Hi I'm Chanel, one of the journalists at Meng's Radio. Welcome to the latest edition of Meng's Radio Newscast. I'm Paul DeWeird. I'm Fraser Kinley. I'm Zoey Bostock. I'm Kim Fields. Tell me about so you guys have done the debt course. Before I even start with you two, Paul tell me about the debt course. Well we run a budgeting course because as an organisation we give debt advice to people who've got financial problems who have difficulties with debt, the budgeting course is about running your own finances and taking control of your finances. So you can come on a budgeting course whether or not you have debts and indeed it's often more suitable for people who don't because it's all about taking control. It's about managing your own money. Right and have you guys noticed that more people, ever since we've been having this conversation around the budgeting courses, have more people kind of taken an interest to it? Most definitely. We have had a lot more people contacting the office and when they do, you know, what's some of their concerns or what's some of the main reasons for wanting that help? I think particularly this time of year people are worried about the cost of heating over the winter and how they're going to manage their budgets with that and the increasing food prices, everything really is adding up for them and causing more of a concern. And Paul would you like to add on there? From doing the budgeting course, you know, what have you noticed, speaking to people, what's the trends of the fears there? Well it's always a complicated pattern because really people's financial position, anybody's financial position, is kind of a byproduct of your life. So if you find that your health is giving you problems or you're having difficulties finding employment, financial problem is going to follow from that. So there's always a varied pattern of reasons for people coming to us. They're seldom a single trigger. And the last budgeting, not this previous one, but the one before that would have been what about between three and six months prior? Yeah, probably about six months previously. And from, what have you noticed from the previous one to the one that you've just done, aside the fact that people's fears are more heightened, you know, can people make it? Are people genuinely just trying to find reasons to stay afloat? People always have to have to focus on money to stay on top of it. I think we live in a society that always encourages people to spend quickly and thoughtlessly and makes it easy to spend money without thinking and giving yourself the opportunity to stand back, look at the bigger picture and think, okay, what are my priorities? Are there ways that I can increase my income? Am I focusing the money I have got on the things that matter most to me? That always makes a difference in people's lives. And if I can't ask, you know, have you noticed, is there like a certain age group that you've noticed that comes more that that's more interested in these budgeting courses? Are you seeing younger? Are you seeing older? Is there a mix? I think there are trigger points in people's lives when they focus on it. So we get people who are near retirement who are thinking, okay, I'm not going to be, you know, earning a regular salary in a little while, I'm going to be moving on to a pension. What does that mean for me? But we also get a lot younger people, maybe people who are starting a family or people who are finding that they've got young children and that's impacted their expenses, of course, but also impacted their earning ability. And so that that change of gear in their life prompts them to join in. And what would you say is your, what is one piece of information that you give people that's maybe invaluable when it comes to getting there budgeting? It's, I would say it's accepting that you're not perfect and you're never going to be perfect. Knowing where maybe you have a weakness in terms of spending things and being prepared to accept that you like that and live with it, not beating yourself up. In fact, I think not beating yourself up is probably the single most important step to take in terms of taking control. Wow, would you like to add on to any of that? I think spending more time in your bank statements to actually see where money is going is important because it's so easy now to use your card and tap on machines. You're not taking out receipts and looking at them. So by spending that time looking at your bank statements, you're realizing all of a sudden, oh, did I really spend that much in that area? And yeah, I think recognizing your own spending habits is one of the best things you can do to help with your budget. Right, so thank you both so much for agreeing to be interviewed. Can you share with us what made you both sign up for the budgeting course? Do you want to start carrying on? Well, I was struggling. Basically, just, I couldn't work out really. Well, I knew where the money was going, but it was just why it was letting it happen. I would beat him as I wrote basically knowing what I was doing, but I just didn't seem to be able to stop it and needed the support to get control. And the course was advertised and I'd gone to the Salvation Army for help. And I felt that it was probably an appropriate way to try and get back in control. I'm crazy for you. Sure, for me, I was kind of doing okay financially, but I saw it and I thought, no, let me, this sounded like I wanted to get ideas and tips to take better control because my money seemed to be going out the window faster than like, wait, I shouldn't. Where is it? What's happening? And it's just, it has given me better control of your me tips on, like you mentioned, the statements and things like that. And not to be so impulsive by anything. Oh, I'd like that and kind of take a step back and do I really need that? And yeah, it's been very helpful. How easy is it for a person to actually raise their hand and say, actually, I do need some sort of assistance, so I do need guidance. It's not easy. It's not easy. I mean, mine sort of started with ill health and went downhill from there. And because I'd been working, it was the big drop in salary to pension and never had to budget or anything before. And suddenly, you're on half the money and you manage it first because you've got savings and things like that. And then just suddenly, there's just not the money there. Would you like to add on the present? Ah, yeah, I guess for me, like I've got family, you know, not living here in the island and I'd like to go visit and I almost seem to have an excuse why I can't do it. It's like, I've got the money, but it's all being spent elsewhere. So just trying to allocate the funds to put it in different places to hang on to it better. That's really helped me. How important is it, you know, to be able to realize that sooner rather than later to be able to say, okay, I need to budget X amount towards this X amount towards that. How vital is it for a person, you know, in the long run? I think it's very important for me. I've been very impulsive. And oh, that looks good. And there's that old saying, oh, you only live once. It's like, why can't just live on that? So I'll never, my long term girls won't happen if I'm almost like impulsively, you know, you live once. And yeah, so it can't be hard, but I'm like slowly learning. It gets easier with time just to make yourself do it. Karen, if I can come back to you, you mentioned, you know, being, you know, finishing work and then going on to that pension. Is it more difficult now for people, especially under the whole cost of living crisis that we're under? Yeah, I think so, because everything's getting dearer, but the pensions don't increase the same rate as, as all the food going up and everything, the cost of heating and things. And with my conditions, I have to stay warm and things like that. So you do worry about the cost of heating and things and trying to allocate a way of being able to stay on top of things. And that worries me a great deal. Oh, sorry, you're going to add anything on there? Well, I'm, as Fraser was talking about being able to visit relatives, I don't have anybody on the island in the way of family. So for me to save up, to go away is something that has a great consideration because it does take a while to put money to one side, to go away. And my parents are quite elderly and obviously to get across in a, in a hurry, that that is difficult if you haven't got the money already. I can also understand the stress that it also puts on you because you're focusing on I have to raise X amount just in order to go home and then I need money on top of that as well. What's some of the top tips that you guys have learned through the course and have you, have you been able to implement that in your day to day lives? I was thrilled after the first session, a couple of people in the course mentioned, I mean, groceries delivered rather than going and it's like, oh, let me try that. And it stops the impulsiveness. And I found that was like, oh, let me give it a go. And I was going every week. And then, because I'm not driving, taking a taxi home, well, this way I spend, I pay a small fee. And then I decide I just do a bigger shop twice a month. So that bang off the first session. I've learned to save. That's a big savings right there. Oh, gosh. Yeah, that's the main thing, like right off the bat. That was the first thing. And yeah. Do you mind me asking? Sure. 100% if you don't want to answer, tell me. I don't want to answer. Would you mind telling me, like, through that small change, are you finding yourself saving maybe like 200 pounds a month or 100 pounds a week? Oh, definitely. I would say closer to 200 pounds a month, because it was approximately 10 pounds. Taxi fare, one way, coming home. And then with, I'd have a shopping list, but there was always, oh, that chocolate cake looks nice. Oh, I haven't had that in ages. It's like, now it's just, okay, I need this, this, this, and it's a strictly, and it does pop up when you go to the cashier part. It does give you like other, you know, something sort of impulsive, but it's not the same as being there and smelling it and seeing it. And so that's meant for me. It's been great. Yeah. I still go into the supermarket, but you do still find myself with the odd, like, package yum doughnuts. I haven't got half, yeah, leaving the jam doughnuts on the show. Oh, it's fine. It's a little treat. But, um, is there anything that you've been able to implement in your, in your day to day? Yeah, it's, it's kind of keeping away from the internet shopping. That's the first stage of that, the big thing is keeping away from the internet. And I think as soon as I had got some internet shopping already done, and once the parcels delivered, it's kind of agreed with my closest friend, we're going to delete the company that wants the last come, parcel come. We are actually going to delete it off my computer. That's very brave. I try and do a one month, a treat for myself. I have to watch that in. Yeah, we tried budgeting like so much or it was allowed a month, but it didn't work. So we're going to delete them. And then if I need something for my jewelry making or something like that, then we'll see later on about a single order or something like that. But that currently, I think if we're enough to keep, we go in for the next 12 months, so it shouldn't be an issue. Um, in this current economy that we're in, how difficult is it to stick to that budget or to keep and stick to that budget? Not easy. I don't think it'd be easy for anybody. Yeah. Never mind those who are already struggling. I think, I think everybody is probably struggling nowadays. Yeah. Everything's jumped up since COVID. Yeah. And like you mentioned like wages or pension or whatever, it's not keeping up with it. And you get an estimate for something to be done at the house and it's like, whoa, I can't afford that. And yeah, it's crazy. So. Is this this budgeting course? Is this something you wish you would have done at a younger stage? Oh, definitely. And then is it something that you then recommend or advise some of the youngsters to actually start looking into from an earlier age? So there, you know, much wiser. Definitely. Yeah, I would recommend it to anyone. But I had the pressure. My sister is a bookkeeper by trade her own business. And it's like, I can't do that. I don't like numbers. Well, I just made myself I went to this course like, Oh, it was just my own ideas in my head that were putting me off the fear factor. And it's just facing it and putting all your telling all your bills together and what you've got coming in and out. And not nearly as bad. It was more the thoughts in my head were worse than how it really is. Our own worst enemy when it comes to our own money. And I think that's what stops us. I think following on from that, and I was just going to ask, is there a stigma? You know, you signed up for it. But days before it, did you think, Oh, no, do I really want to go? How are people going to react to me? You know, is there a stigma about our perception of how you'd be welcomed compared to how you're actually welcomed when you do go there? I didn't find it. But then I had already met some of the people who were going to be running the course because I contacted the Salvation Army previously. But they were so welcoming and there was nothing to make you feel unwelcome and the bacon butts were lovely. Would you like to add any? Sure. Yeah, for me, I had not been there before. And when I phoned, I saw the advertisers said, Well, what the heck? Let me try it. And I kept running the lady's name on the phone. I spoke with a very friendly and helpful. And then when I went the first day, like you mentioned, everyone so welcoming and friendly, I felt right at ease. And yeah, no problem. Right. Now, Paul listening to Fraser and Karen share their stories, share what they've been through and how it's helped them and how they've adapted it. You know, being the person that runs this debt course, what goes through your mind when you look at them and listen to their story, you hear about some of the challenges? Well, I always love hearing people's stories, particularly, I mean, when those of us who are talking on the course are talking, we talk about our own experiences and some of our own worst purchasing decisions. Just to remind people that we're not talking for a position of knowing everything ourselves. It's always good having the sessions where they're kind of interactive because people come up with great ideas. I mean, we always talk about your saving ideas. And we talk about meal planning. On a previous course, we had a participant say, Well, actually, I don't do meal planning. I go to the supermarket when everything's marked down. I see what's there. And I then make up a meal from what's available at a discounted price. So she'd gone instead of for a strategic meal planning approach. She'd gone for a tactical, let's see what's cheap and have that approach. We have people at this course say that one of the ways that they tried to improve their income was by doing some dog sitting and dog walking. You know, there's always fresh ideas coming out from people that get shared. So it's never the same twice over. And that's great. And I guess you always kind of have to be creative in this current economy of, OK, what can I do? What can I change? How can I make it a little bit easier for myself? Yeah, absolutely. Absolutely. And hearing other people's experiences, you think, yeah, yeah, that's great. As Fraser said about buying online rather than going to the supermarket, you hear that somebody else has made something work? And you think, yeah, I could try that. So you've done the work. You've done the work with the participants. You've given them the knowledge that you have when they're out on their own, maybe a few weeks from now, a few months from now, how difficult is it or not difficult, you know, trying to stay on track to that budget. It's the word difficult. You know, just in order for them to keep themselves on track. Does that make sense? Yeah, we try to run a sort of follow-up coffee morning a few months on to getting touch with people. But if people really have problems, they've got contact details and they can always come back. But often, I think we're staying in control of your money. Sometimes, even if you don't keep up with the formal budgeting, once you've done the process and you've, the thinking that goes into the process will actually help you in the future. So if you are not in a situation where you're in debt and really struggling, then often just changing your thought processes is enough. All right. I understand we have another budget course set for later this month or early next month. Yes, there's one going to be held in Derby in November, up at the Derby Community Centre. It's a three-day course again, one evening and two Saturday mornings. That's the 6th of November, the 16th and the 23rd. Again, it will be broken down into easy sections for people, starting off with what is a budget going through that process and then right through to the very end where people are actually able to produce their own budget and work from that. It'll be a very relaxed environment again, light refreshments so people will actually engage. This was my first budget course that I've helped as a volunteer and I was very pleasantly surprised at how friendly and warming it was for people to come along and seeing people engaging with each other. They come into the building all nervous and quiet and then by the end of the course they're all sat there laughing, joking and sharing their concerns of what they've had and how they've found nice solutions through the course and that's really lovely to hear. Hopefully the same thing in November, people will come along and they'll really benefit from that, especially before Christmas I think they'll be a massive help, but can I just say one of the things for me going into it as a newbie, my initial idea of budgeting was oh gosh that's going to be so boring and how it would just be all the important bills getting you gas paid. What I didn't actually realise and I've taken away from that is budgeting isn't just about the boring things, it's about recognising what you need to enjoy life as well and budgeting for those items because without enjoyment of life you haven't got much so really it's the whole package and that's what you come away with. You touched on a very important thing there where you spoke about the lead up to Christmas. Do you guys want to discuss anything about you know leading up to Christmas, how people are going to be anxious? Paul? Yeah I think the thing about, though I would say about Christmas is be realistic about your Christmas, don't just splurge, think about what's really important to you in terms of having the time with your family or the people you want to be with and if you do that then be prepared to think about more of a sharing Christmas, not trying to just focus on the food and the drink and the presents but remember that you know when you give a present to a toddler they'll spend more time playing with the box in the present. So being prepared to have a bit of a sense of proportion about it all and I guess probably unbiased because as a Christian I tend to want to focus on the reason behind Christmas but also as a budget advisor I don't want people to overspend on it. Oh perfect we're almost done, anything else you guys want to add or say anything we didn't mention? One last thing if I may, it's an exciting time for the debt advice team because I'm happy to say that we've received funding for a three-year appointment of a debt advice case worker. This is great news because our manager Debbie has been the only employee on the debt advice side or the rest of us have volunteers. Having another full-time person in there will make a really big difference and the details are available on the Salvation Army Facebook page. It's open until Sunday the third of November. That's the closing date for applications. Thank you for making it to the end of the Mags Radio Newscast. You are obviously someone with exquisite taste. May I politely suggest you might want to subscribe to this and a wide range of Mags Radio podcasts at your favourite podcast provider so our best bits will magically appear on your smartphone. Thank you. [MUSIC PLAYING]
