Meet the American mother-of-six who has over $135,000 in credit card debt and spends $400 a month (more than US$13 a day, every day) at Starbucks.

God I love trashy American TV. Particularly shows featuring incredibly outrageous 'real' people, like on Cops or Jerry Springer or, in this case, Oprah.

In a recent episode, Oprah met a woman with a credit card spending habit that had brought her and her family close to financial ruin.

Far from being a remorseful debtor, the woman admits to regularly living beyond her husband's US$60,000 a year salary by spending $240 a month on tans and manicures and saving money by cutting back on the unimportant things...like health insurance for her children.

The couple also have brand new cards (for which they repay $1,700 a month) and two mortgages on their home, totalling $685,000. They're two weeks behind on their mortgage payments.

When the money runs out the woman takes cash advances and hides the receipts from her husband.

The lazy...I mean, lady, appeared on Oprah and was counselled by financial adviser Suze Orman, who suggested they sell their house and cars, move to Seattle, and for Mum to get a job. The lady has thus far refused to find employment because her "children need [her] at home". Her children are all school aged.

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