I am always inspired when I read stories of women who have worked hard and started a business, while also looking after their families. I also LOVE a bargain! So when I was given the opportunity to interview Ashleigh Swann, whose business Ashleigh Money Saver is going from strength to strength, I jumped at the chance.
Not only is she fast becoming one of the nation’s top money-saving experts, but in 2014 she was voted in the Telegraph’s 100 top Britons list.
1. Please introduce yourself
Hi, I’m Ashleigh and I started the Ashleigh Money Saver brand back in June 2013.
2. Who or what is Ashleigh Money Saver?
Ashleigh Money Saver is the only place to go for money-saving offers. Not only do we have a website dedicated to money-saving advice and offers, we also have a Facebook page that we put amazing bargains out on every 15 minutes!
3. Have you always been interested in finding ways to save money?
Yes, since school! I would spend my lunch hour looking for free samples and entering competitions. As I got older I started taking more of an interest in saving money around the house too.
4. How did this interest develop into a career? What was the moment you realised this could be a sustainable career?
I started Ashleigh Money Saver as more of a hobby to do in my spare time to share deals and offers I found with my friends. I was working part-time in a pharmacy at the time but they were making cut backs as business was slow and unfortunately I was made redundant. It meant I had to cut back even more and the page was getting more and more popular. Fortunately I managed to get another job in a pharmacy a little while later but after a few months of trying to juggle a full-time job and trying to continue keeping the page successful and growing, I realised I needed to choose between them as I couldn’t keep them both up. After a long conversation with my husband and parents, I decided to take the chance and quit the pharmacy and make Ashleigh Money Saver into a business!
5. How long has this been your main job?
I decided to take the jump in September 2014 and it has been my full-time job ever since!
6. How many children do you have? Do you find it difficult to manage all your roles?
I have 3 children, one of which is my step son. It is difficult to juggle work and being a parent. Especially when I’m doing publicity, I was called a few months ago as I was eating my tea and asked if I was available for Good Morning Britain the following morning and my train was booked for 45 minutes later!
7. What is the hardest thing about running your own business?
There is no such thing as a day off. You have to be constantly available in case a fantastic deal pops up and you get messages and emails from followers 24/7 asking for money advice. I always want to reply to them too because I know how hard it is to struggle.
8. How does what you offer differ from other money-saving experts?
I cover a wide range of different money-saving deals. I offer advice, guides, freebies and because of how big we are, we are offered so many exclusive competition prizes and voucher codes.
9. You have a very large social media following, how did you grow this?
It grew so fast! My friends were sharing with their friends and their friends were sharing with their friends…. It was crazy! Once it became a business, I invested some money into advertising to help it grow even further.
10. Being a working mum, do you ever ‘clock-off’?
Never! Haha. I love my job and don’t see my job as a job, just doing what I love.
11. Do you have any advice for other mums who would love to start their own business?
Take the chance and do it! What started out as a hobby for me and totally catapulted me into something I could have only dreamed of! Aim big and don’t let anything stop you achieving what you want.
12. What does the future hold for Ashleigh Money Saver?
I am hoping to have an app in the future and I’d love more TV opportunities so I could continue to spread the word.
Thanks for much to Ashleigh for taking part in this interview and for giving us an insight into her busy life. If you want to keep up to date with all the fabulous offers Ashleigh finds make sure you add the Ashleigh Money Saver website to your bookmarks and join over 267k people who already ‘like’ the Facebook page.
