A BOLTON couple who can't afford to get married have been educating the nation on how money isn't everything.

Jenn and Antony Goodall appeared on the Channel 5 show Rich Kids Go Skint which was filmed at their home in Great Lever.

Jenn, 23, said: "We watch the programme ourselves. Its about kids who have loads of money and blow it.

"We thought it would be nice for them to come here so we could show them that money isn’t everything and you don’t need a lot of money to have a happy life."

Antony, 25, got in contact with the producers when he saw an advert on Facebook.

In the programme Alex, a 20-year-old who drives a £40,000 Mercedes, visited them in their housing association home.

"I was shocked when he told us he paid £10,000 on a watch. Watches all do the same thing. Mine was £20 from Argos but it still tells the time," said Jenn.

The couple have been together for four years and have experienced some tough times.

Antony was made redundant from his textile factory job in Breightmet in March, and the couple's two-year-old son, Jackson, spends a lot of time in hospital because he suffers from severe asthma.

"As long as we’ve got food in the cupboard, rent and gas and electric then that's all that matters. Anything else is a bonus," said Jenn.

"We've never been able to afford a holiday but we go to the park when it's sunny, or take Jackson to a play centre or the swimming baths because that only costs a few pounds.

"You don’t have to go to a fancy 5 star resort in the Caribbean to be happy as a family."

As the couple could not afford to get married, they decided on an alternative.

"I was getting really upset because getting married was something I’d always wanted to do because I love Antony more than anything in the world. But it costs £365 to get married in a register office so we paid to change my surname by deed poll instead."

Viewers of the programme saw Alex spending the night on the sofa. Jenn and Antony could not afford a bed of their own so they sleep on a a mattress on the floor.

Only one room of their home is decorated because, again, they cannot afford to do anything else.

"Alex was was very understanding and didn’t look down on us . In fact, he bought us a bed which was very kind of him," said Jenn.

She hopes Alex learned from the experience.

"I think it's important that he saw how most people can't afford to live like he does. A lot of people have to struggle."

The good news is that Antony started a new job this week , working at a glazing company in Horwich.

And with the £300 the programme makers paid them, they will be able to replace their old carpet with laminate flooring.

"One day I hope we will be on top but its just getting there," said Jenn.

"We might be skint but we are happy as we are. We're happy and we all love each other and that's what matters."