RTE Late Late Show viewers were shown a range of money saving tips to help families get through the cost of living crisis.
Some viewers were less than impressed with the segment as they felt it normalised the crisis. Some of the tips included using a pair of tights as a draft excluder and keeping a diary of conscious and subconscious spending.
Ryan Tubridy acknowledged that many audience members and people at home were worried about this winter with many already struggling to make ends meet.
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He said: "“Prices are going up on everything. We are being told to tighten our belts, but we want to put money tonight back into your pocket without you giving up a single thing.
"So tonight, what we're going to do is we're not going to tell you to give up your weekly treats, we’re not going to say you can’t have coffee or to put on another jumper. Instead our experts have simple changes and hacks to bring your bills down.
“In a minute, I will be talking to Eoin McGee eon how to save over €1,000 maybe on your utility bills. Money mentor Santis O'Garro is here, she's going to help you save maybe 50% per cent on your shopping bills and gaff goddess Laura de Barra has hacks to warm your house and keep the heat in.”
Eoin McGee encouraged people to keep track of their spending and to only buy what you intended to buy in a shop. He said: "I’m a very strong believer that we all work hard for our money and we all deserve to enjoy it. The idea of doing the little things right regularly over time can have a big impact.
“The difference between conscious and subconscious spending…You go in to get a Diet Coke in the shop and you walk out with a Diet Coke and a packet of crisis.
“What I would do is challenge the audience and viewers to do over the next week is write down every time you spend money, take out your phone and write down everything you buy. Next Friday, take out a pen and paper and divide conscious and subconscious, added value and did not add value. Then you will have a list of things you are spending money on that are adding no value to your life.”
Laura de Barra showed viewers how to make a homemade draft excluder using old tights and gave some other helpful hints.
She said: "The biggest things that will cost you money appliance wise are things that make things hotter or colder, so washing machine, dishwasher, fridge.”
Talking through some practical things people can do to save money, she said: “Your fridge will cost you more to run if it’s not three quarters full. I don’t always have a three quarters full fridge , it’s chocolate and wine most of the time, so if you put in just a bottle of water it will save you money. The air has to cool all of that fridge, all of the time. Why not just cool off water a bit, and then the bottle of wine.”
Switching to all own brand products was another little change suggested. Santis O'Garro said shoppers could shave 50% off their weekly shop.
However, some Twitter users weren't too eager to take the "patronising" advice on board.
One person said: "“If anyone wants to see poverty being normalised switch on the #latelate where the audience are giggling at the thoughts of granny freezing to death in January. No sign of a minister being grilled.”
Another wrote: "“Embarrassing… cut costs by not buying a packet of crisps, use an old pair of mothers tights to stop drafts.. mother of god."
A third commented: "“Patronising convo about cost saving measures- buy the crisps!”
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