article on "thrifty ways for modern days"

Penelope_Penguin

Lillibet wrote:

I'd liek to know where the bit in the book is about making your own coat hangers from off cuts of wood, bu88ered if I can find it in teh book or have ever heard of it comming up on the OS forum Obviously more interested in entertaining her readers than giving a balanced opinion.

And for me to save £1k on my car insurance Direct Line would have to give me £700 credit. I suspect that if she sold her car & downsized to something a tiny bit more economical (but still did the job; i.e got her from A to she could wipe out the balance of her credit card debt & still have enough cash to treat herself to a over-priced tube of hand cream:rolleyes:

I've just put this on the OS thread, too. It's a mis quote of the book (page116) which refers to using wood offcuts to mount coat hooks.

lillibet wrote:

Nope, it's a total myth that the risk of carrying someone famous in your car puts the insurance up. I used to work in theater, including the west end, and worked for one of the big London radio stations and it did not directly affect my car insurance or anyone elses I knew/worked with. The things which do affect your permiums most, along wiht your address, tend to be the size/value of your car & bad driving!

Not a myth - I have 2 very good friends, one works in radio production, the other is a local TV reporter. Her car insurance is higher for just that "famous person in the car" reason.

Penny. x

cathybird

Sazbo wrote:

I remember about two years ago this Rosie woman wrote about having £40k debt on her credit cards and frozen bank accounts, but then it transpired she and her husband owned property here and in Paris worth about £2m :rolleyes: Article here. So not exactly skint. No wonder she doesn't need to be OS!!

Sazx

I think she and her husband do own about four other flats but she's quite heavily in debt through spending on credit cards as well. hence the column

cathybird

IWannabedebtfree wrote:

Her sneering is a bit infantile isn't is? I tend to think that journalists write according to the perceived views of their audience, so maybe she/the ed feel that Independent readers wouldn't OS? Don't think that this is true.

my own feeling is that readers of the Independent are quite into the idea of frugality, because it's environmentally better

Edinburghlass_2

Martin's blog from when he did a "make over" programme with Rosie Millard.


Hmmmm. TV can be frustrating
Tuesday May 24th, 2005

Having been on hols last week I missed the Tonight with Trevor programme about Rosie Millard. Yet I finally watched the tape tonight. It’s always difficult watching a programme that you’ve played a major part in, but had no control over.
As I watched it quickly occured to me the prog was a social look at middle class debt. Nowt wrong with that, but it meant my day doing a money makeover with Rosie was put in that context.
Now don’t get me wrong, it was an enjoyable programme, and the exposure is great. Yet sometimes when you’ve spent a detailed day crunching financial issues and it’s condensed into five minutes of social commentary, there’s a level of frustration and you want to shout “I said so much more than that, what about……..”
In fact having met Rosie, I drafted her a ten point plan of action and really hit through the finances. It was very different to my normal makeover, but I don’t consider MoneySaving is just for those with debt crisis. Actually, its about trying to make everyone more financially literate, consumer savvy and personally responsible, and in many ways Rosie’s the perfect example.
Interestingly the main fuss had been over credit cards, yet actually Rosie’s cards were only about £20k and all consistently at 0%, not a problem, she’d played it well. There was no ‘cut them up’ from me. Her overdraft and property issues were much more pressing.
She did mention at the end that I was shifting her debts to a long term life of balance deal. Actually (and I hope she doesn’t mind me writing this) that was her overdraft we were shifting, which was in much worse state than her credit cards.
Plus, rather than ‘manage your money every day’ I of course explained more about setting up the systemised piggybank series of banking. I also advised that she sell a house if possible, and start treating her property portfolio as a profession rather than a hobby. After all, at a couple of million quid, and some losing money, it’s almost a full time job.
Now let me be honest. I like Rosie, she’s entertaining. I’ve read the feedback in the Chat Forum about the programme and I know many people found her a little annoying and not taking it seriously enough. Having spoken to her in person, I know that actually she does take it seriously, wasn’t asking for sympathy, and was responsive to help.
Perhaps her slightly ‘jolly hockey sticks’ style makes it look like this wasn’t something she really cared about, yet actually she’s just a ‘glass half full’ person. Hopefully she’ll take it seriously.
For me it’s not about how much money someone’s got, but about making the best of what you have. Fail to do that, fail to act, allow companies to rip your cash from your pocket, mis-manage and be careless - these are all MoneySaving sins. Being rich isn’t (after all the aim of this site is to put money in people’s pockets not take it away).


I didn't see where it said she was reviewing the book rather that she said it wasn't for her.

cathybird

Edinburghlass wrote:

I didn't see where it said she was reviewing the book rather that she said it wasn't for her.

Hi Edinburghlass, I think that if anyone writes a column about a book giving their opinion of it, as she has, that's a review, whether the writer identifies it as such or not.

It's interesting that Martin thought her attitude on TV might suggest to the audience that she wasn't taking it seriously, when in fact from what she said to him off camera she clearly is. I think that's true of her column as well. She writes with an "oo I'm so silly aren't I" approach, which is entertaining but does tend to give the impression that she isn't really trying. Whereas I suspect she is trying really pretty hard: just that she's not at all a naturally frugal person and so she can be a bit unrealistic about what "thriftiness" entails.

benood

Well I read the Independent piece fully in the expectation that it would confirm my preconception of Rosie Millard as a smug old bint but in fact I think she was reasonably balanced and mildly amusing, OK she's fiddled the facts a bit about mushroom omelette, coat hooks and being in debt but she's a journalist trying to get people to read her story - what do you expect? balanced truthful reporting, now that would be funny.;)

LookingAhead

Blimey she comes across as being a bit sniffy doesn't she?

Fair enough this book is not for her but she's made some big assumption there by saying you'll drive people nuts and that's not fair on the people this book could really help i.e. those who can't afford Clarins or a car that clearly costs over £1000 to insure as it may well put them off.

Also, I'm sure she's missed an opportunity to point out how you don't always have to run out and buy this new product or that new product - when you could have an environmentally friendly product at home. And how to attempt to begin to drag yourself out of the spend spend spend climate most of this country is engulfed in.

Disappointing.

moozie_2

Well I am reading the book at the moment and I am totally hooked! I know I could go over to the Old Style anytime but it is so handy to have all the tips and advice in one place.

I am not a full Old Styler by no means but I choose which tips suit me and apply them accordingly. It is truly lovely to be able to see 'another way'

As a reader of the Independent, I am disappointed that it prints her articles. I know a little about her and I am not a fan. Also I think calling that rubbish 'review' is a little too complementary!

It would be a shame if people reading that article that could do with some money saving were put off by her nonsense. Irresponsible mare! :rolleyes:

Mrs_Sparkle

I have had numerous conversations with Ms Millard in the past and unfortunately didn't find her very pleasant at all. I'm still addicted to reading her columns though as I find her finances and property management fascinating. Although I wouldn't exactly call myself a fan... Moozie we should swap notes!!!

What a shame if people don't buy the book because of something RM said.

cathybird

Mrs_Sparkle wrote:

What a shame if people don't buy the book because of something RM said

Moozie wrote:

It would be a shame if people reading that article that could do with some money saving were put off

this is what I think exactly!!