Make Me Rich

Welcome to the Make Me Rich page.  In the latter half of 2005 I filmed fifteen different programmes for an ITV1 series.  The challenge was simple; I walked into a family/person's home at 9am and had to save them as much money as possible by the end of the day, so they could fulfill their dream; whether that was to go on holiday, buy a new kitchen or be debt free, then the savings they'd make over the next year were calculated.   

Now ITV2 is replaying the series (originally shown on weekdays in December 05) in its entirety.  It's currently on Saturdays, usually at 4.30pm though it's subject to ITV2's fluid scheduling policy so it can change or be postponed.

It was an interesting challenge.  Most of what I do is about text book theory, and I hope I explain it well enough for people to put it into practice.  With Make Me Rich it was real people, with real lives, and real complications - nothing is ever as simple as it's supposed to be. 

On top of that we actually had to make a watchable TV programme too.   I think in the main we succeeded; some programmes are more gripping than others - though I'm pleased to say all manage to explain at least three key MoneySaving methods. 

As for the structure, it was simple.  The first thing I made each family do was my Budget Planner which calculates whether they're underspending or overspending.  If it's an underspend (about half the programmes) then it was only 'pain-free' savings that were needed - this means 'cutting bills without cutting back'. 

The average pain-free saving over the series was £5,100 a year.  If it's an overspend then 'pain-free' is joined by 'pain-ful' which means budgeting and cutting back too.  I hope you enjoy them. 

Read on to find out more, check transmission dates and see how you can make similar savings.  While if you click these links you will be taken to the correct programme note if you read down sequentially they'll be in a different order.  This is because the programme order has been changed from December.