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 > 0:00:13So we've found simple advice for you to do just that and taken it to
0:00:13 > 0:00:15people right across the UK.
0:00:15 > 0:00:19Whatever help you need with your finances, we are Right On The Money.
0:00:22 > 0:00:25Hello and welcome to Right On The Money.
0:00:25 > 0:00:28The show that's here to save you some serious cash.
0:00:28 > 0:00:30And we take the job of giving you some seriously good advice,
0:00:30 > 0:00:32well, seriously.
0:00:32 > 0:00:35Seriously. Here's what's coming up on today's programme.
0:00:36 > 0:00:40We help one big-spending mum tackle her shopping habit.
0:00:40 > 0:00:41And there's no hiding,
0:00:41 > 0:00:45as our expert discovers the extent of her bulk buying.
0:00:45 > 0:00:47How many teabags in here? There's millions!
0:00:47 > 0:00:51- It was only 1,100.- You're not having 1,100 friends around, are you?- No!
0:00:51 > 0:00:55And one year on we find out just how much difference
0:00:55 > 0:00:57our money makeovers have made.
0:00:57 > 0:01:01Right On The Money has changed my life, it's changed our lives.
0:01:01 > 0:01:03I can't thank the programme enough, to be honest.
0:01:06 > 0:01:09We all like to indulge ourselves now and again
0:01:09 > 0:01:12but forking out for all those little treats adds up.
0:01:12 > 0:01:14That's certainly the case for one woman we meet
0:01:14 > 0:01:16who just loves to spend.
0:01:20 > 0:01:2430-year-old Nikki Richards from London has a lot on her plate.
0:01:24 > 0:01:27Not only is she bringing up her two children, Nickain and Numaya,
0:01:27 > 0:01:31but she's also holding down a demanding job with a major bank.
0:01:33 > 0:01:36My job is an extremely busy role.
0:01:36 > 0:01:39It consists of me travelling all over the world.
0:01:39 > 0:01:42So I could be... This week, I could be in America.
0:01:42 > 0:01:43Next week I could be in Poland.
0:01:43 > 0:01:47And then I could be anywhere they send me over the globe.
0:01:47 > 0:01:49Lovely!
0:01:49 > 0:01:50It takes
0:01:50 > 0:01:54super supportive family members like my mum, my nan.
0:01:54 > 0:01:57They literally do so much when it comes to, like,
0:01:57 > 0:02:00the childcare and all that sort of stuff.
0:02:00 > 0:02:01Welcome to Right On The Money!
0:02:01 > 0:02:03Who want to get money?
0:02:03 > 0:02:05Oi, you! That's my job.
0:02:07 > 0:02:09To make life just that little bit busier,
0:02:09 > 0:02:12Nikki's also preparing to marry chef Anton,
0:02:12 > 0:02:16who'll be moving over from Jamaica after the wedding.
0:02:16 > 0:02:19When he asked me to marry him I was crying and I was, like,
0:02:19 > 0:02:20"Yes, of course I'll marry you."
0:02:20 > 0:02:22Like, I can't actually see myself without him now.
0:02:22 > 0:02:27Like, the kids love him and it is like he's been there forever.
0:02:27 > 0:02:32So it's like a true, like, Romeo and Juliet kind of story.
0:02:32 > 0:02:35Hey, babe, you all right?
0:02:35 > 0:02:36Yeah, I'm good.
0:02:38 > 0:02:40Once Nikki and Anton have tied the knot
0:02:40 > 0:02:42they'll settle in Nikki's London house.
0:02:42 > 0:02:45So she's got the builders in to get it ready.
0:02:45 > 0:02:49Nikki earns a good salary but wants to spend more wisely.
0:02:49 > 0:02:51Particularly as her bills for beauty treatments,
0:02:51 > 0:02:55lunch parties, and even designer cakes are beginning to add up.
0:02:55 > 0:03:00She wants a financially friction-free start to married life.
0:03:00 > 0:03:03I'd say that I'm always outside of the box.
0:03:03 > 0:03:07I do what I want to do when I want to do it, how I want to do it.
0:03:08 > 0:03:11I will say Anton's spending is like the total opposite to mine.
0:03:11 > 0:03:16So he's very money conscious, he's very like,
0:03:16 > 0:03:20"Babe, do we really need this? Babe, can we get this cheaper?"
0:03:20 > 0:03:23Babe, it sounds like Anton can't get here soon enough.
0:03:23 > 0:03:26But, in the meantime, we've got the next best thing.
0:03:27 > 0:03:30Personal finance expert Simon Reed.
0:03:30 > 0:03:32He's on hand to rein in Nikki's spending
0:03:32 > 0:03:36and set the couple up for a secure financial future.
0:03:37 > 0:03:40Hi, I'm Simon. Hi, Simon, I'm Nikki.
0:03:40 > 0:03:41- Great to meet you.- Thank you.
0:03:41 > 0:03:42- Come on in.- Brilliant.
0:03:46 > 0:03:49So, Nikki, tell me about your spending habits.
0:03:49 > 0:03:51What do you like to spend your money on?
0:03:52 > 0:03:54I think I do a lot of beauty treatments.
0:03:54 > 0:03:57- OK.- So I have to have my hair done regularly.
0:03:57 > 0:04:03- Yeah.- So I would say I spend roughly about £200...
0:04:03 > 0:04:05- A time?- A month.
0:04:05 > 0:04:06Oh. A month.
0:04:06 > 0:04:09Phew! I thought Simon was going to have a turn there!
0:04:09 > 0:04:10I'm into healthy treatments.
0:04:10 > 0:04:13- Yep. - So I do other healthy treatments
0:04:13 > 0:04:15and then I'd get my nails done.
0:04:15 > 0:04:18- Right.- Which would be about £60 a month as well.
0:04:20 > 0:04:23If Nikki looked after her finances like she looks after her appearance
0:04:23 > 0:04:25there'd be no problem at all.
0:04:25 > 0:04:29Simon's been adding up how much all these treatments are costing.
0:04:29 > 0:04:31So, in total, we're talking about...
0:04:31 > 0:04:33Your hair's about 200 a month,
0:04:33 > 0:04:35the other treatments are another £200 a month,
0:04:35 > 0:04:38plus your nails at another £60 a month.
0:04:38 > 0:04:41Yeah, it's rough... About 460.
0:04:41 > 0:04:43OK. So we need to think about this.
0:04:43 > 0:04:45We need to think about ways to cut these costs
0:04:45 > 0:04:48- because you want the money... - Yeah.- ..for other things, don't you?
0:04:48 > 0:04:50- For more important things.- Yeah.
0:04:50 > 0:04:52And there's more.
0:04:52 > 0:04:54Nikki also has a personal trainer.
0:04:54 > 0:04:56And to say a big thank you to her family
0:04:56 > 0:04:58for helping out with the childcare,
0:04:58 > 0:05:00she likes to treat them to restaurant meals
0:05:00 > 0:05:03and regularly splashes out on designer cakes for family dos.
0:05:03 > 0:05:07It's very generous but very expensive.
0:05:07 > 0:05:11How much are we talking about your spending on...
0:05:11 > 0:05:14So probably between £1,000 to £1,200 a year.
0:05:15 > 0:05:16How much?
0:05:16 > 0:05:18Crumbs!
0:05:18 > 0:05:21I've got some pictures on my phone that I can show you.
0:05:22 > 0:05:23OK. Well, do you know what?
0:05:23 > 0:05:26It's lovely to have cakes in celebration - we all do it -
0:05:26 > 0:05:30but not all of us spend £1,200 a year on cakes.
0:05:30 > 0:05:32Yeah. That is my guilty pleasure.
0:05:32 > 0:05:35I think we have to look at this expenditure.
0:05:35 > 0:05:36Because you need to save money,
0:05:36 > 0:05:38and spending £1,200 a year on cakes
0:05:38 > 0:05:42- is not necessarily the best use of your money, in my view.- Cool.
0:05:42 > 0:05:46But before Simon takes a slice out of Nikki's cake bill,
0:05:46 > 0:05:50he wants to see what's going on with the rest of her grocery shopping.
0:05:50 > 0:05:52It turns out she's buying way too much
0:05:52 > 0:05:56and has converted the cupboard under the stairs
0:05:56 > 0:05:58into an emergency larder.
0:05:58 > 0:05:59Crikey! What's all this?
0:06:01 > 0:06:03- What is all this stuff? - All right, well you got...
0:06:03 > 0:06:06- That's the tea bags.- You got enough... How many teabags in here?
0:06:06 > 0:06:10- There's millions!- It was only 1,100 to start off with.- 1,100 teabags?
0:06:10 > 0:06:13- Yeah. - Why have you got so many tea bags?
0:06:13 > 0:06:16Just so that I don't have to buy any.
0:06:16 > 0:06:18People have tea, so we have tea quite often.
0:06:18 > 0:06:21You're not having 1,100 friends around, are you?
0:06:21 > 0:06:23- No!- No! You don't need all those.
0:06:23 > 0:06:25What are all these cans?
0:06:25 > 0:06:28- Soups.- How often do you have tinned soup?
0:06:28 > 0:06:31Not that often, but just in case I fancy a bit of soup,
0:06:31 > 0:06:35- then I've got soup there. - What are you expecting?
0:06:35 > 0:06:36A nuclear war?
0:06:38 > 0:06:41I think we need to go and talk about this.
0:06:41 > 0:06:45Let's just go and have a cup of tea, talk about your shopping habits.
0:06:45 > 0:06:50Good plan, Simon. Two tea bags down, 1,098 to go.
0:06:50 > 0:06:51What sort of planning do you do?
0:06:51 > 0:06:53I don't do any. I just...
0:06:53 > 0:06:56Sometimes, like, if I'm doing something in the kitchen
0:06:56 > 0:06:57and I'm using something and I'm, like,
0:06:57 > 0:06:59"Oh, I've got none of that left",
0:06:59 > 0:07:02and then I go in the cupboard and then I see there's none of it,
0:07:02 > 0:07:05and then the next time I go online I'll order, like, five.
0:07:05 > 0:07:09And I think I have an issue with ordering just one.
0:07:09 > 0:07:14Like soap powder lasts a long time and I never order one.
0:07:14 > 0:07:15Quantity is always...
0:07:16 > 0:07:17..three plus.
0:07:18 > 0:07:21Understandably, Nikki doesn't want the house
0:07:21 > 0:07:23to run short when she's away
0:07:23 > 0:07:25but Simon's got a simple solution.
0:07:25 > 0:07:28I think, for starters, you need to do a stock take.
0:07:28 > 0:07:32- OK?- Yeah. - That means taking everything out.
0:07:32 > 0:07:35And then... And then just have a list on the door.
0:07:35 > 0:07:38OK? So you can see the things that you've got in there.
0:07:38 > 0:07:42And then when you use them, if you use them, you just cross it off.
0:07:42 > 0:07:45So then when you come to the end of the soups
0:07:45 > 0:07:48which, I must admit, I don't think it's going to be this century,
0:07:50 > 0:07:52you think, "Right, now I need to buy some more soups."
0:07:52 > 0:07:54- Yeah.- Or not, as the case may be.
0:07:54 > 0:07:56And I reckon you'll get your shopping down, I don't know,
0:07:56 > 0:07:59- as much as half, maybe.- Yeah.
0:07:59 > 0:08:04Great plan. If Nikki can put into place some of Simon's advice
0:08:04 > 0:08:07she could reduce her shopping bill by £1,800.
0:08:07 > 0:08:09And Simon is only just warming up.
0:08:11 > 0:08:14So, Nikki, we brought you to one of your favourite places where you
0:08:14 > 0:08:17spent an awful lot of time and an awful lot of money.
0:08:17 > 0:08:21- Yeah.- It's a lovely salon, but we're not going to talk about beauty.
0:08:21 > 0:08:24We're not going to talk about any of the treatments you normally have.
0:08:24 > 0:08:27We're going to talk about some of your household bills,
0:08:27 > 0:08:29where I think you're paying too much.
0:08:29 > 0:08:31OK.
0:08:31 > 0:08:33At over £91 a month,
0:08:33 > 0:08:36Simon thinks Nikki is paying way over the odds
0:08:36 > 0:08:37for her electricity and gas.
0:08:37 > 0:08:42Now you've been in your home for roughly a decade now, is that right?
0:08:42 > 0:08:45- Yeah, yeah.- And how many times have you changed energy supplier?
0:08:45 > 0:08:46Oh, I know that answer. Zero.
0:08:46 > 0:08:48- Never?- Never.- Why have you never changed plan?
0:08:48 > 0:08:51Do you know what, I just get so bogged down with two children,
0:08:51 > 0:08:52- you know, day-to-day life.- OK.
0:08:52 > 0:08:53You've got lots of other things to do.
0:08:53 > 0:08:55- Yeah.- Of course you have.
0:08:55 > 0:08:58With kids and work travel it's no surprise that
0:08:58 > 0:09:01Nikki hasn't kept on top of her bills.
0:09:01 > 0:09:02And she's not alone.
0:09:02 > 0:09:0745% of us can't remember ever switching energy suppliers.
0:09:07 > 0:09:11If you're one of them, with over 40 different providers out there,
0:09:11 > 0:09:15it's likely there's a better deal waiting for you right now.
0:09:15 > 0:09:17Go onto a reputable comparison website
0:09:17 > 0:09:20and you can start saving like our Nikki.
0:09:20 > 0:09:23I can bring your monthly bill down to £67.58.
0:09:23 > 0:09:25That's just over £24 a month...
0:09:25 > 0:09:29Wow. That works out at roughly £300 a year saving.
0:09:30 > 0:09:32So what could you do with £300 a year extra?
0:09:32 > 0:09:34That could go towards the wedding.
0:09:34 > 0:09:36- That's good news. - That is a great start.
0:09:38 > 0:09:41So that's an easy saving of £300 a year
0:09:41 > 0:09:43but Simon might have a tougher task
0:09:43 > 0:09:46persuading Nikki to change her beauty regime.
0:09:46 > 0:09:50So, Nikki, I know you like to spend an absolute fortune on looking good
0:09:50 > 0:09:51and looking great and that's fine,
0:09:51 > 0:09:53but I think I found a way
0:09:53 > 0:09:56that you can have all your treatments
0:09:56 > 0:09:58but at a fraction of the cost.
0:09:58 > 0:10:00- Are you intrigued?- Yes, I am.
0:10:00 > 0:10:03- Well, let's go and find out more, shall we?- OK, let's go.
0:10:05 > 0:10:07Nikki needs to look smart for work
0:10:07 > 0:10:10but can Simon suggest a way to keep up appearances
0:10:10 > 0:10:12and keep down the cost?
0:10:12 > 0:10:16He's brought Nikki to her local beauty training academy
0:10:16 > 0:10:17to meet the boss, Lorraine.
0:10:17 > 0:10:21Tell Lorraine about what you have every week, every month.
0:10:21 > 0:10:24OK, so I'll get my nails done every two weeks.
0:10:26 > 0:10:28I'd get a pedicure monthly.
0:10:29 > 0:10:35I have waxing, all that body wax, probably monthly, every six weeks.
0:10:35 > 0:10:38We do live in an age where everybody's body conscious.
0:10:38 > 0:10:40We all want to look younger for longer,
0:10:40 > 0:10:42people want to feel good.
0:10:42 > 0:10:43It's very relaxing, isn't it?
0:10:43 > 0:10:47I'm loving this, but, you know, it comes at a price, doesn't it?
0:10:47 > 0:10:48It does.
0:10:49 > 0:10:52Lorraine's students need models to practise on.
0:10:52 > 0:10:55In return, they offer manicures, pedicures, waxing,
0:10:55 > 0:10:58and other treatments at a fraction of the high street price.
0:11:00 > 0:11:04On average, our costing is done on a ratio roughly of 10%
0:11:04 > 0:11:07of what you would pay in the high street.
0:11:07 > 0:11:11So we just cover our cost, so if you had a head of highlights at £150,
0:11:11 > 0:11:14which is about the commercial rate, you pay 15 here.
0:11:14 > 0:11:17- How much?- 15.
0:11:17 > 0:11:19So it's a 10% ratio.
0:11:19 > 0:11:23- No way!- And the thing is, you see, it's a win-win situation,
0:11:23 > 0:11:28because we need models to come for our students to be assessed.
0:11:28 > 0:11:31Now that's what I call a real savings highlight.
0:11:31 > 0:11:34People are often deterred from coming to a training academy
0:11:34 > 0:11:38because they think of learners in training.
0:11:38 > 0:11:39And I can understand that.
0:11:39 > 0:11:42But all of the students are all either working
0:11:42 > 0:11:44as apprentices in salons
0:11:44 > 0:11:48and training, or they are doing work experience.
0:11:48 > 0:11:49So you get quality, basically.
0:11:49 > 0:11:52- Always.- Cos that would be my worry, like,
0:11:52 > 0:11:54I want to get the best service ever.
0:11:54 > 0:11:56Of course.
0:11:56 > 0:12:00You're getting your first-class treatment at a greatly reduced cost.
0:12:02 > 0:12:03Well, that's put a gloss on it.
0:12:03 > 0:12:07So how much can Nikki save if she starts using the academy
0:12:07 > 0:12:08for her manicures?
0:12:08 > 0:12:10Hmm, so, if you were to come here,
0:12:10 > 0:12:12do you think you would be happy to do that?
0:12:12 > 0:12:14Are you getting a good manicure there?
0:12:14 > 0:12:16Yeah, it's really good, actually.
0:12:16 > 0:12:18- Doing a great job.- So, you know,
0:12:18 > 0:12:22it would reduce the cost per month from £90-100
0:12:22 > 0:12:25to just nine or £10 a month.
0:12:25 > 0:12:28- Nine or £10 a month? - Nine or £10 a month.
0:12:28 > 0:12:31So that's a saving of around £90 a month.
0:12:31 > 0:12:33That's unbelievable. Wow! Oh, my God!
0:12:33 > 0:12:35I can save so much money.
0:12:35 > 0:12:39If Nikki went to the academy for her manicures and pedicures,
0:12:39 > 0:12:43she could save a massive £960 a year.
0:12:43 > 0:12:45But Simon's not finished yet.
0:12:46 > 0:12:52In part two, Nikki's going to need all her stamina to keep up.
0:12:52 > 0:12:53Go on, Nick!
0:12:56 > 0:12:58And we'll be catching up with Nikki later on
0:12:58 > 0:13:01to see if she's managed to curb that spending in time for that wedding.
0:13:01 > 0:13:03Dom, I think little Nickain is after your job, you know?
0:13:03 > 0:13:06Yeah, so do I, I'm slightly worried here, Denise.
0:13:06 > 0:13:08Well, joining me now are the editor of Moneywise magazine,
0:13:08 > 0:13:12Moira O'Neill, along with psychology professor Katrina Morrison.
0:13:12 > 0:13:14- Morning, ladies.- Morning.
0:13:14 > 0:13:17Now that cupboard under Nikki's stairs was full of bulk purchases.
0:13:17 > 0:13:18Why do people do that?
0:13:18 > 0:13:21It's a very natural human instinct to bulk buy,
0:13:21 > 0:13:24because you don't know what's around the corner.
0:13:24 > 0:13:25When you live in times of plenty,
0:13:25 > 0:13:27and you want to store things up so that,
0:13:27 > 0:13:30you know, if times get more lean, then you can be prepared for it.
0:13:30 > 0:13:31Moira, by shopping online,
0:13:31 > 0:13:34you'd think you'd avoid being tempted by bargains,
0:13:34 > 0:13:35but that's not the case, is it?
0:13:35 > 0:13:37No, it's not at all.
0:13:37 > 0:13:38I mean, online shopping,
0:13:38 > 0:13:43we've almost got as much temptation at our fingertips
0:13:43 > 0:13:45as we do going into supermarkets.
0:13:45 > 0:13:50And companies work very, very hard to tempt us with special offers,
0:13:50 > 0:13:54and they can target us by gathering information
0:13:54 > 0:13:57about our browsing history online and what we like looking at,
0:13:57 > 0:13:58and they can find out,
0:13:58 > 0:14:01build up a picture of us and then entice us with...
0:14:02 > 0:14:05..goods that they think we want to buy.
0:14:05 > 0:14:07Katrina, Nikki has a job where she has to dress very smart.
0:14:07 > 0:14:10Do you think women feel under more pressure than men
0:14:10 > 0:14:11in that department?
0:14:11 > 0:14:13Yes, I'm sure that women do.
0:14:13 > 0:14:16There's a very interesting tale of two Australian newsreaders.
0:14:16 > 0:14:18You've got a man and a woman.
0:14:18 > 0:14:20The woman was regularly being trolled and criticised
0:14:20 > 0:14:23for what she was wearing, particularly if they found her...
0:14:23 > 0:14:25saw her wearing the same outfit twice.
0:14:25 > 0:14:28So the man decided he was going to do a little experiment
0:14:28 > 0:14:31and he was going to wear the same suit on TV every day for a year,
0:14:31 > 0:14:33which he did, and nobody noticed.
0:14:33 > 0:14:36And so this is a very interesting example
0:14:36 > 0:14:38of how women are in the spotlight,
0:14:38 > 0:14:41and feeling the need, then, to keep up appearances.
0:14:41 > 0:14:44And I guess retailers really exploit that, don't they?
0:14:44 > 0:14:47Of course they do. And if you look at the layout of shops, for example,
0:14:47 > 0:14:49then the shops are designed to bring women in.
0:14:49 > 0:14:52They will offer the bargains at the front of the store
0:14:52 > 0:14:54to draw you in and then you're enticed to find out
0:14:54 > 0:14:55what's in the rest of the store,
0:14:55 > 0:14:59but the women's clothes are always the most prominent in the shop.
0:14:59 > 0:15:01What would you say to back that, Moira?
0:15:01 > 0:15:04Well, I think you need to think about how you can use your wardrobe
0:15:04 > 0:15:09wisely. Can you buy an accessory that will jazz up an outfit to make
0:15:09 > 0:15:12it look different, even though it's something that's quite classic?
0:15:12 > 0:15:14Katrina, Moira, thank you.
0:15:14 > 0:15:18- Really interesting stuff.- Thanks. Now, we're well on the way to saving
0:15:18 > 0:15:21Nikki thousands of pounds by curbing her spending habits.
0:15:21 > 0:15:24But how easy is it to stay on track? Well, to find out, we've caught up
0:15:24 > 0:15:28with some of the people our experts visited in our last series.
0:15:28 > 0:15:30So 12 months after their money makeovers,
0:15:30 > 0:15:33have our families fallen back into bad habits?
0:15:35 > 0:15:36Exactly one year ago,
0:15:36 > 0:15:40these people all asked for our help to tackle their money worries.
0:15:41 > 0:15:44First up, retired police officer Carol Owen,
0:15:44 > 0:15:48who was desperate to solve the mystery of her disappearing bank balance.
0:15:48 > 0:15:53The chief suspects - teenage daughter Catherine and pampered pooch Stanley.
0:15:53 > 0:15:58So we sent in money expert Sarah Pennells to try and crack the case.
0:15:58 > 0:15:59Hello, you must be Carol.
0:15:59 > 0:16:01- Yeah, hello.- I'm Sarah.- Nice to meet you.- Really nice to meet you.
0:16:01 > 0:16:05- Come in.- Despite having a decent pension,
0:16:05 > 0:16:07Carol was struggling to make ends meet.
0:16:07 > 0:16:12When I look at my statements, at the end of the month,
0:16:12 > 0:16:13I find it ridiculous, really,
0:16:13 > 0:16:18that I've got a good amount of money coming in, but every single penny
0:16:18 > 0:16:20seems to go out, as well.
0:16:20 > 0:16:22But in no time at all,
0:16:22 > 0:16:26Sarah started to identify where all that missing cash was heading.
0:16:26 > 0:16:29Pet insurance every month is about £67.
0:16:29 > 0:16:32OK. That's quite a lot.
0:16:32 > 0:16:33It's quite a lot.
0:16:33 > 0:16:35Bless him.
0:16:35 > 0:16:40Sarah soon found a deal to halve that bill and save an impressive £400 a year.
0:16:40 > 0:16:43I think that's fantastic for pet insurance.
0:16:43 > 0:16:47One year on, and it's not just the pet insurance that has got Carol
0:16:47 > 0:16:52- shopping around.- We took on board all of the advice we were given.
0:16:52 > 0:16:55I've recently been renewing house and car insurance.
0:16:56 > 0:17:00I did a lot of research before that, so I've got some good deals.
0:17:00 > 0:17:03When Sarah met Carol, she was struggling to find the money
0:17:03 > 0:17:05for daughter Catherine's dream prom dress.
0:17:05 > 0:17:09Sarah suggested cutting back on so many treats for the teen.
0:17:09 > 0:17:13So did Cinderella manage to go to the ball?
0:17:13 > 0:17:18We managed to save enough to pay for a prom dress to be made,
0:17:18 > 0:17:21which was beautiful and it fitted her perfectly.
0:17:21 > 0:17:22She looked like a princess.
0:17:22 > 0:17:28- Had a great night.- It was just everything I wanted, to be fair, I loved it.
0:17:28 > 0:17:32But it was Carol's costly car finance deal that was putting the
0:17:32 > 0:17:34greatest strain on her purse strings.
0:17:34 > 0:17:41Sarah found a way that she could hand the car back and save an incredible £11,000.
0:17:41 > 0:17:46She also recommended buying a second-hand motor using a bank loan and not a finance deal.
0:17:46 > 0:17:51I've paid off the loan that I had when I bought it,
0:17:51 > 0:17:55so I've got nothing owing on the car now at all, which is a huge saving.
0:17:56 > 0:17:57Good work, Carol!
0:17:57 > 0:17:59You deserve a treat.
0:17:59 > 0:18:01And that's exactly what she's planning.
0:18:01 > 0:18:04With all the money she saved, she's booked a summer holiday -
0:18:04 > 0:18:06on a budget of course.
0:18:06 > 0:18:08I've got it for cheaper than I ever thought possible,
0:18:08 > 0:18:10just because I looked.
0:18:10 > 0:18:14Right On The Money has changed my life, has changed our lives.
0:18:14 > 0:18:17I can't thank the programme enough, to be honest.
0:18:17 > 0:18:21One year on, and a lot has changed for Ted and Kristine Penlington too.
0:18:21 > 0:18:25When we last met the couple, they dreamed of extending their house,
0:18:25 > 0:18:27but couldn't find the funds.
0:18:27 > 0:18:30Once again, it was Sarah to the rescue.
0:18:30 > 0:18:32We bought this house about three years ago.
0:18:32 > 0:18:36We want to extend it, because it's not big enough for the dogs and us.
0:18:36 > 0:18:38The kitchen is so small.
0:18:38 > 0:18:40I mean, as you can see, I can't put anything in it.
0:18:40 > 0:18:43A lot of the family come round at weekends and you get the two dogs,
0:18:43 > 0:18:45and then everybody's, like, falling over each other,
0:18:45 > 0:18:47there's just nowhere to go.
0:18:47 > 0:18:49Sarah began by tackling the household bills,
0:18:49 > 0:18:51kicking off with their energy provider.
0:18:51 > 0:18:58The most that you can save if you switch is about £286.29
0:18:58 > 0:19:02- a year, which is...- Yeah.- ..not to be sniffed at, really.
0:19:02 > 0:19:03No, it isn't, actually.
0:19:03 > 0:19:07A woman on a mission - next up was their phone and broadband.
0:19:07 > 0:19:12It's £18.50 a month, so that's going to save you about £200.
0:19:12 > 0:19:16Sarah also gave trucker Ted some food for thought over the amount of
0:19:16 > 0:19:19cash he was spending on meals on the road.
0:19:19 > 0:19:22She worked out if he took home-cooked meals with him instead,
0:19:22 > 0:19:25he could save a whopping £1,500 a year.
0:19:25 > 0:19:27So the idea here, Ted,
0:19:27 > 0:19:31is that you plan ahead and that you know exactly what you're going to be
0:19:31 > 0:19:34taking out on the road with you every day.
0:19:34 > 0:19:38And since last year, Ted and Kristine have done just that,
0:19:38 > 0:19:40saving bags of money.
0:19:40 > 0:19:44Sometimes I take curries and pea soups, and she gets me them lamb shanks...
0:19:44 > 0:19:46- Lamb shanks.- Just stick them in a bag, warm them up,
0:19:46 > 0:19:49put them in the fridge and then reheat them in the cab.
0:19:49 > 0:19:52But the big question is, are all those meals being cooked
0:19:52 > 0:19:55in the new kitchen the couple wanted so much?
0:19:55 > 0:19:5812 months ago, Ted was desperate to cash in his private pensions
0:19:58 > 0:20:01to free up enough money to fund the work.
0:20:01 > 0:20:04But the paperwork was proving difficult.
0:20:04 > 0:20:06Just gobbledygook, it's not English.
0:20:06 > 0:20:09It's just not understandable at all.
0:20:09 > 0:20:13So Sarah called in reinforcements in the shape of pensions expert
0:20:13 > 0:20:18- Alan Higham.- Ted, Kristine, this is Alan.- Hello, Kristine. - Hello, Alan.
0:20:18 > 0:20:22And we're delighted to say that with Alan and Sarah's help,
0:20:22 > 0:20:25Ted has finally cashed in his private pensions.
0:20:26 > 0:20:30But was it enough to build them that new extension?
0:20:30 > 0:20:33Since we've done the programme, we built the extension.
0:20:35 > 0:20:36We've had new windows, new door.
0:20:36 > 0:20:41Extending the bathroom, extending the end bedroom, and the kitchen is...
0:20:41 > 0:20:44I think it's the best of the lot of them.
0:20:44 > 0:20:45It's really good, so...
0:20:45 > 0:20:48- Everything's doubled, hasn't it? - Yeah, everything's doubled in size.
0:20:48 > 0:20:51It's a family gathering, I think, every weekend now.
0:20:51 > 0:20:54The family loves it, and so do the dogs.
0:20:54 > 0:20:56Sit! We were tripping over them.
0:20:56 > 0:20:58You haven't got that now.
0:20:58 > 0:21:00With his pensions now sorted,
0:21:00 > 0:21:03Ted now plans to give up work within the next six months and the couple
0:21:03 > 0:21:06are looking forward to a happy retirement.
0:21:07 > 0:21:14The team works out everything, with the pension, and with the advice.
0:21:14 > 0:21:16They worked it out brilliant, right on the money.
0:21:16 > 0:21:19It's a great result all round.
0:21:19 > 0:21:22- Clever boy.- A year ago,
0:21:22 > 0:21:26we also helped boost the bank balance of paramedic Angela Ord,
0:21:26 > 0:21:31who had such a busy home- and work-life that she was really struggling with her finances.
0:21:31 > 0:21:34To be truthful, I don't understand finances.
0:21:34 > 0:21:37I don't know if it's laziness, or if it's just lack of knowledge,
0:21:37 > 0:21:39or lack of interest.
0:21:39 > 0:21:41There's more important things for me to do.
0:21:41 > 0:21:44The way I see it is, if I want more money, I do overtime.
0:21:44 > 0:21:46That's how I cover the costs of things.
0:21:49 > 0:21:50- Angela?- Yes, it is.
0:21:50 > 0:21:52- Hello.- Hi. I'm Simon. Nice to meet you.
0:21:52 > 0:21:56We sent in Simon Read to administer some financial first aid.
0:21:56 > 0:22:00What if I told you that if you spent four hours looking at your
0:22:00 > 0:22:04finances, you could save yourself £1,000 a year?
0:22:05 > 0:22:10Wouldn't that be preferable to doing 70 hours of extra work?
0:22:10 > 0:22:11Yeah, definitely.
0:22:11 > 0:22:14Show me how to do it.
0:22:14 > 0:22:16And that's exactly what Simon did.
0:22:16 > 0:22:19Helping her cut down on food bills, bank charges,
0:22:19 > 0:22:22and to find a better energy deal.
0:22:22 > 0:22:27You could probably save £306 a year, which is roughly about £25,
0:22:27 > 0:22:29£26 a month.
0:22:29 > 0:22:32You need to just buck your ideas up and see what's around you and make
0:22:32 > 0:22:37- the most of it.- But Simon also wanted to help Angela cut down on her overtime,
0:22:37 > 0:22:39so she could spend more time with her son, Toby,
0:22:39 > 0:22:43which is why he brought in mortgage expert Paul Dorward to have a look
0:22:43 > 0:22:45at her biggest monthly expense.
0:22:45 > 0:22:49So if we drop the term down even further, to 20 years,
0:22:49 > 0:22:51the payments are about £430.
0:22:51 > 0:22:54So, a little saving on what you pay now, but you've shaved...
0:22:54 > 0:22:56- Yeah, over five years. - So, that's incredible.
0:22:56 > 0:23:01You'd save five years of repayments, that's five years extra interest,
0:23:01 > 0:23:04and it's still cheaper than what you're paying right now.
0:23:04 > 0:23:06Paying at the moment, yeah.
0:23:06 > 0:23:11By switching deals, we've saved Angela a staggering £31,000 and,
0:23:11 > 0:23:17even better, it meant she could retire five years earlier than she'd planned.
0:23:17 > 0:23:18It was all about work before.
0:23:18 > 0:23:20That's all it was.
0:23:20 > 0:23:22How many overtimes can I get in?
0:23:22 > 0:23:24How many hours can I fit in?
0:23:24 > 0:23:27How much more money can I earn to have a better standard of living?
0:23:27 > 0:23:30Whereas, now, I'm managing
0:23:30 > 0:23:32without the overtime.
0:23:32 > 0:23:35And that means more time and energy for Toby.
0:23:35 > 0:23:37We spend more time together.
0:23:37 > 0:23:40We go and do cinema and stuff like that.
0:23:40 > 0:23:42It's made us a lot closer.
0:23:42 > 0:23:44- Two, one...- Go!
0:23:44 > 0:23:46She's also got a new hobby.
0:23:47 > 0:23:50Because of the show and the money I've saved,
0:23:50 > 0:23:54it's allowed me to join the gym and change the lifestyle that I had
0:23:54 > 0:23:57to a much healthier, better lifestyle.
0:23:57 > 0:23:59I think it's safe to say that I'm happier...
0:23:59 > 0:24:00Go, Angela!
0:24:00 > 0:24:04..more content, more relaxed.
0:24:04 > 0:24:06The biggest thing for me was my mortgage.
0:24:06 > 0:24:09Last two. You can do it, Angela. Come on.
0:24:09 > 0:24:15I'm now not just a paramedic and a mum, I'm actually me,
0:24:15 > 0:24:17as an individual, and I've got a bit of a life.
0:24:17 > 0:24:20And Angela has another reason to be happy.
0:24:20 > 0:24:25My personal life's changed...loads.
0:24:25 > 0:24:28I've got really positive friends that I've met from the gym.
0:24:28 > 0:24:32I've met a nice man at the gym and the future looks good.
0:24:34 > 0:24:37She's also set herself a new goal -
0:24:37 > 0:24:41tackling a lifelong ambition to climb Mount Kilimanjaro,
0:24:41 > 0:24:46so far raising over £7,000 for a brain injury charity in the process.
0:24:46 > 0:24:51On September 16th, I will attempt to climb Kilimanjaro, which...
0:24:51 > 0:24:54hopefully, the gym has put me in good stead for
0:24:54 > 0:24:57and I'll be stood at the top of that summit.
0:24:57 > 0:25:03And we're all hoping that Angela will reach the dizzy heights she's aiming for. Nice work, Angela.
0:25:07 > 0:25:11And, joining me now is Angela for a lovely cup of tea and a chinwag.
0:25:11 > 0:25:13I've got to say, a lot has changed in the last year, hasn't it?
0:25:13 > 0:25:18It has. Up until last year, I was just settling for everything and,
0:25:18 > 0:25:21you know, being loyal to people that I thought I were comfortable with.
0:25:21 > 0:25:23You're talking about companies there, aren't you,
0:25:23 > 0:25:26- when you're not shopping around? - Yeah, I didn't shop around.
0:25:26 > 0:25:28No, it's misplaced loyalty, isn't it?
0:25:28 > 0:25:34So, I would definitely say, "Look after your own pocket."
0:25:34 > 0:25:37Money doesn't make everything better, but it gives you more choices.
0:25:37 > 0:25:40So, by having a bit more money, I can make different choices,
0:25:40 > 0:25:42to do different things.
0:25:42 > 0:25:44I decided to take Toby on holiday,
0:25:44 > 0:25:47and we went to the travel agents,
0:25:47 > 0:25:50and every price that were coming back was far too expensive.
0:25:50 > 0:25:53I just feasibly couldn't afford it at all.
0:25:53 > 0:25:58We were just leaving the shopping centre and we were just passing the
0:25:58 > 0:26:00cruise shop. And she just said, "You know,
0:26:00 > 0:26:02"there's a cruise just come up as a special offer."
0:26:02 > 0:26:05It was a one week, all-inclusive cruise round the Med.
0:26:05 > 0:26:08- Wow!- For 599 each.
0:26:08 > 0:26:09When we got there, it was just amazing.
0:26:09 > 0:26:13The room was brilliant, and I could not believe I'd got it for £600.
0:26:13 > 0:26:15It was absolutely amazing.
0:26:15 > 0:26:17It were brilliant. It was a really, really good holiday.
0:26:17 > 0:26:19- Did Toby enjoy it?- He loved it.
0:26:19 > 0:26:22That's got to be one of the best bargains I've had for a holiday...
0:26:22 > 0:26:24- Yeah, that is.- ..with the best outcome.
0:26:24 > 0:26:26That is. I'm quite envious actually.
0:26:26 > 0:26:29Angela, I've got to say, it's absolutely amazing seeing you again.
0:26:29 > 0:26:31You're looking wonderful, you've lost weight,
0:26:31 > 0:26:32you've joined the gym, you've got a fella,
0:26:32 > 0:26:35you've saved money, you've been on cheap holidays.
0:26:35 > 0:26:38Toby's happy, you're happy, you've got a great big smile on your face.
0:26:38 > 0:26:41- It couldn't get much better, could it?- No.- Good luck for the future. - Thank you.
0:26:41 > 0:26:43See if you can beat that one, Denise.
0:26:46 > 0:26:51Well, I'll certainly have a go, Dom, with the help of a very savvy guest.
0:26:51 > 0:26:53Have a cauli with Wally, there now.
0:26:55 > 0:26:58Well, another familiar face back from last series is my favourite travel expert
0:26:58 > 0:27:01Simon Calder. I want to talk summer holidays.
0:27:01 > 0:27:04- Yes.- Is it too late to get a deal?
0:27:04 > 0:27:05It's going to be very, very tricky,
0:27:05 > 0:27:09particularly if you are flying from an English airport,
0:27:09 > 0:27:14or a Welsh airport, to Spain, Portugal, Italy, Croatia, Greece.
0:27:14 > 0:27:19And that's because there is so much demand going into those places.
0:27:19 > 0:27:23Prices are going through the roof, but there are things you can do.
0:27:23 > 0:27:25Tell us, what can you do at this stage?
0:27:25 > 0:27:28If you're in the north of England, and you think,
0:27:28 > 0:27:32"Love a holiday," just wait till the second half of August.
0:27:32 > 0:27:37In Glasgow, for instance, the schools all go back on the 15th of August,
0:27:37 > 0:27:38which means, guess what?
0:27:38 > 0:27:41Prices from Glasgow Airport, from Edinburgh,
0:27:41 > 0:27:45sink at the same time they're going through the roof from Manchester and
0:27:45 > 0:27:48Leeds-Bradford and Newcastle and so on.
0:27:48 > 0:27:53So, just taking yourself north in order to fly south can save you hundreds
0:27:53 > 0:27:55of pounds if you're a family.
0:27:55 > 0:27:58And, if I wanted to book somewhere tomorrow,
0:27:58 > 0:27:59what would your suggestion be?
0:27:59 > 0:28:02Look east. That's where you're going to get the value.
0:28:02 > 0:28:07I reckon, one of the greatest beach destinations in the summer
0:28:07 > 0:28:09is Poland.
0:28:09 > 0:28:10Nobody seems to want to go there.
0:28:10 > 0:28:14- Really?- Oh, absolutely! The Baltic Coast. Have a look!
0:28:14 > 0:28:20It's pure hundreds and hundreds and hundreds of miles of just golden sands.
0:28:20 > 0:28:24But over the German border, all these places which I can't begin to pronounce -
0:28:24 > 0:28:27they look like really bad hands at Scrabble -
0:28:27 > 0:28:30but it's well worth seeking them out.
0:28:30 > 0:28:32Have a look at a guidebook. Pick out your favourite resort.
0:28:32 > 0:28:34Top tips again, Simon.
0:28:34 > 0:28:36Let's see if we can go and help the people of Stockport.
0:28:36 > 0:28:38Oh, OK. Right. Let's go and meet them.
0:28:39 > 0:28:42How much in advance do you book your currency and where do you buy from?
0:28:42 > 0:28:44Ooh. I tend to go wherever's closest, really.
0:28:44 > 0:28:47I mean... Where did I get it from last time?
0:28:47 > 0:28:49- I think we just went to a bureau in the centre of town.- Oh!
0:28:49 > 0:28:52- Is this not what you want to hear? - No, it's not what he wants to hear.
0:28:52 > 0:28:57Anything like that, which is an exotic currency, so the Hungarian forint,
0:28:57 > 0:29:01the Polish zloty, all those currencies, do not get them here in future, please,
0:29:01 > 0:29:04because you will find you get a terrible rate.
0:29:04 > 0:29:08Just take sterling notes. They've got loads of bureaux de change
0:29:08 > 0:29:11in all those places and just shop around and get the best deal there.
0:29:11 > 0:29:15We're going down to south Wales for £58.
0:29:15 > 0:29:18- What, all of you?- Return. And we're taking her cousin as well.
0:29:18 > 0:29:20- No!- Very nice.- On the train? - Yeah, on the train.
0:29:20 > 0:29:24That's fantastic. You must have booked that eight years ago.
0:29:24 > 0:29:27Maybe not quite that, but I always try for the maximum.
0:29:27 > 0:29:31- Cuba. I'm going to Cuba this year. - What have you done about your holiday money, for example?
0:29:31 > 0:29:33- Do it on a card, basically. I use my card.- No.
0:29:33 > 0:29:36They don't do cards in Cuba.
0:29:36 > 0:29:39You're going to need to change some money into local pesos.
0:29:39 > 0:29:42So, if you don't have local money, then you're basically just going to
0:29:42 > 0:29:46be ripped off, because you're going to pay 20 times what you need to.
0:29:46 > 0:29:48Enjoy your beverages, ladies.
0:29:48 > 0:29:52- So nice to talk to you. - It was nice to meet you.
0:29:54 > 0:29:57Earlier on, we met high-flying supermum Nikki,
0:29:57 > 0:30:00who loved treat herself and her family.
0:30:00 > 0:30:02So, can we rein in that spending in time for her wedding?
0:30:06 > 0:30:10Nikki Richards has a job with a bank that takes her all over the world,
0:30:10 > 0:30:14two children and an imminent wedding to her Jamaican fiance, Anton,
0:30:14 > 0:30:16to manage. It's no wonder
0:30:16 > 0:30:20thinking about her spending habits sometimes takes a back seat.
0:30:20 > 0:30:23You are aware that our wedding is in less than three weeks, right?
0:30:23 > 0:30:26- Yeah.- Listen, you're just too relaxed, babe, like!
0:30:26 > 0:30:27SHE LAUGHS
0:30:27 > 0:30:31Personal finance expert Simon Reid has already freed up
0:30:31 > 0:30:33some of Nikki's hard-earned cash,
0:30:33 > 0:30:37by cutting back on her grocery bills and beauty treatments.
0:30:37 > 0:30:39So, it would reduce the cost per month
0:30:39 > 0:30:41from £90-£100
0:30:41 > 0:30:43to just £9 or £10 a month.
0:30:43 > 0:30:46That's unbelievable! I could save so much money.
0:30:48 > 0:30:51But there's still plenty for Simon to do,
0:30:51 > 0:30:55because Nikki's just gone and splashed out on a lavish hen do,
0:30:55 > 0:30:57complete with a pricey designer cake.
0:30:57 > 0:31:00And now she's ready to get financially fit
0:31:00 > 0:31:01in time for her wedding.
0:31:01 > 0:31:03Push your legs out to the floor.
0:31:03 > 0:31:07Nikki's hired personal trainer Chigs for regular workouts.
0:31:07 > 0:31:09And while Nikki's busy burning the calories,
0:31:09 > 0:31:12Simon's back to see if he can stop her burning cash.
0:31:16 > 0:31:19So, tell me about these personal training sessions.
0:31:19 > 0:31:21Firstly, what are they for?
0:31:21 > 0:31:23With the wedding coming up, I wanted to be superfit,
0:31:23 > 0:31:25- fit into my wedding dress, you know? - Of course.
0:31:25 > 0:31:28So, I booked three months' sessions
0:31:28 > 0:31:30- with him, for about £1,000.- Yeah.
0:31:30 > 0:31:32And then that was supposed to be it.
0:31:32 > 0:31:36And now I'm considering, after the wedding, to maybe continue.
0:31:36 > 0:31:39It's an awful lot of money, Nikki. It's an awful lot money.
0:31:39 > 0:31:42So what I'm going to suggest to you is some ways to carry on with this
0:31:42 > 0:31:45fitness programme, but saving a bit of money in the process.
0:31:45 > 0:31:46We should all keep fit.
0:31:46 > 0:31:50So, Simon, what's the trick to doing it without breaking the bank?
0:31:50 > 0:31:53What I'd like you to consider is swapping your real personal trainer
0:31:53 > 0:31:56for an online personal trainer.
0:31:56 > 0:31:59Now, I know it sounds a bit odd but, you go online now,
0:31:59 > 0:32:01you can get actual programmes - personalised programmes -
0:32:01 > 0:32:04and they can all be for free.
0:32:04 > 0:32:05Top advice, Simon.
0:32:05 > 0:32:08Most personal trainers charge around £30 an hour,
0:32:08 > 0:32:10but there are plenty of apps and computer games
0:32:10 > 0:32:14that can give you a fitness plan for a lot less, or even free.
0:32:15 > 0:32:17I think the virtual personal trainer's good.
0:32:17 > 0:32:19I could actually dig up an old games console that I have,
0:32:19 > 0:32:22because that has a virtual trainer on that, and I can do it
0:32:22 > 0:32:24- in the comfort of my own home, especially with the kids.- Yes.
0:32:24 > 0:32:26- You need to be self motivated to do it.- Oh, yeah.
0:32:26 > 0:32:29- You've got that in you, haven't you? - I have, yeah.
0:32:29 > 0:32:33If Nikki swaps half of her sessions for a virtual version,
0:32:33 > 0:32:35she gets the best of both worlds
0:32:35 > 0:32:38and could save £166 a month.
0:32:39 > 0:32:42- All that's saving you money, really, that's my plan.- Yeah.
0:32:42 > 0:32:44And keeping you as fit and healthy as you are now.
0:32:44 > 0:32:46I'm starting to like you now!
0:32:48 > 0:32:51After that workout, it's not surprising that Nikki's
0:32:51 > 0:32:53feeling a little peckish.
0:32:53 > 0:32:55- Lobster, prawns. Squid.- Lobster.
0:32:55 > 0:32:59- Yeah, I love lobster. - That's why I've got no money.
0:32:59 > 0:33:01Simon's called her family together
0:33:01 > 0:33:03at their favourite Italian restaurant.
0:33:03 > 0:33:05Well, wasn't that a lovely meal?
0:33:05 > 0:33:07- It was, yeah. - I've really enjoyed it.
0:33:07 > 0:33:09That's fantastic.
0:33:09 > 0:33:12With her mum, grandma and best friend Tiffany gathered,
0:33:12 > 0:33:16Simon's determined to get to the bottom of Nikki's attitude to cash.
0:33:19 > 0:33:22I want you to tell me the truth
0:33:22 > 0:33:24about what kind of spender Nikki is.
0:33:24 > 0:33:26- She's impulsive.- Impulsive.
0:33:26 > 0:33:28If she sees something, she wants it, she gets it.
0:33:28 > 0:33:31- Price doesn't really...- Price doesn't...- No, it's not going to
0:33:31 > 0:33:33- be a factor.- Doesn't really think about it.- Not at all.
0:33:33 > 0:33:36I think she spends more on her children than she does on
0:33:36 > 0:33:39herself, to be fair.
0:33:39 > 0:33:42But Nikki does spend
0:33:42 > 0:33:43not wisely at all.
0:33:43 > 0:33:45What would you say to that?
0:33:45 > 0:33:47I think they're telling the truth, to be fair.
0:33:47 > 0:33:49Normally, I'm always in a rush.
0:33:49 > 0:33:52So, if I want something, I just want it now.
0:33:52 > 0:33:54SHE LAUGHS
0:33:54 > 0:33:57Generous Nikki's carefree spending -
0:33:57 > 0:33:59particularly when it comes to her kids -
0:33:59 > 0:34:01means she doesn't take advantage
0:34:01 > 0:34:03of easy saving opportunities.
0:34:03 > 0:34:06Last time you went to an Italian chain restaurant...
0:34:06 > 0:34:08- Yes?!- I've had a look at your spending.
0:34:08 > 0:34:12You spent something like £89.75.
0:34:12 > 0:34:14You've got a huge project in your house.
0:34:14 > 0:34:17You need a lot of money. So, you actually need to think about
0:34:17 > 0:34:19the way you spend money.
0:34:19 > 0:34:23And there's a super easy way to cut your spending on dining out.
0:34:23 > 0:34:26Most major restaurant chains offer regular deals, which are published
0:34:26 > 0:34:29on their websites. You can print out vouchers
0:34:29 > 0:34:32offering two-for-one meals and even free meals for the kids.
0:34:32 > 0:34:35Next time you're eating out, check online for offers.
0:34:35 > 0:34:38You might be in for some tasty savings.
0:34:38 > 0:34:40You spent £89.75.
0:34:40 > 0:34:42- If you'd used the voucher...- Yeah.
0:34:42 > 0:34:44OK, that meal would have cost you...
0:34:45 > 0:34:48£67.35.
0:34:48 > 0:34:51- Wow!- If you did that every time you went out,
0:34:51 > 0:34:52you'd save £20-odd.
0:34:52 > 0:34:55- You'd start saving hundreds of pounds, wouldn't you?- Yeah.
0:34:55 > 0:34:57Simply using restaurant vouchers
0:34:57 > 0:35:01could save Nikki around £2,160 a year,
0:35:01 > 0:35:05and still allow her to be a super generous host.
0:35:05 > 0:35:07- With that in mind, would you do it? - Yes! Yes!
0:35:09 > 0:35:10So, that's the main course done.
0:35:10 > 0:35:11What's for pud?
0:35:13 > 0:35:17Earlier on, Nikki confessed she likes to spend big on designer cakes
0:35:17 > 0:35:18for family celebrations.
0:35:18 > 0:35:22It's her way of saying thank you for all the childcare help she gets.
0:35:22 > 0:35:25So, Simon sent her to meet cake decorator Collette
0:35:25 > 0:35:27for a crash course in sugar sculpture.
0:35:27 > 0:35:30But first they want to talk money.
0:35:30 > 0:35:33How much do you actually spend on your cakes?
0:35:33 > 0:35:38On average, I think it's about £150 to £200 per cake.
0:35:38 > 0:35:41And I normally buy, like, birthday cakes.
0:35:41 > 0:35:44And then we've got Easter, Christmas...
0:35:44 > 0:35:48And everything else. So, probably around six or seven cakes a year.
0:35:48 > 0:35:52- Wow.- At average £150 to £200. - Wow! That is quite a bit, Nikki.
0:35:52 > 0:35:54- It is.- But, today, what I'm going to do is actually
0:35:54 > 0:35:56show you how to save some money.
0:35:56 > 0:35:58- OK! That's good!- By making your own cakes!
0:35:58 > 0:36:02- Oh, God!- Honestly, it's a lot easier than it actually looks.
0:36:02 > 0:36:05- OK.- And you're going to join in as well.- Am I?- Yes, you are!
0:36:05 > 0:36:08We've got a nice, lovely chocolate cake that I made, prepared already.
0:36:08 > 0:36:11- Yeah. And it smells lovely, I must say.- Thank you so much.
0:36:11 > 0:36:13A recent survey of mothers
0:36:13 > 0:36:18found that just 8% baked birthday cakes for their families.
0:36:18 > 0:36:19I am not very creative.
0:36:19 > 0:36:22- I'm not very good!- That's fine. Just give it your best shot.
0:36:22 > 0:36:27At £200 a pop, Nikki's annual spend on cakes is £1,200.
0:36:27 > 0:36:30But she won't have to fork out nearly that much
0:36:30 > 0:36:32once Collette's through with her.
0:36:32 > 0:36:34I'm a pro!
0:36:34 > 0:36:36- My husband to be, he's a chef. - Is he?
0:36:36 > 0:36:38He bakes all the time.
0:36:38 > 0:36:40- Amazing!- He actually tells me off
0:36:40 > 0:36:43for spending so much money on cakes
0:36:43 > 0:36:47and all that kind of stuff. Cos he does say, you know, we can make it.
0:36:47 > 0:36:48Absolutely.
0:36:48 > 0:36:52That's good to know. Sounds like a good catch, our Anton.
0:36:52 > 0:36:53And after just 45 minutes,
0:36:53 > 0:36:56Nikki's ready to reveal her first designer cake.
0:36:56 > 0:36:59And that's your completed cake.
0:36:59 > 0:37:02- Yes!- At a fraction of the price.
0:37:02 > 0:37:05Fantastic job, Nikki! Well done.
0:37:05 > 0:37:08- I thought it wouldn't look, like, as good as it does.- Yeah.
0:37:08 > 0:37:11But it actually does look like you can purchase it from the shop.
0:37:11 > 0:37:13- Absolutely.- It looks really professional.
0:37:13 > 0:37:16Do you have any idea how much that cake actually cost to make?
0:37:16 > 0:37:19Maybe around...£90?
0:37:19 > 0:37:22- Go a bit lower.- 70?
0:37:22 > 0:37:24Go a bit lower than that.
0:37:24 > 0:37:2550?
0:37:25 > 0:37:29To be honest, it cost no more than £25...
0:37:29 > 0:37:31- Wow!- for the whole amount.
0:37:31 > 0:37:33Crikey! By switching to some home baking,
0:37:33 > 0:37:37it's not only her cakes that will rise, but her savings, too.
0:37:37 > 0:37:39Plus, there's the opportunity
0:37:39 > 0:37:42for a new activity for her to teach the kids.
0:37:42 > 0:37:44- I can see me doing it with the children...- Sure.
0:37:44 > 0:37:48At least twice a year, as opposed to, like, none, at the moment.
0:37:48 > 0:37:52If Nikki replaced just two of her designer shop-bought cakes with
0:37:52 > 0:37:56home-made ones, she could save £350 a year.
0:37:56 > 0:37:59That's a good slice.
0:37:59 > 0:38:01As Nikki's financial overhaul comes to an end,
0:38:01 > 0:38:04Simon has returned for a final heart-to-heart.
0:38:04 > 0:38:08So, Nikki, I've come to the end of my time with you.
0:38:08 > 0:38:12I wanted to ask how you're feeling about your financial future.
0:38:12 > 0:38:15I'm feeling really good, actually.
0:38:15 > 0:38:19You highlighted some areas that I didn't even think of, to be honest,
0:38:19 > 0:38:20like the beauty school.
0:38:20 > 0:38:22And I like the idea about the restaurant app,
0:38:22 > 0:38:25and just checking to find out about the deals and the vouchers.
0:38:25 > 0:38:27- So I'm really happy. Really excited.- Fantastic.
0:38:27 > 0:38:30And I'm glad you're so positive about the future.
0:38:30 > 0:38:33It's all about giving yourself the choice
0:38:33 > 0:38:35of having the money to spend on
0:38:35 > 0:38:39- what you want by not wasting it on other things.- Yeah.
0:38:39 > 0:38:42If Nikki put all of Simon's suggestions into place,
0:38:42 > 0:38:46she could save...
0:39:03 > 0:39:06..bringing her grand total
0:39:06 > 0:39:08of yearly savings
0:39:08 > 0:39:10to £7,562.
0:39:12 > 0:39:16I feel I could definitely have made wiser choices in the past.
0:39:16 > 0:39:20I have not been as wise as I could be with the money that I've had.
0:39:20 > 0:39:25So I will be changing that for the future.
0:39:26 > 0:39:29The dream home is now a reality.
0:39:29 > 0:39:31I'm really, really excited about
0:39:31 > 0:39:34what is next for me and the family.
0:39:41 > 0:39:45And Nikki has a very good reason for not being here in person.
0:39:45 > 0:39:48She's currently in Jamaica, four days into married life.
0:39:48 > 0:39:51But I'm pleased to say Nikki and her husband, Anton,
0:39:51 > 0:39:54have taken time out of their honeymoon to join us.
0:39:54 > 0:39:56Firstly, congratulations to the happy couple!
0:39:56 > 0:39:59- Thank you!- What's it like over there at the moment?
0:39:59 > 0:40:00I bet it's beautiful, is it?
0:40:00 > 0:40:03It's amazing, Dom, it's absolutely beautiful.
0:40:03 > 0:40:05The weather is great, it's hot.
0:40:05 > 0:40:08The beach is amazing.
0:40:08 > 0:40:11Anton, can I just say, when Nikki arrived,
0:40:11 > 0:40:14- did she have a suitcase full of tea bags?- Excuse me?
0:40:14 > 0:40:16Oh, she hasn't explained that yet, have you, Nikki?
0:40:18 > 0:40:19You're going to need to later!
0:40:21 > 0:40:23Nikki, you were keen to curb your spending habits,
0:40:23 > 0:40:25because you said Anton was a real saver.
0:40:25 > 0:40:28I ain't going to buy what I don't need.
0:40:28 > 0:40:31I guess this is why it was important to do the show,
0:40:31 > 0:40:34that you are both on the same page starting married life.
0:40:34 > 0:40:38Yes, I think it's very important. I think it's a wonderful thing.
0:40:38 > 0:40:41I've already implemented one of the things, and I've started to write
0:40:41 > 0:40:45things down instead of just going straight ahead and spending.
0:40:45 > 0:40:48And it's helping a lot.
0:40:48 > 0:40:49She's been doing great.
0:40:49 > 0:40:51What's the biggest lesson you've learned?
0:40:51 > 0:40:54I think planning is the biggest lesson,
0:40:54 > 0:40:57and especially starting married life,
0:40:57 > 0:41:00and we don't know what the future may bring.
0:41:00 > 0:41:03- If we're going to have an extended family...- Ooh!
0:41:03 > 0:41:05We need to make sure...
0:41:05 > 0:41:07- Ooh!- Aww!
0:41:07 > 0:41:10We need to make sure we're not wasting money, obviously,
0:41:10 > 0:41:13so it's important to plan ahead, I think.
0:41:13 > 0:41:15Will you keep up the good work from now on?
0:41:15 > 0:41:17Definitely. I haven't got a choice. He won't let me.
0:41:17 > 0:41:20I'll make sure that she does.
0:41:20 > 0:41:22I'll definitely make sure she does.
0:41:22 > 0:41:25Nikki, Anton, thanks very much and good luck with married life.
0:41:25 > 0:41:27- Thank you!- Good luck.
0:41:27 > 0:41:30- Cheers, guys.- See you.
0:41:30 > 0:41:32If you're looking for advice on how to curb your spending,
0:41:32 > 0:41:35or save up for a holiday or even a honeymoon, e-mail us...
0:41:38 > 0:41:40But if you're after some simple budgeting tips,
0:41:40 > 0:41:42here's a good place to start.
0:41:43 > 0:41:47Our website has everything you need to sort your spending.
0:41:47 > 0:41:51We've teamed up with the Money Advice Service to bring you
0:41:51 > 0:41:54easy-to-use money-saving tools to plan your budget,
0:41:54 > 0:41:57calculate the cost of your car or credit cards
0:41:57 > 0:42:00and give your money a complete health check.
0:42:00 > 0:42:02Download them...
0:42:09 > 0:42:12Travel expert Simon Calder has joined us again to answer questions
0:42:12 > 0:42:14from some of the people we've met today.
0:42:14 > 0:42:17Toby says his plane has been delayed for two hours,
0:42:17 > 0:42:19can he claim compensation?
0:42:19 > 0:42:23Sorry, Toby, if it had been three hours late arriving,
0:42:23 > 0:42:25and it was the airline's fault, well, yes,
0:42:25 > 0:42:29you could have claimed compensation under European rules.
0:42:29 > 0:42:33So long as you are flying from a European airport or on a European
0:42:33 > 0:42:35airline anywhere in the world.
0:42:35 > 0:42:37As it is, two hours late, I'm afraid,
0:42:37 > 0:42:40you might get a free cup of tea while you're waiting,
0:42:40 > 0:42:41but that's your lot.
0:42:41 > 0:42:42- Sorry, Toby.- Gary says,
0:42:42 > 0:42:45how can I save money on my mobile phone bill when I go abroad?
0:42:45 > 0:42:47We all want to know that one.
0:42:47 > 0:42:49Gary, don't take your mobile phone abroad!
0:42:49 > 0:42:52You can take it abroad if it's going in Europe,
0:42:52 > 0:42:56because last month they cleared away roaming charges.
0:42:56 > 0:42:59But if you're going to Turkey, Morocco,
0:42:59 > 0:43:02Florida, Dubai, be very afraid.
0:43:02 > 0:43:06And I make all my calls on things like Skype or FaceTime.
0:43:06 > 0:43:09Those enable you to communicate for nothing,
0:43:09 > 0:43:12- as long as you have found some Wi-Fi.- Margaret says,
0:43:12 > 0:43:15I regularly use the train to visit friends and family across the UK,
0:43:15 > 0:43:18but the train fares are getting more and more expensive.
0:43:18 > 0:43:20How can I get cheaper fares?
0:43:20 > 0:43:23- I agree with her.- Well, here's what you have got to do, Margaret.
0:43:23 > 0:43:25Plan in advance and be very flexible.
0:43:25 > 0:43:28Avoid those nasty peak-hour trains,
0:43:28 > 0:43:32and, of course, if you need to and fares aren't low enough,
0:43:32 > 0:43:34then go for split ticketing.
0:43:34 > 0:43:36That's where, for instance,
0:43:36 > 0:43:40I'm heading from Stockport to London on not one ticket,
0:43:40 > 0:43:43but a series of them, which will get me there for about £20, £30
0:43:43 > 0:43:46cheaper than the normal straight-through fare.
0:43:46 > 0:43:49I have a question from a certain Denise Lewis from Wolverhampton.
0:43:49 > 0:43:52I don't know whether you know her. What would you do if your passport
0:43:52 > 0:43:56has expired, and you've got 24 hours before you've to fly?
0:43:56 > 0:43:59Well, first of all, don't panic - that will do no good at all.
0:43:59 > 0:44:01Secondly, get onto the Passport Office.
0:44:01 > 0:44:04Sweet talk them and say, "I've really got to come in in the
0:44:04 > 0:44:07"morning, you've got to turn round my passport straightaway."
0:44:07 > 0:44:09If you're an adult, then you can do that.
0:44:09 > 0:44:14It's basically, well, almost double the normal passport price.
0:44:14 > 0:44:18If, however, it's a child, anybody under 16,
0:44:18 > 0:44:20I'm afraid that's going to be an awful lot tougher -
0:44:20 > 0:44:22you have to allow a week for it.
0:44:22 > 0:44:25- He's a wealth of knowledge, isn't he?- He's a guru.
0:44:25 > 0:44:27We love you, Simon. Some great advice there, Simon.
0:44:27 > 0:44:29Thank you very much, and thanks to all of our guests today,
0:44:29 > 0:44:31and of course to you at home, too.
0:44:31 > 0:44:34Hopefully you've picked up lots of money-saving tips.
0:44:34 > 0:44:36- Until the next time, bye-bye. - Cheerio.