In The Country and Town November 2022

Dragons’ Den’s Steven Bartlett on why knowledge is power when it comes to money

By Vicky Shaw, PA Personal Finance Correspondent

Dragons’ Den star Steven Bartlett believes “knowledge is power” when it comes to managing money – and he’s gained his own financial know-how the hard way.

The Diary of a CEO podcast host has teamed up with NatWest to create a series of motivational videos, helping people to take action to reach their goals.

NatWest found that money management is one of the most common things we procrastinate about – something that may cause particular problems in the current tough financial climate.“If there was ever a time to be talking about financial management and taking control of your money, it’s definitely now,” says Bartlett. “Knowledge is power at the end of the day… but it’s not until you understand some of the practical steps you can take and you start thinking in slightly more astute ways that you realise how much of your spending and saving has been a bit of a passive exercise.That was certainly the case for me for much of my career, specifically my earlier career, before I understood the rules of money.”

The entrepreneur left home at 18 – and admits that he did not initially have a clue about managing or earning money.

Looking back on his younger days, he says he wishes he’d been told about savings, credit scores and tax. He says that “there’s just too many people that don’t have knowledge” around money and he’s keen to help “level the playing field”. In fact, he has a particular interest in helping young people from disadvantaged backgrounds.

Photo: /PA.

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