Debt Masterclass: Slash the cost of existing credit cards, overdrafts, loans, BNPL and more
The Martin Lewis Podcast
BBC
4.4 • 929 Ratings
🗓️ 8 January 2026
⏱️ 64 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
Martin Lewis has his debt masterclass this week, helping you slash the cost of your existing credit cards, overdrafts, loans, buy now, pay later and much more! Plus, you tell us your New Year financial goals - some of you want to save more, some want to save less! Mastermind is all about capital gains tax, and how did Martin’s yearly step count competition end?
If you want to ask Martin a question, you now can! His Question Time podcast lets you ask Martin absolutely anything and everything (within reason!). So, if you’ve always wanted to know his preferred pasta shape, if he can tie a Full Windsor knot, or have a very complicated question about your finances, email it to MartinLewisPodcast@bbc.co.uk.
Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | BBC Sounds, Music, radio, podcasts. |
| 0:08.6 | Nobody wants debt. |
| 0:10.4 | I'm 49% admiring, but 51% concern. |
| 0:15.0 | They are a genius invention to effectively keep you perpetually in debt. |
| 0:19.0 | I'll take that one on the chin, as I always do. I'm changing the question, everybody. It serves you, right. Hello, I'm Martin Lewis, and this is the cunningly named the Martin Lewis podcast. I do wonder what that's going to be about. Now, usually much of it comes from my BBC Radio 5 live show with the Adrian Charles, but don't worry, there's bonus money saving tips and tricks just for you, lucky, lucky podcast listeners. In today's pod, the first new one of |
| 0:43.8 | 2026. I've got a debt-busting masterclass. How to slash the cost of existing credit cards, |
| 0:51.4 | overdrafts, loans, buy now, pay later, should you consolidate, |
| 0:55.3 | how to get free debt help and lots more to tackle that new year financial hangover? |
| 1:00.7 | The tellers this week is all about the goals you've set yourself for the new year. |
| 1:04.4 | They're fascinating. Some say save more, some say save less, and there's an ADHD financial plan too. |
| 1:10.2 | And in Mastermind, oh, it's back. |
| 1:12.0 | Sorry, Adrian, it's happening. |
| 1:13.5 | This week it's all about capital gains tax, |
| 1:15.6 | and it's an important listen for anyone with shares or property that might need to pay it. |
| 1:20.4 | And to finish, I've just published my annual Steps blog. |
| 1:25.1 | No, it's not about Faye, H and Lisa Scott Lee. |
| 1:28.2 | Well, you'll hear. |
| 1:29.4 | Play the theme tune. |
| 2:05.9 | Martin, happy. And I must say, new year, and I must say each year when I read your blog about your step count, I'll get a little bit more worried about you. I'm 49% admiring, but 51% concerned. It's too much. You are correct. And I have to say, |
| 2:14.0 | 2025, when I broke my record step count, I hit 26,117 steps a day as an average was too much. |
| 2:18.3 | But I have to say, I would like to blame there is a woman in Manchester who is my sister's best friend. And it's all her fault, Adrian. It's all her fault. I absolve, |
| 2:24.5 | I reject that and absolve her of, of, of any blame at all. I mean, where will this stop? I think |
... |
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