MMR 2: The Potts Family

chriz1000

Glad to see different issues were addressed in this episode, I can see where they are coming from now, going into different detail in each episode so it doesn’t get too repetitive! The program defiantly seems squeezed into the 25 minute slot though. Hopefully if there’s a second series they will address this!

Kimberley

I don't really agree that fewer visits to the cash machine = money "saved"

Well it is money saved because your going to get the cash out and spend it on things you don't need.

Bogof_Babe

Kimberley wrote:

Well it is money saved because your going to get the cash out and spend it on things you don't need.

We are obviously meant to assume that, but personally if I go to the supermarket I will pay with cash instead of Switch if I have enough cash on me. I would never buy something I didn't actually need, just because I had a wallet full of notes.

However I appreciate that not everyone has an automatic MSE attitude. I didn't see yesterday's programme, but it strikes me that the couples so far are pretty much easy targets as they haven't got a clue. I'd like to see Martin tackle someone or a family who are already wise to the obvious ways of saving, and dig deeper to find ones that are not so obvious.

Fran

Fran wrote:

:snow_laug at opening titles! You are such a good catch Martin and I like the way you zap. Fancy letting you wander round their bedrooms! :eek:

I meant catching the calculator and that fire coming out of his fingers. :rudolf: :rotfl:




I found the amount of children's clothes obscene for kids of that age, no offence meant to the family, but I thought the kids are spoilt on clothes & toys. There is no need to dress kids up all the time, they only get dirty. Also personal clothes that don't get worn? (Sorry Pottses but it was an overbearing impression, I'm glad you were able to enjoy a holiday :rudolf: .)

Martin you came across as very smiley and nice (I'm not suggesting that you're not!), I don't know whether you are harsher in other programmes, it all seemed so easy, just tap away at a calculator & everything's fine. The programme makers could have put in something to show any work you had to put in and even though the Potts' said it one took one or two hours they must have had to contribute some work before the programme, the least being cleaning the house so immaculately before the cameras were there! Also they'll have to keep it up after.

However the main points came across clearly, enough to make people watching question their insurances, spending habits etc. It could easily have been a one hour programme and still been interesting. :beer:

Allexie

Kimberley wrote:

Will he be helping those on low incomes? At the moment he's helped couples on high incomes, what about single mums or families on low incomes in rented properties?

Is it all going to be youngish/couples/with children/nuclear families type stuff? What about ...youngsters starting out on their own...single people, unemployed people...pensioners... (not so marketable perhaps?) . I do hope the programme widens up to include these other categories cos I personally couldn't relate to much in the first two episodes...actually I found them to be too similar in many ways...

P.S. At least Martin has slowed down his delivery though...I don't feel I need a tranquilliser at the end of it now!

moonbeam682

Kimberley wrote:

The last two couples don't really look like how most live today. Shouldn't the programme be aimed at those who are struggling the most?

As the programme is called "make me rich" I suppose they have to pick families with enough income to begin with before Martin helps with the savings in order to make them rich. I don't think it would be possible for him to make the most needy families on the breadline rich, maybe better off but not to a huge extent.

I must say that the families so far are far removed from my own life I am struggling to live on less than a quarter of what todays family earned but I still enjoyed the programme & learnt something from it which I hope to use. I can't help feeling as if I am from another planet sometimes though when I see the lifestyles & incomes some people have.

Fran

Kimberley wrote:

The last two couples don't really look like how most live today. Shouldn't the programme be aimed at those who are struggling the most?

I agree that the poorer people need help too Kimberley, I would like to see a programme where people on benefits & low incomes are helped, often these people have depression and a feeling of hopelessness and pointers of how to improve their lives psychologically need to be addressed too. When people are depressed they are unable to act on their affairs in the same way as when not depressed so they are much more of a challenge to help. Low self esteem and constant reminders about benefit fraud or bad conditions at work only contribute to low self esteem.

Unfortunately Martin, the programme makers and probably all of the families in this series won't be like that, commissioners are less likely to look at programmes that involve hard work to watch (a family that's depressed and that has very limited options or chance of getting out of their situation? Doesn't make such easy viewing.) This programme is about helping people who are already potentially in a decent situation (already have job satisfaction, a loving relationship, avenues open to them) get the best out of their situation. Being in debt does concern people whatever their level of income and often they haven't got time or knowledge to sort out their finances well.

This is the kind of programme that a lot of people in these better off situations do want to see, I hope sometime we will see the much bigger challenge of helping those on lower incomes.

MSE_Martin

Hi folks to answer some of your questions.

Over the series the families are mixed ages. Also the scenarios are different - right from bad debts to someone who does a meal plan, cash envelope budgets and always shop around. Yet we dont do very low income families and the unemployed. The idea behind this is very deliberately not a 'debt crisis' programme - its meant to say 'anyone should be saving money'.

Over half the families (you've not seen any yet) spend less than they earn and thus I dont do painful

Sadly these things as you know have been recorded over 5 months of filming. It is a TV programme not a website, it cannot be contemporaneous. Thats why we like to a website. Sadly that is the ITV.com/moneywebsite which was originally going to be linking here, ITV then decided to get a commercial partner, this is money.

However i have at least written articles in their Make Me Rich site to try and get the correct MoneySaving info across.

The programme on today was the pilot and actually we didnt have the pig then, so it was cut in from another programme.

As for MMR being longer and on in the evenings. Lots of email to ITV asking them would help. None of it is my decision.

martin

Allexie

MSE_Martin wrote:

.....Yet we dont do very low income families and the unemployed. The idea behind this is very deliberately not a 'debt crisis' programme - its meant to say 'anyone should be saving money'......

'low income' and 'debt crisis'* are not necessarily synonymous....lots of people manage well on very little but still could be helped to manage better... I'm not arguing with you Martin...just feel its shortsighted of the TV company!


*Sorry, but it makes me cross when people make that assumption!

Fran

MSE_Martin wrote:

..................................... Yet we dont do very low income families and the unemployed. The idea behind this is very deliberately not a 'debt crisis' programme - its meant to say 'anyone should be saving money'. ............

"Anyone" not including people on very low income or in debt crisis? No wonder people in this situation feel stigmatised!