A middle-aged housewife feels frustrated with her mean and miserable husband, the married couple adapting to life in an up-market housing estate.
George and Mildred go house hunting and find their dream home in an up market part of town, but their potential neighbours, the Fourmiles, do not want them to move in.
The Ropers finally move into their new house and to help things along Ann Fourmile invites them in for afternoon tea. When they get back home they find themselves locked out and the bath water running away.
George is talked into applying for a job - however, Mildred is given the position!
After babysitting for the Fourmiles, Mildred begins to feel maternal, and she tries to convince George that they should adopt a child.
Mildred discovers that George has no insurance when a relative dies and the funeral costs are overwhelming. Jeffrey decides to cover the costs but then George changes his mind...
George finally sells his old car and buys a trashy old caravan. He dumps it on the front lawn and when Mildred's pesky sister and brother-in-law visit, they stay in the Ropers' room, so a stubborn George stays in the caravan. That is, until it is towed away...
George tries to cover up the fact that he lost Mildred's puppy by replacing it with a lookalike, but all goes awry when the police bring home the original dog.
George threatens to sue when Jeffrey accidentally causes him to fall by moving the ladder as George attempts to fix the TV aerial.
While the Fourmiles are away, George and Mildred decide to get their house decorated by professionals... but the interior designers accidentally redecorate the Fourmiles' house...
Mildred's mother visits, but the family believe that she is too old to look after herself and decide to place her in a home. However, George unexpectedly takes Mildred's mother's side and asks her to stay with them.
