Finding the money for a deposit has not been easy, especially since the Gells, both aged 30, have five-year-old twin girls – Darcy and Scarlett. Their total amount of spending came up to £27,000 which is almost the amount they would need for a deposit. If they take on board all of the swaps that the Shop Well For Less team suggested, the Gells could save just under £9,000 towards owning their own home, something Charlotte described as a “dream”.
In fact, it was found in total they have spent £3,500 on toys alone.
By swapping toys out for cheaper alternatives, the Gells found they could save a substantial sum.
They even found the most expensive toys were not even the best quality, and much preferred other options.
Another way to kick Charlotte’s spending habits, Jo and Melanie advised she should stay busy.
This was the case when the family found they could swap their more expensive sofas to cheaper alternatives which still looked good and accommodated them.
At these stores, Charlotte found out she could buy cheaper clothes, as well as making switches.
While the family did reject some swaps, the programme clearly showed the amount people will be able to save by making “simple swaps”.
The Gells now feel optimistic about their prospects of securing their own home in the future.