Mon, Mar 26, 2012
Princess Lauren knows exactly what she wants, and she knows exactly who's going to pay for it: her future husband! This pampered princess will only accept the finer things in life, but doesn't see why she should have to spend any of her own hard-earned money on the boring necessities when she could be using that money on designer shoes and bags. Her family is fed up and her boyfriend doesn't know if he'll ever be able to meet Lauren's ridiculous standards. Host Gail Vaz-Oxlade challenges Lauren to reconsider her approach, but with a lifetime of indulgence to overcome in four short weeks, it may be a struggle for them both.
Mon, Jan 30, 2012
Twenty-five year old Nina makes a good $52,000 annual income as a law clerk, with dreams of becoming a criminal lawyer. Beyond being accepted into Harvard Law School, she has made no financial plans to pay for that schooling nor will she accept any offers other than from other Ivy League schools. She squanders all her money on herself in the moment. She has so much stuff, she uses a spare bedroom to store it all in. Because she doesn't like to drive or, God forbid, take public transit, she has retained the service of a personal driver. She has made no effort to pay off her previous $25,000 in student loans, which has since gone to collections, or her credit card debt, which has resulted in her having an extremely poor credit score. These debts currently total $29,000. She still lives at home, never having lived anywhere else. Although she makes more money than either of her parents, she contributes nothing to the household financially or otherwise, her father Dave who feels he can't even take a day off from his six day per week job in order to pay Nina's bills. She believes it is their responsibility as her parents to take care of her, including financially. Gail wants Nina to stand on her own two feet, which means moving out of the house and living on her own. In doing so, Nina will have to do things for herself with her own money, which will eventually include paying rent. Gail also wants Nina to review her career goals, including needing to go to Harvard as compared to a regional school, Nina who has so far taken the view that it's Harvard or nothing.
Tue, May 8, 2012
Twenty-eight year old Rachel, who has a $40,000 annual income, is typical of most princesses that Gail counsels. She loves to spend money on expensive things for herself and to go out partying, so much so that she is $40,000 in debt. But she is atypical in that she also spends on others - primarily on her friends, for who she will pick up the entire tab for such items as meals, drinks and cab rides, especially when they are short of cash, so that she will have a good time with them doing things she wants to do - and she doesn't sponge off anyone else for money. As such, Gail may have to approach Rachel from a different angle than to have friends and family cut her off financially. Rachel's best friend and roommate, Brianne, is worried about Rachel's spending possibly resulting in them losing their apartment, but she is more concerned that she believes Rachel's behavior is self-destructive. Beyond Brianne, Rachel's friends do not know about the severity of Rachel's debt. Gail wants Rachel to feel the burden of her debt in her life, and to figure out cheap alternatives to partying to have a good time. She also wants Rachel to speak to a professional about the consequences of going into a consumer proposal or declaring bankruptcy, which is what Rachel had talked about wanting to do as what she may see as an easy "get out of debt free" card. Gail wants Rachel to speak to her friends about her debt problems so that they understand her behavior has to change. And Gail wants Rachel to show Brianne how much she cares for her in a meaningful way rather than throw money at the situation. Without friends and family to cut Rachel off, Rachel has to want to change for herself, which may be a bigger issue than Gail's financial playbook can tackle.
Wed, Oct 26, 2011
Princess Ariana is used to getting her own way, and her selfish habit of putting her own needs before those of her friends and family has isolated everyone around her. At just 20 years old, she's already traveled the globe on her mother's dime and squandered every cent that her parents had put aside for her siblings' education. But, in true Princess style, Ariana commits the same indiscretions time and time again, using her parents' money to fund a lavish lifestyle she could never maintain on her own. After her latest transgression, an "accidental" online purchase of more than $1,000, Ariana's parents are ready to cut the cord. The first order of business for host Gail Vaz-Oxlade will be to adjust the attitude of this serial spender. But Ariana will have to work hard to convince Gail that she really wants to change... because she doesn't seem convinced herself. Will Gail's tough-love approach be enough to bring this haughty Princess back from the dark side?
Mon, Jan 23, 2012
20 year old Princess Sarah is a university student who takes from everyone around her. Sarah's parents finance her excessive lifestyle, shelling out almost $35,000 a year to keep their Princess primped and preened to her liking. She's got big dreams of becoming a fashion journalist after graduation, but so far all she's done is a lot of expensive research. Sarah has crammed her closets full of expensive brand name items, all on her parents' dime. And while Sarah's parents are her benefactors, her roommates are her maids: since she refuses to pitch in around the house, Sarah's roommates consistently find themselves cleaning up her messes, and have begun seriously considering kicking Sarah out as a result. Despite their generosity, Sarah has no problem giving her family and friends the cold shoulder when she doesn't get what she wants from them. With her roommates ready to give her the boot, it's time for Sarah to start pulling her own weight around the house and learn to live with less. Can host Gail Vaz-Oxlade teach this spoiled Princess to stand on her own two feet?
Tue, Sep 7, 2010
Twenty-five year old Ashley, a student and social worker, is just starting her career with a $30,000 per annum income job. But she's also a princess, turned on by brand names and having a sense of entitlement since she's always gotten whatever she's wanted. She doesn't see why the future should be any different. Her father John has always spoiled her, and her fiancé Kyle seems to be taking up the cause in John's footsteps. But the time has finally come when cracks are starting to show in what seemed like Ashley's perfect world, where she has racked up $17,000 in debt, without a clear sense of who will pay for it. Kyle has his own $10,000 debt, which is sitting on Ashley's finger as her engagement ring. Those combined debts are causing a rift between the two when their relationship should be at its strongest as they enter into marriage. In addition, Kyle does all the housework, Ashley not lifting a finger. And Kyle has put off his dream of becoming a police officer since he cannot afford the costs of training as he has gone into debt for Ashley's ring. People, including Kyle, are now unsure if Ashley wants to marry him or just wants to have a big wedding so that she can wear a pretty dress. Gail has to get Ashley to take responsibility for her own life for the first time, to plan for the wedding for the money available (which includes a $10,000 contribution from John), to change one of her dreams into a goal which includes a plan on how to achieve it, and to show Kyle how much she really does want to marry him and not just his wallet.
Tue, May 1, 2012
Twenty year old Ashley worked as a dispatcher for a towing company, having just lost that job. She likes the feeling when she spends money on herself, feeling incomplete if she leaves a mall without buying something. Ashley's mom, Brenda, spoils Ashley now since she couldn't when she raised Ashley as a single mom. Brenda cannot resist Ashley's pout, which works on her each and every time. Brenda estimates she has spent $10,000 on Ashley in the past year alone. Brenda still is not financially well off nor is Brenda's mom who still works and lives with them, but Brenda still spends on Ashley's wants and needs. Ashley still lives in their rented apartment rent-free. In addition, Ashley owns a car, while Brenda doesn't. What Brenda won't buy for Ashley, Ashley's boyfriend Jordan will, he estimating he spending $7,000 on Ashley in the past year, going into debt himself in the process. Ashley has dreams of living in a mansion and working in her own salon, which are attainable as Ashley does work hard, but she needs to get her spending under control. Ashley is currently $17,000 in debt. Gail makes Ashley contribute in sweat equity to the home she has taken for granted, gives Ashley a sense if hairdressing truly is the career she wants, and makes her work toward what she ultimately chooses as that career goal.
Tue, Oct 19, 2010
Twenty-one year old Neelam, who earns $23,000 annually, likes to be the center of attention, which means being decked to the nines in almost all occasions. She will often go out clubbing with her friends three to four times per week, each time using a limo service. She feels she needs to keep up appearances around her large social network, which means lots of birthdays and the like. Her friends mutually support each other in this regard. Her delinquency in credit card and cell phone payments have resulted in those companies sending her cases to collections companies, ironic as she works in collections herself, owing money to some of the companies for which she works. This personal issue affects her earning potential as her company will not allow her to work on the larger portfolios until this personal issue is resolved. For pocket money, she is able to sponge off family and friends. She takes her parents, Hardy and Raj, for granted financially, as she squandered away an education fund they set aside for her, and Hardy's credit rating is in jeopardy because he cosigned a car loan for Neelam. She is driving that car without insurance, which she says she cannot afford. She shares a rental house with six friends - it being a party house - which may have benefits, but which she doesn't realize financially beyond sharing the rent. She has no idea at what her total debt is standing. Gail takes a different approach with Neelam in making her spend everything on debit so there is a paper trail, as Neelam currently uses cash which leaves no paper trail once the receipt is discarded. Neelam is also unique in that she, a frequent casino goer, includes casino winnings in her income, but does not include gambling as a cost when she loses. Gail has to get her to look at her life more realistically, which includes: the costs and benefits of living in the party house; what she has to do to achieve her career and other long term goals; and use her existing skills to her advantage.
Wed, Oct 13, 2010
Twenty-four year old Kezia earns about $30,000 a year as a makeup artist, but is currently on stress leave, reducing her annual pay to about $12,000. That stress is largely the result of working in a mall and being constantly surrounded by temptation. Being in the industry, she is aware of all the latest trends, which she follows religiously and will spend whatever to be part of that trend. As Kezia is aware of those trends, her friends live vicariously through her. Being an only child, her single mother, Sherrie, admits she spoiled her. By the time Sherrie tried to teach Kezia proper money management, it was already "too late" as Kezia was entrenched in her self-indulgences at whatever cost. Kezia's boyfriend Chris knows about her overspending, but she hides the extent from him. Chris is the exact opposite in terms of spending than Kezia, but he is stuck paying for many of her wants as opposed to his own. Kezia also sponges off her Great Aunt May, from who she borrowed a car but never gave back, and who paid her student loans. Kezia ignores money issues, throwing out her bills when they arrive in the mail. Most of her debt is owed to Chris, Sherrie or Aunt May, all three who may end up being as big a challenge as Kezia.
Mon, Oct 17, 2011
Princess Kim is so obsessed with her image that she has no qualms spending thousands of dollars - other people's dollars - to keep her skin tanned, lips plump, and hair coiffed each month. At 26, Kim has already undergone several invasive plastic surgeries, and hopes to go under the knife again in the near future. A full time student, Kim has changed her career path ten times, squandering every last cent in the process. With no direction, a fragmented education and a barely $14,000 yearly income, Kim depends completely on her adoring boyfriend and fed up mother to fund her luxurious lifestyle. Princess Kim needs desperately to learn to stand on her own two feet before she loses the people she cares about most for good. Host Gail Vaz-Oxlade strips away the fancy feathers in an effort to help this shallow Princess stop obsessing about her looks, and start to take control of her future.