A Melbourne entrepreneur has produced a national television program titled Money and Your Life, which enlists the help of experts to help families and businesses improve their finances.
Kris Bondin, chief executive of Bills to Pay, began working on the project in April, sacrificing his weekends and family time. To date, he has invested in excess of $30,000.
Money and Your Life, which commences in December, will be aired on Channel 31 in Victoria, Adelaide 44 in South Australia and 31 Digital in Queensland. It will run for 13 weeks.
Bondin founded Bills to Pay in January last year at the age of 28.
A CPA-qualified accountant, he says the show will feature individuals, families and businesses that need financial assistance.
A range of experts will offer advice on everything from getting out of debt or starting a business to planning a wedding or managing a family break-up.
Bondin’s team of experts includes a family lawyer, life coach, financial planner, recruitment expert, childcare expert, energy brokers and consumer advocates.
He initially funded the project himself before signing a deal with Sunset Films, a not-for-profit production company.
He also signed up a list of sponsors including Baker’s Delight, dental plan smile.com.au, Choice Financial Advisors, Omega Support Group and discount grocery chain Not Quite Right.
“The whole concept for the show is how people can save money,” Bondin says.
“It’s structured with me going in and talking to guests, and then hearing their stories and helping them with money management, which is my area of expertise.”
“The second segment features me introducing the expert to the guest, and remaining involved in the conversation, but the expert is giving their advice.”
“One of the episodes was how a person moved from being an employee to starting their own business, so I had an expert in IT and software.”
“The third segment is filmed four to eight weeks later in another sponsor’s display home, Orbit Homes. [We ask the guest,] ‘Since we came into your life, what’s changed?’ They share their story, detailing the challenges and success they’ve had.”
In addition to expert advice, guests will receive prizes, which could be anything from a new washing machine or an energy-monitoring device to cash.
Bondin admits the desire to promote his business was the initial motivating factor for producing the program.
“That was the first motivating factor – how can I get my stuff out there and show people what I do?” he says.
But he quickly identified another reason to launch the show.
“I get a lot of people who have left things too late [financially] and I think, ‘What are these people going to do if I can’t help them?’ They will either go bankrupt or they can change their life.”
