Money Talk with Annie Ridout Author and Entrepreneur

In this interview series we chat about all things money (sans-shame) with an array of inspiring women from all walks of life. Our goal is to break the money taboo, share mutual experiences and learn from our amazing community.

Hi Annie! Please give us a little background about yourself.

I’m 34 and live in London (where I was born and raised; though a different part of the city) with my husband and our three kids. I am a writer - of articles, books, poetry and online courses - and have just launched a new business.  

It’s called The Robora and it’s an online business platform for women. We’re opening with a four-month membership package that includes a website review, one-to-one consultancy, a bespoke plan for moving your business forward, an invite to our closed Facebook group for peer-to-peer support and access to all my online business courses. 

“I’m into visualisation, though, and drawing/writing the life that you’d like - then finding ways to make it happen. It’s rarely instant but if you don’t plan it, it almost certainly won’t happen.”

I’m also writing my second non-fiction book. It’s called SHY and it’s about how shyness can contribute to your success; it doesn’t have to be a ‘fault’ or something that needs fixing. My first book, The Freelance Mum: A flexible guide to better work-life balance was published last January and I’m pleased that it has empowered lots of women to go freelance or start a business after having kids.

My husband quit his job last year to help me run the online course business and look after the kids (we have a five-year-old, three-year-old and six-month-old). We’re moving towards a very nice work-life balance. The plan is to work our arses off in school term-time, during school hours, and then have all the school holidays off to travel with the kids.

What are your passions?

Business. Women. Family. Outside of that - and for myself - I play the piano and guitar, and write songs and poems. I love walking in the countryside and running in London. 

What’s your secret to career success?

Working hard. Having confidence in myself and my abilities. Accepting that sometimes I’m going to fail - and that it doesn’t really matter. 

What’s your relationship like with money and personal finance?

Pretty good. I only spend what I have. When I earn more, I treat myself (and my family). On a quieter month, I spend less. The online course business enabled me to start saving - until then, I was spending all my earnings most months. This makes life feel a lot more secure.   

Has money ever been a source of stress for you? If so, how did you manage?

Yes, until I launched my first online course last year, teaching business owners how to do their own PR, I was earning just enough to pay my part of the bills. Suddenly, I had surplus income and realised how good that feels. Before that, I felt panicked each month. If friends suggested a meal out, my first thought was always: oh shit. I can’t afford to do that. Then I’d say: ‘Can we go somewhere cheap?’ And feel a bit rubbish. It’s so good to not be in that place anymore. But all the financial pressure falls onto me, as the ‘CEO’ of the business. My husband helps with marketing but doesn’t feel the money pressure. Before joining me at home, he worked as a builder so he’s done his graft and he’s enjoying a different pace to his work-life now.   

What do you feel is the biggest obstacle women tend to face when it comes to careers and personal finance?

KIDS. Maternity pay is so low. Lots of women lose their job during pregnancy or new motherhood (I did). We do a lot more of the childcare, cut back to part-time hours. There’s a pension ‘gap’ because of this; women have less years to work and pay into a pension if they have maternity leave and spend the early years working less or not at all. 

 Have you ever experienced a financial epiphany? A sort of wake-up call, where you suddenly think - “I must start doing things differently”?

I had that epiphany loads but it wasn’t until I launched the online courses that I actually became free of the monthly financial panics. I’m into visualisation, though, and drawing/writing the life that you’d like - then finding ways to make it happen. It’s rarely instant but if you don’t plan it, it almost certainly won’t happen. 

What is the best piece of money advice that you received?

Dream big, start small.

What does financial independence really mean to you?

Confidence. 

What’s the one thing you don’t feel guilty indulging in?

Chanel foundation and perfume.  

What is the best financial decision you have ever made? And your greatest long term investment? 

Launching an online course. Longterm investment? My house. 

If you could travel back in time, what single piece of advice would you give your younger self (relating to money or otherwise)? 

None. She did okay. Spent everything, never saved - but it all worked out in the end. I have no regrets.  

What does Vestpod mean to you?

Being open about money.

What are your plans/goals for the future?

To make the best online business platform for women IN THE WORLD. A space that is truly inclusive, supportive and encouraging. ‘Robora’ means ‘to encourage’ - and my mission is to help other women in business succeed by encouraging them to believe in themselves.

@therobora - where women encourage each other.

Favourite book and podcast? 

Novel: Girl, Woman, Other (but my favourite book is always the one I’m currently reading, unless I don’t like it in which case I stop reading it. I never read a novel twice). Podcast: I love Elizabeth Day’s How to Fail.  

Lastly - where can we find you on social?

Instagram:
@annieridout
@therobora

Thank you for your time!