Teacher In Lake St. Louis, Missouri, Shows Us What She Bought Ov…
Q&A with Organizational Pro Peter Walsh + Dermatologist Shares A…
Actor Hank Azaria + Freezer Meals + Artichokes 2 Ways with Rach
See Inside Barbara Corcoran's Stunning NY Apartment + It's Steak…
How to Make Chicken and Lobster Piccata | Richard Blais
Donnie Wahlberg Spills Details About NKOTB's First Ever Conventi…
Donnie Wahlberg + Jenny McCarthy Say Rach Is Such a "Joy" + Look…
The Best Moments From 17 Seasons of the Show Will Make You Laugh…
How to Make Crabby Carbonara | Rachael Ray
Rach Chats "Firsts" In Flashback From Our First Episode Ever In …
How to Make Apple-Cider Braised Pork Chop Sandwiches with Onion …
Rach's Chef Pals Say Goodbye to Show in Surprise Video Message
How to Make Sesame Cookies | Buddy Valastro
How to Make Tortilla with Potatoes, Piquillo Peppers and Mancheg…
How to Make Shrimp Burgers | Jacques Pepin
How to Make Spanakopipasta | Rachael Ray
Andrew McCarthy Chokes Up Discussing Emotional Trip to Spain wit…
Celebrity Guests Send Farewell Messages After 17 Seasons of the …
Celebrity Guests Send Farewell Messages After 17 Seasons of the …
Andrew McCarthy Teases Upcoming "Brat Pack" Reunion Special
Michelle Obama Toasts Rach's 17 Years on the Air With a Heartfel…
Tired after a day of work and don't feel like cooking? Takeout it is! Picking up a coffee before work and can't help but treat your co-workers, too? Sharing is caring! Want to spoil your pup? Of course—he's such a good boy!
We've all been there—and those impulses are hard to resist.
But as passionate as we are about treating yourself and friends every once in a while, we're just as passionate about helping our viewers save their hard-earned money and a reach a place of financial stability.
For that, we rely on a little help from our friends—like frugal living expert Lauren Greutman.
When a self-proclaimed over spender named Jamie came to us for advice on how to increase her savings and start paying off her $11,000 credit card debt, we asked her to track her spending for a week. That way, Lauren (who paid off $40,000 of debt herself!) could better help her adjust her spending habits.
Name: Jamie
Location: Lake St. Louis, Missouri
Occupation and Salary: "I am a teacher living on a teacher's salary, but my spending does not reflect that."
Debt: Over $11,000
DAY 1
"I am sitting in a drive-through for fast food. Do I have food at home? Yeah, I probably do have food at home, but I don't feel like cooking and that's the story of my life."
DAY 2
Jamie spent $21.91 on takeout pizza and pasta for dinner.
DAY 5
Breakfast: $7.94
"This morning I was struggling, and I stopped by the local bakery and I got a coffee for myself and I got a breakfast sandwich for another teacher friend."
Dinner: Jamie ordered takeout chicken sandwich and waffle fries.
DAY 6
Jamie went shopping and purchased peroxide, Q-tips, two ice packs for her classroom, candy and toothpaste—plus, a Double Diner Mat (on sale for $10.97), a costume ($12.99) and shirt (on clearance) for her dog.
She spent $70.87 in total.
"Knowing that everybody's going to see what I bought kind of slowed me down. Typically, I wouldn't look at a price."
DAY 8
Jamie went out to lunch with friends and ordered Buffalo dip ($9.99), a cheeseburger ($10.29) and an unsweetened tea. Later, she purchased a Tiger's Blood snow cone ($5), a Bahama Mama ($8) and kettle corn ($5).
TOTAL FOR THE WEEK: $245.21
Click here for the advice Lauren gave Jamie to help curb her spending, save money and pay off her debt—including three easy and delicious make-ahead freezer meals you can make in a slow cooker. (Takeout, who??)