"Big Spender" on A&E

I've been watching A&E's "Big Spender" the past couple of weeks. It's a very interesting show. Host Larry Winget has a Dave Ramsey swagger to him, but he's not as quick to call the debtors he's helping "stupid."

Which is odd, really, since he has more right to do so than Ramsey. I've only seen a few episodes so far, but it seems clear that he deals with a specific type of client; people who spend too much. That's great, as there is no shortage of that kind of debtor, and they need help, but man, I'd love to have clients like these. There's plenty of income to work with, and their debt problems can be solved in most cases purely with budgeting and discipline. I don't think we're going to see too many people in debt because of huge tax bills, sudden job loss, divorce, etc. The show is called "Big Spender", after all.

So tune in if you can, because Winget is very good at what he does. But unlike the people on the show, your debts probably aren't from $300 per month at the spa, weekly pedicures, or $400 bingo losses, so all of Larry's good advice may not apply to you. Still, the central theme of the show, that it is possible to live within your means, is absolutely worthwhile.