Brainstorm | Opinion, Analysis, Reports, Features

Drone footage of floods in Midleton, Co Cork during Storm Babet in October 2023. Photo: RTÉ Prime Time

How extreme weather will affect the insurance and energy sectors

The destruction and damage caused by future storms, flooding and heatwaves will have a massive impact on both sectors

In the last decade or so, successive Irish governments have introduced three different property taxes. Photo: Getty Images

Where are we at with Ireland's new property taxes?

An explainer on Ireland's new property taxes: who is liable, what rate will they pay, how are rates assessed and when are payments due?

Housing • 08 Jul

Banks face numerous cyber threats that can compromise the security of their apps. Photo: Getty Images

How secure are your banking apps?

Here are some key steps all banks – and users – should be following to make banking apps as secure as possible

Cyber Security • 19 Jun

'Psychologists have shown that many people get 'anchored' by the minimum repayment amount on their credit card and pay only that amount and no more'

3 common traps to avoid with loans and credit cards

The psychology of financial decisions means we often make expensive mistakes when it comes to choosing loans and credit cards

money • 14 Jun

The new legislation will have important implications for how we access cash and what we can use it for.

5 issues around cash and ATMs which new legislation will address

Maintaining choice in how Irish consumers can pay for goods and services is fundamental to an inclusive society

Cash • 07 Mar

When behavioural scientists ask people to quickly tot up a grocery bill or energy bills for the year, people think they are about 5 to 10% less than they really are. Photo: Getty Images

3 misunderstandings about money that cost a lot in the long run

We can learn a lot from the psychology of financial decisions to help avoid losing money

money • 01 Mar

'Though they will face plenty of other problems, such as securing stable employment contracts, housing might not be the primary concern for much of Generation Z in the future.' Photo: Ground Picture/Shutterstock

Generation Z may not need mortgages - here's why

Gen Z may benefit from Europe's declining birth rate as there will be fewer young people to inherit houses and more for them to inherit

Housing • 20 Feb

The cost of making a cup of tea is coming down

Will Irish electricity bills continue to fall?

The outlook for lower prices is promising due to current stability in gas markets. but prices will stay above the long-term average

Energy Prices • 17 Jan

'Each degree of change in the set-point temperature you use for heating can easily save 10% or more of heating energy use'.

5 tips to save money on your heating this winter

Winter means having the heating on more often so here;'s how to have a comfortable home with optimal energy use

Energy • 12 Jan

Gerald Bruton outside his house with new solar panels and electric car. Photo: Ken Bruton

A step by step guide to how a Cork homeowner cut energy costs

Gerald Bruton's campaign to cut energy costs and emissions involved both new technologies and behavioural change

Energy • 11 Jan

'The various tax changes means the average worker will have an additional €722 per annum in their take-home pay.' Photo

What changes will I see in my take-home pay in 2024?

Income tax changes announced in Budget 2024 are now taking effect so here's how they wlll impact your pay

Work and careers • 07 Jan

'Concerns have been expressed that independent ATMs are not currently regulated by the Central Bank and there are fears that fees for cash withdrawals at these ATMs could soon be introduced.' Photo: Eamonn Farrell/RollingNews.ie

Why a cashless society may never emerge in Ireland

Despite the 'cashless creep' in many sectors, there have been policy moves to ensure businesses must still accept cash payments

money • 08 Jan

'The problem is we're not very good in Ireland at increasing the supply of housing'

Is it possible to make housing in Ireland more affordable?

Right now, the policy focus in this country appears to be on helping people to pay for unaffordable accommodation

Housing • 02 Nov 23

'Even as things stand, European gas prices remain around 50% above their pre-invasion long-run average, which is hurting both households and businesses'

Is a winter energy crunch on the cards this year?

While Europe has moved away from Russia's pipeline gas, it will still remain exposed to the volatility of global gas markets

Energy • 19 Sep 23

'The evidence is mounting that cash remains of significant importance to many'. Photo: Getty Images

Why banks need to maintain cash services for customers

We are much further removed from becoming a cashless society than some might like to think

Future of cash • 30 Jun 23

'The use of unregulated sources of advice, especially when it comes to investment, is often viewed as risky.' Photo: Getty Images (stock photo - posed by model)

Would you take financial advice from an influencer on TikTok?

The growth in finfluencers providing advice on social media highlights the importance of regulation to protect consumers

Financial Advice • 29 Jun 23

'Inflation is when there is more money available in the economy than there is goods and services being produced'

How does raising interest rates help fight inflation and prices?

The ECB hope their series of ongoing interest rate hikes will reduce inflation and help with the cost of living crisis

Economics • 05 May 23

'While it's interesting to see the radical effect the pandemic has had on Irish saving patterns, there is a major question we should be asking: why are we still saving so much?'

3 reasons why Irish households have billions in savings right now

Irish households are saving a lot more cash than used to be case so is this a good or bad thing for the economy?

Savings • 04 May 23

The best word to describe the current energy crisis and its impact on electricity markets is 'mayhem'. Photo: Getty Images

When will my electricity bills start to come down?

For bills to start coming down rather than going up, we need stability in the market and this depends on three conditions

Energy • 21 Mar 23

The importance of basic mathematical knowledge and skills is undeniable. Photo: Getty Images

How to save money on your household bills with simple maths

Deciphering the complex numbers around energy costs, mortgages and supermarket prices is key to making good financial decisions

Maths • 27 Jan 23

By combining greater awareness of our energy use with improving the efficiency of our living spaces, we can reduce our energy use. Photo: Getty Images

5 ways to save energy if you rent your home

Renting can be a challenge for environmentally conscious tenants so here are some ways to cut down on energy costs

Cost of Living • 10 Jan 23

For many people, dealing with financial information and decisions can be an uncomfortable and often negative experience Photo: Getty Images

How to understand financial jargon

Two-thirds of Irish adults struggle to understand the alphabet soup of financial acronyms, waffle and jargon so what can be done?

Cost of Living • 05 Jan 23

Switch it off: 'International prices, events and conditions determine what we pay for energy in Ireland and the Irish government has little power when it comes to influencing these prices'

How to save cash on your energy bills

Reducing energy use is the most immediate measure we can do to reduce our exposure to high energy bills

Energy • 30 Sep 22

Why have electricity prices increased so much this year?

The root cause is not one single issue but rather a series of events that have tended to reinforce and amplify a problem of demand …

Electricity • 29 Sep 21

'There is also other evidence of price increases associated with rising demand, supply shortages or increasing regulation costs linked to the pandemic.' Photo: Getty Images

Is inflation about to go up, up and away?

The price of goods and services in Ireland have increased year on year so is this trend likely to continue?

Inflation • 25 Aug 21