BBC Sounds, and BBC Radio 4, May 27, 2022

The importance of living within your means.

Ben and Cammie seemingly want for nothing. They must both have decent incomes to be able to afford private schools, childcare, extensive home renovations, exotic holidays and regular meals out. Or can they?

They say people always live to their means, often spending more if they are in a position to do so rather than putting more away for a rainy day – well, Ben has been spending his money before his bonus is in the bank. The episode is tense as the family’s profligate lifestyle and his lack of honesty with his wife escalates – or should that be declines – and he starts taking short cuts with the very people who enable his lifestyle.

Spoiler alert: it’s never a good idea to start paying your staff less without having discussed this with them first. This time there’s a warning though, in the form of his child’s dreams – but will he heed them before it’s too late and they lose the very thing they can’t afford? Oh thank goodness his bonus came through, this one might have a happy ending…

Verdict: Too little too late and an unsustainable lifestyle lead to tragedy. 7/10

Claire Smith