0:00:02 > 0:00:04Every day, all over the country, millions of people
0:00:04 > 0:00:06are struggling to find the cash they need
0:00:06 > 0:00:09to make ends meet, or to realise their dreams.
0:00:09 > 0:00:11Applying to get a top-up on my loan.
0:00:11 > 0:00:1250, 60, five.
0:00:12 > 0:00:14- Thank you, Lisa.- OK.
0:00:14 > 0:00:16We are looking to offer you a loan.
0:00:16 > 0:00:20Many struggle to qualify for high street borrowing,
0:00:20 > 0:00:23making them vulnerable to illegal loan sharks.
0:00:23 > 0:00:27Looking back now, I realise the APR for that loan was nearly 800%,
0:00:27 > 0:00:29which is...
0:00:29 > 0:00:33But there are a growing number of community banks or credit unions
0:00:33 > 0:00:36that are offering a helping hand,
0:00:36 > 0:00:39while at the same time supporting the local area.
0:00:39 > 0:00:42The confidence and the support I received
0:00:42 > 0:00:45empowered me to think bigger.
0:00:45 > 0:00:50From household emergencies to kick-starting a new life or business...
0:00:50 > 0:00:52She started from zero and she became a hero.
0:00:52 > 0:00:54It's such an amazing story.
0:00:54 > 0:00:57Very crazy, but here we are.
0:00:57 > 0:01:00..we're following some of these life-changing stories.
0:01:00 > 0:01:03We wouldn't have been able to set it up like this if we didn't have that loan.
0:01:03 > 0:01:07It basically meant that something that I never thought I'd ever do
0:01:07 > 0:01:09in my life was actually going to happen.
0:01:09 > 0:01:13Dreams can come true with a bit of hard work and financial assistance.
0:01:13 > 0:01:17If I didn't get that done, then this wouldn't have been possible.
0:01:17 > 0:01:19So it's a win-win situation, really.
0:01:23 > 0:01:25- Come on.- Today,
0:01:25 > 0:01:29a mum who paid the price for sticking her head in the sand.
0:01:29 > 0:01:33I was ignoring the bills and then, finally, I opened them,
0:01:33 > 0:01:36and my house had been repossessed.
0:01:37 > 0:01:38Hi. Good morning.
0:01:38 > 0:01:43- A school assistant helps her pupils squirrel away their savings.- Hello.
0:01:43 > 0:01:45Hi.
0:01:45 > 0:01:47Our children absolutely love it,
0:01:47 > 0:01:51they enjoy it and they can't wait for a Friday morning to come in with their savings.
0:01:51 > 0:01:57And a loan helps a pet fanatic turn his love of lizards into a thriving business.
0:01:57 > 0:02:02Absolutely obsessed with dinosaurs, so pretty sure that's where my love for reptiles has come from.
0:02:06 > 0:02:07How can I help you?
0:02:07 > 0:02:09I've come to pick up my loan.
0:02:11 > 0:02:14Most of us rely on some sort of credit.
0:02:14 > 0:02:19From quite a young age, I was relying on credit cards,
0:02:19 > 0:02:22and just continued throughout my 20s and kind of free-fall.
0:02:24 > 0:02:27Almost felt ashamed and out of control. You keep your debt to yourself,
0:02:27 > 0:02:31it's something you kind of quietly deal with behind closed doors.
0:02:32 > 0:02:37With unsecured debt in the UK approaching £200 billion,
0:02:37 > 0:02:41borrowing has become a part of daily life for many.
0:02:41 > 0:02:45Unfortunately, utilities are going up, food's going up,
0:02:45 > 0:02:48the only thing that doesn't seem to be going up is my salary.
0:02:48 > 0:02:55People with low incomes or bad credit ratings can find it difficult to borrow from traditional lenders.
0:02:55 > 0:02:58Some turn to payday loans or illegal money lenders,
0:02:58 > 0:03:03where a small high interest loan can soon spiral out of control.
0:03:05 > 0:03:07I knew there was absolutely no chance
0:03:07 > 0:03:11of any of the high streets banks giving me any money whatsoever.
0:03:12 > 0:03:14It took my wife and children away.
0:03:14 > 0:03:16It took the house I owned.
0:03:16 > 0:03:17It took my job.
0:03:18 > 0:03:20But there is another way to borrow.
0:03:20 > 0:03:25A growing number of responsible lenders are trying to help.
0:03:25 > 0:03:28Lanarkshire Credit Union, Maggie speaking.
0:03:28 > 0:03:35Credit unions have been lending money responsibly and encouraging people to save for over 50 years.
0:03:37 > 0:03:39Our rates with that 160, then,
0:03:39 > 0:03:43you can look at having the majority go to your loan
0:03:43 > 0:03:48and still be able to split it, so you have some going to your savings.
0:03:48 > 0:03:52- Savings as well.- So you've still got that build up of emergency fund.
0:03:53 > 0:03:57Together, these not-for-profit community banks
0:03:57 > 0:03:59have almost two million members
0:03:59 > 0:04:03and £1.25 billion out on loan.
0:04:03 > 0:04:05We are basically here to help the community.
0:04:05 > 0:04:09We are for the people that maybe the high street banks feel are too much
0:04:09 > 0:04:14of a risk. So we are willing to take that risk with these members
0:04:14 > 0:04:19and see, and hopefully, like, maybe rebuild their financial history
0:04:19 > 0:04:20as a whole.
0:04:26 > 0:04:29School assistant Megan has been sent here today
0:04:29 > 0:04:31on a very important mission
0:04:31 > 0:04:34by the pupils in her local primary.
0:04:35 > 0:04:39I'm here this morning because I work in a local primary school
0:04:39 > 0:04:42and about five years ago,
0:04:42 > 0:04:45a credit union came into the school and they introduced a savings scheme
0:04:45 > 0:04:49whereby the children could pay in as much or as little as they can.
0:04:49 > 0:04:54I'm here this morning to pay in the collection I've collected from the children.
0:04:54 > 0:04:58The London Mutual Credit Union plays an important role
0:04:58 > 0:05:01in its local community by joining forces with schools
0:05:01 > 0:05:06to teach the importance of good financial management from an early age.
0:05:06 > 0:05:11We think the junior savers are our next generation of our membership.
0:05:11 > 0:05:14We want the young children to save money
0:05:14 > 0:05:16and then buy the things they want,
0:05:16 > 0:05:20rather than borrowing money to buy the things they want.
0:05:20 > 0:05:24We have about 250 children in our school, it's a very small school.
0:05:24 > 0:05:27This has been collected now for about seven weeks,
0:05:27 > 0:05:32and the children have been putting in anything from £2 to £5, £10.
0:05:32 > 0:05:34It depends on how much spending money they get each week.
0:05:34 > 0:05:36- Hello.- Hiya.
0:05:38 > 0:05:42I have collected so far £620.
0:05:42 > 0:05:44And this is...
0:05:44 > 0:05:46what it looks like.
0:05:46 > 0:05:49- So that's how much, 620, yeah?- 620.
0:05:49 > 0:05:52Our children absolutely love it.
0:05:52 > 0:05:55They enjoy it and they can't wait for a Friday morning
0:05:55 > 0:05:57to come in with their savings.
0:05:57 > 0:06:02My grandson, he's saved £1,240, from Grandma, Grandad,
0:06:02 > 0:06:04birthdays, Christmas,
0:06:04 > 0:06:07and his dream is to buy a fancy car when he gets older.
0:06:07 > 0:06:10All done. All right. Thank you.
0:06:10 > 0:06:12- All right, thank you.- See you.
0:06:12 > 0:06:15It is absolutely necessary to encourage all children to save
0:06:15 > 0:06:18because then it gives them boosts later on.
0:06:18 > 0:06:21They also know about finances and how they should be cautious
0:06:21 > 0:06:24with spending money. It's really lovely, actually.
0:06:24 > 0:06:25We have great fun.
0:06:25 > 0:06:31It looks like these young savers have bright financial futures ahead of them.
0:06:35 > 0:06:40People borrow from responsible lenders for all sorts of reasons.
0:06:40 > 0:06:44I need a settee and two wardrobes.
0:06:45 > 0:06:50I need money for inflatables and party bags and that sort of stuff.
0:06:50 > 0:06:55I'm here to get a loan to have a nice holiday for me and my three boys and my husband.
0:06:57 > 0:07:01Across the country there are 55 community-based lenders
0:07:01 > 0:07:04that specialise in business start-up loans.
0:07:05 > 0:07:08They offer credit to would-be entrepreneurs
0:07:08 > 0:07:12who would find it difficult to borrow on the high street.
0:07:12 > 0:07:13When I wanted to go for a loan,
0:07:13 > 0:07:17I didn't choose a high street bank because I feel like banks
0:07:17 > 0:07:19cater to themselves and not to the borrower's needs.
0:07:20 > 0:07:24They are interested to see you grow, your business grow,
0:07:24 > 0:07:26and have that impact on the community.
0:07:28 > 0:07:30That's 13.48, please.
0:07:30 > 0:07:35To be taken seriously and be looked at as an individual,
0:07:35 > 0:07:37that makes all the difference.
0:07:40 > 0:07:43- Hold it?- Do you want to hold it?
0:07:46 > 0:07:49When Brett wanted to get his business off the ground,
0:07:49 > 0:07:53he turned to not-for-profit lender Lancashire Finance.
0:07:56 > 0:07:59Brett runs a pet shop in Chorley.
0:07:59 > 0:08:01If you're looking for four-legged friends,
0:08:01 > 0:08:06you'll find a lot more than just cats and dogs here.
0:08:06 > 0:08:10This is Zeus, an Argentine black-and-white tegu.
0:08:10 > 0:08:12He's absolutely brilliant. We treat him like a little dog.
0:08:12 > 0:08:14He's our shop dog, aren't you, mate?
0:08:14 > 0:08:17He's free to do what he wants. He's very solar-powered,
0:08:17 > 0:08:21so three or four hours under his lamp and he'll be scratching at his glass, wanting to come out,
0:08:21 > 0:08:23so we let him out, let him roam round the shop for a while.
0:08:23 > 0:08:25If it's warm enough, he'll help himself outside.
0:08:27 > 0:08:29People literally stop in the street, cross the road to stroke him
0:08:29 > 0:08:31and take pictures of him.
0:08:32 > 0:08:35Brett's love of animals started as a boy,
0:08:35 > 0:08:38when mum, Sonia, brought them home from the vet's where she worked.
0:08:40 > 0:08:43Everybody brought the waifs and strays to the house,
0:08:43 > 0:08:47and we hand-reared hedgehogs and baby birds and rabbits,
0:08:47 > 0:08:50and, you know, there's no such thing as a day off.
0:08:52 > 0:08:56We've hand-reared kittens, ducklings, bats, you know,
0:08:56 > 0:08:59all the weird and wonderful things. I've been always around animals
0:08:59 > 0:09:01and I've not realised it until I was older.
0:09:01 > 0:09:04I just felt that was the norm, everybody had pets in the house.
0:09:04 > 0:09:06That's what I thought it was.
0:09:06 > 0:09:11It was the weird and wonderful that really interested the young Brett.
0:09:11 > 0:09:13I was absolutely obsessed with dinosaurs,
0:09:13 > 0:09:16so I'm pretty sure that's where my love for reptiles has come from.
0:09:16 > 0:09:19Preparing food for about 16 different reptiles.
0:09:19 > 0:09:22We do this every morning, chop them up fresh.
0:09:27 > 0:09:30Knowing how much Brett loved lizards, one Christmas,
0:09:30 > 0:09:34Brett's mum, Sonia, bought him a pair of bearded dragons.
0:09:35 > 0:09:36We got told they were two females
0:09:36 > 0:09:38and it turned out to be male and female.
0:09:38 > 0:09:40That's when we got the first clutch of 28 eggs.
0:09:42 > 0:09:48Didn't expect a lot of eggs to hatch, but all 28 hatched so we soon became overrun with them.
0:09:49 > 0:09:52Brett needed a plan
0:09:52 > 0:09:54and he needed it fast.
0:09:54 > 0:09:56Couldn't just leave 28 dragons in my room.
0:09:56 > 0:09:59When they get bigger, they all need their own enclosures
0:09:59 > 0:10:03and it weren't physically possible to house 28 single reptiles.
0:10:03 > 0:10:07His solution was to commandeer a space in the family home,
0:10:07 > 0:10:10which became known as the reptile room.
0:10:10 > 0:10:13I've got eight tanks off eBay,
0:10:13 > 0:10:17they were just run-down old fish tanks with cracks in or weren't sealed or anything,
0:10:17 > 0:10:22so after that, we converted them all into reptile tanks and that's where the reptile room came from.
0:10:24 > 0:10:28The reptile room at home has got bigger and bigger and bigger and bigger.
0:10:30 > 0:10:33Having the reptile room, that's when my family were coming round and said,
0:10:33 > 0:10:36"You want to put a sign on the door saying it's called Brett's Pets,"
0:10:36 > 0:10:38and that's literally where the name came from.
0:10:38 > 0:10:42That's when we decided we needed a premises to sell them from,
0:10:42 > 0:10:43that's how the shop started.
0:10:47 > 0:10:49Brett needed money to set up shop.
0:10:49 > 0:10:53His first thought was to borrow from a traditional lender.
0:10:55 > 0:10:59When we first started looking to borrow money, we went to the bank.
0:10:59 > 0:11:01We weren't happy with the percentage and stuff,
0:11:01 > 0:11:03we ended up paying back a lot more.
0:11:04 > 0:11:08Then Brett heard about Lancashire Community Finance,
0:11:08 > 0:11:12a not-for-profit lender helping local people start up businesses.
0:11:15 > 0:11:17Its manager is Elaine Rimmer.
0:11:19 > 0:11:23With our start-up loans, we work with the clients one-to-one,
0:11:23 > 0:11:26it doesn't get fed into a computer,
0:11:26 > 0:11:29we look at every aspect of the business
0:11:29 > 0:11:34to ensure that that business has got a really viable chance of surviving.
0:11:36 > 0:11:43Brett impressed us with his knowledge of the creatures he was looking to breed,
0:11:43 > 0:11:47and also, the wider range of pets and animals.
0:11:47 > 0:11:50These are little chameleons, so their tongues are like two,
0:11:50 > 0:11:55three times their body length so they can catch bugs off the floor whilst they're in the trees.
0:11:55 > 0:11:57They seek cover and safety and height.
0:11:57 > 0:12:02- They're amazing. They can change colour with the different pigments in the skin.- Very cool.
0:12:04 > 0:12:09I think it was that passion for his subject matter. He was nervous,
0:12:09 > 0:12:15he was young, but he had this inner steel and inner confidence.
0:12:16 > 0:12:20Whilst they're young, we don't put water bowls in just for the risk of drowning,
0:12:20 > 0:12:22if their siblings stand on each other's heads,
0:12:22 > 0:12:26so we spray them gently to replicate the rainfall, really, and they all just go down, have a drink.
0:12:26 > 0:12:28Keeps them hydrated.
0:12:28 > 0:12:32I didn't think it was going to work but the more people we spoke to, the more they told us it would work.
0:12:36 > 0:12:37With money from his parents
0:12:37 > 0:12:41and an £11,000 loan from Lancashire Community Finance,
0:12:41 > 0:12:44Brett set about finding suitable premises.
0:12:45 > 0:12:49Quite exciting, but to be honest, we just got on eBay, got shelves,
0:12:49 > 0:12:54you know, carpets, we painted the entire building.
0:12:54 > 0:12:56We loved our first little shop.
0:12:56 > 0:12:58We really enjoyed it.
0:12:58 > 0:13:02We started off with a little pet shop where I did veterinary nursing
0:13:02 > 0:13:07services, so that was something we wanted to do because it was a unique selling point with a pet shop.
0:13:07 > 0:13:11And we also bred our own animals, so nothing was interbred or overbred.
0:13:12 > 0:13:16Thanks to the ethical loan and the support of his parents,
0:13:16 > 0:13:19Brett's Pets had become a reality.
0:13:19 > 0:13:21I've never had experience running a business.
0:13:21 > 0:13:24I was working in a petrol station and shops and stuff,
0:13:24 > 0:13:27so I was used to cash handling, tilling up and things like that.
0:13:27 > 0:13:32We didn't have any customer service training or anything like that,
0:13:32 > 0:13:34we just kind of all jumped in at the deep end.
0:13:36 > 0:13:38I've got two different ones, there's ten,
0:13:38 > 0:13:41there's a special offer on them as well, or there's the 43.
0:13:41 > 0:13:44Which are these? Petite?
0:13:44 > 0:13:46Yeah, they're both petite, these ones.
0:13:46 > 0:13:49Those would be better, the small ones.
0:13:49 > 0:13:50Yeah, two to seven.
0:13:50 > 0:13:56Three years later, Brett's business had outgrown its premises.
0:13:56 > 0:13:58As we progressed, a couple of years down the line,
0:13:58 > 0:14:00we noticed the profits going up
0:14:00 > 0:14:04and then they just kind of flatlined, so we knew that was the limit of that building,
0:14:04 > 0:14:07we knew that was all it could provide.
0:14:07 > 0:14:11Finding a new shop opened up a whole host of opportunities.
0:14:11 > 0:14:15We were looking for bigger premises for the shop and we walked in here,
0:14:15 > 0:14:17because it was up for rent at the time,
0:14:17 > 0:14:19and I remember Brett walking into the back,
0:14:19 > 0:14:22this was all a storage area at the time,
0:14:22 > 0:14:24he said, "Look at all this storage."
0:14:24 > 0:14:28It was like, "I can make a vet's in here," so we went from being...
0:14:28 > 0:14:31doing vet nurse services to literally planning,
0:14:31 > 0:14:33project designing the whole vet's.
0:14:35 > 0:14:38So I left him to run the pet shop and I run the vet's.
0:14:38 > 0:14:40Can't get away from me, can you, poor kid?
0:14:40 > 0:14:42We're pet lovers, we're not businesspeople,
0:14:42 > 0:14:44we're just pet lovers and fellow pet lovers come into the shop.
0:14:44 > 0:14:51Unbeknown to Brett, the staff at the community bank were watching his progress.
0:14:53 > 0:14:56Brett is a shining example of one of our success stories.
0:14:56 > 0:15:00We have tried to remain very much based in the community
0:15:00 > 0:15:02and following our original roots.
0:15:03 > 0:15:07Earlier this year, we nominated him for a responsible finance award
0:15:07 > 0:15:10in the under-25 micro entrepreneur section.
0:15:11 > 0:15:13At a glamorous awards ceremony,
0:15:13 > 0:15:18the family discovered that Brett's Pets had won the title.
0:15:19 > 0:15:22When we actually won it,
0:15:22 > 0:15:24walking up there, my heart literally fell out of my chest.
0:15:24 > 0:15:28Walking up to collect that in front of all of those people was just mind-blowing.
0:15:30 > 0:15:33Brett was delighted to win this award,
0:15:33 > 0:15:36which with it came a prize of £6,000,
0:15:36 > 0:15:39which he now has invested in his business.
0:15:39 > 0:15:43Hello, little fellow.
0:15:43 > 0:15:45Oh, look at that.
0:15:45 > 0:15:48That is beautiful, that.
0:15:48 > 0:15:52It's really lovely for us to be able to see that a young man who approached us
0:15:52 > 0:15:56in 2013 is now running such a successful business.
0:15:57 > 0:16:01Since then, the pet shop has gone from strength to strength.
0:16:07 > 0:16:12Responsible lenders don't just offer loans, they also encourage saving.
0:16:12 > 0:16:14Hi. Good morning.
0:16:14 > 0:16:17The number of Brits putting money aside for rainy day
0:16:17 > 0:16:20is at its lowest level in over 50 years,
0:16:20 > 0:16:22so encouraging people to save
0:16:22 > 0:16:26is an important part of a credit union's role.
0:16:26 > 0:16:30We encourage our members to save while they are paying the loan,
0:16:30 > 0:16:32it's just how the credit unions work.
0:16:33 > 0:16:39We had a number of members who are surprised to see the amount they saved every month.
0:16:39 > 0:16:42Hello. How are you?
0:16:42 > 0:16:43- Hi. Morning.- Hi.
0:16:43 > 0:16:48Someone well-practised at paying money in rather than taking it out
0:16:48 > 0:16:49is Etta.
0:16:49 > 0:16:53I came in to put some money into my savings,
0:16:53 > 0:16:59and I also would like to put some money into my current account.
0:16:59 > 0:17:03Etta's been a member of London Mutual for five years.
0:17:03 > 0:17:06I think the credit union is really good.
0:17:08 > 0:17:09- OK. There you go.- Thanks.
0:17:09 > 0:17:11Thank you very much.
0:17:13 > 0:17:16When you come here on an every day basis,
0:17:16 > 0:17:20I think staff know their customer and get to know you well.
0:17:20 > 0:17:21How much are you paying in?
0:17:21 > 0:17:25I'm paying into my saving 350.
0:17:25 > 0:17:27OK. Thank you.
0:17:27 > 0:17:34I am able to save and do things that normal banks do,
0:17:34 > 0:17:36so I'm quite happy here.
0:17:37 > 0:17:42- Check and sign that for me and that's gone in straightaway for you. - Thank you.
0:17:43 > 0:17:46- Thank you very much.- That's OK.
0:17:46 > 0:17:48- Have a nice day. Bye.- Bye.
0:17:50 > 0:17:54- Morning.- People often call on the credit union when unforeseen
0:17:54 > 0:17:57circumstances leave them short of money.
0:17:57 > 0:17:59Like mum Nicola.
0:17:59 > 0:18:01I just wanted to apply for a loan.
0:18:02 > 0:18:05- I've just got to log in for that for you, OK?- Yeah.
0:18:05 > 0:18:07I need a new fridge.
0:18:07 > 0:18:12It's just on its way out. I've had it for about ten years, so I need a new one and my son broke his bed.
0:18:12 > 0:18:14OK, how much would you like to apply for?
0:18:14 > 0:18:16I wanted to apply for a thousand.
0:18:17 > 0:18:20Right, the most they're offering you is 100.
0:18:20 > 0:18:22- Eight?- 100.
0:18:22 > 0:18:24- Is that it?- Yeah. You can appeal against it.
0:18:24 > 0:18:27They just offered me 100, which is not going to...
0:18:27 > 0:18:29it's not enough, so I just declined it.
0:18:29 > 0:18:32- Thank you.- All right, thanks. - See you, bye.
0:18:32 > 0:18:39At the credit union, we would love to offer everyone that applies for a loan the full amount,
0:18:39 > 0:18:43but we have to look at it at a point of view where we're trying to get them out of problems,
0:18:43 > 0:18:46so we're trying to give them a loan, yes,
0:18:46 > 0:18:49but also give them an affordable loan they can repay comfortably.
0:18:50 > 0:18:57Unfortunately, Nicola's still paying off an existing loan, so the credit union can't help her out today.
0:19:01 > 0:19:02Still to come -
0:19:02 > 0:19:06a grandad seeks a loan to take his grandkids on holiday...
0:19:06 > 0:19:10It's my grandchildren's first and second birthday.
0:19:13 > 0:19:16If they are good to me today, I will be eternally grateful.
0:19:16 > 0:19:20..the mum who tried to borrow her way out of debt...
0:19:21 > 0:19:25I had a mortgage to pay and I had no income.
0:19:25 > 0:19:29The rug was being pulled from underneath me and I didn't know what to do.
0:19:29 > 0:19:32..and after being treated for cancer,
0:19:32 > 0:19:36one woman takes a loan to train as a nurse so she can help others.
0:19:36 > 0:19:39Without the credit union,
0:19:39 > 0:19:42it wouldn't have been possible to take that first initial step
0:19:42 > 0:19:46and to give the university the money to get on to the course.
0:19:48 > 0:19:52For many of us, a mortgage is the biggest loan we'll ever take out
0:19:52 > 0:19:56and with the average house price at over £200,000,
0:19:56 > 0:20:00the thought of paying it off can be daunting.
0:20:00 > 0:20:04My biggest money worry would be paying the mortgage.
0:20:04 > 0:20:08I was lucky enough for my parents to have put some money aside for me
0:20:08 > 0:20:11and so they were able to offer me money to give me a deposit,
0:20:11 > 0:20:14which was obviously a lot of security, getting on the property ladder.
0:20:14 > 0:20:16We thought by buying a home,
0:20:16 > 0:20:19it would be a good idea and it's security for the future.
0:20:19 > 0:20:22One of the biggest problems is taking on a mortgage
0:20:22 > 0:20:25that's only just affordable,
0:20:25 > 0:20:28as money expert Caroline Hamilton explains.
0:20:29 > 0:20:32We know from our research that three-quarters of first-time buyers
0:20:32 > 0:20:35had to stretch themselves to be able to buy their property.
0:20:35 > 0:20:41One in five first-time buyers actually find themselves in financial difficulty.
0:20:41 > 0:20:45At the time that you buy a property, you've probably already drained your savings,
0:20:45 > 0:20:51you're trying to furnish a new home, so your savings are low but your costs are high.
0:20:51 > 0:20:54That can leave you really vulnerable to financial shocks.
0:20:54 > 0:20:57We also know that rates will rise at some point.
0:20:58 > 0:21:00So, when planning your mortgage,
0:21:00 > 0:21:02just think about how you might cope if...
0:21:02 > 0:21:05when interest rates start to rise.
0:21:05 > 0:21:12- Come on, Dot.- 57-year-old Sue knows only too well the cost of overstretching on a mortgage.
0:21:12 > 0:21:15With all the repossessions and all of the legal costs,
0:21:15 > 0:21:21I would say in total £260,000, with properties that I lost and everything.
0:21:22 > 0:21:26I was very financially naive.
0:21:26 > 0:21:29I didn't really know what the consequences were.
0:21:29 > 0:21:32Sue enjoyed a sheltered upbringing in rural Wales
0:21:32 > 0:21:35and never learned how to manage money properly.
0:21:35 > 0:21:38I remember asking, I must have been about seven, eight,
0:21:38 > 0:21:40if you ever asked what things cost,
0:21:40 > 0:21:45my dad would always say, "That's not for little girls to worry about."
0:21:46 > 0:21:51I had absolutely no idea about bill paying, budgeting...
0:21:51 > 0:21:55I think it was just assumed that I would marry quite well.
0:21:57 > 0:22:00In her 20s, Sue married and started a family.
0:22:02 > 0:22:04I met my husband when I was 18.
0:22:04 > 0:22:09His father worked for the firm that my father was a director of,
0:22:09 > 0:22:13and doing very well financially.
0:22:13 > 0:22:14There was always cash.
0:22:16 > 0:22:22I had two children very close together and I think I was suffering from postnatal depression,
0:22:22 > 0:22:26and finding life, physically, quite increasingly hard
0:22:26 > 0:22:31and deciding that actually, life would be easier without my husband.
0:22:31 > 0:22:33In your basket. Come on.
0:22:33 > 0:22:36So I thought I'd cope better on my own.
0:22:36 > 0:22:39Looking back, that probably was not the best decision I've ever made.
0:22:40 > 0:22:43In 1986, Sue ended the marriage.
0:22:43 > 0:22:45She had two young children
0:22:45 > 0:22:49and decided the solution to her financial needs was property.
0:22:53 > 0:22:58Somebody had told me about two flats that were on the market.
0:22:58 > 0:23:00I didn't know much about property prices,
0:23:00 > 0:23:01but they seemed to me to be very cheap
0:23:01 > 0:23:04and I could live in one and rent the other one out.
0:23:04 > 0:23:08Sue thought the rented-out flat would give her an income
0:23:08 > 0:23:11and a way of providing for her children.
0:23:11 > 0:23:14But things didn't go according to plan.
0:23:15 > 0:23:19I just wasn't very good at getting that rent,
0:23:19 > 0:23:22and I just knew I was too close and I needed to move out.
0:23:25 > 0:23:31Eventually, Sue put both flats on the market and found a buyer.
0:23:32 > 0:23:38While she was waiting to exchange contracts, she went ahead and bought a new family home.
0:23:39 > 0:23:42But then the flat sale fell through.
0:23:44 > 0:23:49The person who was buying my flat didn't complete,
0:23:49 > 0:23:50she exchanged contracts
0:23:50 > 0:23:54but she never actually came up with the money.
0:23:55 > 0:23:58Now Sue had three properties on her hands
0:23:58 > 0:24:01and desperately needed to sell the flats to pay for her new house.
0:24:03 > 0:24:06By then, actually, the bottom was dropping out of the property market.
0:24:06 > 0:24:08I had to auction them.
0:24:08 > 0:24:10The sum of money that came out of the auction
0:24:10 > 0:24:14didn't even cover what I owed the solicitor.
0:24:14 > 0:24:16The rug was being pulled from underneath me
0:24:16 > 0:24:18and I just didn't know what to do.
0:24:18 > 0:24:21While Sue struggled with her household finances,
0:24:21 > 0:24:24the bills continued to mount up.
0:24:24 > 0:24:27You deal with each thing as it lands on the mat,
0:24:27 > 0:24:31until there are too many things on the mat.
0:24:31 > 0:24:34In those days, they could cut your water off if you'd not paid your water rates.
0:24:34 > 0:24:37That was absolutely awful.
0:24:37 > 0:24:40If you can't even flush your toilet or boil the kettle
0:24:40 > 0:24:42or your children have a bath or shower,
0:24:42 > 0:24:43I can't tell you how that feels.
0:24:43 > 0:24:48As well as unpaid bills, Sue was racking up mortgage arrears.
0:24:48 > 0:24:51I was ignoring the bills and...
0:24:51 > 0:24:57then finally, I opened them and my house had been repossessed.
0:25:01 > 0:25:06Sue's ex-husband stepped in and paid off her arrears,
0:25:06 > 0:25:09allowing Sue to start again.
0:25:12 > 0:25:17Needing somewhere to live, Sue went ahead with buying another property.
0:25:17 > 0:25:21But once again, she struggled to cope.
0:25:21 > 0:25:24The time that most people would think should have been
0:25:24 > 0:25:29the best years of their lives, I didn't know where my next...
0:25:30 > 0:25:33..where my next penny was coming from.
0:25:33 > 0:25:38I was juggling the bills, again, and getting deeper into debt.
0:25:38 > 0:25:41On paper I thought I could do it, but I couldn't
0:25:41 > 0:25:43and that house was again repossessed.
0:25:45 > 0:25:49And I had to ask my son would he live with his father.
0:25:49 > 0:25:52He was 17 and I was exhausted.
0:26:02 > 0:26:07To pay off what she owed, Sue had to take on a second job
0:26:07 > 0:26:10as well as consolidating her debts with a loan.
0:26:12 > 0:26:15Eventually, Sue was debt-free
0:26:15 > 0:26:17and with her children now grown up,
0:26:17 > 0:26:21she was also footloose and fancy free.
0:26:21 > 0:26:23To be debt-free was lovely.
0:26:23 > 0:26:26I backpacked all round South America
0:26:26 > 0:26:33and found that actually I didn't need a house, a nice house,
0:26:33 > 0:26:35I didn't need all of those things
0:26:35 > 0:26:38that I'd felt that I'd lost or could have had.
0:26:38 > 0:26:41I'd been on my own for 22 years by then,
0:26:41 > 0:26:45and then I met a man who was amazing.
0:26:45 > 0:26:47We got married.
0:26:49 > 0:26:54Between the two of us, we continue to work really, really hard
0:26:54 > 0:26:56and it's paid off.
0:26:56 > 0:26:59I've got an absolutely squeaky clean credit rating
0:26:59 > 0:27:02and it's like I wear it like a halo.
0:27:05 > 0:27:08Now Sue works at her local credit union.
0:27:08 > 0:27:09Hi.
0:27:09 > 0:27:14Trying to help people avoid the financial pitfalls she fell into.
0:27:14 > 0:27:17Are you still with the old bank or not?
0:27:17 > 0:27:20I've been there, I've known what it is like to have no respect
0:27:20 > 0:27:24from anybody because you've got no money and no access to anything,
0:27:24 > 0:27:28and having to be living from pound to pound.
0:27:28 > 0:27:29You're welcome, bye-bye.
0:27:31 > 0:27:35What happened to me could, I think, happen to anybody.
0:27:39 > 0:27:42Over 7,500 homes were repossessed last year.
0:27:42 > 0:27:47Experts say the last thing you should do is bury your head in the sand.
0:27:47 > 0:27:50The quicker you talk to your lender, the better.
0:27:50 > 0:27:53Lenders are obliged to treat their customers fairly,
0:27:53 > 0:27:57that's a requirement by their regulator, so if you are struggling,
0:27:57 > 0:28:00then it's definitely worth having that conversation with them,
0:28:00 > 0:28:03to let them know you might have a problem.
0:28:04 > 0:28:07Ultimately lenders want their money back,
0:28:07 > 0:28:09so they want you to repay that money,
0:28:09 > 0:28:13and even if it means you take slightly longer and pay them slightly more in interest, you know,
0:28:13 > 0:28:17them having the confidence you'll pay that money back is the important thing.
0:28:17 > 0:28:19If you have started to fall behind on payments,
0:28:19 > 0:28:21there are things that you can do,
0:28:21 > 0:28:24your lender will want to negotiate with you and work with you
0:28:24 > 0:28:26to bring the payments back up-to-date,
0:28:26 > 0:28:30but if you want some help to plan that conversation,
0:28:30 > 0:28:34know what your rights are and even work out what you can afford to offer your lender.
0:28:34 > 0:28:37You might want to speak to an independent debt advice specialist.
0:28:37 > 0:28:40There's details of lots of free, high quality debt advice
0:28:40 > 0:28:43organisations on the Money Advice Service website.
0:28:43 > 0:28:48Just because you're starting to fall behind on your mortgage doesn't mean to say you'll lose your home.
0:28:48 > 0:28:50There's lots of things that can be done.
0:28:52 > 0:28:56So if you think you may struggle, speak to them, pay what you can
0:28:56 > 0:28:58and see if you can come to some kind of arrangement.
0:28:58 > 0:29:01I think the key thing is, as soon as you think you might be having money
0:29:01 > 0:29:05worries, is getting a handle on your budget, sorting out your spending,
0:29:05 > 0:29:07stopping any unnecessary spending
0:29:07 > 0:29:11and focusing on paying down the money that you've borrowed
0:29:11 > 0:29:15is really key and, of course, there is free debt help out there.
0:29:15 > 0:29:16Get it if you need it.
0:29:23 > 0:29:27Credit unions and community banks try to help people who struggle
0:29:27 > 0:29:30to borrow through the traditional routes.
0:29:33 > 0:29:35Hello. Can I help you?
0:29:35 > 0:29:38I'm applying to get a top-up on my loan.
0:29:38 > 0:29:43Because they look into all aspects of an applicant's history and situation, a poor credit rating,
0:29:43 > 0:29:50low income or being on benefits doesn't necessarily mean someone can't borrow money.
0:29:50 > 0:29:53Some people do have a really good credit scoring,
0:29:53 > 0:29:56but we know the majority don't, otherwise, they wouldn't be here.
0:29:57 > 0:30:01Yes, we do look at their repayment history elsewhere
0:30:01 > 0:30:05with other lenders, but as long as someone has a good history with us,
0:30:05 > 0:30:08nine times out of ten we can help them out.
0:30:08 > 0:30:1151, 53.
0:30:15 > 0:30:19To become a member of a credit union, you need to live,
0:30:19 > 0:30:21work or study in the local area.
0:30:24 > 0:30:27London Capital Credit Union, how can I help you?
0:30:27 > 0:30:32In the case of London Capital, that's anyone in north London.
0:30:32 > 0:30:35Could you confirm your address, please?
0:30:35 > 0:30:38One of the oldest credit unions in Britain,
0:30:38 > 0:30:42they have been helping local people since the 1960s.
0:30:42 > 0:30:47I love to see people come into the credit union and just to say to us
0:30:47 > 0:30:49what we've done for them.
0:30:49 > 0:30:51I'm pleased to tell you the loan's been approved.
0:30:51 > 0:30:55I notice on your bank statement that there's debt management
0:30:55 > 0:30:58- for £15.- That's right. It's been paid off now.
0:30:58 > 0:31:00It's been paid off?
0:31:00 > 0:31:04I love to work with people who have problems,
0:31:04 > 0:31:07because, you know, I've been there before when I was younger.
0:31:07 > 0:31:11I was in debt when I was much, much younger, like, in my 20s.
0:31:11 > 0:31:14Sometimes you don't know the value of money and you spend,
0:31:14 > 0:31:19so I've been in situations and I've worn that shoe before
0:31:19 > 0:31:22so I can understand and I do have a pity for them.
0:31:25 > 0:31:30One member hoping for a small loan today is doting grandfather Antony.
0:31:30 > 0:31:33We want to go on holiday to Spain,
0:31:33 > 0:31:37plus, it's my grandchildren's first and second birthday.
0:31:37 > 0:31:42Antony has been saving with the credit union for over ten years.
0:31:42 > 0:31:47I've always found them very fair and the money's always been there when I've wanted it.
0:31:48 > 0:31:54The average UK family spends over a month's salary on their summer holiday.
0:31:54 > 0:31:57For many, it's their biggest annual outlay.
0:31:57 > 0:32:02If I didn't get the loan today, I would be very upset,
0:32:02 > 0:32:07but if they are good to me today, I will be eternally grateful.
0:32:07 > 0:32:11It is up to manager Martin to decide if Antony can have his loan.
0:32:14 > 0:32:17Right. Who's next, please? Hello, Antony, how are you?
0:32:17 > 0:32:19- Not too bad.- Good. Keeping well?
0:32:19 > 0:32:20- Yes, very well.- Good.
0:32:20 > 0:32:22- What brings you in?- I'd like a loan.
0:32:22 > 0:32:25OK. What are you applying for?
0:32:25 > 0:32:27- £2,000.- £2,000.
0:32:27 > 0:32:28Okey dokey.
0:32:28 > 0:32:30What is the purpose of the loan?
0:32:30 > 0:32:33It's a holiday and notable birthdays.
0:32:33 > 0:32:34Which notable birthday?
0:32:34 > 0:32:36My grandchildren's first and second.
0:32:36 > 0:32:38Oh, lovely. I thought it was going to be one of your biggies.
0:32:38 > 0:32:40I was going to tease you about it,
0:32:40 > 0:32:41but there you go. OK.
0:32:41 > 0:32:44Great stuff. Let's have a look. You've got all the forms filled in.
0:32:44 > 0:32:46You know what to do.
0:32:46 > 0:32:47- I do.- OK.
0:32:47 > 0:32:50You're increasing the payments a little.
0:32:50 > 0:32:52- I am.- That will help you to keep the interest down.
0:32:52 > 0:32:56OK, I'll just go through this while you wait, actually,
0:32:56 > 0:32:58- if that's all right?- No problem.
0:32:58 > 0:32:59Here's your account.
0:32:59 > 0:33:03You can see you've got quite a sizeable sum of savings there, which is always nice.
0:33:03 > 0:33:05- Still in the same job? - I certainly am.
0:33:05 > 0:33:07Okey dokey. Right.
0:33:07 > 0:33:10I just need to go through your bank statements.
0:33:12 > 0:33:15Just as a thought, your credit cards,
0:33:15 > 0:33:17both very expensive compared with us,
0:33:17 > 0:33:21so if you've got a balance, you might want to talk to us about transferring.
0:33:21 > 0:33:24- No problem.- We'll save you some money on that.
0:33:24 > 0:33:25Just take a seat over there.
0:33:25 > 0:33:28- Thank you very much.- Take care.
0:33:28 > 0:33:31Martin now needs to crunch the numbers.
0:33:31 > 0:33:35It's a sizeable sum but not unusual for us to do this.
0:33:37 > 0:33:38All the loan applications,
0:33:38 > 0:33:41we just have a quick look at his track record with ourself,
0:33:41 > 0:33:43we also make sure that we have a look at affordability.
0:33:43 > 0:33:45The key thing is about affordability.
0:33:45 > 0:33:48We don't want to encourage people to borrow when it's not affordable
0:33:48 > 0:33:52and we want to try and see people building up their savings so they borrow less.
0:33:52 > 0:33:55This is a classic case of where somebody's been using...
0:33:55 > 0:33:58transferring debts from other places
0:33:58 > 0:34:01and has built up a sizeable sum of savings for the future.
0:34:01 > 0:34:04I just now need to get somebody else to have a look at this loan
0:34:04 > 0:34:06because it's over my personal approval limit.
0:34:08 > 0:34:11Anthea, could you just have a quick look?
0:34:11 > 0:34:12It's slightly over my limit.
0:34:12 > 0:34:15OK.
0:34:15 > 0:34:20Antony will have to wait a little longer to see if he'll be able to borrow the money.
0:34:25 > 0:34:30Across the UK, credit unions operate as financial co-operatives
0:34:30 > 0:34:32built on the efforts of volunteers.
0:34:33 > 0:34:36Each have their own personal reasons for being there.
0:34:37 > 0:34:39The reason I wanted to start helping out is that
0:34:39 > 0:34:43I didn't want other people to do what I did,
0:34:43 > 0:34:47and if I can help people by not getting into that situation,
0:34:47 > 0:34:48even one person,
0:34:48 > 0:34:50for me,
0:34:50 > 0:34:52it's helped someone else
0:34:52 > 0:34:54not do what I did.
0:34:55 > 0:34:57I knew where I was at
0:34:57 > 0:35:01was a bad place and the credit union was a very good idea.
0:35:01 > 0:35:07I couldn't do a lot about where I was at in some ways, but I could do something.
0:35:07 > 0:35:12I saw it as a long-term investment in myself and for others.
0:35:16 > 0:35:19At the moment, you've got 867 in your savings.
0:35:20 > 0:35:2746-year-old Kate started volunteering at her local credit union in Glasgow ten years ago
0:35:27 > 0:35:29when she lost her job.
0:35:30 > 0:35:35I have been volunteering on and off for around ten year now
0:35:35 > 0:35:37with the credit union.
0:35:37 > 0:35:41It's definitely helped me with my confidence,
0:35:41 > 0:35:46learning to meet people in my community, and the people that work at the credit union
0:35:46 > 0:35:47I consider to be my friends.
0:35:47 > 0:35:52She was soon back in work, but Kate carried on volunteering.
0:35:52 > 0:35:58Then in 2014, her life was turned upside down.
0:35:58 > 0:36:05I was 44 when I was diagnosed with breast cancer in October 2014.
0:36:07 > 0:36:10And started six rounds of chemotherapy,
0:36:10 > 0:36:15mastectomy and reconstruction and three weeks of radiotherapy.
0:36:18 > 0:36:22Can't really praise the doctors and nurses and the support team enough.
0:36:25 > 0:36:31So they never let you think you are facing it on your own, so, yeah.
0:36:31 > 0:36:32Amazing.
0:36:34 > 0:36:38Kate had to give up work while undergoing treatment.
0:36:38 > 0:36:43It was during this time she was inspired to follow a new career in nursing.
0:36:43 > 0:36:49I'd lots of time to reflect on the direction my life was going in.
0:36:49 > 0:36:56My gran had nursed prisoners of war that came out of Belsen,
0:36:56 > 0:37:00one of the Nazi death camps during the Second World War.
0:37:01 > 0:37:07I knew that she'd done a lot of fairly heroic things, which is always
0:37:07 > 0:37:10inspiration when you hear stories like that.
0:37:11 > 0:37:16To work as a nurse, Kate needed a nursing degree.
0:37:16 > 0:37:19Before she could be accepted to do that,
0:37:19 > 0:37:24she had to pass what's called an access course in biology and chemistry.
0:37:24 > 0:37:30In order to fund the course, I had to find £400 to pay the fees,
0:37:30 > 0:37:36which is quite a lot of money to consider spending on any one thing at a time.
0:37:36 > 0:37:40Having not worked for several months, money was tight,
0:37:40 > 0:37:44so Kate turned to the credit union for help.
0:37:44 > 0:37:50I was aware that as long as I had been paying regular amounts into the
0:37:50 > 0:37:56credit union, then you can borrow up to double what you have saved
0:37:56 > 0:37:59and pay it back over whatever period of time's necessary,
0:37:59 > 0:38:02with very little interest added on.
0:38:02 > 0:38:07It was credit union worker Tammy Barrett who came to Kate's assistance.
0:38:07 > 0:38:08We were Kate's only option.
0:38:08 > 0:38:13She had been ill, she had been unemployed and there was nowhere else she could have went,
0:38:13 > 0:38:15and when we had a look at what Kate had and decided, yeah,
0:38:15 > 0:38:19we can do this for you, and it was a life-changing opportunity for her
0:38:19 > 0:38:22because it made her realise she was going to manage to achieve her dream.
0:38:22 > 0:38:24Without the credit union,
0:38:24 > 0:38:28it wouldn't have been possible to take that first initial step
0:38:28 > 0:38:32and to give the university the money to get on to the course.
0:38:32 > 0:38:35It's great being able to help people do things like that.
0:38:35 > 0:38:38That's why we have a unique difference from other financial institutions.
0:38:38 > 0:38:40We're not here to push loans on people,
0:38:40 > 0:38:42but we're here to help people when they most need it,
0:38:42 > 0:38:44and knowing you have helped somebody,
0:38:44 > 0:38:50whether it be to get an education or to help buy a car or kids' school uniform, whatever it may be,
0:38:50 > 0:38:53it's lovely knowing you've helped that person - not you personally,
0:38:53 > 0:38:56but the whole organisation has helped that person to maybe realise
0:38:56 > 0:38:59they could realise a big dream they've had for a long time,
0:38:59 > 0:39:02and knowing you are part of it makes you feel good.
0:39:02 > 0:39:05It's been a long journey, but one that's starting to pay off.
0:39:05 > 0:39:09At the moment, I'm preparing for my final exams.
0:39:09 > 0:39:13I have a conditional offer from Glasgow University,
0:39:13 > 0:39:19which means I just need to get the grades necessary
0:39:19 > 0:39:21and hopefully should be starting in September.
0:39:21 > 0:39:25It's been a very exciting time for me.
0:39:25 > 0:39:29It's just given me a whole new direction and purpose to my life,
0:39:29 > 0:39:33and although it can be a little bit stressful,
0:39:33 > 0:39:37it's stressful in a good way and it's just been...
0:39:37 > 0:39:40the whole experience has just been fantastic.
0:39:41 > 0:39:46I can definitely picture myself graduating in four years' time
0:39:46 > 0:39:50and being in a place where I can support other people
0:39:50 > 0:39:52the way that I've been supported.
0:39:59 > 0:40:01At London Capital Credit Union,
0:40:01 > 0:40:07Antony is hoping to be accepted for a small loan to throw his grandkids a birthday party.
0:40:07 > 0:40:09Yeah, thank you very much.
0:40:09 > 0:40:13I've always got it because the credit union is a marvellous place.
0:40:14 > 0:40:17If I get the loan today, I would feel elated.
0:40:17 > 0:40:20Being able to pay for the flights, the holiday,
0:40:20 > 0:40:23and funding my grandchildren's first and second birthdays.
0:40:29 > 0:40:31OK, Antony, would you like to come over?
0:40:33 > 0:40:35Pleased to tell you your loan's been approved.
0:40:35 > 0:40:40- Thank you very much.- You can get your holiday and enjoy the grandchildren's birthdays.
0:40:40 > 0:40:44You know the ropes. We have the sum you're borrowing,
0:40:44 > 0:40:45plus your existing balance,
0:40:45 > 0:40:49there's the new balance. Be paid off over 33 months,
0:40:49 > 0:40:53the total interest is £225 a month to your loan
0:40:53 > 0:40:56and £50 to your savings.
0:40:56 > 0:40:58That'll go to your main account now.
0:40:58 > 0:41:01Remember, you can't touch your savings in account one while you have the loan.
0:41:01 > 0:41:05If you're happy, you need to sign and date there on both copies, please.
0:41:05 > 0:41:07It's fairly straightforward for us.
0:41:07 > 0:41:11You're obviously going to pay less money than you would be if you were paying on those credit cards.
0:41:11 > 0:41:14You've got a good track record with us, which is why we approved the loan.
0:41:14 > 0:41:16It's done on that, rather than credit score, obviously.
0:41:16 > 0:41:19- Thank you very much.- You've not changed bank accounts, have you?
0:41:19 > 0:41:22- No.- OK, this money will go to your bank account,
0:41:22 > 0:41:24should be in your account later today.
0:41:29 > 0:41:31- There we go, Martin.- That's lovely.
0:41:31 > 0:41:34Give me that one, there's your loan agreement,
0:41:34 > 0:41:36there's all your original documentation.
0:41:36 > 0:41:38There's an envelope to pop it in to keep it all safe.
0:41:38 > 0:41:40- Thank you very much. - You keep hold of this.
0:41:40 > 0:41:42We'll send this off, this will come in the post to you.
0:41:42 > 0:41:45- No problem.- Cut the credit cards up and use this one instead.
0:41:45 > 0:41:47- I certainly will.- You'll save a lot of money.
0:41:47 > 0:41:49OK? Thanks very much, take care.
0:41:49 > 0:41:50Thank you very much, Martin.
0:41:50 > 0:41:52- See you soon.- Bye-bye.
0:41:52 > 0:41:53Byesy-bye.
0:41:55 > 0:41:58This, for me, is a very straightforward accept.
0:41:58 > 0:42:01A quick look at his bank statements show that the member's managing his
0:42:01 > 0:42:05money sensibly and understands what he's doing.
0:42:06 > 0:42:08It went very well.
0:42:08 > 0:42:10I got what I wanted.
0:42:10 > 0:42:14I've never ever been let down by the credit union before and I'm actually
0:42:14 > 0:42:19over the moon. Words can't express what I'm feeling at the moment.
0:42:19 > 0:42:22My family will be overjoyed for me.
0:42:22 > 0:42:25And they will be happy that they're going on holiday,
0:42:25 > 0:42:29and that the party is going to be a great party and it's going to be a great day.
0:42:34 > 0:42:38Since our filming, Kate has finished paying off her loan,
0:42:38 > 0:42:44she's passed her exams and she's secured her place at Glasgow University to do nursing.
0:42:47 > 0:42:51Brett's Pets has taken delivery of these very cute dwarf hamsters...
0:42:52 > 0:42:56..and Sue has been taken on full-time by the credit union...
0:42:57 > 0:43:02..where she loves helping people avoid the financial pitfalls she fell into.
0:43:02 > 0:43:06What happened to me could, I think, happen to anybody.