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This week Connie and Mik break down the rumours circulating ahead of the budget. They cover talk of equalising capital gains tax with income tax, changes to the mansion tax threshold, the pension tax free lump sum, and Andy Burnham’s comments on the state pension triple lock. Mik explains which rumours are likely to hold and which ones probably won’t. With bullet points: Connie and Mik go through the rumours circulating ahead of this year’s budget. Why there was talk of equalising capital gains tax with income tax, and why the Chancellor has ruled it outThe mansion tax threshold and the problems with valuing every property over 2 million poundsFiscal headroom explained, and why the government needs to raise more taxEmployee National Insurance and why Mik thinks it’s effectively income tax by another nameThe state pension triple lock, and what moving to a double lock would actually meanRumours around cutting the pension tax free lump sum, and why some people took theirs out early

This week Skint welcomes Sally, who opens up about getting into serious credit card debt after her divorce. What started as one gifted credit card turned into a two year spiral of designer shopping, hidden bags under her desk, and a debt she told nobody about. She talks through what finally made her ask for help, and how she rebuilt her relationship with money from the ground up. We cover: How easy credit card offers turned into a two year shopping spiral after her divorceHiding the debt from her family and colleagues while working in fashionThe moment she realised she had nowhere left to goWhy asking for help felt like such a reliefThe cash envelope system and budgeting habits she built afterwardsWhy she now sees getting into debt as the best thing that happened to her

The financial industry loves its jargon, and this episode is here to fix that. Connie and Mik go through the terms you hear all the time but nobody ever really explains. The Bank of England, the Fed, and why interest rate decisions are kept independent from politiciansThe FCA and the difference between financial conduct and financial stabilityPassive vs active investing, and what "alpha" and "beta" actually meanBull and bear markets explained, and why trying to time the market rarely worksIPOs, private equity, and what really happens when a company like SpaceX floatsEBITDA, dividends, and why some companies pay out and others don'tThe FIRE movement, retiring at 40 by saving up to 70% of your salary, and whether it's actually worth itIf you've ever nodded along in a conversation about finance without understanding a word, this one's for you.

Mik was nearly scammed. A scarily professional WhatsApp message asked him to "verify" his card for a holiday booking in Sicily, reference number and all. On this episode of Skint, Connie and Mik break down what happened and the other scams doing the rounds right now. The fake booking confirmation that had all his details, down to arrival and departure datesThe O2 phone scam where fraudsters order a phone on your account and get you to post it back to themWhy hovering over an email address before clicking anything can save youA Facebook Marketplace scam that cost a friend £700 for a peloton that never existedThe 17 year old who unknowingly bought fake car insurance and ended up with a criminal record

Buying a house in England is famously one of the most stressful processes in the world — no real commitment from either side until the very last minute, surprise gazumping, and estate agents with zero formal qualifications. In this episode of Skint, Connie and Mik dig into the government's proposed overhaul of the home-buying system. Sales packs: sellers disclose chain position, covenants, leasehold/freehold status and planning history before a property is even listedEarlier commitment: moving toward binding agreements sooner in the process, as seen in France and ScotlandDigital property records: what's changing and the security questions still being worked outProfessionalising estate agents: from a non-mandatory code of practice to future qualificationsStamp duty pain: now over 10% on properties above £1m, and how it's stalled the market and killed off quick property flipsWhether you're buying, selling, or just skint and curious, this one's for you.

ISAs were designed to be simple, tax-efficient savings accounts, but over time, they’ve gotten surprisingly complex. In this episode of Skint, host Mik breaks down everything you need to know about Individual Savings Accounts. The discussion covers: ISA Types & Limits: Navigating the £20,000 annual allowance across Cash, Stocks & Shares, Lifetime (LISA), and Innovative Finance ISAs. Junior ISAs (JISAs): How to build long-term wealth for children with the £9,000 allowance—and why holding too much in cash can backfire. Upcoming Rules & Policy Changes: The new £12,000 cash ISA limit for under-65s, tax on cash interest, and the transition from Lifetime ISAs to First-Time Buyer ISAs. Smart Investing Strategies: Why ISAs are tax wrappers rather than standalone investments, the benefits of global diversification, and why long-term investors should ignore short-term market noise. Whether you're starting with £5,000 in savings or just trying to sound smart at your next dinner party, this episode offers a clear, low-pressure guide to making your money work harder.

In this episode of Skint, Connie sits down with Debbie, a chartered accountant and former Deloitte partner, to break down the complex worlds of corporate finance, career progression, and personal data privacy. Debbie shares her 23-year journey through professional services, the realities of navigating high-level finance roles as a woman, and how she managed work-life integration while raising a family. We discuss the hidden pressures of Big Four firm environments, embracing neurodiversity in the corporate world, and why the traditional career mold is changing. Later in the episode, Debbie introduces her new venture, Mercury Me—a platform created to disrupt the $1 trillion data industry by giving consumers complete control over their personal data. Learn how data algorithms target you, why you should change your cookie habits, and how you can actually start earning rewards or making charitable donations through Project Hug just by answering questions on your own terms. Key Topics Covered: Life in the Big Four: The realities of long hours, audit standards, and career progression at Deloitte. Women in Finance: Overcoming industry stereotypes and balancing partnership with parenthood. Authenticity & ADHD: Navigating neurodiversity, team dynamics, and breaking the status quo in corporate environments. The Value of Your Data: How tracking algorithms work and how Mercury Me helps you protect, collect, and monetize your personal information. Giving Back Digital-Style: How Mercury Me's sister initiative, Project Hug, allows users to redirect rewards to global causes.

Holiday season is here. Let's make sure your money goes as far as you do. Mik breaks down the stuff most of us get wrong when it comes to spending money abroad. Which exchange rates are actually good, which ones are quietly robbing you, and why where you convert your money matters more than you think. He also covers prepaid travel cards, what to watch out for with data roaming charges and the small things that can save you a surprising amount. Connie shares some personal highlights from her own experiences with money abroad. Let's just say lessons were learned. If you've ever come home from a trip and wondered where all your money went, this one's for you. New episodes every Wednesday. For entertainment and educational purposes only. Not financial advice.

The government made a squirrel to fix your finances. Let's talk about it. The government has launched a new campaign to get the UK investing. It's called Invest for the Future. It's fronted by a cartoon squirrel. Mik breaks down what the Savvy Squirrel campaign actually is, who's behind it and why it exists. He explains how there are billions of pounds just sitting in cash ISAs and savings accounts doing very little, and why the government thinks getting that money moving could make a real difference for both the economy and for you personally. He also covers what the upcoming changes to your Cash ISA allowance mean and how it all connects. Connie asks what we're all thinking. If you've never invested before, where do you even start? And should a cartoon squirrel really be the thing that gets you there? Whether you're already investing or the whole thing feels like it's not for you, this one might change how you look at what your money is actually doing. New episodes every Wednesday. For entertainment and educational purposes only. Not financial advice.

What if the way you think about money is the thing holding you back? This week Mik takes a step back from the numbers and paints a bigger picture. He walks us through the psychology behind how most of us think about earning, spending, status and investing, and why those instincts don't always work in our favour. He breaks down how thinking about risk earlier, understanding probability and spreading your investments can quietly change the direction of your finances over time. Mik also tries to shift Connie's perspective on what money and status really mean, and whether the two should be as connected as we make them. If you've ever felt like you're doing everything right but your relationship with money still feels off, this one might reframe a few things. New episodes every Wednesday. For entertainment and educational purposes only. Not financial advice.

Renters... you just got more rights! Mik breaks down every right renters have gained under the new Renters Rights Act 2026. How it's now easier to hold landlords accountable, and a whole lot harder for them to infringe on your rights as a tenant. Connie reflects on her own experiences as a renter... and let's just say it's a story worth hearing. There's a lot to unpack in this one, but don't worry, we keep it simple. If you're renting or thinking about it, this episode is essential listening. For education and entertainment purposes only. Not financial advice.

I have to say, the chemistry is off the charts... This week we've got a very special guest. Brenda, who some of you might know as Mik's partner, joins the pod to share her money story from the very beginning. She opens up about growing up when money was tight, the habits that came from that, and why saving became non-negotiable for her. She also breaks down her personal money rules, including the all-important F Off Fund. Mik takes the back seat for once and plays interviewer, asking Brenda about everything from pensions to how they approach raising kids with good money habits. It's honest, it's personal, and it's one of those episodes that might make you rethink how your own upbringing shaped the way you handle money. New episodes every Wednesday. For entertainment and educational purposes only. Not financial advice.

What do the world's most successful investors actually know that we don't? Mik walks us through some of the most famous quotes in investing, and goes deep on what each one really means, why it matters and how it actually applies to you! Together they get into the good and the bad. Where following this advice could genuinely pay off, and where it could all go horribly wrong. And yes, Connie finds a way to compare most of it to her dating life. Repeatedly - but it makes more sense than you'd think... Whether you're just starting to think about investing or you've been curious for a while, this one's a good place to start. This is not financial advice !

Hmm... I wonder if Connie is absolutely loving every single second of this challenge. Mik kicks things off by breaking down exactly how Cash Bootcamp works and the thinking behind it. The rules, the reason, and what it actually takes to survive a skint challenge. Connie gets checked in on... is she sticking to the budget or quietly bending the rules? And more importantly, how much did she spend on that t-shirt? If you've ever tried to sort your finances out but life keeps getting in the way, this one's for you. For education and entertainment purposes only. Not financial advice.

Checked your student loan balance recently ? ... Mik opens with the recent campaigns pushing for change, and breaks down what’s actually going on with Plan 2 specifically -the headlines, the noise, and what it could mean if you’re one of the millions still chipping away at yours. Connie takes a trip down memory lane to her own student loan days, and asks the question everyone’s secretly wondering… what on earth is going on with those interest rates? If you’ve ever looked at your student loan balance and felt your soul leave your body, this episode is for you. Simple, honest, and very normal-person friendly. For education and entertainment only. Not financial advice.