When Stacey Solomon purchased her £1.2million Essex country home, she said she had to keep pinching herself as she couldn’t believe it was real.
Now, over a year on, she is still in disbelief as she turns Pickle Cottage into a dream family home for her, fiancé Joe Swash, and her four children, Zach, 14, Leighton, nine, Rex, two, and six-month-old Rose. But while she continues to update her five million loyal followers on the renovations to her new home, Stacey is said to be worried she’s going too far, as so many people are struggling with the cost of living crisis.
“Stacey genuinely says she has to pinch herself when it comes to her life and career right now,” an insider tells heat.
“She can’t quite get over how well she has done for herself, everything she has achieved, and the dream home she’s made for her family. But while she’s incredibly happy, she’s also having intense feelings of guilt about living such a lavish lifestyle when she knows there are so many people struggling. Stacey understands why some fans turn on stars, especially when they are boasting about how flash their lives are, all the things they get free or gifted, and going away on once-in-a-lifetime holidays.”
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And Stacey, 32, admitted this herself after showing her followers her brand-new kitchen, which includes an extension, a £16,000 Aga, two further ovens, two sinks and a huge island.
Sitting in the bath she had installed in her and Joe’s bedroom, she spoke about her guilt and worry over showing off her house and asked followers whether she should continue to do so.
After fans sent supportive messages saying how much she deserved it, she told them, “I know it’s so hard out there for so many, and we are so lucky and privileged. I wouldn’t want to make anyone feel rubbish, so I hold back. But thank you for being so kind, and I hope that my stories don’t ever make you feel rubbish or less about yourself because ultimately ‘stuff’ means nothing. My family is my biggest privilege.”
The following day, she also gave one of her followers her washing machine (a temporary one while she waited on one that matched her new colour scheme) and has promised to do more to help those less fortunate than her.
But it doesn’t stop Stacey – who was a single, teenage mum before finding fame on The X Factor in 2009 – worrying about others and how they’re feeling. “She is constantly in fear of a huge backlash from people accusing her of flouting her wealth on social media,” we’re told.
“The mood of the country right now isn’t as upbeat as she is and there are large groups of people really struggling with money – she’s scared they’ll start pointing the finger at her.”
The source adds, “She lives with a huge amount of guilt about what she has, which her friends don’t think is very healthy. Her career is going from strength to strength and one of the reasons for that is because she’s let fans into her life and home – she and Joe have lots of amazing plans for the house that they want to show everyone. But while people love them right now, she knows there’s fine line that they have to tread carefully.”