Comments on: Till Debt Do U$ Part http://www.johnchow.com/till-debt-do-u-part/ The Miscellaneous Ramblings of a Dot Com Mogul Thu, 20 Nov 2008 09:51:01 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.3 By: Mike http://www.johnchow.com/till-debt-do-u-part/#comment-29160 Mike Fri, 26 Jan 2007 22:07:59 +0000 http://www.johnchow.com/index.php/till-debt-do-u-part/#comment-29160 It is based on family income, your necessary expenses like food, utilities, transportation etc., and is based on making the largest possible payment towards you debts. With small allowances for entertainment. It is based on family income, your necessary expenses like food, utilities, transportation etc., and is based on making the largest possible payment towards you debts. With small allowances for entertainment.

]]> By: Julie http://www.johnchow.com/till-debt-do-u-part/#comment-29131 Julie Fri, 26 Jan 2007 20:22:31 +0000 http://www.johnchow.com/index.php/till-debt-do-u-part/#comment-29131 I have a 2 questions. Does anyone know how Gail decides how much money is allocated for the jars? and Anonymous: I would be curious to know which show you and your parents appeared in. -Julie I have a 2 questions.

Does anyone know how Gail decides how much money is allocated for the jars?

and

Anonymous:
I would be curious to know which show you and your parents appeared in.

-Julie

]]> By: anonymous http://www.johnchow.com/till-debt-do-u-part/#comment-23038 anonymous Thu, 11 Jan 2007 04:23:07 +0000 http://www.johnchow.com/index.php/till-debt-do-u-part/#comment-23038 As a child of parents who have been on this show i know first hand that it has been exaggerated. In my opinon this show is to make Gail and the network money. The public likes drama and higher expenses make the show that much more darastic, and yes all the meetings and scenes are scripted.Just the secrets Tv Land doesnt want to reveal. This show has simply just been an embarrassment. As a child of parents who have been on this show i know first hand that it has been exaggerated. In my opinon this show is to make Gail and the network money. The public likes drama and higher expenses make the show that much more darastic, and yes all the meetings and scenes are scripted.Just the secrets Tv Land doesnt want to reveal. This show has simply just been an embarrassment.

]]> By: Delores http://www.johnchow.com/till-debt-do-u-part/#comment-11671 Delores Thu, 07 Dec 2006 01:26:02 +0000 http://www.johnchow.com/index.php/till-debt-do-u-part/#comment-11671 I love this show, and watch it every week. This is strange because I am a very ANTI-TV type person. I always wonder why I enjoy watching it - because our finances, thank heavens, are in great shape. But, I always learn something. One of the best lines Gail made was something along the lines of "Money management isn't rocket science, it's self control". It really made me think. And I agree with the former poster, why WOULD they disclose what they are going to air when you've given them the access to the files? Sure, it's shock value, but it's also real life! It would be a lousy TV show if everything is scripted! I love this show, and watch it every week. This is strange because I am a very ANTI-TV type person.
I always wonder why I enjoy watching it - because our finances, thank heavens, are in great shape. But, I always learn something. One of the best lines Gail made was something along the lines of “Money management isn’t rocket science, it’s self control”. It really made me think.
And I agree with the former poster, why WOULD they disclose what they are going to air when you’ve given them the access to the files? Sure, it’s shock value, but it’s also real life! It would be a lousy TV show if everything is scripted!

]]> By: Why You Should Never Pay By Cash « John Chow dot Com http://www.johnchow.com/till-debt-do-u-part/#comment-10956 Why You Should Never Pay By Cash « John Chow dot Com Sun, 03 Dec 2006 21:09:47 +0000 http://www.johnchow.com/index.php/till-debt-do-u-part/#comment-10956 [...] At first it seems like good advice; pay cash for what you need and you’ll never get into financial problems. A slew of TV shows, like Till Debt Do Us Part and Maxed Out, feature people who got themselves into a financial mess because they let their credit card debt get out of control. One of the first things the host does to help these people is to put them on an all cash budget, no more credit cards. That is good advice for the people on the show but is it good advice for the financially responsible person? The answer is a big fat no. [...] [...] At first it seems like good advice; pay cash for what you need and you’ll never get into financial problems. A slew of TV shows, like Till Debt Do Us Part and Maxed Out, feature people who got themselves into a financial mess because they let their Credit Card debt get out of control. One of the first things the host does to help these people is to put them on an all cash budget, no more Credit Cards. That is good advice for the people on the show but is it good advice for the financially responsible person? The answer is a big fat no. [...]

]]> By: Julie http://www.johnchow.com/till-debt-do-u-part/#comment-10948 Julie Sun, 03 Dec 2006 20:18:06 +0000 http://www.johnchow.com/index.php/till-debt-do-u-part/#comment-10948 John - I agree. I was shocked that she gave them $1000. I guess they did partially do what she said. Even if it was a tiny amount so she gave them what she thought was right. I was disgusted by the couple though. I mean the fact that they would take out more money just to go out to a restuarant when their account was already at $0. I think the worst part was that they didn't seem to care and she couldn't get them out of their denial. I would love it if they had a special show where they go back and visit all the couples and see where they are now. I would especially love to see where that particular couple is. John - I agree. I was shocked that she gave them $1000.

I guess they did partially do what she said. Even if it was a tiny amount so she gave them what she thought was right.

I was disgusted by the couple though. I mean the fact that they would take out more money just to go out to a restuarant when their account was already at $0.

I think the worst part was that they didn’t seem to care and she couldn’t get them out of their denial.

I would love it if they had a special show where they go back and visit all the couples and see where they are now.

I would especially love to see where that particular couple is.

]]> By: John Chow http://www.johnchow.com/till-debt-do-u-part/#comment-10823 John Chow Sun, 03 Dec 2006 04:09:54 +0000 http://www.johnchow.com/index.php/till-debt-do-u-part/#comment-10823 Julie - I think Gail was generous with that couple. I would have given them zero. Julie - I think Gail was generous with that couple. I would have given them zero.

]]> By: Julie http://www.johnchow.com/till-debt-do-u-part/#comment-10816 Julie Sun, 03 Dec 2006 03:52:50 +0000 http://www.johnchow.com/index.php/till-debt-do-u-part/#comment-10816 I am a frequent viewer of the show. I don't understand why Gail should have to discuss the situation with the couple before the cameras start rolling. The couples are the ones who have decided to be shown on television. They should be filming the whole time. I don't know the situation of the particular participant who is complaining but from watching the show there are a lot of people who as soon as something goes wrong they get a attitude and claim that it was all the shows fault or Gails fault. Especially that one young couple who as soon as they realised they had only earned $1000 were done and told everyone to leave. I am a frequent viewer of the show.

I don’t understand why Gail should have to discuss the situation with the couple before the cameras start rolling.

The couples are the ones who have decided to be shown on television. They should be filming the whole time.

I don’t know the situation of the particular participant who is complaining but from watching the show there are a lot of people who as soon as something goes wrong they get a attitude and claim that it was all the shows fault or Gails fault.

Especially that one young couple who as soon as they realised they had only earned $1000 were done and told everyone to leave.

]]> By: Mike http://www.johnchow.com/till-debt-do-u-part/#comment-10811 Mike Sun, 03 Dec 2006 03:02:04 +0000 http://www.johnchow.com/index.php/till-debt-do-u-part/#comment-10811 I never suggested that I was in denial about our financial situation. If I really thought we had a good handle on the problem, I never would have applied to be on the show. All I suggested is that (at least in our case) that our financial problems were not accurately presented. If Gail had of taken some time to discuss it before going "on the air" to clarify things with us to either explain her findings to us, or, change her numbers to more accurately reflect our finances, then as a whole I would have no enjoyed the experience more. I still do not know why no such discussion took place, and untill I get a "resonable" answer, I will assume its done to make "good TV". Other than that, I had no issues with Gail's budget, or her as a person. I never suggested that I was in denial about our financial situation. If I really thought we had a good handle on the problem, I never would have applied to be on the show. All I suggested is that (at least in our case) that our financial problems were not accurately presented. If Gail had of taken some time to discuss it before going “on the air” to clarify things with us to either explain her findings to us, or, change her numbers to more accurately reflect our finances, then as a whole I would have no enjoyed the experience more. I still do not know why no such discussion took place, and untill I get a “resonable” answer, I will assume its done to make “good TV”. Other than that, I had no issues with Gail’s budget, or her as a person.

]]> By: Ken http://www.johnchow.com/till-debt-do-u-part/#comment-10208 Ken Thu, 30 Nov 2006 14:20:54 +0000 http://www.johnchow.com/index.php/till-debt-do-u-part/#comment-10208 I take your comments with a grain of salt also, Mike. I’ve watched the show several times, usually because my wife had it on. I hoped it would make an impact on her, and can understand the people as they are portrayed on the program. I see the level of denial that these people exhibit on the show every day in my wife, and would not be surprised to find it in Mike or anyone else who you think, and interestingly they think, has a good handle on things. My wife comments on the situations of the participants, completely oblivious to the depth of our own financial hole. We owe $100,000 on a line of credit, and $30,000 credit cards that I know about. My wife has a card that she won’t tell me the balance on. Every time we watch “till debt do us part” I tell her where we are and what it’s costing us. By the end of the half hour, she has managed to dispose of the information. Budgets and financial analysis are simply ignored. I would love to find someone like Gail Vaz-Oxlade if she could help us to develop a workable plan and ways to stick to it. These situations often require a third party able to intercede dispassionately. But after years of trying to work with financial planners and accountants, I have found them to be less than helpful. They seem to want to give a quick fix and get your business, not provide a long term solution. Would I want to be on TV about it? No, but I hope she keeps watching the show, maybe something will stick. And I’d love to hear from Gail about how to find someone to help us. I take your comments with a grain of salt also, Mike.
I’ve watched the show several times, usually because my wife had it on. I hoped it would make an impact on her, and can understand the people as they are portrayed on the program. I see the level of denial that these people exhibit on the show every day in my wife, and would not be surprised to find it in Mike or anyone else who you think, and interestingly they think, has a good handle on things.
My wife comments on the situations of the participants, completely oblivious to the depth of our own financial hole. We owe $100,000 on a line of credit, and $30,000 Credit Cards that I know about. My wife has a card that she won’t tell me the balance on. Every time we watch “till debt do us part” I tell her where we are and what it’s costing us. By the end of the half hour, she has managed to dispose of the information. Budgets and financial analysis are simply ignored.
I would love to find someone like Gail Vaz-Oxlade if she could help us to develop a workable plan and ways to stick to it. These situations often require a third party able to intercede dispassionately. But after years of trying to work with financial planners and accountants, I have found them to be less than helpful. They seem to want to give a quick fix and get your business, not provide a long term solution.
Would I want to be on TV about it? No, but I hope she keeps watching the show, maybe something will stick. And I’d love to hear from Gail about how to find someone to help us.

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