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00:00:00In Britain, the top 10% own over half the country's wealth.
00:00:06I have nice cars, I own a couple of race horses.
00:00:09It feels nice to have money.
00:00:12But while the rich are getting richer...
00:00:14It's a very profitable business that turns over well over £10 million a year.
00:00:18The poor are getting poorer.
00:00:21It's tough.
00:00:22Hit hard by relentless price rises.
00:00:24A lot of posh people think poor people just sit on their bums all day on benefits.
00:00:29Once we've spent on food, we don't really have anything left over.
00:00:33I had bailiffs come in.
00:00:36Might be on its way out.
00:00:38Now, two families are swapping homes.
00:00:42That is very different.
00:00:43Yes.
00:00:44How many windows does the house need?
00:00:46How many doors?
00:00:48Budget.
00:00:48All right, this is where I get serious.
00:00:51Oh, God.
00:00:53And lives.
00:00:54It's our bloody work.
00:00:55It was way more challenging than I thought it would be.
00:00:59Champagne!
00:01:00I'm in heaven.
00:01:01To find out if money really does buy happiness.
00:01:05Ha-ha.
00:01:06I love to have a walk in order.
00:01:08Oh, my goodness!
00:01:11Never been in a limo in their lives.
00:01:14Or do people matter most?
00:01:16This is the nicest family time that us three have had together in years.
00:01:21And when they finally meet...
00:01:23Hello!
00:01:25...lives are changed forever.
00:01:27We'd like to gift you a van.
00:01:31We want to back your vision to a value of £100,000.
00:01:35Oh, my God!
00:01:35Well, it's going to change everything for the better.
00:01:44Every year, millions of visitors flop to the seaside resort of Bournemouth on the Dorset coast.
00:01:52Tech millionaire Steve Bolton lives in one of its swankiest suburbs.
00:01:57Very, very friendly neighbourhood, about 100 metres away from the golf course.
00:02:03I've had this house since 2004.
00:02:05It's a bit like a TARDIS.
00:02:07From the front, it looks quite small, but when you come into it, it just goes a long way back.
00:02:12This quite small TARDIS is worth a million pounds.
00:02:16Over three times the average cost of a UK house.
00:02:19And it boasts two lounges, a dining room for eight, six bedrooms and five bathrooms.
00:02:29So, plenty of room for everyone, when they're not away on holiday, that is.
00:02:34That's the family diving in Egypt.
00:02:37That's a picture of us snowboarding and skiing in the French Alps.
00:02:41I have four children.
00:02:43Nathan, who's 34.
00:02:45She's independent, got his own business.
00:02:47The three youngest are still at home.
00:02:50Jude is 16.
00:02:52Ella is 21.
00:02:54Charlie is 23.
00:02:57Charlie and Ella live in a large two-bedroom extension attached to the rear of the property.
00:03:03The house is amazing, as you can see.
00:03:06I've always felt privileged.
00:03:09I have very nice memories of me and Charlie playing out in the back garden,
00:03:13sort of making mud pies and stuff like that.
00:03:15They'll be joining Steve on the swap.
00:03:18We're quite unconventional.
00:03:19We spend a lot of time together working, that kind of thing.
00:03:23So, I kind of see them as my best mates, really.
00:03:30As well as a lovely house, Steve has all the toys to go with it.
00:03:34I have a beautiful, classic Corvette Stingray.
00:03:40I'm a member of a boat club.
00:03:42I have access to about 30 boats, which is amazing.
00:03:47There we go.
00:03:48It's quite a nice feature to get some air in.
00:03:51So, how did Steve make all his money?
00:03:54I left school at 16 with no qualifications.
00:03:58Did a couple of dead-end jobs and then I built a business with a partner.
00:04:03Despite not even having O-levels, Steve did have a talent for making money, investing in tech startups.
00:04:10Now, he has quite the collection and his company, Bolt Angels, has a London HQ.
00:04:18So, the value of the portfolio is three quarters of a billion pounds, 750 million.
00:04:24Charlie and Ella are following in Dad's footsteps.
00:04:28Four months ago, I bought a clothing shop.
00:04:32So, I've been running that for the past few months.
00:04:36Anna works for her dad's company.
00:04:39My job role is the events and marketing executive.
00:04:44I would describe my dad as probably one of the most hardworking people that I've ever met.
00:04:51Work's always been very important for Steve.
00:04:54But there has been consequences for his family.
00:04:58I am separated.
00:05:00Charlie, Ella and Jude live in the family house.
00:05:04Sometimes I stay in the house if their mum's away.
00:05:07For the rest of the time, he lives nearby in a luxury Seaview apartment.
00:05:13I don't have regrets.
00:05:15But would I do things differently?
00:05:17Absolutely.
00:05:17I would have been at the sports days.
00:05:19I would have been at the Christmas plays.
00:05:21Here's a pretty classic photo of my dad working by a pool on holiday in Thailand.
00:05:30I think he loves doing it because he loves what he does so much.
00:05:34He's always, as long as I've known him, been a workaholic.
00:05:37Never stopped.
00:05:39A week away from work is the total unknown for Steve.
00:05:44And a chance to assess what's really most important in life.
00:05:49Couldn't think of two people that I'd want to do this more with.
00:05:52Cheers.
00:05:53Cheers.
00:05:53Here's to an inspiring, challenging week that we'll remember for the rest of our lives.
00:05:59Cheers to that.
00:06:03Less than 60 miles along the coast, the historic city of Portsmouth is well known as the home port of
00:06:10the British Navy.
00:06:12I like them sandals, Mum.
00:06:14Val and Mum Cleo are both care workers and best mates too.
00:06:19Mum's the boss.
00:06:20She's the real boss.
00:06:22The real old G.
00:06:22Valerie is Valerie.
00:06:24She is a very devoted mother of three kids and she works very, very hard.
00:06:33Val's council house fronts onto a noisy main road and has seen better days.
00:06:39It's a three-bedroom, semi-detached house.
00:06:43Oh, wow.
00:06:44And I've got a garden.
00:06:46H2O, refresh yourself.
00:06:49I love to have barbecues, so I think that's my form of socialisation because I don't really get out much.
00:06:56Her family and friends all look out for each other.
00:07:00Sixty-year-old Cleo lives nearby and looks after Val's sister, Tammy, who has Down syndrome.
00:07:07On Sundays, everyone meets up at church.
00:07:11My church family, they do mean a lot to me as well because they have helped me through hard times.
00:07:18Looks like hornets.
00:07:19Their faith is reflected in their work as carers.
00:07:23We are both dedicated to help people and make sure, you know, they actually get what they need.
00:07:31Yeah.
00:07:33But job satisfaction doesn't pay the bills and Val has to count every penny.
00:07:38My son broke my washing machine door.
00:07:41I can't really go and buy a new washing machine because I haven't got three, four hundred pounds to do
00:07:45so.
00:07:47With three kids and only fifty-two pounds spending money a week, every day is a struggle.
00:07:54My financial situation did get so bad that I had bailiffs come in and I just went into a state
00:08:00of panic and I was always looking out the window to see if anyone was there and I'd be scared
00:08:05to leave the house.
00:08:06It just got so bad.
00:08:08Life's never been easy for this family.
00:08:12I was born in Zimbabwe and I came to this country very early 90s.
00:08:19It looks a bit dry.
00:08:21Oh gosh, the kitchen's so small, bumping into each other.
00:08:26Valerie was born here in the UK.
00:08:29We were struggling, me and her dad, but we just, you know, went along with it.
00:08:36Cleo wanted more for Valerie and knew education could be the key.
00:08:41She led from the front.
00:08:42Me and mum, we graduated on the same day in 2016.
00:08:47I've got a first-class business management degree and mum has got a social work degree.
00:08:54It was amazing.
00:08:55Yeah, it was nice.
00:08:56I was so proud.
00:08:57I really felt so proud.
00:09:01This is, I don't know, Val's famous lasagna.
00:09:05Lasagna.
00:09:0931-year-old Val's always thinking of others.
00:09:12She's cooking a meal to welcome the Swat family and cooking is what she does best.
00:09:18So my dream job is to own my own restaurant.
00:09:23But despite having no money to follow her dream, she's already been testing the market.
00:09:28When I'll be cooking my main meals, I'd always cook a little bit extra, then I'd advertise it on social
00:09:33media.
00:09:34Here it is, Val's kitchen.
00:09:38Val's three young children will be staying with dad.
00:09:41She's hoping a week away will give her the chance to forget about her caring and focus on her dreams.
00:09:48So to know I've got a business management degree that I actually have not used and, you know, I know
00:09:55what I want to do.
00:09:56My idea's there.
00:09:57It is really frustrating for me because, like, financially, I just cannot pursue it.
00:10:02I can't, I can't do it.
00:10:05So if money was no object, what's their perfect day?
00:10:09So we'd start off shopping in Harrods and Selfridges, followed by getting our hair done, getting our eyebrows done, getting
00:10:16glammed up for the day.
00:10:18And then I think the day would finish off with maybe go on a yacht, have a champagne.
00:10:24Oh, I love it.
00:10:27Over in Bournemouth, anticipation is building for a week where making money takes a backseat.
00:10:34I think it's going to be the most intense amount of time that the three of us have spent together,
00:10:39maybe in our whole lives.
00:10:45Day one.
00:10:46Time for everyone to get on the road and swap homes.
00:10:50I've packed so much stuff that, oh, I'm only going for a week.
00:10:58Ella's car, Ella's driving.
00:11:01We're leaving the baby behind, the old Corvette.
00:11:04Going to miss it for the week.
00:11:05I'm a bit worried, but it's all right.
00:11:08Did I bring my toothbrush?
00:11:10No.
00:11:15Rich house, poor house, here we come.
00:11:20Nobody's allowed to bail out, mate.
00:11:24It's 56 miles in just over an hour's drive between the two houses.
00:11:30Not far to travel, but for the next seven days, they'll be in different worlds.
00:11:35Ooh, look at that.
00:11:36What's this?
00:11:36Wow.
00:11:37Off of a boat.
00:11:38Woo!
00:11:40Imagine waking up to that every day.
00:11:42Yeah?
00:11:43I've got a main road to look at.
00:11:45Yeah?
00:11:46That is going to be interesting for the week, guys.
00:11:53Woo!
00:11:54We're here, we're here!
00:11:55We're here, we're here!
00:11:56Woo-hoo!
00:11:59Welcome home.
00:12:02That is very different.
00:12:04Yes.
00:12:05Prepared to spend the week here?
00:12:08This is it.
00:12:09This is it.
00:12:09Oh-ho!
00:12:11Look how massive it is.
00:12:13Oh!
00:12:13I can't wait to get in.
00:12:14How I dream to have a house like this.
00:12:17No, you go first.
00:12:19Whoops.
00:12:22All right, there's the door here, here, here, here.
00:12:24I'm excited!
00:12:27Coming up, at the Newbury races, Val and Cleo are given the VIP treatment.
00:12:33Welcome to the rule box.
00:12:35I feel like a celebrity.
00:12:37Steve has a restless night.
00:12:39Like a boy race or something.
00:12:41Cleo takes to the rich life like a duck to water.
00:12:45Massive tiger prawns and pictures.
00:12:49However, living on a budget isn't quite so tasty.
00:12:53There's no way I'm here to go to house for.
00:12:55Will they last a week?
00:13:05In Portsmouth, struggling single mum Val is battling serious debt.
00:13:10I had bailiffs come in and I just went into a state of panic.
00:13:14Up the coast in Bournemouth, workaholic Steve Bolton is worth millions.
00:13:19But his family's paid a heavy price.
00:13:21I am separated.
00:13:23Would I do things differently?
00:13:24Absolutely.
00:13:25Dad, working on holiday.
00:13:28Val's famous lasagna.
00:13:30Val currently works as a carer, but she's got plans.
00:13:35So, my dream job is to own my own restaurant.
00:13:39Steve made his millions investing in start-up companies.
00:13:43Value of the portfolio is three quarters of a billion pounds.
00:13:47Could he come to Val's rescue?
00:13:50Oh, sorry.
00:13:53Knock, knock.
00:13:54Oh, wow.
00:13:55Knock, knock.
00:13:57Here we are.
00:13:57Here we are home.
00:13:58Once through the door of their new home, both families must play detective and discover
00:14:04as much as they can about their house.
00:14:07Oh, my gosh.
00:14:08This is lovely.
00:14:09This hallway is the size of my kitchen.
00:14:12Wow.
00:14:13How beautiful is this and cosy?
00:14:16Oh, wow.
00:14:17This is them.
00:14:19Is it?
00:14:19A family of four.
00:14:25What have we got them?
00:14:26Lounge diner.
00:14:27Yeah.
00:14:28Pictures.
00:14:30Could they be a couple?
00:14:33Are they twins?
00:14:35So, Cleo.
00:14:36So, she's got a degree in social work.
00:14:38Nice.
00:14:39Second class honours.
00:14:40And Valerie has got a degree in business management.
00:14:45Nice.
00:14:47Oh, they've got a dining room.
00:14:49This is lovely.
00:14:50Oh, wow.
00:14:52Oh, oh.
00:14:53Look how big the table is.
00:14:54I could have dinner parties on this.
00:14:58Nothing's more important than the sleeping arrangements.
00:15:02Maybe an older female child, judging from all the pink.
00:15:09Some drawers broken there, look.
00:15:12Nice.
00:15:13Okay, so we've got two kids in here.
00:15:17Actually, perfect.
00:15:19Can you go straight?
00:15:20No scenario we envisaged saw Charlie in a child's bed cuddling Peppa Pig.
00:15:26LAUGHTER
00:15:30Bathroom here.
00:15:31There's only one in the whole house, guys.
00:15:35Oh, they've got a bath and a shower.
00:15:38Beautiful.
00:15:40The bed looks high.
00:15:42Oh, feel that.
00:15:46A whole other lounge.
00:15:49Look how big the TV is.
00:15:50I think there's an air con in here.
00:15:52This is the boys' area.
00:15:55There's a note here.
00:15:56Each family's left a welcome note with a few instructions.
00:16:00Please enjoy our home as if it was your own.
00:16:02Help yourself to anything you'd like.
00:16:04We have made you guys a welcome meal.
00:16:06Also, a quick one.
00:16:07My washing machine has just broken.
00:16:10Love, Val and Cleo.
00:16:13Kiss, kiss, kiss.
00:16:15Both families have stocked their fridge with their favourite food.
00:16:18The fridge is full.
00:16:20Oh, my God, bitch.
00:16:25That is sea bass, is it?
00:16:28Crab and lobster.
00:16:29What was it, lasagna?
00:16:30Yeah, beef lasagna.
00:16:32OK.
00:16:33Nice.
00:16:33Not good for you, Ella.
00:16:35Vegetarian.
00:16:36Oh, it looks amazing, though.
00:16:37Wow.
00:16:38That's beautiful.
00:16:39How big is this house?
00:16:42There's like, it's two houses in one.
00:16:45Ah, these people like puppeteering like us.
00:16:51Needs a fair bit of work, right?
00:16:53You'd want to bring it up, wouldn't you, if you could?
00:16:58Now the moment of truth.
00:17:00How much money will each family have to spend for the week?
00:17:04Oh, good cap done.
00:17:07It's a good start.
00:17:08Oh, my gosh, it's a wad.
00:17:09What?
00:17:11What?
00:17:12Oh, what?
00:17:14What do you mean?
00:17:15Let's count.
00:17:1610, 20, 30, 40, 50.
00:17:20Three, four, five.
00:17:23My arms are hurting.
00:17:2570, 80, 90, three.
00:17:2851 pounds and 93 pence for the week.
00:17:31Three of us.
00:17:32Yeah.
00:17:33That is not much at all, is it?
00:17:3580, 90.
00:17:36Two.
00:17:372,000 pounds.
00:17:39You're joking.
00:17:40No.
00:17:40With 2,000 pounds of spending money for the week,
00:17:44this is almost 40 times their normal budget.
00:17:47That can be a weekly thing.
00:17:49No way.
00:17:50No chance.
00:17:52Now to swap lives.
00:17:53Both families have left an activities board.
00:17:56This is what we're doing, I think.
00:17:59Here we flutter.
00:18:01We are going to work somewhere.
00:18:04No idea where.
00:18:05Splash the cash.
00:18:08Bowling with Tamara.
00:18:09Bowling.
00:18:11What's JAAQ at London?
00:18:13HQ.
00:18:14Maybe we're going for a meeting there.
00:18:17We're going to London.
00:18:19As well as living each other's lives,
00:18:22each day the families will record a private diary.
00:18:26In the one room, they won't be disturbed.
00:18:28I just cannot wait to see how these people got to where they are
00:18:34and live off of such a budget.
00:18:36Four or five people live in this property,
00:18:38even if it was three people.
00:18:40To live on £51.93p a week is just mind-blowing.
00:18:47Day one's almost at an end.
00:18:49Time for dinner.
00:18:50I've got some plantain, which we're going to fry.
00:18:53We've got the lasagna.
00:18:58Nice and hot.
00:18:59We're all cooking Valerie's food together
00:19:02and then sat down and ate it.
00:19:04And that was really nice.
00:19:05Oh, is it?
00:19:10Cannot wait to get stuck into this.
00:19:13Despite a packed fridge,
00:19:15Val and Cleo have splashed 50 quid on a takeaway.
00:19:18At home, that's almost their entire weekly budget.
00:19:22I don't remember the last time I actually had an India
00:19:24and I can't even lie.
00:19:26I'm going to get some sleep now
00:19:28because I'm absolutely exhausted.
00:19:31Good night.
00:19:37It may be lights out,
00:19:40but over in Portsmouth,
00:19:42Steve doesn't get much sleep.
00:19:44I've just been woken up.
00:19:49Motorbike's been up and down about four times.
00:19:52It was a really, really loud exhaust,
00:19:54like a boy race or something.
00:20:02Day two.
00:20:04And on Val's first morning living the rich life,
00:20:07the £220 fancy coffee maker is baffling her.
00:20:12Oh, no, I don't want to break him.
00:20:14Oh!
00:20:16Oh, here we go.
00:20:17Oh, there's coffee in there.
00:20:19I actually was not expecting that.
00:20:22I've made my first coffee on the coffee machine.
00:20:27Over in Portsmouth,
00:20:29Charlie's also having technical issues
00:20:31struggling to make a cup of tea.
00:20:33Kettle's broken.
00:20:34Taking a little while longer to boil the water.
00:20:39How do you sleep?
00:20:40Not as good as I normally do.
00:20:42How come?
00:20:43It's a bit of an uncomfier bed that I'm used to.
00:20:46I can sort of fill the springs a bit.
00:20:47I've just had a shower,
00:20:49trying to make it as quick as I possibly could.
00:20:52I'm a bit worried about the gas and the electric.
00:20:55Only around 6% of UK homes have four or more bathrooms,
00:20:59and the Boltons have five.
00:21:01I'm going in this one.
00:21:04Thankfully, there's a separate toilet.
00:21:07What a relief.
00:21:09I'll have to hunt for some gas and electric
00:21:12just to see where the nearest sugar is.
00:21:18For Val, there's more confusion
00:21:20when they explore Steve's car.
00:21:23Where do you even put the key?
00:21:25Oh, gosh.
00:21:27Where do we put the key?
00:21:32Steve doesn't let anyone else drive it.
00:21:36But they can't resist gunning the engine.
00:21:40That's as fast as we got.
00:21:42We roofed it.
00:21:51Steve's put a tenner on the gas and electric.
00:21:54Pay-as-you-go is often used
00:21:56when a customer goes into arrears,
00:21:58and he's discovered it's the tip of an iceberg.
00:22:02There was this big pack that was in this drawer,
00:22:05and the top letter is a final notice.
00:22:09Your belongings will be removed.
00:22:11That's really serious
00:22:12because it's a debt recovery company.
00:22:14They can repossess property,
00:22:16they can take cars,
00:22:17they can take material possessions.
00:22:19There's quite a lot of council tax.
00:22:22So the first one we saw was $1,500.
00:22:24It's now up to $1,884.
00:22:27Another company...
00:22:29Wow.
00:22:30£3,378, this one.
00:22:34Thousands and thousands of pounds worth of debt.
00:22:37You know, it's...
00:22:40It's heartbreaking, really.
00:22:43Official notice, TV licence not paid.
00:22:46Water overdue, £650.
00:22:50We've got £2,615.
00:22:53£1,517.
00:23:01I, you know,
00:23:02I just find it really hard to...
00:23:06It's just so unfair
00:23:09that, you know,
00:23:10to see it up close and personal.
00:23:13People that got degrees,
00:23:15that have studied hard,
00:23:17that have had kids,
00:23:18want to be the best possible parents
00:23:20that they can be.
00:23:22So that's £11,271.83.
00:23:30Wow.
00:23:32Val, I can't think straight.
00:23:35But for one week,
00:23:36Val can put her worries behind her.
00:23:38She and Cleo are on the trial
00:23:40of their mystery hosts.
00:23:41Hello.
00:23:42Oh, are you OK?
00:23:43Nice to meet you.
00:23:43Steve's nephew, Danny,
00:23:45lives just around the corner.
00:23:47We'd always be in each other's gardens,
00:23:50playing football and things like that.
00:23:54They brought their notepads
00:23:55and assumed playing detective again.
00:23:58Steve.
00:23:59Yeah.
00:24:00What does he do?
00:24:01Who is he?
00:24:03Steve is a businessman.
00:24:05He starts businesses,
00:24:07generates a better revenue
00:24:09for the company
00:24:10and then sells the company.
00:24:11Wow, OK.
00:24:13Val's dream is to run her own business.
00:24:16Sounds like Steve
00:24:17could be the perfect contact.
00:24:19Did he go to uni and stuff?
00:24:21No, he doesn't have any qualifications.
00:24:23He left school after.
00:24:25He worked at somewhere like Tesco.
00:24:27Wow.
00:24:28To start from nothing,
00:24:30from Tesco?
00:24:30Yeah.
00:24:31From packing shelves.
00:24:32He's very driven.
00:24:33Like, that is, that for me,
00:24:34that is, yeah, that's really amazing.
00:24:36That's quite inspiring, actually.
00:24:38Nice.
00:24:38So, in terms of the kids,
00:24:40are they following Dad's footsteps or what?
00:24:43Yeah, Charlie is a bit.
00:24:44He owns a clothing shop in town.
00:24:46So, what about Ella?
00:24:47She helps Steve.
00:24:49She does their, like,
00:24:51marketing and social media.
00:24:53So, obviously, business is a big part of Steve's life.
00:24:56I mean, how does that kind of fit in
00:24:58with the family dynamic?
00:24:59He's working all hours of the day,
00:25:01whether he's on his phone,
00:25:03taking calls,
00:25:05or he's in meetings.
00:25:06So, it's hard for him to find time
00:25:08to spend with his kids.
00:25:10We managed to have a great conversation with Danny.
00:25:14So, it is just trying to figure out,
00:25:16is there a family life, business life balance?
00:25:20Thanks, guys.
00:25:21Oh, no worries.
00:25:22Oh, dear.
00:25:25In Portsmouth,
00:25:27the Boltons have their first visitor.
00:25:29They're meeting Mia,
00:25:31Val's oldest friend and fellow churchgoer.
00:25:34I've been friends with Val for 20 years now.
00:25:38I've been there for all her children's births.
00:25:41She's got three children.
00:25:43Our granddad's from the Bahamas,
00:25:45so we were sort of curious of, like,
00:25:46what Val and Cleo's background is.
00:25:48Val's mum's from Zimbabwe,
00:25:50so that's their heritage.
00:25:52But Valerie was born here, so...
00:25:54Oh, nice.
00:25:54Yeah.
00:25:55Right.
00:25:55And does Val work?
00:25:57Yeah, she does caring,
00:26:00works so many hours that I say to her,
00:26:02you're working too much,
00:26:03like, you need to slow it down.
00:26:06So, what about Cleo's situation?
00:26:07So, Cleo lives on the council flat.
00:26:09She lives there with Valerie's sister.
00:26:12Tammy's going to be 21 next year.
00:26:15She's dancing, Joan,
00:26:16but, yeah, a lot of that work going on to Cleo.
00:26:21So, we found a pack of information
00:26:22with some letters and red letters
00:26:24and things like that.
00:26:26Val's always worked,
00:26:27but money side of things is not great.
00:26:31She gets help with universal credit
00:26:34because she is a single mum.
00:26:36And then it's summertime now.
00:26:38Yeah.
00:26:38So, teaching doesn't necessarily need to be on,
00:26:40but in the winter.
00:26:41Yeah, sometimes I'll go,
00:26:43Val, it's freezing,
00:26:44and she'll be like,
00:26:44well, I'll put a jumper on then,
00:26:46wear my dressing gown.
00:26:47Like, do you know what I mean?
00:26:50The debt and bills and stuff like that,
00:26:53it must be so tough
00:26:55just having this massive weight on your shoulders.
00:26:58Lovely to meet you.
00:26:59See you. Bye.
00:27:00Bye-bye.
00:27:05When Val and Cleo arrived,
00:27:06they found a fridge
00:27:07packed with 200 pounds of luxury groceries.
00:27:11These are tiger prawns
00:27:14and they are very, very expensive.
00:27:16You can make some space for it.
00:27:18Steve spent 60 pounds on the seafood.
00:27:21That's more than Val and Cleo's spending budget
00:27:23for an entire week.
00:27:26We feel like princesses at the moment, Val.
00:27:30Cheers to us and the good life, Mum.
00:27:33Look at this, all for us.
00:27:34This is the life, isn't it?
00:27:38Over in Portsmouth,
00:27:40there's no spare cash,
00:27:42so they're having a family night in,
00:27:44something they hardly manage to do.
00:27:46So we've all got one life.
00:27:48But this is a week of new experiences.
00:27:51It's nice to find joy
00:27:53in the little things that we do together,
00:27:55like playing cards at the table, you know?
00:27:57Things that don't cost money,
00:27:59but really bring your family together.
00:28:08Coming up...
00:28:09She had a go at me.
00:28:10She said,
00:28:11Val, we are living a millionaire lifestyle this week.
00:28:14You cannot be buying 65p washing-up liquid.
00:28:19Crossing culinary continents
00:28:21isn't easy for the Boltons.
00:28:23Cow foot dish.
00:28:24Not my personal taste.
00:28:27And there's a surprise new look for Cleo.
00:28:36One, two, three.
00:28:39In Bournemouth,
00:28:41struggling care workers Val and Cleo
00:28:43couldn't believe their eyes.
00:28:45£2,000!
00:28:47You're joking!
00:28:48No!
00:28:49While in Portsmouth,
00:28:50the wealthy Boltons were in shock.
00:28:53£51.93 for the week.
00:28:55Three of us.
00:28:56No wonder Val's in debt.
00:28:58So that's £11,271.83.
00:29:04Wow.
00:29:05Woo-hoo!
00:29:08On the holiday!
00:29:11It's day three,
00:29:12and 60-year-old Cleo's enjoying birdsong
00:29:16instead of the traffic noise she's used to.
00:29:20I love it in the garden,
00:29:22where I can have my liquid drink
00:29:24and I'm having a cup of tea.
00:29:27For years,
00:29:28Val's wanted to thank Cleo
00:29:30for being such a great mum,
00:29:31and this week,
00:29:32she's got the money to do it.
00:29:35Horse racing.
00:29:36Never been in my life.
00:29:37Always wanted to go,
00:29:38especially mum,
00:29:39always wanted to go as well.
00:29:41Living Steve's life
00:29:42means that tomorrow
00:29:44they'll be off to the Newbury races.
00:29:46Two VIP tickets
00:29:47are going to cost £400.
00:29:50Back home,
00:29:51that would be around
00:29:52two months spending money.
00:29:54But there's a problem.
00:29:55I'm not sure what we're going to wear,
00:29:57but maybe we can use
00:29:58some of our budget
00:29:59for this special occasion.
00:30:02Let's go splash the cash, mum,
00:30:03and get something.
00:30:04Let's go, let's go.
00:30:06So, we're just trying to find something
00:30:08that's going to...
00:30:09Nice, isn't it?
00:30:12Something posh.
00:30:13I found a dress.
00:30:14I've looked at the price tag,
00:30:16as I always do.
00:30:17That's just, you know,
00:30:18a natural thing.
00:30:18And I'm like,
00:30:19it's £115.
00:30:22Looking at the fascinator
00:30:23to match the dress
00:30:24and found one.
00:30:26I'm like, all right, cool, brilliant.
00:30:27I'm thinking it's going to be, like,
00:30:28£15.
00:30:30That is nice.
00:30:31No, no, I can't spend £50 on that.
00:30:33All up,
00:30:34Val and Cleo's outfits
00:30:36come in at just shy of £450.
00:30:39They're spending money
00:30:40is disappearing fast.
00:30:46To learn about Val's role as a carer,
00:30:49the Boltons are meeting
00:30:50one of her regular clients,
00:30:53Charlie and Sam,
00:30:54his carer while Val's away.
00:30:56What's your name?
00:30:57Charlie.
00:30:57Charlie.
00:30:58Charlie's who Charlie's?
00:31:00Does Val help a lot?
00:31:03Yes, she does my shifts.
00:31:06Along with two other carers,
00:31:09Val looks after all of Charlie's needs at home,
00:31:11but it doesn't end there.
00:31:16Walkies.
00:31:17There are also Charlie's dogs to exercise.
00:31:20Watch out.
00:31:24Go play.
00:31:26Go play.
00:31:29Caring for someone paralysed from the neck down
00:31:32is...
00:31:33I can't imagine how difficult that is,
00:31:36so caring for him
00:31:37on top of her three kids
00:31:39and everything else,
00:31:41it's...
00:31:42Yeah.
00:31:43She must be an incredible woman.
00:31:46Tell me a bit more about Val
00:31:48and what she means to you.
00:31:49Oh, yeah, she means her a lot.
00:31:53She's a lot of fun.
00:31:56Great cook.
00:31:58She likes cooking spicy.
00:32:00Yeah, have you had some of her food?
00:32:01Oh, yeah.
00:32:02Yeah.
00:32:04Yeah, Jella.
00:32:05It's lovely.
00:32:08I know she'd love to open a restaurant.
00:32:12Yeah.
00:32:12She'd be an amazing cook.
00:32:15OK.
00:32:16She's never down.
00:32:18She always makes you laugh.
00:32:21That level of kind of commitment,
00:32:23responsibility,
00:32:24when you're juggling
00:32:25a myriad of debts,
00:32:28you know,
00:32:29two young children,
00:32:30it's just phenomenal.
00:32:37We're in the big city, Mum,
00:32:39in the black cab.
00:32:40Black cab.
00:32:40Val and Cleo
00:32:41have arrived in London
00:32:43to find out about Steve's work.
00:32:45Yes, Alex is ready for you here.
00:32:47Brilliant.
00:32:48Hi.
00:32:48They're meeting the company's CEO, Alex.
00:32:51Oh, hi, Alex.
00:32:52Nice to meet you.
00:32:52How are you?
00:32:52Nice to meet you too.
00:32:53Come on in.
00:32:55Steve is a phenomenal entrepreneur.
00:32:57I met Steve building Bolt Angels,
00:32:59which is an investment firm that he runs.
00:33:02So, Bolt Angels,
00:33:03what exactly is it?
00:33:04Steve works with other angel investors,
00:33:07people who like to invest basically
00:33:09in early stage start-ups in the UK.
00:33:12What they do is really help it grow.
00:33:15Have you ever thought about starting your own business?
00:33:17Love to start my own business.
00:33:18That's what I want to be my own boss.
00:33:20Mm-hmm.
00:33:21I am passionate about cooking.
00:33:22Love to find my own restaurant slash bar.
00:33:24You said cooking is your passion.
00:33:26Yeah.
00:33:27Building a business is one of the hardest things you can do.
00:33:29Yeah.
00:33:30That passion is actually what drives you all the way through.
00:33:33Building the JAAQ business is Steve's current passion,
00:33:37and this time it's not all about the bottom line.
00:33:39Jack stands for Just Ask a Question.
00:33:42It's a free online mental health service.
00:33:45Experts and celebrities give frank accounts
00:33:47of the battles they've been through
00:33:49and how they got their lives back on track.
00:33:52Just follow me in here.
00:33:54Val volunteers to take a turn in the hot seat.
00:33:56A seat in your jack chair.
00:33:58Oh.
00:33:59How does financial stress show up in your day-to-day?
00:34:02I couldn't sleep.
00:34:04I was getting depression.
00:34:05I was getting anxiety.
00:34:07Every day, you know, it's a struggle,
00:34:09but I just get on with it.
00:34:11Beautiful answer.
00:34:13I'll tell you a little bit about myself as well.
00:34:16I would love to have my own restaurant.
00:34:18Got the vision already.
00:34:20In Zimbabwe, it's called a sports bar,
00:34:22so you sit, you drink, barbecues go in.
00:34:26So I'd love to bring that kind of vibe here.
00:34:29That is my passion.
00:34:31Thank you for sharing that.
00:34:32No, thank you for, like, getting me out of my comfort zone
00:34:34and doing that.
00:34:35Well, yeah.
00:34:35That was actually, like...
00:34:36Honestly, like, keep that passion for that cooking.
00:34:39I think you're on to something there.
00:34:41God willing.
00:34:42Maybe this is the kind of push that I needed
00:34:45to go forward, to be actually, like,
00:34:47no, guys, there is another world,
00:34:50there is another life to what we're living.
00:34:54Day four, the halfway point,
00:34:56and in sunny Bournemouth, Val and Cleo have big plans.
00:35:01What a lovely day to sip champagne!
00:35:06Bring it on me!
00:35:08Later on, they're off to the races.
00:35:11Cheers to the good life.
00:35:13All the best.
00:35:15It's like a whole different world set out here
00:35:17compared to my garden.
00:35:19Well, Val worked very hard.
00:35:21You never know, you might get to this point.
00:35:23I need a bit of push, really.
00:35:25I need guidance.
00:35:26I need someone mentoring me at this point.
00:35:30Val may be living like the other half,
00:35:33but she can't stop caring.
00:35:35Before their visit to the races,
00:35:37she wants to give Cleo something her mum always wanted.
00:35:40With our culture, you know, wigs are quite a big thing.
00:35:44So I know that mum's been looking to get a wig,
00:35:47but she just can't afford to buy it.
00:35:50This one here.
00:35:51So, how much will it cost?
00:35:53About £500.
00:35:56Wow.
00:35:57OK.
00:35:59I wasn't expecting it to be that much,
00:36:02but OK, that's perfect.
00:36:04Let's do it.
00:36:04Wow.
00:36:06Little does she know,
00:36:07but Cleo's about to get a total transformation.
00:36:11You know that lovely wig that you've been wanting?
00:36:17A custom-made wig.
00:36:20You what?
00:36:22I am blessed.
00:36:25Every day of my life I am blessed.
00:36:31She's happy.
00:36:32I know she's happy.
00:36:33She's got something, you know, that she's wanted.
00:36:36I feel like a $6 million lady.
00:36:43Just seeing the smile on her face and surprising her, you know, that meant a lot to me.
00:36:49I think she's going to be overly excited more than I am.
00:36:55Oh, my, it looks so cool.
00:37:02Oh, I love it.
00:37:04You look, this is amazing.
00:37:06You love it.
00:37:07Oh, I can't wait to borrow that.
00:37:09Ah!
00:37:11£500 for the wig has made a bit of a dent in that £2,000 budget,
00:37:15but it looks like it was worth every penny.
00:37:18Ah, that's really, really nice.
00:37:22In Portsmouth, Ella's searching the cupboards for anything she can make a meal from.
00:37:29Val left a recipe for a cheap Zimbabwean family dinner.
00:37:33Oh, what is it?
00:37:36Cow foot dish.
00:37:38What?
00:37:40Paprika, garlic, coriander powder, cow foot seasoning.
00:37:44There's no way I mean a cow's foot.
00:37:46I will leave a contact who will guide you through this.
00:37:49Enjoy.
00:37:50Oh, okay.
00:37:51Veronica.
00:37:52We've got someone else to meet.
00:37:55Buying cow's foot is totally outside their experience,
00:37:58but they track down a specialist shop.
00:38:04This is £6.99.
00:38:06It is one of the cheapest we have yet.
00:38:08What does it taste like?
00:38:09It is really yummy.
00:38:11A lot of African families do eat this,
00:38:13so, yes, I will recommend this.
00:38:16Its lucky Val stock the fridge with food.
00:38:19The cow foot, plus the tenner on gas and electric,
00:38:22leaves them with only £35 from their £52 spending money.
00:38:27Bye.
00:38:28Do have a great day.
00:38:31At Newbury Races, Val and Cleo have booked
00:38:34the absolute top-of-the-range VIP package.
00:38:37Oh, owners club.
00:38:40It's a taste of Steve's life where money's no object.
00:38:45No, I've never been to the races at all, no.
00:38:48I used to go to Ludbrook's and see them on the TV.
00:38:52And that's it.
00:38:54Now, the only way to start is with a glass of champagne.
00:38:58Lovely.
00:38:58Lovely.
00:38:58Thank you very much.
00:38:59Being served champagne and felt well-pumped, to be honest.
00:39:04We felt extremely special.
00:39:08Cheers, Mum.
00:39:08Here's to you and me.
00:39:13Down on the course, the horses are out.
00:39:17Time for a flutter.
00:39:20Right, Mum, what do you reckon our budget would be?
00:39:22About £50 each?
00:39:24I think that's reasonable.
00:39:31While Val and Cleo enjoy their VIP day,
00:39:34the Boltons have a cow's foot to cook.
00:39:39They've come to ask Val's friend, Veronica, for help.
00:39:42Yeah, we called you because we have no idea
00:39:45how to go off preparing it.
00:39:47Oh, you've come to the best place.
00:39:49Oh, good.
00:39:50Come to the best place.
00:39:51I'm a chef anyway, so...
00:39:53Oh, awesome.
00:39:54All right, so we need to boil this.
00:39:56Do you want me to cook one?
00:39:57Cow's foot comes skinned, deboned,
00:39:59and cut into bite-sized pieces.
00:40:01No, only a little bit.
00:40:03We will put in a lot of spices and a lot of, like, herbs
00:40:07because when you cook it,
00:40:09you'll find that it will have a very strong smell.
00:40:11OK.
00:40:12It takes a long time to cook as well,
00:40:15so it needs a bit of patience.
00:40:19While the stew cooks,
00:40:20they ask Vy about Val's dream to run a restaurant.
00:40:24Yeah, she really loves to do food
00:40:27and open her own business one day.
00:40:30She doesn't want to be a carer for the rest of her life.
00:40:33Would that be something you might be interested in helping her with
00:40:36because you've already got the cooking skills?
00:40:37Yes, yes.
00:40:38And I know her mum is quite supportive, so...
00:40:40Would Cleo want to be involved?
00:40:43She'll probably take over.
00:40:48The cow's foot is served with a porridge called sadza.
00:40:53I'll let Charlie go first.
00:40:55They'll eat it in the traditional way with the Huns.
00:41:04It wasn't like anything I've ever eaten before this stew.
00:41:08It was, um, like a very gelatinous texture.
00:41:11It is slippy, isn't it?
00:41:14Yeah.
00:41:14Very slippy.
00:41:19What do you think?
00:41:24Uh, not my personal taste, I have to say.
00:41:29You keep chewing and it's just like...
00:41:31Mm.
00:41:33Mm.
00:41:37At the races, Val and Cleo's VIP experience
00:41:41is everything they hoped for and more.
00:41:44And then on the flat, if their weight is OK,
00:41:47they can keep going...
00:41:48Ex-jockey Connor Schumark is escorting them to the Royal Box.
00:41:52I'm walking on the same carpet as the Queen.
00:41:58Here we go, welcome to the Royal Box.
00:42:00Brilliant.
00:42:01Oh.
00:42:02Now you've got a fantastic view of the race course.
00:42:05I can't...
00:42:06I feel like a celebrity.
00:42:09Oh, here we go.
00:42:10Oh, here we go.
00:42:11Which one is that?
00:42:13Oh, number four, 11's one.
00:42:14What number did you put?
00:42:16Number four and five, each way.
00:42:17Four and five?
00:42:18Yeah.
00:42:19Wow.
00:42:19I don't even know what each one is.
00:42:21How much did you put?
00:42:21So if it comes in the first three, you'll get some money back.
00:42:24Some money, but it won't be much, but you'll get some money back.
00:42:25It's better than napping.
00:42:27Oh, well, at least we've got something.
00:42:28Yeah.
00:42:29That's brilliant.
00:42:31Cheers, Mum.
00:42:32To our win.
00:42:32Thanks, Connor.
00:42:32To the Royal Box.
00:42:34To the Royal Box.
00:42:35The Royal Box.
00:42:35Thank you, Connor.
00:42:38Back in the members' club, dinner is served.
00:42:41Oh, you may.
00:42:42Voila.
00:42:43Thank you very much.
00:42:45450 on clothes, 500 for Cleo's wig, and 500 spent on a day at the races.
00:42:54Is it number one?
00:42:55It's number one coming.
00:42:57From their £2,000 spending money, the big day out has left them with just 550.
00:43:03So any regrets?
00:43:06It was a blast.
00:43:08The best thing that we've ever done.
00:43:10It was brilliant.
00:43:16Next, Steve finds out more about Val's dream to run a restaurant.
00:43:20We had her, like, food business on Instagram that she was trying to start up.
00:43:25Val seizes her future with both hands.
00:43:28I think for yourself, Valerie, as somebody that's starting up, I would also recommend just going to a pop-up
00:43:32venue.
00:43:33This can change mine and my family's life.
00:43:36Life-changing for the Boltons, too.
00:43:39This is the nicest family time that us three have had in the past few years.
00:43:51With £2,000 spending money, care workers Val and Cleo are living the rich life.
00:43:57What a lovely day to sip champagne!
00:44:03Things haven't been so tasty for the Boltons.
00:44:06There's no way I'm eating a cow's foot.
00:44:08You keep chewing and it's just like...
00:44:10But the swap also has a serious side.
00:44:13I am passionate about cooking.
00:44:15That passion is actually what drives you all the way through.
00:44:17Maybe this is the kind of push that I needed.
00:44:22Day five, and in Bournemouth, the week's had a big impact.
00:44:27Val's making plans.
00:44:29Mum?
00:44:30Yeah?
00:44:30Do you know what I'm thinking, right?
00:44:32Stepping into this world and living in wealth for a week,
00:44:36it has already changed my mindset to the point that I am...
00:44:42I'm so motivated to go out there and start doing my own research
00:44:47and not just sitting there.
00:44:50Searching the web, she's found an African restaurant
00:44:53she could model her business on.
00:44:55I have found one place which looks good.
00:44:58Yes.
00:44:59The Flydurians were founded by two sisters.
00:45:03Mmm.
00:45:04We've got to go and see these people, Mum.
00:45:10What with the food Val left them, and watching the pennies,
00:45:13the Boltons still have 35 quid left from their £52 spending money.
00:45:18Enough for an early bird special at the local bowling alley.
00:45:22This is the valuable family time they were hoping for during the swap.
00:45:28Hey, guys.
00:45:29Hey!
00:45:31Thanks for being here.
00:45:31Val's sister Tammy and half-sister Shannon are taking them on today.
00:45:35LAUGHTER
00:45:38Come round.
00:45:39Come round.
00:45:43Whoa!
00:45:45Whoa!
00:45:45Okay.
00:45:46In between frames, there's a chance to charm.
00:45:51We don't know everything about the family, yeah?
00:45:52So, my sister is kind to me.
00:45:55She'll have a laugh with me sometimes.
00:45:59Sometimes she cooks.
00:46:01Is she a good cook?
00:46:02She is a good cooker.
00:46:03What does she like?
00:46:05She cooked...
00:46:05She cooked yellow fries.
00:46:07They made us a lasagna when we arrived.
00:46:09Oh, really?
00:46:10And we've had that, yes.
00:46:11That was lovely.
00:46:12It's really, I was about to say...
00:46:12It's like the nicest lasagna we've ever had, so...
00:46:14Really?
00:46:14She had her, like, food business on Instagram, which she was trying to start up.
00:46:18Yeah, she just used to pack it up and, like, take her boxes and they were like, oh, we love
00:46:23that.
00:46:24It was like barbecue chicken wings.
00:46:25She's definitely got, like, the passion and experience.
00:46:29And she loves cooking for people.
00:46:31Like, she loves it.
00:46:34Back on the bowling lanes, Tammy and Shannon are cleaning up.
00:46:39What is going on here?
00:46:44Yeah!
00:46:45Well done.
00:46:47Tammy, I thought she was an absolute star.
00:46:55Oh, lovely.
00:46:57Living the rich life has motivated Val to grab her business dream by the horns.
00:47:04Hello.
00:47:05Oh, hi.
00:47:06They're visiting a successful African eatery, started by two sisters, Jess and their lunchtime
00:47:12host, Jo.
00:47:13I'm a hugger.
00:47:14I'm a hugger.
00:47:15I'm a hugger.
00:47:16This is cute.
00:47:17I love it.
00:47:18Yeah.
00:47:19This is our restaurant.
00:47:20So we've been here for about three years.
00:47:21Yeah.
00:47:21And we started this business about eight years ago, all based on our grandma's recipe,
00:47:25who's on the wall there.
00:47:27Oh, no.
00:47:27I love that.
00:47:28Jo's place has the vibe Valerie's after.
00:47:31So, yeah, how did you guys start this up?
00:47:34Funny enough, it was a Christmas time.
00:47:36Uh-huh.
00:47:37And we, like, handed out these Christmas cards saying, Merry Christmas.
00:47:40Yeah.
00:47:40Please fund our business.
00:47:41And he raised, like, £200.
00:47:43But it was something, innit?
00:47:44So we went to this pub.
00:47:46Yeah.
00:47:46And it was this lovely landlord.
00:47:47And we're like, look, here's a bit of jollof, here's a bit of chicken.
00:47:50And they loved it.
00:47:51And they're like, all right, I want you to come back in April to do a four-week residency.
00:47:54Four weeks turned into six weeks.
00:47:56Six weeks turned into eight weeks.
00:47:57Eight weeks turned into five years.
00:47:58And was it just literally, strictly, like, you two then?
00:48:02It was just us two.
00:48:04So Jess and I, for five years, I think for yourself, Valerie, as somebody that's starting
00:48:09up, I would also recommend just going to a pop-up venue.
00:48:11One, it will help you build up your capital.
00:48:13Two, the landlord normally has responsibility.
00:48:16All the equipment's already there for you, so you have everything in place.
00:48:22So that was quite an inspirational visit, to be honest.
00:48:26It was literally just her and her sister, and they started up with £200.
00:48:30And, you know, for me, I related so much into that because that is the situation that I am in.
00:48:38The Boltons usually holiday in the French Alps, the Algarve, or even Egypt.
00:48:44Today, they've come to a park in nearby South Sea.
00:48:53Despite spending on the bowling earlier, the family can't resist another treat.
00:48:59Please can I have a small waffle cone?
00:49:01The ice creams are £7.50.
00:49:05So out of their £52 spending budget, there's less than a fiver left to live on.
00:49:11They're cutting things fine.
00:49:13But it's not all bad news.
00:49:16This is the nicest family time that us three have had together in the past few years.
00:49:24My dad's worked non-stop since I can remember.
00:49:33Back at the house in Bournemouth, Val's feeling inspired by her meeting at the African restaurant.
00:49:40We need to look for a venue to see if we can actually do a little pop-up somewhere.
00:49:44What are the top tips?
00:49:46What I have learnt from Jo is you've got to start somewhere.
00:49:51Hello. Hi, Valerie.
00:49:52Hi, Danny. How are you?
00:49:54She rings Steve's nephew, Danny, to see if she can exploit some of Steve's contacts.
00:50:00Me and Mum were just thinking to hold a little barbecue event to get everyone together.
00:50:05Great idea.
00:50:06You could get in touch with the beach club that Steve has his boat at.
00:50:11Oh, lovely. Yeah, I think that would be quite a good show, actually.
00:50:14There's no time like the present. Val goes straight to the boat club to meet Sal, the restaurant manager, hoping
00:50:21he'll let her host the Zimbabwean cookout.
00:50:25Definitely. We've got plenty of space. We can let you use our outside kitchen.
00:50:30We've got no plates or anything like that. Is there a chance you can lend us something?
00:50:35I'm sure we can find something. Really? Yes.
00:50:38Oh, lovely. Yes. Cutlery and plates and napkins, we can both.
00:50:40Yeah? Yes.
00:50:41This is going a little bit out of my comfort zone, but I'm quite excited to just get it done
00:50:45and see people's reactions and see them enjoying our food.
00:50:50Next, Val's friends and family come to the rescue.
00:50:54Teamwork makes the dream work.
00:50:56Val's pop-up barbecue goes down a storm.
00:50:59Someone's just asked me for a business card. I've been really emotional.
00:51:03And Steve realises how much he's missed out on.
00:51:07The biggest positive that's come out of it for me is the connection with my children.
00:51:12It's not easy, but we're getting there.
00:51:21The wealthy Boltons have been shocked by how hard their week's been.
00:51:26To live on £51.93p a week is just mind-blowing.
00:51:30Off to hunt for some gas and electric.
00:51:35Care worker Val has a business degree, but no cash to pursue her dream.
00:51:40I would love to have my own restaurant.
00:51:42But things start to look up.
00:51:44What I have learnt from Jo is you've got to start somewhere.
00:51:51Day six.
00:51:52And the Boltons are still fighting over having just one bathroom.
00:51:57Nearly done?
00:51:58Hmm?
00:51:59Nearly done?
00:51:59Yeah, yeah.
00:52:00Okay.
00:52:01I need to be quick.
00:52:01I need to get my stuff ready.
00:52:03Very long.
00:52:04Okay.
00:52:06With the week drawing to a close, they want to improve Val's garden.
00:52:11Steve's consulting AI.
00:52:13Pick one barbecue and clean it up.
00:52:16Set the space up as a Val's backyard kitchen.
00:52:18Link it to her food dreams.
00:52:21With so much to do, they'll need boots on the ground.
00:52:24And having experienced the love and care Val's surrounded by, Steve knows exactly who to call.
00:52:31I knew, having met a number of the family and friends, that they would step up to the plate and
00:52:36help us.
00:52:37Um, listen, I've got a favour.
00:52:42Over in Bournemouth, it was an early start too.
00:52:45That was a bit of a supermarket sweet, wasn't it?
00:52:48It was.
00:52:49It's so expensive, isn't it?
00:52:51Even spending up big time, Val and Cleo still had almost £500 left from their £2,000 spending budget.
00:52:58More than enough for this afternoon's barbecue pop-up.
00:53:02So, the next job now is to marinate the pork belly.
00:53:07Before she helps out, Cleo's recharging her batteries.
00:53:12This is my dream source of breakfast with massive tiger prawns and thick cheese.
00:53:21Oh, and strawberries.
00:53:24We've created such a monster with me, Mum.
00:53:26I bought washing up liquid this morning.
00:53:29My normal, bog standard, Aldi 65p washing up liquid.
00:53:33She had a go at me.
00:53:35She said, Val, we are living a millionaire lifestyle this week.
00:53:38You cannot be buying 65p washing up liquid.
00:53:42Oh, dear.
00:53:44But no, we're good, we're good.
00:53:45I'm on a roll, I'm excited for today.
00:53:48Welcome to Val's kitchen.
00:53:50Oh, I can't wait.
00:53:51Let's do this.
00:53:56In Val's backyard, the makeover's already started.
00:54:00Steve and Charlie are hard at it and help is on its way.
00:54:05Hello.
00:54:07Veronica, their cow foot chef, has arrived to take charge of the kitchen.
00:54:12And in true Zimbabwean fashion, everyone's bringing food along.
00:54:17The backyard's soon buzzing.
00:54:20Everyone chipping in and helping out this afternoon was just, it was beautiful to see.
00:54:28Hi, Tammy.
00:54:30Hey.
00:54:30Hi, Tammy.
00:54:31Spending so much time with his kids this week has had a big impact on Steve.
00:54:39Even when I go on holiday with them, it's very different to just the three of us every single day,
00:54:44morning, noon and night.
00:54:45You know, doing stuff together.
00:54:47It's like the biggest positive that's come out of it for me is the connection with my children.
00:54:52It's already looking so much better by the end of today, I think.
00:54:57Val will have a garden she can be very proud of.
00:55:02At the marina in Bournemouth, Val and Cleo's pop-up barbecue is about to start serving.
00:55:09And this is crunch time.
00:55:11Val may have a business degree, but today's her chance to prove she could also make her dream work in
00:55:17practice.
00:55:19This week has been a bit of a journey, a very big journey, not a bit, I lie.
00:55:23I've been pushed to the limit and I've done it.
00:55:26There's been tears, there's been swears, there's been all sorts.
00:55:29But no, I'm glad we're here.
00:55:31First in the queue is Danny, Steve's nephew.
00:55:34Yes, there is.
00:55:35We've got mac and cheese here that's ready.
00:55:37We've got some chicken that's ready.
00:55:38We've got some rice, jellife rice there, some spring greens.
00:55:42Hi girls.
00:55:43Hi.
00:55:44How are you?
00:55:44Steve's sister, Michelle, comes over to introduce herself.
00:55:48Amazing.
00:55:49Aw, welcome to our pop-up.
00:55:53Please don't feel shy.
00:55:55We've got some pork belly on the go as well.
00:55:58Delicious.
00:56:01Basically, it's got loads of tomatoes, loads of peppers in it.
00:56:04A little tinge of chilli.
00:56:07Not a lot, but give it a go.
00:56:12In Portsmouth, things are moving just as fast.
00:56:15Teamwork makes the dream work.
00:56:17But it also takes money.
00:56:19The weekly spending budget of £52 wasn't going to cut it.
00:56:23So Steve's dipped into his own pocket.
00:56:27A new vegetable patch.
00:56:29New barbecue.
00:56:30You guys have put together.
00:56:32Furniture's coming out.
00:56:33It's awesome.
00:56:35Nearly there.
00:56:37See how well you put it together?
00:56:39I don't want to start again, please.
00:56:40I did have some doubts on us getting it done in time.
00:56:43I didn't think we were going to do it.
00:56:46Food is ready.
00:56:47Anyone hungry?
00:56:48Yeah!
00:56:50Everybody helps each other in this family.
00:56:53Really special to be part of it.
00:56:55Pretty profound and unexpected and actually very special.
00:57:04Business is booming!
00:57:06I'd love it if he was here all the time.
00:57:08We don't have anything like this down here.
00:57:09It'd be great.
00:57:10Yep, totally.
00:57:11I can see this going down a storm with people.
00:57:13Definitely.
00:57:14None of us have ever tried Zimbabwean food before,
00:57:16so it's just superb.
00:57:20Everyone here today is a potential new customer for Val.
00:57:24And things are looking promising.
00:57:26Someone's just asked me for a business card.
00:57:29I've been really emotional.
00:57:32Sorry, that's ridiculous, isn't it?
00:57:33She said, write your number on the plate.
00:57:41Thank you so much, ladies.
00:57:43It's delicious and your passion, it's just so clear.
00:57:46Oh, thank you.
00:57:47It's really meaningful.
00:57:48That really means a lot to me.
00:57:50And thank you.
00:57:50And here's my business card.
00:57:51I love it.
00:57:52I love it.
00:57:54Thank you so much.
00:57:56It means a lot.
00:57:58I am so proud of Valeria.
00:58:01I can see she's so proud of herself and what she's doing.
00:58:05I think I've learned a lot from Steve's background.
00:58:09Absolutely.
00:58:10I can't just keep procrastinating and saying, yeah, I'll do it,
00:58:12and I never do.
00:58:13So, yeah, I've done it.
00:58:15I'm going to keep going.
00:58:19Coming up, Cleo doesn't want to go home.
00:58:23Back to square one now, where I've come from.
00:58:27The thing I'm going to miss most is not having to worry about the next bill.
00:58:31But when the families meet, Val receives an amazing offer.
00:58:35We support you with anything and everything you need,
00:58:38up to a value of £100,000.
00:58:40Oh, my God.
00:58:42This is going to change everything for the better.
00:58:44No one understands.
00:58:52Struggling single mum Val is back on track.
00:58:55Business is booming.
00:58:57She's proved to everyone the skills are there to run the restaurant she's always dreamt of.
00:59:02There's been tears, there's been swears, there's been all sorts.
00:59:06I've been pushed to the limit and I've done it.
00:59:09Living on Struggle Street has been tough for the millionaire Boltons.
00:59:13Motorbike's been up and down about four times.
00:59:1860-year-old Cleo swapped traffic noise this week for Birdsong.
00:59:24I love it in the garden, where I can have my little drink and having a cup of tea.
00:59:32Day seven.
00:59:34The end of the week and time for everyone to return home.
00:59:40Back to square one now, where I've come from.
00:59:44The thing I'm going to miss most is the lifestyle.
00:59:47Not having to worry about how much I'm spending or having to worry about the next bill.
00:59:54And is this yours?
00:59:56Yeah.
00:59:58This is the end of a good life.
01:00:03Halfway between their homes, the families meet up to talk the week over.
01:00:10The moment we've been waiting for.
01:00:13Hello, hello.
01:00:14Oh, it's lovely to meet you.
01:00:16It's so lovely to meet you.
01:00:17How are you?
01:00:18Hello.
01:00:19I'm glad the tears have started already.
01:00:22I'm terrible.
01:00:23I'm so terrible.
01:00:25I can't condone myself.
01:00:27So how's your week then?
01:00:30Absolutely fantastic.
01:00:32What did you think of our life and our world and what we do?
01:00:35Your house, oh wow.
01:00:36Me and Mum was in the garden.
01:00:37That's where we lived.
01:00:39Yeah, having my breakfast or a snack or a cup of tea, I liked that place.
01:00:44And I'm going to miss that because I don't have a house like that.
01:00:48You know, the kitchen, well, that's Valerie as well.
01:00:51Oh yeah, that was such an open space.
01:00:53And I was like, Mum, how do I even cook in my kitchen?
01:00:55Like, what do I do?
01:00:57You know, look.
01:00:58I'm claustrophobic.
01:00:59Like, so it was, it was heaven.
01:01:01That life I'm going to miss.
01:01:03I'm telling you, Val is so excited to go home, I'm not.
01:01:07So, how did you guys find a week in our life?
01:01:11We had such a good time.
01:01:12Because like, we were saying at our house, like, we are a very close family,
01:01:16but it's sort of, we're spread out and we're always doing stuff,
01:01:18we're always working.
01:01:19So how did you find the beds?
01:01:21I had to move the mattress onto the floor by the end of the week
01:01:24because I couldn't quite stretch out fully.
01:01:27I'm looking forward to star fishing tonight.
01:01:30You guys obviously got a passion for food.
01:01:33So tell us a little bit more about that and where you might see that going.
01:01:36What would your dream be?
01:01:37You know, the goal, the dream, my passion to be open a restaurant.
01:01:42That's great.
01:01:43I've been to Zimbabwe a few times.
01:01:45We've got a thing called a sports bar.
01:01:47You'll be listening to music and just having your drinks and someone will be barbecuing outside.
01:01:52And I thought I'd love to bring that kind of to life, you know, here.
01:01:56That's something that's not, there's nowhere, it's not done.
01:01:59Okay, good.
01:02:00That's really helpful to know.
01:02:02I mean, we've been talking a lot about how we might be able to help you guys
01:02:05because that's obviously, you know, a big part of what we want to do.
01:02:08And we've thought about three things that we can do to help you.
01:02:12The first one is already done and it will be a surprise when you get home.
01:02:16Okay.
01:02:18The second one is about your debt situation.
01:02:20So we want to get you out of debt.
01:02:23And then the third thing is we want to back your vision and your dream and your passion
01:02:27and your talent for business and support you financially, support you with mentoring,
01:02:33support you with anything and everything you need, up to a value of £100,000.
01:02:38Oh, my God.
01:02:41We've costed out what a sports bar might, you know, what it might cost.
01:02:45And we think it's probably like an 18-month plan from today.
01:02:51We'd love to get some of the other family involved.
01:02:53And we just think all of you working together, we'll just make an awesome team
01:02:56and we'll make it happen.
01:02:57I'm crying again.
01:03:00Oh, gosh.
01:03:01Oh, dear.
01:03:02Charlie's a videographer and we sort of do marketing
01:03:05and so we could help you like build up your personal brand.
01:03:07You've got such a big personality and it would be stupid not to utilise that, you know.
01:03:13Oh, wow.
01:03:15I don't even know.
01:03:16How do you say thank you without...
01:03:20Wow.
01:03:20This is amazing.
01:03:22And we'll come down and have some meetings at the boat club.
01:03:24Are we hugging them?
01:03:25Yes, can we?
01:03:30I'm feeling really overwhelmed right now.
01:03:33Happy tears.
01:03:34I don't feel like them, don't you?
01:03:35This can change mine and my family's life.
01:03:41I really wanted this so much.
01:03:44And I'm so glad that my family's also going to be involved in this
01:03:47because it's going to change everything for the better.
01:03:50And I want to understand what it's going to do.
01:03:53You can just feel the passion, the commitment, the desire to do the best for herself and her family
01:03:59and, you know, lovely, aren't they?
01:04:02So me and Ella are going to try and work with her on her personal brand
01:04:05and, yeah, help make Valerie the face of Zimbabwean food in this country.
01:04:12It's happening. It's going to happen.
01:04:16It's time for everyone to return home.
01:04:21Hello, home!
01:04:24Oh, my God, I've got a washing machine!
01:04:27It's in a kettle!
01:04:29Thank you guys so, so, so much for giving me and Mum the experience of a lifetime.
01:04:35We've added a few small touches around the house and garden.
01:04:38Love Ella, Charlie and Sting.
01:04:40Oh!
01:04:42Oh, my God!
01:04:44Look at the garden!
01:04:47Oh, this is beautiful!
01:04:50The barbecue!
01:04:52Oh, my God, look at this!
01:04:57This is like a new home, Val. Look at you!
01:05:01So, has the week changed the way the families think about money?
01:05:05I think this week is proof that money doesn't buy you happiness.
01:05:11I think money buys you freedom and when you have freedom, it's a lot easier to be happy.
01:05:17We've learnt so much, you know, about how people live.
01:05:21Some people live, especially on the other side, compared to us.
01:05:25Yeah, we've had a really good week and it's because we didn't have money worries.
01:05:29It's been great, hasn't it, Mum?
01:05:32Yes.
01:05:34And what's the take-home message for the families?
01:05:37The main highlight for me this week is spending time with my kids and just the quality time and the
01:05:44conversations.
01:05:45Just so grateful for it.
01:05:47I've got not much to say because I just don't know how I feel anymore.
01:05:52It's just literally, like, a new chapter. Like, it is a new beginning for us.
01:05:58Cheers, mate!
01:05:59Cheers!
01:06:01I need to go out of my garden.
01:06:05Next time...
01:06:06It feels nice to have money.
01:06:08We're just going round and round in a circle.
01:06:10What the...?
01:06:12My legs feel like jelly.
01:06:14It's our pick.
01:06:15It's our bloody work.
01:06:16Are we being naughty bears?
01:06:18He's chasing us! He's chasing us!
01:06:20I feel very trapped and I don't have to live here every single day.
01:06:24What I'd like to do is give you access to some of our funds.
01:06:28I can't even talk!
01:06:29That's good!
01:06:30No!
01:06:31No!
01:06:31No!
01:06:41No!
01:06:44No!
01:06:47No!
01:06:49No!
01:06:53Yeah!
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