He Stormed Off Financial Audit

Financial Audit Begins [00:00:00]

• The episode introduces a couple, Lily and Luke, from Lexington, Kentucky, for a financial audit.
• Lily, 30, works as a verification specialist earning $40,000 a year.
• Luke, 35, works in food service with two jobs: a fast-food cook and a middle school lunch lady.

  "i hope i don't find anything but why do you have to go through it why do you feel like you have to go through it though"

Luke's Low Income and Job Dissatisfaction [00:02:00]

• Luke's main job at the middle school pays $311 bi-weekly, totaling $622 a month.
• His Dairy Queen job pays $11/hour for about 80 hours a month, bringing his total monthly income to around $1500.
• He expresses dissatisfaction with his low pay, noting that even minimum wage in Kentucky is higher.

  "well but that usually means the cost of living there is likely cheaper which is what i was suggesting at the beginning and i might have to look it up"

Disagreement Over Lily's Spending [00:05:00]

• Luke accuses Lily of being a "spoiled brat" who spends money unnecessarily, citing a recent Walmart trip for a watch for her daughter.
• Lily defends the purchase, stating her daughter wanted it for school, but Luke questions the 'need' for a watch.
• The couple has a blended family with two children each.

  "i needed it what it was a watch for her daughter and my nose just because she needed"

Luke's Career Aspirations vs. Reality [00:08:00]

• Lily believes Luke needs a stable job that pays bills, rather than pursuing his dream of a dessert food truck.
• Luke expresses a desire to make cooking a career and mentions having food service experience, including shadowing a French chef.
• He currently works in food service at a public school, which Lily views as a dead-end job.

  "funds not going to get you anywhere you need something stable you need something that is going to last throughout the summer"

Financial Contributions and Disagreements [00:10:00]

• Lily claims she pays her bills and gives Luke money to pay his bills, which Luke denies.
• This leads to a heated disagreement about who contributes what financially.
• The mediator notes the intense dynamic and difficulty in mediating their conversation.

  "i give him money to pay his bills how is there a disagreement on that that is a clear yes or no fact"

Relationship Dynamics and Communication Issues [00:13:00]

• Luke describes treating Lily like he worships her, but she claims his attitude emerges when she expresses frustration.
• Lily states Luke tells her she's "not allowed to feel that way," which she finds invalidating.
• They have been together for about a year and a half and admit to fighting often.

  "i treat her like like i worship the ground she walks on i treat her amazing i'm always there for her emotionally"

The Gas Station Argument [00:15:00]

• A recent fight occurred over Luke not stopping at gas stations while Lily was driving.
• Lily felt he wasn't communicating or helping her find a place to stop.
• Luke claims he didn't know where the gas stations were, and Lily was in the right lane, making it difficult to switch lanes.

  "first of all you did not tell me to look up any gas station you didn't what do you mean you need to like chill your tone"

Children and Living Situation [00:18:00]

• The couple has four children between them: Lily's son (3) and daughter (12), and Luke's daughter (8) and son (5).
• They currently live in Lily's parents' basement due to financial struggles.
• Lily states she can talk as long as it's in a friendly tone, but Luke claims she always interrupts him.

  "so i've got my son who is three and then my daughter who is turning 12 next week"

Luke's Past as a Timeshare Sales Manager [00:22:00]

• Luke reveals he previously made around $90k plus commission as a timeshare sales manager in Tennessee.
• He suggests returning to that field, but Lily is hesitant due to the five-hour drive and her family being in Kentucky.
• Lily questions why he isn't pursuing a higher-paying career if he has the experience.

  "i was making bank okay and i feel like honestly that's why don't you go do that"

Wedding Plans and Financial Strain [00:25:00]

• They are engaged and plan to marry on November 6, 2027.
• They have saved $3,000 for a wedding estimated to cost $10,000.
• Luke wants to use any leftover wedding money for a honeymoon in Ireland, while Lily wants it to go towards debt.

  "we have some saved yeah i know we do for the wedding yes yeah how much is the wedding gonna cost like ten thousand"

Luke's History of Theft [00:30:00]

• Luke confesses to stealing between 12-15 flat-screen TVs from a resort where he worked as an inventory specialist.
• He sold some of the TVs for about $1200 to pay bills.
• Lily is shocked and questions his morals and why he hasn't sold them all.

  "i noticed that they had no cameras in there or even around there or even leading down to my car"

Stolen Gifts and Financial Deception [00:33:00]

• Luke admits to using some of the money from selling the stolen TVs to buy Lily gifts.
• Lily is wearing rings and an anklet that he purchased with this money.
• She expresses disappointment, stating she didn't know they were from stolen items.

  "you said desperate to pay your bills that doesn't sound desperate i mean i made some money from it"

Unpaid Bills and Clutter [00:36:00]

• Luke has an unpaid Clarna payment of $31.99, which is now in collections.
• He also has an Afterpay balance and other payment plans for fragrances and contacts.
• Lily questions how he plans to run a business when he can't manage small payments.

  "you want to run a business but you can't even do this you can't even play your carna sometime"

Luke's Multiple Payment Plans and Lies [00:40:00]

• Luke has several active payment plans, including for a JBL Bluetooth speaker and a motorized scooter he sold but still owes money on.
• He admits to lying about purchases and their costs to avoid Lily judging him or thinking he's broke.
• Lily expresses frustration with his dishonesty, stating she'd be mad about the purchase but angrier about the lie.

  "he buys it and then he tells me about it which even still like okay tell me how much it is"

Financial Irresponsibility and Lack of Trust [00:45:00]

• Luke has multiple accounts in collections, including Capital One and Synchrony, totaling over $2000.
• He has a $9,200 balance on a 2019 Hyundai Elantra with a high interest rate.
• Lily expresses concern about their financial situation and Luke's ability to manage money.

  "you're never getting money to get a car to borrow business to get a food truck to get equipment"

The Minivan Dilemma [00:50:00]

• The couple needs a minivan to transport their four children but can't afford one.
• They owe $9,200 on a car worth about half that amount.
• Lily's parents are helping them, but the mediator points out their dependence on them.

  "you are 30 and 35 you're 30 and 35 that is pathetic grow up"

Budget Breakdown and Leftover Money [00:55:00]

• Their combined monthly expenses are around $2491, with a significant portion going to groceries, gas, and child support.
• They have $2491.24 leftover each month, which Lily claims is spent on impulse purchases like Tim Hortons.
• The mediator highlights their inability to save for a wedding or a down payment on a place.

  "you guys have leftover money two thousand four hundred ninety one dollars and 24 cents"

Text Message Argument and Privacy Violation [01:00:00]

• Lily recorded a text conversation with Luke and sent it to her friend, feeling violated when Luke questioned her actions.
• Luke denies telling Lily to "chill out," while Lily insists he did, leading to her walking out.
• The mediator reviews the texts, finding them to be a normal argument, not indicative of extreme yelling as Lily implied.

  "she recorded your guys's text conversations to send to her friend again as usual without each other knowing"

Accusations of Cheating and Wall Punching [01:05:00]

• Lily accuses Luke of accusing her of cheating while she was sick, which is not explicitly in the text messages shown.
• Luke admits to texting "I feel like I could throw a hole in every wall," but denies actually punching walls.
• The mediator questions Lily's interpretation of the texts and her need to send them to a friend.

  "he says because no matter what i do i set you off and i think that's true he's right"

Lily's Spending Habits and Luke's Deception [01:10:00]

• The conversation returns to Lily's spending on Tim Hortons, Amazon, and other non-essentials.
• Luke admits to lying about purchases, including a laptop won at a raffle, which was actually payroll deducted.
• Lily feels betrayed by the lies, stating she'd be mad about the purchase but angrier about the deception.

  "this man literally lies about everything this is actually kind of blowing my mind"

Financial Score and Future Concerns [01:15:00]

• Their combined Hammer Financial Score is 1.5 out of 10, with low scores in spending, debt, emergency fund, retirement, and real estate.
• The mediator expresses concern about Luke's business aspirations given his current financial state and history of theft.
• The couple is advised to focus on paying off debt, saving for a down payment, and improving their careers.

  "you guys are 30 and 35 even though you look like you're in your 50s you guys are going to be cooked forever"

Post-Show Discussion and Food Tasting [01:20:00]

• The episode concludes with plans for a post-show discussion to delve deeper into the screenshots and Luke's business idea.
• The panel will taste Luke's desserts to assess their potential.
• The couple is encouraged to seek therapy and improve their communication and financial habits.

  "i want to see your thing what am i doing because your dynamic is you guys open this so weird"