How to save a grand in 24hours

[inmyslippers]

Anyone watching? I'm aghast, if I could live rent/mortgage free I'd have soo much money saved. Can't help but wonder what's driving them to spend soo much, must be something going on behind the scenes

I was watching the programme and thinking the exact same thing. They were spending over 2k a month on shite and yet were living in an absolute squalor.

What's it on?

Channel 4 going to be a series

I agree, omg that bathroom that toilet seat!! Interesting to see how other peoples priorities differ!

I’m just watching it now. This is an epically stupid couple. And that’s not even touching on them having 4 children in a 2 bed flat

Of course you can save a grand in 24 hours if you’re spending £950 a month on clothes!! Of course you can save a grand in 24 hours if you’re spending £1300 a month on 42 trips to the supermarket. Maybe that’s why they have no money for cleaning products.

Show us a normal family who don’t live rent or mortgage free, who already budget, who already know it isn’t normal to visit TKmaxx 16 times a months.

The bathroom looked a lot better after a bloody good clean and new loo seat. They should have done that themselves before the TV crew turned up 🤢. They buy all named brands food but can't afford a loo seat?

I'm always aghast at these programmes, Eat well for less etc, when they have no idea what they're spending or how to budget and are snobby about budget brands. I know they don't really teach household budgeting in schools but there's a wealth of information out there, Mumsnet for starters. Look at how many 'What should I buy at Aldi/Lidl?' threads there are.

I hope they manage to save up and get a better home. It's just a shame how much they've wasted already.

Those people will never save enough to buy a home. They’re getting it far too easy living rent free and spending is in their blood.

Also- how are they buying a home when they’re separated? How does that work?

I came on to moan about this the other night but thought I'd be shot down. I had to turn it over I was getting so annoyed.

So selfish having those kids in a cramped condition when they could clearly afford to rent a decent place (and they live rent free!) but choose not to as they'd rather spend spend spend. Boiled my blood.

I'd hope they'll change their spending habits. Then they'll be horrified looking back at how they used to live. Hope there's a revist show

Dang it, so I won't watch this and miraculously have the key to keeping hold of a grand this month? Pesky mortgage and bills and food shopping. I'd have more respect for this type of programme if they were called something like 'Look at what this prick spends on crap', rather than presenting themselves as educational opportunities for viewers who don't actually have more money than sense.

so I won't watch this and miraculously have the key to keeping hold of a grand this month?

Not unless you’re currently spunking it up the wall.

@UhtredRagnarson

I’m just watching it now. This is an epically stupid couple. And that’s not even touching on them having 4 children in a 2 bed flat

Of course you can save a grand in 24 hours if you’re spending £950 a month on clothes!! Of course you can save a grand in 24 hours if you’re spending £1300 a month on 42 trips to the supermarket. Maybe that’s why they have no money for cleaning products.

Show us a normal family who don’t live rent or mortgage free, who already budget, who already know it isn’t normal to visit TKmaxx 16 times a months.

This! It's the same with all those property shows a la Sarah Beeny 'Living Mortgage Free' and they're all rich, living for free on family land, living for free in parental home, etc. Boring AF.

The comments on this thread are funny and true. That toilet seat!

Sorry, I’m still stuck on the toilet seat. Surely you would feel ashamed and think, “we need to swap that before the tv crew arrive”?

The place was a mess, and for no good reason. I loved how nice the team were to them but really they should have done them the biggest favour by telling them to not be such scruffy bastards.

Chef Gary is welcome to visit me any time

I was surprised he didn't rate organic vegetables.

And I wasn't convinced by his suggestions of bulk buying rice etc. when there's six of them living in a two bedroom flat.

I’m glad this is going to be a series. I really liked the decorator lady.

I think they hadn’t replaced the toilet seat or cleaned because it wasn’t their property. Most families either have a mortgage or rent their house, this couple were just allowed to live there rent free, so didn’t have any ‘investment’ in it. I don’t think I’m explaining myself very well!! It’s just so disrespectful to the person who was lending it to them.

They’ll never ever be able to afford a property - it just seemed like they didn’t have any common sense between them. So much spent on food, but also all that stuff from TKMaxx - did I see a wall clock that didn’t have any hands? It’s just junk.

It’s just so disrespectful to the person who was lending it to them.

Totally agree with you. I can’t believe they are happy to take something so valuable for free and treat it so badly. How must their family member feel seeing that on TV?

And yes- a wall clock- still in packaging- no hands.

I am speechless

I didn't watch it purely because I thought it would be along the lines of idiots spending money on crap they dont need. Make a proper tv show and show us regular people how to save £1000

And you weren't wrong @Iwantacookie .
I think it's insulting to those who have a limited income but are doing their best to manage. And you don't need money to keep your house half way decent.

I guess the everyday people who are being sensible already wouldn't make good TV.
Probably as likely to get decent advice on MN!

So basically they saved what they would have not had in the first place had they been paying rent. If I was the family letting them live their rent free I would be really upset at how they had just wasted their opportunity to save. I do think that hit them at the end, the Mum looked like she was pretty gutted when they showed them the house they could have in 4 years, probably been spending that way for the whole 12 years they lived there could have had a really wonderful home. They have been living in a really temporary way for a long time. I have lived a bit like that for short term, and it can be hard to change your mindset from "whatever gets me through the day" to "long term goals" but with 4 kids you don't really have the luxury of living in the day. As the Dad said, they have been irresponsible. Hopefully this will be the shake up they needed to change their ways.

Disappointed again with tonight’s offering. We are £500 in the red every month but we spent £400 on clothes, £300 on eating out and what can we possibly do

It's really scary that people are so ill equipped to budget and work out where their money is going. If I was in charge of our education system, I would make the basics of budgeting along with home cooking mandatory subjects at high school.
Personally I see that as something we as parents should be teaching our children but sadly either not everyone has been taught it by parents, or maybe parents have tried and the children weren't ready to listen.