RAGS TO RICHES
Couple who live off £75 a week clear £18k debt after swapping with wealthy property gurus on Rich House, Poor House
A COUPLE from Birmingham managed to clear £18k worth of debt after swapping lives with wealthy Northamptonshire property developers on Channel 5’s Rich House, Poor House.
Natalie Rigby and her husband Mike live off his part-time wage and have just £75 each week for their family-of-four.
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Natalie has a form of epilepsy which means she's unable to work, and Mike struggles to find suitable full-time employment.
As a result, the couple - who have two daughters, Lauren, five, and Summer, two - has £33k worth of debt including bank loans and overdue bills, with Mike's mum Jill often dipping in to her pension to help.
"Looking for work I probably spend four five hours at least a day, if not more," Mike says on tonight's episode.
Natalie understands the pressure on Mike and wishes she could do more to help, but her epilepsy medication means she's often drained.
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She says: "Mike helps so much, it's brilliant There's a lot of pressure on him to bring all the money in the house and be like a carer for me."
In contrast, Lloyd and Lydia Girrardi have a £24 million property portfolio between them and certainly enjoy a luxurious lifestyle - although, Lydia is good with sticking to a budget.
The couple live in a five bedroom home in Northamptonshire with their two sons Arlo, five, Albi, three, which features four bathrooms a dedicated playroom and a garage full of luxury cars.
In fact, Lloyd's love for luxury motors has seen him buy a Ferrari, an Asten Martin, an Audi Q5, and a collectors edition Fiat 500, totalling a whopping £150k.
Mike helps so much, it's brilliant There's a lot of pressure on him to bring all the money in the house and be like a carer for me.
Natalie Rigby
Despite their seemingly exuberant lifestyle, things weren't always this way, as Lloyd credits his success to Lydia's parents who offered them £25k to start a business.
Lloyd, who spent years as a travelling salesman, recalls: "I was living in my overdraft and was struggling to get out of it.
"I used to just earn it and spend it and it wasn't until November 2013 that, unfortunately, I lost my dad through brain tumor, and 56 days later my granddad passed away form dementia.
"That really was the turning point for me and realised that life was too short."
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Because of the help of Lydia's parents, Lloyd was able pay off his debts and start a new life for himself - something Mike hopes to do for the sake of his family.
Eager to experience how the other half lives, the families swap houses, schedules and budgets for one week, with both surprised by what they learn.
Natalie and Mike are thrilled to learn of their £1200 budget for the week, a far cry from their usual £75.
"I can not believe that someone has that much money to spend in one week," Natalie says, as the Girrardis rummage through the Rigby's freezer for a meal.
The property developer duo struggle to understand how the Birmingham couple get by on such a small budget, as they struggle to whip up a dinner for the kids.
I can not believe that someone has that much money to spend in one week.
Natalie Rigby
On night one, the Rigby family decide to splurge on takeaway, a luxury they never usually have.
They get another taste of the high life the following day when they pop out to get groceries for the week and drop a huge £107 in one shop - that's twice what they'd usually spend.
Meanwhile, Lloyd and Lydia are forced to budget with just £27, but manage to just scrape through.
Despite living just an hour away from one another, the Girrardis realise they're worlds apart financially.
Lydia discovers the pile of unpaid bills in the kitchen and learns of the couple's £33k debt.
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The truth hits home for Lloyd who remembers what it feels like, and is thankful he was offered a helping hand - something Mike can benefit from.
"It does bring you back down to earth a little bit obviously that some of the bills were for gas and electrics, "Lydia says. " You have to have the heating on, you have to be able to cook so if you can't afford that, then that's going to seriously impact your life."
But starting to understanding more about the couple's situation, Lloyd and Lydia discover Natalie's health condition, and realise just how hard they really have it.
Natalie is forced to take medication in hope it will relieve her symptoms, but the meds often leave her completely drained and unable to play with her kids or help around the house.
Throughout the week Natalie realises that her health condition has everything to do with their financially circumstances - and is thankful that her temporary life of luxury as given her a week without a fit.
Mike also learns something about himself - that he's lack of confidence is what's holding him back from success.
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The dad-of-two gets a taste of Lloyds successful day-to-day and realises he's exactly the husband and dad he aspires to be.
The couple splurge on a date night outfit, a three-piece suit for Mike and sexy red frock for Natalie.
The £478 shopping spree gives them both a boost in confidence, something Mike appreciates more than anything else.
Crediting the new suit for his new-found kick, Mike decides to wear it each day in hope it will change his outlook on life.
Meanwhile, Lloyd and Natalie realise they've over spent and the doting dad is forced to revisit his salesman ways.
The couple go door to door offering their car washing services in a bid to make an extra £20 quid for a fish and chips dinner.
I'm in a position I am because I met Lydia. I wold have never been able to do this on my own.
Lloyd Girrardi
Successfully making enough to treat the family to takeaway, they reflect on the week they've had and come up with a plan to help out Mike and Natalie.
Upon leaving, they gift the couple with a new set of kitchen pots and pans, plus a £200 Morrisons gift card which will keep their pantry full for weeks.
The two families finally meet and Mike is grateful to Lloyd for inspiring him to be better.
But Lloyd admits to seeing himself in Mike and offers one on one coaching to help Mike on his way.
In addition, the couple gift both Mike and Natalie with a self development retreat in Croatia, with all expenses paid - with hopes it will help steer them in the right direction.
And, thankfully, it does, as Lloyd's mentorship has allowed Mike to shave a huge £18k of his £33k debt.
He's even managed to find a well paid full-time job to support his wife and kids.
Reflecting on his own journey, Lloyd says: "I'm in a position I am because I met Lydia. I wold have never been able to do this on my own."
And now with his new-found confidence along with a well paying job, hopefully Mike will be able support his family without his mum's help.
Rich House, Poor House airs Sundays, at 9pm on Channel 5.
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