Gill Fielding Is A Secret Millionaire For Channel 4

for C4" hspace="11" src="http://www.themoneygym.com/ezine/images/gill_fielding.jpg" width="172" align="left" border="0" />I heard this week of someone else I know who has been taking a very special holiday of sorts and the trailers have started so I can share.

Gill Fielding, who was my first ever wealth coach and mentor, inspirational speaker and property multi-millionaire, has been going undercover for a forthcoming reality TV series on C4, called "The Secret Millionaire" that starts again in the first week of November 2007.

The premise of the show is that the undercover millionaire goes to live in deprived areas and finds deserving people or projects to give their own money to. Watch out for the much-loved Gill Fielding on this one, who grew up in the East End of London and taught herself everything she knows about making money.   

I used to ask her, how did you know how to do this stuff and she freely admits that, while she had a clued up aunt, mainly, it just came naturally, with the rest of her family being much more conservative with money than Gill.

Gill is totally down to earth and has a very natural style that people really relate to. She has described this latest experience as totally life-changing and has, I notice, has completely redesigned her website in preparation for the new high-level exposure this TV show will bring her.

Great new photos, Gill, you must be so pleased with those!  Can’t wait to see the show.

Nicola’s Week: Diary Of A Wealth Coach

Well, the week kicked off most entertainingly with a two-page spread in the Daily Mail on successful women and relationships, specifically about what is called Alpha Males and whether they find Alpha females attractive or off-putting.

It was typical Daily Mail fodder but quite well researched and interesting – You can view it online here http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/femail/article.html?in_article_id=488908&in_page_id=1879

Then I was due to go into BBC Southern Counties for a remote interview for BBC Oxford about the "Mission Possible / Ladies Who Lunch" dinner speaking engagement at Blenheim Palace next Thursday night, and as I was coming up the stairs with my 12 year old (took her to see what a radio station was like behind the scenes) this guy says to me "Nicola Cairncross! I’ve just been looking at your website, what on earth are you doing here?"

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Amy Winehouse Does It Again (Steve spotted this one!)

Awesome accoustic version of Amy Winehouse singing "Valerie"

And this one isn’t Amy in the uptempo version video although she’s singing it on the backing track………….

Tax Deductible Childcare At Last (But Only For The Employed!

One of my biggest moans while the kids have been growing up is paying for childcare out of post tax income. 

After all, if I hadn’t had childcare, I wouldn’t have been able to work or run a business, but there is no allowance for that when doing your accounts. 

However, for those who are employed there is a little known scheme that not only saves YOU money, but will save your EMPLOYER money in NI contributions.

And I can see how those of you who have a LTD company, could benefit too (but see your accountant first!)

Martin Lewis, best known as the Money Saving Expert, has been giving people tips on how to MAKE more money for a change, coming up for Christmas.  While I was browsing through the www.GM.tv website, I cam across this little nugget of gold……

(note the very small fish in the picture)

"Childcare costs are a huge drain on the finances.  Yet the little-known ‘Childcare Voucher’ scheme can save you £1,000s on nursery fees or child minder costs every year.

It allows you to pay for childcare from your pre-tax income.  While this mightn’t sound a big deal, the impact is huge. For every £1,000 a basic rate taxpayer earns, after tax and national insurance is deducted, they only actually receive a little under £700 in their pay packet.  By using childcare vouchers, the whole £1,000 pays for childcare so there’s a £300 gain per £1,000 of childcare."

READ MORE HERE >>>>

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Is It Just Me Or…..Are Words Really Powerful?

I’m a very visual person, and pictures work for me.  But words work for me too, because they paint pictures in my mind.  I’ve always been an avid reader……..and I love music too.  Music paints pictures and the best music has words attached…..that paints pictures.

You know I love the X-Factor, a vice I share with Steve and Judith, my business partners.  It’s even more surprising when you consider Judith does not have a tele so until she discovered that ITV stream the show live online she used to have to invite herself round to various friends houses which made me larf a lot "where are you this week J?" (but she did used to sing in a gospel choir). 

Tonight’s X-Factor gave up two bits of words that painted pictures, for me.  The ever lively Kimberley – who had accidentally brilliant comic timing sadly departed ( should have been the dire brother and sister team IMHO) but when they showed Kimberley’s highlights, a classic line was highlighted:

"I like you……………but you scare the living daylights out of me" says Dannii Minogue

"Awwwwwwwwwwwwwww………It’s just the Red Bull" says Kimberley, with just that comic timing.

LOLOLOLOLOLOL

And the second bit of poetry was a line from Leona Lewis’ new single ….which is growing on me even though it’s a teensy bit victim-like and obviously aimed at the US market.

" You cut me open and I
Keep bleeding
Keep, keep bleeding love"

Well, Leona is lovely and she sure can sing, and she’s so beautiful, but man, she’s a bit ……………….too nice is my best verdict. 

Overwhelmed by it all is the charitable version.

Dull, is my worst.

Who’s gonna win?  Dunno, coz Danny D was my fave, but he didnt’ do his best tonight down to crap song choice (which hampered them all really) now but my money’s on Nicky to win.  Great voice, great story and she looked great tonight.

Showing how scary Wikipedia is for gathering stuff about you, here’s what they say about Danny D – apparently he’s not such a newbie to the music scene (no suprise there, remember I always say it takes 10 years of persevering in any industry) but worse, he’s apparently not the great single dad he makes out to be – but enough of that from the mother of his child………here’s the more neutral info about him online courtesy of Wikipedia)

"Daniel DeBourg is a pop singer who was born April 13, 1976 in Chelmsford, England. DeBourg got his starting writing songs for UK singer Jamelia (known for hits like "Thank You" and "Stop"). He was influenced by the videos by Michael Jackson and Janet Jackson to pursue dance by the age of four, and by the age of eleven, he had been admitted to study at the exclusive Royal Ballet School. Although dance was his primary interest, as a teen he was also fronting bands.

Through a friend, DeBourg recorded some rough demos, singing a cappella into a Dictaphone, then sent the tape to artist manager Dean Zepherin. The demo soon landed in the hands of Robbie Robertson, who was scouting talent for Dreamworks. Impressed by DeBourg’s soulful voice, the label signed the fledgling singer to a multi-million deal.

Working with the likes of R.Kelly, and Tim & Bob, DeBourg recorded his debut album Tell the World over a five week period, releasing it in 2002. The first single, "I Need an Angel", hit the Top 30 of the Billboard charts. (In 2004, the single was remade by American Idol winner Ruben Studdard on his album of the same title, I Need An Angel.)

In 2005 R&B singer Bobby Valentino used a sample of DeBourg’s track "Book of Love" on his album. DeBourg is currently at work on a second album.

In 2007, he auditioned for the fourth series of The X Factor and has currently reached the final twelve acts to sing in the live rounds of the competition. He is mentored by Louis Walsh."

We Need Your Feedback Please!

Judith has been carefully studying the feedback from the workshop day that some amazing women attended a couple of weeks ago.  And we need your help please!

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BBC TV: The Truth About Property

Andrew Verity, presenter of BBC’s new series "The Truth About Property" is a brave man. 

He admitted on nationwide TV that he sold a property in London a while ago, thinking the market was going to drop, rented with his wife, fully expectant in being able to buy again at a lower price once the crash came.  Now he can’t buy and has watched his £78k flat rise and rise in value. 

From the website "A majority of British people believe buying property is now a safer place to put their money than saving with a bank or building society.  Research for the BBC Two series, The Truth About Property, found 53% of respondents believed owning property was safer than cash.

The poll took place in the aftermath of the Northern Rock crisis, the first run on a British bank in nearly 150 years. The findings come despite mounting evidence of a slowing housing market.

‘Extreme measures’   Prices have fallen in many parts of the UK in the past few months, prompting some analysts to question whether the decade-long housing boom is coming to an end.

In order to gauge how record house prices were affecting people’s lives, the BBC commissioned NOP to conduct research on the issue at the end of last month. Asked which they thought was a safer investment at the moment, 53% of those surveyed said buying property was safer than cash. That belief is directly at odds with the view accepted by the overwhelming majority of investment professionals.

They regard cash as safer than property because as long as the bank is solvent, there is no risk to your capital……"  READ MORE HERE >>>>>

Wealth Coach Nicola Cairncross says "How can cash be "safer" than property, when in real terms, cash devalues at a faster rate than most banks or building societies pay interest?  If you look at what used to be the Deputy Prime Ministers website (now the Office of National Statistics website) you will see that property has traditionally doubled in value every 7-10 years even through the so-called property crashes.  If you don’t believe me, find a friend or relative who bought their property in the 1950’s or 1960’s and ask them what they bought it for.  Then work out what it should be worth now, if it doubled in value every 10 years.  It won’t be far off!

I bought a flat in South London in 1988 for £56,000 on a 100% mortgage, it promptly lost value to £36,000 and stayed at that level for 6 years, then in the last four years climbed in value to £105,000 when we sold it in 1998.  The tenant covered the mortage and even when interest rates climbed to 16.5% we only had to subsidise it by £50 a month each for about a year.  £1200 invested
to make £50k odd……you show me a bank that will make you that much in 10 years. 

On the same website, you will see that the average UK property value actually WENT DOWN in only about 3 years since 1960.  Most of the time the inexorable rise continued every year. 

What is more, with property, you are getting the appreciation on what you borrow, as well as the deposit you put in. So a 15% deposit on a £100k property, will make you an EXTRA £100k in 10 years, whereas your 15% deposit put into even a high interest account at, say 6%, will only make you £11,862.72 in interest over 10 years.

£100,000 or £11,862, you choose! 

In addition, if you buy rental property, usually the rent paid will cover your mortgage and overheads, and if you can buy property and force up the value, you will most often be able to get your own money back out, leaving none of your cash in the property. How safe is that?  Very safe, I would say.

The problem with most so-called "investment professionals" is that they don’t invest themselves!  Or if they do, they invest in traditional low return products – and think they are doing well with a 15-20% return per year.  Most property investors are looking for a 50-100% return per annum taking rent and appreciation into account (or even better, an infinity return which is what you get with none of your own money left in the deal)

If property prices have fallen in several places, then those areas were over-valued and the market is simply correcting itself.  Over time, history will show that those areas recovered as usual.

There are not enough houses in this country for the people who want to buy them.  Gordon Brown has announced the building of 5-6 new towns to fill the demand.  The law of supply and demand will ensure property values continue to rise.

Put my money in a bank?  I don’t think so!

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Women Talk Money – A Great Result for Marie

The very wonderful Marie Taylor, who attended our workshop on 5th October, has written up her experiences in her blog this week.   Marie is an inspirational woman in her own right and I am very much looking forward to helping her become wealthier in every way and she’s already made a great start, inspired by our day.   

Read all about it here.

Marie talks about how she saved £400 in an hour (the price of her ticket for the day was £347 and that was our challenge to the delegates, to make or save more than the price of their ticket). Seems Marie went home and got into action, which is always laudable, especially when we all know this stuff but sabotage ourselves by not doing it.

I wonder if Marie will enter The Money Gym Challenge 2007 with her £400 savings?

“Embraceable You” by Heather Cairncross / Joss Peach

My sister Heather, with "Embraceable You" from her forthcoming album "Gira Con Gershwin" – a brand new concept album of Gershwin classics mixed with Latin American beats………from the first live performance @ Arundel Festival……..so proud of her!

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