“Clients leave feeling empowered to act”: A Q&A with Sally from Multiply

Sally, our budgeting expert from Multiply, answers some questions about what the service does and explains how much difference it can make to feel in control of your finances.

What is Multiply? 

Multiply is a project which has been set up to support people to gain confidence with numbers. We help people who want guidance with their finances and do this by increasing their confidence through everyday activities. 

We have fun group support activities such as playing card games or dominoes, looking at recipe books to work out a meal plan and playing games like the price is right. We then offer 1-1 support in the form of 2 hour appointments which are tailored to the clients individual need and situation.

What do you enjoy most about your role? 

I enjoy meeting people and talking to them about their lives. Clients often come in feeling overwhelmed and worried. They then often leave with a smile on their face, knowing that they can be in control of the situation. Whether they have come in with specific questions or with a general feeling of confusion when budgeting, clients leave feeling empowered to act and with a more positive outlook. 

What are some common questions from clients? 

Clients often ask if they can renegotiate payment plans, how they can save money on food shopping, how they can heat their homes more effectively, what support is available for families/pensioners, how they can manage big expenses such as Christmas or holidays, how they can save and how they can pay off debt. In general, clients want to know how to make it to the end of the month. 

Why is learning to budget important? 

Learning to budget makes your money go further. There are often negative connections with the word ‘budgeting’ as many people take it to mean ‘cutting back’. This is not always the case. Budgeting is simply allocating the available income to the needs and wants of the client. 

And yes, this may mean there isn’t quite enough for some things, but understanding you are in control of where it is spent is key. What are the priorities? Is it paying off debt? Is it saving for a home deposit? Is it to make it to the end of the month? Is it to stop the worry around finances? Budgeting takes away the question ‘where did the money go?’ because you know exactly where it went. 

You can plan for occasions such as Christmas and birthdays and you can have an emergency fund for the unexpected. Budgeting gives people a real overview of their situation and gives them the confidence to take control of their finances. Giving every pound a job – food, energy, rent, debt payments, savings – is so important. Your money should work for you. 

How does gaining confidence with numbers positively impact people’s lives? 

Once you feel in control of a situation, it feels less overwhelming. When you have the confidence to look at your bank statements and understand them, can easily compare prices in shops, know exactly what you can afford and what you are able to pay in terms of bills or debt repayments without agreeing to something you can’t afford, you are in control. Having that confidence has a huge impact because it means people are in a better position to be able to plan for their future. 

 

Could you share a money-saving tip with us? 

There are many ways in which you can save money. One of the most important things to consider is needs vs. wants. Your phone company may make you believe you need to upgrade, but your current phone is perfectly serviceable. By keeping your current phone and having a SIM only contract, you can then make significant savings. If you want to upgrade your phone in the future, this is something you could save for instead of taking a costly contract. 

Buying second hand is also a huge money saver. Many people sell items in barely worn condition (outgrown quickly by children) or even with the labels still on. Sometimes you can find things which are still for sale in the shops for half the price second hand, all because the person selling missed the return window. 

Before you go food shopping, make a list of everything you already have at home. Quite often we overbuy not realising we already have some items or we can even make what we have in the cupboards stretch another day or two. Knowing what you already have will save you money and save waste too. There are many meal plans online you can access to get ideas for your own. Making a meal plan and a list will help you to stay on track when shopping. Don’t be swayed by the things you don’t need! 

Having a bigger goal is also a good way to focus and save money. If you are saving for that house deposit, a holiday or determined to pay off debt, suddenly that pair of trainers doesn’t seem so essential. Spending unnecessarily will take you further away from your goal. 

How can people contact you? 

Please fill out the contact form on our website and we will be in touch.