As The World Turns Discussion Group

Topic: Is Carly really that clueless with money?

First of all, I was very proud of Carly for stepping up today and offering to pay her half of the bills.  One of the things that has aggravated me endlessly about this character is that she is either not working or is trying to start at the top of whatever business venture she embarks on.  Jack should support his children but she should contribute too.  Good for her for finally recognizing this. 

What amazed me was that she was so clueless as to the amount of money.  When she and Jack were married, did she not ever look at the checkbook?  Doesn't she realize that it costs a lot to have a mortgage, pay utilities, groceries, camps, activities, medical co-pays and stuff.  Not to mention the attorney and therapist fees they must have had.  Given the amount, it must be taking everything Jack makes to pay the family bills.  No wonder he still lives with Emma.

And how is she getting Metro going again without working capital?   If she didn't have $2,000 to give Jack, how is she going to order supplies and hire staff for her business? 

Carly has good ambitions, she just needs a hefty dose of common sense. 

There's sufficient evidence to convince me she is that clueless about money.  Remember the reference to how much she'd spent on glassware for Metro?  Opening a new business on a shoestring budget, and she blows big bucks on glassware? 

Years ago she was put in charge of a business in Hong Kong and didn't even notice that the accountant wasn't paying any of her creditors.  Then later when she had a $50 million trust fund for Parker, she got into trouble for glibly blowing it on things like coutourier gowns, a mansion and a private jet. 

I think Carly is probably adept enough at living within a budget when she has to, but if she ever gets her hands on any money she's incapable of hanging onto it.  She either spends it foolishly or gives it away.  Spending wisely, planning for the future, and keeping track of finances are skills she's never mastered.

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D., she just isn't a very smart person in any way, IMO....money, family matters, lovers,etc. etc. **

But D., Metro is a BAR. Of course she's going to have to spend big bucks on glassware. I still can't believe you're bringing up HK. She was in her early 20's fcol, and it was the accountant's job to pay the creditors. This is why we have accountants! We hire them and put our trust in them. I honestly don't see what the big deal is here.

She made a remark about how expenssive EACH GLASS was. Glass is breakable, in case you didn't know. You're right - Metro is a BAR, not the Lakeview dining room. As little as possible should have been invested in glassware, which could go crashing to the floor by the trayful at any moment. As for the Get Real fiasco, sorry but it's inconceivable that a halfways lucid person in Carly's situation wouldn't notice that shipments of material supplies from vendors stopped arriving and ask questions. When you're running a business - especially a start up - you've got to be like Truman and take responsibility. Yes, that was long ago. I'm bringing it up now because it was the first sign of Carly's emerging pattern with careless money management. eom/D

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Posted by: BessBeau
Date posted: Fri May 2 21:27:18 2008
Message:
IMO Carly is clueless, period..about everything !

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Posted by: gallyn
Date posted: Fri May 2 20:38:32 2008
Message:
I don't think Carly is clueless, but a lot of people can lose sight of how the day-to-day expenses add up. Three kids, endless sports and activities, therapy, etc. all adds up. But I have no idea what she's been living on either. She hasn't really worked since she came home last year, and the settlement check all went to remodel Metro. Simon must have set her up with a small hill of money, if she's still living on that.

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Posted by: ozarksgirl
Date posted: Fri May 2 18:02:26 2008
Message:
Wow, they sure live high on the hog, don't they?? I raised my children with only a third of that amount of money. Goes to show that kids don't need everything they have anymore.

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Posted by: CannaLily
Date posted: Fri May 2 16:35:05 2008
Message:
I figure she's still receiving dividends/royalty from BRO since she IS half owner.  lol

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actually, I sometimes wonder how Barbara has the lifestyle she does. It doesn't appear that she still works at BRO but perhaps she supposedly does and they just don't mention the collections, fashion shows, etc. Unlike some products, a designer has to put out new stuff several times a year or they don't make any money. K23

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Posted by: Mia
Date posted: Fri May 2 16:20:04 2008
Message:
Carly was never clueless about money, to the contrary ... she had dollar signs in front of her eyes all the time. Money has always meant a lot to Carly - as a poor teen, and as a young adult, vying for her share of Rosanna's fortune. Money, and lots of it, is what prompted her to reach her goal of having a child by the deadline Rosanna set. Glad she did, for Parker has been a blessing to the show from day one!

There was a scene at the farm where Carly had to teach a bookkeeping lesson to Emma. Can you imagine Emma running a farm for decades and being ignorant about her bills? Carly showed Emma how she was being cheated on by the feed company, and then Carly mapped out a plan for Emma to keep track of bills and so on.

Just a few months ago Carly hadn't two nickels to rub together, but today she whips out her check book to pay half the living expenses to Jack. No, Carly isn't so dumb, she would know exactly to the penny how much money she had in her check book and she would know, to the penny, how much living expenses would be for the month. Carly was always shrewed about money matters, that's something that doesn't change in one's makeup. Only when the writers fail to keep track of history, when they write for the moment, and not the character.

My question has always been, who is the trustee for Parker's trust fund? At one time Carly was, then Rosanna, and then Hal took over, but since Hal's death -- who is in charge and receiving the monthly stipend that goes to the trustee? It would have to be Carly, wouldn't it? And upon receiving this monthly stipend, Carly should be set for life with no money problems. ( Unless there is a lawyer in charge, we never heard about that.)
No, money matters never escaped Carly's mind.

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I remember the scene about the feed! Since JP took over, she's made both Carly and Jack paupers.

A stipend for managing the trust has never been mentioned as far as I know. Parker referred to his trust fund recently but I have no idea who is managing it. It should be Carly. K23

Hell no! It should be a disinterested third party, appointed by Rosanna. Probably a lawyer. eom/D

Not all trustees are paid. After my husband died, his first wife and I were trustees for my stepchildren - and we served without remuneration.

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