Piper Terrett

summary

Piper Terrett is a financial journalist and writes the Frugal Life blog http://frugal-life.spaces.live.com for MSN.co.uk. The hit blog charts Piper’s adventures as she lives on a smaller budget and undergoes moneysaving challenges. Author of The Frugal Life: How to spend less and live more, Piper is also the Energy Saving Trust’s Green Voice of the UK.

biography

Piper Terrett is a financial journalist and blogger and an engaging speaker who, listeners say, is entertaining but speaks from the heart. She writes the hit Frugal Life blog http://frugal-life.spaces.live.com for MSN.co.uk, the UK’s biggest internet portal. The topical blog, which has proved popular during the credit crunch, charts Piper’s adventures as she lives on a smaller budget, keeps chickens, grows vegetables and undergoes moneysaving challenges. She has experienced life on the equivalent of the state pension, the jobseeker’s allowance, incapacity benefit and World War Two rations. She has also foraged for wild food, tried being vegetarian and made her own toiletries in an effort to save cash and live a greener lifestyle.

In April 2009 Piper published a book of moneysaving tips based on the blog – The Frugal Life: How to spend less and live more (Good Life Press). In November 2009 she was voted in as the Energy Saving Trust’s Green Voice of the UK. She will spend the next 12 months in the voluntary role representing the public’s views on green issues and meeting MPs. She is also a member of the Billericay Greening Campaign Committee, the first of its kind in Essex, which is encouraging residents to cut waste and energy use. 

Piper has contributed to Guardian.co.uk, the Sunday Telegraph, the Financial Times and been interviewed by BBC Radio Suffolk and the Sunday Times. She is a frequent guest on BBC Radio Essex. Before going freelance, Piper was a City journalist for the Investors Chronicle, part of the Financial Times Group, where she interviewed company executives. Born and bred in Essex, she lives in Billericay with her partner Doug, their pet chickens and ever expanding vegetable patch. In her spare time she writes crime fiction.

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Testimonials

“Back in 2009, Piper Terrett put herself forward to represent the UK and man on the street about environmental issues and was voted by the nation as Green Voice of the UK. Thrown straight into the deep end after being announced as the winner, Piper had to present to a room full of MPs, including Joan Ruddock, the former Environment and Energy Minister. Not fazed by the pressure, Piper discussed how she would use her contacts and blog to ensure she was reaching out to represent everyone across the UK in a very calm and confident manner.
Since then, Piper has been asked to talk at a range of events. Her speeches have always been very interesting and relevant. She has a way of engaging with the whole room and giving an honest picture of the issue at hand. It has been a pleasure working with Piper and she is always organised and relaxed. It makes me feel confident to know that she is fully prepared.”
Caroline Rams, former press officer for the Energy Saving Trust and senior account executive at Cake PR.

“I am the midmorning producer at BBC Essex and we’ve used Piper many times as a contributor to our programme.  She is always imaginative, upbeat, witty, and fun, but what makes her stand out as a contributor is how polished and professional she is. She has a real and warm quality which engages our listeners.”
Shana Pearlman, producer, BBC Essex’s Dave Monk Show

“As the PR representative for the Society of Women Writers & Journalists based in London, I am often asked to book professional speakers for the group’s activities.  Having heard Piper speak on behalf of the Billericay Greening Campaign, I would have no hesitation in booking her for one of our conventions as she has an extremely articulate and engaging approach in holding her audience.”
Sylvia Kent, columnist for the Brentwood and Chelmsford Weekly News and publicity manager for the Society of Women Writers & Journalists.

“When Piper Terrett was asked to speak at the Greening Billericay Campaign, she was not only informative but also encouraged audience interest by ensuring she remained relevant, salient and amusing. She has the ability to provide her messages appropriately and, equally importantly, knows when to stop. The level of interest generated and her response to audience questions and comments ensured that the wider implications of questions about environmental issues were well received and helped stimulate the remainder of the evening’s business. Piper is a joy to work with and has positively enhanced the Working Party both in terms of the ideas she has generated and her diligence in seeing the task through.”
David Knight, Town Councillor, Billericay Town Council, and Chairman of the Billericay Greening Campaign

“Piper has thrown herself into the frugal life since taking on the role as MSN Money’s frugal blogger. She’s lived her journalism, surviving on the basic state pension for a month among other things, then reporting back on her experiences to our audience in a fresh and honest voice. She has rightly won both internal and national awards for her work, and published her experiences of living life for less as a book.”
James Andrews, content editor at MSN.co.uk