Topic : 01/27 Money Disasters

Dr. Phil: 

I think this young couple has more problems that just money.  As I watched them on your show that poor young man was so beaten down from this hateful, spoiled, brat and I watched him try and hold her hand and she pulled away.  She showed no warm emotion towards him at all.  Now maybe it was because you mentioned that someone might see and tell her parents.  Well, if she was not smart enough to figure that out before appearing on your show, well shame on her...  I think this girl needs to pack her bags and use that ticket in her dresser drawer to go back to her parents.  However; she made it sound like they were going to make her go to work as well, which is why she probably is staying here with someone she can still fool by saying she can't work because she's not legal. (HA, LAZY is the correct word) 

Don't get me wrong, if that young man can't see that she is lazy and let's her continue on sitting around and getting fat as she said and him work two and three jobs and still get nowhere, I hope you can help them.  He certainly needs some guidance to put him on the right path. 

Sincerely, 

dhutch2 in Ohio 

I'm sure that you have watched the show enough to realize the keyword for most people is "ownership".  When are people going to take ownership for their own short-comings, mistakes, etc.  It is not the fault of the credit card company.  You said yourself that you knew what you were doing at the time, but now that its gotten way out of hand, its no longer your fault?  Please!   

Everyone makes mistakes, it's what helps us grow and learn (if we choose to learn and accept that we are the ones who made the mistake.)   

There are others who have responded and noted that someone was very ill and it wiped them out financially, etc.  That is a completely different story.  Sometimes those things can't be helped.  But for the majority of the bankrupt people in this country...it is simply irresponsibility.   

Take ownership of your life..and quit blaming the world and thinking everyone owes you something. Including the credit card companies..be smart enough to say...no thank you or I don't need that, once in a while.  Good luck hammer44. 

I am 54 years old, once married, then divorced, and left to struggle financially, so being a single mom, at the age of twenty-four, was financially taxing.  My parents 'struggled finacially', so the 'penny' was always 'pinched' in our household', so my knowledge of finance was based on personal experience.  Obviously, my children have grown, learned a bit of financial planning from 'living with mom'..., however, they too 'struggle financially'!   

While I have FINALLY reached a level where I am financially stable, and can SLEEP AT NIGHT, THIS 'FINANCIAL PEACE OF MIND' was achieved after many years of enduring 'financial hardshipts'!   My POINT:   ALL or MOST of the FINANCIAL HARDSHIPS could have and SHOULD HAVE been avoided had our EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM been 'REQUIRED' to teach 'FINANCIAL PLANNING' in schools. Our society throws our children into the world with 'little' or 'no' Financial Planing,  regarding 'REAL WORLD FINANCE'... and I am NOT speaking of the 'Stock Market'!  Dr. Phil might consider a television program based on what WE as a NATION might do, to get Our Legislation to UPDATE the EDUCATIONAL REQUIREMENTS to include REAL WORLD FINANCIAL PLANNING... KNOWLEDGE is ESSENCIAL for our children to have a 'head start on LIFE'... FINANCIAL STABILITY IS ONE OF THE KEYS TO SUCCESSFUL RELATIONSHIPS... 

I went in to get the free budget book and found out that I had to put in a credit card number.  What a deal.  I didn't want to add that to my credit card and what about some who don't have a card and don't want to start.  I would like to see what the book says but I don't consider it FREE when asked to pay for shipping.  Just look how much money is being spent on postage? 

marrich61 

I just wrote a super long email to Dr. Phil on this very subject.....I can't wait to see the show on Friday....What I would love to know is how in the hell, can credit card companies get away with raising your rates (I could care less that their reply would be..."It's in the agreement")  to astronomical rates (29%)  across the board because you were late with one payment, and are getting close to max on your credit limit....I knew what I was doing at the time, and could afford it.  What I didn't expect, and I know, it's my fault....to a point, is that they would raise my rates to nearly 30%....It's like they want me to file Bankruptcy.... 

I have had $80,000 in credit card debt for almost 4 years, paying $1,800.  a month in interest and getting nowhere on the principal....I simply can't pay anymore, and even when I have paid the debt down, they lower my credit limit, keeping me in a situation where my credit limit is almost 100% maxed....They're crooks, scum, and something needs to be done about them.   

Man I can't wait to see this show on Friday......Hammer44 

I am 54 years old, once married, then divorced, and left to struggle financially, so being a single mom, at the age of twenty-four, was financially taxing.  My parents 'struggled finacially', so the 'penny' was always 'pinched' in our household', so my knowledge of finance was based on personal experience.  Obviously, my children have grown, learned a bit of financial planning from 'living with mom'..., however, they too 'struggle financially'!   

While I have FINALLY reached a level where I am financially stable, and can SLEEP AT NIGHT, THIS 'FINANCIAL PEACE OF MIND' was achieved after many years of enduring 'financial hardshipts'!   My POINT:   ALL or MOST of the FINANCIAL HARDSHIPS could have and SHOULD HAVE been avoided had our EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM been 'REQUIRED' to teach 'FINANCIAL PLANNING' in schools. Our society throws our children into the world with 'little' or 'no' Financial Planing,  regarding 'REAL WORLD FINANCE'... and I am NOT speaking of the 'Stock Market'!  Dr. Phil might consider a television program based on what WE as a NATION might do, to get Our Legislation to UPDATE the EDUCATIONAL REQUIREMENTS to include REAL WORLD FINANCIAL PLANNING... KNOWLEDGE is ESSENCIAL for our children to have a 'head start on LIFE'... FINANCIAL STABILITY IS ONE OF THE KEYS TO SUCCESSFUL RELATIONSHIPS... 

I am so Glad Someone else sees this woman's problem.  If she is not happy with the quality of life that her poor husband has been providing while working his TWO jobs and her NO job then It would probably be best for him that she get her butt on a plane and leave.  Also the issue of hiding her marriage from her parents wasn't because she was scared of her mother but because she was embarrassed of him.  Thank you for seeing past her lies and selfishness. 

Sincerely, 

DJ in Louisiana