Like millions across the UK, 40-year-old Laura has found the rising costs very challenging and said she was living off around £60 a week after paying bills and covering rent.
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Laura, who was made reduntant last year, lives in a small rented house in Yorkshire with her boyfriend Rob, but despite being on benefits, the duo struggle to make ends meet.
‘’It makes me feel like a failure,” she bravely opened up about her struggles on the Channel 5 series Rich House Poor House tonight.
Sharing her heartbreaking story on the programme, which airs every Sunday, Laura revealed that things hadn’t always been like this – just a year ago, she had landed a posh job at an estate agency.
However, not long after the property market slumped and the 40-year-old found herself without a job.
At the same time, she was also battling endometriosis, a painful medical condition that affects around a million woman in the UK.
”Towards the end of the month, I am reallly struggling and then it’s the case of borrowing money or taking my phone or laptop to the pawn shop.”
But just a 53 miles away, it’s a different reality for proprerty tycoon William who’s built himself a fortune of over £15million.
Starting out with very little and being diagnosed with dyslexia as a child, William had to work very hard to be where he is now – and it’s something he will always appreciate and remember.
The property whizz now boasts tennis courts and a huge heated swimming pool in the garden, acres of green land, 12 lavish bedrooms and nine bathrooms, as well as a private chef and other staff.
After swapping their lives for a week to see what the reality looked like on the other side of the fence, Laura was stunned by the hefty £1.5k budget she could splurge on for the week – for William, meanwhile, it was a little over £60.
40 is a new chapter – take this experience as the first page of this chapter and rebuild something new.”Laura
But was well as treating herself to a mini shopping spree – and spending the remaining £600 of the budget to cover their debt – Laura was also presented a task by William.
William’s in the works of building a house and asked Laura to help by meeting his accounts manager at a construction site for new homes aimed at young professionals.
In the programme, Laura was asked to come up with a plan for the internal layout for two semi-detached properties – this meant figuring out what kind of people would be living there, what their needs would be and how to design a property to fit those needs.
Luckily, the 40-year-old – who didn’t have enough money to celebrate the big birthday a few months ago – had some background knowledge and she made sure to do her best, even working late into the night.
”Gives me all the motivation to keep going when you see what can be achieved if you just believe in yourself.
‘’Hearing how William’s come from such a humble background himself and how he’s really hard to start from nothing and worked his way up think that’s really inspiring to hear,’’ said Laura, as her eyes began to tear up.
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Despire being ”really anxious’’ to present the project, the property gurus were impressed, with one admitting that even those at the top wouldn’t have come up with something so brilliant.
Reflecting on the past week, Laura said to her boyfriend: ”I think what we need to take from this is if you have a dip in confidence or something when it comes to work or I do, we need to pull each other up and remember what can be achieved, and not give in.”
To help Laura get back on her feet – and even land her dream career – William headed back to her previous workplace where he chatted with Laura’s now ex-boss, who had nothing but positive words to say.
”I really liked her sort of proactive approach, looking for land, for property developers, see that through until the sale;
”Social media, she was very good at that as well. She’s a people person, she likes to go above and beyond for renters, for sellers.’’
But William did more than just inspire her – at the end of the show, the property tycoon revealed he’d be covering ten driving lessons, so Laura could finally be one step closer to kickstarting her career.
Hearing the incredible news, the 40-year-old couldn’t believe it, as she struggling to control her emotions.
”That will completely change my life. No more buses,” she chuckled.
”I just need to not give up and push forward, and see what happens.
”40 is a new chapter – take this experience as the first page of this chapter and rebuild something new.
‘’Since being made redundant from that last property position, that is what I’ve been trying to achieve.’’