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Kitsch Christmas decorations, Help to buy, Viral advertising campaigns

Consumer affairs programme. This year's trend for kitsch Christmas decor. From painted glass tree ornaments to neon reindeer - how much is too much?

We explore new figures out today on the government's Help to Buy equity loan scheme - which helps first-time buyers and existing home owners with their deposits on a new-build property. How well is the scheme performing, and what effect is it and other government policy having on the state of the housing market?

If you're a fan of oh-so-tasteful Christmas decorations then this year's trend may not be for you. Forget matching baubles and understated white lights, this year it's all about colour and exuberance. Liberty sold out of their individually-painted glass chihuahua tree ornaments by mid-November. Paperchase is selling neon reindeer. So what's acceptable when it comes to Christmas decor, and how much is too much?

And we meet the residents of Orkney who invested in brand new Renault electric cars, only to find they can't be serviced locally (despite being promised otherwise). What can you do when the nearest dealership is 145 miles away - and worse still - your electric car can't cover that distance on a single charge?

Available now

45 minutes

Chapters

  • Help to Buy - Part 1

    How is Help to Buy performing and will new measures announced change things?

    Duration: 03:06

  • Kitsch Christmas

    Why are kitsch Christmas decorations are trendy this year?

    Duration: 06:40

  • Help to Buy - Part 2

    How is Help to Buy performing and will new measures announced change things?

    Duration: 07:20

  • 成人快手less

    Youngsters choose between sleeping rough or riding night buses

    Duration: 05:55

  • Cards Against Humanity

    The companies using viral online ad campaigns and ditching traditional advertising

    Duration: 02:51

  • Orkney Electric

    Electric car owners forced to make fraught journeys to benefit from Renault's deal.

    Duration: 05:56

  • No Pay

    Should young workers be expected to work for free to gain experience?

    Duration: 05:50

Broadcast

  • Wed 9 Dec 2015 12:15

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