Amandaland Christmas special is back! Filming in our street in north London. (Islington, not ‘North Harlesden’). And features a massive inflatable Santa, Amanda in a sexy Santa outfit. And an ambulance…

What a week! And next ones even more rammed (I'm announcing & launching a new charity initiative Thur, and a lot of prep is going into it - more anon). So now time for a bit of family chill time. Have a wonderful weekend. See you monday.

Pension triple lock: what's REALLY happening. There’s a huge amount of misunderstanding out there. My must-watch mini-briefing I hope keeps it as simple as possible, so you can see how it’d likely roughly really work. As for is it good or bad… that’s your decision, not mine. NB Read this after you’ve watched & understood the video… For belt & braces, it’s worth noting, in some situations, a year of average earnings higher than inflation (or 2.5%) wouldn’t increase the State Pension by more than inflation (or 2.5%). E.g. If inflation was 4%, and average earnings growth 2% in each of the first two years then in year three inflation was 2.5% and average earnings 5%. The State Pension over the three years would rise 10.5% just due to the inflation link – higher than the 9% total growth in average earnings since the start. So in the third year the pension would just increase by the 2.5% inflation (not the 5% growth of average earnings)

Do you have Premium Bonds, if so are they right for you and could you do better elsewhere. And are you due a share of £126m of unclaimed prizes. All these questions and more answered in the pod - do give it a listen.

There’s £136bn in Premium Bonds, but are they any good? How do they really work; are some bonds better than others; would you be better off in top savings or investing? The new “Time to ditch your premium bonds?” Martin Lewis podcast answers all that and more. Listen on bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m0032f…, Apple and elsewhere good or mediocre pods are listed.

NEW! Is it time to ditch your Premium Bonds? How do they compare against saving & investing - often the WRONG people have them. Plus free Wills, how to lend to friends & family & more All in the new Martin Lewis Podcast podcasts.APPLE.com/gb/podcas… BBC.co.uk/sounds/brand/p02pc… & others

Starting soon...

Yes the triple lock change is complex. If you didn't get the post, I've done a video (coming later) that I hope will be easier to follow. Do let me know if you get it then. Its a tough balance, I want to keep it simple for most people, but need to put enough detail in so those who like to attack don't try and accuse me of bias one way or another :)

ENERGY PRICE CHANGE DAY. On monthly direct debit without a working smart meter? Submit a reading in next day or two. - On price cap, its up 3.6% today - On a fix, VAT scrapping means elec's 4.8% cheaper A reading ensures you're not billed for too much use at the higher rate.

Thank you Dame Esther Rantzen for all you did for the country, and personally for all you did to open the doors for someone like me. Esther was an inspiration. Firstly as a a consumer journalist. She pioneered mass reach programming with a campaigning bent, something I've tried to emulate, albeit with a shadow of her TV reach. Then by acting, rather than just commenting, setting up her own superb nationally impacting charities. I was lucky enough to meet her a few times in green rooms. Always sharp, on it, independent of thought even if it wasn't in line with everyone else. We shared a a few laughs too. She may be gone, but her impact and memory will long continue to shine. Thank you Esther. Condolences to all her family.

'Ending' the State Pension triple lock: what is really likely to happen? Many are confused, and think the State Pension won't rise. Actually the change is subtle, it's about loosening, not ending, one of the three locks - the link to average earnings. So I want to try to explain as simply as I can. CURRENT TRIPLE LOCK The State Pension(s) rise each April by highest of: - 2.5% - CPI inflation - Average earnings growth [State Pension(s) as it applies to the new State Pension and older basic State Pension. Though not the old additional State Pensions (eg SERPS) and a few other additional pension which only go up with CPI. The new system will likely be similar.] PROPOSED NEW SYSTEM The State Pension(s) will rise each April by at least the higher of: - 2.5% - CPI inflation The 'at least' is because it will also rise due to average earnings, but not specifically for that year instead over a longer period. Yet the exact mechanisms aren't set out, so I'm going to use one example of a way it could work, where the rise keeps up with average earnings since the system start date of 2030, as I think its easier to understand. HOW THIS COULD WORK IN PRACTICE Here's a made up example to set it out... Current System: Year 1: Inflation 3%, earnings up 2%. Pension rises 3%. Year 2: Inflation 4%, earnings up 6%. Pension rises 6%. Year 3: Inflation 3%, earnings up 1%. Pension rises 3%. TOTAL RISE: 12.5% over the 3yrs as the increases compound. New system: Year 1: Inflation 3%, earnings up 2%. So it rises 3%. Year 2: Inflation 4%, earnings up 6%. A rise of only 4% would be a total rise since the start of 7.1%, yet that's less than the total rise in average earnings of 8.1%. So the Pension would rise about 5% that year to match the total rise in average earnings. Year 3: Inflation 3%, earnings up 1%, so it rises by 3%. TOTAL RISE: 11.4% over the three years ------------------ I hope that makes sense, again this is just a rough example to give you an idea as best as I understand it, but I think I'm in the ballpark. I will try and do a video on it if time as that may make it easier to understand.

PS feel free to share this as there's much confusion