A Little Bit Richer (Legal & General)

In this special season opener of A Little Bit Richer, we turn the tables on our brand-new host, Iona Bain! Pension expert Kim Brown from Legal & General takes the interviewer’s seat to dig into Iona’s personal finance journey— from unexpected money lessons to navigating the challenges of millennial finances.

They discuss everything from getting on the property ladder to balancing today’s financial needs with saving for the future. Iona shares her dreams, fears and working towards financial freedom.

You can watch the full episodes on our YouTube channel 

And watch behind the scenes content on our TikTok and Instagram

You can play the podcast and find other useful content on Legal & General’s website:

www.legalandgeneral.com/podcasts/a-little-bit-richer

Iona and her guests share their own personal thoughts and opinions in this podcast. These might be different from Legal & General’s take on things. They give information for a UK audience that’s relevant at the time of recording.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Recently we’ve seen some high-profile examples of financial abuse. Stories about Britney Spears’ conservatorship, Mel B’s controlling ex-husband and Kesha’s challenging relationship with her producer have all made the headlines.

And it’s not just a celebrity problem. 6 million people in the UK will experience this at some point in their lives. But what is financial abuse and how can you help a friend or loved one deal with it? 

This week, Kia Commodore speaks to award-winning journalist Katie Binns who has investigated this topic. They pin down what it is and share practical tips for ending it. They also cover how it’s related to domestic abuse, and coercive control, which can be challenging to hear about.

For more information, and ways to get help and advice, please visit Surviving Economic Abuse, a charity set up with these issues in mind: https://survivingeconomicabuse.org/

You can play the podcast on Legal & General’s website:

https://www.legalandgeneral.com/podcasts/a-little-bit-richer

Kia and her guests share their own personal thoughts and opinions in this podcast. These might be different from Legal & General’s take on things. They give guidance for a UK audience that’s relevant at the time of recording. It’s general best practice, not the kind of personalised advice you’d get from a financial adviser.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

You can do all the career and financial planning you want, but sometimes life just gets in the way. Health problems can be particularly difficult if you need to take a lot of time off work. Luckily many of us won’t have that challenge but you never know what’s around the corner.

In this episode Kia Commodore chats to Koren Byrne, a PR Manager at Legal & General. Koren was recently diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. She’s spent the last year adjusting to some big changes in her personal life, career and finances.

She and Kia discuss the impact Koren’s diagnosis had on her best life. She describes what took her by surprise and suggests how you can plan for illness, just in case.

You can play the podcast and find other useful content on Legal & General’s website:

https://www.legalandgeneral.com/podcasts/a-little-bit-richer

You can find out more on Critical Illness cover, Income Protection cover and Life insurance here: https://www.legalandgeneral.com/insurance/life-insurance/

Kia and her guests share their own personal thoughts and opinions in this podcast. These might be different from Legal & General’s take on things. They give financial guidance for a UK audience that’s relevant at the time of recording. It’s general best practice, not the kind of personalised advice you’d get from a financial adviser.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Have you ever wondered what happens to some of the money you save in your pension? Beyond securing your financial future, your pension could be helping to build better communities, fund affordable housing and invest in innovative health technologies.

In this episode, our host Iona Bain sits down with Legal & General’s Pete Gladwell to explore how pension funds can be used for social investments, while still delivering strong financial returns.

Learn how your pension savings contribute to projects that shape towns and local communities and how you can make more informed investment choices.

You can watch episodes on our YouTube channel

And see behind the scenes content on our  TikTok and Instagram

You can play the podcast and find other useful content on Legal & General’s website:

https://www.legalandgeneral.com/podcasts/a-little-bit-richer

Iona and her guests share their own personal thoughts and opinions in this podcast. These might be different from Legal & General’s take on things. They give financial guidance for a UK audience that’s relevant at the time of recording. It’s general best practice, not the kind of personalised advice you’d get from a financial adviser.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It’s the first episode of the new year, so Kia Commodore shares some simple, practical moneymaking and saving habits you can adopt in 2024.

She’s joined by Iain Russell, of Moneyhub - a financial tech company that’s created a money management app (and much else). Kia and Iain discuss what to focus on during a financial checkup and recommend good habits to keep. They also chat through how money apps can help you and why you need a safety net for financial emergencies.

A Little Bit Richer releases every other week. You can play the podcast and find other useful content on Legal & General’s website:

https://www.legalandgeneral.com/podcasts/a-little-bit-richer

You can find out more about Moneyhub’s app here: https://www.moneyhub.com/app

Kia and her guests share their own personal thoughts and opinions in this podcast. These might be different from Legal & General’s take on things. They give financial guidance for a UK audience that’s relevant at the time of recording. It’s general best practice, not the kind of personalised advice you’d get from a financial adviser.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Everyone’s career journey is different and there are lots of ways you can get more experience and training to help with this.

Our host, Kia Commodore, chats with Legal & General’s Sarah Evans about lifelong learning, qualifications vs experience and how you can upskill with a busy schedule. 

Some small simple strategies can propel you career forward, give you great experience and help get you a little but richer! 

You can play the podcast and find other useful content on Legal & General’s website:
https://www.legalandgeneral.com/podcasts/a-little-bit-richer

Kia and her guests share their own personal thoughts and opinions in this podcast. These might be different from Legal & General’s take on things. They give information for a UK audience that’s relevant at the time of recording.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ever wondered about switching current accounts but couldn’t face the admin? Friend of the Show, Cash Chats podcaster and award-winning Be Clever With Your Cash blogger Andy Webb talk us through just how easy (and profitable) moving to a new bank can be – and why you might want to stay put too.

Andy and our host Kia Commodore cover moving bank accounts, having multiple accounts, compare traditional high street banks with online ones and ask if it’s really worth regularly switching accounts for the latest offers.

Switching’s easier than you think. So don’t let the admin get in the way when it might just make you… A Little Bit Richer!

You can play the podcast and find other useful content on Legal & General’s website:

https://www.legalandgeneral.com/podcasts/a-little-bit-richer

You can hear more from Andy on his podcast Cash Chats and online:: https://becleverwithyourcash.com/

Kia and her guests share their own personal thoughts and opinions in this podcast. These might be different from Legal & General’s take on things. They give financial guidance for a UK audience that’s relevant at the time of recording. It’s general best practice, not the kind of personalised advice you’d get from a financial adviser.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Once you’ve graduated and are out in the working world it’s easy to just ignore your student loan. But it’s always best to keep on top of all your finances.

In this episode Kia Commodore talks with Abigail Foster, a Chartered Accountant and the founder of Elent, a financial education hub for student, employees and parents.

The two run through the different loan plans and interest rates, and the impact these can have on your other finances. They also tackle a crucial question: should we prioritise paying off our student loan? And if you’re planning for your kids, they look at saving to help them through it too.

You can play the podcast and find other useful content on Legal & General’s website:

https://www.legalandgeneral.com/podcasts/a-little-bit-richer

You can find more about Elent here: https://elent.com/

Kia and her guests share their own personal thoughts and opinions in this podcast. These might be different from Legal & General’s take on things. They give financial guidance for a UK audience that’s relevant at the time of recording. It’s general best practice, not the kind of personalised advice you’d get from a financial adviser.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Every employee gets a payslip… but hardly anyone ever actually reads them. That’s a great shame, because they’re packed with lots of essential information that can help you get A Little Bit Richer.  

From understanding tax codes to deciphering deductions, this week our host Kia Commodore digs into the fine print of your payslip with Asesh Sarkar. He’s the CEO and co-founder of Salary Finance and MyBnk’s Chair of Trustees.

What’s the difference between your gross and net salary? What is PAYE? And why is keeping track of all those numbers so important? Asesh explains why there’s more to your payslip than you might expect. Plus, he gives his top payday budgeting tips, helping you cover the essentials, save enough for tomorrow, and hopefully have enough left over to treat yourself too.

Kia and her guests share their own personal thoughts and opinions in this podcast. These might be different from Legal & General’s take on things. They give financial guidance for a UK audience that’s relevant at the time of recording. It’s general best practice, not the kind of personalised advice you’d get from a financial adviser.

You can play the podcast and find other useful content on Legal & General’s website:

https://www.legalandgeneral.com/podcasts/a-little-bit-richer

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Paying into your workplace pension gets you free money from your employer and the government, and starting early on can have surprisingly big benefits. Thanks to the magic of compounding, saving even just a little in your 20s can leave you with a bigger pot than putting more away later on.

This week our host Kia Commodore unpicks workplace pensions with Kim Brown, Legal & General’s Pension Scheme Director. How can you plan your pension, from managing parental leave to choosing the right investments for you? How much do you need to retire, and what State Pension could you be entitled to? When should you think about paying in a little more, and what should you think through if you want to save less?

And a lot more besides. 

You can find out more about pensions on our website:

htps://www.legalandgeneral.com/retirement/pensions/

As you listen, there are a couple of important points to bear in mind.

First of all, in this episode Kim shares several pension growth numbers. They’re based on a series of assumptions about how the markets could perform. They’re general examples of how things could work out, not specific financial predictions.

And in every episode Kia and her guests share their own personal thoughts and opinions, which might be different from Legal & General’s take on things. They give financial guidance for a UK audience that’s relevant at the time of recording. Again it’s general best practice, not the kind of personalised advice you’d get from a financial adviser.

You can play the podcast here:

https://www.legalandgeneral.com/podcasts/a-little-bit-richer

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In a post-pandemic world, with the rise of working from home and flexible hours, there’s a whole new meaning to work life balance.

In this episode, Joe Ryle from the Four Day Week Foundation joins our host Iona Bain to discuss how changing work patterns can lead to a healthier work culture with increased productivity and reduced burnout.

They dive deep into the role of technology in blurring boundaries and offer practical advice on how you can begin advocating for more balance in your work life.

You can watch episodes on our YouTube channel

And see behind the scenes content on our  TikTok and Instagram

You can play the podcast and find other useful content on Legal & General’s website:

https://www.legalandgeneral.com/podcasts/a-little-bit-richer

Iona and her guests share their own personal thoughts and opinions in this podcast. These might be different from Legal & General’s take on things. They give information for a UK audience that’s relevant at the time of recording.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

April will ring in the beginning of a new tax year so you may have noticed that there’s a lot of talk about ISAs. But what are they and might they be useful for you? Here to help us understand a little bit more is Legal & General’s ISA Product Manager, Fahad Ahmed.

Fahad and our host Kia Commodore chat through the different types of ISAs for saving and investing your money, how the Lifetime ISA can help you get on the property ladder, what to consider when choosing a provider and the changes in this new tax year.

You can play the podcast and find other useful content on Legal & General’s website:

https://www.legalandgeneral.com/podcasts/a-little-bit-richer

You can find out a little bit more about ISAs on Legal & General’s website:

https://www.legalandgeneral.com/investments/stocks-and-shares-isa/guides/investing-for-beginners/

Kia and her guests share their own personal thoughts and opinions in this podcast. These might be different from Legal & General’s take on things. They give financial guidance for a UK audience that’s relevant at the time of recording. It’s general best practice, not the kind of personalised advice you’d get from a financial adviser.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

From credit cards, personal loans, car loans, overdrafts, mortgages, owing friends and family, even a phone contract – debt comes in a number of forms and it’s easy to feel overwhelmed.

But there are ways to climb out of debt and feel more in control.

Here to dive a little bit deeper is friend of the show, Andy Webb – the man behind the award-winning Be Clever With Your Cash blog and host of the Cash Chats podcast.

Andy and our host Kia Commodore talk through how to manage debt, strategies to reduce what you owe and prioritise.

These are the organisations Andy mentions who can offer free support with debt: Citizens Advice, National Debtline, Step Change and Christians Against Poverty.

You can play the podcast and find other useful content on Legal & General’s website:

https://www.legalandgeneral.com/podcasts/a-little-bit-richer

You can hear more from Andy on his podcast Cash Chats and online: https://becleverwithyourcash.com/

Kia and her guests share their own personal thoughts and opinions in this podcast. These might be different from Legal & General’s take on things. They give financial guidance for a UK audience that’s relevant at the time of recording.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A Little Bit Richer is all about helping you find different ways to save and grow your money. But why bother? What can all that saved up and invested cash actually get you?

What many people look for is the financial freedom and flexibility to live their dream lifestyle. You might want to go travelling, retire early, or have a portfolio career. Once you figure out what your priorities are, it’s time to understand how your finances can help you make those goals happen.

That’s where Jenny Hazan, Director of Customer Value Management at Legal & General, comes in. In this episode, she and Kia Commodore chat about all the different lifestyle choices out there, and how your finances can free you up to make those choices.

You can play the podcast and find other useful content on Legal & General’s website:

https://www.legalandgeneral.com/podcasts/a-little-bit-richer

You can read more about the FIRE movement here:

https://www.legalandgeneral.com/retirement/rewirement/setting-financial-goals/the-fire-movement-what-is-it/

Kia and her guests share their own personal thoughts and opinions in this podcast. These might be different from Legal & General’s take on things. They give financial guidance for a UK audience that’s relevant at the time of recording. It’s general best practice, not the kind of personalised advice you’d get from a financial adviser.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode we’re focusing on pension savings again, to help you make the most of this important investment.

This time we’re covering where your money can be invested. Here to help explore this is Jesal Mistry. He works in asset management at Legal & General and is part of the team who decide the best places to invest people’s pension savings.

Jesal chats with our host Kia Commodore about what types of organisations pensions are invested in and the choices you have if you want to get more involved and how you can align your pension investments with your values.

Paying your pension some attention now can help to make future you a little bit richer.

You can play the podcast and find other useful content on Legal & General’s website:

https://www.legalandgeneral.com/podcasts/a-little-bit-richer

You can find out a little bit more about saving into a pension on Legal & General’s website:

https://www.legalandgeneral.com/retirement/pensions/

Kia and her guests share their own personal thoughts and opinions in this podcast. These might be different from Legal & General’s take on things. They give financial guidance for a UK audience that’s relevant at the time of recording. It’s general best practice, not the kind of personalised advice you’d get from a financial adviser.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Brought to you by financial influencer Kia Commodore (Pennies to Pounds) and Legal & General, A Little Bit Richer is aimed at making you just that.

Each week, Kia and an expert guest will bring you bite-sized financial tips and tricks. We’re talking the stuff that didn’t get taught at school, but that you need to know to survive adulting in your twenties and early thirties. Everything from making sense of your payslip, to mortgages and pensions, to financial wellbeing and mental health – it’s all part of helping make sure you’re making the best financial decisions for you.

The first two episodes are out on September 14th.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

From painting the walls your favourite colour to finally creating your perfect kitchen, owning your own home can be a dream come true. But with interest rates and house prices staying stubbornly high, many of us feel stuck at the still-just-a-dream stage.

We’re going to show you how snapping up your next place may be more achievable than you think.

This week, mortgage broker, property expert and investor Tayo Oguntonade joins our host Kia Commodore to unpick the big questions about buying property right now. They dig into homebuying facts and figures, saving for, buying, or even building your ideal place, snapping somewhere up with friends or family, and much more.

You can play the podcast and find other useful content on Legal & General’s website:

https://www.legalandgeneral.com/podcasts/a-little-bit-richer

You can follow Tayo on TikTok: @BrickzwithTipz

Kia and her guests share their own personal thoughts and opinions in this podcast. These might be different from Legal & General’s take on things. They give financial guidance for a UK audience that’s relevant at the time of recording. It’s general best practice, not the kind of personalised advice you’d get from a financial adviser.

And, as with all things to do with interest rates and house buying, it’s always worth double checking if house prices, mortgage rates, your own buying power and anything else have changed before you make any big decisions.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Step into the new year armed with pearls of financial wisdom from A Little Bit Richer! 

In this special episode, our host Kia Commodore goes through the archives to share her top ten favourite money tips from the series so far. From building financial discipline to smart investing, tackling debt and planning for your dream retirement, this episode is packed with actionable advice from some of the most insightful guests we've had on the show, including Orann Coyle, Timi Merriman-Johnson, Kim Brown, Emilie Bellet and many more.

Start 2025 strong and take control of your financial future. Whether you're navigating the property market, or exploring pensions and ISAs, there are plenty of ways to help make you a little bit richer!

You can play the podcast and find other useful content on Legal & General’s website:

www.legalandgeneral.com/podcasts/a-little-bit-richer

Kia and her guests share their own personal thoughts and opinions in this podcast. These might be different from Legal & General’s take on things. They give financial guidance for a UK audience that’s relevant at the time of recording. It’s general best practice, not the kind of personalised advice you’d get from a financial adviser.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Whether you're looking for some extra income, creative fulfilment, or a path to financial independence, side hustles are a great way to do this.

In this episode, financial advisor Emmanuel Asuquo and our host Iona Bain dive into the world of side hustles— from what you could offer, when you might need to pay tax and ideas to generate business.

They explore the highs and lows, the myths and realities, and strategies to balance it with your full-time job. Because taking time to develop a side hustle you’re passionate about, can go a long way to making you a little bit richer.

Follow Emmanuel on Instagram @theemaneffectuk

You can watch episodes on our YouTube channel

And see behind the scenes content on our  TikTok and Instagram

You can play the podcast and find other useful content on Legal & General’s website:

https://www.legalandgeneral.com/podcasts/a-little-bit-richer

Iona and her guests share their own personal thoughts and opinions in this podcast. These might be different from Legal & General’s take on things.  They give financial guidance for a UK audience that’s relevant at the time of recording. It’s general best practice, not the kind of personalised advice you’d get from a financial adviser.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Credit can seem like a dirty word. But avoiding it altogether could mean you’ll miss out on some benefits. There is a happy medium – and that’s what Kia Commodore explores on this week’s episode.

Kia’s joined by Andy Webb, who runs the award-winning Be Clever With Your Cash blog and hosts the Cash Chats podcast. They cover what credit actually means, explore its positive side and chat through risks to watch out for. And they talk about ways to embrace healthy credit to boost your credit score.

You can play the podcast and find other useful content on Legal & General’s website:

https://www.legalandgeneral.com/podcasts/a-little-bit-richer

You can hear more from Andy here: https://becleverwithyourcash.com/

Kia and her guests share their own personal thoughts and opinions in this podcast. These might be different from Legal & General’s take on things. They give financial guidance for a UK audience that’s relevant at the time of recording. It’s general best practice, not the kind of personalised advice you’d get from a financial adviser.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

More and more people are earning extra cash through side hustles. With so many options, from selling a few old clothes to starting a whole new business, how do you decide what’s best for you and leap into your own side hustle?

To help us answer that, financial coach Tolu Frimpong joins our host Kia Commodore. Tolu and Kia chat about different kinds of side hustles and how to pick the right one for you. You’ll hear how it can help you with more than just your finances and to consider the costs that can come with it too.

You can play the podcast and find other useful content on Legal & General’s website:

https://www.legalandgeneral.com/podcasts/a-little-bit-richer

You can find out more about Tolu on her website: https://tolufrimpong.com/

Kia and her guests share their own personal thoughts and opinions in this podcast. These might be different from Legal & General’s take on things. They give financial guidance for a UK audience that’s relevant at the time of recording. It’s general best practice, not the kind of personalised advice you’d get from a financial adviser.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The new year is here and while we often focus on resolutions like fitness or dry January, what about setting yourself up for a brighter financial future? In this episode, our host Kia Commodore welcomes Sean Philip from Legal & General, who shares some great tips to improve your personal finances for the longer term.

From rethinking financial sacrifices as ‘badges of honour’, the ‘Couch to £5k’ savings challenge, building an emergency fund and when to increase your pension contributions. This episode is packed with insights to help you save smarter and plan better.

Whether you're navigating the challenge of balancing short-term needs with long-term goals or looking for motivation to get started, Sean’s thoughts will inspire you to take steps to help make you a little bit richer! 

Make 2025 the year future you will thank you for!

You can play the podcast and find other useful content on Legal & General’s website:

https://www.legalandgeneral.com/podcasts/a-little-bit-richer

Kia and her guests share their own personal thoughts and opinions in this podcast. These might be different from Legal & General’s take on things They give financial guidance for a UK audience that’s relevant at the time of recording. It’s general best practice, not the kind of personalised advice you’d get from a financial adviser.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We’ve got an exciting announcement for you. In this new series we're delving deeper to help you with smart money choices. To guide us through we're thrilled to be welcoming Iona Bain to the team.

Listen and follow on your favourite podcast app.

Now you can also watch the full episodes on our YouTube channel

And watch behind the scenes content on our  TikTok and Instagram

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Nowadays, weddings can come with a pretty hefty price tag and with higher living costs, it can be hard to make the day of your dreams a reality.

But with proper planning and realistic research, you can build a budget to reduce financial stress and focus on the fun of your wedding day.

Here to help navigate the cost of weddings is author and founder of ‘This Girl Talks Money’, Ellie Austin-Williams. Ellie shares insights and a safe space for her 42,000 followers to help them gain confidence and ownership of their finances.

Ellie joins our host Kia Commodore to share tips on how to budget for your big day, ways you can reduce costs along the way to reduce the financial stress for couples.

You can play the podcast and find other useful content on Legal & General’s website:

https://www.legalandgeneral.com/podcasts/a-little-bit-richer

Legal & General asked 2,000 married or engaged couples about their weddings and you can see the results here:

https://www.legalandgeneral.com/insurance/life-insurance/cost-of-i-do/

You can follow Ellie for more tips on Instagram @thisgirltalksmoney

Kia and her guests share their own personal thoughts and opinions in this podcast. These might be different from Legal & General’s take on things. They give information for a UK audience that’s relevant at the time of recording.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Moving in with someone is an exciting milestone, but it’s also a big decision that requires careful planning. In this episode our host Kia Commodore sits down with family lawyer Yasmin Khan-Gunns to uncover what you should consider before taking the plunge - whether you’re renting or buying with a partner, friend or family member.

From financial considerations and tenancy agreements to the importance of cohabitation agreements, Yasmin shares expert advice on how to navigate potential challenges and protect yourself if things don’t go as planned. She also gives practical tips for managing shared expenses, understanding property ownership and dealing with breakups or separations.

Whether you're blissfully in love, teaming up with roommates, or just starting to think about your living arrangements, this episode is packed with insights to help you make informed decisions.

You can play the podcast and find other useful content on Legal & General’s website:
www.legalandgeneral.com/podcasts/a-little-bit-richer

You can find Yasmin on Instagram @londonfamilysolicitor

Kia and her guests share their own personal thoughts and opinions in this podcast. These might be different from Legal & General’s take on things. They give information for a UK audience that’s relevant at the time of recording.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode, Kia Commodore continues exploring one of A Little Bit Richer’s most important topics – buying your first home. It’s an extremely important milestone. But it’s also an extremely expensive one.

So in this episode Kia is joined by Hazel Johnston from Legal & General. Hazel began as a mortgage adviser and now helps other advisers better support homebuyers.

Kia and Hazel talk about how to save for a house deposit. They chat through how much you might need to save, how to save it, and the ins and outs of mortgages. They also uncover the hidden costs of house buying and help you budget for actually living in your new home.

You can play the podcast and find other useful content on Legal & General’s website:

https://www.legalandgeneral.com/podcasts/a-little-bit-richer

Here’s more about life insurance for first time buyers: https://www.legalandgeneral.com/insurance/life-insurance/guides/life-insurance-for-first-time-buyers/

Kia and her guests share their own personal thoughts and opinions in this podcast. These might be different from Legal & General’s take on things. They give financial guidance for a UK audience that’s relevant at the time of recording. It’s general best practice, not the kind of personalised advice you’d get from a financial adviser.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Owning a pet brings lots of joy and unconditional love. There’s lots to consider and clever ways to find the perfect pet for you and your lifestyle. 

Ben Simpson-Vernon, aka Ben the Vet on TikTok, joins our host Kia Commodore to give some great insights on choosing and looking after a furry friend and the potential costs involved.

From the best breeds, the upfront and longer-term costs and what to look out for with insurance. Ben shares lots of helpful ways you can make your decision and manage the costs.

Whether you’re a doting pet owner already or desperate for a new puppy, there’s lots of little ways you can manage the costs to keep you a little bit richer. 

You can play the podcast and find other useful content on Legal & General’s website:
www.legalandgeneral.com/podcasts/a-little-bit-richer 

You can follow Ben on TikTok for more information on pets:
www.tiktok.com/@ben.the.vet 

Kia and her guests share their own personal thoughts and opinions in this podcast. These might be different from Legal & General’s take on things. They give information for a UK audience that’s relevant at the time of recording.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In previous episodes, we’ve taken you through why pension savings matter so much and helped you get to grips with your investment. And now we’re taking you one step further, for a masterclass. 

Taking us on this deeper dive into pension savings and what to consider if you want to take a more active role is Legal & General’s Michael Porter.

Michael talks with our host Kia Commodore about how workplace pension savings are invested, the difference between actively and passively managed funds, investment diversification and much more.

They cover what investment risk really means and what to bear in mind if you’re thinking of changing the funds your pension savings are invested in. 

You can play the podcast and find other useful content on Legal & General’s website:
www.legalandgeneral.com/podcasts/a-little-bit-richer

You can find out a little bit more about saving into a pension on Legal & General’s website:
www.legalandgeneral.com/retirement/pensions

Kia and her guests share their own personal thoughts and opinions in this podcast. These might be different from Legal & General’s take on things. They give financial guidance for a UK audience that’s relevant at the time of recording. It’s general best practice, not the kind of personalised advice you’d get from a financial adviser.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In the UK, many younger people are reaching key life events later than previous generations. On average, people aren’t buying their first home until they’re 34, the highest age in decades. And the average age to get married has gone up to 32. 

Those big life events can be triggers for sorting out your finances. So people are also often putting off important decisions like getting life insurance, considering income protection and saving a bit of extra money into their pension pots.

Our host Kia Commodore chats with Koren Byrne from Legal & General. They talk about our recent research, the impact on younger people’s financial wellbeing and what you can do.

You can play the podcast and find other useful content on Legal & General’s website:

www.legalandgeneral.com/podcasts/a-little-bit-richer 

You can find out a little bit more about Protection products here: 

www.legalandgeneral.com/insurance/

Kia and her guests share their own personal thoughts and opinions in this podcast. These might be different from Legal & General’s take on things. They give financial guidance for a UK audience that’s relevant at the time of recording. It’s general best practice, not the kind of personalised advice you’d get from a financial adviser.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Around 42% of Brits invest – in fact, if you’re saving into a pension you’re already an investor. But the wider world of investments can seem murky, confusing and risky. It doesn’t have to be that way. So we’ve put together an investment episode.

Podcaster, author and founder of financial education company Mr MoneyJar, Timi Merriman-Johnson, joins our host Kia Commodore.

They discuss what investing is and isn’t, share details of products that might interest new investors and tell you how to get started. You’ll find out about key newbie choices and pitfalls, and why starting sooner rather than later can make a big difference to how much you end up with.

You can play the podcast and find other useful content on Legal & General’s website:

https://www.legalandgeneral.com/podcasts/a-little-bit-richer

Timi’s podcast is called The Mr MoneyJar Show:

https://www.mrmoneyjar.com

Kia and her guests share their own personal thoughts and opinions in this podcast. These might be different from Legal & General’s take on things. They give financial guidance for a UK audience that’s relevant at the time of recording. It’s general best practice, not the kind of personalised advice you’d get from a financial adviser.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In the post-pandemic world of remote work, more and more people are becoming digital nomads and leaving the UK to work from sunnier climates. But is it really as simple as just hopping on a plane with your laptop? What are the financial implications of working abroad for a UK-based company?

In this episode, Kia Commodore chats with Claire Rhodes. She’s a freelance writer whose been working with UK clients from abroad since 2021.

Kia and Claire chat through how easy it is to make the change to digital nomadism and how it can affect your other financial goals. And Claire describes what her lifestyle’s like these days – the high points, as well as the things she wishes she’d known before leaving the UK.

You can play the podcast and find other useful content on Legal & General’s website:

https://www.legalandgeneral.com/podcasts/a-little-bit-richer

Find out more about Claire’s content writing services here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/claire-rhodes-b5b821141/

Kia and her guests share their own personal thoughts and opinions in this podcast. These might be different from Legal & General’s take on things. They give financial guidance for a UK audience that’s relevant at the time of recording. It’s general best practice, not the kind of personalised advice you’d get from a financial adviser.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Money and love can be a strange mix. It can feel like lots of unspoken rules and pitfalls start popping up when your emotional and financial lives come together. That’s true even when things go smoothly. But what if they don’t?

Amy James, a Legal & General Product Manager, joins Kia Commodore to share how she navigated this journey. When Amy and her partner Dan decided to settle down together, he revealed that he’d built up some pretty big debts. That was hard enough for him to admit. Sorting it all out and getting to a much better financial place was even more of a challenge.

Amy tells their story, explains how everything changed again when they had a child and talks about how they manage their money today. She also shares some excellent tips for talking through difficult financial situations with your partner.

You can play the podcast and find other useful content on Legal & General’s website:

https://www.legalandgeneral.com/podcasts/a-little-bit-richer

Kia and her guests share their own personal thoughts and opinions in this podcast. These might be different from Legal & General’s take on things. They give financial guidance for a UK audience that’s relevant at the time of recording. It’s general best practice, not the kind of personalised advice you’d get from a financial adviser.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Kia Commodore returns to one of A Little Bit Richer’s biggest topics – house buying. If you bought your first property a few years ago you might be thinking about moving up the proper ladder. Maybe you need a bigger home, somewhere that’s a better investment or perhaps even both.

Kia chats through it all with independent mortgage adviser Liam Anstruther. He set up The Mortgage Advice Club to help people through the house buying process. They discuss when and how to start thinking about property next steps. They cover everything from dealing with higher interest rates to possibly holding onto your first home while buying a second one.

You can play the podcast and find other useful content on Legal & General’s website:

https://www.legalandgeneral.com/podcasts/a-little-bit-richer

You can find out more about The Mortgage Advice Club here: https://themaclub.co.uk/

Kia and her guests share their own personal thoughts and opinions in this podcast. These might be different from Legal & General’s take on things. They give financial guidance for a UK audience that’s relevant at the time of recording. It’s general best practice, not the kind of personalised advice you’d get from a financial adviser.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Whether you’re travelling for work, visiting family or friends or off to have some fun, getting around can get expensive. If you’re thinking of taking the train, coach or hiring a car there are lots of clever hacks to save cash along the way.

From ‘Big World, Small Pockets’, travel expert Steph Parker gives us plenty of UK travel  tips and tricks. Steph shares with our host Kia Commodore the best ways to buy train tickets, ticket splitting, upgrade hacks and getting around the UK for less.

Travelling that little bit smarter can have a big difference on your bank balance and help get you a little bit richer. 

You can play the podcast and find other useful content on Legal & General’s website:

legalandgeneral.com/podcasts/a-little-bit-richer 

You can follow Steph for more travel tips on social media and her website: bigworldsmallpockets.com 

Kia and her guests share their own personal thoughts and opinions in this podcast. These might be different from Legal & General’s take on things. They give information for a UK audience that’s relevant at the time of recording.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

With endless inspiration online, home improvements have never been more tempting - but is reality living up to the "property porn" hype?

In this episode, our host Iona Bain is joined by Paula Higgins from the HomeOwners Alliance to explore the smartest ways to transform your home without breaking the bank.

From deciding between a doer-upper and a move-in-ready home to prioritising renovations that actually add value, Paula shares expert advice on budgeting, managing tradespeople and making the most of your space.

Whether you’re a homeowner or a renter, there are plenty of ways to refresh your home - sometimes all it takes is a fresh coat of paint and a little creativity!

For more on the Homeowners Alliance visit hoa.org.uk

You can watch episodes on our YouTube channel

And see behind the scenes content on our  TikTok and Instagram

You can play the podcast and find other useful content on Legal & General’s website:

https://www.legalandgeneral.com/podcasts/a-little-bit-richer

Iona and her guests share their own personal thoughts and opinions in this podcast. These might be different from Legal & General’s take on things. They give information for a UK audience that’s relevant at the time of recording.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jobs can reward you with much more than just a good salary and great colleagues. You might be sitting on all sorts of benefits without realising it. They could help you save money, boost your lifestyle, build up your professional skills, take work or personal challenges in your stride and more.

But they won’t be much help if you don’t know what they are or how to find out about them.

That’s why Rebecca Moore from Liaise, an organisation that helps people thrive, is joining us for this episode. She and our host Kia Commodore will help you dig into your workplace benefits. They’ll chat through ones you might already have, what to look for when you’re job hunting, when it makes sense to find a better deal on your own – and much more.  

Kia and her guests share their own personal thoughts and opinions in this podcast. These might be different from Legal & General’s take on things. They give financial guidance for a UK audience that’s relevant at the time of recording. It’s general best practice, not the kind of personalised advice you’d get from a financial adviser.

You can play the podcast and find other useful content on Legal & General’s website:

https://www.legalandgeneral.com/podcasts/a-little-bit-richer

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Credit reports and scores play a vital role in your access to future credit. In this episode, our host Kia Commodore is joined by Experian’s John Webb to bring some clarity to this important topic.

They cover where to check the information on your report, how credit scores are calculated, what impacts them, and how to improve yours. They also tackle common myths, explore how ‘Buy Now, Pay Later’ affects your rating, and discuss the steps errors in your credit report.

Whether you're planning a big purchase or just want to stay financially healthy, taking control of your credit score with help make you a little bit richer!

You can play the podcast and find other useful content on Legal & General’s website:

https://www.legalandgeneral.com/podcasts/a-little-bit-richer

You can check your credit score for free with Experian:

https://www.experian.co.uk/consumer/experian-credit-score.html

Kia and her guests share their own personal thoughts and opinions in this podcast. These might be different from Legal & General’s take on things. They give information for a UK audience that’s relevant at the time of recording.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Scams aren’t something that just happen to older people, young people are also likely to get scammed. The scammers are getting smarter and have lots of clever ways to con you out of your cash - whether that’s pretending to be your bank, tricking you into becoming a money mule, buying stuff you don’t receive and much more.

Head of Fraud Risk Management at Santander, Chris Ainsley, gives our host Kia Commodore insight on how the fraudsters work and plenty of tips on what to watch out for. After all, keeping ahead of scammers will help us stay a little bit richer.

You can play the podcast and find other useful content on Legal & General’s website:

https://www.legalandgeneral.com/podcasts/a-little-bit-richer

Kia and her guests share their own thoughts and opinions in this podcast. These might be different from Legal & General’s take on things. They give information for a UK audience that’s relevant at the time of recording.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Your workplace pension is a valuable way to save. It gets you extra money from your employer and the government. And an early start can have surprisingly big benefits – thanks to the power of compounding. Saving relatively small amounts in your 20s and early 30s is the best route to being a little richer when you retire.

Legal & General’s workplace pensions expert and friend of the show Kim Brown is back to chat with our host Kia Commodore about easy ways to make your pension work for you.

They cover everything from pension investments and what happens to the money you save into your pension to how much of your salary should be put in and what happens if you move jobs.

You can play the podcast and find other useful content on Legal & General’s website:

https://www.legalandgeneral.com/podcasts/a-little-bit-richer

You can find out a little bit more about pensions on Legal & General’s website:

https://www.legalandgeneral.com/retirement/pensions/

Kia and her guests share their own personal thoughts and opinions in this podcast. These might be different from Legal & General’s take on things. They give financial guidance for a UK audience that’s relevant at the time of recording. It’s general best practice, not the kind of personalised advice you’d get from a financial adviser.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Christmas season is coming – and it can be a pretty pricey time of the year. But does it really need to be? Does more money spent equal more fun had? Or can you be fabulously festive and fully frugal too?

Kia Commodore’s joined by Megan Micklewright, creator of the financial social media platform ‘The Savvy Spender’, and winner of Online Financial Influencer of the Year 2023. Together, they’ll unwrap some cost-cutting Christmas secrets. 

They chat about spotting the real bargains (and avoiding the false ones), having open conversations with friends and family about money, and how to give great gifts without breaking the bank.

You can play the podcast and find other useful content on Legal & General’s website:

https://www.legalandgeneral.com/podcasts/a-little-bit-richer

Megan can be found at https://www.instagram.com/thesavvyspenderofficial

Kia and her guests share their own personal thoughts and opinions in this podcast. These might be different from Legal & General’s take on things. They give financial guidance for a UK audience that’s relevant at the time of recording. It’s general best practice, not the kind of personalised advice you’d get from a financial adviser.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Do you spend more than you should? Or maybe the opposite and you’ve a tendency to be frugal? ? In this episode, our host Iona Bain is joined by financial psychotherapist Vicky Reynal to explore the emotional undercurrents behind our money habits.

From childhood experiences and family dynamics to social media and FOMO, Vicky unpacks the complex psychology that shapes how we think, feel, and behave with money. You’ll hear about the subtle difference between overspending and self-sabotage, how scarcity mindsets can quietly drive our decisions, and why our financial habits are often less about numbers—and more about feelings. 

Whether you're a frugal saver or a spontaneous spender, there’s lots of practical insights and empowering advice to help you better understand your relationship with money and how to start building healthier habits today.

Follow Vicky on Instagram @vickyreynalpsychotherapy

You can watch episodes on our YouTube channel

And see behind the scenes content on our  TikTok and Instagram

You can play the podcast and find other useful content on L&G’s website:

https://www.legalandgeneral.com/podcasts/a-little-bit-richer

Iona and her guests share their own personal thoughts and opinions in this podcast. These might be different from L&G’s take on things. They give information for a UK audience that’s relevant at the time of recording.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Our feelings around money can have a big impact on how we manage it. Whether we stick our heads in the sand, overspend when feeling overwhelmed or are afraid of spending, it’s helpful to understand our behaviours around money and what drives them.

Financial coach and the author of Real-Life Money and Five Steps to Financial Wellbeing, Clare Seal joins our host Kia Commodore. They discuss the connection between money and wellbeing, how experiences as a child will influence your financial relationship and not letting self-worth get tangled up with your bank balance. Clare also shares some great tips to help you stay in control of your finances.

You can play the podcast and find other useful content on Legal & General’s website:

www.legalandgeneral.com/podcasts/a-little-bit-richer  

You can follow Clare for more tips on Instagram @clare.seal

Kia and her guests share their own personal thoughts and opinions in this podcast. These might be different from Legal & General’s take on things. They give information for a UK audience that’s relevant at the time of recording.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

With lots of people giving financial tips online, it’s tricky to tell the difference between good, bad and who’s credible. But what are financial advisers and how do they help people?

Joining our host Kia Commodore is adviser and wealth planner, Orann Coyle. Orann is on a mission to help demystify financial advice and make things more accessible through his social media posts. Orann explains the difference between advice and guidance, when is a good time to seek advice, how to make your money work harder, advice fees and much more.

Whether you get advice now or in the future, laying down good financial foundations will help get you get a little bit richer. 

You can play the podcast and find other useful content on Legal & General’s website:

https://www.legalandgeneral.com/podcasts/a-little-bit-richer 

You can follow Orann for more finance tips on social media: 
Instagram @oranncoylefinancialadvisor 
TikTok @oranncoylewealth

Kia and her guests share their own personal thoughts and opinions in this podcast. These might be different from Legal & General’s take on things. They give financial guidance for a UK audience that’s relevant at the time of recording. It’s general best practice, not the kind of personalised advice you’d get from a financial adviser.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When it comes to gender equality in finances, we’re still not where we need to be. Last year Legal & General found that a woman’s average pension pot at retirement was likely to be less than half that of a man’s at the same stage. And that’s just for starters. Women are also faced with the gender pay gap, childcare costs and much more.

So we’re tackling all that head on! This week Kia Commodore’s joined by Emilie Bellet, host of the podcast The Wallet. She’s also the founder of Vestpod, a community with a mission to help people, and in particular women, achieve financial independence.

They chat through the financial challenges women face, discuss the gender disparity found in investing, and share tips on getting ready for the cost of kids.

You can play the podcast and find other useful content on Legal & General’s website:

https://www.legalandgeneral.com/podcasts/a-little-bit-richer

You can find out more about Emilie and Vestpod here: https://www.vestpod.com/

Kia and her guests share their own personal thoughts and opinions in this podcast. These might be different from Legal & General’s take on things. They give financial guidance for a UK audience that’s relevant at the time of recording. It’s general best practice, not the kind of personalised advice you’d get from a financial adviser.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Is there ever a right time to have a baby?

With living costs high, many people postpone parenthood until they’re in a more secure position. But there are plenty of ways to prepare your finances and plan for your future family.

Financial educator and mom of two, Charlotte Jessop from Looking After Your Pennies, is back to give money tips for new parents and anyone thinking of starting a family.

Charlotte joins our host Kia Commodore to cover spending priorities, building a support network, career, childcare and lots more.

You can play the podcast and find other useful content on Legal & General’s website:

https://www.legalandgeneral.com/podcasts/a-little-bit-richer

You can find out a little bit more about the costs around having a baby on Legal & General's website:  

www.legalandgeneral.com/insurance/life-insurance/lifestyle/things-to-consider-before-having-a-baby/

You can follow Charlotte for more money tips on social media:

Instagram @lookingafteryourpennies

TikTok @lookingafteryourpennies

Kia and her guests share their own personal thoughts and opinions in this podcast. These might be different from Legal & General’s take on things. They give information for a UK audience that’s relevant at the time of recording.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When being mindful with our spending, heading on holiday can feel like a splurge. From ‘Big World, Small Pockets’, Steph Parker shows us how to travel smarter so you can get away, without the price tag.

Steph shares with our host Kia Commodore – the best time to book flights and hotels, how to manage spending while abroad and her favourite, more affordable destinations to discover.

Money plays a big part in our holiday plans but by travelling a little bit smarter, you can still escape for an adventure!

You can play the podcast and find other useful content on Legal & General’s website:

https://www.legalandgeneral.com/podcasts/a-little-bit-richer

You can follow Steph for more travel tips on social media and her website: https://www.bigworldsmallpockets.com

Kia and her guests share their own personal thoughts and opinions in this podcast. These might be different from Legal & General’s take on things. They give information for a UK audience that’s relevant at the time of recording.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

With higher living costs, it can be hard to feel in control of your budget. But there are clever ways to rethink your spending and save cash.

Here to the rescue is financial educator Charlotte Jessop from Looking After your Pennies. Charlotte joins our host Kia Commodore to talk through easy ways to trim your day-to-day spending, good budgeting habits and what to do if you overspend.

Cutbacks big and small all make a difference and will help get you get a little bit richer.

You can play the podcast and find other useful content on Legal & General’s website:

https://www.legalandgeneral.com/podcasts/a-little-bit-richer

You can follow Charlotte for more budgeting tips on social media:

Instagram @lookingafteryourpennies

TikTok @lookingafteryourpennies

A Little Bit Richer is taking a short summer break and will return with more great content on September 12th.

Kia and her guests share their own personal thoughts and opinions in this podcast. These might be different from Legal & General’s take on things. They give financial guidance for a UK audience that’s relevant at the time of recording. It’s general best practice, not the kind of personalised advice you’d get from a financial adviser.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The nine to five office grind isn’t the only way of working anymore. There are loads of other options if you want to rethink your working life. Self-employment’s one of them. It can give you a lot more flexibility and be financially rewarding too. But there’s a lot to think about when you’re working for yourself. As well as marketing yourself to clients, you have to take control of your tax and finances in a way that company employees just don’t need to

To take you through all the pros and cons, Kia Commodore’s joined by Georgina Merckel. Georgina founded topa, a small business and non-profit consultancy. And in 2022 she won a Young Freelancer of the Year award.

Here’s a link for IPSE, the organisation Georgina mentions: https://www.ipse.co.uk/

You can play the podcast and find other useful content on Legal & General’s website:

https://www.legalandgeneral.com/podcasts/a-little-bit-richer

If you’re thinking of setting up a personal pension there’s more information here: https://www.legalandgeneral.com/retirement/pensions/pensions-explained/self-employed-pension/

Kia and her guests share their own personal thoughts and opinions in this podcast. These might be different from Legal & General’s take on things. They give financial guidance for a UK audience that’s relevant at the time of recording. It’s general best practice, not the kind of personalised advice you’d get from a financial adviser.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A new job brings happiness, career growth and hopefully a better salary but job hunting can feel daunting. From finding the roles to filling out applications, interview prep to salary negotiations. So here to help is Khalifa Mustapha, who works in recruitment at Legal & General. 

He shares with our host Kia Commodore some practical advice from an employer’s perspective to help you get a foot in the door, shine on the day and move up the career ladder.

You can play the podcast and find other useful content on Legal & General’s website:

www.legalandgeneral.com/podcasts/a-little-bit-richer  

Kia and her guests share their own personal thoughts and opinions in this podcast. These might be different from Legal & General’s take on things. They give information for a UK audience that’s relevant at the time of recording.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

OK, this is where it all begins.

For the next few months, A Little Bit Richer will bring you weekly bite-sized financial tips. Our host Kia Commodore and a guest will be diving into a different topic each episode - everything from investments to insurance.

Up first is Laura Ann Moore. Laura’s a money and mindset coach, and she’s all about demystifying personal finance in a simple, judgement-free way.

Laura and Kia discuss the importance of having a 'Big Happy Goal' that combines your finances with your values. They also talk about pressures around whether or not to save for a house deposit, the involvement (or absence) of your family in your finances, and the importance of having a non-judgemental perception of your money.

Kia and her guests share their own personal thoughts and opinions in this podcast. These might be different from Legal & General’s take on things. They give financial guidance for a UK audience that’s relevant at the time of recording. It’s general best practice, not the kind of personalised advice you’d get from a financial adviser.

You can play the podcast and find other useful content on Legal & General’s website:

https://www.legalandgeneral.com/podcasts/a-little-bit-richer

Laura's socials - https://stan.store/lauraannmoore

Laura's podcast, Mind Money Soul - https://link.chtbl.com/MMSpodcast

Laura's website - https://www.mindmoneysoul.co.uk

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.