ThinkingSkull.com

There’s been rumors persisting for a while now about those lucky people who are selected by the television show “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition” that the recipients aren’t quite so lucky. Inflated property taxes, higher home insurance, and other expenses of going from a dilapidated double-wide trailer to a fully-furnished two-story home with three car garage and all the amenities.

Via my friend who works for a popular internet company, one such winner was ending their service due to preparing to file for bankruptcy. When asked about it, the caller confessed that they had been awarded the new home half a year earlier but had not yet received the paperwork proving actual ownership, so they couldn’t even take out an equity loan on their home to help offset the bills. In the mean time, the upgraded electrical system and power consumption for the home had caused the electric bill to balloon from $90 per month into over $700 per month (almost a house payment for a single utility).

Lesson learned: it still costs money to maintain a lavish lifestyle even if someone gives it to you.