Oprah’s Debt Diet finale

I previously taped and finally watched the final installment in the five-part series of Oprah Winfrey’s Debt Diet.  I recently posted about the first show where financial expert Jean Chatzky along with best selling author David Bach and money coach Glinda Bridgforth each teamed up with a family in financial trouble and placed them on the Debt Diet.

What I saw were ordinary people doing strange things when it came to money.  Couples lied to each other about spending. They lied to themselves about debt. They lived extravagant lives that they couldn’t afford. They fought with each other and their kids about money. Couples didn’t communicate about money issues. They assumed a life together meant being constantly stressed.  They ignored bad habits, especially around spending. They had many wounds around money. There was much confusion around net-worth and self-worth.

The three financial experts really had their work cut out for them. They were kept in the dark about certain money secrets their assigned family kept from them. They were the bearers of bad news and were often at the receiving end of the families frustrations and anger.   Their families were stubborn and at times unwilling to compromise. They were sometimes met with resentment rather than gratitude for their efforts. I sure wouldn’t have wanted to take on that task.

But all three plowed on, and in true Oprah fashion, by the end of the series, (which in real life I believe was 2 months) there was tremendous progress with all three families. There were also shared news stories of inspired viewers who put themselves on the debt diet. The thing I was most impressed with was the communication that increased with all three couples.  One couple was previously so stressed around finances that they were arguing constantly and ready for divorce – now they were communicating and healing together.  Another couple said they felt in love again.  Another couple just plain seemed to be having more fun as they worked together in getting their financial life together.

So for that reason alone Oprah did an wonderful thing – allowed them to open their eyes to the possibility of a different way of living.  Once they began communicating, once they gained some control and started to feel empowered by their actions, once they saw the direct positive results of the decisions they were making together, once they were given some guidance and direction – they were off and running – together, as a family.

I’m hoping that’s what people feel when they read my life planning guidebook Year Ahead/Year in Review.  I know and believe in the power of couples communicating honestly about money and in planning their futures.  If they can just move through the fear and start talking and planning, they too will see the possibilities that lie ahead of them.

I’d like to send someone a free copy of my book. Would you would be willing to share a little about yourself, your relationship status, whether or not you have a budget or a life plan,  and how you ‘make things happen’ in your life?

I’m going to choose a winner on Friday – good luck!