What We Spend

James is a bodybuilder. Even at the amateur level, staying competitive requires a significant financial investment, from supplements and trainers to gym memberships. We follow James as he works toward his goal of placing in a national competition and weighs the financial and physical risks of the sport.

We join Kathy for a week in theHamptons, in the second home she and her husband own. She knows how lucky she is to be in this position–but that's not always how it feels. The house has become a source of financial anxiety, stress, and regret. We follow Kathy as she reckons with the cost of the dream they worked so hard to achieve.

Amanda and her wife are going through IVF, a process that's taxing emotionally, physically, and financially. Their families come from different worlds, one blue-collar and one affluent, and they're responding in very different ways.

Charlie, a recent college grad, comes from a wealthy family—and he has complicated feelings about it. That's part of what drew him to a job in the Netherlands, which he hopes might offer a greater sense of equality, its stronger public services, and overall better “vibes” than the US. We follow Charlie through his first week in the workforce and see how it changes the way he thinks about money, privilege, and his own country.

Alyssa is a postal worker and her family’s primary breadwinner, so budgeting is serious business. Her magic spreadsheet is the key to making her salary stretch to meet the demands of her growing family, their tithing obligations, and ideally a little fun. And right now it’s more serious than ever: she’s on unpaid maternity leave. Join Season 2 host Lloyd Lochridge as he follows Alyssa through a week in her life.