‘My mum always talked through TV shows so I taped everything’: Meet the benefits hoarder who’s refusing to throw out her stash of 8,000 VIDEOS
Karen opens the doors of her cluttered Barnsley home for the Channel 5 cameras tonight
A HOUSE-BOUND hoarder who has more than 8,000 video tapes with recordings of stuff she’s already watched has opened the doors of her cluttered home for a new TV show.
Despite being a proud home owner Karen, from Barnsley, South Yorkshire, is unemployed and living off benefits.
The 59-year-old animal lover, who lives alone with her dog Charlie and cat Ebony, started taping the shows and films while caring for her elderly mum.
Karen explains: “I was looking after my mother and she always interrupted films and programmes. So I taped everything to watch later. I’ve got 8,000 videos.
“But the trouble is, because of the lack of heat, quite a few of them have gone mouldy.”
Karen has arthritis of the spine, but two-and-a-half years ago her benefits were re-assessed and slashed to just £21.80-a-week.
The council officer who visited Karen felt she was fit to work in a call centre, and she is still furious at the bloke’s decision.
Karen says: “I just hope that he chokes on his Sunday dinner one day. Nasty man.”
The show’s narrators describe Karen, who even makes her own washing powder, as the ‘queen of saving’.
The thrifty Yorkshire lass spends around £30 in Asda on her MONTHLY shop.
But despite her lack of money, Karen’s home is overflowing with clutter – which she says ‘keeps her feeling safe, no matter what the future brings’.
Karen reckons she has enough new bedding to last her for the rest of her life, but things are not plain sailing for the lonely lady.
Karen adds: “I have arthritis of the spine, which is really very painful.
“It’s very rare I ever see anyone. I don’t have any visitors. Everyone forgets me, which is fine. I end up having a very nice, quiet life.”
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Karen’s tale is just one of the true life stories being revealed on Channel 5 show On Benefits: Life on the Dole, at 8pm tonight.
This week’s show delves into the world of Britain’s disability benefits – which cost the country £40bn-a-year.