The Beast from the East”, his 80s bungalow was so cold his bedroom curtains froze shut. Since then he’s added solar panels, insulation, new windows, air-to-water heating, two EVs and watched his energy bills plummet as a result. Garrett breaks down…
14 Jul 2026 · 35 min
‘The best performing stock market was Colombia last year’: Picking an index fund as an Irish investor
If you have found yourself at the point at which you're finally ready to invest, but you don't know how to do your research into index and exchange traded funds (ETFs), this is the episode for you. There’s an overwhelming amount of information online about investing, but most of it is aimed an American, and to a lesser extent, a UK audience. In this episode wealth advisor, YouTube content creator and Donegal man, Kevin Elliott , brings his years of experience working for financial institutions in New York, London and Toronto and translates it jargon-free for an Irish audience. Building on…
7 Jul 2026 · 35 min
‘Some of my followers have saved €100k’: What influencers told Harris in investment scheme briefing
Aideen Finnegan speaks to financial influencer Annmarie Gaynor ( Irish Budgeting Mammy ) and Cian Carolan of DNG Financial Services after they attended a Department of Finance meeting with Simon Harris and junior minister Robert Troy about a proposed state “personal investment account”. It’s not an SSIA savings account that would be topped up by the Government, neither will it be a product “with a portal you log into with a password.” Rather it looks set to be a tax-incentivised “wrapper” applying new rules to existing investment options offered by banks, life insurers and trading platforms.…
30 Jun 2026 · 32 min
Ireland’s new EV scrappage scheme opens tomorrow. Can you still get the €5,000 grant?
In this week’s episode, the font of all motoring knowledge Neil Briscoe is taking us through the government’s new pilot ICE to EV scrappage scheme. For us non petrol heads, those acronyms essentially mean “give up yer aul polluting car for an electric vehicle instead.” It involves trading in your end-of-life petrol or diesel car (at least 13 years) for a new EV, and is weighted 65% towards rural dwellers. Opening tomorrow with just 2000 places, the scheme is already oversubscribed. However Neil is expecting the government will announce a new round. He runs through the best value EVs on the…
23 Jun 2026 · 39 min
‘The cheapest quote can end up being the most expensive’: How to keep renovation costs down
Unless you’re Dermot Bannon, doing up your house must be one of the most expensive and nerve-wracking jobs you can ever take on. In this episode of Better with Money, Quantity Surveyor Shay Lally (aka @houses_to_restore on Instagram) speaks to Aideen Finnegan about how to plan and cost the renovation of an average 3-bed semi-d in Ireland. He explains why the cheapest quote can often end up being the most expensive because of omissions or “front-loading”, where the builder gets the bulk of the payment at the beginning and then ghosts you for the smaller jobs later on. Shay also explains how…
16 Jun 2026 · 31 min
‘It just absolutely baffles me’: How Ireland’s ‘single tax’ hurts at weddings as well as mortgages
From supplements on hotel rooms to needing to save tens of thousands of euro on your own to buy a home, the costs of doing anything in Ireland - as a single adult - are hidden and varied. Irish Times columnist and author, Emer McLysaght, joins Aideen Finnegan and Conor Pope on this episode of Better with Money to discuss the many ways single people are penalised by the so-called "single tax". While Ireland's tax system doesn't explicitly "reward" married or cohabiting couples, it is more favourable for them. And that's before you consider the single person's financial burden of trying to…
9 Jun 2026 · 26 min
Is your fixed-term mortgage ending this year? Tips on getting lowest rates in Ireland
Can changing your mortgage to a fortnightly payment plan save you money and reduce the overall term? Will striving to get your loan-to-value ratio down unlock the best interest rates? And how can you even go about that anyway? These questions and more are answered by Cian Carolan, MD of DNG Financial Services in this second episode of mortgage strategising. It’s all about finding a way to pay down that mortgage as quickly and painlessly as possible. Cian also explains what to consider if you’re rolling off a fixed-term rate cycle this year, and answers a question about how easy (or not!) it…
2 Jun 2026 · 23 min
Should you try and overpay your mortgage or invest instead?
What are the fastest and least painful ways of paying off your mortgage? Should you overpay, if you can? Or should you use any extra money to invest instead? What about switching - how much can it save you, really? These are the types of questions we're putting to Cian Carolan, financial planner and managing director of DNG Financial Services. In this episode we discuss affordability and why it's crucial to consider motivations and wider financial planning before calling your lender. Cian also explains fixed and variable mortgage rates, how much they are expected to increase this year and…
26 May 2026 · 32 min
I’ve helped people clear debt for 30 years. Here’s how to tackle it.
Whether it's a few hundred euro on a credit card that you just can't manage to clear, or if you have fallen behind on your mortgage repayments due to an unforeseen life event - if debt is keeping you awake at night, this is the podcast you need to hear. This conversation with Gwen Harris, regional manager with the Money Advice and Budgeting Service explores practical, step-by-step ways to regain control of your finances - from creating a realistic budget to understanding options like loan consolidation and personal insolvency. Gwen also breaks down popular repayment strategies such as the…
19 May 2026 · 27 min
'My pension fund has grown by 69% in three and a half years' - here's how to maximise yours
If you have pension anxiety - either because you don't have one yet or because the one you do have won't cut it - this is the episode for you. Sjoerd Bak, a qualified financial adviser and founder of Become a Millionaire explains why pensions should come before any other investing, especially for those worried their retirement fund won’t be enough. Bak shares how a stroke in 2020 prompted him to reassess his finances, simplify his approach, and retrain as an adviser after running workplace “Become a Millionaire” sessions. He explains Ireland’s pension tax relief and argues the tax benefits…
12 May 2026 · 31 min
Flights, car hire and the airport 'golden hour': Conor Pope's guide to holiday spending traps
Wondering how you'll stretch your holiday budget amid uncertainty over rising energy costs and jet fuel supplies? Pricewatch editor Conor Pope has the latest on what the conflict in the Middle East might mean for airline cost-cutting, and why you should take out travel insurance as soon as you book. He also shares the airport spending traps you need to avoid to keep more money in your pocket. (Did you know they try and keep you in the shopping hall for longer by waiting ages to reveal your departure gate?!) There's also advice on navigating the world of car hire (fuel policies, collection…
5 May 2026 · 21 min
'Never open that app again' - Investing platforms, ETFs, and the deemed disposal headache
This episode is for information purposes only and does not constitute financial advice. It's the second part of our chat with Dan Malone from honest.ie who is demystifying the various online trading platforms available to Irish people. Dan walks through how a beginner (like “Sarah,” a 30-something on an average salary) can start long-term investing, stressing that the first step is maximising pension contributions and having an emergency fund. He recommends choosing a user-friendly, low-fee broker app such as Trading 212, Trade Republic, Degiro or Lightyear etc, and trying them out with…
28 Apr 2026 · 32 min
“99.9% of people shouldn’t be picking stocks’ - A beginner’s guide to investment apps in Ireland
If you've never opened an online trading app in your life (or you have but felt immediately overwhelmed) this is the episode for you. Dan Malone from honest.ie is a chartered accountant, chartered tax advisor and qualified financial advisor. He's analysed the most popular trading platforms in Ireland like Trading 212, Trade Republic, Lightyear, Interactive Brokers, Revolut and N26. Malone explains which ones might suit the novice investor, what hidden fees and sneaky charges you should look out for, and the tax implications come the pay-and-file deadline. This episode also explores how safe…
21 Apr 2026 · 34 min
New savings and investment scheme: What's in Simon Harris' plan?
Today we are unpacking Simon Harris’s proposed savings and investment scheme, due to be unveiled in October, and what questions remain about how it will work. Qualified Financial Advisor and long-time investor Kel Galavan says it won't mirror the Celtic Tiger era SSIA scheme. It's more likely to be styled on the Swedish or UK system; where savers put their money in accounts specially designed for novice investors. The known unknowns include access rules, fees and term length - we will have to wait until the Budget to get the full picture. Kel outlines what we know, what we don't, and how you…
14 Apr 2026 · 34 min
“My salary was in my wardrobe” - How a former shopaholic overcame her overspending
Even at a time of spiralling fuel prices and huge increases in the cost of living, it's possible for people to overspend on clothes, holidays or even just the “little treats” when they can least afford it. Why? Because an abundance of credit, influencer culture, ease of online shopping and a desire to feel control are all working in consort to part you with your money. The terms "retail therapy" and "shopaholic" do a disservice to the seriousness of it. In psychology it's called oniomania. Paige Pritchard is a reformed compulsive spender who cleared $40,000 of debt and now helps others to…
7 Apr 2026 · 25 min
Sinking Funds: How the viral trend can transform your finances
Better with Money is on a break for Easter so we are revisiting our favourite episode from last year, all about the "sinking fund." It's a fancy way of saying you have separate of pots of savings for specific expenses. There's a legion of advocates who swear by the practice. One such enthusiast is Anita Collins, a maths teacher from Limerick who runs the Instagram page @efficientfamilylife. She joins the podcast to explain in detail how sinking funds can help people manage their finances more effectively, help create a buffer for those hefty energy bills and make spending on yourself a…
31 Mar 2026 · 33 min
Sort your finances out over a few drinks with friends: The ‘admin party’ that saved €1,169
The 'admin party' is the latest social media trend promising to save you money. The idea is it's a social, accountability-based way to tackle money-draining life admin. But does it work? Host Aideen Finnegan is joined by Irish Times journalists Niamh Browne, Conor Pope and Órla Ryan to see if they can fix their finances in real time. From gas bill hikes to health insurance, to claiming your expenses from work; the procrastination ends here. Presented by Aideen Finnegan. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
24 Mar 2026 · 27 min
'You can holiday in Vietnam for the price of a week in Greece' - budget travel strategies that work
No one knows more about organising an unforgettable holiday on a tight budget than Cork woman Stephanie Barry Woods . She and her husband Tim have been travelling the world for the past decade, having every type of experience imaginable. From road tripping around Spain to luxury stays in the Maldives to Bankok hostels and full moon parties in Thailand. (You can hear how they made that happen in an earlier episode of Better with Money ) In today’s episode Steph shares the best tips and tricks she’s learned over the years; from getting the best price on flights and accommodation to alternative…

About Better With Money

Better With Money is a English business podcast from The Irish Times. Melo plays each episode straight from the publisher's own feed — no ads added, no account needed — and remembers where you stopped, in this browser only.

Publisher: The Irish Times
Language: English
Category: Business
New episodes: Weekly
Typical length: 32 min
Latest episode: 13 Oct 2026
Feed: RSS — paste into any podcast app
Apple Podcasts: podcasts.apple.com/podcast/id1810993044
Rights: The Irish Times

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