![\"user-pic\"](\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-110373-100x100.png\")
I actually saw this the other day. This idiot sat there smiling the whole time like it was nothing. I thought her husband was going to have a heart attack.
She actually said she could not get a job because she needed to be home for her kids (who are all in school).
![\"user-pic\"](\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-184732-100x100.png\")
Holy dogsh*t. This is insane. I don't know how else to response except to say that I probably won't spend $400 at Starbucks over the course of my life and am happy for it.
![\"user-pic\"](\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-75591-100x100.png\")
@Jaysyn: Screw that. He's henpecked and whipped. Even if she does hide some of the debt, he has to know how much they're paying or the mortgage and cars...on 60K a year? Idiots.
![\"user-pic\"](\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-170278-100x100.png\")
This story just reminds me of how much this new generation is spending themselves into debt because of a compulsion to buy crap. We need to have people educated on credit in High School so they understand that it is not free money to be tossed away. This is not Monopoly.
![\"user-pic\"](\"/css/images/default.gif\")
this is what we call failing at life
David Ramsey would love to get a hold of this woman!
this story makes me feel better.
~flush~
![\"user-pic\"](\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-130285-100x100.png\")
I'll be 99% debt free starting thursday... I think im gonna treat myself to a victory mortgage
![\"user-pic\"](\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-176883-100x100.png\")
Hearwarming stories like this make me feel better about my abysmal financial situation.
![\"user-pic\"](\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-65015-100x100.png\")
This could easily be solved if the husband learned to beat his wife on a daily basis, preferably with a closed fist.
Plus, she doesn't want to sacrifice. At all. \"oh, I know it's wrong, but I just can't give it up.\" Screw people like this. You can't have everything you want just because you want it. That attitude is ultimately what's going to bring this country to its knees.
![\"user-pic\"](\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-102028-100x100.png\")
Yeah I have student loans..NOT a lot..and I can't even get approved for a credit card for over a $200 limit (I'm also only 24 with no credit history because I'm scared to shit to spend what I don't have). How the hell do people like this get to spend this much money on material things? Cash advance on what? She doesn't work. Credit will always make little sense to me.
![\"user-pic\"](\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-1504-100x100.png\")
I just watched a movie about a woman who made tons of money without ever leaving the house. From her picture, this gal appears to be more than qualified. You end up needing to replace the sheets more often, but it'll make $60k look like change found between the couch cushions.
![\"user-pic\"](\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-149246-100x100.png\")
this is as disgusting as it is sad. she is absolutely disgusting, and i am sad for her kids with no health insurance and (to a lesser degree) her husband who is committed to this materialistic wench.
![\"user-pic\"](\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-115837-100x100.png\")
oh no suze orman makes an appearance
![\"user-pic\"](\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-112438-100x100.png\")
its amazing how vanity and stupidity can lead to such incredible debt.
![\"user-pic\"](\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-100888-100x100.png\")
I'm predicting this woman's children are never going to speak to her again once they grow up move out of the house. No health insurance for them while spending that much on herself, plus selling their toys because she decided she doesn't like them?
![\"user-pic\"](\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-113647-100x100.png\")
Wow. Can you say that this guy should cut his losses? How could you live with someone who is such a financial train wreck. Even seperating accounts and giving her an allowance doesnt seem like it would fix anything. She'd probably apply for credit without him knowing, run up bills, and blow the money she gets in allowance on stupid. stuff. I wouldnt trust her with money enough to give her cash to buy clothes if I didnt goto the store with her to make sure she really bought clothes with it.
![\"user-pic\"](\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-63688-100x100.png\")
When I do shop, I do kind of get a rush. It makes me feel good... but afterwards, though, I get depressed.
Good grief, could it be any clearer that she's suffering from some kind of compulsive disorder?
@Nero Diavolo: wouldn't that make her buy even MORE things? outfits that go with big bruises, designer bandages, etc?
also, careful! someone was banned in another thread for some violence against women comment.
@RandomHookup: But paying for the smooth jazz, candles, and oils for said job would be pretty expensive. Also, what happens if she falls in love?
![\"user-pic\"](\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-94321-100x100.png\")
wonder how many Louis Vuitton purses she owns...
usually the sign of a person with more money than taste.
The sad thing is that 400 bucks a month is only like 13 bucks a day. That's easily a couple of mochas and some snacks. Not trying to justify for her, just saying that Starbucks is fricking absurd and absurdly overpriced.
Also - I want to punch this woman in the face.
![\"user-pic\"](\"/mt-static/support/assets_c/userpics/userpic-6536-100x100.png\")
The woman needs professional help. I don't mean that as an insult either: I honestly think she needs counseling if she spends money for the rush and can't bring herself to walk out of a store without making a purchase. She's like a crack addict. Selling her kid's toys to make room for her own clothing? No health insurance even though one of her kids has a neurological disease? WTF?
I have no sympathy for the husband either. Even if he's totally ignorant of the bills he HAS to know they have no medical insurance. Why didn't he do something about that?
This is so beyond insane it gives you a headache to think about it.
her husband needs to stop being such a p*ssy, and take control of the finances.
what the hell would they do if the kids got sick? and how are they going to pay for college for 6 kids?
![\"user-pic\"](\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-158494-100x100.png\")
This makes me sick. Do you know how many of these people there are running around? She needs to grow up and start acting like an adult. This isn't lala land or Barbie games with unlimited credit cards-it's real life, lady.
Now I totally have to apologize for yelling at my husband for making the unauthorized purchase of $50 shoes. I could have it so much worse.
![\"user-pic\"](\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-139070-100x100.png\")
Her husband needs to grow a pair. Lacking that, perhaps he could purchase a pair with a bit of the money she doesn't spend when he kicks her selfish butt out of the house. Drive yourself into debt all you want. Bad idea, but whatever.
Allow your kids to go without essentials like health care? That's a paddlin'.
![\"user-pic\"](\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-5372-100x100.png\")
How the hell is this sustainable on $60K/year? It doesn't surprise me that these people have GOTTEN to this point, but what I don't understand is how they are able to sustain this massive level of debt without a slew of liens and repossessions.
*facefaults*
*doubletake*
*sweatdrops*
You have GOT to be kidding me. OK, this country is filled up with some STUPID fools. 135k in Credit Card bills? WTFHAX, mate?! OMFG.
And 680k in mortgages? THREE cars? Please tell me one of her SIX kids (!!!) drives the third car. And you've got to be kidding me with the house crap.
THIS is what's wrong with our culture.
![\"user-pic\"](\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-101277-100x100.png\")
Where's that great Mod who bans violent a-holes like nerodiavolo?
![\"user-pic\"](\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-172122-100x100.png\")
@forever_knight:
also, careful! someone was banned in another thread for some violence against women comment.
That's right. Even if this woman has made terrible choices, there is no need to call for violence against her. Take that crap somewhere else, because it's not welcome here.
\"how are they going to pay for college for 6 kids?\"
Well, if college is double the rate of inflation, tuition and fees should be about $3 million per year by the time the kids are grown. I don't even know how I'm going to afford MY kids' college.
And yes, I agree. Dad needs to kick mom to the curb. And then Dad needs to file for bankruptcy, get rid of the big house, clean the credit up, and learn a very valuable lesson here: NEVER shack up with anyone whose idea of tame spending spends three of your monthly salaries each month!
![\"user-pic\"](\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-59977-100x100.png\")
@DEMONRADIO: Seconded. Also, JAZZSQUARE: \"I want to punch this woman in the face.\"
What's with the threats of physical violence against this woman? She is obviously very troubled. Let's have some compassion...
![\"user-pic\"](\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-39759-100x100.png\")
Don't you guys get it? He has balls! And she's probably taking care of them quite nicely, if you catch my drift. He wanted a trophy wife, and he got one. If he wanted a \"financially responsible\" wife, he wouldn't have married a woman who spends $240 on tanning. He wanted someone who was a hot looking wife, and now he's paying the consequences. Literally.
@bambino: You say \"Stupid bitch,\" I say \"very troubled.\" I'm glad for you that you've had such a trouble-free existence that you feel no empathy for your fellow humans and their struggles.
![\"user-pic\"](\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-96242-100x100.png\")
Christ what a moron. I would chock this one up to a poor education in mathematics and borderline personality disorder. Instead of a 400$ month latte habit they could save for all six kids to go to college. If I am going to have a 400$/month habit it ain't going to be for no lattes. I can understand them not having health insurance. If it is not provided by his employer it could easily run the family $1500-$2000 month for just basic coverage. I know it was close to that for my parents with five kids. We really do have a health care disaster in this country. Don't worry about that though, just keep shopping, the problem will take care of itself.
@demonradio:
@joemono:
I'm right here.
LISTEN UP EVERYBODY -- call this woman and/or her husband irresponsible or stupid -- whatever. But anyone who calls for violence against her gets banned.
You can call it censorship or say I'm depriving you of your first amendment rights. I don't care.
![\"user-pic\"](\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-192943-100x100.png\")
This is the silly woman who's going to spend $5000 a piece on Hannah Montana tickets for all 6 kids to make them happy.
Credit is far too easy to get these days. How does a guy making $60,000 a year get enough cards to total $135,000 in credit? Yes, people should be more responsible, but come on, get real. They'll spend to the limit. The companies need to be more responsible in lending to these people.
![\"user-pic\"](\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-102972-100x100.png\")
I wish they had more details on what their debt consisted of, e.g., how much in HELOCs, per credit card, etc.
It's mind boggling that lenders would even allow this to happen!
![\"user-pic\"](\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-76955-100x100.png\")
I didn't see the tv program, but from the brief description it sounds like this woman has an addiction to shopping/spending.
![\"user-pic\"](\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-37033-100x100.png\")
@kscottz:
Every one of those six beautiful children is going to be bad-mouthing their mother their entire adult life. At best, every time they say anything about their mom it will start like \"She's my mom and I love her, but...\"
@lesbiansayswhat: That's the trick withcredit cards. They're most useful when you don't need them. You'reright to not use a credit card if you can't afford to pay it off yet.The best thing to do when you are able to start making payments is touse your credit card to pay your bills online then autodebit yourcredit card payment from your bank account. This goes a long way tobuilding up your credit score because you're a) using your credit cardand b) you pay off the balance every month. Not to mention the sidebenefits of using a card that give you airline miles. A friend who doesthis hasn't paid for a plane ticket in a long while.
@rmz: I think that she sold the toys because she didn't like the TOYS, not the kids.
But this is insane, how does the husband make 50K a year and not have a health insurance plan for the family?
![\"user-pic\"](\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-177822-100x100.png\")
You know, if she can laugh at herself about it, and not try her best to change, it's not a disorder.
It's being selfish.
If a credit card company is stupid enough to give someone 135K in credit, they deserve to take the hit when the person cannot pay.
What if her husband divorces her...will he be required to maintain her in the lifestyle to which she has become accustomed?
![\"user-pic\"](\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-192619-100x100.png\")
I honestly thought the advice to \"move to Seattle\" and \"get a job at Starbucks\" were jokes, until I read the piece. Damn, Suze Orman gives it to them straight! And that woman should be ASHAMED of herself for not having health insurance for her children. And does that mean that she and the husband DO have insurance, but the children do not? Even worse. I cannot believe this woman actually went on Oprah to publicly display her stupidity and callous, uncaring nature.
And if she has revealed all on Oprah, I'm assuming she has recognized that she has a problem and is seeking help? I hope so.
Perhaps husband also needs some help as it sounds like he's got some co-dependency issues as well.
Wow, she makes me look psychotically responsible. And I agree that the husband shares responsibility, even if only because he chose her. He had to know he was getting a woman who cares more about tanning and her Starbucks fix--let alone the shopping--than the financial health of the family.
And count me among those who don't know how they do it. We make less, have one kid, one modest mortgage and car payment, and still struggle.
The situation and behavior is totally insane. Even if this woman does not have a mental disorder I think she needs some counseling to deal with why she is doing this.
Some financial guru said once that when you drive by a trendy neighborhood full of overpriced luxury cars you should remember that most of those people are in soul crushing debt.
![\"user-pic\"](\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-1471-100x100.png\")
I really just want to see their FICO scores. It's 3 and 5. 3 for her and 5 for him. combined FICO of 8. On a scale of 850. 8.
I'm sorry, but they caused this themselves. They chose to put themselves in this mess. Her by doing it, and him for not being the vioce of reason.
Bring back debtor's prison, I say. Provide a REAL consequence other than going on Oprah. Stamp plates or bust rocks to repay the debt. Shoot, I bet 'ole Dennis Hof would hire her. She could make the cash back pretty quickly. Treat the tanning and manicures as a business expense.
Suddenly I don't feel bad at all for having a few thousand dollars of credit card debt.
![\"user-pic\"](\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-116652-100x100.png\")
I'm not sure what is more disgusting, the classic oblivious husband and his vapid, imbecile of a spouse, or the fact these two morons bred, not just once, but SIX TIMES.
$400/month on coffee? That's crazy. Honestly, I spend probably half that, and I'm an addict. But I just do regular with milk. This woman should be careful. If everyday she's drinking several expensive 700 calorie whipped-cream milkshake type coffees, she isn't going to have her pretty looks for very long.
This couple is either exaggerating to get into the news or they have a serious problem. The credit card companies and mortgage companies also need to take some responsibility as well. These companies all have full visibility into your finances and can see when you've ratcheted up serious dept on their credit cards and other credit cards. They could hit the brakes on this woman's spending if they wanted to. It's a circle of stupidity that feeds itself. Personally, other than a home mortgage, I'm not as proud to own something when I owe money on it. If you can't afford to pay for luxury items outright, or at least pay them off quickly, then it's like faking a luxury lifestyle. $60k/year is a good solid middle class income. If she wants more than that, she needs to get a job. It might help occupy her time a bit better.
@Finder: I agree with you there. Seriously isn't there something Child Protective Services should do?? It is INSANE. I mean, it's technically neglect, right?
When I do shop, I do kind of get a rush. It makes me feel good... but afterwards, though, I get depressed. I'll buy something even if I really don't like it because I have to come out with something
That sounds like classic addiction: a quick high, followed by guilt or remorse along with a compulsion to get the 'fix'.
This woman is simply mentally ill; she's addicted, and needs to find other, healthier ways to spend her time & energy. Like most addicts, she's gotten very good at feeding her addiction, concealing the signs of her addiction to others, and rationalizing her addiction to herself.
Re: the lack of health insurance... do the math. He's got six kids and makes $60k a year before taxes. Anyone want to offer a sound estimate on the monthly health insurance costs for a wife and six children? (assuming they have no pre-existing conditions!) Even if he had a \"normal\" debt load of a mortgage and a car loan he'd be hard pressed to have the cashflow for health care insurance premiums.
By the way, $400 a month on Starbucks sounds insane, but a mocha and coffee cake in the morning is around $5, a 'mocha-shake' (whatever they call it) clips another $5 in the afternoon, and if that's a daily habit, you're up to $300 a month. (and those are Oregon prices, without sales tax) If you don't have a day job, it's easy to hit Starbucks twice a day and make a habit of it.
@pinkbunnyslippers: Except she's seriously not even that hot looking. I mean, not that anyone is hot enough to make up for being so GODAWFUL, but she's definitely not even close.
![\"user-pic\"](\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-103491-100x100.png\")
is there any more that can be said that hasn't already be stated.....
i feel bad when i go out for lunch on fridays with my friends rather than bring my lunch to work. my wife is the same. i just can't understand this....
when we re-fi'ed the house, was talking to our mortgage broker, and she mentioned how great it was that we had less than $500 on our only credit card. then she mentioned that she normally sees people with $50,000+ in credit card debt...
my guess is that the woman is beyond help, i doubt any therapy or other actions would help her. the guys best bet is to cut bait. get some health insurance for the kids and never talk to her again...
Wow, I know it has been said 30 times already, but I haven't seen an answer yet. So I'll ask again, how does someone get a line of credit over $130,000 while making $60,000 annually?
I don't know how anyone can live this way. I use my credit card as a more secure form of a debit card. If I know I don't have the funds to pay off my purchase at the end of the month, I don't buy it. Paying off your balance every month and saving for big ticket purchases has the effect of using the time value of money to your advantage. Plus it frees cash for true emergencies while you're waiting for your interest-free loan to come due.
Credit cards aren't evil. But people in America need to learn that they can't all live the celebrity lifestyle because they see it on TV.
I'm 22 living off of a little less than $60,000 by myself in California. I can't imagine having 6 kids and a wife to support as well. That is, unless they aren't saving for retirement...who am I kidding, they aren't!
![\"user-pic\"](\"/mt-static/support/assets_c/userpics/userpic-74493-100x100.png\")
Will someone PLEASE think of the children?!
I'll admit that I do use credit cards as a way of budgeting clothing. I'll spend a day shopping and using the card but then I don't use it again until the balance is paid off and I try to pay it off as quickly as possible because the clothing is already outrageously priced. I get woozy if I go over $300 on my balance.
I have to say I admire her ability to detach.
![\"user-pic\"](\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-179296-100x100.png\")
ugh...people like this make me have to try too hard to curb my homicidal urges. if i was dictator of the world, would it be too harsh to have people like this shot?
Those poor kids might die of cancer because mommy prefers her lattes. So sad.
I think that the punching her in the face remarks and that she needs a beating comments were meant to be sarcastic and humorous. That's how I took them anyway. I highly doubt anyone intelligent enough to post on this board would really be smackin women around.
That having been said, I left my corporate rat race job to be a hairdresser for a few years and there are tons of women like her around who pay inordinate amounts of money to stay looking young, it's depressing. Our country is really superficial these days. I wonder sometimes if the next generation will rebel by being total anti-consumers.
![\"user-pic\"](\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-181751-100x100.png\")
I read through all ten annoying-formatted pages of the Oprah thing. Here's the scariest part of Tanorexic Barbie and her Mike Ditka-looking husband: the $658K mortgage is \"negative amortized\". I'm not sure exactly what that means (I'm a 30-year fixed-rate gal, myself), but it sounds like one of those deals where you don't put anything down and pay just the interest. They have no equity in their house. And their payment will almost double in a few months.
I'm skeptical about the moving to Seattle plan, though. Real estate up there isn't exactly bargain basement.
Did anyone else get to the other couple? $230K in student loans?! That is some srsly crazy stuff, there.
![\"user-pic\"](\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-140395-100x100.png\")
@TechnoDestructo: At best, every time they say anything about their mom it will start like \"She's my mom and I love her, but...\"
This will be the final outcome of the situation. The cars, toys, clothes, big house and hundreds of Starbucks trips will not be what these kids remember about their childhoods. All they will remember is their parents being complete screw-ups. As the parter of a person who always talks about his mom in that \"I love her, but...\" way, I can guarantee these kids will be screwed up in ways their parents can't even imagine yet...and will probably never understand or validate, either.
I'm willing to believe the 135k in debt is real and that she spends it on useless things. I'm about to have an \"ex\" aunt who sells the birthday toys my cousins get so that she can buy clothes.
What I can't comprehend is the 400 a month on starbucks. I could make 150k a year and I still wouldn't spend 400 dollars a month on sugary, frozen, whipped imitation coffee drinks.
The husband is no better than she is. 3 cars, 2 mortgages and with bills he has no explanation of he does nothing to stop it. NOTHING.
![\"user-pic\"](\"/mt-static/support/assets_c/userpics/userpic-156571-100x100.png\")
@Consumerist Moderator - ACAMBRAS: Actually, one may call what you're doing a very correct CYA. Given how litigation-happy Americans are, it would be irresponsible for The Consumerist if someone didn't raise the ban stick on threats of violence.
![\"user-pic\"](\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-180069-100x100.png\")
Oh golly, it's NOT AT ALL HARD to get a ton of credit cards if you make 60k a year. At this point, banks will give you enough rope with which to hang yourself, as this woman is making clear. The woman is clearly off the charts with that much credit card spending, however, hubby is NOT off the hook if they've got 3 cars and two fat mortgages. Presumably, they are not solely in her name if she's a SAHM. They both need to be reined in, or get the special Suze Spankin, where she ties the couple down and pelts with them garish sportswear seperates and designer eyewear while saying, \"GIRLfriend!!\" over and over in her trademark scoldy voice.
![\"user-pic\"](\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-69858-100x100.png\")
@meeroom: I don't think violence is something to be joked about. I've seen, over and over, people say the most irresponsible things (last night, it was \"snitches get stitches\") and when I said, hey wait a minute, that's ridiculous, got \"You need to grow a sense of humor\".
So wait. I need a sense of humor because it's not funny to make jokes about doing violence against people?
I don't think so. YOU (figuratively speaking here) need to grow the hell up.
Couple things I saw on the show:
-$60,000 /yr was take home pay
-she really wasn't good looking up close
-dude looked really whipped
-they're going to be screwed because they're going to do exactly NOTHING that Suze told them to do.
Attn: Lady who spends too much.
Your reckless spending makes me ill.
Thanks,
chris
![\"user-pic\"](\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-49078-100x100.png\")
All ya'll saying she has a problem. She doesn't. She just needs to go back to Kindergarten and start all over again.
A little bit of education could wipe out the stupidity stamped on her forehead.
![\"user-pic\"](\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-114775-100x100.png\")
Wow, simply, just wow. And here I was all set to go look at LCD TVs today after work. Now I feel disgusted thinking about making such a large purchase. Ugh...
\"So I'll ask again, how does someone get a line of credit over $130,000 while making $60,000 annually?\"
Well, I don't know, but I just applied for - and received - a credit card with $11,600 in available credit. I make $16,400 a year.
I didn't even realize until now that one single credit card has the buying power to choke 70% of my income out of me, if I let it. A scary thought.
Of course, I also got through college with zero credit card debt. The only debt I have from college is student loans, which are in deferral now because I am in grad school. Grad school costs me nothing (I have a tuition fellowship that goes along with my TAship) and I actually save $300 a month.
So basically, what this woman spends on coffee, I put in my ING account. Wow.
This is incredibly sad. I think a lot of women who are stay at home moms shop out of loneliness and boredom. Six kids says to me that she's really incredibly emotionally needy and keeps having kids so she has companionship and an excuse not to go back to work. And now that they are in school and she should get a job like any other grown-ass woman, she needs something to fill the void, and she chose putting her family in a debt crisis of monumental proportions. Yeah, it's sickening, but it's also really very heartbreaking.
Hm. Suze Orman is a good financial advisor, but her philosophical spiel at the beginning tries to soften the blow too much.
![\"user-pic\"](\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-171326-100x100.png\")
I'm a spoiled, spoiled girl, but jesus h christ I could never imagine being that irresponsible about anything, especially money. Those six children probably aren't going to be able to go to college and if they are, they're going to take on the awesome burden of student loans early early on thanks to their parents.
@bohemian: I ALWAYS think that. Kind of like how I always think men in hummers have really small penises.
1) The husband's first order of business is to file divorce papers. Any spouse who will hide financial matters will cheat sexually.
2) Husband needs to immediately go on record he is not responsible for any additional debt. The woman will not change her spots so she will go on spending. No reason for him to be responsible for it.
3) Like somebody else said, sell everything off. House, cars, etc. Then the husband should get the hell out of dodge.
4) The woman needs to get to a mental health facility. She's insane.
![\"user-pic\"](\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-55242-100x100.png\")
People like this are the reason why credit card companies were able to substantiate thier spiel that most Americans can't control thier spending and credit and the bankruptcy laws needed to be changed. You know cause all the people who file bankruptcy cuts into thier mountai of profits. Idiot!
I feel really bad for the kids. Even if the husband divorces her she'll end up with the kids and he'll be paying HUGE amounts of child support in addition to cleaning up his debt and it won't even be going to the kids, she'll continue the life she has right now.
![\"user-pic\"](\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-172476-100x100.png\")
Of course credit card companies will give people like her 100 grand worth of rope to hang herself -- they make more on interest rates than balances.
Taking this woman's kids away would be too good for her. I say force let the kids sell their mother's stuff and send her to one of those talk show boot camps to learn not to be such a selfish, spoiled, horrific human being.
Come to think of it, I smell a reality show.
@lowlight69: When I was in high school and my parents were buying a car the salesman laughed at them when he asked how much they kept on their credit cards. He thought $500 was a joke they were making.
@meeroom:
I highly doubt anyone intelligent enough to post on this board would really be smackin women around.
Really? You think only the unintelligent can be perpetrators of violence? Unfortunately, you're incorrect.
@magus_melchior:
I didn't have CYA or litigation in mind when I said what I said.
I think this woman is seriously messed up, and she's made some incredibly poor, irresponsible choices. But nobody deserves to get hit/shot/whatever.
I stand by my decision(s).
![\"user-pic\"](\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-103034-100x100.png\")
$400 a month on coffee? WTF? At least she doesn't have a subprime loan. AHAHAHA
She told them to move to Seattle? Fuck that, tell them to move to Dallas Texas where it's cheapest to live. Seattle is one of the MOST expensive places to live. We don't have income tax here either, and our houses cost a hell of a lot less.
Just a comment about insuring six kids - Most employers insurance plans offer employee only, employee and spouse, employee and child(ren) and family. Family is employee and spouse and as many kids as you can crank out. So, definitely no excuse not to insure them.
![\"user-pic\"](\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-136125-100x100.png\")
@LilyBonesBurana: Word. FICO says they have a great score, so why not give them ludicrous amounts of credit lines? Who care of they don't make enough to maintain it?
Whereas someone who earns 3 times that amount can't get a card because they've made some mistakes and have a low score. Should FICO consider income when ranking consumers. Abso-freakin-lutely.
![\"user-pic\"](\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-150038-100x100.png\")
@jesirose: Without having read the article, I'd assume the Seattle suggestion is a joke, since she likes Starbucks and there's only about 10,000 of them up here (there's 6 within one block of my building in all directions).
![\"user-pic\"](\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-1460-100x100.png\")
Umm yeah, I have no idea why Suze isn't recommending BK. If they are 135K in credit card debt and are underwater in their California home the odds of them shaking loose from that without taking a substantial loss are low. Purge the debt my friend and learn to live without credit for the next 7 years. I do feel badly for their children. If your first kid didn't become the center of your universe the second they were born why bother with 2-6?
@jesirose: i live in Seattle, actually on the Eastside. real estate is not cheap here, maybe in Spokane (on the other side of the state) but on this side of the mountains nothing is cheap.
plus there are TONS of M$ and Boeing employees/family/spouses that make more money than god here. She'll try to keep up with Mrs. Gates here i'm sure.
that lady's problem is not the state her mind is in, its her state of mind, big difference there. :)
I was reading the Oprah forums about this show. Felice and Phil (the first couple) have posted a few times. It was pretty much that the commenters had no right to judge them and that the Lord will show them the way. She said she had insurance until April and lost it when she was laid off and that they can't get insurance because of her and her daughter's pre-existing conditions.
As for the 2nd couple...yeah, it's very easy to rack up student loans that high if their colleges were private. Plus, if they deferred them for a few years, the interest keeps adding up.
@adamthepugh: I agree. High School is supposed to prepare you for life, and classes on money management would be more useful than half the crap kids have to learn. While they're at it, they should have nutrition classes too, given childhood and adult obesity. We in the US seem to have problems controlling our consumption, be it stuff or food. It is embarrassing.
@popularheresy: Thats why I drive a mid size car..LOL.
@JohnMc: I agree my friend had a wife who was a gambling addict. She hid it pretty well he knew she liked to gamble in Vegas but they only went 2 times a year. Little did he know that she was getting credit in his name and gambling online until one day he was home from work and got the mail before she did. He started doing some tracking and she had opened 7 CC's in his name and had about 80k worth of debt all from online casino's. In one night she had spent 13k!!!!
He filed for divorce and got the hell away from her. But she was able to hide it for almost 3 years. During the divorce she revealed she cheated on him 4 times. So definatly if you can hide something that big cheating isn't that much of a leap.
![\"user-pic\"](\"/mt-static/support/assets_c/userpics/userpic-161523-100x100.png\")
Well, I think it's time for the family to move to the Parumph area in Nevada and put the \"Wifie\" to \"work\".
![\"user-pic\"](\"/mt-static/support/assets_c/userpics/userpic-17616-100x100.png\")
I...DECLARE...BANKRUPTCY!!!!!!!!!!
![\"user-pic\"](\"/mt-static/support/assets_c/userpics/userpic-175559-100x100.png\")
Jesus tapdancing christ. This is why we should have mandatory finance classes in middle and high school.
Two houses? Three cars? Looks like it's time to downsize. Is your materialism worth not having health insurance for your SIX kids? Ugh. This family needs to create a budget, stick with it, and downsize. I know it's not easy, but that's what they need to do.
@TWSS: It's worse than that.
negative = less than
amortization = the interest that accrues
That means every month their mortgage gets...bigger.
Assuming that your house appreciates in value at least 20% ever year, and you can easily sell it before the mortgage resets, then you can still come out ahead on a negative amortization loan. Of course, those are two assumptions only a fool would make.
I read all the nice postings and I can't believe no one said, \"She belongs in jail\". I guess I be must be insensitive.
![\"user-pic\"](\"/mt-static/support/assets_c/userpics/userpic-21970-100x100.png\")
Suze Orman wants them out of California because it's one of the most expensive states in the country to live. She suggested Washington because it doesn't have a state income tax, and because its economy would be likely to provide good job opportunities for the two of them (I think he does something with computers and she used to be a mortgage broker). She also said they needed to move in order to get away from their current reputations and friendships so that they could make the necessary lifestyle changes more easily.
And yeah, the Starbucks suggestion was serious, because Orman pointed out they offer health insurance to part-time workers, which means she could quickly insure her kids. She also suggested the husband take out a life insurance policy ASAP so that his kids wouldn't end up homeless should something happen to him.
What shocked me was that Crazy Lady said she didn't want to work, and Crazy Man said he would have to \"think about\" moving. This family is fucked.
![\"user-pic\"](\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-4206-100x100.png\")
6 kids, no job and a dim witted husband... A whole lotta bills...
Perfect for a reality show!
@Consumerist Moderator - ACAMBRAS:
While you are at it. Please ban all those who commented on the thread.
[consumerist.com]
and all the related threads.
Be consistent with your stand on violence. This site should either let people comment even if it is a bit on the dark side of comedy, or completely disavow violence.
It is unacceptable to ban commenter's who have comment in poor taste with an obvious joke and not punish those who support and advocate an actual assault that happened.
![\"user-pic\"](\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-67258-100x100.png\")
Who's the most stupidest? The dope who married toe stupid chick, or the bank that gave them credit????
![\"user-pic\"](\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-144868-100x100.png\")
I have to say, when you are raised in a family like that its hard to not follow the same path. My mother use to be terrible at saving money (and she was single making $20k/$25k year at most), instead purchasing stuff at target that she didn't need (just because its 'clearance' doesn't mean you need it). Falling into debt quickly myself after living on my own (what? You mean its not free money!?) it didn't take until a judgment and a writ of garnishment on my bank account (leaving me without a place to live or food to eat) to snap me out of it. I guess I could have blamed the 'system' but that's what my mother always did when shit went south. Instead I blamed myself, busted ass and got back on my feet. I'm still suffering in some ways because of my transgressions years ago (judgments last a lot longer then standard debts) but I don't have 100+ calls to my house a day from creditors and while my credit isn't the greatest, its not bad either. I currently don't carry any credit cards, afraid I might mis-use them. It works for me, not for everyone though.
As soon as you stop blaming the 'system' and start blaming yourself, things make sense. Don't get me wrong, I've seen people down right *screwed* by the 'system,' it just doesn't occur as much as people claim.
Keep blaming the 'system' and you fall into the vicisious cycle and never get out. Once you fall in, its amazingly difficult to get out.
MILHFITA
![\"user-pic\"](\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-56483-100x100.png\")
Can you say \"high maintenance\"?
Again, I renew my call for debtors prison.
![\"user-pic\"](\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-195721-100x100.png\")
The part that makes me really sad is that she's basically abandoning her children in favor of shopping.
After 9/11, the administration suggested we go shopping when we asked how we could help our Country.
These days, we're told to \"buy green\" when we ask how we can save the environment.
I'm all for individual responsibility, but I'd like to acknowledge that our culture encourages this type of behavior.
@Techguy1138: Destroying property is NOT the same as attacking people. I seriously disagree with what that woman did but she didn't go after people, she was targeting stuff.
@rodeobob: In which case they should be saving everything they can. One of their kids has a neurological disease. How are they paying the bills related to that?
The wife needs to let go of the idea of being a stay at home mom. This is reminding me a lot of you know who (the house flipper).
No, She walked into an office during business hours and started smashing stuff with a weapon that she brought with her.
That is a clear act of violence with the intent to intimidate. Anyone in that office should have been freaked out and wondered if THEY were going to be attacked by a hammer wielding crazy woman.
The comments in that thread specifically justified the violence and made jokes about how to increase the effect through the use of various other implements and specific people that they would like to attack or see attacked.
The the past 2 threads I have read, off color jokes were told that resulted in banning. These jokes were not related in any way to an actual violent act. While a real life act of violence gets the go ahead nod because the people who were the victims happened to give the attacker poor customer service in the name of a major corporation.
If they are going to police the forums this was they need to be consistent. While a thinly veiled reference to violence got jumped on right away, multiple references of making the woman a sex slave to work off her debt were passed right over.
While certain jokes are in poor taste it may be better to just let them go. Otherwise treat all violence related matters in the same way, not just violence against women. The same goes for sex slavery, debtors prison, weight related comments,homosexuality, etc...
I feel really bad for the 6 kids who got stuck with such an irresponsible and selfish mother and father--both parents totally failed at this. The family will have to sell their home and move. Probably also declare bankruptcy, but due to the new laws they will still owe their creditors quite a bit. In order for her to have a hope of changing, they need to hit rock bottom, the problem is they will take six kids down to the bottom with them.
Are you sure this story isn't about Britney Spears?
![\"user-pic\"](\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-188412-100x100.png\")
I think that this woman has a problem similar to that of a compulsive eater who eats high calorie food and can deny the impact on his/her body weight. Rationally, she knows what she's doing is destructive but her emotional needs are so great that she suppresses the part of her which knows what she's doing is unsustainable.
She's probably not stupid but she has some identity, esteem and emotional fulfillment problems. The sad part is that these are very difficult psychological issues to resolve. Her family may declare bankruptcy and lose everything and she may start all over again.
The type of people who are interested in judging her rather than understanding her are only contributing to her issues. If you've got emotional problems that cause you to engage in compulsive behavior, being belittled only exacerbates the problem.
@louiedog: Who says she'd still have the kids? Considering her financial irresponsibility, I don't think it'd be much of a stretch to say she'd be irresponsible in other regards. Hopefully, she'd be lucky to get visitation until she gets her act straightened out.
(Of course, that's assuming the husband has the onions to file... that's probably what it'd take to get her to change.)
@Techguy1138:
You are certainly welcome to flag any comments you find offensive, for any reason.
Numerous people flagged a particular comment on a post yesterday. While being flagged does not necessarily result in a banning, it can figure into a decision. Even after action was taken on yesterday's comment, many people flagged the comment, I suppose because they found the idea of shooting someone in the face -- I dunno -- odious. And the flags started flying again today.
As for consistency, I do the best I can -- I am human (not feline as my avatar might suggest). Many commenters have expressed appreciation that Consumerist now has a moderator. A few (like you) would probably do things differently, but like I said, I do the best I can. I love Consumerist and want to keep the quality of the comment threads high. I welcome feedback (positive or negative). My e-mail is anne[at]consumerist[dot]com.
No, She walked into an office during business hours and started smashing stuff with a weapon that she brought with her.
@Techguy1138: Yeah, that's what I said.
If they are going to police the forums this was they need to be consistent...
You never did explain how it's inconsistent. I still say bashing someone's computer with a hammer is not as bad as bashing someone's face with a hammer. We're going to have to agree to disagree here.
![\"user-pic\"](\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-16773-100x100.png\")
Oh Heeell, I'm about to be all up in those garage sales.
@Techguy1138: Violence against men on that list? Studies show that more men are abused than women, they just don't report it, or aren't believed when they do.
But I digress. At root there is a psychological need to shop, or maybe more accurately, to replace things in her life. And their is a condition where the sufferer never has enough; one of the more famous cases was a survivor of the encounter that led to Moby Dick. He spent his later years hording food to prevent himself from starving/cannibalism.
![\"user-pic\"](\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-160964-100x100.png\")
Boobs. If you have big ones, you can get away with this crap.
@Major-General:
\"Violence against men on that list?\"
FYI, if the comments had been about how a man deserved a daily beating or to be shot in the face, they wouldn't have been any more kosher. If people want to spew violent invective, they should do it elsewhere.
\"Studies show that more men are abused than women\"
Because you don't cite specific \"studies,\" I'll assume you don't have the citations handy.
Oh, yeah...forgot to mention that Felice's friends an neighbors also showed up on the Oprah boards praising her. Hell, even her realtor made a comment on what a wonderful person she is.
Felice said that reason she went on the show was because her husband wanted her to borrow money and she didn't want to, but wanted to get some help, blah, blah, blah.
And...she threw in a post about her husband's credit score being over 700. If you can stomach reading the Oprah boards, it won't be hard to figure which ones are her and her husband.
Cuz God's gonna help them out of this mess.
The husband seems like a nice enough guy. You can't place the blame squarely on him, but his ignorance/denial has put his kids' future in danger. I do feel sympathy for him since he isn't making the purchases. He does need to be more assertive, listen to Suze Orman (I don't like, but she's right).
While the wife maybe used to the royal lifestyle she's been leading, she needs to wake up. She's not Paris Hilton, just a mom in the suburbs and she's lucky that her family is willing to stand by her. That said, she also seemed like a decent person and being on the Oprah show hopefully did her some good.
Let this be a lesson to all you young guys and gals out there. Make sure your lover is financially responsible before you take the plunge. Nothing destroys a marriage like money problems.
![\"user-pic\"](\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-24620-100x100.png\")
*sigh* Yet another case of \"if only I had fraction of what they waste...\" And this procreated. Six times. You know welfare is in their future.
@swunder: Yup, God's going to mystomagically erase all her debt. Must be easy to dig yourself an ever-deeper hole when you believe you'll be pulled out of it... well, just because. I asked really nicely, so that means I'm going to be helped. And here I thought getting right in the end didn't mean very specific answers to very minor (all things considered) problems.
![\"user-pic\"](\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-12850-100x100.png\")
Amazing. I feel really, really sorry for the kids in this situation. Mom's out spending like there's no tomorrow, meanwhile if the kids get sick, they're out of luck. And Dad is either too oblivious or can't be bothered. I can't figure out how they're not already bankrupt. And the thought that the husband apparently doesn't have any life insurance gives me chills. I somehow doubt that Mom has done much planning for \"what if.\" These two exemplify exactly what's wrong with our culture-an obsession with material things, and a complete lack of concern for the things that really matter.
![\"user-pic\"](\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-7884-100x100.png\")
We have no right to judge them? Why not? We're the ones who will probably be paying her family's medical costs. Sorry, but if your kids have no health insurance, you have no business in Starbucks unless you're wearing a green apron and asking \"Would you like soy with that?\"
![\"user-pic\"](\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-95687-100x100.png\")
Somebody needs to hire A Pimp Named Slickback for that husband. He's got a serious problem with bitch dependency.
Of course I kid, somebody call Dave Ramsey....and a good shrink that isn't Dr Phil. This lady has underlying mental health issues.
@Techguy1138: You are creating troll terrorism here! you are terrorizing this site. patriot act him now!
![\"user-pic\"](\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-108858-100x100.png\")
This woman is sick. The solution is to treat her mental disorders, not treat her like the ill of society.
![\"user-pic\"](\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-27305-100x100.png\")
this kind of problem usually solves by itself. Eventually she will hit bottom. Why even intervene? Evolution and natural selection usually weeds morons out.
![\"user-pic\"](\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-197027-100x100.png\")
To those who say that this woman is selfish/materialistic and deserves violence, prison, etc: I think it's fairly obvious that this woman is suffering from some kind of mental illness. I've seen friends with the same sorts of problems--and I've seen them overcome them. Who are we to say it's too late and her husband should just leave her? If she's willing to see a psychiatrist and a counselor and possibly use any medication recommended, she could get this under control. We don't always have to assume the worst.
Does this qualify as Munchausen Syndrome?
![\"user-pic\"](\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-4438-100x100.png\")
What's the old Sam Kinnison line?
\"Now, I don't condone beating your wife... I understand it... but I don't condone it.\"
$400 a month on Starbucks? Let's make the math easy and say it's $4 a cup. She guzzles down 100 lattes a month? 3, sometimes 4 per day?
There's something wrong with that...
Well, If Hillary gets into office they might luck out:
six kids times five thousand dollars equals 30 thousand dollars. Now she has some money to keep buying.
![\"user-pic\"](\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-177102-100x100.png\")
@pinkbunnyslippers: He can't afford a trophy wife. Six figures a year of income gets you a trophy wife, not six-figures of debt. So clearly, he's buying things he can't afford either.
Well, I admit that I felt a bit of disgust when reading the story here on Consumerist. But, to balance things out a little, look at the woman's comments in the accompanying Oprah article:
[tinyurl.com]
She's not some heartless monster, she just got out of control (admittedly, WAY out of control). Like many addictions, once you step over the line, it just becomes status quo to stay there - you're oblivious to what a hole you're in as you continue to dig deeper and deeper an inch a day. An inch deeper a day doesn't seem like much until it's years later and you suddenly can't see the sun anymore.
Also, as a number of people have commented, getting out of control financially is made incredibly easy by today's credit industry. Check out this documentary made recently about the credit industry: [www.maxedoutmovie.com] . It'll make you sick. I think one of the worst parts might be where people who committed suicide after getting into overwhelming debt were still getting credit card offers mailed to their address.
There, but for the grace of God go I - or you.
![\"user-pic\"](\"/mt-static/support/assets_c/userpics/userpic-62482-100x100.png\")
I do like that Suze Orman. And this piece makes me feel better about my relatively small debt that will be paid off by January 1st!
I would kick this stupid bitch to the curb. If I got any shit about it I've have her comitted.
@angryyoungwoman: \"I think it's fairly obvious that this woman is suffering from some kind of mental illness.\"...
Yeah, the \"spoiled rotten and no take no responsibility (moral or otherwise) sydrome.\"
@rmz: Did she mean the toys...or the kids? This woman makes me sick. I would throw her in a river, any river.
@vanilla-fro: to be clear, I didn't mean her dead body. I just mean to let her wash up somewhere and let somebody else have her.
I wouldn't kill or hurt her, just ship her away.
@NoWin: This goes beyond being spoiled. Even spoiled people don't buy things they don't want or like. She can't walk out of a store without buying something so she'll buy things she doesn't want if she can't find anything. She admits to buying things to make her feel good emotionally and getting depressed afterwards.
Spoiled people make get emotionally attached to the objects they buy but she's emotionally attached to the act of buying stuff. She has a problem. If they're going to get out of debt it needs to be addressed.
@Jesse in Japan: Isn't Munchausen Syndrome when the parent believes/pretends that a child is sick so that they get attention? Doesn't apply here.
![\"user-pic\"](\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-12277-100x100.png\")
Can't wait until their kids grow up just to be like Lindsay Lohan and Brittany Spears. Ya know, without the money.
![\"user-pic\"](\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-62527-100x100.png\")
good thing lady O is getting her on the right track the same way she helps millions everyday. we'll see her on dr. phil next
![\"user-pic\"](\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-176356-100x100.png\")
Money quote (no pun intended):
\"Felice drops $400 a month on Starbucks, $240 on tans and manicures, and her children have no health insurance.\"
I'd bet a tall soy latte that she is counting on the S-CHIP legislation to let the taxpayers take care of her kids because she chooses to be irresponsible.
Brew your own coffee at home and use that $400 to take care of your kids, dangnabbit!
Instead of spending $240 to give yourself skin cancer and get that fungus that causes your nails to fall off, use that money to take care of your kids, dangnabbit!
![\"user-pic\"](\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-13251-100x100.png\")
You can't fix stuipd.
@meeroom:
I feel for you. I was getting a haircut with my mom one afternoon, and a lady came in and asked if they could do an eyelash extension. I thought that had to be mythical, but they just pointed her across the street. She had to be mid-fifties, and she was creammed into a ridiculous outfit from the juinior's dept, too. What a pita ppl like this must be.
What confuses me is the whole \"how will I afford college\" stuff. Does nobody look at financial aid options? Fill out a FAFSA and apply! I managed to make it through 2 years at a private school and 3 more at a public with $0 savings to start and $0 assistance from family/other stuff. Financial aid exists and is available for just about every school around.
Of course, there should be a checkbox on the FAFSA disqualifying anyone spending more than $100 a month on lattes and/or recreational shopping.
That lady? FAIL
![\"user-pic\"](\"/mt-static/support/assets_c/userpics/userpic-27969-100x100.png\")
@Buran: Agreed - there was a recent Atlanta Journal-Constitution article about the local water restrictions and whether or not homeowners were reporting their neighbors for violating them - there was a comments section where every other post was \"snitches wind up in ditches\" or something similar. Truly sad to see. Advocating direct violence against another should NOT be free speech.
@hypnotik_jello: Um, you missed the part about their negatively-amortized mortgage about to reset to the tune of about $1000 more a month...
@mconfoy: Not trolling But I was truly unhappy with the inconsistency.
The moderator explained it well enough, she's pretty much using her best judgment along with community feedback. I still don't like it but given the same information I could seem myself doing the same.
@sunwukong:
\"I wish they had more details on what their debt consisted of, e.g., how much in HELOCs, per credit card, etc.\"
Does it really matter? They're $800K+ in debt. Interest expense alone at 7% (if they're lucky to have rates that low with what must now assuredly be lousy credit) is at least $56K/year. Gross income is $60K.
What we really need to know is what they can realistically sell their house for in a cold market. If it's less than $1 million, I'd say \"game over.\"
![\"user-pic\"](\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-76172-100x100.png\")
To the husband: close all of your joint accounts. Place them all in her name and then run away as fast as you can screaming the entire time.
Suze Orman is a nutter! Yes these people are dumbasses (and make me feel so much better about my youthful financial follies) but to tell them they have to move to a different state is just bizarro! What the hell is she talking about?
It's one thing to give people a financial plan; it's another to tell them they must abandon their friends and probably family. They can't sell one of their homes? Or both and downsize to one home (in California)? That's just crazy talk.
She can pay it off by doing porn in some milf series.
![\"user-pic\"](\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-81115-100x100.png\")
I hope the husband still has enough money left over for a divorce lawyer.
I am in agreement with the comments that this woman is troubled. I would need to agree that her husband is also and that the kids are on their way.
The role models for our children need to really make better choices, and I am curious to know if this lady had role models that behaved in this manner. The husband is the enabler and really it stuck in a hole.
![\"user-pic\"](\"/mt-static/support/assets_c/userpics/userpic-116836-100x100.png\")
Holy crapbuckets.
She should not be allowed to be a parent.
This woman is exactly what every man in America fears the most. A lying bimbo who's more concerned with her selfish desires, than the needs of her kids. I'm willing to bet that she tells her kids that they lost their toys when they can't find them after she sells them for starbucks money. She's down right defrauded her husband by putting him in this position. She lied through omission so do not give me this crap that her husband is responsible, she actively hid the finances, and lied. This is the same type of behavior that prostitutes participate in. \"Hmm so I look good, so I can get anything I want right? Tehe\" I say eliminate her from the gene pool, shes way to stupid to be around.
BY NOYOUARE AT 10/23/07 05:27 PM
What's with the threats of physical violence against this woman? She is obviously very troubled. Let's have some compassion...
Your worthless compassion is what these people are made of. She needs to learn the hard way, or would you rather show her some of your progressive compassion and bail her out yourself?
I didn't think so.
![\"user-pic\"](\"/mt-static/support/assets_c/userpics/userpic-87038-100x100.png\")
@isadora: they don't have 2 homes, they have 2 MORTGAGES. And they're apparently upside-down in the one home they do have, and Suze is advocating getting away from the bleed-you-dry CA income taxes and cost of living (never mind the fact that Seattle is hardly cheap living.)
To those advocating divorce... well, divorce ain't free. Divorce in CA is worse than most, and some sly divorce lawyer would make her look more like Mother Teresa than Scarlett O'Hara and make sure he was on the hook for supporting her until he can't work anymore.
3 cars, mortgaged up to their eyeballs... yes she probably has a mental disorder with the shopping and lying about spending, and he at a minimum has a head-in-sand problem, but I don't feel the least bit sorry for them. Their kids, yes... the parents, no. It just shouldn't take this kind of exposure and probably loss of their home to get their attention.
Mr. Clueless needs to learn to \"Trust, but verify\" especially where finances are concerned.
@rekoil: Yeah, I bet they'll be really happen after all the reservoirs (before the end of December where I live) are drained dry. Look, the creek's become a giant ditch! (Did you see that episode of The Boondocks?)
@oosnoopy: False dilemma. It isn't either you want her beaten up or you want to bail her out.
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Holy shit. I live on what she drops for coffee in a month! YIKES!
This woman is disgusting and needs serious help. Neglecting her children because she craves unneeded material comforts? I'm surprised child services haven't stepped in, seeing how gung-ho they've become lately. And she goes on about how guilty she is about it...but apparently not shamed or guilty enough to change. Her husband is just as guilty as she is (seriously, does anyone communicate with their significant others anymore?)
I don't understand the \"move to Seattle\" suggestion from Orman. These people should move to some dirt cheap Midwestern suburb where the cost of living is extremely low but the \"computer contractor\" husband is still employable. Seattle ain't cheap.
I'm not for violence in this case per say someone needs to knock some sence into these people. Not sure how you can without using said violence as I don't know how you would change someones ways. Maybe a court ordered accountant to run the finances? I can only hope the kids learn from the parents mistakes as they sit on the street homeless.
@LAGirl: why do people assume parents should pay for their kids college? My parents didn't and I think im better off now that i had to learn to save for school and budget while in it.
this lady is insane. Poor husband, even if he divorces her he still owes half the debt. that sucks. Sell the house and the cars. get a job and move on.
@Consumerist Moderator - ACAMBRAS: Just out of curiosity and for my own edification: Are bannings doled out only for calling for violence against someone, or also for expressing one's wish to perform said violence on said someone? I mean, is it only something like \"Someone please slap this bitch!\" that will get me banned, or does \"I'd love to give this bitch a slappin'!\" count too? What about \"This bitch deserves a beating!\", or even more obvious hyperbole like \"OMG, I could kill this woman!\"? Thanks!
\"I have six kids and I sell their toys sometimes just because I don't like them.\"
Does she mean she doesn't like the toys or she doesn't like her kids?...
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@TyChan: \"Also, what happens if she falls in love?\" ... I'd help her pack, and wish her a nice life. Just hope the next guy makes more than 60k.
She obviously has no respect for her husband/family to be so absurdly irresponsible with money.
They just need a good tragedy in their life. Not like death or anything, but maybe a small lawsuit or something from one of their neighbors to force them to become responsible adults in our society. Maybe they'll see there's more to life than Starbucks and fake nails and clothes. And yes, those poor kids. No insurance? This lady should have her kids taken away from her for negligence. Oh wait, then she would have even more time to do whatever the heck she wants!
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That woman should be put in an asylum. Or Debtors prison. Whatever works to save her kids and her husband from her addiction to \"credit card crack\".
I could retract Phil and Felice and insert the name of my son and his wife and even add a few dollars to the debt and it would be the same story.
I'm glad I'm not the only person who is flabbergasted at this kind of debt!
In my case my son is as bad as his wife. He buys a $300 cell phone and then she buys a $300 cell phone and on it goes.
They are up to 4 kids and counting. They've all been boys and she wants a girl for they keep having kids they can not afford.
They have shopped and vacationed themselves into debt that totals $400k plus and their home is only worth about $180k.
My daughter in law only works 2 days a week and he owns a tiny used car lot that he hired someone to watch over so they can vacation every time the kids are not in school.
I've asked him about all this going and spending and he actually told me they pay cash. What he didn't know is that I've seen their cc statements and that was just an out right lie!
At this point we aren't speaking since I put my foot down and told them I was no longer babysitting for them to take vacations, only for work or illness.
I can't get my mind around this kind of debt and I have nothing to talk to them about. I don't want to hear they have bought this or gone there cause I know they can NOT afford it.
I don't want to hear she's pregnant again, they don't care about the 4 children they have nor can they afford them!
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@Geekybiker: If he divorces her he'll probably be stuck with all the debt in his name and be forced to give her half his salary for the rest of his life.
She's bleeding him dry, he might as well be able to fuck her.
Excuse me, but, how can a family of 8 live on 60K/yr with her wild spending? She must be buying clothes for the kids from the Goodwill or some other resale shop because buying clothes, food, etc. for six kids on one salary should've bankrupted them a long, long, long time ago. And three cars? If she isn't working, what the hell does she need a car for? I didn't see the Oprah show but apparently he isn't any better than she is. I pray he never loses his job or they are going to be one completely effed family. The husband is one whipped cream puff. Not only does she have his balls, they've been bronzed and are hanging from her rearview mirror.
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This is from the article: \"Felice says she feels ashamed that she kept her spending habits from her husband, but she feels more ashamed that her children have no medical or dental coverage, which she says would only cost $1,000 a month. \"My children have had things happen. We almost lost a daughter a couple years ago to a ruptured appendix and also I've had health problems. And I have a daughter who has a neurological disease,\" she says. \"It's total selfishness. My kids mean the world to me and I should be putting them first, but I put myself first. … It's shameful.\"
Now knowing all that, how in the hell can you continually be so blind and spend money and your nails, hair, and coffee and not even think of getting a job? You f*cking moron. No sympathy for you whatsoever and even less to husband who didn't take control after seeing that first 10k worth of charges with no explanation. I feel sorry for those children
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Sometimes the only term that will do is \"stupid cunt.\"
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I wonder what Bill Cosby has to say about this woman's poor grasp of what it takes be a responsible parent or even a contributing member of society.
I bring up Bill Cosby because he has a lot to say about the poor, darker hued Americans and their lousy choices but clearly bad choices aren't limited to the poor and dark skinned.
Seriously it reads like to me
this is a man who married and breeded (6 times) with a very shallow woman because she's his little prize.
Everytime he imagines digging the family out of their financial hole, I'm sure she gets pregnant again.
The seventh child will be named Bankruptcy, though.
I wanna be her neighbor. Think about the benefit..
Wait, that's me - I am that husband!
For the third time in our seven year marriage, my wife has racked up multi-thousand dollar credit card debt behind my back. This third and most recent time amounted to 53K. More than the first two times combined! The rate on some of these cards is 31% and total minimum payments are more than my mortgage.
It is the single most dehumanizing and frustrating experience to a) find out that your spouse has lied to you repeatedly about a spending issue you thought was behind you and b) your back in the hole again for the foreseeable future. Oh yeah, and let me add c) my credit rating is in the tank too. She took out two cards in both of our names that I was not aware of.
I now spend my Saturday's following up with collections agencies and negotiating payment plans.
I wrote it off the first time this happened as just a mistake, the second time I almost left her but decided to work it out since she swore it wouldn't happen again, and now a third time. I regret staying because this time around we have a two year old child and this is the last thing we need.
Here I go again, into the debts of Hell.
Little late to the party, but this is so outrageously stupid I have to say something. These parents, but the mother particularly, are being grossly negligent. How can they spend all this money, but not purchase health insurance for their kids. What if one of their kids gets sick and they don't have health insurance or the money to pay for the life saving but expensive procedure little Billy needs to LIVE? Starbucks, tanning, manicures, clothes, three cars, a life of excess and stupidity has put these kids in danger.
dirk1965, I'll BET Dave Ramsey would like to get hold of her. By the looks of here, I would, too. I'd SIIHP, if you catch my drift.
Our government (we are the government) is doing the same thing as this woman is so why should we complain. No matter how orderly your own personal financial house is, if you permit our government to spend like a drunken sailor (I can say that because I am a Marine) then you shouldn't be badmouthing this poor lady. She and her ilk are the ones supporting our economy and they are the ones (hardworking Americans they are called) who will be bailed out by all kinds of government assistance (our tax money) and free healthcare for their uninsured broods (paid for by tax payers),
I almost feel bad for her husband. Almost.