Clips
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Money Watch Family: Cutting Spending Duration: 07:04 Spending It
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What is the future for mortgage holders? Duration: 08:21 Spending It
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Entrepreneurs beating the downturn Duration: 07:31 Earning It
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Meet the Money Watch family Duration: 05:08
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Money Watch Family: Boosting Income Duration: 04:16 Earning It
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ABOUT "HOW TO BEAT TOUGH TIMES: MONEY WATCH"
We’ve just been through the worst recession since the 1930s, wiping out chunks of the economy and leaving the country with eye-watering debts. Now, we’re told, recovery is on the way. But we’re also facing the toughest squeeze in generations, and are being promised job losses, pay curbs and years of rising taxes.
• So what does all this mean for our family finances?
• What will happen to our employment prospects and pay?
• Is it safe to spend more, or should we cut back?
• How about mortgages and credit cards?
• And what about our savings, investments and pensions?
In short, are we going to get richer or poorer? And is there anything we can do about it?
Over the next three weeks, the Money Watch team will address all the key issues affecting the budget that really matters – the domestic one.
“Whether you're a banker, a builder or a school dinner lady, we are going to try to provide a much clearer idea about what the next few years will hold.” says presenter Sophie Raworth.
“The idea is that it should be a travel guide into the unexplored world of the new British economy” adds Justin Rowlatt. “By the end of the series we hope we’ll have a better idea of just what kind of mess we are in, and how we can protect ourselves and our families from its worst effects.” -
THE MONEY WATCH FAMILY
Throughout the series, money saving expert Martin Lewis will be trying to help change the fortunes of the Merriman/Lathwell family.
Meet the Money Watch Family
Full-time mum Anne-Marie and her husband Graham are struggling because his income has dropped massively since the downturn.
Martin Lewis will also be offering advice to Anne-Marie’s parents, Colin and Gloria, whose savings have taken a hammering during the recession. He’ll be giving them some top tips on where they should be keeping their cash.
The youngest members of the family won’t escape Martin’s scrutiny either. Brother and sister Christina and William want to move out of their parents’ house, but are worried about student debt. Can they build up enough money to buy a place of their own? -
MEET THE MONEY WATCH TEAM - SOPHIE RAWORTH
Sophie Raworth presents the News and is a regular contributor to a wide range of current affairs and factual programmes right across the BBC.
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JUSTIN ROWLATT
Justin Rowlatt is a reporter for the BBC’s flagship news and current affairs programme, Newsnight. He has become known as the “Ethical Man” after he took on the task of leading an environmentally-friendly lifestyle for an entire year. Justin was one of the founding presenters on The One Show, and regularly presents documentaries on domestic and foreign affairs.
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ANDY VERITY
Andy Verity joined BBC News as its first personal finance specialist in 1999. He has won 9 awards for his work as a correspondent, breaking stories from the collapse of Equitable Life to the mis-selling of endowment mortgages. In 2005 he began presenting Five Live's daily business news programme Wake Up to Money and the business reports on Five Live Breakfast.
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MARTIN LEWIS
Money Saving Expert Martin Lewis specialises on showing people how to cut their bills without cutting back. He runs the UK’s biggest money website with over 9 million users a month, and has been at the fore front of campaigns including helping people reclaim bank charges, council tax and mortgage fees.
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LIBBY POTTER
Libby Potter has worked as a reporter on a wide range of BBC programmes which have seen her filming in locations as varied as Japan, Hawaii, South Africa and Dubai. She was presenter of one of the BBC’s longest running series, The Money Programme and
co-presented the celebrity spoof stock market show, Celebdaq. -
RAJAN DATAR
Rajan Datar has worked as a reporter on Newsnight and on BBC One’s flagship consumer affairs programme, Watchdog. He has also taken the varying roles of presenter, reporter and director for BBC2’s The Money Programme. Rajan presents the acclaimed Over To You programme on BBC World Service.
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PAUL LEWIS
Paul Lewis is a financial journalist with more than 20 years’ experience. He has worked on Radio 5 Live as well as being a reporter and later, a presenter, on the BBC Radio 4’s Money Box programme. He is a regular guest on BBC Breakfast and News 24. He has won many awards for his work.
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LINDA YUEH
Dr. Linda Yueh is a fellow in economics at Oxford University, a visiting professor at the London Business School,and an economics commentator who contributes regularly to BBC programmes.
