He Got CAUGHT Cheating With AI Girlfriend | Financial Audit

Jade and Bernie, both 30, from Southern Indiana, are married with a 16-month-old son. Jade recently resigned from a field merchandising job, earning $700 weekly ($36,400 annually) as a business manager for a small local company. Bernie works as a healthcare professional (DSP) for people with disabilities, earning about $2,000 monthly ($24,000 annually). Their combined net income is approximately $5,000 per month. Despite being married with a child, they maintain separate finances. Bernie attributes this to his "iffy" relationship with finances, while Jade explains that when they tried to open a joint account, they were only offered a "second chance checking" account with monthly fees due to Bernie's poor credit and undisclosed collections. Bernie mostly uses Cash App. A major point of contention in their relationship is Bernie's financial secrecy and dishonesty. Jade discovered Bernie was paying for an AI girlfriend app, which he initially claimed was for Dungeons & Dragons. After being confronted, he deleted it but then subscribed to another AI relationship app the next day. Bernie eventually admitted he sought the AI girlfriend due to a "rough time" in their relationship and feeling lonely, specifically mentioning a lack of intimacy, with sex happening "every other month if that." He struggled to articulate his reasons, often citing "shame" or "stupid decisions." Jade expressed frustration over Bernie's inability to communicate and his pattern of hiding financial issues. She revealed that Bernie had a history of making purchases without her knowledge, such as a $20 Nintendo game when they were struggling to afford diapers or gas. She also discovered that he had taken money from an "envelope system" she set up to save cash, without her knowledge or permission, leading to a significant amount of money missing. Bernie admitted to taking money for bills when he didn't have enough, but couldn't explain why he didn't communicate this to Jade. The most significant betrayal revealed was Bernie's long-standing lie about being a military veteran. He admitted to using stories from a friend who was in the army to pretend he had served. This lie was maintained throughout their relationship and disclosed to their friend group. Jade only discovered this when discussing his supposed VA paperwork with his parents. Bernie claimed he fabricated the stories to "relate more" to his friend and because he had wanted to join the military but couldn't due to injuries from a motorcycle accident. Bernie's pattern of dishonesty extends to his personal finances. He has multiple accounts in collections, including an $80 debt he never paid, a $662 debt from a past relationship (Bank of Missouri), and a $367 AT&T bill. Jade also has collections, including a $761 Verizon bill under her "dead name" and a duplicated $1,023 and $2,164 from a company called Bolinsky, which she is actively trying to dispute. They both have student loan debt, with Jade's totaling $4,448 for courses she never completed. Jade has set ultimatums for Bernie, including no more lying, stopping undisclosed spending, and attending therapy. However, Bernie has failed to consistently follow through. He attended two therapy sessions at a religious facility for low-income families but did not return after getting insurance, despite Jade's efforts to find a new therapist. Jade expressed her disappointment and concern for their child's future if Bernie doesn't change, rating their household financial score as a "two" out of ten. She admitted to being a "pushover" but stated that she would consider leaving if things don't improve. The host provided budgeting advice and resources, including using a joint checking account, the DollarWise budgeting app, and career certifications to improve their income. They discussed their monthly expenses: $702 for rent, $371 for utilities, $90 for phone bills, $100 for gas, $750 for groceries, $250 for toiletries/diapers, $10 for a gym membership, $119 for Bernie's monthly medical costs, $40 for subscriptions, and $100 for pet food/litter for their two cats. This leaves them with an estimated $1,750 surplus if they combine finances and stick to the budget. The host emphasized the critical need for Bernie to take responsibility, be honest, and actively participate in couples therapy to save their marriage and provide a stable environment for their child.