Wife Swap is Looking for Families – Pay: $20,000

No, that’s not a typo up there. If you participate in ABC’s Wife Swap show, you get $20,000 at the completion of taping. I noticed an announcement a while ago and tried to get the hubby interested in the idea, but he doesn’t want to do something like that. I thought we would be an awesome family…

We have a bit of credit card debt
We live frugally
We live in a rural setting
We live in a smaller house, and are even looking to downsize that
We have a non-traditional husband/wife roles
We both work from home
We have one car
We are not big on the social scene

I do think it would be interesting to swap lives for a little bit. It would provide a different perspective and we’d probably learn a few things. At the same time, though, I know how television works and it’s all about the drama. Not sure if I’d enjoy that part of it. While the money would be awesome, Wife Swap probably isn’t for us.

If you are interested in something like this, they are currently looking for people according to this post at WAHM.com. The contact info is over there. It was posted the 19th – I’m guessing the post will disappear when they receive enough responses.

Posted by Tricia on August 24, 2008 at 9:43 AM in Misc | 14 Comments »
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Big Winner responded:
Posted: August 24th, 2008 at 9:51 am
That’s a pretty good amount to earn, but I’m not sure if it’s worth it since reality TV shows nearly always edit the footage to make the participants look as bad as possible
CanadianKate responded:
Posted: August 24th, 2008 at 12:32 pm
It’s a net loss, you’ll spend the $20K on family therapy afterwards.

I can’t think of anything more horrible to do to a child than put them through any reality tv show.
Sherri responded:
Posted: August 24th, 2008 at 1:12 pm
I agree it’s not something I would do, or purposely subject my family to, but the amount of money is staggering to me. “Blind Date” contestants only get $100 last I knew! Understandably, the wife swapping lasts longer, but still. No wonder they are able to get people to do this. I value my anonymity and privacy more than cash I have learned.
dogatemyfinances responded:
Posted: August 24th, 2008 at 3:01 pm
I don’t really care when people make idiots of themselves on TV. But when there are kids involved, it seems different. Why would anyone subject their kids to that?
Da Big D responded:
Posted: August 24th, 2008 at 4:29 pm
Don’t forget that if you did go on the show then everyone would know all about you. Not the real you, but the you that is portrayed.
Tricia responded:
Posted: August 24th, 2008 at 7:25 pm
Blind Date participants get $100?? Wow. They really run them through the ringer!

The cash is tempting, though, so I can see the appeal. That was the appeal for me originally. That’s $20,000 for a few weeks of living with someone else and having cameras around all of the time. Then, you get to see how bad you look through the magic of editing.

Maybe that’s why they advertised on a forum. Perhaps more people have decided to not subject their families to going through the show.
neilo responded:
Posted: August 24th, 2008 at 9:44 pm
Don’t forget that the show fosters conflict… what’s the point if everyone gets along just fine? In particular, remember that the new “wife” gets control in week two. Are you absolutly *certain* that your finances could withstand a hit by a spendthrift? I mean, I can’t imagine that the show would pair your hsuband up with someone committed to reducing debt.
Tricia responded:
Posted: August 24th, 2008 at 9:49 pm
Hahaha….we would probably be paired with a spendthrift. I wonder how that would work? She wouldn’t be able to use our checking/credit cards. Interesting point.
Eddie responded:
Posted: August 25th, 2008 at 8:37 am
CanadianKate = Amen to that.

TV = bad thing for most people. Does not foster discussion, learning, or communication. End-of-story.
danielle responded:
Posted: August 25th, 2008 at 11:11 am
I always wanted to go on this show, too, but we aren’t really controversial enough. I like how the other mom gets to decide how the family spends their money. It used to be 50K.
LA responded:
Posted: August 25th, 2008 at 1:40 pm
$20k?? Good grief. If I were straight and had kids, maybe I’d do it

Hey there’s an idea! They should swap a “wife” from a gay couple with a straight one. Haha! I’d watch…
Scott @ The Passive Dad responded:
Posted: August 25th, 2008 at 4:31 pm
Sounds like a lot of money, but I think I saw the show once and nobody leaves happy. I would rather go on the price is right or another gameshow. Nobody would yell at you
Rosa responded:
Posted: August 25th, 2008 at 4:50 pm
I keep wanting to sign up for that show (what are they going to show people, that we are cheap and are bad housekeepers? People know that.). My partner thinks we are “too normal”.

I don’t think he understands what “normal” means in this country. I mean, we buy all our clothes new, bike to work, and don’t have central air.

I can imagine what the “other wife” would do to our heat bill, though.
Matt responded:
Posted: August 25th, 2008 at 10:07 pm
The money is good but the premise of the show just doesn’t grab my attention. I wouldn’t want to put myself out there in the public eye that way. The show will go out of its way to create drama. Can you imagine a show where the two couples swapping were simply in it for the money and it was about the payday at the end? Probably not very exciting TV.