Jamie’s Mom
Appearances
Debt Heads
S1.E1. The Secret Life of Debt Heads
Very. There was not regular money flowing in. So it was very stressful and very, like, chaotic at times because I didn't know how we would manage. And so was that something you were constantly thinking about? Constantly. Constantly, because I didn't want to have to go live somewhere else or move or think about not being on my own and independent.
Debt Heads
S1.E1. The Secret Life of Debt Heads
I certainly wasn't going to live with my mother again. So...
Debt Heads
S1.E1. The Secret Life of Debt Heads
We lived in our one-bedroom apartment from 1983 till 1996. When we moved to this apartment, it was double our rent. And I freaked out. And we did it. For a while, we did. Then all the shit started happening and then we weren't able to do it.
Debt Heads
S1.E1. The Secret Life of Debt Heads
I love this apartment. The only thing I don't love about this apartment is the train. Right there. What do you love about this apartment? It's just me. It's just everything about it is me. I think it's very cozy. I think it's very homey. I think it's very inviting.
Debt Heads
S1.E1. The Secret Life of Debt Heads
Like, did you ever not feel this way about this apartment? Initially, when the furniture that was here when we lived here together was here.
Debt Heads
S1.E1. The Secret Life of Debt Heads
It was scary, but a relief in a way. Because I know you've heard me say this many times, like I never knew what I would walk into when I would come home behind that door. It was always something, you know, just not good. Just something always was happening. Something was always stressful, critical, drama. You know, I just never knew what the situation would be here behind that door.
Debt Heads
S1.E1. The Secret Life of Debt Heads
And I felt very guilty saying that this is the best thing that could have happened to me. But truthfully, it was because... I just was able to take care of you and take care of myself. Otherwise, I couldn't do it. I couldn't do it before.
Debt Heads
S1.E1. The Secret Life of Debt Heads
Because I couldn't go to work because I didn't trust anyone to watch you. I couldn't leave you with Dad because I was afraid. And I just didn't want to do it. I just felt like I would somehow make it through and not worry about what's happening to you because that was more important. So... Yeah.
Debt Heads
S1.E1. The Secret Life of Debt Heads
I'll tell you what I remember immediately once he died. My first instinct was, how am I going to manage? I remember people were coming to pay Shiva calls, and I was totally distracted by thinking to myself, how the fuck am I going to pay my rent? I was already three months behind in my rent when he died.
Debt Heads
S1.E1. The Secret Life of Debt Heads
And I just didn't know what I was going to do until all these friends came in and said, we got it. We got you. And they paid my back rent for three months. So I had a clean slate. And I was never in that kind of debt again, ever. I never got a credit card debt. I paid my credit card bills. I charged very little, whatever I could afford to pay. is what I did. I always made sure to pay my rent.
Debt Heads
S1.E1. The Secret Life of Debt Heads
Till this day, first thing I do is pay my rent because I never ever want to consider the fact that I won't have a place to live.
Debt Heads
S1.E1. The Secret Life of Debt Heads
Although for me, it takes me a while to get into that budgeting thing. I've been saying it since you started talking about it. I'm a big procrastinator when it comes to doing certain things. Tell me you want to go to TJ Maxx. I have my shoes on. I'm going.
Debt Heads
S1.E1. The Secret Life of Debt Heads
And for Jamie Feldman, that's actually an improvement. That's why this week we're chatting with Jamie Feldman.
Debt Heads
S1.E1. The Secret Life of Debt Heads
I kind of like, I kind of saw myself. I didn't panic because I didn't think that it would be a big deal. You were independent. You didn't have anyone to support. You were living your life. That's what I did in my 20s. I mean, every penny that I made, I bought clothes. Every penny. Whatever I had, whatever I made. I never saved anything. I always spent it. Always. I was always a spender.
Debt Heads
S1.E1. The Secret Life of Debt Heads
No, my parents did not know how to manage money. My father was a big show-off. My mother was a fashionista. Till this day, she's still a fashionista. And I never really had any financial education.