Season 4
13 episodes
22 min. per episode
Where to watch
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Couples confront financial chaos with tough-love guidance, risking everything to save their relationships while learning hard truths about money.
Episodes
Thirty-somethings Terry, an operations technician/writer/singer, and Andrea, who operates a day care out of the home while she takes care of their three children, are addicted to money. They would rather spend whatever money they have on stuff to get that instant gratification rather than pay bills, non-payment of which they have not yet seen the dire consequences. They finance their debt by other debt sources. A prime example is their house, bought on a $0 down payment, the house which has now been remortgaged. They borrow more than they need, that extra money which again provides them with an adrenaline high to spend. In addition, their instant gratification purely is for the moment as their house is a junk heap, no one putting anything away after its use. Before they can curb their spending, Gail has to get them to organize their lives so that they can see just how much stuff they have, and so that they can truly see what their financial situation is by going through their paperwork. They will have to make a drastic decision: earn over $1,000 more a month or sell the house. She also wants them to "see" a change in their lives, from the slobbily dressed teenagers they look and behave like, to mature adults.
Married twenty-somethings Tamara and Brandon have a combined income of about $50,000. They have an infant son, Kaiden, the unplanned pregnancy which forced them to move "home", namely Brandon's parents' basement for the nominal rent of $200 per month. Although they have to share the space as it acts as his parents' storage area, Tamara and Brandon have access to all the house amenities, such as the swimming pool, and free food, which does not even include with what her parents provide them. They have not made any headway on paying off their massive combined $64,000 in student loans, or taken advantage of what those educations were supposed to provide in terms of income earning potential. Brandon also has his toys, namely his broken down car, which requires much maintenance, and his many bicycles, all which he bought new as cycling truly is his passion and his stress reliever. Gail's ultimate goal for this young family is for them to start living their adult lives away from the cushion of parents, but it may take a harsh and painful reality to start to do so.
Frank and Simone's combined $110,000 annual income is currently curbed by Simone being on maternity leave. Simone is addicted to what she believes she needs to keep up appearances in every respect, which includes working out at the gym, and spending money on "stuff" for herself, such as clothes, getting beauty treatments of various kinds, and having a beautifully appointed house. A $125,000 new car is next on the list. Simone, however, states that she would never do anything that would place her family at risk. But Frank doesn't realize he is just as guilty, spending money on his electronics, which includes six large television sets in their house of four people, including one infant. This spending has resulted in $55,000 in consumer debt so far. They constantly fight about money, something having to give if their marriage can overcome this issue. As such, Gail issues them challenges largely focusing on dealing with their root problem, namely their addiction to luxury, this focus which not only entails them doing the challenges, but understanding why she has issued these challenges.
Andrea and Curtis, both twenty-eight and each who earns a modest $38,000 per annum income, have lived together for three years in a rented apartment, but they are not yet engaged as Curtis would like their $31,000 combined consumer debt gone before they make the commitment of marriage. Although they both have contributed to the creation of that debt, Curtis largely blames Andrea and her horse, Stink, who she has owned for fourteen years, as the cause of most of that debt. In reality, approximately eighty-five percent of Andrea's $20,000 debt is from student loans. Andrea, in turn, doesn't save to contribute to that debt as she figures that there is no point in doing so if Curtis won't save either, he spending his money on his sports toys or at the bar. Andrea admits she wants to get married to Curtis, but not with Curtis always lording Stink over her head as the cause of their money problems. Gail has to get this couple truly to act like a couple, and for them to get a true perspective on what is now largely the separate lives they are leading, Andrea always at the barn with aging Stink, and Curtis out playing sports or drinking at the bar when he's not at home watching the sports channel.
Ken and Michelle, with a combined income of $90,000, have been engaged for eighteen months, but have decided not to get married until they get out from under their debt, repayment for which they have made no plans. Ken, a truck driver, and Michelle, a part time social worker, don't talk about their money issues as they individually continue to spend on stuff, much of it still sitting unopened or unused. Ken spends on electronics, and on building materials as he renovates their basement to turn into a man cave. In addition to money on her arts and crafts hobbies, Michelle has taken a part time job at her favorite clothing store solely so that she can get the employee discount to buy clothes and more clothes. And both drive gas guzzling big cars. Not including their mortgage, they are $70,000 in debt. Gail has to show Michelle that the retail job is a cash hole and not a cash enhancer, and as such has to change that job so that they can start saving for a wedding. She has to show them what life would be like for that rainy day for which they have no savings to cover. And she has to get them to work together as a team to reach their financial and life goals.
Money can't buy you love. But keeping love alive without money can be pretty tough. In fact, ninety percent of marriage breakups are due to money problems. And to get advice on how to manage money usually costs money! Til Debt Do Us Part, is a series that offers tough-love solutions to those willing to face their financial troubles head on. In each episode we meet a couple in crisis. Some are on the verge of bankruptcy, hounded by creditors or facing eviction. Others are just getting by, but in the midst of a personal meltdown or relationship breakdown because of money issues. With the sensitivity of a therapist and the toughness of a CFO, our host, renowned financial author and columnist, Gail Vaz-Oxlade reveals what she's found in a couple's finances - and then she'll dig a little deeper. She asks some tough questions and then they'll be forced to face reality. Where will it end if they continue on this rocky road? To get things back on track, Gail takes control of their finances for one month. She devises a strict budget and enforces some dramatic changes. A two-car family may become a one-car; or no-car family. The new hair salon may become the corner barbershop and goodbye fancy lattes - hello thermos. All credit cards and debit cards are taken away and their only discretionary cash is a weekly allowance. Gail makes regular house calls to deliver the week's allowance and assigns a new challenge for the couple to make them confront bad money habits and to help get their relationship back on track. At the end of the month, we find out how well they've done - how much did they save, what did they learn about money, themselves and each other? What is the new forecast for their finances and relationship? Gail can reward them with cash based on how well they did on their challenges. In addition, she always surprises them with a small but thoughtful gift, certain to generate hugs and the occasional tear. Til Debt Do Us Part is a dramatic and fun series that shows how bad it can get and how to get out from under.