Founder of Money Saving Expert, Martin Lewis joins BBC Radio 5 Live’s Nihal Arthanayake to answer your questions – including what to consider when weighing up a large loan vs re-mortgaging. The cost of living rose more than expected last month as salad and vegetable shortages helped push up food prices at the fastest rate in 45 years. Alcohol prices in restaurants and pubs also drove up costs for households, as inflation jumped to 10.4% in the year to February from 10.1% in January. Clothing costs, particularly for children and women, rose last month but fuel prices continued to fall. Most broadband firms' contracts allow them to increase prices a few per cent above inflation even if you're mid-contract. This would increase a typical £40 bill to almost £46 a month. Yet millions of people are out of contract and free to leave their contract. Just like broadband, most mobile firms' contracts allow them to increase prices a few per cent above inflation even if you're mid-contract, which again means that millions are facing rises of up to 17.3% this April. There's little you can do mid-contract. But if your not and you're happy with your handset, you can save £100s with a cheap Sim. The Energy Price Guarantee currently sets the price almost everyone pays for their energy. It’s a state-subsidised discount off the price cap rates which currently keeps a typical household bill at £2,500/year. However, there will still be a rise for everyone in April as the Government’s £66/£67 a month energy support is ending. And what you actually pay will depend on your usage, where you live and your payment method. Martin shares the average standing charges and unit rates for gas and electricity. Elsewhere in the podcast, you Tell Us how your food shopping habits have been impacted by price increases. Have you changed the way you buy food? The sort of food you buy? Plus Nihal takes on Martin’s Money Mastermind and is quizzed on ways to pay for energy. Producer: Isabelle Tudor

The Martin Lewis Podcast is here – and it’s a Budget 2023 special. Founder of Money Saving Expert, Martin Lewis reacts to Chancellor Jeremy Hunt’s Spring Budget. Free childcare of 30 hours a week for working parents in England is being expanded to cover one and two-year-olds, but will only be fully implemented by September 2025. Currently, working parents with three and four-year-olds are eligible for 30 hours of free childcare per week. The plans are part of a government drive to encourage more people back to work to boost economic growth. The Chancellor is also scrapping the lifetime allowance on tax-free pension contributions, which is currently £1.07m, to stop people like doctors from retiring early. Plus the government will extend support for energy bills at current levels for a further three months. Typical household energy bills in Britain had been due to rise to £3,000 a year from April, but instead will be kept at £2,500 until the end of June. But a £400 winter fuel payment will not be renewed, meaning households' costs will still rise in the short term. The government also promised to bring prepayment energy charges in line with those for direct debit customers. This should save households about £45 a year on their energy bills from July. Elsewhere in the podcast, you Tell Us your top budgeting tips, how do you stick to a budget? Is it 'credit card in freezer' or spreadsheets? What's worked surprisingly well for you? Plus Nihal takes on Martin’s Money Mastermind, and this week is quizzed on Section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act. Producer: Isabelle Tudor

The Martin Lewis Podcast is here. Founder of Money Saving Expert, Martin Lewis answers your ISA questions. Interest rates are up, so ISAs are back for many, although you need to sort them by 5 April or sooner. Martin shares his key ISA need-to-knows. Elsewhere in the podcast, you Tell Us what’s the oldest, working object you have in your home that you never use. Plus, when did you last use it? And how much are a home's unused items worth, in total? Nihal takes on Martin’s Money Mastermind, and this week is quizzed on how much of your private or company pension you are allowed to leave to your spouse in your will. Plus Martin’s podcast-exclusive tips – including how to get cheap EasyJet flights and an update on ‘How to Turn £800 into £5,500’. The government has now extended the deadline to buy back old National Insurance years until 31 July. If you're age 45 – 70, you may be able to boost your state pension by £1,000s. Producer: Isabelle Tudor

The Martin Lewis Podcast is here – founder of Money Saving Expert, Martin Lewis joins BBC Radio 5live’s Nihal Arthanayake to answer your energy questions. The Energy Price Cap will fall by 23% in April 2023, to £3,280/year for a typical household, but energy bills are currently controlled by the Energy Price Guarantee (EPG) – and this is set to rise by 20% from 1 April. This is why Martin has been urging Chancellor Jeremy Hunt to postpone the rise – a plea now backed by more than 85 other organisations. The energy secretary Grant Shapps said he is "very sympathetic" to the suggestions and he was working "hard" with Chancellor on the issue. Elsewhere in the podcast, ‘Tell Us’ what is your best ever experience of customer service? When did a firm go above and beyond and who was it with? Did it make you more loyal in future? And Nihal takes on Martin’s Money Mastermind – this week he’s quizzed on pensions. Plus Martin’s podcast exclusive money-saving tips, including changes to Chase, the app-based bank, which is a best or near best-buy in a good few categories. Also it’s Free Wills Month – it’s a charity event that lets you get solicitor-drafted wills for free. In return, they hope you'll make a donation or leave a 'bequest' in your will, leaving them something when you die.

The Martin Lewis Podcast is here. Founder of Money Saving Expert, Martin Lewis answers your financial questions. In this episode we look at how to check if you could save on your council tax, ahead of the 5% rise due for many of us in April. Plus, the council tax discount many people can apply for - that they may know nothing about. Elsewhere in the podcast you Tell Us your best ‘Money-piphany’ - that moment when your eyes were opened to how something in debt or budgeting worked, which changed your approach to finances forever. Plus Nihal takes on Martin’s Money Mastermind and is quizzed about who currently sets the overall maximum amount that most consumers in England, Scotland and Wales pay for their energy bills.