Ep 22. The Mom Who Shopped Her Family Broke

In season 1 episode 22 of Oprah's Lifeclass titled "The Mom Who Shopped Her Family Broke", Oprah and financial expert Suze Orman help a family deal with their financial troubles caused by the mother's compulsive shopping habits.

The episode begins with Oprah introducing the family and their financial situation. The mother, Jenna, reveals that she has accumulated over $50,000 in credit card debt from her shopping addiction. This has placed a significant strain on the family's finances, causing them to struggle to pay bills and provide for their children.

Suze Orman joins the show to offer her expertise and guidance to Jenna and her family. She begins by emphasizing the importance of taking responsibility for one's financial decisions. In Jenna's case, this means acknowledging the extent of her shopping addiction and committing to making a change.

Suze provides Jenna with practical tips for managing her debt, such as creating a budget and consolidating her credit cards. She also addresses the larger psychological issues underlying Jenna's addiction, encouraging her to seek professional help and turn to healthier coping mechanisms.

Throughout the episode, Oprah and Suze also offer advice to Jenna's husband, who has been struggling to support the family financially. They encourage him to take an active role in managing their finances, including setting boundaries with Jenna and working together to create a sustainable financial plan for their future.

The episode concludes with a moving conversation between Jenna and her children, in which she apologizes for the impact her shopping addiction has had on their family and commits to making things right. Oprah and Suze offer their support and encouragement as the family begins to take steps towards a brighter financial future.

Overall, "The Mom Who Shopped Her Family Broke" is a powerful episode of Oprah's Lifeclass that offers practical advice and emotional support to a family struggling with financial difficulties caused by addiction. Through the guidance of Oprah and Suze, the family is able to find hope and take steps towards a better future.