Millionaire tried living broke couple’s life for 7 days. I wasn't the $230 budget that broke him

The Fiddes, one of the richest families in Britain, swapped their lives with the Leamons, who have constant trouble paying for necessities. While the Fiddes live luxuriously with a weekly budget of approximately $2,058, the Leamons struggle with only $230 to cover food and transportation. However, both families from the two ends of the wealth spectrum agreed to participate in a social experiment to understand how money influences everyday living. The documentary (@onlyhumandocs) was released on YouTube, and viewers watched firsthand as a multi-millionaire slowly began questioning everything he'd ever stood for. 

The Leamons, a family of six, includes Andy, his wife, Kim, their two children, Freddie and Olivia, and two dogs. They were financially doing just okay until Kim went through a life-saving surgery following an accident, and now lives with Chronic Regional Pain Syndrome. The couple lost all their savings and had to subsist on only one income, as Kim could no longer work because of her disability. The Fiddes, however, enjoy a totally different lifestyle. Matt and Moniqe Fiddes live in a huge bungalow with their six children: Madison, Lola, Savannah, Zack, Hero, and Mayella. While Monique accepted being a full-time mom after a successful career as a singer, in South Africa, Matt runs a multi-million dollar martial arts franchise. "I am not silly, and I know we live in a bubble that we've created through my success, and I want my children to stay grounded, stay humble," Matt said. To this, his wife added, "It's important for us to make sure that they get the right values and morals in life, and knowing that they are very lucky for what they've got." Reflecting on their parents, the Fiddes' children said, "Recently, I asked Dad and Monique to buy me Adidas trainers, and he bought us." On the other hand, the Leamons' daughter pointed out how her dad was always "helping mum." On Day 1 of the swap, the Leamons were obviously ecstatic to finally experience a wealthy lifestyle, but surprisingly, the Fiddes were equally excited to experience the other side of the spectrum. 

However, they were shocked when they realized that they had to survive on only $230 for the week. "That basically fills up the fuel tank of my car," Matt confessed, still reeling from shock. In fact, it was the very first time that the Fiddes family had to look at price tags before adding something to their grocery cart. They couldn't even sleep properly because of the constant noise outside their home. While the Fiddes were having a tough time managing the budget, Andy decided to spend some luxury money on renting a mobility scooter for his wife for a week. Meanwhile, the Fiddes were looking at their small, boring neighborhood with barely anything to enjoy. Matt, in fact, had to work night shifts like Andy — something he'd never done in his life. Likewise, his wife, Moniqe, broke into tears when she first learned about Kim's disability from her friends. The wealthy couple was now starting to see a different side of the world altogether. However, the social experiment led their two kids to spend maximum time with their dad. The Leamons also prioritized quality time with kids, but this time, their ways were quite different. They enjoyed a trip to Thorpe Park, and even splurged some money on shopping. On the other hand, Matt was seriously stressed with all that he was experiencing. By now, he was really missing his privileged life and was feeling sorry for the Leamons.

"I feel guilty; no one should live like this," Matt said, showing sympathy for Andy. At the same time, he also reflected on the learnings. Matt confessed, "This week really brought us really close together as a family. I appreciate them more." Both families returned to their original homes, and the Leamons were thrilled to see a gift left behind for them by the Fiddes. After finding out about Kim's condition, the wealthy family bought a mobility scooter so she could now move on her own. The Fiddes couldn't properly survive a week after swapping their lives with the Leamons, but in reality, millions of people, especially Americans, are fighting to even afford two square meals a day. In fact, nearly 14 million households in America in 2020 did not have enough food to meet their needs, according to The United States Can End Hunger and Food Insecurity for Millions of People report. The numbers went as high as almost 24 million households in 2022. 

People loved the lifestyle swap between the two families; for instance, @sumptuaryfive5 commented, "I find it funny when people say money can't buy happiness. Money buys stability, which helps immensely to be happy." Similarly, @annjones9635 wrote, "I feel this was a much-needed vacation for the poor family and a grounding experience for the rich family."

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