10 reasons our finances are in a mess (without even mentioning Brexit)

What a mess we’re in. Without too much effort this week, we spotted 10 messes.

It was made pretty easy with the fallout from Chancellor Philip Hammond’s first go at a Budget making news all week. His attack on small business was up there with some of the made-up-as-you-go-along nonsense from his predecessor. Hammond learned well from George Osborne.

Mess 1

The Budget. Last week we wondered if the whole thing was a joke? It was. The main thrust, a rise in National Insurance contributions for people who don’t have a staff job, is in the bin. This leaves a big gap in the Government finances. They tried austerity, cut taxes for the richest, tried taking it out on small business. None of it has worked. What next? Tax needs to rise somewhere.

Mess 2

Ill-thought-out tax tweaks from the past come back to haunt policymakers. A change to flat-rate VAT announced in the last Autumn Statement is about to come into force and will be a further blow to small business. Listen for the great VAT explainer on how it works and who’ll be hit.

Mess 3

A man who installed mouth-shaped urinals at work is named Britain’s best boss.

Mess 4

New complicated emissions-based taxes on cars are coming in. Few motorists know what’s happening or why or how. Here’s an example: an emission-free electric car costing over £40,000 will be due more emissions tax than proud polluter the Ford Mustang V8. Plan for a bigger tax bill. Maybe. It’s a mess.

Mess 5

It emerged while we were on air that the Chancellor responsible for some of the above messes – and still a sitting MP - is to become a newspaper editor. Politicians running the Press – and the one responsible for the short-lived sausage roll tax. Brilliant.

Mess 6

The latest job figures are out and look really good! This would be great news except too many of the jobs are zero hours contracts and wage growth and productivity are rubbish. When inflation caused by the devalued pound starts to bite, it’s likely to ravage spending power and could create a downward spiral of job insecurity and financial misery.

Mess 7

Interest rates need to go up but the Bank of England won’t do it. It kind of can’t. Low rates are causing more harm than good, especially keeping wages down. See above.

Mess 8

Mortgage rates, however, will go up. The way mortgages are calculated isn’t based on the Bank Rate. Learn how they work and impress your friends with your new knowledge.

Mess 9

People aren’t saving enough. There are easy ways to save and invest but people see investing as gambling and won’t do that either.

Mess 10

It’s Isa season – but cash Isas have been killed off. Who did that, George? Your entire £15,240 limit might earn you about one pound fifty a year in interest in the worst accounts. There are alternatives, This is Money editor Simon Lambert picks five ‘dividend heroes’ – but are you brave enough?

Also with Georgie Frost and Rachel Rickard Straus.

Enjoy.