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The Canadian Champion, Fniday, April 6, 2007 -9 Griffiths Max-ing Out on W N torkA S Milton woman takes over reigns of money management show By Stephanie Thiessen CANADIAN CHAMPION STAFF Milton money expert Abison Griffitbs secs people play- ing Russian roulette wiîh their finances every day There's the shopper who just bas tu bave the latest "it" item, even if she can't afford it, leading to a mountain of debt almost as bigb as ber stasb of shores. Theres the couple su busy îrYing lu keep up witb life that tbey don't notice their muntbly take-out bill exceeds their mortgage payment. And tberes the woman wbo dreams of making ber business work, but wbo bas gonile into debt in the prucess. These aren't hyputhetical scenarios. Griffitbs bas encountered eacb of îbem in ber role as the new bost of the W Network's TV show Maxed Out, wbicb recently enîered ils second seasun. "We take wumen and couples and give îhem a financial makeuver," Griffiths said, adding, "Peuple bave a myriad uf ways lu gel int debt and a myriad uf excuses." Tbrougb tbe show, Griffiths is work- ing lu shed some ligbî on one of suci- etys last tabous - îalking about r money "We're way mure likely lu îalk about wbaî wc du in bed than about muney," Griffiths said. Many, if nul must, Canadians byve un the edge financially, managîng tu stav afloat witb credit, Griffîtbs explained. Maxed Out is a tell-jt-like-it-is show that provides bonest and practical advice te, belp viewers overcume exîreme financial stress and uver- wbelming debts. in each of the 30-minute episodes, Griffiths delves into the financial crisis of a different participant, leaving no stone unturned in ber search for the cause of their debt disaster. Thorougb analysis of bank and cred- il card statements, loan and spending patterns lead ber to shocking conclu- sions about the participants' debt and the crippling impact ils having on tbeir futures. "ýPeople's money habits are often a reflection of sometbing deeper," Gniffitbs said. Some situations are easter than otb- ers lu solve. one couple un tbe show makes $180,000 per year in combined income but still can't make ends meet. Their solution was tu be more urgan- ized and pay attention to wbat they were spending money on. Other participants must embark on a jumey that may take five or six years until they reacb their goal of being debt-free, Griffitbs said. Griffiîbs is more than qualified tu bost the show, being an award-winning financial juurnalist, best-selling author and seasoned broadcaster. She cu- wnites a regular column witb ber bus- band, David Cruise, called The Portfuliç) Ductor for the Torontu Star. The patr also bolds semînars about invcsting and money managenment. Debt, Grd[fiths said, has becume a national epidemic - and its une to whicb shes nul a stranger. In 1991, her daugbtcr caught meningitis. Caning for her over thbe year caused Gniffitbs and her husband, wbo earned their living wniting books, to be unable lu, write a book as planned. That was the equivalent of losing a year's income. Five years later, around 1997 when they moved to Milton, they were stili struggling to catch Up, Gniffitbs said. Ibaîs when they began writing about what they knew - money problems. lÈs not easy getting out of debt, but Griffiths is a testament to the fact il can be done. And going through the expie- rience bas belped ber empaîbize wiîh the people she helps. "They need somne sympathy, but îbey also need the bard facts - what I needed 15 years ago," sbe said. The advice she gives isn't always appreciated înitially, Griffitbs said, admitting its tougb to wiîbstand the temptation to spend. But tbe feeling participants get wben tbey find them- selves financially free is empowering. "Ifs like an adrenaline rusb," sbe said. Griffitbs bopes tbat viewers will realize ifs neyer îoo late tu turn around a bad financial situation. But even more tban tbat, Griffitbs bopes tbe show will belp viewers avoid getting into deht in the first place. Stt'pliaitie Thiesseii con be wadcd at stbîc'ssenCWliniltout aeiculîatic liatiupiufl roni Thct i t 201 2!l Stoney Creek 410 Lewis Road & the South Service Road M-MU, South East Corner of Hwy # 10 & Eglinton (9051e 64-44 (8669-44 (905) 755-9030- (877) 784-4404 1(014-66-(6)6344 Mon-Fr 10tam-9pm - Sat lOam-6pm * Sun Noon-5pm Mon-Fni 1Oam-9pm -Sat 1 Oam-5:3Opm - Sun Noon-5pm I 'On a ,ppmeice t hl amn noui oe n6 moA, .lpyýtýN p hs eur. rcsn oo 8 9rqe Fnngp., y Rt.lS,,e ,.ý hn, j e 1--ti ,,n h dlo-ii h ýqe mnmm o- s- eenhbffn yd ýngtecrdtpt-ino eo hn u heprhaepic iddbytenubro4mnh otecrdtpeiton1w .dt .t,,e q. mnhy cy-t .bemd drg h re, rontonlpridCedlpoGtoci eo