Better With Money

The average Irish PAYE worker overpays €900 euro a year in tax. That's because many of us don't know we can claim money back on things like routine GP visits or pharmacy prescriptions. There are also tax reliefs that people mistakenly believe they're not entitled to, like the Home Carer Credit. The name might imply it's only available to carers of the elderly or a child with a disability. In fact, it's available to any married couple where one person works and the other is a stay-at-home parent. In this episode, we're looking at ways to put money back in your pocket particularly in light of a disappointing budget for middle-income workers on Tuesday this week. In this episode Alan Purcell of CloudAccounts.ie takes us through the most common tax refunds we fail to claim, and how you could log on to Revenue.ie today to find an overpayment waiting to be returned to you.Presented by Aideen Finnegan. Produced by Declan Conlon and Aideen Finnegan.Brought to you in association with PwC.Alan Purcell can be found on Instagram @cloudaccounts Ireland

If you were moving in with someone and they earned more than you, would you ask them to pay more of the rent? Or in the case of a divorce, how would you divide assets like a pension? The thorny issue of money in relationships is not one that’s generally thrashed out early on in a romance but has huge consequences for couples. That’s before you even get to the stage of trying to understand married tax bands and credits or Pension Adjustment Orders. In this episode of Better With Money, financial planner Kelly Anne Quinn from LifePlanning.ie, outlines the importance of sharing expectations and goals early on in a relationship. She demystifies the tax system for couples and outlines some of the financial scenarios that may arise in a divorce.Presented by Aideen Finnegan. Produced by Declan Conlon and Aideen Finnegan. Brought to you in association with PWC Ireland.

When it comes to buying a new car, financing options can vary widely. You have to factor in the total running cost (tax, fuel, insurance etc) and then watch out for the hidden ones. Throw in jargon like ‘PCP finance’ and ‘guaranteed future value’ and now you’re completely bamboozled. Irish Times motoring journalist Neil Briscoe joins the podcast to simplify and demystify the whole process of buying a new or used car, with practical tips for potential buyers. He explains the various financing options and which one actually works out cheaper in the long run. The conversation also highlights the advantages and disadvantages of leasing, the importance of trade-ins, and the “shockingly enormous" savings you can make from going electric. Don’t buy a car until you’ve heard this episode!Presented by Aideen Finnegan. Produced by Declan Conlon and Aideen Finnegan.Brought to you in association with PWC Ireland.

The sinking fund trend is 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 winter bills and make spending on yourself a guilt-free experience. We also get an update from consumer affairs correspondent and Pricewatch editor Conor Pope who tells us what measures are likely to be - and probably more pertinently - out of Budget 2026.Presented by Aideen Finnegan. Produced by Declan Conlon and Aideen Finnegan.Brought to you in association with PWC Ireland.PwC Ireland’s tax experts are here to help you prepare for Budget 2026, so you can move forward with clarity and confidence. Visit pwc.ie/budget to learn more. 

Calling all financial hot messes: Better With Money from The Irish Times can help you – even during a time of crazy prices. We break down the money questions you care about, jargon free and with people who’ve been there and done that.  Subscribe to Better With Money from The Irish Times wherever you get your podcasts. Brought to you in association with PWC Ireland. PwC Ireland’s tax experts are here to help you prepare for Budget 2026, so you can move forward with clarity and confidence. Visit pwc.ie/budget to learn more.  

It's nearly Budget Day, and what better time to think about managing your finances? Better With Money will be back soon with new episodes helping you take advantage of tax breaks, survive in a world of high prices and finance that new car.Brought to you in association with PWC Ireland.PwC Ireland’s tax experts are here to help you prepare for Budget 2026, so you can move forward with clarity and confidence. Visit pwc.ie/budget to learn more. 

Alright fine, we'll admit it. This episode is about pensions. But we're unpacking them in a way that won't melt your brain, we promise. Whether you've started late or haven't even taken one out yet, deputy business editor Dominic Coyle explains:How to start from scratch, or level up a basic pension planUnderstanding jargonHow employer contributions can help double your pension potHow to maximise the state's contributionWays you can offset the disadvantage of starting laterHow the gender pay gap affects women's pensionsSneaky charges you need to watch out forDon't think of it as a pension. Think of it as a bucket list fund for your 'second act'.Presented by Aideen Finnegan. Produced by Declan Conlon and Aideen Finnegan.Dominic answers your personal finance questions every week in The Irish Times. You can send your queries to dominic.coyle@irishtimes.com For more jargon-free and impartial pension tips, go to the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC)

What’s traditionally been known as the ‘nixer’ in Ireland, is recognised more widely on social media as the side hustle.Most people’s understanding of the term is additional income that supplements a person’s PAYE earnings.As with many other trends, Instagram and Tiktok’s algorithms churn out an Americanised version of the phenomenon where grind culture is revered and stories of multi-million dollar businesses - born on smartphones while loading the laundry - are legion.But as with other viral social media movements, the reality is often very different and has its own nuances specific to an Irish context.At a time when many people are living pay cheque to pay cheque the allure of additional income - gilded with the Paris filter - is obvious.So what side jobs are available to those of us already working 40-plus hours a week?How do assess what work would work for you? Will be worth the extra effort?Deirdre O’Keeffe from burdy.ie is a Kildare-based book keeper and mentor who coaches clients through the process of choosing a side hustle, figuring out how to make it work and crucially, understanding their tax liability.In this episode of Better With Money she explains the process she goes through with them, how to spot scams and how side hustles can be valuable exercises in testing out a business idea.Presented by Aideen Finnegan. Produced by Declan Conlon and Aideen Finnegan.