Search Is On For Fermanagh’s Savvy Susie Or Frugal Frankie
Tuesday 9 February 2010
Are you savvy with your spondoolies, a dab-hand with your dough, frugal with your funds or meticulous with your moolah? If you have managing money down to a fine art and think you could be Fermanagh’s ‘Savvy Susie’ or ‘Frugal Frankie’, the Financial Capability Partnership wants to hear from you.
The Partnership, which is led by the Consumer Council, is organising ‘Money Week’ from 6 -12 March 2010, in partnership with Fermanagh District Council and would like the winning moolah-managing master to be involved in the first event of the week, an open air ‘Money Market’ on Enniskillen’s Diamond.
The Money Market will see the educational bodies, advice agencies, banks, buildings societies and credit unions that make up the Financial Capability Partnership, ‘set out their stall’ of information and resources produced to help consumers take control of their finances. The Partnership would like Fermanagh’s Savvy Susie or Frugal Frankie to be involved in the Money Market to engage with local people and offer his / her tips for managing money to fellow Fermanagh folk.
Antoinette McKeown, Chief Executive of the Consumer Council said: “Northern Ireland has the lowest levels of financial capability in the UK[1], which is why the Partnership, with funding from the Financial Services Authority (FSA), is trying to tackle this problem with targeted initiatives like Money Week.
“Having said that, there are those who manage their money very well and equip themselves with the skills and information they need to budget effectively, save for a rainy day and get help with money worries. One of the most effective ways for people to develop their skills is to hear from others who have learned how to make their money work for them, which is why we’re keen to involve someone from the local area in our Money Week plans.”
If you think you could be Fermanagh’s Savvy Susie or Frugal Frankie, describe in no more than 100 words the ways that you have learned to manage your money and make it work for you. Entries should be sent to Sara Madden at the Consumer Council, Elizabeth House, 116 Holywood Road, Belfast, BT4 1NY or e-mail smadden@consumercouncil.org.uk by 5pm on Monday 22 February 2010. Entrants should include a contact number or e-mail address. The winner will receive a gift hamper of goodies.
Rules of entry
- Entrants must be from Fermanagh.
- There is no age limit for participants.
- The judges’ decision is final and no correspondence will be entered into.
- Prizes are non-transferable and non-refundable. There will be no cash alternative.
- Staff from organisations involved in Money Week will not be eligible to enter.
Notes to editor
The Consumer Council leads the Northern Ireland Financial Capability Partnership which brings together government, banks, building societies, credit unions, the education and community sectors to ensure that we all help consumers to manage their money and make it work best for them. The Partnership is funded as part of the National Strategy for Financial Capability led by the Financial Services Authority.
- Consumer Council media contact: Keelin Kelly, telephone, 028 9067 4807 or e-mail, kkelly@consumercouncil.org.uk
- The Consumer Council is an independent consumer organisation, working to bring about change to benefit Northern Ireland’s consumers. The Council campaigns for high standards of service and protection and a fair deal for all. It also carries out research, gives advice and publishes reports and other publications. It deals with individual complaints about buses, trains, planes, ferries, natural gas, electricity, coal and water.
- For more information, visit our website at www.consumercouncil.org.uk
[1] Managing Money: How does Northern Ireland add up? 2007, The Consumer Council, (A research report based on the Financial Services Authority (FSA) UK Baseline Survey)
