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13 Episodes 2008 - 2008
Episode 1
22 mins
Thirty-somethings Terry, an operations technician/writer/singer, and Andrea, who operates a day care out of the home while she takes care of their three children, are addicted to money. They would rather spend whatever money they have on stuff to get that instant gratification rather than pay bills, non-payment of which they have not yet seen the dire consequences. They finance their debt by other debt sources. A prime example is their house, bought on a $0 down payment, the house which has now been remortgaged. They borrow more than they need, that extra money which again provides them with an adrenaline high to spend. In addition, their instant gratification purely is for the moment as their house is a junk heap, no one putting anything away after its use. Before they can curb their spending, Gail has to get them to organize their lives so that they can see just how much stuff they have, and so that they can truly see what their financial situation is by going through their paperwork. They will have to make a drastic decision: earn over $1,000 more a month or sell the house. She also wants them to "see" a change in their lives, from the slobbily dressed teenagers they look and behave like, to mature adults.
Episode 2
22 mins
Married twenty-somethings Tamara and Brandon have a combined income of about $50,000. They have an infant son, Kaiden, the unplanned pregnancy which forced them to move "home", namely Brandon's parents' basement for the nominal rent of $200 per month. Although they have to share the space as it acts as his parents' storage area, Tamara and Brandon have access to all the house amenities, such as the swimming pool, and free food, which does not even include with what her parents provide them. They have not made any headway on paying off their massive combined $64,000 in student loans, or taken advantage of what those educations were supposed to provide in terms of income earning potential. Brandon also has his toys, namely his broken down car, which requires much maintenance, and his many bicycles, all which he bought new as cycling truly is his passion and his stress reliever. Gail's ultimate goal for this young family is for them to start living their adult lives away from the cushion of parents, but it may take a harsh and painful reality to start to do so.
Episode 3
22 mins
Frank and Simone's combined $110,000 annual income is currently curbed by Simone being on maternity leave. Simone is addicted to what she believes she needs to keep up appearances in every respect, which includes working out at the gym, and spending money on "stuff" for herself, such as clothes, getting beauty treatments of various kinds, and having a beautifully appointed house. A $125,000 new car is next on the list. Simone, however, states that she would never do anything that would place her family at risk. But Frank doesn't realize he is just as guilty, spending money on his electronics, which includes six large television sets in their house of four people, including one infant. This spending has resulted in $55,000 in consumer debt so far. They constantly fight about money, something having to give if their marriage can overcome this issue. As such, Gail issues them challenges largely focusing on dealing with their root problem, namely their addiction to luxury, this focus which not only entails them doing the challenges, but understanding why she has issued these challenges.
Episode 4
Thu, Mar 13, 200822 mins
Andrea and Curtis, both twenty-eight and each who earns a modest $38,000 per annum income, have lived together for three years in a rented apartment, but they are not yet engaged as Curtis would like their $31,000 combined consumer debt gone before they make the commitment of marriage. Although they both have contributed to the creation of that debt, Curtis largely blames Andrea and her horse, Stink, who she has owned for fourteen years, as the cause of most of that debt. In reality, approximately eighty-five percent of Andrea's $20,000 debt is from student loans. Andrea, in turn, doesn't save to contribute to that debt as she figures that there is no point in doing so if Curtis won't save either, he spending his money on his sports toys or at the bar. Andrea admits she wants to get married to Curtis, but not with Curtis always lording Stink over her head as the cause of their money problems. Gail has to get this couple truly to act like a couple, and for them to get a true perspective on what is now largely the separate lives they are leading, Andrea always at the barn with aging Stink, and Curtis out playing sports or drinking at the bar when he's not at home watching the sports channel.
Episode 5
22 mins
Ken and Michelle, with a combined income of $90,000, have been engaged for eighteen months, but have decided not to get married until they get out from under their debt, repayment for which they have made no plans. Ken, a truck driver, and Michelle, a part time social worker, don't talk about their money issues as they individually continue to spend on stuff, much of it still sitting unopened or unused. Ken spends on electronics, and on building materials as he renovates their basement to turn into a man cave. In addition to money on her arts and crafts hobbies, Michelle has taken a part time job at her favorite clothing store solely so that she can get the employee discount to buy clothes and more clothes. And both drive gas guzzling big cars. Not including their mortgage, they are $70,000 in debt. Gail has to show Michelle that the retail job is a cash hole and not a cash enhancer, and as such has to change that job so that they can start saving for a wedding. She has to show them what life would be like for that rainy day for which they have no savings to cover. And she has to get them to work together as a team to reach their financial and life goals.
Episode 6
Thu, Apr 3, 200822 mins
Married couple Evan and Jay have a meager combined income of $45,000 per annum. Their two year life together has been a whirlwind as they got married within a month of meeting. Individually, they both had money problems before getting together, Jay having previously gone into bankruptcy, something he will not go through again at any cost. Because Evan lost his job and got a poorer paying one, they decided to move into Evan's parents' basement rent free for a over a year, that space which does not have a separate bathroom or kitchen. As such, they still eat out, often three times a day. Jay hates the basement and the lack of privacy. They treat the space like a cave, more often than not staying in and playing video games to which they are now addicted. To avoid the issue of money, Evan shreds unopened bills. Because of their past financial issues, neither is able to get any additional credit anyway. The one benefit they have financially is that they can share what few clothes they own. Gail shows them both, but most specifically Evan, that they have to start making more money to address their financial issues head on and not hide them away in the shredder. She makes them focus on repayment of debt instead of filling the man-cave with more electronics. And she wants them to start planning to rejoin life out from the figurative and literal hole (i.e. the basement) they have created for themselves.
Episode 7
Fri, Apr 11, 200822 mins
Thirty four year olds Paula and Jermaine make a good living earning a combined $140,000 annually, which should be enough for them and their toddler, Marcus, to live on comfortably. They have made the decision that both Paula's parents - one who lives out-of-town - act as the daycare and often nighttime providers for Marcus, with one continuous half week chunk where they do not see Marcus at all, all in a supposed effort to cut costs. Especially during that time, both Paula and Jermaine overspend on their indulgences - sometimes individually, sometimes together - neither which includes stuff for a real life, such as a home, as they live in a cramped apartment they hate. Their "rewards" as a couple (i.e. without Marcus) seem to be their first priority, which has gotten them into a $40,000 debt load so far. They are financing everything on high interest credit, with even their consolidation loan at over 30% interest. Gail suspects they are substituting shopping for a life, more importantly a quality life with Marcus. Gail shows them the money they are wasting not only on their bling, but on the high interest repayment of debt. She also shows them that they have to plan for their future away from that apartment, and start building a network of friends in their area, people who they can socialize and do things with besides shopping and eating out.
Episode 8
22 mins
Both having been married before with each bringing their own children into the union, Mike and Maud, who have been married for three years, are deeply in love. But their money problems are causing each, especially Mike, distress, emotionally and physically. Mike, a warehouse manager, makes about $52,000 a year, depending on how much overtime he decides to work. Maud decided to throw in her office job to work doing freelance bookkeeping from home, making about $18,000 a year. All that money and more has gone into one of several places: Maud's wants, such as the dog and the dog's upkeep; Mike's toys of six television sets and other such electronics; packs of cigarettes, both being smokers; packaged food and their staple dinner, takeout pizza; stuff to renovate their unfinished basement which Mike has long talked about doing but has made no substantial progress on; and a cocktail of prescription medications to combat their health issues partly a result of the financial stress, smoking, bad eating habits and sedentary lifestyle. These items and other indiscriminate spending, largely financed on high interest credit, has resulted in $73,000 in consumer debt (which does not include the mortgage) with little to show for it. Gail tells them that they have to make more money to be able to pay off their debt. The life challenges, which are designed to show them the weight of their bad habits - the TVs and the sedentary life, the smoking, the diet of pizzas and junk food - are equally as important to get them back not only to financial health but physical health.
Episode 9
Fri, Apr 18, 200822 mins
Laura and Craig, both previously married each with teenaged children they've brought into their union, are still in the honeymoon phase of their relationship having been together for four years and married for six months. They earn a combined income of $150,000 annually, which they spend on doing things together. Laura has bought into Craig's biker lifestyle, they owning several motorbikes and all the accessories. But they still have racked up $150,000 in consumer debt - $60,000 on two cars alone, the leases attached which they cannot get out of - as they support each other in their spending. Craig in particular is emotionally attached to his possessions, most specifically his several motorbikes, and the dream home he purchased prior to meeting Laura, where they don't live, which has $90,000 worth of equity and the revenue from which just covers the mortgage payments. Despite the honeymoon phase, their financial issues could break up their marriage, especially if one or the other sees what's happening as putting their kids at risk. Gail makes them see that they are wasting much money on credit management alone, paying exorbitant interest rates on their credit sources. Because of their debt level, they may not be able to make their budget balance without getting some additional income, the easiest thing to do being to liquidate some assets, which may make for some tough choices for emotionally attached Craig. They also have to work together more so that they are working toward the same goal without question, which, at their age, should include planning for retirement.
Episode 10
Fri, Apr 18, 200822 mins
Thirty-somethings Sharon and Rob, who have been married for five years and who have two children (one Sharon bringing from a previous relationship), have an annual combined income of $77,000. As she does bookkeeping as part of her job, Sharon takes care of their household finances, of which Rob stays out totally. What Rob does know however is that they are deep in debt as they've lost some services in the past such as hydro and telephone, and as the creditors keep on calling, with both Sharon and Rob not picking up the phone while at home when they know its a creditor, and Sharon lying to the creditors while at work. Their consumer debt sits at $73,000 with nothing to show for it, and has gotten out of hand largely because of the secrets and lies on both sides. Sharon is an impulse shopper. She also keeps an animal rescue in their home. Sharon hides from Rob the financial outlay on both these items. Rob's brother Steve recently moved into the basement of their small house to help Steve out. Rob has told Sharon a smaller amount that Steve is paying in rent than actual. As their income is insufficient to get them out of debt while still spending on their needs, Gail has to get them to make more money while getting rid of the biggest unnecessary money vacuum, namely Sharon's beloved animal rescue. Because Sharon is the impulse shopper, Gail makes Rob take control of the household finances. Gail shows them metaphorically the weight of their debt. And she has to get them to start communicating to each other and stop the secrets and lies.
Episode 11
Fri, Apr 25, 200822 mins
Malcolm and Stephanie, who have a combined income of $110,000 annually, are in many ways polar opposites, including when it comes to money. Malcolm is obsessive and detailed oriented, whose nagging about money which irks more laissez-faire but determined Stephanie, who usually gets her way with Malcolm. They are not on the same page when it comes to who between the two is the source cause of their $28,000 consumer debt, which does not include their mortgage. They state they want to eat well, but they live largely on fast food and purchase expensive nutritional supplements instead. Their pets - two dogs and two cats, who are their "children" - is to where most of their money goes, about which they are somewhat oblivious. The animals get all the luxuries, including eating better than Malcolm and Stephanie. Their house reflects their priority on the pets, as Malcolm and Stephanie have done everything for their pets' convenience instead of their own. Gail wants to show them where they may be headed if they don't work toward eliminating their debt. Gail wants them to reprioritize their lives away from the uncontrolled spending on the pets, and to communicate in working toward shared goals. An incident early in the process shows Gail the level of Malcolm and Stephanie's commitment to wanting to get out of debt. Malcolm and Stephanie, in turn, are determined to get out of the process what they really want.
Episode 12
22 mins
Newlyweds Tim and Tonya are both fitness fanatics. Both work in the fitness industry. Tim works three jobs and Tonya two to make ends meet, but which takes up all his and most of her time, leaving them no time together. Because it brings her to tears, Tim tries to shield Tonya from their money problems, of which she is fully aware despite Tim's efforts. They are in arrears on the mortgage payments for their condo, which Tim hates as he sees it as a money pit, and on their property taxes. Tonya is an emotional shopper, she doing it to keep herself happy. On top of these issues, they would like someday to start a family, which they know they cannot do until they get their financial house in order. Their lack of communication has led to no financial planning, which in turn has resulted in short term individual decisions, such as the mountain of supplements he buys and the mountain of sweets she buys. In reviewing the numbers, Gail shows them that the condo is not the problem, but rather their lifestyle spending, especially on anything that goes into their mouths, enough to feed three times the number of people. As such, they have to figure out a plan that not only reduces their indiscriminate lifestyle spending, but includes doing things together.
Episode 13
Fri, May 16, 200822 mins
Mick has a feast or famine ride with income as he works freelance in the film industry, he estimating that he makes about $85,000 gross in a year. He and his partner Bonnie have an infant son together. Bonnie also has two other sons from a previous marriage, they who stay with her and Mick every other weekend. Despite being a full time mom, Bonnie has long had dreams of doing something in the music business, she being a trained singer, songwriter and pianist. They both spend money freely, Bonnie who admits that she used it as an emotional crutch during the dissolution of her first marriage. They also spend much money whenever the two older boys visit. In addition, Mick is six years in arrears on his income taxes, he having not filed any returns during that time, and estimating that he may owe tens of thousands. With all these mounting debts, repayment of which they are in denial, they have nothing material to show for it, including no home of their own as they rent. They realize their spending is not good for the family unit as a collective. First and foremost, Gail has to get them to address their debt, most specifically Mick's unpaid taxes. More income and a fulfilling collective life are also two of Gail's goals for this couple, the challenge she issues on these matters which one sees as counterproductive for that one over the other.