When Helping Hurts: A Son’s Debt Nearly Destroys His Parents | Suze Orman Show Full Episode

What happens when love turns into financial ruin?
In this powerful episode of The Suze Orman Show, Personal Finance Expert Suze Orman confronts one of the most extreme debt cases she has ever seen. A 28-year-old man has racked up nearly $1 million in debt over time, much of it in his retired parents’ names, after years of bailouts, balance transfers, and bankruptcies.

Suze delivers a tough-love wake-up call about financial enabling, family boundaries, and why giving money can sometimes do more harm than good. If you’ve ever helped an adult child, lent money to family, or struggled to say no, this episode is a must-watch.

📌 Topics include:
• Financial enabling vs. real support
• Credit card debt spirals
• Parents risking retirement for adult children
• Why “helping” can destroy families financially
• How to stop the cycle before it’s too late

CHAPTERS
00:00 Show Open
00:48 Asking for Help in Hard Times
03:47 An Extreme Case of Debt
16:13 Facing Foreclosure
17:43 Whole Life Insurance
21:12 Apply for God Status Check Service?
22:51 Can I Afford It?
34:10 REIT investment?
35:43 Let Home Go Into Foreclosure?
37:15 No Business Credit History
38:38 Email: Pay Down Mortgage or Student Loan Debt?

Original Air Date: 07/11/09
📌 Suze’s guidance is timeless—this episode includes updates for context

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