Wages more volatile than expected

Money Box - A podcast by BBC Radio 4

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A study by the Resolution Foundation thinktank has found that the vast majority of people experience significant monthly wage volatility at least twice a year. Almost half see significant changes half of the year. The study used anonymised data from 7 million Lloyds bank accounts. It's the first time that actual data has been used to look at monthly earnings. Official figures which show adequate income over the year may therefore hide serious problems in a number of specific months. We speak to the study's author Daniel Tomlinson.An end to letting fees charged to tenants is now in sight. The Tenants' Fees Bill has just had it's third and final reading in the House of Commons and is set to become law soon. It means that 'Administrative fees', 'credit check fees', 'tenancy renewal fees' and others will all be consigned to the dustbin saving tenants an estimated £240m. In Wales a similar law is expected to be in place next year and in Scotland letting fees have been banned since 2012.With RBS announcing more bank closures this week, we investigate one solution adopted by a small community when 3 out of 4 banks closed their doors. Almost a year ago Holywell in North Wales encouraged its shopkeepers to adopt a mobile card payment system instead of using cash to help bolster their economy. We find out how they have got on.And as hundreds of thousands of young people head off to university in the next few weeks we look at the student bank accounts on offer. Should you take the free rail card, the gift voucher or the free overdraft?Presenter: Adam Shaw Producer: Alex Lewis Editor: Charlotte McDonald.