Dear Listener,

This week we have a quart of finance stories to squeeze into our usual 24 minute pint pot.

We start with a look ahead to Wednesday’s Budget. So much is known about the tax changes from April that some commentators have suggested we might get a short Budget with little substance. Others say there will still be a lot to fill Alistair Darling’s first speech as Chancellor. An economist and a tax specialist give us their predictions*.

Proposals were announced this week for a new national system of “money guidance” – that’s financial advice without the sales pitch or the regulation. The network would cost roughly £50 million a year and help millions of us manage our money better. We ask the man behind the plan, Otto Thoresen, how it will work and when it might start.

This week the government has booted into the far future any new laws to give financial rights to unmarried partners in England and Wales when their relationship ends. Some lawyers are very cross.

We quiz the banking industry about a new system which will move money instantly rather than holding it in limbo for three days or more.

And we talk to the Financial Services Authority about a successful scam-bust – more than £1 million stolen has been recovered.

We will try to squeeze all that in. To find out how we manage, listen to Money Box, Saturday at noon, repeated Sunday at nine pm. Or you can listen when and where it suits you by downloading the podcast for your MP3 player. Or you can listen online. All the links – and a Have Your Say on cohabitees’ rights – are on our website www.bbc.co.uk/moneybox .

*Whatever the Chancellor actually says, Vincent Duggleby and I will be back on Thursday at noon to take your questions on Radio 4’s Budget Call.

Best wishes,

Paul Lewis

PS Don’t forget the live preview of Money Box on BBC1 Breakfast between 8.45 and 9 on Saturday morning.

e-mail Paul Lewis