Dear Listener

We’re doing the newsletter a day early because we are hoping (global crisis permitting) to have Good Friday off. That of course makes what I say today about Saturday's programme more tentative than usual. But I can guarantee that one way or another we will begin by looking at the extraordinary events of the last few days which we presaged last Saturday but could never have guessed just how turbulent the turmoil would get.

The fall out of the banking problems is beginning to have quite dramatic effects on our mortgages and loans. Two small building societies withdrew their entire mortgage range this week. We’ll be looking at that and also asking how safe is the cash we have in the bank? The man in charge of paying out claims from the Financial Services Compensation Scheme explains the rules.

If you have an empty home near you and wonder why no-one makes use of it then our story on EDMOs (Empty Dwelling Management Orders) will interest you – and you can Have Your Say on it on the website.

And if you give your unwanted items to your local charity shop the news that some charities let you Gift Aid the money raised will be welcome.

We’ll try to squeeze all that in. You can find out how we get on by listening to Money Box on Saturday at noon or the repeat on 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 Have Your Say on empty homes – on our website www.bbc.co.uk/moneybox .

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