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Milton Weekend Champion – Arts &
Entertainment – February 3, 2006 |
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Love her or hate her…Well known TV money coach tells
it like it is
By Stephanie Thiessen |
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Four years ago, before she was a popular TV money coach,
former Miltonian Ayse Hogan found herself with no job,
no husband, almost no money in the bank and no idea of
what to do next.
Unhappy, in her marriage, Ms. Hogan said she decided she
wanted out and left with little but the clothes on her
back.
She was guilty, she said, of being unprepared and not
planning for life’s “what ifs” – explaining her lack of
financial independence.
It was, she admitted, a mess. |
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Needless to say, Ms. Hogan, can relate to the people she
helps on her new TV show, Maxed Out, which sees her
coach one person each episode on how to dig out of
financial despair. But just because she understands what
it’s like to go through money problems doesn’t mean she
accepts excuses. After all, she got out of her messy
financial situation, and she expects nothing less from
the people she coaches.
“Either I could lay down and die and let it consume me,
or I could stand up and fight back,” she said of her
situation four years ago.
She soon started her own bookkeeping practice – she had
20 years experience – and eventually began helping some
of her business clients with their personal financial
situations. It was after Maxed executive producer Kit
Redmond read an article about Ms. Hogan that she was
contacted and the show was born.
Maxed Out, produced by the W Network and RTR Media,
premiered last Friday and airs every Tuesday at 8 p.m.
with encore presentations Wednesdays at 11:30 a.m. and
4:30 p.m.
It’s her no-nonsense approach that makes people love her
or hate her, Ms. Hogan said. But when the end of the
month comes and there’s enough money to pay the bills,
it’s usually the former, she said.
The show is all about something that is not normally
discussed. “People don’t talk about their money in
society,” Ms. Hogan said. “They’ll talk about their sex
lives, but ask them how much money they have in the
bank, and they’ll look at you like you’re from the
moon.”
She wants to end that, she said, and expose a desperate
situation. “We’re living paycheque to paycheque,” she
said, adding the average Canadian saves negative .05 per
cent of his or her income.
In each episode of Maxed Out, Ms. Hogan meets someone
whose financial situation leaves much to be desired. She
observes their spending habits and then devises a budget
and shows them ways to save their money. She gives them
about three weeks to implement the plan, she said, and
then checks in on their progress. Three weeks later, she
meets once more to see how they’re doing. Sometimes
they’re right on track, but not always.
“ The advice in every show is relatable to people out
there,” Ms Hogan said.
Her motto: It’s never just about the money.
When Ms. Hogan meets up with an atrocious spender or
someone who can’t seem to get it together, she said she
probes deep to find out what’s really going on.
”How we deal with our money is a reflection of our
personality,” she said.
One example from the show is Donna, a certified shop-aholic,
who always needs something new. “The reason is she’s
kind of insecure,” Ms Hogan explained. “She likes to
comfort herself by surrounding herself with things. She
needs a fix at that moment, and then comes home with
regret.” Donna was sent to an additions counsellor who
was able to give her alternatives to spending.
Ms. Hogan helps people on the show using the very
principles she’s applied on her own life. She has three
important money rules. The first is to become
financially independent to live without financial fear.
Next is to save for retirement and unexpected life
events such as job loss or illness. There’s also writing
a will and assigning a power of attorney and then, when
all that’s done, there’s saving for the dream.
“This show is a platform. It’s a way to reach out my
hands and help a lot of people.” Ms. Hogan said. “If I
can help one person feeling that anxiety (that comes
with money troubles), then what I went through was worth
it.” |
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