To not have a clue what Shop Well For Less is on about?

[Miladymilord]

She's got a decent pair of curtains. Why would you buy another cheaper pair? How does that save money? The kids have a football goal. Why would you buy another, crappier, cheaper one when you've already got one? HOW IS THAT SAVING MONEY. This programme is giving me the rage.

It’s fine saying more expensive stuff can last longer but the point is these idiots aren’t buying one shirt and wearing it for years they’re buying loads of them on a regular basis when they can’t actually afford it.

I am old enough to have seen where people like the family on the shows who don’t take on board end up.

It isn’t pretty.

It is ok if they are both earning but eventually the rent outstrips their earnings and they have to down size.

Wtf was that thing she used to call her son down for his tea.

I might be old but standing in the middle of the kitchen and shouting “teas ready” costs nothing

Also, how the fuck can an Argos value vacuum cleaner be better than Hoover, you blinking morons? Seriously!

But for white goods, surely, branded is better in most cases

Go onto Which and other comparison sites and look at the reviews. Branded isn't always better. Also, bear in mind that you could spend £1K on a Miele washer or £350 on a Beko one. Does the Miele one wash clothes £650 better and will it last 3 times as long?

Comments like the above demonstrate that there is a place for this show.

I've just replaced my 20 year old meile. Limescale got it in the end. Before him I had a cheap one, lasted 2 years

I would think steph mcgovern spends quite a bit on clothes for her ever expanding arse with her six figure salary no doubt

Do as I say not as I do from both presenters

And our Beko is 10 years + old ...

I've watched previous episodes though not the most recent one. I wish to god they would make these wasteful families confront the environmental impact of their rampant consumerism. Because the cost isn't just monetary is it?

Other things they could do to actually help the clueless idiots who come on these shows:

1. Get them to sell some of their branded shite to raise money to put in savings
2. Return the crap that's still sitting in their wardrobes with tags attached for refunds
3. Get them to agree to a year of no spending bar necessities
4. Cut up their credit cards

These steps would START to make a real difference.

Her jumper is from H&M I gather. No need for arse comments.

I have a cheaper washing machine. Didn’t go for the Miele because it had too many buttons.

Mine has a 12 minute quick wash and I use mostly the 39 minute wash that I can adjust the temperature separately

Also Miele wouldn’t have fitted into my kitchen.

Same with tumble drier. On and off switch and a dial for the timer.

I agree - it is a real waste of an opportunity because they have to have "personalities" presenting the show. At least with the food one both presenters know what they are talking about. There used to be a similar programme where various people showed money saving hacks - I learnt how to do a leopard spot manicure using a black fine liner pen and nail polish.

The brand comparison exercises last night were pretty pointless - better to stick to ongoing costs eg everyday basics like toiletries and to have shown some alternatives for a weeks camping holiday in the UK - that would have shaved a far bigger slice off their budget.

Doingreat long time ago but I think there was a programme that did get people to sell their stuff.

SWFL seems to have people who want something but don’t want to compromise their life style to get it. They just want it to be handed to them on a plate

Do as I say not as I do from both presenters

Well yes, but they’ve both earned their money with successful careers and aren’t trying to save to buy a house.

I must say dh has replaced the miele with another one and it has a touchscreen which I fucking hate. I agree there are too many settings, although this one does have a 20 min wash which is quite useful

I think I'm going to start watching this with my son (13) as from reading what posters have said in this thread about how daft some of the families are in it, I think it would be both hilarious AND a salutary lesson in how to avoid becoming an idiot with your finances.
Four holidays a year? And they wonder why they can't afford a house?

I'd love them to do an episode on a normal family who shop at Aldi and buy clothes from just normal shops or eBay! But then that's not really the premise of the show now is it

I remember the Alvin Hall one, that was pretty good. It started with where the family were now, and looked at what they could do/cut moving forward, and where the money was going that they didn't realise.

SWFL seems to have people who want something but don’t want to compromise their life style to get it. They just want it to be handed to them on a plate.
Yes, exactly. Think this is why I just didn't 'get' the programme last week when I stumbled into the middle of it, because I couldn't imagine that people can be so obtuse about where their money is going. But then I'm the type who shops around, reads reviews before making large purchases, swaps my fuel provider regularly to get a good deal, rings Virgin every year to see if I can save money on the package, swap my credit card balance to interest free cards, etc etc... it's opened my eyes to how daft people can be with their money.

Yes, the Alvin Hall programme was better, I think.

Four holidays a year? And they wonder why they can't afford a house

But they all seemed to be camping. That is not a holiday.

They would feel better selling their camping gear and doing 2 weeks on a proper holiday per year. One where you can order room service.

@Palegreenstars you need to watch rhod Gilbert's stand up about his expensive toothbrush - always think of it when I hear of expensive toothbrushes!

Thingintheattic, I think SWFL should be compulsory viewing at secondary schools as a lesson in how easy it is to get into debt by mindlessly spending and living beyond one's means. Especially with instagram and reality TV culture which seems to have fuelled a desire in people for designer everything.

But for white goods, surely, branded is better in most cases

A lot of the times the cheaper ones have the same internals and just a different skin and branding, they are essentially the same machine.

My Spear & Jackson Neverbend garden fork is 39 years old, and used a lot. Still as good as new.
I'm quite sure a cheapie one wouldn't last that long.

I actually watched it, last night, and was just as bemused.

A lot of it goes against the idea of buy well and buy once.

But bloody hell, I'd rent a 2 bed house with 2 boys if it helped me to save for our own home.

I'm always bemused by the amount of purfumes/aftershaves the people have. Do normal people really have 5+ bottles each that are used on a regular enough basis to have to be replaced every few weeks/months?