What Can You Live Without Part 2 - Show Recap
Original Air Date:
Wednesday, May 20, 2009
What Can You Live Without Challenge:
For this episode, Oprah brought back the What Can You Live Without Challenge with 2 new families. To bring an added sense of giving to the show, Oprah and 315 audience members and staff each gave 10 items they could stand to live without and collected them on stage, filling a large moving truck.
The 2 families challenged included Pam and Ron, along with their 2 children, from Chicago, and Michelle and Bill with their 3 kids from Wisconsin.
Each family began the challenge with the feeling they needed to disconnect to reconnect.
The Hanes Family Challenge:
Oprah challenged the Hanes family from Chicago to eliminate all of their technology, eating out, late nights at work, and all spending except for 1 trip to the grocery store on a budget. The family also had to add a group activity where they gave to others and a mom & dad date night.
The Hanes explained their daily lives as consisting of texting, watching TV, computers, video games and take out - but not even in the same room. The family would even text each other within their own house. The use of all the technology had caused the family to grow apart.
When all of their things were taken for the challenge, the family was sad to see everything go. Feeling like they didn't have anything to do, the entire family went to bed early on the first night. On the second day, the family went shopping with their $125 grocery budget, went for a driving lesson and attending baseball practice.
The family spoke to Oprah via Skype and shared that it took some time, but they were able to adjust. When Oprah's team challenged them to another week, the family even decided to do another 7 days tech-free.
During week 2 the family attending cooking lessons, took their dog to the park and realized that they could reconnect without all the stuff in their lives. The family was grateful for the opportunity and the chance to appreciate each other again.
The Ludwig Family Challenge:
Michelle, Bill and their 3 kids had become overscheduled and focused on affording a nice life. Michelle worked long hours at a radio station which allowed her to help provide for her family, but took her away from them for the majority of time. Bill was responsible for carpooling, shopping and dinner while Michelle worked late. The 3 children were used to their mom not being around, but she thought it was important to provide the latest technology and upgrade when they could. At times they would even watch the same show in different rooms.
The challenge was not easy for the family as they struggled to lose their gadgets and deal with the reality that they had grown apart. Michelle realized that she kept her schedule filled as a way to avoid dealing with what her life had become. On Skype, the family that while they used to do everything together, things had changed, but they now had given away many of their things and realized that they didn't need more things, but more time together.
On one of the challenge nights, Michelle cheated and came home from work late, but stated on Skype that she would continue to do her best to be home by dinner or call if she would not be able to make it. The family also worked to make a grocery list and meal menu, provide snacks after school to push dinner time back so it would be easier to eat together.
Oprah challenged the family to give away 10 things every day that they give could live without, but had to explain to the kids that it was to help others and simplify their life, not to make room to upgrade to something better.
Checking In on Candace:
On the March 2, 2009 episode, the first challenge of What Can You Live Without, Oprah introduced viewers to Candace, a mother who was using shopping as a way to deal with the motion of losing her husband in 1997. From the challenge, Candace learned that her children were all she needed in life, and boxed up a large portion of her things to sell and help clear out her life. Candace revealed to Oprah on the show that she has not used her credit card since she appeared, has eliminated most of her wasted food shopping, and was ready to sell the boxed up items on eBay.
Oprah announced to Candace that she had made more than $2,000 from auctioning off her items and that she would also be receiving a $10,000 fund to put towards her son's college education. Now that Candace has eliminated her extra spending and personal items, she feels that people are able to see the genuine article and get to know who she really is, not what she buys.
Community Clothes Closet:
The items brought in by the staff and audience were donated to the Community Clothes Closet in Wisconsin. Volunteers from the store spoke to Oprah via Skype and shared how their free clothing store operates on donations and allows those who qualify to shot twice a month for up to 1 year to help them get back on their feet.
Wednesday, May 20, 2009
What Can You Live Without Challenge:
For this episode, Oprah brought back the What Can You Live Without Challenge with 2 new families. To bring an added sense of giving to the show, Oprah and 315 audience members and staff each gave 10 items they could stand to live without and collected them on stage, filling a large moving truck.
The 2 families challenged included Pam and Ron, along with their 2 children, from Chicago, and Michelle and Bill with their 3 kids from Wisconsin.
Each family began the challenge with the feeling they needed to disconnect to reconnect.
The Hanes Family Challenge:
Oprah challenged the Hanes family from Chicago to eliminate all of their technology, eating out, late nights at work, and all spending except for 1 trip to the grocery store on a budget. The family also had to add a group activity where they gave to others and a mom & dad date night.
The Hanes explained their daily lives as consisting of texting, watching TV, computers, video games and take out - but not even in the same room. The family would even text each other within their own house. The use of all the technology had caused the family to grow apart.
When all of their things were taken for the challenge, the family was sad to see everything go. Feeling like they didn't have anything to do, the entire family went to bed early on the first night. On the second day, the family went shopping with their $125 grocery budget, went for a driving lesson and attending baseball practice.
The family spoke to Oprah via Skype and shared that it took some time, but they were able to adjust. When Oprah's team challenged them to another week, the family even decided to do another 7 days tech-free.
During week 2 the family attending cooking lessons, took their dog to the park and realized that they could reconnect without all the stuff in their lives. The family was grateful for the opportunity and the chance to appreciate each other again.
The Ludwig Family Challenge:
Michelle, Bill and their 3 kids had become overscheduled and focused on affording a nice life. Michelle worked long hours at a radio station which allowed her to help provide for her family, but took her away from them for the majority of time. Bill was responsible for carpooling, shopping and dinner while Michelle worked late. The 3 children were used to their mom not being around, but she thought it was important to provide the latest technology and upgrade when they could. At times they would even watch the same show in different rooms.
The challenge was not easy for the family as they struggled to lose their gadgets and deal with the reality that they had grown apart. Michelle realized that she kept her schedule filled as a way to avoid dealing with what her life had become. On Skype, the family that while they used to do everything together, things had changed, but they now had given away many of their things and realized that they didn't need more things, but more time together.
On one of the challenge nights, Michelle cheated and came home from work late, but stated on Skype that she would continue to do her best to be home by dinner or call if she would not be able to make it. The family also worked to make a grocery list and meal menu, provide snacks after school to push dinner time back so it would be easier to eat together.
Oprah challenged the family to give away 10 things every day that they give could live without, but had to explain to the kids that it was to help others and simplify their life, not to make room to upgrade to something better.
Checking In on Candace:
On the March 2, 2009 episode, the first challenge of What Can You Live Without, Oprah introduced viewers to Candace, a mother who was using shopping as a way to deal with the motion of losing her husband in 1997. From the challenge, Candace learned that her children were all she needed in life, and boxed up a large portion of her things to sell and help clear out her life. Candace revealed to Oprah on the show that she has not used her credit card since she appeared, has eliminated most of her wasted food shopping, and was ready to sell the boxed up items on eBay.
Oprah announced to Candace that she had made more than $2,000 from auctioning off her items and that she would also be receiving a $10,000 fund to put towards her son's college education. Now that Candace has eliminated her extra spending and personal items, she feels that people are able to see the genuine article and get to know who she really is, not what she buys.
Community Clothes Closet:
The items brought in by the staff and audience were donated to the Community Clothes Closet in Wisconsin. Volunteers from the store spoke to Oprah via Skype and shared how their free clothing store operates on donations and allows those who qualify to shot twice a month for up to 1 year to help them get back on their feet.