'Not having to search for deals makes a big difference – and the savings are a huge help too'

“Life is so fast-paced right now, and I’m juggling a lot. Not having to search online for deals or compare offers myself makes a big difference.” 

Diana, 48, lives in London with her teenage daughter and works as a housing operations manager. She was switched on when it came to getting good deals for her household bills, but resented having to spend hours hunting for fair offers and staying on top of the admin.

Diana joined Nous after her employer, Notting Hill Genesis, rolled out membership to their employees, and saved more than £300 on her energy bill.

How did you manage your bills before you joined Nous?

For me it’s been a bit of a journey. I lived with my mum for a long time and I would contribute to household bills while she handled the payments. 

When I moved into my own flat I had to take responsibility. I always had small ones, like my phone bill, which I managed fine, but managing the larger ones was hard in the first year. I struggled, mainly due to a lack of financial literacy.

For a long time, I didn’t change suppliers. I stayed loyal to companies because they were familiar. But then I became more aware of financial literacy and saving opportunities. Now, for example, I don’t keep the same car insurance provider each year and I shop around. So overall, I’d say I’m in a much better place now when it comes to getting value for money.

Nous has made things much easier because I don’t have to do the searching part. I still have the final say, but not having to do all the looking saves me a lot of time.

How will you spend the money Nous has saved you?

It’s a significant amount, and knowing I’m saving and getting cashback helps. I always find something to spend money on, but I’ve definitely become wiser as I’ve gotten older. I might invest it in something, but it’ll probably just help with day-to-day spending.

Can you describe how you started saving with Nous?

I joined through my work, which is a housing association. They’re good at helping staff save money and understand what options are out there. I attended a session with Nous, and the process was really straightforward. I just entered my costs and saw what savings I could get, and that was it.

What do you think it says about Notting Hill Genesis that they’re offering Nous membership to their employees?

I think it shows they care. The cost of living has really gone up, and even though we’re lucky to have jobs and decent pay, any way to save helps, especially as a single parent, with one income in the household.

What would you say are the biggest benefits of Nous?

For me, the biggest benefits are saving time and money. Life is so fast-paced right now, and I’m juggling a lot. Not having to search online for deals or compare offers myself makes a big difference. And obviously the financial savings are a huge help too.

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