Leanne Curtis of Money Savvy Mate
Financial services are not something usually associated with laughs, especially over the last six years. But a new business is being launched in Swindon this month – with a comedy night.
Money Savvy Mate, set up by Purton resident, Leanne Curtis, will be kicked off with an after-work party featuring Edinburgh Fringe comedy award winner Ivo Graham, and includes a free buffet and drink.
The business is aimed at young professionals who are, Leanne says, “hopeless with money but want to change.”
It’s a subscription service which appeals to people more used to the inside of a pub than a bank.
Leanne explains: “Money Savvy Mate helps those who earn a decent wage but wonder where it has gone at the end of the month – or earlier!
“The crunch comes at a big lifestyle change, and they realise they need a decent amount of capital – for a wedding, to start a family or to take a gap year or launch a new business, for example.
“They don’t know where to start because they are used to spending money not saving it.”
Leanne works with her clients to look at where their money is spent, how they can reign in their spending, and how best to save.
And because it appeals to people who don’t want to grow up, Money Savvy Mate keeps it light, fun, very ‘un-banky’, but still with excellent financial guidance and support.
“My clients may have got themselves into financial difficulties which look scary but are completely solvable. Money Savvy Mate can look at their options without the emotion that a supportive family member may show,” said Leanne.
The service is different to the usual one provided by an independent financial adviser or bank. As well as the usual phone and email contact, Money Savvy Mate dispenses sound advice via social media and has a client-only Facebook group to lend motivation support to resist spendthrift temptations.
In addition, says Leanne: “I don’t take commission on products sold, neither am I employed by a bank and restricted to their services. Money Savvy Mate is paid for by the client, so the only person I have a responsibility to, is my client. This means the guidance I give is tailored completely to them.”
Leanne talks more about why she set up Money Savvy Mate at www.moneysavvymate.com
Money Savvy Mate is launched in Swindon’s Old Town on Thursday 23 January, 6.30pm. To go on the guest list and receive details of the location, visit www.moneysavvymate.com or Facebook.com/moneysavvymate
About Money Savvy Mate Money Savvy Mate is aimed at young professionals in their late twenties to early forties, who earn a good salary but are, frankly, hopeless with money.
Currently they might enjoy regular pubbing, clubbing, daily trips to Costa, restaurant eating, handbags, clothes, expensive phones and tablets….all the things that haemorrhage money from bank accounts.
But now they may have met their long term partner and need their own home, or who’d dearly love to go on holiday to Australia for a month, or would like to start a business, or get married, etc – all things that require a decent amount of capital.
Money Savvy Mate supports its clients away from frivolous spend and towards new life goals through a monthly subscription service.
Client spending is analysed and then guidance is given on how to best to spend/save money – from bank accounts, phone contracts, ISAs,the size of mortgage that’s affordable to identifying and cutting down on non-essential spending.
And just as importantly, MSM does this in the spirit of fun, and offers support to keep clients motivated – away from a daily coffee spend and towards their goal.
About Ivo Graham An Edinburgh Fringe comedy award winner, Ivo hails from Ogbourne St George, near Marlborough. The twenty-three year old has been building his comedy name since before he graduated from Oxford University in 2012 and is now in demand in clubs and theatres UK wide, with appearances on BBC3 and BBC Radio 1. His solo show, Binoculars, is at London’s Soho Theatre at the end of February.