Maria Bamford, a comedian celebrated for her roles in SpongeBob SquarePants and Arrested Development, shares her journey of financial transparency. She humorously details her negotiation for a commencement speech fee, which she ultimately donated to help students with loans. Bamford's candid stories from Debtors Anonymous reveal her transition from debt to a net worth of $3.5 million. With insightful tips and a commitment to open financial discussions, she champions the importance of sharing money struggles within the comedy world.
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Commencement Speech Saga
Maria Bamford, in her commencement speech, revealed the University of Minnesota initially offered her $0 to speak.
She countered with $20,000, ultimately settling for $10,000, which she then gave away to students.
volunteer_activism ADVICE
Negotiation Tactic
Never say no without a counteroffer, even if it seems ridiculous.
This tactic can lead to unexpected financial gains or help you avoid undesirable commitments.
question_answer ANECDOTE
Debt Origin Story
Maria Bamford accumulated debt from a $5,000 medical bill after an allergic reaction to an antibiotic.
She also struggled with rent in Los Angeles due to high living costs and inconsistent work as a comedian.
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A Memoir of Mental Illness and the Quest to Belong Anywhere
Maria Bamford
In 'Sure, I'll Join Your Cult', Maria Bamford shares her life story with humor and honesty, detailing her struggles with mental health issues such as Bipolar Disorder, OCD, and eating disorders. The book is a mix of memoir, guide to the self-help industry, and a lighthearted yet respectful assessment of mental health. Bamford recounts her experiences with various groups and programs, from Dale Carnegie's 'How to Win Friends and Influence People' to 12-step programs like Debtors Anonymous and Overeaters Anonymous. Her narrative is marked by her trademark blend of disarming intimacy and dark whimsy, making the book both funny and heartfelt[2][3][5].
Note: There is swearing in this episode.
In 2017, The University of Minnesota asked comedian Maria Bamford to give their commencement speech. But the University may not have known what it was in for. In her speech, Bamford told the crowd of graduates how much the university offered to pay her (nothing), her counteroffer ($20,000), and the amount they settled on ($10,000), which (after taxes and fees, etc.) she gave away to students in the audience to pay down their student loans.
Maria Bamford is a big believer in full disclosure of her finances, a philosophy she's adopted after decades in a Debtors Anonymous support group. In meetings, she learned important financial tips and tricks to go from thousands of dollars in debt to her current net worth of $3.5 million (a number which, true to her philosophy, she will share with anyone).
She spoke with us about her financial issues, how she recovered, and why she believes in total financial transparency, even when it makes her look kinda bad.
Disclaimer: Planet Money is not qualified or certified to give financial advice. And Maria is not a spokesperson for Debtors Anonymous in any way.
This show was hosted by Kenny Malone and Mary Childs. It was produced by Emma Peaslee, edited by Jess Jiang, fact-checked by Sierra Juarez, and engineered by Neisha Heinis. Alex Goldmark is Planet Money's executive producer.
Planet Money 