TV presenter Angellica Bell says The Apprentice grump Alan Sugar is a big softie behind the scenes – to anyone who gives him a taste of his own medicine.
The Martin Lewis Money Show co-host was invited to be a guest judge on the entrepreneur show earlier this year.
Angellica, who hosts a show on Scala Radio, says: “I’ve interviewed Lord Sugar a couple of times, he’s hilarious.
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“He’s been absolutely lovely to me. I’m a bit cheeky with him and he likes people who give him a bit of stick. A lot of those contestants walked in and were like: ‘We used to watch Angellica on CBBC’.
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“It was great to help them with my experience of working on children’s TV – hopefully they took something away from that.
“I wouldn’t mind doing more in future.”
As the cost-of-living crisis shows no sign of abating anytime soon, consumer champion Angellica is urging people to rethink their fancy foreign summer holiday plans and to enjoy the best of Blighty to save cash.
She says: “Hopefully there will be that light at the end of the tunnel when things will be easing off financially but I know for a lot of people it’s really tough.
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“Remember the purpose of a summer holiday is to relax.
“It’s about adapting but enjoying ourselves as much as we can.
“I went to Margate last summer and love Blackpool – experiences you get can be just as valuable, you don’t have to go long haul.”
Swapping a flash all-inclusive hotel for self-catering is a perfect way to reign in the spending leaving dosh spare for treats.
The 47-year-old says: “I love Air B&Bs, it gives you flexibility.
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“You can cook for yourself so you can budget to treat yourself to fish and chips.
“I’m a big fan of picnics in local parks and getting other people to come and share food.
“You can plan activities, get two for one tokens for theme parks in the paper, go away with other families – it’s about reconditioning.
“Without going to the airport and paying the hidden charges on flights and bags you can make savings and get a bigger room in Ramsgate or something like that.”
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The former CBBC star is saving herself by getting her hands dirty renovating her new home as well as giving small businesses a leg up to help boost the economy.
She says: “One night I was up taking up the carpet downstairs and getting rubble out, running up and down to the skip.
“If there’s anything I can do to save myself some cash I’m on it but big up to all the skilled tradespeople.
“I’ve found this amazing joinery family I’m hopefully going to be working with who have been doing it for years and have passed on the skill to their children.
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“It’s really important to me for someone who has learned their craft from their father and grandfather – we don’t hear about it enough.
“It has a domino effect where they can look after each other then come into your home and want to help you and grow their business.”
The current financial climate has crippled many households and Angellica warns it’s being made worse by a sweeping uptick in online rip-offs.
Sneaky sales tactics such as pop-ups warning there are a limited number of items left to buy or promising deals will run out in a short space of time are seeing shoppers panic buy fearing they will miss out if they don’t press checkout.
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The 47-year-old says: “People feel the pressure and end up buying because they think it’s now or never.
“The cycle of the economy we want to keep moving but you shouldn’t force people to give up their hard-earned money.”
The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) is launching a new phase of its successful Online Rip-Off Tip-Off campaign, asking shoppers to report online rip-offs after 67% of shoppers said the cost-of-living pressures have made them more desperate to find the best deals.
Meanwhile an additional 71% believe they are saving money by purchasing deals that are on offer – some of which may not be genuine.
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Angellica, 47, says: “It’s empowering the consumer to go, ‘No, this is not cool’, especially in a cost-of-living crisis.
Angellica Bell is encouraging consumers to call out online rip offs and report them to the CMA at gov.uk/ripoff-tipoff.
Angellica’s top tips to avoid online rip offs…
- Set a calendar reminder to know when trial offers end and how to unsubscribe.
- Plan what you need – and want – to buy and check at least two sites before pressing purchase.
- Don’t feel pressured. Lots of retailers have multiple sales a year.
- Take advantage of apps which show how prices change.
- Treat the original/headline price with caution – if it is low, it might be designed to lure you in.
- Beware of reviews that look similar or use general terms like ‘Fantastic’ or ‘Brilliant’. Real reviews often give detail.
- Don’t think or buy differently, just because you’re shopping online.
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Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
