Viewers slammed a wealthy couple who swapped their usual lavish holiday abroad with a budget trip to Wales on Rich Holiday, Poor Holiday – adding that they need a ‘reality check.’
In last night’s episode of the Channel 5 show, Roger, who amassed a fortune in the property market, and interior designer wife Lisa, who live in a detached five-bed home in rural Lincolnshire, ditched their all-expenses paid trip to a Devon manor frequented by the super-rich, with a trip to windy Anglesey in a campervan.
They were seen struggling to come to terms with the ‘revolting’ toilet situation and the lack of room in the campervan, leading one viewer to take to social media and write: ‘Sorry but the “rich” family need to get a reality check. That camper van is not a poor holiday!’
A second commented: ‘Is the rich mum the most spoilt brat you’ve ever seen. She really needs a reality check,’ while a third penned: ‘I doubt the children of the “rich” family would have thought their first night was awful if they hadn’t heard Mum saying the same…’
In contrast to the couple who are used to spending more than £8,000 holidaying abroad in luxury villas with their young three children, gran Sue, single mum Genna and son Raymond, eight, who live 100 miles west in Southport, Merseyside, are part of Britain’s poorest 10 per cent.
In last night’s episode of the Channel 5 show, Roger and interior designer Lisa, who live in a detached five-bed home in rural Lincolnshire, ditched their all-expenses paid trip to a Devon manor frequented by the super-rich, with a trip to windy Anglesey in a campervan (pictured)
The wealthy couple (pictured) are used to spending more than £8,000 holidaying abroad in luxury villas with their young three children
Lisa was shocked by the campervan toiley and after Roger explained how it worked, she said: ‘Are you joking? That’s absolutely revolting’
Taking to Twitter, one person penned: ‘Sorry but the “rich” family need to get a reality check. That camper van is not a poor holiday’ (pictured)
Care worker Sue and horse feed seller Genna work so much that they rarely have time for holidays, with the family funneling their very limited finances into caring for rescue horses at a local stable.
‘We really struggle,’ explained Sue. ‘I’m always overdrawn every month. I’m due to retire in April, but I’m not going to be able to afford to.’
And as part of Britain’s poorest 10 per cent, feeding so many mouths is a daily struggle.
‘The horses and Raymond are our massive priority,’ said Genna. ‘As long as they’re fed and watered, everything else will wait.’
Sue went on to explain how financial misfortune 14 years ago left the family with a mountain of debt.
‘I took the kids to school, came home and my husband had gone,’ said Sue. ‘I thought he had a few debts, but turns out it was a quarter of a million, so I’ve ended up having to pay it back.’
Sue and Genna told how keeping hold of their three-bed home and beloved animals means they work every possible moment.
‘I am literally on the go seven days a week, from the moment I get up to the moment I go to bed,’ explained Genna.
Sue and Genna (pictured) told how keeping hold of their three-bed home and beloved animals meant they work every possible moment
Genna’s punishing schedule leaves little time for quality time with son Raymond (pictured), who added: ‘My mum is always working. She never spends time with me’
The punishing schedule leaves little time for quality time with son Raymond, who added: ‘My mum is always working. She never spends time with me.’
But money worries feel a long way away for Lisa and Roger.
‘I was like: “Let’s get our dream home,” and that’s exactly what we did,’ explained Lisa. ‘We’ve got the big rooms, the driveway, posh gates.’
After ten years together, and amassing a fortune playing the property game, Roger and wife Lisa can afford to fashion their ideal house.
‘Roger has a spreadsheet and I never see it because I just make up my own budget,’ said Lisa. ‘I don’t know what budget is.’
And the spending doesn’t end at home. Their first ever trip together cost the couple £15, 000.
‘We like to go on holiday and not feel limited,’ said Roger.
As a five, they take frequent breaks together, with Lisa adding: ‘I love spoiling the children. There’s nothing wrong with spoiling.’
But Roger explained how he’s worried their pampered lifestyle is not sending the right message to the children.
‘It’s definitely important to teach the kids value and understanding money – it won’t be all treats and presents,’ he said.
On their luxury equestrian getaway in Dartmoor, Devon, Sue, Genna and Raymond were delighted to be staying in their own five-star lodge complete with private chef to cater to their every whim (pictured)
Taking to Twitter, one person penned: ‘I doubt the children of the “rich” family would have thought their first night was awful if they hadn’t heard Mum saying the same…’
However, a holiday swap with a family in the bottom 10% soon put things into perspective – with their less luxurious campervan dwelling in Anglesey proving quite the shock.
‘I can’t swing a cat,’ said Lisa, as she walked through the door. ‘Roger, where are we going to put all of our stuff? It’s tiny! Look at the bed.’
‘It’s dangling from the ceiling,’ Roger replied. ‘You can sit on the toilet and have a shower at the same time. It’s got like a tank in it that when you’ve flushed the toilet, whatever you’ve done in the toilet goes into the tank, and there’ll be a place you can poor it into.’
A shocked Lisa, who struggled to come to terms with driving the 20ft holiday home and even burned out the clutch, exclaimed: ‘Are you joking? That’s absolutely revolting.’
And that’s not the only challenge – the wealthy mum was budgeted just £47 for her family-of-five and admitted it was weird having to go to the supermarket and look at what she was buying.
Ditching her usual £2.79 Lurpak, Lisa also avoided the ‘expensive’ pizza and herbs and instead opted for cheaper alternatives, and managed to come in under budget.
‘4p change,’ she joked. ‘Smashed it!’
To help them relax, Genna and Sue (pictured) were treated to a luxury massage at their five-star resort. And the chance to slow down for once gave Genna time to think
Sue (pictured) struggled to embrace being waited on hands and foot – and soon picked up a brush to sweep the hallway
But parking fees and hot chocolate later make a big dent in the family’s meagre budget – and they found themselves £40 short for a fishing trip.
‘I’ve got some money in my purse,’ said their four-year-old daughter Scarlet, making mum Lisa emotional. ‘Well, we’ve got lots of toys already. Give it to the man.’
Meanwhile, on their luxury equestrian getaway in Dartmoor, Devon, Sue, Genna and Raymond were delighted to be staying in their own five-star lodge complete with private chef to cater to their every whim.
‘Oh wow, I could never dream of anything like this,’ exclaimed Genna, as she took a tour around the castle hotel, which boasted its own private pool.
Son Raymond added: ‘I’ve never ever been in a house like this ever before. I’m happy. I’m so excited.’
But Sue struggled to embrace being waited on hands and foot – and soon picked up a brush to sweep the hallway.
‘Mum is a very independent person,’ explained Genna. ‘So to let somebody look after to her for a week, she has found it hard to let go.’
But to help her relax, the mother and daughter duo were treated to a luxury massage at their five-star resort. And the chance to slow down for once gave Genna time to think.
When Genna, Sue (pictured) and Ray family discovered their luxurious Devon getaway cost a staggering £13, 500, they admitted they were left ’embarrassed’
‘The holiday has put into perspective how much time we don’t spend together,’ she said. ‘I definitely think we need to do a bit more as a family. I think it’ll be nice.’
She continued: ‘Mum has really made me realise she’s not getting any older. We need to at least sit down once a week and have a meal together. With Ray as well, it’s nice to do things together as a family.’
With the swap coming to the end, Roger and Lisa finally learned to love their budget getaway.
‘It is absolutely stunning here. I love Santorini, but this is so much nicer,’ said Lisa. ‘You couldn’t get on the beach at Santorini – this is just perfect for them.
All these gifts we shower them with, we don’t even need to because that’s not what they remember. They remember things we do with them. We should do more.’
Roger, who predicted the holidays cost £1, 750, added: ‘I don’t know the full budget but I would say the priceless moments we’ve taken away from it would easily make this trip value for money.’
Many who tuned in were full of praise for ‘humble’ Raymond (pictured)
And the couple were eventually shocked to discover the campervan holiday cost just £659.10.
‘What! No way – less than £700 for six days and five nights,’ says Roger, to which Lisa added: ‘It is crazy to think that we could’ve done this eight times during the year for our one Santorini trip. We’re definitely going to sit down and reevaluate stuff for sure.’
Meanwhile, when Genna, Sue and Ray family discovered their luxurious Devon getaway cost a staggering £13, 500, they admitted they were left ’embarrassed.’
‘Huge amount of money,’ said Genna. ‘That’s like a deposit on a house.’
Sue added: ‘That is roughly what I earn in a year,’ to which Genna quipped: ‘Last year I didn’t even earn that.’
Sue continued: ‘I feel a little bit embarrassed about how much money has actually been spent on us.’
And many who tuned in agreed, with one taking to Twitter writing: ‘£13,500 for that holiday in Devon .. wow.. again I’ve done some amazing places at a fraction of that price, can go Australia for cheaper than that.’
A second commented: ‘I’d much rather prefer to be in the camper van.’
Elsewhere, others were full of praise for young Raymond and wrote: ‘There’s something special about that little boy. He just wants to spend time with his mum who works long hours,’ while a further penned: ‘This little lad is an absolute treasure.’
Rich Holiday, Poor Holiday airs on Sunday at 9pm on Channel 5