Though my budget/debt counseling classes will be launched winter term, Helene gave me an opportunity during the last three weeks of fall term to start one-on-one budgeting sessions. One afternoon, I met with Desiree during one of our jewelry sessions. While I offered for us to go to a room to discuss her personal financial situation, she announced that she’d rather talk about it in the jewelry studio, even though all the other FLT girls were there. This was actually great because it prompted a discussion of budget right before Christmas shopping. Several of the participants, Desiree, Norinne, Jessica, and Sammy were venturing to Manchester the following day to start their Christmas shopping. After listening to their piles of unconventional debt, I knew this was bound to be a disaster. In front of everyone, Desiree blatantly admitted to being a “shopaholic.” Prior to this, I’ve really only seen this on TV shows or joked about it with my girlfriends, but really truly just joked about it.
Apparently, most of the girls in the room already knew about Desiree’s shopping addiction. Desiree had cleverly thought out her tax payments and her husband’s checks to make sure that she had enough money for Christmas spending. Just the previous weekend, she spent over $300 on just two presents. She confessed that she wanted her “baby girls” to only have the best, and described how she’ll go to Macy’s and pick up pricey coats and jeans for her girls every couple of months. Both of her children have the latest Play Stations, and this year she wants to buy both of them Wii’s. I asked her why she can’t just purchase one for them to share. She rebutted that they would literally kill each other if they fought over a Wii, and she’d have to get one blue and one pink, and it would be a war zone in their living room. I suggested that maybe she should set up an appointment with Brenda, who runs the daycare to learn techniques to help her children share toys. Desiree responded that it’s just easier to buy a Wii. But she has no money! Desiree attempted to calm my worries that she had already called the phone company and the heating company and somehow received an extension on paying her bills. Secretly, she also admitted the pile of bills she sits on. She has thousands of dollars in cell phone bills and credit card bills that she has simply never paid. She admitted that she half-heartedly expects that they’ll just somehow disappear. When I suggested to start saving her husband’s salary to start paying back notes, she agreed that that’s what she should do, but she didn’t know how realistic it was. She noted that she was simply repulsed by the idea of going to Wal-Mart or Salvation Army to dress her children. The other girls in the room heavily relied on this for their income –saving strategies and sarcastically told her how ridiculous this was. It led to a conversation of where to buy the cheapest diapers (CVS vs. Wal-Mart vs. Kmart) and how to get discount toys at the Listen Center. While a huge project had been carved out with Desiree, the resultant conversation was very hopeful. Merry Christmas everyone!
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