Big Spender
You folks seem to have lots to say about the people on Big Spender. I appreciate that and want to say thanks for watching. To update you about the show………you are not going to believe the episodes we have coming up! This season is made up of people who are a total mess. I’m not going to give away the content of the shows but I promise, you ain’t gonna believe what you see! The show is doing well but can always use more viewers so tell your friends to watch. I know Saturday mornings isn’t ideal but there is a chance we might move back to our old evening timeslot so keep watching.
I do want you to know that most of these folks, not all, but most are good people at heart but their priorities are all wrong. That is always the problem with money….. messed up priorities. Your money will go for the things that matter most to you. Period. If looking cute is the most important thing in your life, then your money will be spent at the mall. if financial security or your kid’s education is most important to you, then that is where your money will go. Check your own money. Go to your checkbook and see what you spend money on. In an instant, you will know what is important to you because your money goes toward it. Follow the money!!!!! Your life is like a crime novel…..the key is to solving your problems is to follow the money!
We just finished watching the show involving the addicted shopper that plunged her husband and herself into $208k worth of debt. I don’t think either one of us has ever screamed that loudly at our television set… our paid for television set. We simply don’t understand how these people have created their own internal worthiness of taking advantage of the rest of the tax paying community. We highly highly highly commend you for being able to get out there and help these people one couple at a time AND NOT beat the shit out of them. We would never have the patience. WE LOVE YOU!
I am a new fan of your show —
My house is paid for, my car is paid for, my total due on credit cards is less than $2000. But I am overweight — I use all the excuses! I have very little savings — I use all the excuses!
I can not wait to get a hold of a copy of any one of your books — which I will borrow from the library. Nothing like seeing people so messed up to know how little effort it will take me to get more of my life on track.
How I wish I had a wallet that every time I opened it, would play a recording of your voice, saying “Do you really need it!” OR a bathroon scale that when it goes up it says “It’s your own xxxx fault you’re fat!” and when it goes down says “Way to go, you are taking resonsiblity for your life!”
Keep telling it like it is!
Nicole & Andrew are very fortunate that overspending is not a problem for them. For some it’s overeating, some people gamble, and some of us overspend. I wish so much that I had the discipline in my finances that I do the rest of my life. I have passed my poor stewardship on to my daughter, which is a source of constant stress and guilt for me. We both know it’s harmful and yet it truly is an addiction. Part of the problem for me is that I just cannot budget. I would LOVE to have someone figure out a budget for me. You say that it’s simple, but for me, spelling, reading, writing are the simple things. Add a number into it, and my mind is boggled. It is NOT simple. However, watching your show helps. I would love to see updates on some of your past shoes, to see how they’re doing now. Thank you for providing a window into an American tragedy – debt.
Just watched the show with the guy who thought his house was worth 1.5 million and bought timeshare while on Larry’s plan.
Two comments:
– He made around 100K per year, so he can afford roughly a 300K house (3x gross is generous in my book) so I’m thinking he will be poor until he sells the house. So he lives in California and nothing is cheaper than 600K?
Well it will all get damn cheap if enough folks go back to 3X gross and 10’s of thousands of homes sit vacant.
– He most likely has a psychological problems and needs professional help and lots of medication. He was giving off obsessive compulsive vibes like crazy and little blue and white pills can make a world of difference.. Simply put that guy wasn’t right in the head…
Saw the show recently where the wife had to tell her mother to stop enabling her shopping habit. The mom thought that the daughter was crazy-no such thing as a shopping addiction and of course she wasn’t enabling anything. That is my mom. My dad works hard and mom stays at home. And shops. And shops. And shops. HSN and QVC are regular friends of hers and two spare bedrooms and the garage support that habit. I wish there was a way to get through to my mom to stop the shopping. She believes that she deserves things and tries to convince me the same-maybe that is why I thought I should spend so much. My debt is under control. Any ideas on persuading mom to stop too? I am especially concerned because there is little to no money for retirement. Thanks!
Debra…..you should be concerned. People are blowing their retirement on QVC and HSN and at the mall. It’s a crying shame. But to answer your question. There is little you can do. People change when they want to and if they are afraid on NOT changing. You might try scaring her into change. Ask her how much money it will take to sustain her when your dad stops working. Ask her where that money will come from. Ask her about her savings and retirement fund. Ask her if shopping is moving her closer to her goal. After that, she will be ticked off at you I’m sure but possible made aware of the dangers of spending.
I wish you the best.
I haven’t missed an episode of Big Spender since a friend told me about it a few
months ago. I have never reached out to a television show or TV personality but
I wanted to thank you for your honesty and upfront approach to dealing with
spending.
I recently took a look at my own spending habits and came to terms that I had a
few big issues of my own with unopened bills and “Unknown Callers” on my caller
ID. I couldn’t continue drowning in the financial disaster waiting to happen –
that I in fact created. So I knew it was time to take action because it wasn’t
just hurting me, it was hurting my personal relationships, my credibility and
ultimately it could affect my job.
Watching your show encouraged me to take a look at my finances and make a few
tough decisions. I recently gave up my downtown apartment in New York City and I
moved uptown where the rent is $1000 less with more room. I’ve cut out what I
considered “necessities” like having my laundry done and delivery (you can get
anything and everything delivered in NYC).
Just with that one decision I’m saving over $1300 a month and I’ll be out of
debt in 12 months if I stick to the contract/ agreement I’ve made with myself
and those I owed money to. Another drastic move was to be honest with the people
I had borrowed money from and acknowledge to them personally what I’ve done to
get back on track and everyone has been extremely supportive.
Now it’s about following through. Lastly, it’s an awful feeling to be in debt,
especially when I knew what I was doing – it’s not rocket science. But I needed
to be an adult and own up to my bad decision making with money and now I’m
slowly on my way to recovery and there’s no sweeter, lighter feeling that doing
the right thing and knowing that I’m doing something to become debt free.
Thanks Larry!
Larry,
What books did you recommended to the ladies with the cosmetics business? Love the show and your books.
Thanks,
Chris
Several of you have written me emails about the books I recommended to the two girls on the last episode of Big Spender. This is the list:
Books for Small Business Success
compiled by Larry Winget, Best selling author and host of Big Spender
Shut Up, Stop Whining & Get A Life by Larry Winget
It’s Called Work For A Reason by Larry Winget
Results Rule by Randy Pennington
Becoming a Category of One by Joe Calloway
Small Business For Dummies……… the Dummies Series
The E-Myth Revisited by Michael Gerber
Purple Cow by Seth Godin
Invisible Touch by Harry Beckwith
Re-Imagine by Tom Peters
Customer Satisfaction is Worthless, Customer Loyalty is Priceless by Jeffrey Gitomer
The 7 Irrefutable Rules of Small Business Growth by Steven Little
Cheryl says “You say that it’s simple, but for me, spelling, reading, writing are the simple things. Add a number into it, and my mind is boggled. It is NOT simple.”
Cheryl:
Numbers are processed in a different part of the brain than words and letters. There’s a form of dyslexia called dyscalculia. It’s almost completely unheard of – your doctor may not even know about it – but there is information on the internet about it (dot org, not dot com).
After years of struggling and three- and four-hour-long tearful sessions trying to balance my checkbook, I finally figured out how to do it in Excel. I still transpose numbers sometimes, but it’s much less likely to happen on a computer than in longhand and the computer does the actual math for me.
I also have my budget in Excel and it makes it sooooo much easier. I keep a printout of it on my refrigerator to remind me to keep every receipt and write every single thing down. Now the only problem is just in *following* the budget. ;o)
Best,
Lili (who had A’s and B’s in geometry and F’s in algebra)
Larry, may I suggest you sit down with President Obama and Congress?
Hey Larry I have to admit your show makes me fee like shit because I’m in a mess and don’t know how to fix it..I have several cc act in collection for about 5 years now and I want to fix my credit! Please help!!!
I bet u have never had a guess that has messed up as much as me. I have filed bankruptcy 3times and now all my bills are behind again. I realize that this is serious and I truly need help. If u think there is any hope for me, please help me.
Thank you.
Angela. There isn’t any hope for you. Sorry. You had 3 opportunities to start over and you blew everyone of them. As the title of my book says, “You Are Broke Because You Want To Be.” I can’t help you and wouldn’t bother trying simply because you obviously aren’t willing to help yourself.
Larry, I want want t o buy Big Spender DVDs!
Ryan – nothing to say but “too bad.” Ha! A&E didn’t convert them to DVD so there won’t be any. Sorry!
Hi Larry,
I’ve just re-watched a lot of your series recently on the Bio channel, and I want to give you a big thank you!! I found the TV series back when it originally aired — I had slowly been working on my financial situation, and listening to your words helped me stay on track as well as giving me a few ideas on other things that I could do to help improve my situation. I’m happy to say that I’m doing great today — I own two houses (one is a rental) and I’m putting my son through college, so that he doesn’t have to take on any debt (college loans was the start of my issues). I have a healthy savings account, and am on track to retire in a timely way!
Have you ever followed up with the people that you helped on the show? I think it would be great to see success stories, and to hear what happened to those who didn’t succeed. It would really help show people that if you make a sound plan and stick to it that they can get to the end of the tunnel and have financial freedom!
Thanks, again!!
Heather, thanks for your posting. No, no follow up was ever done with any of the people on the show other than what you saw. Seems that people didn’t want to have much to do with us afterwards! Ha. Congrats on what you have been able to accomplish.
Wish I could watch the show, but I cancelled satellite/cable as part of my debt pay down. Is there any free avenue where I can see episodes? I do have Netflix/Hulu which are more cost friendly. At $7.99 a month, that was better for my budget. Can you point me to full episodes? Just bought Start Late Finish Rich at your advice. Looking forward to reading it. Thanks so much.
I’ve got to find a way to watch this show! My family could truly benefit from this type of programming. I wasn’t even married when the show aired, and didn’t discover your work until 2010. I’ve looked on amazon, hulu, Netflix…NOTHING. Of course I’d be willing to pay! I’d rather spend to get smarter, than keep on paying for being stupid. Well, I’m off to go bug A&E about this.
Great information thanks for sharing it!
Steve