What we can do for groups
And how we can help with the shared problems of friends, family members or colleagues
People who are close often have similar financial issues. Just knowing that someone else has the same problem as you can help you feel better. We will:
- Make sure you all have a proper understanding of your shared problems.
- Help you all do the right thing instead of all making the same mistake.
- Explain why “the bloke down the pub who said I should…” might be wrong.
- Help you understand where you might or might not all need the same.
- Give you action points that you can help yourself and each other with.
Why is financial wellbeing especially problematic for groups?
Because being unwell makes everyone go to the same people who are well-meaning but aren’t properly qualified, and that can be dangerous.
You’ll listen to “nice” instead of “right”
Just because someone listens and is easy to talk to doesn’t mean they know what they’re talking about. People close to you like to help, but they might be making things worse.
You’ll follow the crowd even when they’re wrong
Doing what everyone else does is easy - that’s human nature, even when they're all wrong. Standing your ground is hard and can make you look stubborn, even when you’re right.
You’ll feel pressured to do something, anything!
If you see everyone else doing something, then the pressure to act similarly can be overwhelming. Acting just for the sake of it, and just to look good, can be dangerous.
You’ll have no-one to turn to if it’s wrong
What are your options if the advice your friend, colleague or family member gave you turns out to be bad? You can’t sue them because they weren’t regulated in the first place.
It causes friction with those you care about
If the person you rely on gives you advice which turns out to be wrong then it’s not only your finances that will suffer - your whole relationship could be permanently damaged.
It’s normal to turn to people you trust when you’ve got a problem - they might even have the same problem as you. But just because a solution is right for them doesn’t mean it’s also right for you.
How can we help friends, families and colleagues?
You choose the group of people who have similar concerns to you, who won’t mind sharing their personal situations in front of everyone, and who are happy to split the bill.
This is probably the cheapest way for most people to get help with their financial wellbeing.
There are two main ways we can reach your group:
Face-to-face MEETINGS
Face-to-face financial wellbeing clinics are held in places of your choosing: pubs, social clubs, coffee shops, or your workplace if that’s an option for you.
We meet you at a time that works for everyone in the group, and they usually last for about two to three hours.
Skype or Zoom CHATS
We use Skype or Zoom or whatever technology your group is most familiar with. We can set up a group chat, or your group can gather in one place around one screen - that’s up to you.
We’ll organise a time that works for everyone, and the clinic will last about two hours.
You’ll need to appoint a convenor so that communication with us is as smooth as possible.
The convenor will need to contact all group members to ask them to fill out two questionnaires and agree the issues they want to talk to us about.
The convenor will then organise and confirm the details with us.
Some of the problems groups of people face
Family members, work colleagues or groups of friends might all be facing similar financial wellbeing issues that they’ll be happy to talk about in front of others.
You’ll probably have a good idea about what’s affecting all of your group. You’ll need to discuss that with us, but the following examples come up time and time again…
- The bloke down the pub said…
Yep, you know the guy - the expert on everything. Ask him and he’s got the solution. But does he? You need to know your stuff first so you can tell whether he knows his.
- I don’t believe in pensions
Neither did I, till I got to my sixties and realised I was too skint to retire. We’ll explain why you should never believe anyone that says pensions are “rubbish”.
- Is my employer’s pension good?
Every employer has to provide a pension now, but some are a lot better than others. How can you tell whether yours is good or whether your employer could do a bit more?
- Why is this soooo confusing?
Because they make it confusing so you won't understand and end up buying what they want to sell you. You need to understand how confusion leads to you getting ripped off.
- Our employer’s changing it AGAIN!
Our employer always seems to be changing our benefits, usually for the worse. Why do they keep doing this? How can we understand what they’re doing so we can negotiate?
- Comparison sites are the dogs!
It’s the clever thing to do these days - check prices on a price comparison site and then buy. But is it? Sometimes a bit of research might mean you spend a lot less.
- We’re too young to do this
Just because you’re young doesn’t mean that you’re somehow immune from death, disease and disability. Sure, the risks are lower than for older people but they aren’t zero.
- Can I leave it to the kids?
Sometimes you can and sometimes you can’t. You need to understand when you can, and what the consequences of arranging to leave everything.
These are just some ideas to get you thinking - you and others in your group will instinctively know what you need help with.
This is probably the cheapest way for most people to improve their financial wellbeing - by sharing the cost with others they know and trust.
What your group needs to think about
Everyone has their own personal financial issues. But sometimes you’re dealing with the same problems your friends, colleagues or family members are also facing.
The examples above are very common, but you’ll have others. We need you to think about what’s making you and the others in your group feel financially unwell. To do this, look at the two short questionnaires below - they’ll take about the same time to answer as it takes to make a cuppa. Then compare your answers with your group.
They made you think, right? Time to talk to us!
We’re sure that you and the others in your group will have realised that many of your issues are similar, so it’s time to help yourself and those close to you too. It’s time to get answers and make a plan rather than continuing to feel bad.
Unsure? Unclear? Try us out!
Worried about yourself and your family, friends or colleagues?
Then YOU have to start somewhere.
Nobody else will to do it for you.
By booking a FREE SESSION you will see:
- The way we explain things
- How we make the complicated stuff simple
- What the scammers and cheats do
- What you can do to help yourself, and
- How that will make you feel better
