A millionaire who starred on Channel 5 show Rich House, Poor House has revealed how he helped his co-star clear £12,000 worth of debt by teaching her day trading. Lewis Crompton appeared on the popular television series earlier this year, which sees two polar opposite families swap homes and budgets for a week.
From TV Swap to Trading Mentor
The 36-year-old runs STARTrading, a successful international business providing simple, 30-minutes-per-day trading strategies for beginners. Since swapping lives with mother-of-three Nicole Smith, also 36, on the hit show, Lewis has been sharing his wealth of knowledge and trading expertise with her, and the pair have struck up a close friendship.
'I haven't given her any special treatment - she's done it all herself,' said Lewis, from north London. 'She didn't need handouts – she needed a hand up.'
Motivation to Participate
When Lewis was first approached to feature on Rich House, Poor House, he felt compelled to take part in the hopes that he could help others manage their money and provide them with a sense of personal fulfilment. He added: 'I wanted to be reminded of my life before, and the reality that most people live. I had seen the show before – and an appeal was definitely to be able to share what I've learnt and help a family. It was also a form of validation, because I didn't think I was worthy or successful enough – when you're in my ecosystem you don't stop to smell the roses.'
Lewis was the counterpart to Nicole, from Grantham, Lincolnshire, who appeared on the show with her husband Grant and their three children. Nicole, a cleaner who had dreams of becoming a teaching assistant, was given Lewis's astonishing £2,000 weekly budget while he adopted her £118. The two switched homes and lives, and Lewis was given a real insight into how others live. While he insists that it 'wasn't drastically different from how I grew up', the overall experience served as a 'stark reminder of the realities for the majority of people in the UK'.
'I've been able to exceed expectations and now support my parents, which was always a goal of mine. Going on the show gave me a platform to teach others about finance and provide some hope.'
Nicole's Transformation
During the experience, Lewis introduced Nicole to trading and offered her a role in STARTrading's mentorship programme – something she has now thrown herself into. Nicole called her experience 'scary and eye-opening' and said that she had previously 'put herself down' for not having qualifications or a clear career path – but that has now changed.
She said: 'It was a relief not to worry about money or bills for a week [during the show], but it also made us realise that we don't actually live that differently – it's just about timescales. Rich people can have things instantly, whereas we have to save and work towards them. What I've taken from the show is that I don't need to wait – I can create my own path.'
Nicole says Lewis has had a 'huge' impact on her life and she now feels 'much more financially confident' thanks to the experience. She added: 'He helped me realise that I'm capable of more than I thought. I'm now in a position where I can give my kids more of the life they deserve, and I feel less weighed down by stress around debt and money. It's not a quick fix. Before starting, I wouldn't have imagined being able to take the kids away, but now I can see that on the horizon. Things are changing, and it's still early days. The things Lewis did for us might seem small to some people, but they've been life-changing for us. Our day-to-day life hasn't completely changed, but our mindset has.'
She added that while debt had once 'consumed' her, she was now 'thinking differently' and planning ahead. 'I'm being more structured, and I'm actively working my way out of debt. We're on a positive path towards better financial health.' Yet while she is working towards a more financially stable position via trading, Nicole always hopes to keep working in schools as it is her 'passion'. 'I love working with children and helping them grow - I don't dread it, it's part of who I am.'
Lewis's Mission for Financial Education
Lewis believes proper financial education isn't something taught in schools and often needs to be searched out – and he wants to change this. He says it feels 'amazing' to have helped Nicole and he is hoping that their journey can inspire others to change their lives. For anyone struggling with managing their finances, Lewis advised 'looking at what you can eliminate, minimise, or delay'. 'If you're in serious debt, speak to a debt management service to agree new, manageable terms,' he added. 'Also look at ways to increase your income – whether that's through a pay rise, promotion, or side hustles like trading. The most important ingredient in all of this is education, combined with realism. Social media and the manosphere often promote unrealistic timelines, which can hinder growth, damage mental health, and make people feel like failures.'
Reflecting on his experience with Rich House, Poor House, Lewis said it has taught him to focus on 'what really matters'. 'I had planned to build an extension on my house before going on the show, but afterwards I questioned the point. What really matters is a home feeling like a home, shared with the people I love. I'm now more focused on experiences than material things, like the latest iPhone. I've also realised just how lacking the education system can be in practical areas. We need to learn more about budgeting, cost-benefit analysis, and the emotional side of spending.'
Rich House, Poor House is on Channel 5 on Sunday at 8pm.
