I just saw the premier of a new show last night called Downsized, it is on WE TV. It is about a family that was rolling in the dough, and spending it just as fast. Then the economy caught up to the husband's general contracting business and now they are struggling just to buy things like groceries.
I really liked the show. The family is a blended family, the Dad came in with 2 kids, and the Mom had 5, so now they have 7 kids. When the contracting business was doing well they estimated they were spending $15K - $18K per MONTH! Then when the sh*t hit the fan they had to declare bankrupcy, their home was forclosed on, and a rental home they owned was also forclosed on. The first episode they were $300 short on rent for the house they are renting (I suppose it would have been near impossible to find an apt to rent for 9 people, so that is probably why they are renting a house). So in order to scrape up the last $300, 3 of the kids went dumpster diving, the Dad took in a large amount of change, and one of the kids sold their baseball glove (no one asked him too, he just wanted to help). It was a very interesting show and I enjoyed seeing the creative ways they were trying to pull together a few more bucks.
The only thing I did not like was when the Mom, who is a 1st grade teacher, said that she makes so little teaching that she feels like she does not even get a paycheck, and feels more like volunteering then a job. While I agree that teachers should be paid better, as the wife of a 5th grade teacher I know that it is not how much you make that determines where you are financially, it is how much you spend. If you make responsible choices you will make things work. If you spend $15K a month.....well that is your choice and see how it turns out. 
Downsized - New Show
November 7th, 2010 at 11:37 pm
November 8th, 2010 at 12:05 am 1289174738
November 8th, 2010 at 01:03 am 1289178238
November 8th, 2010 at 05:23 am 1289193817
I was raised by 2 teachers with 5 kids.... we made it somehow, that sort of irked me too.
November 8th, 2010 at 09:50 pm 1289253007
They have food stamps, but the mom said she never knows whats on the card or what its been spent on. I would say that she needs a budget & meal plan for food.
Definitely worth watching. They picked a good family as they are very open about their feelings. The one teen has to watch one of her step sisters get a free car from her grandparents. That's really rough. I also wonder who is paying the insurance and gas on that. Guessing it will be the girl's mother's family.