A STUDENT who admitted to blowing £200 on a single meal out has joined a family whose entire holiday costs the same amount.
Harry, 19, appears on tonight’s instalment of Rich Kids, Skint Holiday where he joins the Clifford family from Portsmouth on their four day caravan holiday in the New Forest.
Dean, Kate and their son Connor save up tirelessly throughout the year to afford the £200 mini break to celebrate Kate’s birthday.
But with a tight budget Kate has a strict allowance of just £20 a day to spend on the entire family.
This is a stark comparison to the holidays that Harry is used to, where he stays in five star resorts and flies first class, having travelled to Japan and Malia this summer alone.
He admits: “I would definitely say I’m privileged my lifestyle is quite extravagant, lots of luxury purchases lots of shopping sprees.”
For Harry, budgets are out of the window having previously admitted to spending £6,000 in the first month of university, so a week with the Cliffords should prove quite the experience.
In order to cut costs while away, the family are sure to bring everything but the kitchen sink, including food for the trip, toiletries and even flasks to avoid paying for hot drinks while they’re out.
Kate says: “We love going on our holidays, we love going to the caravan it’s our favourite thing to do, we don’t go abroad we can’t afford it, but we’ve got our family unit and that’s more important than the swankiest hotel.”
Meanwhile Harry is busy packing two weeks’ worth of Cuban-collared shirts and Gucci trainers into his £1000 Mulberry case for his break at Sandy Balls Caravan Park.
Rather than beginning his holiday at an airport lounge as he is wont to do, Harry is picked up from a train station in Hampshire before heading to the hired mobile home.
With just two bedrooms, Harry has no choice but to sleep in the living room on the sofa bed, which he admits might be an issue.
“I’m quite stressed about the idea of having to sleep in the living room” he says “Having my own personal space is quite a big thing for me. It’s going to be a struggle.
Having my own personal space is quite a big thing for me. It’s going to be a struggle
Rich Kid Harry
“These guys bring their food with them; a holiday for me is not having to think about these sorts of things. It’s quite stressful really, it’s almost too much effort.”
Kate treats the family to a dinner of burgers, fries and some homemade bread, shocking the teen when she reveals it cost less than a fiver to feed all four of them.
Meanwhile it’s Kate’s turn to be shocked when she learns his trainers cost as much as £600 – enough to feed her family for nearly four months.
Harry is curious to learn why the Cliffords are on such a shoestring budget, and Kate explains that four years ago they were forced to declare bankruptcy.
She says: “We had got ourselves into a hole and there was no one to help get us out. That’s why we have to scrimp and scrape so much.
“There’s a real sense of them looking down your nose at you. It was definitely the right thing to do but it was a hard thing to do because it was almost admitting to the world, I’ve failed and I don’t take to failure.
“Whenever I tell someone I am kind of waiting for them to judge me a little bit.”
But she is reduced to tears by Harry’s unexpectedly “kind” reaction.
He reassures her: “Being able to say that you got over a hardship is more impressive than saying you never had a hardship at all.”
The teen admits that he was seriously moved by the conversation adding: “Having someone open up that you – it actually upset me a lot, just seeing that vulnerability is touching.”
The next morning Harry is treated to a £1 breakfast, before going for a walk in the woods to keep costs down.
“Coming to the woods isn’t my usual thing” says Harry “so it’s kind of a shock to the system, I really like my ankles unbroken.”
But he is surprised by the amount of fun that can be had for no money.
He adds: “I don’t really have any memories of when I was younger of doing outdoorsy things with my family. I can’t remember any kind of occasion with my dad.”
Still in admiration of Kate’s confession about her money woes, Harry decided to reveal the extortionate amount he spent at uni.
Learning of his £6,000 bender Kate says: “It did blow my mind a little bit, because that’s such an amazing amount of money.”
Harry agrees: “It sort of hit home just how big a mess up it was, there were never really any repercussions, it was like ‘oh I made a mistake, I won’t do that again.’
“But now it’s like that was a sizeable amount of money that could have made a serious difference if it was used properly.”
Eager to teach Harry the importance of budgeting, Kate challenges him to find an activity for the family to do on their £20 budget.
But after veering towards a trip to Starbucks, Harry settles on a £15 Alpaca walk before purchasing disposable barbecue for just over £2.
I think what’s important to Kate and Dean is that Connor’s enjoying himself; they get their enjoyment from Connor having fun
Harry
“I don’t think I’ve ever put so much thought into spending a £20 before” he says.
But his hard work pays off with the family delighted at their fun-filled afternoon – and best of all, receiving £3 change.
Harry said: “The best £15 I’ve spent in a long time, I’ve really enjoyed myself, everyone else really enjoyed themselves what more can you ask really.”
The final day sees the family take a trip to the arcade, spending 2ps that they have saved up throughout the year.
It proved to be an eye-opening experience for Harry.
He said: “I don’t think I actually went to the arcade when I was around Connor’s age I think it was more what my parents wanted to do.
“I think what’s important to Kate and Dean is that Connor’s enjoying himself; they get their enjoyment from Connor having fun.”
With £42 left in the kitty they splash out on a birthday lunch for Kate, where Harry reveals that as a surprise he has booked a water obstacle course for the family, costing £80.
Costing the total spending budget for the family’s holiday, it’s something they could never afford, but Harry is horrified to learn that neither Kate nor Connor can swim.
However, armed with life jackets the family takes to the water – and has a blast.
Harry said: “The family loved it and that was so rewarding.
“The family is what made this holiday for me, rather than the stuff we did. I could have done stuff like that with other people and I can almost guarantee it would not be anywhere near as enjoyable.”
Reflecting on his time with the family, he adds: “Going on the holiday really did just press home how important family values and spending quality time with your family is.
“I’ve got a new impression on the importance of family. Spending family time together is not something that my family necessarily do.”
The Cliffords have remained in touch with Harry, and while he no longer has a credit card, he says that he is not ready to give up his holidays just yet.
Rich Kids, Skint Holidays airs tonight at 8pm on 5Star.
In other news, we told you how this millionaire’s daughter broke down in tears as she was forced to go on a budget camping trip.
And the Rich Kids of Instagram flaunted their lavish summer breaks in these envy-inducing snaps.
