For the millions of people now struggling to make ends meet, these money saving heroes have proven a lifeline in tough times
When Kwajo Tweneboa’s tweets about the derelict conditions of his family’s fat went viral, Clarion – Europe’s biggest social housing provider – finally carried out repairs. It proved to be the first of many victories over negligent landlords for the 23-year-old, who has become the voice for social housing tenants. He believes we all deserve decent housing and is pressuring the UK government to invest in council homes.
Image: Shelter
Since her blog about feeding her son on £10 a week went viral, Jack Monroe has become an influential anti-poverty campaigner. She’s written books, given evidence to parliamentary inquiries, and is working on a new price index to track the soaring price of basic foodstuffs. Check out her ongoing series of low-energy, 15-minute one-pan meals – including upside-down fish pie for 97p – via her website.
Image: Patricia Niven
He’s an IT worker by day, an anonymous vigilante by night, hunting down the scammers stealing people’s money online. Cybercrime has skyrocketed in recent months, with fraudsters exploiting the cost of living crisis to pose as energy companies offering a better deal. Four million people now follow Jim Browning’s YouTube channel to see him turn the tables on the criminals and expose common tactics.
Image: Charles Deluvio
Martin Lewis started out searching for cut-price credit card deals. The original money saving expert has since become the people’s champion, picking holes in government policies and successfully suing Facebook, forcing them to combat scam adverts. His efforts to raise the alarm and help those struggling with bills this year have made him a daily fixture on our screens – the Joe Wicks of the cost of living crisis, anyone?
Image: Money Saving Expert
The UK’s ‘coupon queen’ – mum-of-four Holly Smith – saves £3,500 a year using coupons. She shares her hacks with the four million members of her Extreme Couponing and Bargains UK Facebook group. As the cost of living has risen, her site has seen a huge increase in searches – now at 1.4m a day, up from 100,000 this time last year. She believes her autism helps her to suss out the best ways to spend less.
Image: Holly Smith Vlogs
Main image: Holly Smith Vlogs
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