The Martin Lewis Podcast It’s Love Actuarially! Base interest rate cut help. And will you get £150 off energy bills?
Dec 18, 2025
In this week’s discussion, the Bank of England cuts the base interest rate—what does this mean for your mortgages and savings? Discover how to save on energy bills with the government's £150 discount. Listeners share heartwarming stories of financial kindness amidst the money talk. Martin also explores the curious case of opening Christmas gifts early to check for faults. Plus, insights on the tricky world of representative APR and when to switch banks. Tune in for practical tips and financial wisdom!
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Trackers And SVR: Watch Announcements
- If you are on a tracker mortgage, expect your rate to fall roughly by the Bank's cut automatically.
- For those on standard variable rates, watch lender announcements over the next month for the exact change.
Check Big Gifts Before Giving
- Open expensive or technical gifts yourself to check they work within return/fault time limits.
- This preserves consumer rights because online and in-store time limits vary and can expire before gifting dates.
How The £150 Energy Cut Works
- The government's £150 average energy bill cut shifts policy costs to general taxation and reduces unit rates from April.
- Martin pressed ministers to clarify how firms should pass savings to customers, especially those on fixed tariffs.