Couple Blindsided By Child Costs - Til Debt Do Us Part 306 - Love Among The Ruins

Til Debt Do Us Part offers tough love solutions to those in financial crisis.
Janet and Ian were happily enjoying their double-income-no-kids lifestyle until their first child was born. Both want Janet to be able to stay home full time, but they’re worried about the $20,000 debt they’ve amassed in a year and a half. And then there’s their 40 year old home, which needs some major repairs. It’s up to Gail to show this couple how to manage their money so their house doesn’t become a money pit.

[@bovnycccoperalover3579]

It's a pleasure to watch this when the couples are serious and you can see they like Gail and Gail likes them!❤

[@thisyearsgrl88]

I want a life where grout is considered a big problem

[@gregrubidge1006]

funny!

[@zg6879]

It can be a problem if the grout is deteriorated to the point where water is pooling beneath the tiles and harboring mold or water damage, but I see your point

[@CaraMarie13]

Lol it's a small problem but an annoying one. Like next year when am done paying off a debt I squires thanks to Taylor Swift concert fomo, am going to have to save to have the tiles in my kitchen partially redone because the tiles weren't properly installed. Some of them don't even have grout lol so they started cracking under weight. It's a minor annoying expense am going to have to incur. Thankfully is only five tiles but still

[@patrickmaruniak5347]

I really like this couple. I like how they were willing to listen to Gail and didn't give her any back talk.

[@jenniferchrin1095]

When my husband and I bought our house we only bought what we could afford on my salary (lesser of the two) alone so if anything happened job loss we were ok. I stayed home for 2 years with my daughter and we lived the same life we did before we had her bc we planned. Everything is planning and saving

[@janebaker4912]

Was this many years ago? If you can find a house that can be bought with only one income .... It's a two income world now. But yes. This is very smart.

[@DB-bw5fz]

@@janebaker4912it’s still doable….but it does take a lot of will and discipline to be able to make it happen. My wife and I did the same thing as above. We bought a house that we could afford, albeit very tightly, on either of our incomes. While times were good and we both had our incomes, we focused on paying down as much of our mortgage as possible and building up a savings rather than spending it up. The same things were being said when we bought our home, and everyone said that no one our age would ever be able to own their own home. Now we are in our mid 30s with children and we are completely mortgage and debt free. When I look back, the choices that both of us made individually to get to where we are today really began in our very late teens/early 20s. Small decisions here and there that at the time, didn’t seem like they would ever amount to much…until all of a sudden they did.

[@kirstyirsty8919]

Very very very few couples could buy a house on one salary nowadays. Times have changed

[@Mr.Boring_Man]

🔥 🔥- Smart!

[@spokenwordpoetries]

Good for you! It really depends on where you live, though. Housing prices are extremely high in some areas, even for a fixer upper.

[@cvelasquez8041]

He laughed when Gail said "you all pretty much like each other" and you can tell they do. But you can also tell that some of the couples on this series really hated each other.

[@karolmiller6984]

Nice to see a couple that love each other. Hope they were willing to keep the repairs to a minimum. Good luck

[@IamRocque]

Best couple I’ve seen so far and I appreciate the fact they didn’t give any fuss. They understood Gail and did what needed to be done.

[@FionaApplewright]

This has to be my favorite couple. The woman, especially, is so adorable. I'd love to see Gail put some Fear Factor challenges into the show for sure.

[@akc783]

I love what a positive attitude these two had.

[@eltskipp]

Lucky the skylight repairs weren’t bad. I had to spend almost $20,000 due to a leaking skylights rotting out my roof. New roof needed. Lesson- Avoid skylights.

[@pherenike8079]

True, more problems for little enjoyment. Not worth it!

[@MrsEJV]

When I had a, bathroom, bow window and skylight added to my office that was in my home, I actually hired my ex husband as the contractor. It was NOT an amicable divorce (absolutely horrible) but some years had gone by and as lousy as he was as a husband, he was a perfectionist in his work. We were able to respect boundaries but more importantly - absolutely nothing leaked. But not an easy decision to make!

[@pamsmith1665]

It could have gone horribly wrong​@@MrsEJV

[@JehanineMelmoth]

Gail really liked these two. No trash collecting or making fast food - instead they get massage school!

[@zg6879]

What a lovely couple!

[@drewconway7135]

I feel like Gail was trying to get this couple to have another baby! “Did you enjoy rubbing each other?” “I’m sending you to... have a sumptuous dinner....” And the way she closed her eyes when she said “sumptuous” made me think I should avert my eyes! Boom chicka bow wow! 😳

[@janebaker4912]

"And I want you to do eachother"

[@SuzanneU]

I'm sure Gail expected them to use contraception!

[@sandmill93]

🤣

[@amandab8433]

To anyone thinking about buying a home with a pool, or installing a pool, I'm going to say DON'T! Swimming pools, especially in ground ones, are a NEVER ENDING MONEY PIT! We purchased our home over 25 years ago thinking we'd use the pool all the time, especially since our kids were little, and over the years we maybe use it under ten times a year. The upkeep still has to be done at least once a week whether we use it or not, and that means 💸💸💸💸💸💸💸💸💸💸💸💸💸💸💸💸💸💸💸💸💸💸💸. We're now thinking about just getting it filled in.

[@renafielding945]

My daughter and her husband bought an older house in a very quiet neighborhood with lots of children. The house next door had an in ground pool years ago, but it has been filled in and is like a little oasis garden.

[@sandragregg9079]

Yes pools are expensive. We live in Florida. I decided to hire pool Co. I figured what we spend in chemicals and hubbies time vacuuming brushing etc for $120 per month it's worth it. We spend alot of time in our pool.

[@amandab8433]

@@sandragregg9079 I wish I could say the same 🤣. My has used the pool maybe three times a month since the beginning of the year. I've used it ZERO times 😅. We live in California.

[@amandab8433]

@@renafielding945 We're seriously thinking about doing the same. Or maybe just putting a deck over the pool, but it's a HUGE pool.

[@luciebrisson5881]

Our parents purchased an above ground pool when we were children. We would dive in first thing in the morning, when we came back from school, in the evening, every weekend. We'd have pool parties regularly. We had it for over 20 years and only had to change the pool liner once. Everyone in the family had a turn at vacuuming once a week so our turn would only come back every 6 weeks. We all have the most wonderful memories of fun and laughter in that pool.

[@LorraFae]

I like this couple. It’s refreshing to see a pair who aren’t complete dopes !

[@patrickmaruniak5347]

Lorra Fae me too

[@LKA-si7ln]

Yeah, this couple is one of the more sophisticated and classy couples I’ve seen on this show.

[@blaakcoffee]

Gorgeous home.

[@sharonburling2262]

Wonderful coouple! They're very lucky to have each other!

[@jesbus3845]

They are such of sweet couple, the wife has a beautiful smile and laugh

[@sandragregg9079]

Our home was built in 1977. I totally understand what this couple faces. We need new windows and pool deck repair. I feel it's the biggest investment u make and u do repairs. I feel older homes r made better.

[@misterlee403]

What a great couple!

[@BlackNight603]

What they didn't mention here are the costs for the child care they have to pay while she is working

[@janelleg597]

Yes!!

[@stephaniewright5909]

The ex boss seemed to indicate work from home so that might ease a daycare center cost vs a babysitter ? But Gail did seem determined to have making babies ! LOL

[@kirstyirsty8919]

It was part time and the boss specifically said it could be done from home and during off hours, so she would be working during nap time and evenings/weekends. Tough schedule but necessary to get out of debt

[@kaylaharlan8024]

I wish my husband made $89,000 and I didn’t have to have a job. I could live off that for a year with our two kids we would not be struggling

[@ediemaar2446]

It’s 89000 CAD

[@murderofcrows7738]

@@ediemaar2446 That’s still a good income.

[@xkaokdkl11933]

Nah that’s crap money for a household nowadays

[@wufflerdance9481]

​@@xkaokdkl11933lot more then my family and most familiea make

[@beckygroff8698]

Thank you for posting!!

[@CaraMarie13]

I did the math, a kid is more financial sacrifice am not willing to take right now.

[@Cosmo26271]

Good looking dude!

[@robertperry814]

only reason i watched!

[@judykane3024]

Wonderful, great people.

[@janebaker4912]

These seams like lovely nice people ✨

[@tinajohnson1988]

Some.of these people make 3 x what I do. How can they not make ends meet. The more u make the more debt I guess

[@random-fe9si]

Yup the more you make the more you spend. She needs a job and they should live like they still only have one income. She could even just babysit other kids

[@LarisaC.]

Yes. People who make more money tend to say “I work hard and I make good money so I deserve”.

[@leatharay3565]

I love Gail

[@maywarda480]

Back when you could buy a house like this for 300 K

[@emilynicole4918]

We bought our house for 2500.

[@kirstyirsty8919]

Inflation is crazy. All the houses on my parents road were sold for two thousand when they were built in the 60s. They would cost 5-6 hundred thousand now, only 60 years later

[@ToddVenable]

Gail’s advice to move their consumer debt to their mortgage is a really bad idea.

[@JehanineMelmoth]

It depends on the interest rates.

[@ToddVenable]

@@JehanineMelmoth No it doesn't. Moving an unsecured debt to a secured debt like a mortgage is dumb. It puts your house at risk. It isn't an interest rate game. You can call your consumer debt holder and negotiate a lower rate on your own. Putting your house at risk is a dumb move. All you're doing is moving the debt around.

[@JehanineMelmoth]

@@ToddVenable paying 30% interest on your debt makes it much more likely that you will default on it and eventually lose your house via bankruptcy anyway. Putting the debt on to your mortgage means that you pay less interest so are able to pay more debt off, so as long as you have learned your lesson about overspending, you are in a much better position to pay off the debt and keep your house. There are episodes in which Gail thinks it is appropriate to do this and others in which she doesn’t - it depends on whether the couple have learned their lesson about overspending, and what the interest rates are.

[@LarisaC.]

Well…. Having consumer debt isn’t very smart in the first place.

[@ToddVenable]

@@LarisaC. Agreed - but having your unsecured consumer debt be moved to a secured mortgage is really dumb. Puts the house at risk. Call and negotiate with your consumer lenders.

[@Zoot_of_Anthrax]

While i wouldnt tackle skylights, chimney, pool apron…. Shes at home all day. She could absolutely do some grout. Its not a “mans job” 😡

[@joycef8443]

I fixed ours earlier this month. Easy!

[@janebaker4912]

I guess in those days she couldn't KZbin it

[@wufflerdance1905]

​@@janebaker4912oh my goodness yes....youtube gurus are my lifesaver all the time.....

[@nancysmith2874]

This really should be taught in school

[@xkaokdkl11933]

Least original comment ever

[@aussiemouth747]

Teachers have enough to do. Common sense comes from the parents.

[@leatharay3565]

What concerns me not just for them but for all of us with inflation

[@momof2momof2]

Obviously it has nothing to do with increasing costs, it all has to do with their over spending.... an easy fix. There is no reason why they can't live on his salary alone.

[@bettygrable6440]

Really, Gail? I’m supposed to budget 3-9% of my home value each year for maintenance? That’s $1200 a month. How is that even possible? Outdated number.

[@LarisaC.]

This is an older house, and it has outstanding repairs that need doing. Wouldn’t be crazy to budget for that much to put away.

[@victoriaorme1564]

Easiest couple ever!

[@TheImperfectReader]

Baby # 2 after the massage school lol

[@ruthirwin8222]

What is a line of credit???

[@Liimpy]

It's a bank account with money in it, borrowed from your home equity, you can send checks and borrow cash out of it

[@susananderson7473]

Don't get one.

[@LS-xq5nf]

A loan that you have to pay back.

[@ruthirwin8222]

​@@susananderson7473i dont think there is such a thing in uk, i hadnt heard of it, sounds a nightmare

[@LarisaC.]

I think we’d call it a personal loan or a consumer loan. And no, you shouldn’t get one.

[@NotAFanOfHandles]

This is what many people who are all "landlords bad!" don't understand: the rent they pay has to cover not only the mortgage, property tax, etc., but the eventual maintenance/upkeep that is necessary to keep the home in good repair. Eventually everything needs repair/replacing, such as wiring, boilers, refrigerators, what-have-you, and that money has to come from somewhere.

[@jenniferbond7073]

Totally get it. We rent, pay market rate and our landlord want us to pay into maintenance. Pretty ridiculous since we rent not own. Maintenance is part of owning an investment! I’m a commercial property manager so we pay rent always on the 1st and take good care of the place. I would understand us having to pay if we caused the issue say clogging a toilet but we are required to pay for normal maintenance!

[@NotAFanOfHandles]

@@jenniferbond7073 Yeah, your landlord needs to understand that the maintenance is supposed to come _out of the rent_ they charge you. If they are not charging enough to cover the maintenance, that's on them. Expecting a tenant to pay an extra "maintenance fee" on top of rent is ridiculous - that needs to be worked _into_ the rent price from the get-go.

[@missmichelleluv]

How old are they

[@chrsitineadriaenssen6074]

One doesn‘t need advice for everything😂

[@bidah007]

GO BACK TO WORK LADY!!!!!!!!

[@janebaker4912]

Wow. She has a baby.

[@bidah007]

Exactly , they can't afford to live on one salary

[@wolfdreamer8113]

well he was making 89,000 dollars a year. With that income, they could reasonably have lived on one income if they wanted.

[@azeezsalvador2361]

@@wolfdreamer8113 with mortage and a baby?

[@wolfdreamer8113]

@@azeezsalvador2361 absolutely yes, but they chose to live like they were on 2 incomes. If you can't live off of 89000 a year you're doing something wrong

[@chrsitineadriaenssen6074]

This method with cash is ridiculous also saving with debts!

[@JehanineMelmoth]

Saving with debt prevents more debt. It’s very sensible. Otherwise any emergency can just have you plunging into more debt.

[@andreaberryman5354]

There is a REASON it is called Planned Parenthood. Blows my MIND couples don't ask themselves if they have an extra $1,000 a month to blow for the next 25 years-that is how much it costs to adequately raise one child. It's costs a HALF MILLION to raise one.

[@--M--1111]

Well on the outside like many couples on social media look happy and expensive, but look at all that financial crap and stress they are going through! The smart ones who get along with their parents buy a multigeneration home altogether share all expenses like I did. No stress, no hassle and the bank respects us all. Babysitters for kids at all times and I waited when I was financially stable and have traveled and done all the things I wanted in my 30s. Most of my old acquaintances were jealous because they did not feel like doing the same as I because they did not get along with their parents and preferred maintaining the image of we struggle alone which is stupid because most got their house co-signed by their parents along with the car and wedding paid. At least they are smart to wait before having kids. Many just have them and regret them due to financial or personal issues. When she mentioned he is the dream guy because he spends on her wtv she wants...well that is a typical women that digs for gold and gets replacement when she has less. He looks like he is whipped. Do not believe the image. What people show you is what they want you to see. Now they are financially in deep sh*t and are desperate and need help.

[@whifling]

Grandparents should be able to enjoy retirement, not used as slave labour.

[@aussiemouth747]

It chills me to see an unfenced pool. 🤔😢🦘

[@rebvanwinkelstein2578]

They had a fence. 12:10-12:24