Cash-strapped couples get a taste of the good life.
A new reality series in which cash-strapped families swap lives with wealthy couples starts on TVNZ 1 this week. The Williams family (right) talk about their experiences on the show. James Rampton reports.
Wife Swap, which began in the UK 15 years ago, has a lot to answer for.
This popular “life exchange” programme has spawned a whole host of imitators, including Family Life Swap, Boss Swap, The Life Swap Adventure, and X Change.
And now the latest in a long line is Rich House, Poor House. In this intriguing British social experiment, a wealthy family swap lives with a less well-off household for a week.
Both families’ experiences are captured on camera and broadcast for viewers’ delectation and delight.
In this week’s first episode, Anthony and Kayleigh Williams and their six children trade places with the seven-strong Caddy family.
Warehouseman Anthony, from Weston-super-Mare, lives in a three-bedroom terraced house and has just £107 a week to pay for food, clothing and electricity.
By contrast, the Caddys are among the 10 per cent richest people in the UK. Software millionaire James, his wife Claire and their five children live in a seven-bedroom house in an exclusive part of Bristol. They have a weekly budget many times larger than the Williams’. On average, they spend £1741 a week.
Anthony says his whole family had an amazing time making Rich House, Poor House.
“I’ve never had a holiday in my life, so this was like a bit of a holiday,” he says. “The kids loved it. The garden was amazing. It was the dream house. Having a game of hide and seek in that house was just the best thing ever.”
One of Anthony’s chief joys when appearing on Rich House, Poor House was that he had access to a weekly budget more than 16 times his usual amount.
He was delighted not to have
“I don’t think the children are missing out on anything in life just because we are on a lower budget.” – Anthony Williams
to worry about what he bought on the weekly supermarket shop.
He reflects that, “I always buy everything my family needs, but when it comes to me and Kayleigh, we watch what we’re buying to keep the cost down. It was nice to be able to put everything into the trolley that we fancied for a change.”
In an affecting moment in Rich House, Poor House, Anthony splashes out on a pair of football boots that nine-year-old AJ has been yearning for. Anthony explains that, “He’s at that age when all his mates are into football, and for a couple of months he’s been asking for these football boots.
“It’s a lot of money for us, and I’m putting in as much overtime as I possibly can at work so I can cover the bills. When it comes to things like shoes it’s like, ‘That’s
a big present. Can you wait for your birthday?’ But I just bust out and got the football boots for him, which was great.” Anthony reckons the most enjoyable aspect of living at the Caddys’ house was the fact that he did not have to fret about meeting that week’s rent. He says that, “In the big house I got to pretend it was ours for the week, whereas at home I pay the bills and I know it’s not my house because I pay rent, which takes up about two thirds of the money I get paid.
“I’m paying more than most people are paying on a mortgage, and I feel totally ripped off, but that’s the only option I have at the moment.”
He carries on that, “The big difference for me was the postman. When we see the postman, it’s devastating and we just hope he won’t stop at our house.
“But when that rich guy gets post, it’s fancy letters from people he’s met around the world or people sending cards. If I had his life, I would be happy when the postman walked up the drive.”
But even though they may not be rich, the Williams family are still clearly happy.
Anthony observes that, “We may not spend as much money as others, but we go out together a lot more than the average family.
“I don’t think the children are missing out on anything in life just because we are on a lower budget.
“I’ve never missed a birthday, a Christmas or even a pancake day. We don’t drink, we don’t smoke, we don’t claim any benefits whatsoever. “I have worked my socks off all my life, and I’m really proud that I have provided for my children.”