0:00:03 > 0:00:05Whether you're a spender or a saver,
0:00:05 > 0:00:07we could all do with making 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
0:00:13 > 0:00:15to people 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 > 0:00:24Hello and welcome to Right On The Money,
0:00:24 > 0:00:26the show that tells you exactly how you can make
0:00:26 > 0:00:28your hard-earned cash go further.
0:00:28 > 0:00:32We certainly do, Dom, and the great thing about it is boosting your
0:00:32 > 0:00:35piggy bank couldn't be easier - so let's get on with it.
0:00:35 > 0:00:37Here's what's in store for you on today's show.
0:00:38 > 0:00:42With the cost of groceries on the rise, our money expert has a
0:00:42 > 0:00:46meltdown over one family's forgotten freezer stash.
0:00:46 > 0:00:50The freezer is just full of ice, it's absolutely bursting with food.
0:00:50 > 0:00:52It's going to have to be thrown away.
0:00:52 > 0:00:55That's the kind of stuff that almost makes me cry real tears,
0:00:55 > 0:00:56I have to say.
0:00:56 > 0:00:57Good boy!
0:00:57 > 0:01:00And welcome to the world of social pet-working.
0:01:00 > 0:01:04We meet the furry friends that are earning their own keep.
0:01:04 > 0:01:07I'm really amazed how by taking a few photos of my dog,
0:01:07 > 0:01:11it's turned into saving thousands of pounds every year.
0:01:14 > 0:01:16Now, when money's tight,
0:01:16 > 0:01:18more and more people turn to the bank of Mum and Dad
0:01:18 > 0:01:20to provide them with some extra help.
0:01:20 > 0:01:24But for one hard-working nurse, that cash has become a regular lifeline.
0:01:27 > 0:01:31Dionne from London has a demanding job as a community matron
0:01:31 > 0:01:35for the NHS, but when it comes to caring for her own finances,
0:01:35 > 0:01:36she's no pro.
0:01:37 > 0:01:41I do earn a couple of thousand a month, which is a good salary,
0:01:41 > 0:01:44but, yeah, I never seem to have enough.
0:01:44 > 0:01:48Sometimes I hand over my debit card and I'm like, "Please, just work,
0:01:48 > 0:01:51"just work. Don't say "been declined"."
0:01:51 > 0:01:55This hard-working mum lives with 13-year-old son Aidan.
0:01:55 > 0:01:59Despite being constantly in the red, Dionne is struggling
0:01:59 > 0:02:02to keep her charity shop spending habit under control.
0:02:02 > 0:02:05I'm systematically looking at every single item.
0:02:06 > 0:02:09I hope she'll be able to save a lot of money
0:02:09 > 0:02:12and not buy lots of jackets and clothes.
0:02:13 > 0:02:16Then we can have money to save for important things.
0:02:17 > 0:02:21Some months, Dionne's debts are so difficult to manage that,
0:02:21 > 0:02:25like so many people, she has to rely on her parents to see her through.
0:02:26 > 0:02:29My dad has dug me out of many a hole, financially,
0:02:29 > 0:02:32so he is a good support and he doesn't ask any questions.
0:02:32 > 0:02:37He will just say, "How much do you need?" and doesn't ask for it back.
0:02:37 > 0:02:41Still having to do that at the age of 38 has taken its toll on Dionne.
0:02:42 > 0:02:44I don't want to have to take their money, you know?
0:02:44 > 0:02:47They've looked after me my entire life and...
0:02:49 > 0:02:53..I do think it's unfair, and I would like to get out of debt,
0:02:53 > 0:02:55so then I wouldn't have to rely on them.
0:02:55 > 0:02:59Don't you worry, Dionne, it's never too late to put things right,
0:02:59 > 0:03:03and the person who can help with that is money expert Sarah Pennells.
0:03:03 > 0:03:04You're obviously really busy -
0:03:04 > 0:03:09you're doing this job you love and you're also raising your son, Aidan.
0:03:09 > 0:03:12But tell me about how you spend the money you have.
0:03:12 > 0:03:16I mean, I've never been particularly good with managing money.
0:03:16 > 0:03:20I mean, I pay my bills, but then after that,
0:03:20 > 0:03:24I don't really keep a check of whether I'll have enough
0:03:24 > 0:03:28to last me the rest of the month, which is a worry.
0:03:28 > 0:03:31Some months, I just, you know, counting the hours,
0:03:31 > 0:03:33keep looking on the calendar.
0:03:33 > 0:03:35How many more days have I got? How much more money have I got?
0:03:35 > 0:03:40Am I going to get through till I get paid again,
0:03:40 > 0:03:44or will I have to borrow some money?
0:03:46 > 0:03:48But, fortunately, there is one member of the household
0:03:48 > 0:03:52who's got his financial head screwed on - our Aidan.
0:03:52 > 0:03:55When I want to buy something, I save up.
0:03:55 > 0:03:59I don't buy anything else, unless I really, really want it right then.
0:04:00 > 0:04:04And then when I have enough money, I buy something I was saving up for.
0:04:04 > 0:04:06- He's got it sussed, hasn't he?- Yes.
0:04:07 > 0:04:12With two savvy spenders on her case, Dionne will soon be back on track.
0:04:12 > 0:04:15At the moment, we've got your money coming in,
0:04:15 > 0:04:18which is great, at the start of the month.
0:04:18 > 0:04:21And then we've got a bit of money going out.
0:04:21 > 0:04:23- Charity shop trip, perhaps.- Yeah...
0:04:23 > 0:04:26We've got the bills going out, and your food and your petrol.
0:04:28 > 0:04:29And see what happens?
0:04:30 > 0:04:35So, all we're going to try and do is just to show you some easy ways
0:04:35 > 0:04:39that you can spend a bit less,
0:04:39 > 0:04:42still feel like you're doing the things you want,
0:04:42 > 0:04:44but, gradually,
0:04:44 > 0:04:46bring your money back into balance.
0:04:46 > 0:04:47That would be really good.
0:04:48 > 0:04:51And Sarah is straight off the blocks, as she targets Dionne's
0:04:51 > 0:04:53phone and broadband package.
0:04:53 > 0:04:55You spend quite a lot at the moment.
0:04:55 > 0:04:57- Yes.- About £50 a month or so, isn't it?
0:04:57 > 0:04:58Yes, it is.
0:04:58 > 0:05:01Do you shop around regularly and do you look at whether
0:05:01 > 0:05:03you're using everything you're currently paying for?
0:05:03 > 0:05:05No and no.
0:05:05 > 0:05:06OK!
0:05:06 > 0:05:07No and no.
0:05:07 > 0:05:09I admire your honesty.
0:05:10 > 0:05:13I've just had a quick scoot around a couple of the comparison sites
0:05:13 > 0:05:15and I found for a similar package,
0:05:15 > 0:05:19one that's just a little less than £25 a month.
0:05:19 > 0:05:21Oh, gosh, that's half the price.
0:05:21 > 0:05:25Half the price - that's going to save your around £300 a year.
0:05:25 > 0:05:27- How does that sound?- That sounds really good.
0:05:27 > 0:05:28Yeah, that's a good start.
0:05:28 > 0:05:29- A good start.- Yeah.
0:05:29 > 0:05:32300 smackeroonies saved -
0:05:32 > 0:05:35money that could go straight to paying off her debt.
0:05:35 > 0:05:38You, too, could have more money in your pocket just by shopping around
0:05:38 > 0:05:39for better deals.
0:05:39 > 0:05:42And while Sarah's got Dionne's full attention,
0:05:42 > 0:05:45she presses on with another money-saving nugget.
0:05:45 > 0:05:47One of the things that you said is that you don't quite know
0:05:47 > 0:05:49- where your money goes...- No.
0:05:49 > 0:05:51..as you're getting to the end of the month.
0:05:51 > 0:05:54So, there are a couple of apps that you can use,
0:05:54 > 0:05:56and there's one that I've loaded up, here.
0:05:56 > 0:06:00So, you just pop in your income, so the money that's coming in,
0:06:00 > 0:06:03and then you can add in your expenses.
0:06:03 > 0:06:05And I think, not only do you have the figures, but it gives you
0:06:05 > 0:06:08- a little chart, shows you what you're spending the money on.- Yes.
0:06:08 > 0:06:12I reckon that will act as a bit of a brake on your spending,
0:06:12 > 0:06:14because spending money often doesn't really feel like it,
0:06:14 > 0:06:17but, actually, having to then write down,
0:06:17 > 0:06:20- "I spent this much and I spent it on this..."- Yes.
0:06:20 > 0:06:25I reckon that will make you think a bit more before you start to spend.
0:06:25 > 0:06:28It'll definitely give me pause for thought, especially if I have to
0:06:28 > 0:06:32keep documenting each expenditure, definitely.
0:06:32 > 0:06:34Cracking advice!
0:06:34 > 0:06:37Your smartphones and tablets aren't just for taking selfies -
0:06:37 > 0:06:40they can help you save some serious money, too.
0:06:40 > 0:06:42Look out for free downloadable money-saving apps
0:06:42 > 0:06:45to help you keep track of your dosh.
0:06:45 > 0:06:46So, Aidan, what do you reckon to this?
0:06:46 > 0:06:50Something to stop her spending money on shoes.
0:06:50 > 0:06:51And clothes.
0:06:51 > 0:06:53- Thank you.- If it gets the vote from Aidan,
0:06:53 > 0:06:56then that's good enough for me, frankly.
0:06:56 > 0:06:59Don't you worry, Aidan, we'll tackle Mum's shopping habits later!
0:07:02 > 0:07:05But, for now, Sarah wants to talk about her food bills.
0:07:06 > 0:07:08As well as her groceries,
0:07:08 > 0:07:11Dionne sometimes buys takeaways for herself and Aidan,
0:07:11 > 0:07:14but has no idea what it all adds up to.
0:07:14 > 0:07:16Go on, Pennells, spill the beans.
0:07:16 > 0:07:17Over the last couple of months,
0:07:17 > 0:07:23you've been spending an average of around £300 a month on food.
0:07:23 > 0:07:26- No!- Now, that does include sort of trips to the bakery
0:07:26 > 0:07:32and those kind of things, pizza, but that is almost twice as much
0:07:32 > 0:07:34as the average family of two would spend.
0:07:34 > 0:07:39So, I want to have a bit of a look your kitchen cupboards,
0:07:39 > 0:07:44see what you have and see if we can find you a better way of planning.
0:07:44 > 0:07:47- Yeah.- And saving money, paying off those debts.- £300?
0:07:47 > 0:07:49I think she's still in shock, Sarah.
0:07:49 > 0:07:50What have we got here, then?
0:07:50 > 0:07:53We've got one, two, three, four, five, six, seven...
0:07:53 > 0:07:56You've got eight different kinds of cereal.
0:07:56 > 0:07:59- So, you're all right for breakfast, aren't you?- Yes.
0:07:59 > 0:08:01And do you generally have breakfast before you go to work?
0:08:01 > 0:08:03Not really.
0:08:05 > 0:08:08Gordon Bennett, eight packs of cereals?!
0:08:08 > 0:08:10Impulse supermarket shopping -
0:08:10 > 0:08:13that's a classic way to rack up the bills, buying what looks good
0:08:13 > 0:08:16and not what you actually need.
0:08:16 > 0:08:20I kind of buy things when I need them. I don't really plan ahead of,
0:08:20 > 0:08:23what am I going to eat for the rest of the week?
0:08:23 > 0:08:26And if I do make a list, I usually leave it at home
0:08:26 > 0:08:29and then, when I go to the supermarket, I'm like,
0:08:29 > 0:08:31"What did I want to buy?"
0:08:31 > 0:08:34Then I just buy whatever's on special offer.
0:08:35 > 0:08:38If you think eight packets of cereals is over the top,
0:08:38 > 0:08:40just take a look at this.
0:08:40 > 0:08:42- The freezer's just full of ice.- Yes.
0:08:42 > 0:08:46So, you have a freezer that you've stocked up.
0:08:46 > 0:08:48- I mean, it's absolutely bursting... - Chock-a...
0:08:48 > 0:08:50..with food.
0:08:50 > 0:08:51..and I can't get in it.
0:08:51 > 0:08:53So, what's going to happen to this food?
0:08:53 > 0:08:54It's going to have to be thrown away.
0:08:54 > 0:08:57That's the kind of stuff that almost makes me cry real tears,
0:08:57 > 0:08:58I have to say.
0:08:58 > 0:09:01I mean, that's a whole freezer-full that's going to be wasted.
0:09:01 > 0:09:03- I mean, this is literally chucking money away.- Yeah.
0:09:03 > 0:09:07- And if I gave you £40, you wouldn't just chuck it away.- No.
0:09:07 > 0:09:11You'd probably be quite pleased, but that's what you're doing there.
0:09:11 > 0:09:14You can't afford to chuck that away, that could be paying off your debt.
0:09:14 > 0:09:16Definitely.
0:09:16 > 0:09:18Good point well made, Sarah.
0:09:18 > 0:09:21We could all do with keeping track of what's lurking in our freezers.
0:09:21 > 0:09:26Time for Dionne to have a quick lesson in the art of shopping smart.
0:09:26 > 0:09:28So, now it's over to you two.
0:09:28 > 0:09:29OK.
0:09:29 > 0:09:32I want you to just have a look at some of the things that you would
0:09:32 > 0:09:35like to use as ingredients, and fill up the week,
0:09:35 > 0:09:40so that, every week, you're going to know what you're buying.
0:09:40 > 0:09:41Have a good old rummage.
0:09:41 > 0:09:43What do you think, Aidan?
0:09:44 > 0:09:46This is fun.
0:09:46 > 0:09:49And if you started planning your meals like Dionne and Aidan,
0:09:49 > 0:09:51you could save a wad of cash.
0:09:51 > 0:09:55With the family's menu for next week now sorted, all that's left to do is
0:09:55 > 0:09:59to write up a list and do one single supermarket shop.
0:09:59 > 0:10:01One of the things that you were saying earlier is that
0:10:01 > 0:10:04if you have a list, you often leave it at home.
0:10:04 > 0:10:06So, take a photo on your mobile phone,
0:10:06 > 0:10:07so you've always got it with you.
0:10:07 > 0:10:10The whole point is to try and get you back down
0:10:10 > 0:10:15to that kind of average figure of under £50 a week.
0:10:15 > 0:10:20And if we do, you'll save about £100 a month.
0:10:20 > 0:10:23- That's a lot of money.- That's £1,200 a year.- Yeah.
0:10:23 > 0:10:25That's a lot of savings.
0:10:25 > 0:10:28Wow! A chunky £1,200 back in her pocket,
0:10:28 > 0:10:30just by planning her shopping.
0:10:30 > 0:10:34Next, Dionne takes Sarah along to meet her parents, Maudlin and James,
0:10:34 > 0:10:37for a financial heart-to-heart.
0:10:37 > 0:10:41You help her financially, you help with some money, don't you?
0:10:41 > 0:10:43Yeah. Yes, we do, yes.
0:10:43 > 0:10:44That's what we are here for.
0:10:45 > 0:10:48Mum and Dad regularly lend a financial hand,
0:10:48 > 0:10:52but have no idea just how much debt Dionne's racked up.
0:10:52 > 0:10:54Before things can change for her,
0:10:54 > 0:10:57she has to confront some uncomfortable facts,
0:10:57 > 0:11:00and Sarah's suggested she shares the knowledge with the two people who
0:11:00 > 0:11:04know her best, as they'll be able to support her emotionally
0:11:04 > 0:11:07as she turns her financial life around.
0:11:07 > 0:11:08Will I be shocked?
0:11:10 > 0:11:13If you can read out this figure.
0:11:13 > 0:11:152,211.
0:11:15 > 0:11:19That's the amount that Dionne owes on credit cards and store cards.
0:11:19 > 0:11:21Does that surprise you?
0:11:21 > 0:11:22Yes, it surprises me, yes.
0:11:22 > 0:11:24She shouldn't owe this money.
0:11:24 > 0:11:26And then we've got this...
0:11:26 > 0:11:30The next box contains Dionne's outstanding personal loans.
0:11:31 > 0:11:35£6,728.
0:11:35 > 0:11:37- DAD:- It's very high.
0:11:37 > 0:11:39Why don't you ask her what she do with that money?
0:11:39 > 0:11:43How are you able to owe this money?
0:11:43 > 0:11:44And to who?
0:11:44 > 0:11:48So, one of the loans was from when Dionne was studying,
0:11:48 > 0:11:51and then there's another loan, which you're repaying at the moment.
0:11:51 > 0:11:53And I think as Dionne's bringing up Aidan on her own,
0:11:53 > 0:11:56I think a lot of families do find themselves borrowing,
0:11:56 > 0:12:00and once you start borrowing, it's quite hard to claw your way back.
0:12:00 > 0:12:06Yeah. I always say to Dionne, I don't like borrowing money.
0:12:06 > 0:12:08I don't borrow money from people.
0:12:08 > 0:12:09I do with what I have.
0:12:09 > 0:12:12How do you feel now that,
0:12:12 > 0:12:14you know, we've told your parents this?
0:12:15 > 0:12:17Mmm, not that great.
0:12:18 > 0:12:19- DAD:- Dionne, don't cry.
0:12:20 > 0:12:22OK.
0:12:22 > 0:12:25It's very brave of the family to discuss Dionne's debt.
0:12:25 > 0:12:29We all know how raw and difficult this whole subject can be.
0:12:29 > 0:12:30Are you OK to carry on?
0:12:30 > 0:12:33And there's still a third box to open.
0:12:33 > 0:12:35We've got one more figure to come.
0:12:36 > 0:12:39So, Dionne, can you read this one out?
0:12:40 > 0:12:42£2,570.
0:12:44 > 0:12:47It's actually the amount of money that your parents
0:12:47 > 0:12:48have given you in the last year.
0:12:49 > 0:12:50It's a lot of money.
0:12:52 > 0:12:54You're right, it is a lot of money,
0:12:54 > 0:12:58but Sarah has a plan that she thinks will help Dionne pay off her debts
0:12:58 > 0:13:01and she wants to explain it to James and Maudlin.
0:13:01 > 0:13:04- We're not asking you to give Dionne more money.- No.
0:13:04 > 0:13:07What we're going to do is just take a bit of the money that you
0:13:07 > 0:13:14currently give Dionne and use that to pay down Dionne's debts.
0:13:14 > 0:13:16Would you be happy with that?
0:13:16 > 0:13:18Yes, we can't let her down.
0:13:19 > 0:13:21What a lovely dad.
0:13:21 > 0:13:22This hasn't been easy for anyone,
0:13:22 > 0:13:25but by opening up to her nearest and dearest,
0:13:25 > 0:13:29Dionne has taken the first steps towards a better financial future.
0:13:30 > 0:13:32It's hard to get out of debt,
0:13:32 > 0:13:36but it's easier if you've got your family behind you.
0:13:36 > 0:13:37It is going to get easier.
0:13:37 > 0:13:39I hope so.
0:13:39 > 0:13:40It will.
0:13:40 > 0:13:42I promise you.
0:13:43 > 0:13:46With Dionne's parents' money now earmarked for paying off
0:13:46 > 0:13:50her store cards and other loans, it's up to Sarah to help Dionne
0:13:50 > 0:13:53to really get her spending under control moving forward.
0:13:53 > 0:13:57Join us again, as Sarah tackles Dionne's impulse spending head-on.
0:13:57 > 0:14:00Give away, sell or keep?
0:14:00 > 0:14:01Tick-tock, tick-tock, tick-tock.
0:14:06 > 0:14:09And we'll be catching up with Dionne later to see how she's got on.
0:14:09 > 0:14:12But first, personal finance expert Simon Read is here along with
0:14:12 > 0:14:16Sophie Kearns, who is a regular customer of the bank of Mum and Dad.
0:14:16 > 0:14:18I'm going to start with you, Simon.
0:14:18 > 0:14:21How important is it for families to talk about their debts?
0:14:21 > 0:14:24Well, you know, the first thing to do to solve the problem
0:14:24 > 0:14:28is to admit to it, and telling the family about it is the first step
0:14:28 > 0:14:30I'd suggest to anyone, because your family's going to support you
0:14:30 > 0:14:33whatever, and they can help you get over the problem.
0:14:33 > 0:14:36They can help you financially, perhaps, or, more importantly,
0:14:36 > 0:14:38just with support and guidance.
0:14:38 > 0:14:40Sophie, you borrow from Mum and Dad, tell us about that.
0:14:40 > 0:14:43There's been a few occasions when I've borrowed from my dad, like,
0:14:43 > 0:14:47hefty amounts. So, I borrowed about £800 to £1,000 from him
0:14:47 > 0:14:50a couple of years ago and it was for a holiday,
0:14:50 > 0:14:54so, as you can probably imagine, it's not a crisis, but he was happy,
0:14:54 > 0:14:56in a financial state where he could lend it me,
0:14:56 > 0:14:59and I was happy to say that I would pay him back, so I borrowed that.
0:14:59 > 0:15:02I had a really good time and then when I came back,
0:15:02 > 0:15:03I set up, like, a direct debit.
0:15:03 > 0:15:05So you actually set up your repayments?
0:15:05 > 0:15:07This is a positive example.
0:15:07 > 0:15:08That's a very positive example.
0:15:08 > 0:15:11You know, you're both clear about what was going on.
0:15:11 > 0:15:14He knew what the money was for, you agreed to pay it back,
0:15:14 > 0:15:17but it's all done in the open and all done on friendly terms,
0:15:17 > 0:15:19which is what it has to be.
0:15:19 > 0:15:22You don't want money to become between you.
0:15:22 > 0:15:24Now, Simon, at the moment we're starting to see on the TV,
0:15:24 > 0:15:28there's adverts coming out for mortgages where parents or other
0:15:28 > 0:15:32family members can actually help out their son or their daughter.
0:15:32 > 0:15:35Personally, I think it's a great idea. I can really see it working.
0:15:35 > 0:15:38- What's your opinion on it? - It can be a great idea.
0:15:38 > 0:15:39If the parents have the money,
0:15:39 > 0:15:41then why shouldn't they help their children?
0:15:41 > 0:15:44But, it's a stupid idea if the parents get into financial
0:15:44 > 0:15:47difficulty because they're giving the money to their child.
0:15:47 > 0:15:48As much as they want to help them,
0:15:48 > 0:15:51they've got to think about their own financial future, too.
0:15:51 > 0:15:54Sophie, you borrow from Mum and Dad, you pay it back, no interest.
0:15:54 > 0:15:56What would you say to people about doing it,
0:15:56 > 0:15:57and what have you got to look out for?
0:15:57 > 0:16:01It's a lovely idea and, luckily for me, it has worked out,
0:16:01 > 0:16:03but for others, it depends what the parents are like, what the children
0:16:03 > 0:16:07- are like, and what their bond is like together as a family.- Yeah.
0:16:07 > 0:16:0923, and what a refreshing attitude.
0:16:09 > 0:16:11Thanks very much, Sophie. Thanks, Simon.
0:16:11 > 0:16:14Now, children aren't the only dependents that can prove a drain
0:16:14 > 0:16:16on the household finances.
0:16:16 > 0:16:20It's estimated that us Brits spend £7 billion a year on our pets.
0:16:20 > 0:16:24But owners are increasingly turning to more enterprising ways
0:16:24 > 0:16:27to save money and help our animal friends earn their own keep.
0:16:30 > 0:16:34Morning time and it's another busy day ahead for Sinead and her
0:16:34 > 0:16:36three-year-old Yorkiepoo, Murphy.
0:16:37 > 0:16:40Everyone loves Murph, because he's so soft and gentle.
0:16:40 > 0:16:42He's a really sweet little dog.
0:16:42 > 0:16:43Until recently,
0:16:43 > 0:16:47Murphy was spending long days in Sinead's hairdressing salon.
0:16:47 > 0:16:50An average day starts at 10.00 and finishes at around 9.00-10.00 in the evening.
0:16:53 > 0:16:56What we did find with Murphy being in the salon all the time,
0:16:56 > 0:16:57he started to get anxiety.
0:16:57 > 0:17:01And with professional dog-walkers charging around £15 an hour,
0:17:01 > 0:17:05Sinead was struggling to find an acceptable affordable alternative.
0:17:06 > 0:17:09Enter Caroline and daughter Isabelle.
0:17:09 > 0:17:11Murphy!
0:17:11 > 0:17:14They've got time on their hands and love dogs.
0:17:14 > 0:17:15Hello, sausage.
0:17:15 > 0:17:17He literally smiles when you come in, like,
0:17:17 > 0:17:19you can see he's like grinning.
0:17:19 > 0:17:22Oh, sweetie pie.
0:17:22 > 0:17:23OK, we'll see you later.
0:17:24 > 0:17:27So they signed up with a dog-borrowing website that matches
0:17:27 > 0:17:31people with dogs with people who want to borrow them for a small fee.
0:17:34 > 0:17:37Membership costs Caroline £12.99 a year.
0:17:39 > 0:17:42And Murphy's owner, Sinead, £44.99.
0:17:44 > 0:17:47- Good boy!- Yay, come on, doggie.
0:17:47 > 0:17:51I know that to buy a little baby Murphy would cost me
0:17:51 > 0:17:53quite a few hundred.
0:17:53 > 0:17:54You're amazing.
0:17:54 > 0:17:57So, we're not spending that, so there's no outlay.
0:17:57 > 0:18:01The thing that I liked the most is the fact that we're not committed,
0:18:01 > 0:18:04so we've got much more flexibility.
0:18:04 > 0:18:06Well, it doesn't actually feel like we're a full family
0:18:06 > 0:18:08when he's not there now,
0:18:08 > 0:18:10which is pretty amazing.
0:18:10 > 0:18:12It feels like he's part of the family now.
0:18:13 > 0:18:16The website was the idea of Rikke Rosenlund.
0:18:18 > 0:18:22I borrowed a very cute brown Labrador about four years ago,
0:18:22 > 0:18:26and I just remember thinking, "Why are people spending so much money
0:18:26 > 0:18:29on dog-walkers or kennels - or leaving their dog home alone -
0:18:29 > 0:18:32when I would love to take care of a dog for free
0:18:32 > 0:18:34and it would make me so happy?
0:18:34 > 0:18:38What started as a brainwave has grown into a successful business
0:18:38 > 0:18:41with around 600,000 members.
0:18:41 > 0:18:44I set up a landing page and then in the space of three days,
0:18:44 > 0:18:47we had 85 people who signed up and it was literally everything from
0:18:47 > 0:18:51an old man down in Cornwall, who'd just had an operation,
0:18:51 > 0:18:54needing help with walking his dog, to...there was a family with
0:18:54 > 0:18:57a little kid who was begging for a dog in London.
0:18:57 > 0:18:59And it's not just the humans who are happy with the way things
0:18:59 > 0:19:01have turned out.
0:19:01 > 0:19:05Sinead, who's his owner, said Murphy's been a lot happier since
0:19:05 > 0:19:10we came, so making it happy for Murphy and, as I said,
0:19:10 > 0:19:14I've always wanted a dog, so it's just how I imagined, really.
0:19:15 > 0:19:19And after work in the salon, Sinead is back to retrieve Murphy.
0:19:19 > 0:19:22It really is a dog's life!
0:19:22 > 0:19:25- Bye, Murph.- See you tomorrow.- Bye!
0:19:25 > 0:19:29Murphy is one of 154 million pets in the UK.
0:19:29 > 0:19:33It's estimated that dogs can cost up to £31,000 over their lifetime,
0:19:33 > 0:19:35and cats £17,000.
0:19:35 > 0:19:40Even a rabbit can in cost an astonishing £9,000.
0:19:40 > 0:19:42So it's not surprising some owners are looking for new ways
0:19:42 > 0:19:45to use their pets' talents to actually make money.
0:19:49 > 0:19:53This is Jude, the French bulldog, and his owner, Leah.
0:19:53 > 0:19:57So when I first got Jude, all of our friends were getting really annoyed,
0:19:57 > 0:20:00because on my Instagram, it was just Jude, Jude, Jude, Jude -
0:20:00 > 0:20:04and everyone was like, "Your dog's cute, but can you, like,
0:20:04 > 0:20:06"stop posting so many pictures of him?"
0:20:07 > 0:20:11Leah's solution? To set up his own account on the social media
0:20:11 > 0:20:15platform, Instagram - and Jude The French had arrived.
0:20:16 > 0:20:19First of all, we hit 1,000 followers and then we got really excited,
0:20:19 > 0:20:21and then, it was 5,000 followers and then, it was like,
0:20:21 > 0:20:24oh, that's ridiculous, and then he hit 10,000 followers.
0:20:25 > 0:20:28Because Jude had so many social media followers,
0:20:28 > 0:20:33many of whom also had pets, animal accessory companies saw Jude as
0:20:33 > 0:20:35the ideal model to showcase their wares.
0:20:35 > 0:20:40In no time at all, they were sending him piles of free stuff.
0:20:40 > 0:20:42We got companies contacting us, telling us,
0:20:42 > 0:20:45"Oh, he's really cute, can we send you a jumper?",
0:20:45 > 0:20:47or "Can we send you a toy or a treat?"
0:20:47 > 0:20:51So all we have to do is take a picture of him with the product,
0:20:51 > 0:20:53put it up on his Instagram or send it to them,
0:20:53 > 0:20:55and they're happy with that.
0:20:57 > 0:21:00Now that Jude's got around 28,000 followers,
0:21:00 > 0:21:03he's become what's known in the business as an influencer.
0:21:03 > 0:21:07And an influencer literally does just that - influences others.
0:21:07 > 0:21:11So, in the case of Jude, his followers may end up buying
0:21:11 > 0:21:14the items he's photographed with for their pets.
0:21:14 > 0:21:17So this is the kind of things that we get sent.
0:21:17 > 0:21:20Leah no longer has to buy things like clothes, bedding,
0:21:20 > 0:21:22toys and dog food.
0:21:22 > 0:21:25Poo bags, because you can never get enough poo bags.
0:21:25 > 0:21:29And, in return, companies get their products seen by a captive audience
0:21:29 > 0:21:32of thousands and Jude is so popular with firms
0:21:32 > 0:21:35that Leah's problem is where to store it all.
0:21:37 > 0:21:41So, I'm really amazed how, by taking a few photos of my dog,
0:21:41 > 0:21:46it's turned into saving thousands of pounds every year.
0:21:46 > 0:21:48And if you think your pooch, parrot, pig,
0:21:48 > 0:21:52or whatever has got what it takes to make it big in social media,
0:21:52 > 0:21:55Leah's got some top tips to get you started.
0:21:55 > 0:21:59I've changed my camera, so I've now got, like, a professional camera.
0:21:59 > 0:22:00I use lighting.
0:22:00 > 0:22:03Also, like, if it's Easter, we take Easter pictures,
0:22:03 > 0:22:07or if it's Christmas, we do the whole Christmas thing.
0:22:07 > 0:22:08I find that, some pictures,
0:22:08 > 0:22:13it would just be him outside and he'll get 1,000 likes,
0:22:13 > 0:22:16or if we come inside, exactly the same photo, I don't know,
0:22:16 > 0:22:19he'll get, like, half of it.
0:22:19 > 0:22:20It's crazy.
0:22:20 > 0:22:24And, in the online pet world, surprisingly,
0:22:24 > 0:22:26Jude's not even an A-lister.
0:22:26 > 0:22:30Doug The Pug, from Nashville, is one of the world's biggest canine
0:22:30 > 0:22:34influencers, with over eight million social media followers.
0:22:34 > 0:22:38Doug earns a fortune in endorsements and appearance fees
0:22:38 > 0:22:40and travels the globe to meet his fans.
0:22:42 > 0:22:46Dog stardom is a very serious business, as another pug and
0:22:46 > 0:22:49fellow influencer, Mr Gizmo, can confirm.
0:22:49 > 0:22:52He got his big break on this glossy Christmas TV advert
0:22:52 > 0:22:55after an agent spotted him on Instagram.
0:22:55 > 0:22:56BARKS
0:22:58 > 0:23:01They contacted me to say that they've got a commercial,
0:23:01 > 0:23:04erm, and they would like to put Gizmo forward.
0:23:04 > 0:23:07I was flabbergasted. I just couldn't believe it.
0:23:07 > 0:23:09I thought someone's having a prank.
0:23:09 > 0:23:11This is Gizmo's audition video.
0:23:11 > 0:23:14Gizmo, wearing glasses, red towel over his head,
0:23:14 > 0:23:16running up and down stairs.
0:23:16 > 0:23:19But this actually was between three or four pugs
0:23:19 > 0:23:21and Gizmo actually got chosen, because of this video.
0:23:21 > 0:23:23I think we nailed it.
0:23:23 > 0:23:24Yeah, it's been quite a journey.
0:23:24 > 0:23:27Not bad, Giz, not bad at all.
0:23:27 > 0:23:28Not bad indeed!
0:23:28 > 0:23:33Gizmo's earned around £10,000 since his big break three years ago.
0:23:33 > 0:23:34As well as his TV work,
0:23:34 > 0:23:39Gizmo's got around 15,000 social media fans and, without being rude,
0:23:39 > 0:23:43Gizmo's career proves you don't have to have superstar looks
0:23:43 > 0:23:44to be a superstar.
0:23:46 > 0:23:48So, the types of work that Gizmo's got offered
0:23:48 > 0:23:51has been photoshoots and commercials.
0:23:51 > 0:23:56So, his vet fees, pet plan, his food, he earns his own money
0:23:56 > 0:23:58and we spend it on him.
0:23:58 > 0:24:02Arti and Jaisal also donate around 10% of his earnings to charity.
0:24:02 > 0:24:04Good boy, Gizmo.
0:24:04 > 0:24:08This definitely has to be his favourite look.
0:24:08 > 0:24:10A very distinguished pug, aren't you?
0:24:10 > 0:24:14If you have a pet who you would like to put up on modelling or
0:24:14 > 0:24:17social media, I would say go for it.
0:24:17 > 0:24:21We are a prime example of Gizmo doing absolutely amazing.
0:24:21 > 0:24:23So, yeah, try your luck.
0:24:23 > 0:24:26No doubt about it, Gizmo is a leading player
0:24:26 > 0:24:30with a great future ahead of him and, after all that hard work,
0:24:30 > 0:24:32he's certainly earned a dog-nap!
0:24:36 > 0:24:40Jude and Mr Gizmo both had social media profiles, but platforms like
0:24:40 > 0:24:42Instagram don't just work for pets.
0:24:42 > 0:24:45Lots of people are making money by racking up their followers.
0:24:45 > 0:24:47Joining me now are Dominique Davis
0:24:47 > 0:24:50and social media expert James Halaby.
0:24:50 > 0:24:52Dominique, tell me about your social media story,
0:24:52 > 0:24:55cos it's a really nice one. It's from the roots up, isn't it?
0:24:55 > 0:24:58Yeah, yeah. So, I was on maternity with my youngest, Penny,
0:24:58 > 0:24:59I had more time on my hands,
0:24:59 > 0:25:03and I noticed that people were out there taking really good photos and
0:25:03 > 0:25:04making money from them.
0:25:04 > 0:25:06So, I started myself.
0:25:06 > 0:25:08And now you've got a massive following, haven't you?
0:25:08 > 0:25:12- Yes. At the moment, I have 147,000 followers.- Wow.
0:25:12 > 0:25:15Yeah. So it's grown quite quickly over the last six months.
0:25:15 > 0:25:19James, in Dominique's case, she's got a lot of followers now
0:25:19 > 0:25:21in a fairly short space of time.
0:25:21 > 0:25:24What is it about Dominique that brands like?
0:25:24 > 0:25:28So, I mean, firstly, it's quite a big industry for mummy influencers,
0:25:28 > 0:25:31so having kids and being able to promote kids products is really,
0:25:31 > 0:25:32really appealing for many brands.
0:25:32 > 0:25:36Dominique, can I be really nosy and ask what sort of fees you might get
0:25:36 > 0:25:39out of a single photo? A bit nosy, you could say.
0:25:39 > 0:25:40Well, my photos are quite well received,
0:25:40 > 0:25:44so they do get quite a lot of likes and engagement's really high,
0:25:44 > 0:25:46so anything from £1,000-2,000,
0:25:46 > 0:25:49depending on the campaign and how many photos they want.
0:25:49 > 0:25:51But, for a decent photo, you stick it on there,
0:25:51 > 0:25:52- you can earn a couple of grand? - Yeah.
0:25:52 > 0:25:54- Wow! It can certainly pay dividends, can't it?- Yeah.
0:25:54 > 0:25:58Are big brands moving away from big, glossy magazines and tending to
0:25:58 > 0:26:01start to steer towards what Dominique's doing now?
0:26:01 > 0:26:02Yeah, absolutely.
0:26:02 > 0:26:04Having the chance to be able to work with an influencer
0:26:04 > 0:26:07who has a passionate, engaged audience and people that follow them
0:26:07 > 0:26:09and really respect their opinions, it's extremely powerful.
0:26:09 > 0:26:12Dominique, for you, it got to such a point you were able to give up the
0:26:12 > 0:26:14job that you were in and start doing this full-time,
0:26:14 > 0:26:17but you're obviously sticking photos of you and your daughters
0:26:17 > 0:26:19- and the family at home.- Yeah.
0:26:19 > 0:26:21Do you not find it all a little bit intrusive?
0:26:21 > 0:26:24No, not really. I think the way society is at the moment
0:26:24 > 0:26:27is the majority of people share their lives on social media -
0:26:27 > 0:26:29whether that be Facebook, Instagram, Twitter -
0:26:29 > 0:26:31and I'm doing exactly that,
0:26:31 > 0:26:35but mine's just a little bit more styled than everybody else's.
0:26:35 > 0:26:39The girls find it a lot of fun and I think it's just part and parcel.
0:26:39 > 0:26:40They understand that's my job.
0:26:40 > 0:26:42Can I ask, are the girls on the payroll?
0:26:44 > 0:26:47They do enjoy the clothes that they get or the free toys and things
0:26:47 > 0:26:51like that and we are going away in July thanks to it,
0:26:51 > 0:26:53so they'll be enjoying that.
0:26:53 > 0:26:55It's been an absolute pleasure to meet both of you.
0:26:55 > 0:26:56Good luck for the future.
0:27:00 > 0:27:03DENISE: While Dom is busy counting his friends on social media,
0:27:03 > 0:27:06I want to get to the bottom of a recent survey.
0:27:06 > 0:27:09Apparently, three-quarters of us have lent money to friends or family
0:27:09 > 0:27:11in the past year.
0:27:11 > 0:27:14So, have the folks in Halifax market got deep pockets
0:27:14 > 0:27:16when it comes to their nearest and dearest?
0:27:17 > 0:27:20Are you happy to lend money to people?
0:27:20 > 0:27:21- No.- No.
0:27:21 > 0:27:23What if it's family?
0:27:23 > 0:27:27Well, that may be a different matter, but I would need to know
0:27:27 > 0:27:30what it was for and when I was going to get it repaid.
0:27:30 > 0:27:31- Really?- Yes.
0:27:33 > 0:27:36I think it's one of the biggest things that people
0:27:36 > 0:27:38fall out over, money.
0:27:38 > 0:27:41So if you've lent some money and they don't pay you back,
0:27:41 > 0:27:42it can spoil your friendship.
0:27:42 > 0:27:44Yeah, so you don't want to ruin your friendships?
0:27:44 > 0:27:46No. It wouldn't be worth it, would it?
0:27:46 > 0:27:49So, I have very loyal friends who would lend money,
0:27:49 > 0:27:50so I would do the same for them.
0:27:50 > 0:27:52Would you write it down? Would you make contact?
0:27:52 > 0:27:55No. Trust has got to be an important factor.
0:27:55 > 0:27:58Obviously, if there's no trust there, then they're not friends.
0:27:58 > 0:28:00- I wish you were my friend! - I wish you were mine!
0:28:04 > 0:28:06Earlier on, we met hard-working nurse Dionne,
0:28:06 > 0:28:09who was struggling to get on top of the debts.
0:28:09 > 0:28:12So, let's see if our money expert Sarah Pennells
0:28:12 > 0:28:13has managed to work her magic.
0:28:15 > 0:28:17Come on, let's go and see if we can find any bargains.
0:28:17 > 0:28:21Dionne David from London needs to tackle her finances,
0:28:21 > 0:28:24but she's finding it hard to know where to start.
0:28:24 > 0:28:26I don't feel in control of my finances.
0:28:26 > 0:28:31I feel that they rule me rather than me ruling them.
0:28:31 > 0:28:33- Shall we have a look inside, then? - OK.
0:28:33 > 0:28:35I'd love to clear all my debt.
0:28:35 > 0:28:39That's kind of my goal, but I seem to be sort of stuck in a rut
0:28:39 > 0:28:43of never quite having enough to clear and then the price of living
0:28:43 > 0:28:45goes up all the time.
0:28:45 > 0:28:49Our NHS community nurse is working flat out to make a better life for
0:28:49 > 0:28:53herself and Aidan, her 13-year-old son, but her spending outstrips
0:28:53 > 0:28:56her earning and we all know where that ends.
0:28:57 > 0:28:58- That's minus.- I know.
0:28:59 > 0:29:04In terms of having money for a rainy day, there isn't any.
0:29:04 > 0:29:06So if there was, like, a dire emergency,
0:29:06 > 0:29:09I would have to take it from that month's salary,
0:29:09 > 0:29:11and then suffer the rest of the month.
0:29:13 > 0:29:15Suffer? Not on our watch!
0:29:15 > 0:29:19Not when super-savvy money expert Sarah Pennells is in town.
0:29:19 > 0:29:22She's on a mission to get Dionne to take control of her finances
0:29:22 > 0:29:25and to help her start repaying the debt.
0:29:25 > 0:29:27It is going to get easier.
0:29:27 > 0:29:28I hope so.
0:29:28 > 0:29:29It will.
0:29:29 > 0:29:33So far, she's found ways that she could save £1,500 a year
0:29:33 > 0:29:36just by cutting down on her massive food bills
0:29:36 > 0:29:39and switching her energy provider.
0:29:39 > 0:29:41Now Sarah's back and, with Aidan at school,
0:29:41 > 0:29:45she wants to iron out Dionne's second-hand clothes bill.
0:29:45 > 0:29:46Wow!
0:29:46 > 0:29:48This is your little Aladdin's Cave, isn't it?
0:29:48 > 0:29:49It is, yes.
0:29:49 > 0:29:52The majority I've bought from the charity shop.
0:29:52 > 0:29:54And all of these bags as well?
0:29:54 > 0:29:55Yes.
0:29:55 > 0:29:58You've bought too many clothes, I can tell.
0:29:58 > 0:30:00But it's quite a lot of impulse buying, I'm guessing?
0:30:00 > 0:30:04Yeah. I normally go to the charity shops in my lunch breaks,
0:30:04 > 0:30:07and so I just kind of look and think, "Ooh, ooh, ooh!"
0:30:07 > 0:30:10And then I just buy them,
0:30:10 > 0:30:14cos it's only £3 here, £4 there.
0:30:14 > 0:30:18As we all know, three quid here, a fiver there soon adds up.
0:30:18 > 0:30:20Go on, Sarah. What's the damage?
0:30:20 > 0:30:24- On average, it's about what, £50 a month, isn't it?- Yes.
0:30:24 > 0:30:27That's a lot of bargains.
0:30:27 > 0:30:30And it's also... It's £600 a year.
0:30:30 > 0:30:32Yeah.
0:30:32 > 0:30:33Gordon Bennett!
0:30:34 > 0:30:37To understand how Dionne's ended up with a bedroom full of clothes,
0:30:37 > 0:30:40Sarah has sent her back to the charity shop
0:30:40 > 0:30:42to check out her shopping habits.
0:30:44 > 0:30:46That's quite a nice jumper.
0:30:46 > 0:30:48Don't know whether Aidan will think the same thing.
0:30:49 > 0:30:50Ooh!
0:30:50 > 0:30:52I like the look of the cover.
0:30:52 > 0:30:54So, I might get the book as well - and then that's it.
0:30:56 > 0:30:58It looks like Dionne just can't resist a bargain.
0:30:58 > 0:31:01It's only £6 and it's for a good cause.
0:31:01 > 0:31:03And she's not the only one.
0:31:03 > 0:31:08The charity shop industry contributes around £846 million to
0:31:08 > 0:31:13the UK economy, with around 7,000 stores on the high street.
0:31:13 > 0:31:16And back home, time for Sarah to cast her expert eye
0:31:16 > 0:31:19over Dionne's latest shopping trip.
0:31:19 > 0:31:24So, what do you notice about the way you're looking at these rails here?
0:31:24 > 0:31:25That I have to look at everything.
0:31:26 > 0:31:30I can't walk past and think, "Oh, well, I don't need another scarf,"
0:31:30 > 0:31:32or "I don't need another pair of shoes,"
0:31:32 > 0:31:34or "I don't need another handbag."
0:31:35 > 0:31:39I love a bargain as much as anyone else and the idea of picking up some
0:31:39 > 0:31:44great gear at knock-down prices is my idea of fun, but with her house
0:31:44 > 0:31:47chocka full with stuff and her bank account in the red,
0:31:47 > 0:31:51Sarah thinks Dionne needs to stitch up her purse once in a while.
0:31:51 > 0:31:54If you go into a charity shop, which is the thing that you love to do,
0:31:54 > 0:31:58and you feel you're getting a bargain, and the next time you want
0:31:58 > 0:32:01that kind of rush again, you want that high of
0:32:01 > 0:32:04getting a fantastic bargain, there's a couple of things you want to do.
0:32:04 > 0:32:07First is to get you to kind of break that habit,
0:32:07 > 0:32:11that addiction to spending and that rush you get from getting a bargain
0:32:11 > 0:32:12at the moment.
0:32:12 > 0:32:16And the other is, with those bags of clothes we've seen in your bedroom,
0:32:16 > 0:32:19is to actually get some money for those clothes.
0:32:19 > 0:32:21Bring in some cash. How would that sound?
0:32:21 > 0:32:24That would sound really good, if I can make some money.
0:32:24 > 0:32:25I thought so!
0:32:28 > 0:32:32Sarah reckons Dionne can make a tidy sum by selling off her unwanted
0:32:32 > 0:32:36clothes, so she's summoned her best friend Rachel to decide
0:32:36 > 0:32:39what to keep and what to sell.
0:32:39 > 0:32:43So, we've got a dress.
0:32:43 > 0:32:45Go? Stay?
0:32:45 > 0:32:47I think that could be sold.
0:32:47 > 0:32:49What about this now? Cos we know you love blue.
0:32:49 > 0:32:50I do love blue.
0:32:50 > 0:32:53Sell, give away, or keep?
0:32:53 > 0:32:54Tick-tock, tick-tock, tick-tock.
0:32:54 > 0:32:56They're not mucking about.
0:32:57 > 0:32:59- She hasn't noticed. - I can't decide!- Selling it.
0:32:59 > 0:33:01We're doing well.
0:33:01 > 0:33:05A few snaps later, nearly half of Dionne's range is ready to sell.
0:33:05 > 0:33:08If this doesn't sell it, Dionne, I don't know what will!
0:33:08 > 0:33:11Sarah's decided to use a community-based website instead of
0:33:11 > 0:33:16an online auction service to increase Dionne's chance of selling.
0:33:16 > 0:33:19One of the great things about this site is people can look for things
0:33:19 > 0:33:20- that are near to them.- Oh, OK.
0:33:20 > 0:33:22So you're reaching that market that...
0:33:22 > 0:33:24Yeah, OK. Local.
0:33:24 > 0:33:26- Well, lives locally.- Yeah.
0:33:26 > 0:33:29Look out for similar selling sites in your area.
0:33:29 > 0:33:32With a bit of luck, Dionne will get rid of her unwanted clothes
0:33:32 > 0:33:33and make a few quid.
0:33:33 > 0:33:38And by drastically cutting back on her trips to the charity shops,
0:33:38 > 0:33:40Dionne will save up to £600 a year.
0:33:42 > 0:33:46It'll mean less clutter in your home and more cash in your pocket.
0:33:46 > 0:33:47I can always do with that.
0:33:51 > 0:33:54On the next leg of Sarah's money-saving journey, it's time to
0:33:54 > 0:33:58visit a place where a lot of Dionne's cash simply disappears.
0:33:58 > 0:34:01Well, I've had the allotment for about three years and I did have
0:34:01 > 0:34:05this illusion of living the good life, but, actually,
0:34:05 > 0:34:08it's a lot harder to make happen,
0:34:08 > 0:34:11because allotments are real hard work.
0:34:12 > 0:34:17At the moment, do you find that you save a lot of money with
0:34:17 > 0:34:20your allotment or do you find it's its own tiny money pit?
0:34:20 > 0:34:24I think it's a money pit, cos each year, there always seems to be
0:34:24 > 0:34:27something more I need to buy - more plants, more plants, more seeds,
0:34:27 > 0:34:31more weed suppressor - and it is starting to get on top of me.
0:34:33 > 0:34:36It seems that when it comes to the allotment, Dionne's better at making
0:34:36 > 0:34:38her debt grow than her produce.
0:34:38 > 0:34:43It's time to call in expert gardener Jeremy Wright to give Dionne a few
0:34:43 > 0:34:46pointers on how to reap the rewards of her allotment.
0:34:46 > 0:34:50Jeremy, what are the kind of things that you have found that might be
0:34:50 > 0:34:55really good tips for Dionne to help cutting those costs?
0:34:55 > 0:34:58I think the problem is that you can find yourself spending a fortune on
0:34:58 > 0:35:01- buying plants and you do it every year.- Yes, definitely.
0:35:01 > 0:35:05And there's a very, very simple way to overcome that, so my first tip...
0:35:05 > 0:35:07- OK.- ..is to go for perennials.
0:35:07 > 0:35:11- Right.- You buy them once and, not only do you have them for next year,
0:35:11 > 0:35:13- but they begin to multiply.- Oh, OK.
0:35:13 > 0:35:14- So, my second tip...- Yes.
0:35:14 > 0:35:18..is actually around how you can get more plants without spending money.
0:35:18 > 0:35:21Which is, as these plants multiply,
0:35:21 > 0:35:24you have spare plants and you can swap them with other people.
0:35:24 > 0:35:27What kind of perennials do you recommend?
0:35:27 > 0:35:30I mean, here, I've got a couple of examples.
0:35:30 > 0:35:33One is a orange daylily.
0:35:33 > 0:35:37The other one is a phlomis - Jerusalem sage is the common name.
0:35:37 > 0:35:38OK.
0:35:38 > 0:35:42Both these I dug up yesterday from clumps of about 100 plants each.
0:35:42 > 0:35:48- Wow!- Wow!- Now that, if you went out and bought those plants, at £5-7
0:35:48 > 0:35:53a time, what I'm talking about is over £1,000 worth of plants that
0:35:53 > 0:35:54have grown on their own.
0:35:54 > 0:35:58So, you've actually got your own little bank of plants that you can
0:35:58 > 0:36:01exchange with the people and get some variety.
0:36:01 > 0:36:03And that's something we can all do,
0:36:03 > 0:36:07because Jeremy actually runs a plant-swap website that connects
0:36:07 > 0:36:11gardeners all over the country with green-fingered people in their area.
0:36:11 > 0:36:14So they can exchange plants and save pots of cash -
0:36:14 > 0:36:17and Sarah can smell another bargain a mile off.
0:36:18 > 0:36:21One thing you're going to need for your allotment is some compost or
0:36:21 > 0:36:24manure and I've done a little bit of checking online and there are a
0:36:24 > 0:36:27couple of sort of livery and riding stables nearby.
0:36:27 > 0:36:30They will sell manure for about £1 for bag.
0:36:30 > 0:36:31Phew!
0:36:31 > 0:36:33In terms of size of this plot,
0:36:33 > 0:36:36if you were to buy this from the garden centre,
0:36:36 > 0:36:39it would cost you about £120.
0:36:39 > 0:36:42- Yeah.- If you were to buy it from the riding stables that we found,
0:36:42 > 0:36:45we reckon no more than £40.
0:36:45 > 0:36:48- That's a big saving.- That's saved you £80 straightaway.- Yeah.
0:36:48 > 0:36:49- That's going in your holiday fund.- Yes.
0:36:51 > 0:36:54Money doesn't grow on trees, but if Dionne took the advice,
0:36:54 > 0:36:58she could soon be harvesting some healthy financial rewards,
0:36:58 > 0:37:00saving £250 a year.
0:37:03 > 0:37:07So far, Sarah has been showing Dionne how to save thousands
0:37:07 > 0:37:09by making better financial decisions.
0:37:09 > 0:37:12Now it's time to put those savings to good use
0:37:12 > 0:37:15by realising Dionne's dream of becoming debt-free.
0:37:16 > 0:37:19You might be wondering why there are three sugar bowls in front of you.
0:37:19 > 0:37:21I am.
0:37:21 > 0:37:25This is really to illustrate what most people do with their debts.
0:37:25 > 0:37:27This is your store card debt, here.
0:37:27 > 0:37:30This is your credit card and this stands for your loans.
0:37:31 > 0:37:36At the moment, Dionne owes £294 on her store card,
0:37:36 > 0:37:40£1,916 on her credit card
0:37:40 > 0:37:44and £6,728 on personal loans.
0:37:44 > 0:37:47I think what a lot of people do in this kind of situation is pay a bit
0:37:47 > 0:37:48off each, so they'll think,
0:37:48 > 0:37:50"Oh, I'll pay a little bit off my store card.
0:37:50 > 0:37:54"Pay a bit off my credit card, pay a bit off my loans as well."
0:37:54 > 0:37:58As things stand, with you just paying a bit off each,
0:37:58 > 0:38:02I've worked out that you are not going to be debt-free
0:38:02 > 0:38:04for four years.
0:38:06 > 0:38:07It's a long time.
0:38:07 > 0:38:09But don't you worry, Dionne,
0:38:09 > 0:38:13Sarah has a cunning plan to fast-track your financial recovery.
0:38:13 > 0:38:18If you're in a similar situation, you might want to listen carefully.
0:38:18 > 0:38:21Different lenders charge different rates of interest,
0:38:21 > 0:38:25so the key is to prioritise which debt to pay off first.
0:38:25 > 0:38:31So what I would recommend you do is pay as much as you can to the store
0:38:31 > 0:38:34card to get rid of that debt as quickly as you possibly can.
0:38:34 > 0:38:36There - right, bam, gone.
0:38:36 > 0:38:38And then what you can do,
0:38:38 > 0:38:41the money that you were paying to your store card,
0:38:41 > 0:38:44you use to clear your credit card debt. So, there we go,
0:38:44 > 0:38:46we're clearing the credit card debt as quickly as we can.
0:38:46 > 0:38:48That one's paid off.
0:38:48 > 0:38:50So, now you can pay off your loans.
0:38:50 > 0:38:54The loans are the cheapest debt that you have and although you owe more
0:38:54 > 0:38:57on your loans than you do on your store card and credit card,
0:38:57 > 0:39:01you'll find it's much easier to pay off, because all this extra money
0:39:01 > 0:39:03that you have, you're not spending.
0:39:03 > 0:39:06- No.- Oh, no!
0:39:06 > 0:39:10You're using that to just clear this debt as quickly as you possibly can.
0:39:10 > 0:39:12Come on, help me empty this bowl. Come on.
0:39:12 > 0:39:14We're clearing this debt.
0:39:14 > 0:39:15- There.- Perfect.
0:39:15 > 0:39:18There you go. Debt-free.
0:39:18 > 0:39:19That looks lovely.
0:39:20 > 0:39:22So, how much sooner will Dionne be debt-free
0:39:22 > 0:39:25if she follows Sarah's advice?
0:39:25 > 0:39:29If you pay off your store card, instead of that being the beginning
0:39:29 > 0:39:32of 2021 when you're debt-free,
0:39:32 > 0:39:36you're actually going to be debt-free by September 2019.
0:39:36 > 0:39:38OK. So, two years.
0:39:38 > 0:39:40Just over two years.
0:39:40 > 0:39:42- Not bad.- Not bad, no.
0:39:42 > 0:39:44Not bad at all.
0:39:44 > 0:39:46It's sweet. By following Sarah's method,
0:39:46 > 0:39:51Dionne will save a mammoth £1,560 in interest payments,
0:39:51 > 0:39:55which she can use to pay off her most expensive debt sooner.
0:39:55 > 0:39:58That would be really great if I could be out of debt
0:39:58 > 0:39:59in the next two years. Really good.
0:39:59 > 0:40:01- It is possible.- Yeah.
0:40:02 > 0:40:04Let's do it.
0:40:08 > 0:40:12Smashing job, Sarah, and time to tot up those savings.
0:40:12 > 0:40:15That's £300 by switching broadband provider.
0:40:15 > 0:40:18£1,200 by planning her grocery shop.
0:40:18 > 0:40:22£600 by getting rid of her charity shop impulse buys.
0:40:22 > 0:40:28£250 on allotment saving and a massive £1,560 in interest
0:40:28 > 0:40:32if she follows Sarah's debt repayment plan.
0:40:32 > 0:40:38That's a grand total of £3,910 and the start of a brighter financial
0:40:38 > 0:40:39future for our Dionne.
0:40:40 > 0:40:43It has been an enlightening experience.
0:40:43 > 0:40:46I've reflected on how I spend, the way I spend.
0:40:46 > 0:40:50Sarah's given me lots of hints and tips to save money, so I'm going to
0:40:50 > 0:40:51implement those straight away.
0:40:51 > 0:40:55And I feel that getting out of debt and having a holiday with Aidan
0:40:55 > 0:40:57is now within reach, so I'm really happy about that.
0:41:02 > 0:41:06And we wish Dionne the very best paying off those debts.
0:41:06 > 0:41:07Now, money man Simon Read is here,
0:41:07 > 0:41:11alongside psychologist Katrina Morrison.
0:41:11 > 0:41:12I'd like to say to you, Simon,
0:41:12 > 0:41:15there's an awful lot of people who are feeling the pinch
0:41:15 > 0:41:16and overwhelmed by debt.
0:41:16 > 0:41:18Basically, what should they do?
0:41:18 > 0:41:21The first thing they need to do is to face up to the problem -
0:41:21 > 0:41:24and it is a problem. They need to admit it to themselves, admit it to
0:41:24 > 0:41:28their friends if they can, and start trying to get out of it.
0:41:28 > 0:41:30There are debt charities they can turn to.
0:41:30 > 0:41:31There are places like Citizens Advice,
0:41:31 > 0:41:35there are a lot of online resources where people can get some basic
0:41:35 > 0:41:37guidance as to what they should do.
0:41:37 > 0:41:41We saw Dionne, even though she knew that money was a bit tight,
0:41:41 > 0:41:44she still liked going to charity shops. Why do people do that?
0:41:44 > 0:41:46Yeah, because shopping is fun.
0:41:46 > 0:41:49It makes us feel better.
0:41:49 > 0:41:50There is a downside,
0:41:50 > 0:41:54which is that you just come down the other end of the hill and you're
0:41:54 > 0:41:57feeling incredibly depressed about the fact that you really didn't need
0:41:57 > 0:41:59those ten quid jeans.
0:41:59 > 0:42:01Or "I'm feeling a bit down, feeling a bit sad...I know, I'll go and
0:42:01 > 0:42:04"spend some money, it'll make me feel better," and for all the
0:42:04 > 0:42:06reasons you say, they do feel better, but they're just spending
0:42:06 > 0:42:09money and eventually, they'll feel worse, because, at the end of
0:42:09 > 0:42:11the month, they get a huge bill for it.
0:42:11 > 0:42:13Well, if you're struggling to get your finances back on track and
0:42:13 > 0:42:15would like Simon or one of our other experts
0:42:15 > 0:42:17to give you a money makeover, e-mail us...
0:42:20 > 0:42:21And in the meantime,
0:42:21 > 0:42:24here's where to go to find plenty of tips on how to budget.
0:42:25 > 0:42:30Our website has everything you need to sort out your spending.
0:42:30 > 0:42:32We've teamed up with the Money Advice Service
0:42:32 > 0:42:35to bring you easy-to-use money-saving tools
0:42:35 > 0:42:37to plan your budget,
0:42:37 > 0:42:39calculate the cost of your car or credit cards,
0:42:39 > 0:42:42and give your money a complete health check.
0:42:42 > 0:42:44Download them at...
0:42:51 > 0:42:55And Simon is still here to answer some of your questions.
0:42:55 > 0:42:57Simon, Louise would like to know,
0:42:57 > 0:42:59"What's the best way to save regularly?"
0:42:59 > 0:43:00That's a good question.
0:43:00 > 0:43:03My advice would be to have a plan and a scheme.
0:43:03 > 0:43:05The plan is to have something to save for,
0:43:05 > 0:43:07because it gives you a powerful motivation to keep on saving.
0:43:07 > 0:43:11The scheme is to simply make sure that you have a direct debit or
0:43:11 > 0:43:13regular money going out of your account into a good,
0:43:13 > 0:43:16high-paying savings account - the best you can find on the market.
0:43:16 > 0:43:19So, don't leave it down to your own willpower - make it a direct debit.
0:43:19 > 0:43:20Yes.
0:43:20 > 0:43:21William wants to know,
0:43:21 > 0:43:24how much should he have in his rainy-day fund?
0:43:24 > 0:43:25I recommend three months' money.
0:43:25 > 0:43:27That's how much you'll need to...
0:43:27 > 0:43:30Maybe until you get another job, until you sort yourself out.
0:43:30 > 0:43:33Three months' income, get that in your rainy-day fund,
0:43:33 > 0:43:36and then it gives you a nice security blanket.
0:43:36 > 0:43:38Now, Corrine's got quite an important question here.
0:43:38 > 0:43:41She wants to know, "When is the right time to create a will?"
0:43:42 > 0:43:44The right time is right now.
0:43:44 > 0:43:45It doesn't matter what age you are.
0:43:45 > 0:43:48If you die suddenly and, you know, it could happen to any of us,
0:43:48 > 0:43:50you can leave an awful problem for your family
0:43:50 > 0:43:51if you don't have a will.
0:43:51 > 0:43:52Thanks for your advice, Simon.
0:43:52 > 0:43:55And thanks to everyone we've spoken to today.
0:43:55 > 0:43:56And not forgetting you at home, too.
0:43:56 > 0:43:59We hope you've picked up some top tips along the way,
0:43:59 > 0:44:01but until the next time, goodbye.
0:44:01 > 0:44:02Cheerio.