GET MON£YSMART launches across Rochdale Borough

Did you know you can save £78 a month by having just two takeaways less a week? Save £60 a month by smoking just five cigarettes less a day? Lose £300 in 60 seconds by playing roulette machines?

Rochdale Borough Council is launching the GET MON£YSMART campaign this September to raise awareness of the savings and health benefits that can be made by making just a few small changes to everyday lifestyles.

More than 200 local partners have signed up to support the campaign, including Rochdale & District Citizens Advice Bureau, Rochdale Foodbank, Rochdale and District Mind, Shelter, Barnardo’s, Pennine Acute Hospitals NHS Trust, The Big Life group, many local housing associations, support services, charities and community champions.

Councillor Cecile Biant, Cabinet Member for Public Health and Regulation, said: “The GET MON£YSMART campaign provides fantastic information for residents about how small changes to their daily habits can not only result in an improvement in health, but also significant financial relief. As a council we are committed to helping residents be healthy and happy, and GET MON£YSMART is a powerful tool towards achieving that goal.”

Free, impartial money advice and support, as well as top money-saving tips and budget planners are available from all local libraries across the borough, as part of the campaign.

To find your nearest library and pick up a free GET MON£YSMART pack, visit www.rochdale.gov.uk/libraries or call 0300 303 8876.

Residents are also being asked to share their own money-saving tips and real-life stories of making healthy lifestyle changes on the campaign Facebook page at www.facebook.com/getmoneysmartrochdale

Notes to editors:

• Based on the average takeaway spend per order, per person. Source: VoucherCodes.co.uk, 2013.
  
• Based on the RRP of a typical pack of 20 cigarettes. Source: Tobacco Manufacturers' Association, 2013.
  
• Based on a maximum stake of £100 every 20 seconds on fixed-odds betting terminals. Source: Campaign for Fairer Gambling, 2014.
  
• For more information please contact Helen Skidmore, Public Health Development Manager, on 01706 927074 or helen.skidmore@rochdale.gov.uk