# 20000 $ in debt? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [July 19, 2002, 10:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/20000-in-debt/119777 "2002-07-19T10:27:31Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![yo\_han\_go](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yo_han_go/32/130_2.png) [@yo\_han\_go](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yo_han_go)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2002, 10:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/20000-in-debt/119777/1 "2002-07-19T10:27:31Z")
What do you think about this lady? [http://www.savekaryn.com/](http://www.savekaryn.com/) Original or What!!! How come I did’t think of this before. :smack: ---
**Author:** ![FairyChatMom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fairychatmom/32/21906_2.png) [@FairyChatMom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FairyChatMom)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2002, 10:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/20000-in-debt/119777/2 "2002-07-19T10:39:09Z")
Looks to me like the e-version of “Will Work For Food”… maybe not - she’s upfront about it. What I didn’t see on my quick perusal is her plan for never getting into this situation again. Not that it matters - AFAIC, she can get out of debt the old-fashioned way - spending less and supplementing her income. When I was deep in debt, it never occurred to me that someone else should bail me out. I know I look snippy, but I have no patience with people who spend themselves into a hole. I’m not talking unforeseen emergencies. Wanting a new outfit or dinner out or a trip are definitely NOT emergencies. Sorry - not gonna get pit-like here. Carry on. ---
**Author:** ![Sublight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/439d5e/32.png) [@Sublight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sublight)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2002, 10:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/20000-in-debt/119777/3 "2002-07-19T10:56:49Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by FairyChatMom \* > \*\*What I didn’t see on my quick perusal is her plan for never getting into this situation again. \*\* I did. " Maybe it was too many morning lattes that pushed me over the edge, maybe it was the Prada pumps that I bought on eBay (They were only $100 - a STEAL!) Who knows! My debt just got larger and larger" i.e., she doesn’t have one. She piled up $20000 in debt and doesn’t know where all the money went? That takes a serious combo of denial and irresponsibility. As her debt was rising to $1000, $5000, $10000, it never hit her that she was routinely spending more than she was earning? Only now that either her minimum payments have gotten too big to handle or she’s reached her credit limit does it hit her that she’s in trouble. I hope she gets out of debt, but not by having random strangers rescue her. The more of it she has to do on her own, the more she’ll learn about fiscal responsibility, and the less likely she’ll be to get into this kind of trouble again. I hope. ---
**Author:** ![Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e19adc/32.png) [@Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2002, 1:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/20000-in-debt/119777/4 "2002-07-19T13:31:00Z")
She looks like a perfect example to set for children: Lookit this kids! This is what will happen to mom and dad if we buy you everything you see advertised during cartoons. ---
**Author:** ![TommyTutone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c4cdca/32.png) [@TommyTutone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TommyTutone)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2002, 1:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/20000-in-debt/119777/5 "2002-07-19T13:32:23Z")
She was on the radio here in Atlanta. Her plan was simply “I’m not going to do it again. I really really REALLY promise.” Ohhh, of course, let me get out my check book :smack: ---
**Author:** ![red\_dragon60](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ce73a5/32.png) [@red\_dragon60](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/red_dragon60)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2002, 2:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/20000-in-debt/119777/6 "2002-07-19T14:28:23Z")
If she was really hot, I might send her a buck, but since I can’t see any picture of her, I CANNOT FLAGRANTLY AND OBVIOUSLY JUDGE WHETHER I SHOULD GIVE HER MY CASH! Yes, it sounds bad, but it’s my damn money! And don’t you think public humiliation is a big enough price to pay? ::rolling eyes back in skull:: ---
**Author:** ![Inky\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/7feea3/32.png) [@Inky\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inky_1)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2002, 2:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/20000-in-debt/119777/7 "2002-07-19T14:47:12Z")
I sent her a buck last week. Admit it, you thought panhandlers with those “I’m not going to lie to you, I’ll just spend it on beer” signs were clever the first time you saw them. ---
**Author:** ![bernse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a9a28c/32.png) [@bernse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bernse)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2002, 3:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/20000-in-debt/119777/8 "2002-07-19T15:40:56Z")
Oh for the love of god. If you can’t control your own spending impulses why in the hell should you get rescued by anyone else? Christ, most people have credit cards with thousands and thousands of dollars in available credit but don’t charge the hell out of them. Maybe I should start a website stating that I’m such a good guy by controlling my spending I deserve a reward? :rolleyes: Well, at least she’s honest if pathetic. ---
**Author:** ![thinksnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thinksnow/32/2849_2.png) [@thinksnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thinksnow)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2002, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/20000-in-debt/119777/9 "2002-07-19T16:43:46Z")
Maybe she should sell, ohhhh, _her computer_? Maybe her minidisk player, especially now that the batteries have run out. Give up the internet, that’s $20+/month, right? “Help, I’m in debt!” said the girl with the gadgets. Tough shit. Quit being a mooch. ---
**Author:** ![DeadlyAccurate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ac91a4/32.png) [@DeadlyAccurate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DeadlyAccurate)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2002, 4:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/20000-in-debt/119777/10 "2002-07-19T16:51:40Z")
> [@](#): > > Maybe she should sell, ohhhh, her computer? Maybe her minidisk player, especially now that the batteries have run out. Give up the internet, that’s $20+/month, right? At least she is selling some of her stuff, but I agree that she’s a mooch that needs to learn how to take care of this herself. So far, she’s been given $287.67 and spent $400 of her own money (including eBay auctions she’s sold stuff on). I hope no one gives her another dime and she eventually pays back every penny of that $287.67. ---
**Author:** ![DeadlyAccurate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ac91a4/32.png) [@DeadlyAccurate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DeadlyAccurate)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2002, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/20000-in-debt/119777/11 "2002-07-19T17:03:03Z")
On the other hand, her “Daily Buck” is amusing. She’s absolutely amazed to discover the things you can do to save money. And in reading her FAQ, I think she really does understand what caused her problem. > [@](#): > > HOW COULD HAVE GOTTEN YOUR SELF INTO SUCH A “PIG WALLOW?” > Again another good and well-worded question. I just couldn’t stop buying things. It’s as simple as that. I’m going to be honest here… I wasn’t out saving the world. I was just at Bloomingdales. Now whether she’ll change her ways, I guess we won’t really know. Not that I’d give her a penny; I believe in getting yourself out of trouble as much as possible. ---
**Author:** ![Kat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/b19c9b/32.png) [@Kat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kat)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2002, 6:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/20000-in-debt/119777/12 "2002-07-19T18:10:49Z")
Bah. If you want to give away money, give it to me, not some random whacko on the Internet\*. 😃 Hey, somebody had to say it! [sub]\*The key word here is “random”.[/sub] ---
**Author:** ![Kat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/b19c9b/32.png) [@Kat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kat)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2002, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/20000-in-debt/119777/13 "2002-07-19T18:21:10Z")
I’m reading her “Buck a Day” crap…and this is crap. She’s praising herself for buying a pre-made turkey sandwich and eating half for lunch and half for dinner, when for the same price, she could probably get a loaf of bread and something to put on it (prepackaged lunch meat or a jar of peanut butter). Or some fruit and/or vegetables from the produce section. Or maybe even both. She’s counting $8.00 that she didn’t spend on fashion magazines as “saving $8.00”. :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![sailor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a587f6/32.png) [@sailor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sailor)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2002, 6:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/20000-in-debt/119777/14 "2002-07-19T18:27:18Z")
I just got an idea for a website: Hi, I’m sailor and I desperately need a blowjob. ---
**Author:** ![erislover](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/71e660/32.png) [@erislover](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/erislover)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2002, 6:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/20000-in-debt/119777/15 "2002-07-19T18:57:48Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Kat \* > She’s counting $8.00 that she didn’t spend on fashion magazines as “saving $8.00”. :rolleyes: So, hmm. Not spending money you would normally spend… I think that covers the term “saving” when we’re talking about someon who has a spending problem. ---
**Author:** ![Morgainelf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/71e660/32.png) [@Morgainelf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morgainelf)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2002, 8:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/20000-in-debt/119777/16 "2002-07-19T20:48:08Z")
Hmmm, I’m $34,000 in debt. Line up to send **Morgainelf** your cash! I know you all want to. I’m nice, but I don’t own any Prada MaryJanes to sell on e-bay. I think I have a pair of Kenneth Cole wedding shoes… Never shopped at Bloomingdales. I just have a bunch of debt from a bad marriage and too many years making less than it takes to live. Debt’s a bitch. I have to give her credit for her creativity, but she’s in a dreamworld if she thinks someone’s going to bail her out. She sounds like a spoiled little girl whose parents always took care of her messes. ---
**Author:** ![DeadlyAccurate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ac91a4/32.png) [@DeadlyAccurate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DeadlyAccurate)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2002, 9:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/20000-in-debt/119777/17 "2002-07-19T21:05:04Z")
> [@](#): > > She sounds like a spoiled little girl whose parents always took care of her messes. That’s the impression I got, also. She just learned what a Dollar Store was about (and she’s in her late 20s). She chooses ready-made sandwiches over restaurant food instead of buying bread, meat and fixings and counts that as good cost savings. She should be looking into how to cook rice and mixed vegetables. I think she’s honestly trying, but I don’t think she knows what reality is like on our planet. ---
**Author:** ![FairyChatMom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fairychatmom/32/21906_2.png) [@FairyChatMom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FairyChatMom)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2002, 9:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/20000-in-debt/119777/18 "2002-07-19T21:07:57Z")
After trying to go into business about 6 years back, we wound up over $50K in debt, not counting mortgage and car payments. We now owe less than $5K of that, and we’ve increased our savings in the interim (can’t be without a cushion again) - and we didn’t have to ask anyone to bail us out. Grow up, little girl. ---
**Author:** ![Giraffe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/giraffe/32/129_2.png) [@Giraffe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Giraffe)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2002, 9:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/20000-in-debt/119777/19 "2002-07-19T21:47:14Z")
Although I wouldn’t give her money, I thought her website was funny. As long as she keeps it entertaining, I don’t see how this is any different than (e.g.) playing saxaphone in the subway station. (Especially since it will likely be about as effective.) Internet begging. You knew it was coming eventually. ---
**Author:** ![Coldfire](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a587f6/32.png) [@Coldfire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Coldfire)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2002, 10:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/20000-in-debt/119777/20 "2002-07-19T22:26:29Z")
From her website: > [@](#): > > **WHAT’S IN IT FOR YOU, YOU ASK?** > It’s normal that one should ask this question. I’ll be honest… nothing is really in it for you. But I do believe in Karma. And I believe in positive returns on investment. Buh-bye. Yeesh. What a loser. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/20000-in-debt/119777.md?page=2)