Meet the blogger: Mouthy Money’s very first reporter, Dana Raer

1. Tell us a bit about yourself.

My name is Dana Raer and I am the first ever reporter for Mouthy Money, tackling stories about money and people. I recently graduated from the University of Sheffield, with a First-Class Honours degree in journalism. Before joining the brilliant Mouthy Money team I was a freelancer for The Times Money Mentor and BBC Culture.

I am an avid reader – during my free time my head is buried in books. I prefer fiction, a world of escapism, compared to the harsh realities of non-fiction, with favourite authors such as Gabriel García Márquez, Margaret Mitchell, Matt Haig or Jane Austen.

2. What is your biggest passion in life?

My biggest passion in life is finding stories about people of every background and culture – whether that is in fiction, or in reality.

What fascinates me in life is the fact that every person has a story to tell. This is what drove me to become a journalist.

3. What one personal finance tip would you give a younger version of yourself?

Don’t be afraid to look at your bank account.

Before I entered the world of financial journalism, I avoided looking at my bank account frequently. My thought process was: “If I don’t see it, then the issue is not there.”

Obviously, I was very wrong. Analysing your financial situation is the first step towards achieving your financial goals.

I was a student at that time with some ‘interesting’ shopping habits, so I try not to be too hard on myself for my mistakes. Now I have more confidence to look at my bank statements, and I have a better-prepared plan for my future.

4. If you had to stick to one rule around money, what would it be?

Buy quality over quantity. Invest in stuff instead of buying in bulk – that way you can also be more sustainable.

5. What’s the biggest personal finance issue you think people face today?

Frivolous spending is the biggest challenge we face today as a society. It doesn’t just have repercussions on our budgets, but also on the planet.

Now more than ever, we need to become more sustainable to protect our environment. I think personal finance is strongly connected to sustainability as our choices can heavily impact the earth.

6. What would you do if you got to be Chancellor for the day?

If you asked me this two years ago, I would’ve said no more tuition fees at universities, no more student debt!

But now I believe I would work to acelerate the net-zero process and devote all of my responsibilities to the real issue impending: pollution.

7. If you won the lottery what would you do with the money?

I would buy a house at the seaside and invest the rest. I’d love to start my own charity too.