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Topic : 11/04 A Shopping Intervention

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Created on : Friday, October 28, 2005, 02:25:46 pm
Author : DrPhilBoard1

Are you living way beyond your means? Do you shop for one pair of shoes, but come home with 10 pairs? Bridgette is deep in debt and often spends $7,000 a week on luxury items. She even dropped $25,000 in one weekend! Her husband, Michael, says her shopping is an addiction that's ruining their marriage and family. Find out the one big secret that Bridgette's been keeping from him. Share your thoughts, join the discussion.

 

 

Find out what happened on the show.

 

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November 6, 2005, 11:34 am PST

I take back what I posted

Ok, I take back what I posted- I didn't see the show before I said that we all have to control out impulse spending. What this woman is doing in revenge spending. And I have a very simple solution to it. 

 STOP GOING TO THE MALL 

Ok, end of story. Do your grocery shopping together as a couple. You have enough clothing to last at least 10 years, and your husband wears scrubs to work so thats not an issue. Cut up your cards and close out the accounts. Eat at home and in 1 year, you will be in amazingly better financial and marital shape. Your kids are still at home, and thats great- but they have to supprt themselves- maybe they will learn from you. IF you want to do this, you will succeed. What is that they say "No matter whether you think you can or think you can't, you are right"?  I wish you luck-  

 
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November 6, 2005, 12:14 pm PST

Blame, blame, blame,

Quote From: wildwood

How is gets started 

  Lets be real, most women look for certain qualities in a mate and a physical or emotional attraction is only one  or two of the things we consider. We also want a mate that is successfully employed or at the least able to support us and a family. I suspect all three factors were evident in Bridgete's choice of Micheal. I suspect she spent many long hours on the home front while he finished med school and his internship. He chose to have an affair to reward her support and she reacted in an "over the top" fashion suited to his "crimes".  

    The trouble with being married to a workalcoholic is that someone must maintain the homefront, doing all theemotional and physical  work, while the other is focusing on the work and nothing else. That is where the term  workalcoholism comes from ....work is the only thing that matters. 

   This is a very common problem in marriage. This couple may have been picked cause they are the extreme example of how things can get out of control, when MONEY is the focus of a marriage. In this case he is focused only on making it and she only on spending it. Everything else gradually has faded into the background or is non existant.  

  This couple is so "trapped" by money oriented thinking, and are commmunicating ONLY through the money that there are no victims or perpetrators, unless you want to name money issues. Being the one, the only one, holding down the homefront and the long lonely hours and the stress is like being a single parent. If the only "perk" to being married is the ability to spend money  far too often desperate women, in an attempt to cope and fill the lonely, rejected, stressfilled hours will often turn to shopping.  It is a safe alternative to other counterproductive activities available to a woman wanting to honor her marriage vows.  

    Show me a woman that shops too much and I will show you a man that works or is away from home too much. Men drink and have affairs and a large number of  other wise intelligent and capable women shop. The stores are to capacity on weekends with lonely women, trying to find the "magic key" to get and keep their husbands attention.  

     This goes to the core of our primal instinces as men (goal chasers) and women (hunters/gathers) in addition to societies current  attitudes towards worship of the almighty dollar.  The more you make, the more you spend. This couple is an over the top example of how this kind of thinking can get totally out of control. Both are guilty of excess, and both have interpersonal issues at the core of the problem and how  and why it has gotten totally out of hand. 

   This couple is not as unique, as it seems due to the large amounts earned and spent. Lower the amounts and Bridgette and Micheal   have lots of company. Far too many men egotistically put work ahead of everything and use making money to justify the grossest sins on their families  who are trying to survive emotionally without Dad.  

  He is as guilty as she for the excesses/indiscreations  that are destroying this family. Lay off her for falling into the obvious trap his attitudes set. I suspect he worshipped money, made it the god in their family and she and her children are now guilty of following his "religion".  

   I believe that the man is entrusted with the leadership in the family as God would dictate, but this man chose to make MONEY his God, and they are all paying the price for this immature, poor judgement on the part of THEIR leader.  

That is all everybody wants to do. We are so use to it ourselves that even when we see foolish behavior in others we want to justify it for them ... we blame their family, their upbringing, their environment, the husband, the wife and the whole laundry. This is because the first thing we instinctually want to do is shift the responsibility onto someone or something else. LAZY R US!!! Arise and take responsibility for our actions we are man and woman enough to do it (whatever it is to each of us) let us become accountable!!!
 

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November 6, 2005, 1:45 pm PST

Wow! Did we even watch the same show?

Quote From: awfulcute

He is addicted to the glamor of his job. And the ego gratification he gets from being seen as a "hero" every minute of the day in the ER. Doctors are very flawed people. I feel for his wife. If I were you, Brigitte, I would get the heck out of the marriage. Take all your stuff with you. Your husband does not want to be with you. He is playing GOD with you as he does at work. You bore him. 

  

Your poor kids. You are all bearing the scars of his addiction and his guilt. How he can blame you floors me.  

You think everything is all the fault of the hard working physician who comes home to bills he can't pay and spoilt children?  Don't you think the wife and mother should bear some responsibility? Even with respect to how the children were raised (or to be more correct- not raised)? Or with respect to the debt load? How you can blame only him floors ME!
 

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November 6, 2005, 1:57 pm PST

11/04 A Shopping Intervention

Quote From: wildwood

How is gets started 

  Lets be real, most women look for certain qualities in a mate and a physical or emotional attraction is only one  or two of the things we consider. We also want a mate that is successfully employed or at the least able to support us and a family. I suspect all three factors were evident in Bridgete's choice of Micheal. I suspect she spent many long hours on the home front while he finished med school and his internship. He chose to have an affair to reward her support and she reacted in an "over the top" fashion suited to his "crimes".  

    The trouble with being married to a workalcoholic is that someone must maintain the homefront, doing all theemotional and physical  work, while the other is focusing on the work and nothing else. That is where the term  workalcoholism comes from ....work is the only thing that matters. 

   This is a very common problem in marriage. This couple may have been picked cause they are the extreme example of how things can get out of control, when MONEY is the focus of a marriage. In this case he is focused only on making it and she only on spending it. Everything else gradually has faded into the background or is non existant.  

  This couple is so "trapped" by money oriented thinking, and are commmunicating ONLY through the money that there are no victims or perpetrators, unless you want to name money issues. Being the one, the only one, holding down the homefront and the long lonely hours and the stress is like being a single parent. If the only "perk" to being married is the ability to spend money  far too often desperate women, in an attempt to cope and fill the lonely, rejected, stressfilled hours will often turn to shopping.  It is a safe alternative to other counterproductive activities available to a woman wanting to honor her marriage vows.  

    Show me a woman that shops too much and I will show you a man that works or is away from home too much. Men drink and have affairs and a large number of  other wise intelligent and capable women shop. The stores are to capacity on weekends with lonely women, trying to find the "magic key" to get and keep their husbands attention.  

     This goes to the core of our primal instinces as men (goal chasers) and women (hunters/gathers) in addition to societies current  attitudes towards worship of the almighty dollar.  The more you make, the more you spend. This couple is an over the top example of how this kind of thinking can get totally out of control. Both are guilty of excess, and both have interpersonal issues at the core of the problem and how  and why it has gotten totally out of hand. 

   This couple is not as unique, as it seems due to the large amounts earned and spent. Lower the amounts and Bridgette and Micheal   have lots of company. Far too many men egotistically put work ahead of everything and use making money to justify the grossest sins on their families  who are trying to survive emotionally without Dad.  

  He is as guilty as she for the excesses/indiscreations  that are destroying this family. Lay off her for falling into the obvious trap his attitudes set. I suspect he worshipped money, made it the god in their family and she and her children are now guilty of following his "religion".  

   I believe that the man is entrusted with the leadership in the family as God would dictate, but this man chose to make MONEY his God, and they are all paying the price for this immature, poor judgement on the part of THEIR leader.  

most women look for certain qualities in a mate and a physical or emotional attraction is only one  or two of the things we consider.We also want a mate that is successfully employed or at the least able to support us and a family.  

  

**cough** speak for yourself!  I can chase goals and I am not an anomaly.  I and many other women are capable of supporting ourselves just fine.  I chose my husband because I loved him and he shared my values and principles. 

  

I believe that the man is entrusted with the leadership in the family as God would dictate,  

  

**choke** so I am supposed to be a subordinate and not a partner!  Doh! I guess we've been doing things wrong for the last 22 years.  I'll have to tell my husband. 

  

When two people love each other and they are both fully grown up, they can be partners.  Fully functioning partners working together can do anything they choose.  In this case, Bridget admits that she never loved Micheal and, frankly, no one could watch that woman dress up her doggie and put him in a stroller and call her a grown up. Partnership was never a possibility. 

 
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November 6, 2005, 3:24 pm PST

Physician Heal Thyself

  

It's really true what our grandparents say, Money can't buy happiness. I would never want a father who is always at work, throwing money at me so he doesn't have to say the words, I love you or worst yet never take the time to spend with me. I would never want to see my mom miserable over "things" and still yet on the hunt to get more things. 

  

Not only did I see on the Dr. Phil show that Money doesn't buy happiness but Education (the physician's M.D. diploma) isn't the be all and end all of everything. 

 
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November 6, 2005, 3:55 pm PST

I think we Sorely Need to Train Kids Not to Spend Money.

I just hope that my sons marry thrifty women who value stretching a buck..  Our society with all ot the marketing is not geared to that lifestyle.  The credit card problems that I've been hearing about in the news is evidence that we need to train kids how to hold on to a buck.   It seems that a lot of public school classes can be ineffective or poorly taught but perhaps we need those type classes now more than the Aides prevention ones.  I've seen some superficial pampered women in the part of town where I live.  They are truly spoiled-some of them.   I think that more satisfaction is found in reading a good book, singing in a choir, or burning a home decor or fashion magazine if it spawns desire to buy.   Yikes!   I go to fellowships in some very toney homes for a year long Bible study that I attend.  It seems over the years that when a woman in a nice area with an average to above average home hosts a fellowship that  the attendance is lower than when a woman in a million dollar home hosts a function.   I always hate to see the attenders walk around eyeing all the loot and or the views.  It is awesome but I am over fifty and I've learned to value non material things.  Still stuff dominates.   Still in the discussions in the  fine homes for our Bible studies people do comment on the futility of stuff versus spiritual wealth.  I do have an eye for style and color and I can end up with a craving for stuff after a visit to a wealthy home.   We are surrounded with stuff here in America.  I'm not sure its good.   A choice of 50 types of toilet paper is too much for the senses.  

 
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November 6, 2005, 7:28 pm PST

spending Intervention

I could not beleive that any woman would purposely try to destroy her marriage with that kind of spending.   I would love for someone to hand me a credit card and say have a ball spend $25,000.00 any way you want. 

Come on spending money like that on a dog.  No dog is worth that kind of spending.  I could see spending that kind of money if it was to help someone or if they were poor and someone gave them that kind of money.  Hand me a credit card and would I have a ball and enjoy every minute of it.. I have never seen that kind of money in my lifetime. she needs to get a life, her husband is a doctor.  If I spent that kind of money my husband would show me the door.  He loves me but the way I see it I would put him in the poorhouse.  I have been poor all my life, boy, would I like to have that credit card at my disposable.   

 
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November 7, 2005, 4:56 am PST

Returning her purchases

Dr. Phil advised her to return all of the thing she bought and never used.  I have a better suggestion:  send all the merchandise to people affected by Katrina.   This way these poor suffering people can enjoy some really nice stuff and Bridgitte won't be getting back money that she can go out and spend on more goodies for herself.
 
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November 7, 2005, 5:47 am PST

This wife is abused big time. So are the children and his patients.

Quote From: judyblue22

You think everything is all the fault of the hard working physician who comes home to bills he can't pay and spoilt children?  Don't you think the wife and mother should bear some responsibility? Even with respect to how the children were raised (or to be more correct- not raised)? Or with respect to the debt load? How you can blame only him floors ME!

Finding the answer to this problem lies in the question, "Which came first, the 'doctoid' working overtime and staying away from home or the wife and kids spending?" 

  

This man is a glutton for excitement, drama, heroism, ego-gratification, voyeurism at the misfortunes of patients, and power over subordinates. He likes to be "high" in every way. He even took drugs at one time to enhance his sensation of greatness.  

  

In order to get away from his family and the real world of responsibility he piled money at his wife and kids so they would entertain themselves. He is like most parents in America. Shove the kids in front of the TV to get rid of them. 

  

I was very struck by Brigitte. She is someone who is brave enough to scoff at the substitute she has been thrown. The money in that family certainly is filthy. The cause/reaction effect is proved by the fact that she hasn't even used any of the stuff she bought. 

  

It gives me great satisfaction to see someone stand up for the liberties taken by medical ego- maniacs in this society. They are out of control. I pity this guy's patients as well. 

  

  

 
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November 7, 2005, 5:57 am PST

Thank goodness not everybody is fooled...

Quote From: wildwood

How is gets started 

  Lets be real, most women look for certain qualities in a mate and a physical or emotional attraction is only one  or two of the things we consider. We also want a mate that is successfully employed or at the least able to support us and a family. I suspect all three factors were evident in Bridgete's choice of Micheal. I suspect she spent many long hours on the home front while he finished med school and his internship. He chose to have an affair to reward her support and she reacted in an "over the top" fashion suited to his "crimes".  

    The trouble with being married to a workalcoholic is that someone must maintain the homefront, doing all theemotional and physical  work, while the other is focusing on the work and nothing else. That is where the term  workalcoholism comes from ....work is the only thing that matters. 

   This is a very common problem in marriage. This couple may have been picked cause they are the extreme example of how things can get out of control, when MONEY is the focus of a marriage. In this case he is focused only on making it and she only on spending it. Everything else gradually has faded into the background or is non existant.  

  This couple is so "trapped" by money oriented thinking, and are commmunicating ONLY through the money that there are no victims or perpetrators, unless you want to name money issues. Being the one, the only one, holding down the homefront and the long lonely hours and the stress is like being a single parent. If the only "perk" to being married is the ability to spend money  far too often desperate women, in an attempt to cope and fill the lonely, rejected, stressfilled hours will often turn to shopping.  It is a safe alternative to other counterproductive activities available to a woman wanting to honor her marriage vows.  

    Show me a woman that shops too much and I will show you a man that works or is away from home too much. Men drink and have affairs and a large number of  other wise intelligent and capable women shop. The stores are to capacity on weekends with lonely women, trying to find the "magic key" to get and keep their husbands attention.  

     This goes to the core of our primal instinces as men (goal chasers) and women (hunters/gathers) in addition to societies current  attitudes towards worship of the almighty dollar.  The more you make, the more you spend. This couple is an over the top example of how this kind of thinking can get totally out of control. Both are guilty of excess, and both have interpersonal issues at the core of the problem and how  and why it has gotten totally out of hand. 

   This couple is not as unique, as it seems due to the large amounts earned and spent. Lower the amounts and Bridgette and Micheal   have lots of company. Far too many men egotistically put work ahead of everything and use making money to justify the grossest sins on their families  who are trying to survive emotionally without Dad.  

  He is as guilty as she for the excesses/indiscreations  that are destroying this family. Lay off her for falling into the obvious trap his attitudes set. I suspect he worshipped money, made it the god in their family and she and her children are now guilty of following his "religion".  

   I believe that the man is entrusted with the leadership in the family as God would dictate, but this man chose to make MONEY his God, and they are all paying the price for this immature, poor judgement on the part of THEIR leader.  

Good post. I don't go with "the man entrusted by God idea" too much but everything else you say is excellent. I especially agree that this couple was chosen to come on the show because they showed up well, the problem of money as the line of least resistance. What wife and kids are not going to use this easy path when they see firsthand the husband/father's indulgent power trips at work? At work, where this guilt money is earned?
 
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