TWO parents have been criticised for generating a family food bill of £1,000 a month, and spending almost £200 a time on toys for their two kids.
Viewers of How to Save a Grand in 24 Hours were left shocked at Surrey-based Carl and Natalie’s shopping habits, as they accused them of pandering to their “fussy” offspring.
In the Channel 4 show, they admitted they desperately needed expert guidance to sort out their high spending.
The programme’s team – chef Gary Usher, DIY ace Eve Humphreys and cleaning star Peachy Clean – helped them discover that they could save over £1,110 per month by reigning in some of their unnecessary purchases.
However, many of those watching at home were incredulous by how they had allowed their shopping habits to get so out of control in the first place.
One person wrote: “£170 a month on toys??? When I was a kid, I got them for Xmas and birthday, that’s it!”
£170 a month on toys??? When I was a kid, I got them for Xmas and birthday, that’s it!
Twitter user
Another commented: “Lots of talk on #HowToSaveAGrand about buying fewer toys and selling unused toys, nothing on helping parents understand they don’t *need* toys to build memories with their children.”
A third shared: “The show is only for idiots who spend £1,000 on food and £250 on toys.
“It is never about those who spend sensibly and live in their means. It is NOT difficult to do.”
And a fourth added: “Every single night, there’s a tedious show watching terminally dull morons save fifty pence by using a different washing up liquid.”
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Natalie, a self-employed beautician, first realised her spending was out of control when her work dried up during the pandemic.
Her husband, Carl, admitted that he “loved to spoil his kids” – Elle, six, and Laurie, three – as well as his other half, who he treated to £540 in birthday gifts.
In addition to halting non-essential purchases, the team advised the couple to sell some of their kids’ “mountain” of toys for some extra cash.
After a week, the couple had already cut their food bill by £620, and saved £110 a month on subscriptions.
In other real life news, we told you about a woman who spends £2,600 a week on clothes because she doesn’t like to wear the same outfit twice.
We also revealed how a mum was shocked to discover that her ex-boyfriend was her midwife.
And a 35-year-old woman who got pregnant at 14 now has 11 kids.
