Page 5 | To think that Martin Lewis

Aserena · 2023-09-07T23:42:28+00:00

often comes across as condescending? Especially on his podcast. I’m no financial whizz and I’m genuinely grateful to him for breaking things down simple. It’s his manner rather than the content that I find irritating. AIBU?

DrSbaitso · 08/09/2023 09:50

Focus on the content. He's there to help and he knows his stuff. He's more concerned about that than being a performative PR whiz.

Dramatic · 08/09/2023 09:53

Aserena · 08/09/2023 08:59

An interesting point, so thank you.

However, just to stand my own corner here, I’m not into ‘celeb’ culture, so I don’t really have any views on how they are ‘meant to be’. I like plenty of introverted, awkward and/or unpopular people.

I form opinions about people based on the personal qualities that I observe in them (subjectively, of course). Being an introvert / extrovert is not a trait that would sway my opinion in either direction. Introverts may find it harder to relax and display their full personality, but that is on us (as I do tend to count myself in this number) I’m afraid, because nobody has a right to be liked.

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You are totally entitled to your opinion on him and whether or not you like him. I dislike some celebrities who are totally unproblematic, Sam Ryder for instance, cannot stand him.

CarterBeatsTheDevil · 08/09/2023 10:21

I knew him long before he was even running the website and he really, genuinely cared about improving things for people. I agree that he has also ended up doing very well out of it but I don't think he remotely anticipated this level of success back then.

Showdogworkingdog · 08/09/2023 10:36

His thing is explaining boring but important stuff to people and I’m sure he’s well aware that people have different starting points. I used to work in a big dept store as a student and they were always sending loyalty card customers % discount vouchers. It amazed me the number of people who had no idea how much a % discount on something worked out at, even if it was a nice and simple 10% or whatever.

Twentytwo22 · 08/09/2023 10:40

He's the opposite of condescending. He sticks to the facts and I find him very down to earth and genuine.

BIossomtoes · 08/09/2023 10:45

BarbaraofSeville · 08/09/2023 04:28

He could have also quietly gone away and enjoyed his millions, yet he continues to work and campaign (because it's not just being in the media and shouting about switching and reclaiming, he does a lot of campaigning work and is constantly badgering the government, standing up for the ordinary person, to the extent that they actually consult him now because they know he'll be in their face about mortgage interest rate hikes, energy costs or a consumer issue sooner or later anyway) and without him, it's unlikely we'd have a lot of the current help available with these issues that have affected people so badly.

He also donated huge amounts of his own money (millions!) to COVID and energy costs support funds, set up a 'money and mental health' charity foundation and paid for and wrote a financial education textbook, gave a copy to all schools and made it freely available for everyone to download.

Plus the Moneysaving Expert website is a fantastic resource for just about all 'money' issues (except investments, which he is always clear he stays away from) and the answer to just about any money issue like budgeting, mortgage or energy cost worries, or any consumer issue is 'look on Moneysaving Expert'.

For example, anyone left high and dry by the recent air traffic control issues would be able to look through their standard guide to flight delay rights and, within a day or two at most, been able to find a comprehensive, easy to understand, guide that has been tailored to the specific air traffic control fuck up a couple of weeks ago.

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This. He’s the opposite end of the moral spectrum from people like Michelle Mone. A human being as decent as Lewis is beyond criticism as far as I’m concerned.

Redlarge · 08/09/2023 10:47

Id like him to be prime minister with carol vordeman his deputy. They would sort stuff out.

AnIndianWoman · 08/09/2023 10:48

He’s breaking down really complex information into stuff so everyone can understand, so there needs to be an element of condescension. Example - my cousin has Downs - he has a full time job, rents a small house, but has always been awful with money. He began following Martin Lewis after his dad’s death and and now he’s repaid all his debt and has saved a small nest egg for his partner’s little one. I’m amazed he was able to do it but in his words, ‘ML is easy to understand’.

shearwater · 08/09/2023 10:48

A very moral person can still be a bit irritating. I appreciate what he does but I don't have to watch him on TV or be his best mate.

Redlarge · 08/09/2023 11:21

AnIndianWoman · 08/09/2023 10:48

He’s breaking down really complex information into stuff so everyone can understand, so there needs to be an element of condescension. Example - my cousin has Downs - he has a full time job, rents a small house, but has always been awful with money. He began following Martin Lewis after his dad’s death and and now he’s repaid all his debt and has saved a small nest egg for his partner’s little one. I’m amazed he was able to do it but in his words, ‘ML is easy to understand’.

Aw thats great. Im so glad for him.

wutheringkites · 08/09/2023 11:22

He's one of the most trusted individuals in the country so YABU

newnamethanks · 08/09/2023 11:28

OP, you only have to listen to a vox pop on tax to realise that there are many people in this country who have no idea about taxes and their purpose and believe all receipts are pocketed personally by MPs and Councillors. Anything and anyone who is bringing some enlightenment on how money works is welcome, especially if they're telling the truth. We are lucky to have Martin Lewis. He doesn't have to do it.

Orangebadger · 08/09/2023 11:32

I'm an intelligent person but have not been financially savvy in the past. He has helped me become more so and saved me a ton of money by sharing his expertise in a broken down simplified form. I could not care one bit if he is patronising!

BloodyHellKen · 08/09/2023 11:50

Oh no, OP I only clicked on this because I thought you were gong to say....is quite sexy 😁(maybe that's just me)