Shop Well For Less helps brand-addicted family with THREE sets of twins curb their spending habits to save for £5,000 dream holiday
Karen and Colin Rodger were obsessed with buying luxury branded items and lavished their children with designer gear
A SCOTTISH family whose shoe collection totals £12,000 has learned how to curb their out-of-control spending habits in order to save for a dream holiday.
Karen and Colin Rodger, from Glasgow, were obsessed with buying luxury branded items and lavished their three sets of twins - Kyle and Lewis 17, Finn and Jude 15 and Rowan and Isla, three – with designer gear.
But after calling in the experts on BBC One’s Shop Well For Less? the duo have managed to bank £7,000 by making simple, cheaper tweaks to their lifestyle.
Karen, a part-time dance lecturer, said having such a big family and trying to save money is challenging.
“It’s all very expensive having six kids,” she said.
“They’ve all got to have trousers, shirts, school ties, boxers, socks, school blazers.
“I spend well over £1,000 trying to get my kids school uniform.”
But Karen is obsessed with buying shoes – much to the dismay of her husband Colin, an event organiser – and they’ve even got a special cupboard in the house which displays them all.
“The children don’t have many shoes that aren’t branded,” Karen said.
“The shoes they buy are expensive but you know they’re going to last.”
As well as Nike trainers and Hunter wellies, the youngsters all have TVs in the bedrooms, iPads and high-spec mobile phones.
Presenter Alex Jones and business journalist Steph McGovern decided to shock the family into realising the error of their spend thrift ways.
While the family were out they took a sneaky peek inside their house and made a pop up shop with all the things the family already own to get them to face up to their spending.
Karen and Colin were shocked when they saw the amount they’ve splashed out on.
“There’s five X Boxes there!” gasped Karen. “It looks outrageous!”
Steph revealed the family’s shoe collection totals nearly £12,000, while their Apple gadget addiction is over £10,000.
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The five iPhone contracts cost more than £5,000 a year.
They also spend £3,000 on gas and electricity a year, which Karen says isn’t helped by the fact she does “five washes a day”.
The family want to change and Steph and Alex put them to the ultimate test.
All their usual branded products have their labels removed and are replaced with substitutes to open their eyes to alternatives.
They’ve been banned from going in the shoe cupboard, using the tumble dryer and using their Apple phones.
“Where have you put all my stuff? This makes me feel nauseous,” said Karen.
“I am going nuts. I am definitely sceptical about it.”
The boys try out the unbranded trainers with mixed results.
“I like the colours but not the design. There’s no way I’d buy them,” commented one.
While another added: “I thought the shoes were alright actually.”
Karen says she and Colin are “as bad as each other” and want their children to “look and feel good”.
But, desperate for a holiday, the Rodgers know they need to make sacrifices.
The Rodger Family's Key Savings
- £80 per year if they always turn off their electrical appliances at the plug
- £290 per year if the family all have four minute long showers
- £560 per year saved by using smart thermostate
- £2,300 per year saved by switching energy providers
- £456 per year saved by changing their phone contract
- £540 a year saved if Karen switches her branded face serum for a cheaper alternative
- £385 per year saved by swapping a branded detergent for a supermarker own brand
Steph recommends they switch energy providers, which could save then £1,400 a year.
And, says installing a smart thermostat could reduce gas bills by a third.
Karen’s beauty routine is also costly.
She showers for 45 minutes a day but could save 57p a time if she washed for just four minutes.
Her luxury products are swapped for cheaper versions, which could save £1,000 a year.
“I’m very happy, I certainly would cope with it,” she said.
Despite being unhappy with some of the changes – Karen can’t stop using her beloved tumble dryer – they have been pleased with many of the swaps.
“Alex and Steph have certainly saved us money but whether it’s enough for a holiday I don’t know,” said Karen.
The family estimate they need £5,000 to jet away and are shocked when they realise they've saved £7,000.
Karen said: “I am so happy. I can actually visualise us going on holiday now and I never could before.”
Shop Well For Less? airs on BBC One on 23 February 2017 at 8pm