Writers, educaters and readers... I nead your help !

martin_h_5

hi Mike
sounds a great idea. I am co-chair of a new part time open access personal finance course from the Open University called You and Your Money: personal finane in context starting in November this year. I think one of the issues to think about is how to get the point over that there are important practical skills needed to manage personal finances more effectively, like the ones already mentioned (eg budgeting), but also that to really start to make sense of household finances an understanding of broader social and economic factors is needed. This can be as broad as issues of how couples manage their money and the reasons they do it to a basic understanding of the economy. It doesnt need a complex understanding, but the basics of this social and economic context. This then can help to think about ideas of change, a fundamental aspect of personal finance, and how to respond and prepare to change. If this broader understanding is achieved then I think a more complete picture is given.
Good luck
Martin

Jillinoz

Hi Mike

I'm a newbie to this thread, but couldn't resist the opportunity to post as the Liverpool Echo is where I began my newspaper career way back when and it's also still my family's local paper. Way to go!

Just a thought: how about a question and answer session / interview with Martin Lewis for the paper? He's clearly interested, as he's already popped in to your thread.

It'd be great PR for this site to a high circulation (200K readers?) regional newspaper that is also very well regarded nationally and would also establish you as a credible - even if amateur - source of debt-free / money-saving information.

Similarly, the Echo readers would be likely to sit up and take notice if they see you linked to that bloke from the telly (and the radio).

Good luck with whatever you decide.

bargainbetty

Just bumping this one...

rog2

Mike_St_Helens wrote:

Good.. But would a paper that has many blue chip clients selling these and advertising in the paper agree with my advice that tells them not to ?

Probably why they have editors:rolleyes:

Good Luck Mike:beer:

eamon

Mike

Some of the posters may be missing the point a little. If you are lucky you may have as much as 200 words to play with, not a lot of room there.

I would suggest you start at the beginning and explain for example "debt" and what Martin Lewis calls good debt & bad debt. For example a Mortgage is usually classed as good debt. Afterall unless you own your house outright or live rent free then you need to pay to live somewhere and rent = mortgage. Other posters have also mentioned the glossary of terms idea as well as a Q & A format.

Which either model you choose you need to stick to basic principles i.e. keep your language clear, concise and don't try and answer a complicated question in depth. You won't have the neccessary word count allowance! Instead always keep some free words for refering readers to this site and the likes of CAB, CCCS, National Debtline and Payplan.

Lastly good luck in this venture.

Eamon

skintchick

Well done Mike! That's great! Why not start by covering how to do an SOA? Most people don;t budget at all so it would help you cover a few colums to start with, and if you invite people to write in as Martin said then you'll soon have fodder for more!

Good luck!

Verbatim

Fantastic opportunity Mike. You're obviously going to put a lot of thought and effort into this, (you already have!) so I'm sure it'll be a huge success.

Tiff_2

MSE_Martin wrote:

Start simply and with the basics. Remember in print you have no interaction and no way of linking so every phrase must be explained. Why not set it out as a question and answer session - and use a very generous and obvious questin to start (you'll have to make it up in the first one).

E.g

I've always repaid my debts on time and earn a reasonable, but not great income. I got married recently and since have been rejected from the last two credit card applications? Has getting married changed this. What can I do to make sure, i have debts and wanted to get them more cheaply. Paul from Childwall.

Good luck with it - the more decent info out there the better.

(and of course do remember to tell them to come to this site

Martin

Hi Mike - sounds really exciting angel! I had a similar thought as the Great Martin MSE - pick a ground topic each week to educate with and then maybe ask for people to send in their letters for you to answer a couple in the paper .
I also think that making them consumer savvy as far as what the law says you can & can't do - almost like a corner called "Did You Know?"
Just my 2ps worth.
Good luck hun

nidje

Great idea and I hope it all works out well for you
N x