0:00:02 > 0:00:04Whether you're a spender or a saver,
0:00:04 > 0:00:08we could all do with knowing how to make the most of our cash.
0:00:08 > 0:00:12So we've found simple advice for you to do just that
0:00:12 > 0:00:15and taken it to towns and cities right across Britain.
0:00:17 > 0:00:23Whatever help you need with your finances, we are Right On The Money.
0:00:23 > 0:00:25Hello and welcome to Right On The Money,
0:00:25 > 0:00:28the series that's all about putting some of that hard-earned cash back
0:00:28 > 0:00:30where it belongs - in your pocket.
0:00:30 > 0:00:33And today we're in a city that's a particularly good one
0:00:33 > 0:00:36for getting money out of your pocket - lovely Leeds,
0:00:36 > 0:00:40which has been dubbed the best place for shopping in the whole UK.
0:00:40 > 0:00:43As always, we've got some great advice for you,
0:00:43 > 0:00:47and here's what's coming up on today's show...
0:00:47 > 0:00:51We go all out to save this hard-working mum some serious cash.
0:00:51 > 0:00:56But even we were shocked by just how much better off she's going to be.
0:00:56 > 0:00:58It makes me think that I've wasted so much money.
0:00:58 > 0:01:01In fact, I have. It's not...
0:01:01 > 0:01:03I have, definitely, haven't I?
0:01:03 > 0:01:08And can you really make your fortune by posting funny videos online?
0:01:08 > 0:01:11Well, one of our experts is prepared to give it a shot
0:01:11 > 0:01:13with the help of this dancing dog.
0:01:13 > 0:01:15This is where my dancing skills come in.
0:01:18 > 0:01:22Now, Leeds actually has 3.5 million square feet of retail space.
0:01:22 > 0:01:24That's a whole lot of temptation.
0:01:24 > 0:01:26That's a whole lot of feet, Denise.
0:01:26 > 0:01:27But our first priority today
0:01:27 > 0:01:31is giving one busy Yorkshire mum something that money can't buy.
0:01:35 > 0:01:39Angela Ord from Sheffield has a demanding job as a paramedic,
0:01:39 > 0:01:42but when it comes to making financial decisions,
0:01:42 > 0:01:45she hasn't got a Scooby-Doo.
0:01:45 > 0:01:48To be truthful, I don't understand finances.
0:01:48 > 0:01:50I don't know if it's laziness
0:01:50 > 0:01:53or if it's just lack of knowledge or lack of interest.
0:01:53 > 0:01:55There's more important things for me to do.
0:01:55 > 0:01:59The way I see it is, if I want more money, I do overtime.
0:01:59 > 0:02:01That's how I cover the costs of things.
0:02:03 > 0:02:06Angela lives with her son Toby, and to make sure she can
0:02:06 > 0:02:10cover all their bills, she takes on extra overnight shifts.
0:02:10 > 0:02:13Hard work certainly runs in the family,
0:02:13 > 0:02:16because 15-year-old Toby's got a job, too.
0:02:16 > 0:02:19I'm just working at a corner shop just down the road,
0:02:19 > 0:02:24and I just stack shelves and mop and sweep up and clean stuff.
0:02:24 > 0:02:25He's a good boy.
0:02:27 > 0:02:31Single parent Angela has been working all hours to pay off
0:02:31 > 0:02:35her mortgage and fund the occasional holiday for her and Toby.
0:02:35 > 0:02:39I'm proud of my mum because she's managed to look after me,
0:02:39 > 0:02:43for a start, and to be able to look after me on her own...
0:02:43 > 0:02:46I don't think many other parents would be able to do that,
0:02:46 > 0:02:48so, yeah, I'm really proud of her.
0:02:48 > 0:02:50Aw, thank you, son.
0:02:51 > 0:02:55Aw! Because Angela spends so much time working overtime shifts,
0:02:55 > 0:02:59she often relies on her mum to look after Toby.
0:02:59 > 0:03:01Bye, Toby. Bye, Mum.
0:03:01 > 0:03:02If I'm on a twilight, which, obviously,
0:03:02 > 0:03:05I'm out on an evening and a night shift, Mum will come and sleep over.
0:03:05 > 0:03:08Sometimes I get stressed about the situation I'm in,
0:03:08 > 0:03:11because I know I've got to go out to work
0:03:11 > 0:03:15and maybe if I'm on a run of night shifts or day shifts,
0:03:15 > 0:03:18I count them away so that I can be home with Toby.
0:03:20 > 0:03:21With Toby growing up fast,
0:03:21 > 0:03:26Angela is desperate to work less and start managing her money better,
0:03:26 > 0:03:29and we know just the man who can help her -
0:03:29 > 0:03:31personal finance expert Simon Read.
0:03:31 > 0:03:35- Angela?- Yes, it is. Hello. - Hi, I'm Simon. Nice to meet you.
0:03:35 > 0:03:39Before Simon gets down to the business of Angela's bank balance,
0:03:39 > 0:03:43he wants to find out a bit more about the job she's so dedicated to.
0:03:44 > 0:03:46Why do you love the job so much?
0:03:46 > 0:03:48Oh, why do I love the job?
0:03:48 > 0:03:51It makes me feel good about myself.
0:03:51 > 0:03:54It makes me feel like I'm doing something worthwhile.
0:03:54 > 0:03:56So you have to make a lot of sacrifices for your job,
0:03:56 > 0:03:59with the long hours and the extra shifts and so on?
0:03:59 > 0:04:00Mmm-hmm, I do.
0:04:00 > 0:04:03Predominantly, a chunk of my wage is because I work shifts.
0:04:03 > 0:04:07- Yes.- And that chunk of my wage is what gives me and Toby a better lifestyle.
0:04:07 > 0:04:09So if there's something I want,
0:04:09 > 0:04:12I'll work out how much it is, and maybe four, five, six,
0:04:12 > 0:04:15shifts overtime and that will fully cover the cost.
0:04:15 > 0:04:20What if I told you that if you spent four hours looking at your finances,
0:04:20 > 0:04:22you could save yourself £1,000 a year?
0:04:23 > 0:04:28Wouldn't that be preferable to doing 70 hours of extra work?
0:04:28 > 0:04:30Yeah, definitely!
0:04:30 > 0:04:32Show me how to do it.
0:04:32 > 0:04:34I'll certainly try.
0:04:34 > 0:04:36That's a bold statement, Simon.
0:04:36 > 0:04:38Time to start that clock.
0:04:38 > 0:04:41He begins by looking at simple ways
0:04:41 > 0:04:44to save cash on unnecessary expenses,
0:04:44 > 0:04:46like Angela's premium bank account.
0:04:48 > 0:04:50You currently have an account which you pay money for.
0:04:50 > 0:04:52How much do you pay for your bank account?
0:04:52 > 0:04:54- It's £10 a month, standard.- Yep.
0:04:54 > 0:04:57But if I go a penny overdrawn, it's £15.
0:04:57 > 0:05:00A penny overdrawn, you get charged an extra fiver?
0:05:00 > 0:05:04Now, would you be prepared to switch your bank account or is there a loyalty issue?
0:05:04 > 0:05:07No, I'd like to switch my bank account.
0:05:07 > 0:05:10Although Angela's bank account gives her some extra benefits,
0:05:10 > 0:05:14such as basic mobile phone and holiday insurance,
0:05:14 > 0:05:17Simon's convinced that it's not worth the money she pays.
0:05:17 > 0:05:21So instead, he's found her an account that GIVES her cash,
0:05:21 > 0:05:22rather than takes it away.
0:05:24 > 0:05:27One I'm looking at actually pays cashback when you spend.
0:05:27 > 0:05:30The way it works, I think, is brilliant.
0:05:30 > 0:05:33It pays 1% cashback on water and council tax bills, which we all pay,
0:05:33 > 0:05:36which means you're going to make some money.
0:05:36 > 0:05:39It pays 2% cashback on your gas and electricity bills.
0:05:39 > 0:05:42It pays 3% cashback on mobile, home phone, broadband
0:05:42 > 0:05:45and paid-for TV packages.
0:05:45 > 0:05:47Don't be stuck with some old account that's charging you too much.
0:05:47 > 0:05:50Find something that actually works for you and that benefits you.
0:05:50 > 0:05:52Sounds really good, actually.
0:05:54 > 0:05:58Switching your bank account is usually pretty straightforward.
0:05:58 > 0:06:00It will only take about a week,
0:06:00 > 0:06:03and your bank will do all the hard work
0:06:03 > 0:06:05and transfer those direct debit payments, too.
0:06:05 > 0:06:09More than 1.1 million of us switched in the last year alone.
0:06:09 > 0:06:13And with the deal that Simon's found her, Angela is about to join them.
0:06:15 > 0:06:17If you get rid of your old bank account,
0:06:17 > 0:06:20for which you're paying up to around £150, £170 a year,
0:06:20 > 0:06:22and switch to this account,
0:06:22 > 0:06:24I reckon you'll be at least £150 a year better off.
0:06:24 > 0:06:26- How does that sound?- Lovely!
0:06:28 > 0:06:29That's a good start, Simon.
0:06:29 > 0:06:32When those cashback payments start coming her way,
0:06:32 > 0:06:35Angela will be quids in.
0:06:35 > 0:06:38- I'm going to be rich at this rate! - Let's hope so!
0:06:38 > 0:06:40And Simon's on a roll.
0:06:40 > 0:06:43He's instantly onto another big saving.
0:06:43 > 0:06:46So far, Angela's never been tempted to switch energy supplier,
0:06:46 > 0:06:50and she's been with the same one for about 20 years.
0:06:50 > 0:06:54To be fair, I'm quite set in my ways.
0:06:54 > 0:06:55I am quite set in my ways about things,
0:06:55 > 0:06:58and maybe there's a fear factor that things might go wrong.
0:07:00 > 0:07:02But with just a few quick clicks,
0:07:02 > 0:07:06Simon has found a deal which could save Angela some serious cash.
0:07:06 > 0:07:09So we go to a comparison site, we put in your details.
0:07:09 > 0:07:12There's a button here. I'll press that, and let's hope this works.
0:07:12 > 0:07:13How much do you reckon you could save?
0:07:13 > 0:07:16- Maybe about £20?- £20 a month?
0:07:16 > 0:07:17Roughly?
0:07:17 > 0:07:20In fact, you could probably save £306 a year,
0:07:20 > 0:07:23which is roughly about £25, £26 a month.
0:07:23 > 0:07:25Wow! Another great saving.
0:07:27 > 0:07:29I never even thought about it before.
0:07:29 > 0:07:32I think I'll have to give that a shot.
0:07:32 > 0:07:36Now he's made some easy savings, it's time for Simon
0:07:36 > 0:07:39to take on one of Angela's major money-wasting habits.
0:07:39 > 0:07:41She's currently forking out
0:07:41 > 0:07:44a quarter of the money she earns on food.
0:07:44 > 0:07:46So, listen, Angela, how much do you spend a month on shopping?
0:07:46 > 0:07:50I spend about £500, approximately, a month.
0:07:51 > 0:07:54£500 a month?! And there's only her and Toby!
0:07:54 > 0:07:58Why are you spending so much when it's just the two of you?
0:07:58 > 0:08:01I don't shop around. I go to the same place every time,
0:08:01 > 0:08:05three times a week, and you can guarantee that, weekly,
0:08:05 > 0:08:09I'll spend 70, 80, 90 on one shop
0:08:09 > 0:08:11and then maybe 50, 60 on another shop.
0:08:11 > 0:08:15I go in, I pick anything up that I want...
0:08:15 > 0:08:19I think Simon might need some emergency assistance on this one.
0:08:19 > 0:08:22Listen, I think we could really do with some help here.
0:08:22 > 0:08:23She just spends too much.
0:08:25 > 0:08:27Enter Charlie Hooson-Sykes,
0:08:27 > 0:08:31food blogger and top-tip giver on all things edible.
0:08:31 > 0:08:33She's an expert in shopping and saving.
0:08:35 > 0:08:37Let's have a nosy.
0:08:37 > 0:08:39OK, definitely not a lot for 500 quid a month.
0:08:39 > 0:08:43- Shall we head into the fridge? - LAUGHS
0:08:43 > 0:08:45I really... As you can see, I like to have fresh fruit and veg.
0:08:45 > 0:08:48- Yep, absolutely.- I don't always, after a 12-hour shift,
0:08:48 > 0:08:50- have time to prepare a meal.- No.
0:08:50 > 0:08:55Angela buys so much stuff to make sure that Toby gets his five a day.
0:08:55 > 0:08:58Trouble is, because she works such long hours,
0:08:58 > 0:09:00most of it ends up in the bin.
0:09:00 > 0:09:03You've got these in the bag and they're going a bit sweaty and,
0:09:03 > 0:09:06as you can see, they're starting to go a bit bad.
0:09:06 > 0:09:09The best thing to do is, when you get them, take them out of the bag.
0:09:09 > 0:09:11hour or two out on the side, and it will dry out
0:09:11 > 0:09:13and then you can pop it into the fridge on its own
0:09:13 > 0:09:17and it will still last a little bit longer.
0:09:17 > 0:09:21Charlie and Simon are keen to get to the root of why Angela is going so
0:09:21 > 0:09:25wrong, loading her supermarket trolley with food she doesn't need.
0:09:25 > 0:09:28So when you go shopping, do you actually make any sort of list,
0:09:28 > 0:09:30any sort of plans,
0:09:30 > 0:09:33or do you just wander around and throw things in the trolley?
0:09:33 > 0:09:36- I just turn up and shop. - LAUGHTER
0:09:37 > 0:09:39But Simon is a man with a plan.
0:09:39 > 0:09:42To break her careless attitude to shopping,
0:09:42 > 0:09:45he's taking Angela to the local supermarket
0:09:45 > 0:09:48to see what happens when she's let loose in the aisles.
0:09:51 > 0:09:55This mince, I would probably just think, "Wow, that's half price,"
0:09:55 > 0:09:58and just pick it up without checking the contents,
0:09:58 > 0:09:59without checking anything.
0:09:59 > 0:10:01You haven't got much time so you just rush through.
0:10:01 > 0:10:04- And, as a consequence, you overspend.- Yeah.
0:10:04 > 0:10:09Charlie is keen to show how just a bit more thought could help Angela
0:10:09 > 0:10:11slash what she spends on shopping.
0:10:11 > 0:10:14It's interesting, the tins here are very pretty.
0:10:14 > 0:10:19However, in these slightly less salubrious conditions,
0:10:19 > 0:10:21we have the cheaper tins.
0:10:21 > 0:10:26So it's a question of looking away from where they want you to look,
0:10:26 > 0:10:29into where you should find the right-price stuff.
0:10:29 > 0:10:31For you. Exactly.
0:10:31 > 0:10:35Those expensive ones that were caught by my eye were 95p or £1.05,
0:10:35 > 0:10:37depending on what kind of can you got.
0:10:37 > 0:10:40These ones down here, they're only 31p a can.
0:10:40 > 0:10:43- That's quite a lot of money.- I can get three of them for one of them.
0:10:43 > 0:10:45Exactly.
0:10:45 > 0:10:48And it seems that Simon and Charlie's double act
0:10:48 > 0:10:50is paying dividends.
0:10:50 > 0:10:53Angela is finally realising how she could shop smarter.
0:10:53 > 0:10:56I think I probably take away that I need to spend
0:10:56 > 0:10:59- a little bit more time planning. - Planning and preparing.- Yeah.
0:10:59 > 0:11:02And maybe looking at labels a little bit more, for costs.
0:11:02 > 0:11:05You've got to put the effort in! You've got to put some work in!
0:11:05 > 0:11:07You'd be saving money if you did that.
0:11:07 > 0:11:09It just takes a little bit of planning.
0:11:09 > 0:11:12I'm going to keep on telling you off until you understand this.
0:11:12 > 0:11:14Plan ahead and you'll save,
0:11:14 > 0:11:16fail to plan and you'll overspend.
0:11:18 > 0:11:22Sounds like Angela has really taken Simon's words to heart.
0:11:22 > 0:11:25And if she follows his advice on food shopping,
0:11:25 > 0:11:28we estimate she could save £3,000 a year.
0:11:30 > 0:11:33And there are plenty more huge savings ahead
0:11:33 > 0:11:35for this hard-working paramedic.
0:11:35 > 0:11:38Among them, Simon will deliver one of the biggest single savings
0:11:38 > 0:11:41our experts have ever found.
0:11:41 > 0:11:44That's incredible. You'd save five years of repayments,
0:11:44 > 0:11:46and that's five years of extra interest.
0:11:50 > 0:11:52Sounds like Angela will be switched on
0:11:52 > 0:11:54to switching to better deals from now on.
0:11:54 > 0:11:58We'll see how much more we can save her later on in the programme.
0:11:58 > 0:12:01Andy Webb from the Money Advice Service is here, along with Karyn,
0:12:01 > 0:12:05who is affectionately known as the blogger Miss Thrifty.
0:12:05 > 0:12:07We're going to come to you in a second, Karyn, but first, Andy,
0:12:07 > 0:12:10they say, on average, people can save about £300
0:12:10 > 0:12:12by switching energy companies.
0:12:12 > 0:12:15- Why aren't more people doing it? - Yeah, I mean, there's a few reasons.
0:12:15 > 0:12:18Some people are maybe a little bit scared about what happens.
0:12:18 > 0:12:20Are they going to dig up the roads to change the pipes?
0:12:20 > 0:12:23Is there going to be a break in my power while the switch is going on?
0:12:23 > 0:12:26That's not going to happen. You won't see any change at all
0:12:26 > 0:12:29to the power you use. Some people think loyalty pays.
0:12:29 > 0:12:31- Here, it really doesn't.- I do!
0:12:31 > 0:12:33Yeah, you pay more than everyone else...
0:12:33 > 0:12:36Actually, you've got a confession to make, Denise, haven't you?
0:12:36 > 0:12:38I did change after the programme last year.
0:12:38 > 0:12:41I did change mine and I'm very happy with the savings I've made.
0:12:41 > 0:12:45- It was considerable, wasn't it? - It was a considerable amount so I'm very happy.
0:12:45 > 0:12:47That's the other thing, people think it'll be too much hassle,
0:12:47 > 0:12:49they put it on the to-do list,
0:12:49 > 0:12:51it never gets to the top and they never get round to it.
0:12:51 > 0:12:55And, Karyn, you've changed your energy provider eight times
0:12:55 > 0:12:57over the last few years. Why's that?
0:12:57 > 0:12:59Because of better deals.
0:12:59 > 0:13:02Gas and electricity, it's not like going out to buy sausages,
0:13:02 > 0:13:05where you get different quality products from different suppliers.
0:13:05 > 0:13:06Gas and electricity, it's all the same,
0:13:06 > 0:13:09as long as your boiler's firing up, your lights are switching on,
0:13:09 > 0:13:11so why wouldn't you go and pick the best deal
0:13:11 > 0:13:14when there's so much money to be saved?
0:13:14 > 0:13:16And it isn't just a better deal on your energy supply
0:13:16 > 0:13:18that you shop around for, is it?
0:13:18 > 0:13:20No, I shop around for everything.
0:13:20 > 0:13:21But energy in particular,
0:13:21 > 0:13:24because there's so much money to be saved and it takes minutes,
0:13:24 > 0:13:25just minutes, to do it online
0:13:25 > 0:13:29using one of the price comparison websites. You can't lose.
0:13:29 > 0:13:32And you have no problems in switching quite frequently,
0:13:32 > 0:13:34because you've done that for the past few years?
0:13:34 > 0:13:38I tend to switch every year when my tariff expires.
0:13:38 > 0:13:40I switched, funnily enough, just this morning,
0:13:40 > 0:13:42cos my current tariff is due to expire in the next few weeks,
0:13:42 > 0:13:45and I've saved myself the best part of £500.
0:13:45 > 0:13:48Karyn, you are definitely a super-savvy money-saver.
0:13:48 > 0:13:52We spoke to Angela earlier, who's talked about switching her banks.
0:13:52 > 0:13:54Is that something that we should all be investigating?
0:13:54 > 0:13:58Yeah, absolutely. People do worry a little bit about their money.
0:13:58 > 0:14:00Often people get their bank account at 18, or just before,
0:14:00 > 0:14:03and then they're with them 10, 20, 30 years, you never change.
0:14:03 > 0:14:04Again, that's me.
0:14:04 > 0:14:07It's not broken, I just don't change, especially with my bank.
0:14:07 > 0:14:10And people might worry about what happens, because this is your money,
0:14:10 > 0:14:12but this is seven-day switching service
0:14:12 > 0:14:14and it literally just takes seven working days.
0:14:14 > 0:14:17Your money, your standing orders, your direct debits,
0:14:17 > 0:14:20they'll all be moved over to the new account, so you don't have to worry about that.
0:14:20 > 0:14:23And then for three years after that, any other payments in and out,
0:14:23 > 0:14:26they'll also be forwarded across, so you've got time to pick up
0:14:26 > 0:14:28anything you might have missed, which makes it really, really easy.
0:14:28 > 0:14:30Perfect. Good advice, I think.
0:14:30 > 0:14:32- Fantastic. - Thanks a lot for your time.
0:14:32 > 0:14:34Now, online channels like YouTube
0:14:34 > 0:14:37are transforming the way we access and watch our favourite moments
0:14:37 > 0:14:39in TV and music history.
0:14:39 > 0:14:42And it's proved to be a pretty lucrative way of making money, too,
0:14:42 > 0:14:45or at least it has for those who have managed to strike gold
0:14:45 > 0:14:48by posting their home-made videos online.
0:14:50 > 0:14:52Ow!
0:14:52 > 0:14:53Ooh!
0:14:53 > 0:14:56This online video of one-year-old Charlie
0:14:56 > 0:14:59mischievously nibbling his big brother Harry's finger
0:14:59 > 0:15:01went viral around the world.
0:15:01 > 0:15:03Charlie!
0:15:03 > 0:15:05That really hurt.
0:15:05 > 0:15:10And to date, it's been viewed an incredible 836 million times.
0:15:10 > 0:15:11CHARLIE LAUGHS
0:15:11 > 0:15:18In the process, it's made the family a whopping £500,000.
0:15:18 > 0:15:20And that really hurt, Charlie.
0:15:20 > 0:15:23That's because once videos like this become hugely popular,
0:15:23 > 0:15:27they attract the attention of companies that want to cash in
0:15:27 > 0:15:29and advertise alongside them.
0:15:30 > 0:15:33But it's not just funny kid videos that can make you money.
0:15:33 > 0:15:35Cute animal clips are just as popular.
0:15:37 > 0:15:41Money-saving expert Richard Fenton recently wrote that posting funny
0:15:41 > 0:15:46videos of your pet were an easy way to make extra dough.
0:15:46 > 0:15:47So what I wanted to know,
0:15:47 > 0:15:51is it really that simple to earn cash from your own videos,
0:15:51 > 0:15:54and could Richard put his money where his mouth is
0:15:54 > 0:15:55and manage it himself?
0:15:56 > 0:15:58Yes, I did write a piece about how
0:15:58 > 0:16:02everybody should be able to make money doing a blog video,
0:16:02 > 0:16:03dancing with their dog.
0:16:03 > 0:16:06And now Denise has challenged me to do it myself.
0:16:07 > 0:16:10But does Richard actually have a dog?
0:16:10 > 0:16:11No, but I'll get one.
0:16:13 > 0:16:15Richard needs a four-legged friend and sharpish.
0:16:17 > 0:16:19That was easy enough.
0:16:19 > 0:16:21Come back!
0:16:21 > 0:16:24But you know what they say - never work with children or animals.
0:16:32 > 0:16:34With his dog back on a tight leash...
0:16:34 > 0:16:35Come on. Good boy.
0:16:36 > 0:16:40..Richard can turn his attention to some canine freestyle.
0:16:41 > 0:16:43First, some music.
0:16:43 > 0:16:46# Who let the dogs out...? #
0:16:46 > 0:16:48# How much is that doggy in the window...? #
0:16:48 > 0:16:51It helps if your dog actually likes the track, too.
0:16:51 > 0:16:55# Puppy love... #
0:16:55 > 0:16:58# You ain't nothing but a hound dog... #
0:16:58 > 0:17:01That's made his ears prick up, Richard.
0:17:01 > 0:17:04All you need now is a doggy dance routine,
0:17:04 > 0:17:08lots of practice and let's get the cameras rolling.
0:17:08 > 0:17:10This is where my dancing skills come in.
0:17:14 > 0:17:16There we have it. One video.
0:17:16 > 0:17:18Now all we've got to do is get it online.
0:17:18 > 0:17:19Come on, Max.
0:17:19 > 0:17:21Richard's definitely got the moves.
0:17:21 > 0:17:24And while I'm still not convinced he can manage
0:17:24 > 0:17:27to turn this canine jive into a money-spinner,
0:17:27 > 0:17:29there are people who make a regular income
0:17:29 > 0:17:31from posting their videos online.
0:17:33 > 0:17:36So I've sent him to meet a Yorkshire mum who's turned her part-time hobby
0:17:36 > 0:17:41of sharing animal animations into a lucrative little earner.
0:17:41 > 0:17:42Happy birthday.
0:17:42 > 0:17:46May you have a tree-swingin' and gift-bringin' time.
0:17:48 > 0:17:50Tell me a little bit more
0:17:50 > 0:17:53about the actual videos that you put online.
0:17:53 > 0:17:55OK. They are greetings cards,
0:17:55 > 0:17:58or videos, and people use them to share.
0:17:58 > 0:18:01They'll post them on social media sites,
0:18:01 > 0:18:04to wish people happy birthday.
0:18:04 > 0:18:05And we've branched out,
0:18:05 > 0:18:08and do Valentines and Easter and Christmas as well.
0:18:09 > 0:18:12Sophie posts an average of two videos a week,
0:18:12 > 0:18:14which you can download and share for free.
0:18:14 > 0:18:18So how does she make money if she doesn't charge?
0:18:18 > 0:18:21Well, her growing audience caught the attention of YouTube,
0:18:21 > 0:18:23who said that if she agreed
0:18:23 > 0:18:25for adverts to be placed alongside her videos,
0:18:25 > 0:18:27she'd be paid a cut of the revenue.
0:18:27 > 0:18:29Ohh-ooh-ohh!
0:18:29 > 0:18:31Just remind me again, how many people do you get
0:18:31 > 0:18:34viewing your videos on an average month?
0:18:34 > 0:18:36It's just over a million views a month I get.
0:18:36 > 0:18:38That's a fairly impressive number.
0:18:38 > 0:18:39It's quite high, yeah.
0:18:39 > 0:18:43In terms of revenue, what sort of numbers are we talking here?
0:18:44 > 0:18:48Last year, it was just over £9,000.
0:18:48 > 0:18:50Right. That's a fairly impressive number
0:18:50 > 0:18:54for something that you perhaps do part-time.
0:18:54 > 0:18:55Yeah.
0:18:55 > 0:18:57Blimey, that's not bad at all.
0:18:57 > 0:19:02And if your video becomes a global hit, well, the sky's the limit.
0:19:04 > 0:19:06With a few clicks, Richard's dancing dog video
0:19:06 > 0:19:09is up on the internet and about to go global.
0:19:11 > 0:19:13Cool moves.
0:19:13 > 0:19:15Are you talking about me or the dog?
0:19:15 > 0:19:17I think Max is definitely the best.
0:19:17 > 0:19:19I think the advertisers are going to like this.
0:19:19 > 0:19:21I think they could come flocking.
0:19:21 > 0:19:24I can feel some big names already wanting to get behind this.
0:19:24 > 0:19:27I'm not going to be invited to Strictly this year,
0:19:27 > 0:19:29but I think my moves are pretty good.
0:19:29 > 0:19:32But will Richard's video be an online sensation
0:19:32 > 0:19:34and bring in the big money?
0:19:35 > 0:19:37Richard's with us now, along with Janet,
0:19:37 > 0:19:41who has a rather mysterious way of making money.
0:19:41 > 0:19:44Don't tell us yet, Janet, because I'm dying to come to Richard
0:19:44 > 0:19:46and find out how his dancing dog video has done.
0:19:46 > 0:19:48How many views have you had, Richard?
0:19:48 > 0:19:51- 83.- Million?
0:19:51 > 0:19:54- No.- You mean just two digits - 83?
0:19:54 > 0:19:5683. Two of those were the cat.
0:19:56 > 0:19:59- No! I bet four of them were your mum, weren't they?- Yep!
0:19:59 > 0:20:01I think I know the answer to this one. How much have you made?
0:20:01 > 0:20:03A sum total of zero.
0:20:03 > 0:20:06I'd like to say I feel really sorry for you, but I watched the video and I don't.
0:20:06 > 0:20:09It was never going to be a success, Richard, was it?
0:20:09 > 0:20:11But at least it was an effort. You gave it a try, didn't you?
0:20:11 > 0:20:13Yeah. That's the thing.
0:20:13 > 0:20:14It's getting out there, trying something.
0:20:14 > 0:20:18It's just like any form of stardom that you chase,
0:20:18 > 0:20:20whether you want to be a movie star,
0:20:20 > 0:20:23big in the music industry, big on TV.
0:20:23 > 0:20:27It is a long shot, and you've really got to hit the mark.
0:20:27 > 0:20:29So if you think you can just produce something overnight,
0:20:29 > 0:20:32get it on YouTube and see the money come rolling in - no.
0:20:32 > 0:20:35It's going to be one in a million.
0:20:35 > 0:20:38But there are simpler, easier ways to make money
0:20:38 > 0:20:39in less conventional ways.
0:20:39 > 0:20:43So, for example, if you want to recycle toilet rolls,
0:20:43 > 0:20:47instead of just throwing them away, you can store them up
0:20:47 > 0:20:49and then sell them on eBay in packs of ten
0:20:49 > 0:20:53to people who might be wanting to do arts and crafts.
0:20:53 > 0:20:56My hamster would be devastated if I robbed him of his toilet rolls.
0:20:56 > 0:20:59He won't like you, Richard. Janet, tell us about
0:20:59 > 0:21:02your less conventional way of earning money.
0:21:02 > 0:21:06I go around checking on people's level of customer service
0:21:06 > 0:21:11in major organisations, such as banks, department stores.
0:21:11 > 0:21:13And I work for a national company
0:21:13 > 0:21:17who specialises in optimising performance in people.
0:21:17 > 0:21:20Basically, what you do is go in and you're reporting
0:21:20 > 0:21:22- on how good or bad their service is? - Yes.
0:21:22 > 0:21:25- And you're getting paid for that? - Yes.- I'll tell you a true story,
0:21:25 > 0:21:29I worked for a company back in the '90s, and we got mystery shopped
0:21:29 > 0:21:32regularly. And if we didn't come up to the mark,
0:21:32 > 0:21:34we were fined by our boss.
0:21:34 > 0:21:37Admittedly, if we passed the mark, he used to give us a bonus, as well.
0:21:37 > 0:21:38But it used to drive us mad.
0:21:38 > 0:21:42I think it's safeguarded these days, because the reports are very,
0:21:42 > 0:21:46very detailed and we actually record the whole conversation.
0:21:46 > 0:21:49So I go in with a covert recording device hidden about my person.
0:21:49 > 0:21:51It's very James Bond, isn't it? SHE LAUGHS
0:21:51 > 0:21:53It is. It's very covert.
0:21:53 > 0:21:54Do you ever feel guilty?
0:21:54 > 0:21:56100% no.
0:21:56 > 0:21:57I actually admire your honesty,
0:21:57 > 0:22:00because although it might be a bit of a sneaky job,
0:22:00 > 0:22:03you're actually helping to improve the retail environment.
0:22:03 > 0:22:05There's probably an awful lot of people right now,
0:22:05 > 0:22:08looking at this and thinking, "You know what, I'd love to do that job,
0:22:08 > 0:22:10"go around and get paid to mystery shop."
0:22:10 > 0:22:11How would they go about it?
0:22:11 > 0:22:14Just get on to the internet, have a look at the companies.
0:22:14 > 0:22:16Fill in a brief application form
0:22:16 > 0:22:19saying why you think you're going to be good at the job.
0:22:19 > 0:22:21They'll come back to you if they think you would be and
0:22:21 > 0:22:25they'll test you out and you end up with a star rating depending on the
0:22:25 > 0:22:27reports and submissions you make to them.
0:22:27 > 0:22:29I'm going to be really rude now, Janet.
0:22:29 > 0:22:31I'm going to ask you how much you make by doing this?
0:22:31 > 0:22:34It depends how many assignments you're willing to take on
0:22:34 > 0:22:35in terms of your spare time.
0:22:35 > 0:22:39You could work every day and you could take home £1,000 a month.
0:22:39 > 0:22:41Or you could work once a month
0:22:41 > 0:22:44on one assignment and earn £100 a month.
0:22:44 > 0:22:46OK. It sounds to me like you are making a lot more money than
0:22:46 > 0:22:49Richard's video did. She's got it right, hasn't she, Richard?
0:22:49 > 0:22:52- She has. Sounds good.- I think you've definitely got it wrong.
0:22:52 > 0:22:55Here's a question for our Denise - would I make a good mystery shopper?
0:22:55 > 0:22:57Ooh, I'm not going to answer that, Dom.
0:22:57 > 0:22:59Of course, the whole point of this programme
0:22:59 > 0:23:01is to help save you lots of money,
0:23:01 > 0:23:04but how far would you go when it comes to scrimping?
0:23:04 > 0:23:07Time to confess if you are one of the growing number of people who are
0:23:07 > 0:23:10re-gifting those unwanted Christmas presents.
0:23:13 > 0:23:18I'm not very organised myself, so I'm always re-gifting presents.
0:23:18 > 0:23:21Re-gifting, I've done that a few times.
0:23:22 > 0:23:26Nothing outrageously expensive, or anything like that,
0:23:26 > 0:23:33it was just maybe, like, toiletries which you're not that keen on.
0:23:33 > 0:23:34Vouchers. All the time.
0:23:34 > 0:23:39Just give them straight to the next person on, because, you know,
0:23:39 > 0:23:41most of them, you don't get the ones that you want, anyway.
0:23:41 > 0:23:44So, yeah, vouchers, big time.
0:23:44 > 0:23:46Like a T-shirt.
0:23:46 > 0:23:49I'll give it to my cousin, you know, as a present...
0:23:51 > 0:23:54..who's not into fashion! He'll just wear it, you know,
0:23:54 > 0:23:55but he'll be very grateful.
0:23:55 > 0:23:58It was a box of chocolates, so I gave it to someone else.
0:23:58 > 0:24:00I don't want it.
0:24:00 > 0:24:03I think I might have done it a couple of times over the years.
0:24:03 > 0:24:05Really, you shouldn't, but if you don't like it, you don't like it.
0:24:05 > 0:24:07We're humans at the end of the day.
0:24:07 > 0:24:10There's things we're going to like and things we're not going to like.
0:24:10 > 0:24:12Some of the kids' presents at Christmas we re-use for
0:24:12 > 0:24:14other kids' birthday parties, don't we?
0:24:14 > 0:24:17I think it's OK as long as you haven't used it
0:24:17 > 0:24:19and it is still brand-new.
0:24:19 > 0:24:20Why not?
0:24:24 > 0:24:26But is re-gifting for everyone?
0:24:26 > 0:24:29Joining me in one of the biggest shopping centres in Leeds
0:24:29 > 0:24:31is retail expert Claire Rayner.
0:24:32 > 0:24:35Now, Claire, have you ever re-gifted?
0:24:35 > 0:24:37Because I know I do a little bit.
0:24:37 > 0:24:39- Are you guilty? - I have been known to.
0:24:39 > 0:24:41I consider it a form of recycling.
0:24:41 > 0:24:43- What types of things to you re-gift? - All sorts of things.
0:24:43 > 0:24:45It might be duplicates of things I already have,
0:24:45 > 0:24:47or things that the kids have already got.
0:24:47 > 0:24:51So it's a good way to make sure the gift becomes usable, I think.
0:24:51 > 0:24:55The shopping experience is about to change in the future.
0:24:55 > 0:24:58- Just tell me a little bit about that.- I think it could be really exciting.
0:24:58 > 0:25:01The technology we see coming through from the gaming industry,
0:25:01 > 0:25:04for instance, can percolate down into the retail environment.
0:25:04 > 0:25:07And I imagine the experience of walking into a fashion store
0:25:07 > 0:25:11with your mobile phone in your hand, or your digital, interactive watch,
0:25:11 > 0:25:13and that store starts to recognise your presence,
0:25:13 > 0:25:16send you personalised offers, recommend items.
0:25:16 > 0:25:17You pick up a few things,
0:25:17 > 0:25:21you go into the fitting room and mirrors can interact with you,
0:25:21 > 0:25:22telling you you look great.
0:25:22 > 0:25:24Or perhaps you need a longer or shorter skirt length,
0:25:24 > 0:25:28whatever it might be to help you make the right choices.
0:25:28 > 0:25:29But you might want to take your products home,
0:25:29 > 0:25:32so imagine you can just drop them off in a secure locker
0:25:32 > 0:25:35and a drone might deliver them to your house later.
0:25:35 > 0:25:37Or they might come with a courier to your office.
0:25:37 > 0:25:39I think that's the sort of experience we can imagine
0:25:39 > 0:25:42and anything that's possible with technology these days
0:25:42 > 0:25:45could be built into the future of retail.
0:25:45 > 0:25:46I mean, it sounds just inconceivable,
0:25:46 > 0:25:49but you're saying this is really going to happen?
0:25:49 > 0:25:51I think so, because a lot of the technology already exists,
0:25:51 > 0:25:53and retailers really have to do something
0:25:53 > 0:25:56to engage with shoppers to take them away from sitting on a sofa
0:25:56 > 0:25:57and doing all their shopping online.
0:25:57 > 0:26:00And how will this affect supermarkets?
0:26:00 > 0:26:01Is that going to be any different?
0:26:01 > 0:26:05Yeah. Supermarkets are really under pressure at the moment. We've seen a lot of change already.
0:26:05 > 0:26:08That's being pushed by the way consumers are changing their shopping habits.
0:26:08 > 0:26:10So click and collect, for your online shopping -
0:26:10 > 0:26:13you go to the supermarket, the bags are loaded into your boot.
0:26:13 > 0:26:15Drive-through supermarkets are popping up.
0:26:15 > 0:26:18And I can imagine a lot more of that will come about.
0:26:18 > 0:26:21What's this I've heard about facial recognition coming into play?
0:26:21 > 0:26:24Oh, yes. Again, it's something from the gaming industry
0:26:24 > 0:26:26that's becoming a feature of retail.
0:26:26 > 0:26:28There are trials being run
0:26:28 > 0:26:31whereby you can actually pay from facial recognition.
0:26:31 > 0:26:33The system will know who you are through your image,
0:26:33 > 0:26:36so, ultimately, we could pay by selfie,
0:26:36 > 0:26:38we could just smile at a camera and it will know who we are
0:26:38 > 0:26:40and take our payment, again, seamlessly,
0:26:40 > 0:26:43from bank accounts or credit cards linked to our face.
0:26:43 > 0:26:46- No face lifts then?- No!
0:26:46 > 0:26:49So is there anything we can do to avoid overspending?
0:26:49 > 0:26:51Yes, and I can imagine, in the future,
0:26:51 > 0:26:53with such a cashless and seamless way of paying for
0:26:53 > 0:26:55things using mobile phones,
0:26:55 > 0:26:58it's going to be essential that some of us put a bit of a halt
0:26:58 > 0:26:59on going a bit too mad with that.
0:26:59 > 0:27:01And I think what we'll see is apps coming out
0:27:01 > 0:27:04to help us with our budgeting, to help us control our spending.
0:27:04 > 0:27:07Pinging alerts to us to let you know, "You've spent £50 today,
0:27:07 > 0:27:10"your budget's 60, slow down, you've only got £10 left."
0:27:10 > 0:27:12And other such things like that.
0:27:12 > 0:27:15It sounds like there are some big changes ahead.
0:27:15 > 0:27:17So what do shoppers here reckon to all that?
0:27:19 > 0:27:20What do you think to the fact
0:27:20 > 0:27:24that you might be able to pay for your products with your face,
0:27:24 > 0:27:26- ie like a selfie?- With my face?
0:27:27 > 0:27:30I don't think I would like that.
0:27:30 > 0:27:31I wouldn't, no.
0:27:31 > 0:27:33I've never thought about that.
0:27:33 > 0:27:35That's a good idea, I suppose.
0:27:35 > 0:27:37No-one else would have a face like this!
0:27:37 > 0:27:38Do you do any shopping online?
0:27:38 > 0:27:40- No.- Not at all?
0:27:40 > 0:27:42I'd rather deal with cash.
0:27:42 > 0:27:45- You deal with cash. You're a bit of a traditionalist?- Yes, I am.
0:27:45 > 0:27:46Do you ever shop online?
0:27:46 > 0:27:48I do sometimes, yes. Not very often.
0:27:48 > 0:27:51Because I usually send things back, because they don't fit.
0:27:51 > 0:27:53I like to see and feel what I'm buying,
0:27:53 > 0:27:55as opposed to just pressing a button.
0:27:55 > 0:27:57I don't like it. I prefer to come and do it
0:27:57 > 0:28:01and go home and have a nice day. I wouldn't do the computer stuff.
0:28:01 > 0:28:02- No, I don't.- Not at all?
0:28:02 > 0:28:04Not at all, no. Far too old for that.
0:28:06 > 0:28:09What is it about shopping online, is it easier, is it quicker?
0:28:09 > 0:28:11Convenient. Just convenient.
0:28:11 > 0:28:14Paula can do it from her desk at work!
0:28:14 > 0:28:16Ah... So when you're supposed to be working...
0:28:16 > 0:28:17You heard what she's doing.
0:28:17 > 0:28:19Do you like shopping?
0:28:19 > 0:28:20- I do, yes.- Yeah, you do?- I do.
0:28:20 > 0:28:22- Do you shop online at all? - I do.- You do.
0:28:22 > 0:28:25I don't even know how to switch it on!
0:28:26 > 0:28:28It seems as though people are shopping online,
0:28:28 > 0:28:32but those I've spoken to today still prefer to make their purchases
0:28:32 > 0:28:33in places like this.
0:28:33 > 0:28:35Who can blame them?
0:28:35 > 0:28:37Now, earlier on, we met busy paramedic Angela,
0:28:37 > 0:28:40who was desperate for help tackling her finances.
0:28:40 > 0:28:42Let's see how she's getting on.
0:28:44 > 0:28:47Yorkshire mum Angela, like a lot of us,
0:28:47 > 0:28:52has always struggled to work out where to start with her finances.
0:28:52 > 0:28:54I don't have time to sort my finances
0:28:54 > 0:28:56and, truthfully, I don't understand them.
0:28:56 > 0:29:00I don't understand percentages and payments.
0:29:00 > 0:29:03I don't tend to look to the future massively,
0:29:03 > 0:29:05which isn't always a good thing.
0:29:07 > 0:29:10Angela is working hard to make a better life for her
0:29:10 > 0:29:12and 15-year-old son Toby,
0:29:12 > 0:29:15but, as a result, she misses out on quality time at home.
0:29:15 > 0:29:18If I want more money, I do overtime.
0:29:18 > 0:29:20That's how I cover the costs of things.
0:29:20 > 0:29:23I can do anything from one to four shifts a month.
0:29:24 > 0:29:28Angela currently clocks up about 48 hours of overtime a month
0:29:28 > 0:29:30to foot the family bills.
0:29:30 > 0:29:33This Yorkshire lass was desperate for help,
0:29:33 > 0:29:36so we sent in personal finance expert Simon Read
0:29:36 > 0:29:41to find a way to help Angela work less by saving her more cash.
0:29:41 > 0:29:43- Am I going to be rich at this rate? - Let's hope so.
0:29:45 > 0:29:49So far, he's found ways that she could save £3,456
0:29:49 > 0:29:53just by cutting down on her massive food bills,
0:29:53 > 0:29:56switching her energy provider and changing her bank account.
0:29:56 > 0:29:58Sounds really good, actually.
0:30:00 > 0:30:04What Angela craves most is time with her family and friends.
0:30:07 > 0:30:10Today, her mum Rosemary and pal Caroline
0:30:10 > 0:30:14have popped over for lunch and a chinwag. A rare occurrence.
0:30:15 > 0:30:18It's not very often you get the chance to have this valuable time
0:30:18 > 0:30:20together with friends and family, is it?
0:30:20 > 0:30:22No, not at all.
0:30:22 > 0:30:24Toby and I very rarely eat together,
0:30:24 > 0:30:26purely because of my shifts.
0:30:26 > 0:30:28Don't you miss your mum not being here all the time for you?
0:30:29 > 0:30:33I used to when I was little, but now I would sort of like...
0:30:34 > 0:30:38It's just second nature to me really, you know.
0:30:38 > 0:30:41Just my mum being out, long shifts working, it's just normal.
0:30:41 > 0:30:43It's just become established?
0:30:44 > 0:30:46Like a lot of working parents,
0:30:46 > 0:30:49Angela relies on the help of her mum.
0:30:49 > 0:30:51She never once says, "Well I can't, I'm busy."
0:30:51 > 0:30:53I've never heard that, never.
0:30:53 > 0:30:56- Never.- Do you think she could do it without your help?
0:30:56 > 0:31:00Without me, I don't think she really...
0:31:00 > 0:31:01You know, maybe we can help change that
0:31:01 > 0:31:03so she could be at home a bit more for you.
0:31:03 > 0:31:05- That would be nice, wouldn't it?- Yeah.
0:31:05 > 0:31:07It would be nice for everyone, wouldn't it?
0:31:07 > 0:31:08Yeah, definitely.
0:31:08 > 0:31:11- It'd be quite nice to be home a bit more for you, wouldn't it?- Yeah.
0:31:11 > 0:31:14I think that would be nice, even though he hides away from me.
0:31:14 > 0:31:16SIMON LAUGHS
0:31:16 > 0:31:20Simon has found a way for Angela's job to boost her piggy bank
0:31:20 > 0:31:23without putting in any extra hours.
0:31:23 > 0:31:26It's all down to an NHS employee discount scheme
0:31:26 > 0:31:29that's been under her nose all this time.
0:31:29 > 0:31:33Angela's job gives her lots of money off all sorts of shops,
0:31:33 > 0:31:36restaurants and even holidays.
0:31:36 > 0:31:38So you know about this money you can save,
0:31:38 > 0:31:40but you don't use it very often?
0:31:40 > 0:31:42- No.- Why not?
0:31:42 > 0:31:45Is it simply because you don't know how to find out
0:31:45 > 0:31:49where these savings are, where these discounts and deals are?
0:31:49 > 0:31:50I do, yeah.
0:31:50 > 0:31:53But I don't know how to apply it.
0:31:55 > 0:31:59A number of businesses and organisations run similar schemes,
0:31:59 > 0:32:01giving staff access to discounts and offers.
0:32:01 > 0:32:04So check if you've got one, too.
0:32:04 > 0:32:07With just one click on the NHS website, Simon's found
0:32:07 > 0:32:11that he can bring down the cost of Angela's boiler breakdown cover.
0:32:11 > 0:32:14You can get this great package, which seems to be exactly the same
0:32:14 > 0:32:16as the one you've already got,
0:32:16 > 0:32:18except for this one, you get a tenner off.
0:32:18 > 0:32:22So that means you save another £120 a year.
0:32:22 > 0:32:24Just by the things that are already available to you
0:32:24 > 0:32:25that you haven't taken advantage of.
0:32:25 > 0:32:28It's absolutely fantastic, what you've found for me.
0:32:28 > 0:32:30I'm going to be saving quite a bit by the looks of it.
0:32:30 > 0:32:33- Thank you.- I mean, you just need to buck your ideas up and see what's
0:32:33 > 0:32:35around you and make the most of it.
0:32:36 > 0:32:40Another £120 a year back in the coffers.
0:32:40 > 0:32:42Great work, Simon.
0:32:45 > 0:32:47But it's not just money that Angela is after.
0:32:47 > 0:32:51There is another reason why she needs to get her finances in order.
0:32:51 > 0:32:54She may be fit and healthy now, but 11 years ago,
0:32:54 > 0:32:56it was a very different story.
0:32:56 > 0:32:59I just got a sudden pain in my head.
0:33:00 > 0:33:03But it was like no other pain that I can describe.
0:33:05 > 0:33:07Totally out of nowhere?
0:33:07 > 0:33:08Just out of nowhere.
0:33:08 > 0:33:11I just kept saying, "My head hurts, my head hurts."
0:33:13 > 0:33:16And I was projectile vomiting, hallucinating.
0:33:16 > 0:33:19Then I was diagnosed with a brain haemorrhage.
0:33:19 > 0:33:21One of the consequences of Angela's illness
0:33:21 > 0:33:25is that she's been unable to get any life insurance cover.
0:33:25 > 0:33:28It's something that has haunted her ever since,
0:33:28 > 0:33:30especially with a young son to think about.
0:33:32 > 0:33:36I want to be able to leave him something to set him up a good life, should anything happen to me.
0:33:36 > 0:33:40I have gone through maybe five or six companies, and I've had the same result from everybody.
0:33:40 > 0:33:43- And what do they say?- I'm just a high risk, they won't cover me.
0:33:45 > 0:33:47Simon has arranged for Angela and Toby
0:33:47 > 0:33:51to spend some quality time together while he sees if he can find her
0:33:51 > 0:33:53the life insurance cover she needs.
0:33:53 > 0:33:55I'll see you when you come down.
0:33:55 > 0:33:57- Hopefully, we'll have some good news.- Thank you.
0:34:00 > 0:34:03There are lots of factors that affect the cost of life insurance -
0:34:03 > 0:34:07age, health, what your job is and if you smoke.
0:34:07 > 0:34:08Come on.
0:34:09 > 0:34:11Because of Angela's brain haemorrhage,
0:34:11 > 0:34:15she's in the high-risk category, so Simon's got his work cut out
0:34:15 > 0:34:18getting an insurance company to even consider her.
0:34:18 > 0:34:19Let's see how he's got on.
0:34:23 > 0:34:25I searched online and you're absolutely right,
0:34:25 > 0:34:29most life insurers just say no. They're just not interested.
0:34:29 > 0:34:33So I went to an online broker and I put in your details there.
0:34:33 > 0:34:36I then had a chat with them and I've got some good news.
0:34:36 > 0:34:40Two firms they spoke to said they would cover you.
0:34:40 > 0:34:41Brilliant.
0:34:41 > 0:34:42Great news.
0:34:42 > 0:34:46But with her medical history, will the premiums be too high?
0:34:46 > 0:34:49The standard policy for you, for £100,000 cover,
0:34:49 > 0:34:53would only be about £15 a month, IF you had no medical history.
0:34:53 > 0:34:57Given your history, that would make it between £30 and £45 a month.
0:34:57 > 0:35:00Now, with all the money we've saved you from your food
0:35:00 > 0:35:03and the other things, I think this is really affordable.
0:35:03 > 0:35:04What do you think?
0:35:04 > 0:35:07I think that's brilliant. It's excellent, yeah.
0:35:07 > 0:35:08Thank you.
0:35:10 > 0:35:14Although Simon's aim has always been to save Angela money,
0:35:14 > 0:35:19this time he's also bought her peace of mind, and that's priceless.
0:35:19 > 0:35:22But Simon's work isn't done just yet.
0:35:22 > 0:35:23For his final savings push
0:35:23 > 0:35:27he's tackling her biggest financial commitment -
0:35:27 > 0:35:28the mortgage.
0:35:29 > 0:35:30Like 98% of us,
0:35:30 > 0:35:35Angela hasn't bothered to negotiate a better deal with her lender,
0:35:35 > 0:35:37or look for one elsewhere.
0:35:37 > 0:35:39Part of the problem is you're quite comfortable at the moment.
0:35:39 > 0:35:41You think, "Why change things?"
0:35:41 > 0:35:44I've been with the same people now for over four years.
0:35:44 > 0:35:47And would you be happy about making the change, changing your lender?
0:35:47 > 0:35:49Definitely. If it saves me money, yeah.
0:35:51 > 0:35:54Angela is currently forking out £446 a month
0:35:54 > 0:35:58to pay off her mortgage over the next 26 years.
0:36:00 > 0:36:03Simon has arranged a meeting with mortgage expert Paul
0:36:03 > 0:36:05to see if there's a better deal out there.
0:36:05 > 0:36:09You pay about 450 a month at the moment.
0:36:09 > 0:36:15We can drop those payments down potentially to anywhere around 375.
0:36:15 > 0:36:17£375 a month.
0:36:17 > 0:36:18OK.
0:36:20 > 0:36:23Straight away, Angela could save £75 off her mortgage
0:36:23 > 0:36:26by switching to a different lender.
0:36:26 > 0:36:30But even better, if she was to pay off her mortgage a few years sooner,
0:36:30 > 0:36:33her savings could be staggering.
0:36:33 > 0:36:37If I'm being sensible, and if I'm looking to the future, then I know
0:36:37 > 0:36:41that I need to decrease the length of time I have the mortgage.
0:36:41 > 0:36:44So if we drop the term down even further to 20 years,
0:36:44 > 0:36:46the payments are about £430.
0:36:46 > 0:36:49So a little saving on what you're paying now, but you've shaved...
0:36:49 > 0:36:52- Six years off. - Yeah, over five years.
0:36:52 > 0:36:55So that's incredible, you'd save five years of repayments.
0:36:55 > 0:36:57That's five years of extra interest,
0:36:57 > 0:37:00and you're still cheaper than what you're paying right now.
0:37:02 > 0:37:04By switching to this new deal,
0:37:04 > 0:37:09Angela could be mortgage-free nearly six years earlier than she thought,
0:37:09 > 0:37:12and the savings on those repayments and interest would be a staggering
0:37:12 > 0:37:15£31,000.
0:37:15 > 0:37:18Yes, you heard it right, 31 grand.
0:37:18 > 0:37:22Simon's money-saving marathon couldn't have ended better,
0:37:22 > 0:37:25but it's made Angela wish she'd looked into all this sooner.
0:37:25 > 0:37:28It makes me think that I've wasted so much money.
0:37:28 > 0:37:30In fact, I have. It's not...
0:37:30 > 0:37:32I have, definitely, haven't I?
0:37:32 > 0:37:35Well, it's never too late to put that right, Angela.
0:37:35 > 0:37:37Lovely to have you here.
0:37:37 > 0:37:40- All the best, good luck. - Take care. Bye.
0:37:42 > 0:37:44Let's tot up just how much of a difference all of this
0:37:44 > 0:37:47could make to her finances.
0:37:47 > 0:37:52By switching her energy provider, Angela could save £306.
0:37:52 > 0:37:54And by signing up with a different bank,
0:37:54 > 0:37:58she'll have another £150 in the coffers.
0:37:58 > 0:38:02Add £120 saving on that boiler protection scheme
0:38:02 > 0:38:05and the £3,000 she could save by planning her shopping better.
0:38:05 > 0:38:10But the biggest and most amazing saving of all,
0:38:10 > 0:38:12£31,000 on the mortgage.
0:38:12 > 0:38:17That's a grand total of £34,576.
0:38:17 > 0:38:21Come on, Angela. Put your feet up. You deserve it.
0:38:21 > 0:38:24It's going to be quite a life-changing experience.
0:38:24 > 0:38:27I'd say the best bit is what I've learned about my mortgage.
0:38:27 > 0:38:29That is a massive relief.
0:38:29 > 0:38:31So we saved quite a bit, haven't we, son?
0:38:31 > 0:38:32Aye, you can buy us a new car.
0:38:41 > 0:38:44Angela, nearly six years off your mortgage.
0:38:44 > 0:38:47I mean, what difference has that made to you?
0:38:47 > 0:38:49Quite a lot actually.
0:38:49 > 0:38:52It's given me the ability to retire earlier, if I want to.
0:38:54 > 0:38:56That's been quite a worry that I've had for some time.
0:38:56 > 0:38:58It would take me well over 70.
0:38:58 > 0:39:02So, now, I've got the option to retire at 65 if I want to.
0:39:02 > 0:39:05- That's brilliant.- I think a lot of people watching will be
0:39:05 > 0:39:08in a similar situation to you. Very hard-working, perhaps didn't have
0:39:08 > 0:39:11the time to update their finances and look at them.
0:39:11 > 0:39:12I think you'll be an inspiration.
0:39:12 > 0:39:15People will think, if Angela can knock six years off her mortgage,
0:39:15 > 0:39:16I could probably do the same.
0:39:16 > 0:39:18I think there's a possibility for anybody to do it.
0:39:18 > 0:39:20You've just got to not do what I do
0:39:20 > 0:39:23- and sit back and just accept what's given to you.- Yeah.
0:39:23 > 0:39:25Start researching and finding out
0:39:25 > 0:39:27that there are better things there for you.
0:39:27 > 0:39:31You've actually gone above what we actually recommended to you?
0:39:31 > 0:39:34I have, yeah. Recently, I had a renewal for car insurance.
0:39:34 > 0:39:36What I would normally do is just say, OK,
0:39:36 > 0:39:39is there anyway of getting this down a bit?
0:39:39 > 0:39:41And they say, maybe, £10 or £20.
0:39:41 > 0:39:44So I decided to put some time aside, sat and researched it,
0:39:44 > 0:39:47and actually saved myself about £160.
0:39:47 > 0:39:50It sounds to me like you are really taking ownership of things
0:39:50 > 0:39:53and you've got a renewed confidence and spirit about you.
0:39:53 > 0:39:54Yeah, there is, definitely.
0:39:54 > 0:39:56I do feel like I'm more in control of my finances.
0:39:56 > 0:39:59I feel like I'm confident enough to go out and say,
0:39:59 > 0:40:03"That seems a little bit too much so, maybe, it is a little bit too much."
0:40:03 > 0:40:05Angie, you were spending more on food than London Zoo was
0:40:05 > 0:40:08on feeding the animals! Has that changed?
0:40:08 > 0:40:09Yes, it has.
0:40:09 > 0:40:11Since we started doing this,
0:40:11 > 0:40:14I've started breaking my shopping down and maybe going twice a week.
0:40:15 > 0:40:19I don't think I've thrown anything away since my original...
0:40:19 > 0:40:20- Less waste?- Yeah.
0:40:20 > 0:40:23How much do you think you're managing to save?
0:40:23 > 0:40:25I don't buy the things I bought before.
0:40:25 > 0:40:27Rather than prepacked, I'm getting...
0:40:27 > 0:40:29I've always got fresh stuff but rather than prepacked,
0:40:29 > 0:40:31now I'm buying it separate.
0:40:31 > 0:40:33I'm taking it out of the bags, I'm storing it correctly.
0:40:33 > 0:40:35I'm prepping big bowls of salad.
0:40:35 > 0:40:40I'm getting meat in bulk and chopping it down and bagging it up.
0:40:40 > 0:40:43So I think I must have saved £150 on food, easy.
0:40:43 > 0:40:46- A month?- That's great. That's really good.- Yeah.
0:40:46 > 0:40:47Now, Angie, you're not to be happy with me,
0:40:47 > 0:40:50because a little birdie told me that you thought you'd get
0:40:50 > 0:40:53a water meter installed to save on your bills.
0:40:53 > 0:40:55But when you went outside, you already had one!
0:40:55 > 0:40:58- I did, yeah.- You didn't know whether you was coming or going, did you?
0:40:58 > 0:41:01- At that point?- No. But that just shows you that I wasn't really
0:41:01 > 0:41:03in control of everything, doesn't it?
0:41:03 > 0:41:05It shows that I was just accepting things as they are.
0:41:05 > 0:41:07I just glided along and let things happen.
0:41:07 > 0:41:12As long as it was paid and I was managing it, I was happy with it.
0:41:12 > 0:41:14But not any more, not any more.
0:41:14 > 0:41:15- You're a lot happier now, aren't you?- Yeah.
0:41:15 > 0:41:18Your son Toby's a good lad, isn't he? You're very proud, aren't you?
0:41:18 > 0:41:22- Very.- I can tell that. Has he seen a big change in you?
0:41:22 > 0:41:24I think so, yeah. Because I'm a little bit more content
0:41:24 > 0:41:27with my finances and I have made some savings,
0:41:27 > 0:41:30there isn't the urgency to go out and work so much
0:41:30 > 0:41:32to bring more money in. So I'm feeling a bit more relaxed
0:41:32 > 0:41:35and I've stayed home little bit more than normal.
0:41:35 > 0:41:37So, I'm around more for him.
0:41:37 > 0:41:39It sounds like you've really changed your life.
0:41:39 > 0:41:41Moving forward, do you think you can stick to the advice
0:41:41 > 0:41:44- that Simon has given you? - Definitely. Definitely.
0:41:44 > 0:41:46This sounds like it was the wake-up call you needed.
0:41:46 > 0:41:48It was the kick up the backside I needed.
0:41:48 > 0:41:50- That's putting it politely!- Yeah.
0:41:50 > 0:41:54It's been good, it's changed a lot of things at home for me.
0:41:54 > 0:41:57Thanks for coming on the programme, and send our regards to Toby.
0:41:57 > 0:42:00If you fancy one of our experts popping round to sort out your
0:42:00 > 0:42:01finances, like Angela did,
0:42:01 > 0:42:05send us an e-mail at...
0:42:05 > 0:42:08And here are some tips on how you can balance those books.
0:42:11 > 0:42:15Our website has everything you need to sort out your spending.
0:42:15 > 0:42:17We've teamed up with the Money Advice Service
0:42:17 > 0:42:20to bring you easy-to-use money-saving tools
0:42:20 > 0:42:24to plan your budget, calculate the cost of your car or credit cards
0:42:24 > 0:42:27and give your money a complete health check.
0:42:27 > 0:42:32Download them at...
0:42:32 > 0:42:35Where you can also take our interactive spending test
0:42:35 > 0:42:38and you'll find plenty more tips and advice
0:42:38 > 0:42:40to keep your finances on track.
0:42:44 > 0:42:46Andy Webb's back with us and we've got some questions for him
0:42:46 > 0:42:48from the good people of Leeds we've met today.
0:42:48 > 0:42:51Kim would like to open a savings account for her child
0:42:51 > 0:42:53and wants to know what are her best options?
0:42:53 > 0:42:58This is a great way to get your kids involved with money and thinking about saving, and, hopefully,
0:42:58 > 0:43:00get that habit in place for when they get older.
0:43:00 > 0:43:01There's a few options.
0:43:01 > 0:43:02So, a Junior ISA,
0:43:02 > 0:43:04that's going to be locked until they're 18.
0:43:04 > 0:43:07When they turn 18, they're going to get all that cash
0:43:07 > 0:43:09but that's a good way of building up some money.
0:43:09 > 0:43:12If they want access to it, you think you'll teach them to save
0:43:12 > 0:43:15up for this toy or whatever and they put money in and want to get it out,
0:43:15 > 0:43:17look for something with more access.
0:43:17 > 0:43:20You want to get the best interest rate you can, so hunt around for that.
0:43:20 > 0:43:22You can also - this is a bit more out there -
0:43:22 > 0:43:24but you can even start a pension for your kid.
0:43:24 > 0:43:28Obviously, they're not going to get it until they're retired but think about how long,
0:43:28 > 0:43:33if they're five now, they get it when they're 65, that's 60 years that money is going to be growing.
0:43:33 > 0:43:34A bit different, but could be an option.
0:43:34 > 0:43:38Now, Joanna asks, when taking out life insurance,
0:43:38 > 0:43:42she says it's much more expensive if she adds a critical illness cover
0:43:42 > 0:43:44and wants to know, does she really need it?
0:43:44 > 0:43:47Critical illness cover, you'll get a lump sum pay-out if you, maybe,
0:43:47 > 0:43:51can't work because of an illness, such as some kinds of cancer,
0:43:51 > 0:43:54or maybe having a stroke, stops you earning money.
0:43:54 > 0:43:57This isn't going to be for everyone, but say you're the sole breadwinner,
0:43:57 > 0:43:59you don't have any savings to back you up,
0:43:59 > 0:44:02it's worth thinking about, what would you do in that situation?
0:44:02 > 0:44:05But everyone's got a different set of circumstances,
0:44:05 > 0:44:08so this is somewhere I'd recommend talking to a financial adviser and
0:44:08 > 0:44:10getting something that works for you and your family.
0:44:10 > 0:44:12Thanks, Andy. That's it from us today.
0:44:12 > 0:44:15Thanks to all our guests and to you for watching us.
0:44:15 > 0:44:17We'll be back soon with more money-saving tips,
0:44:17 > 0:44:19- so, until then, cheerio.- Bye-bye.