Maya, a 24-year-old certified nursing assistant from Vista, California, has a money problem that literally runs in the family. Her financial troubles began when her father secretly opened three credit cards in her name starting when she was 18. His purchase of choice? DoorDash. Just DoorDash.
She shared her story on a recent episode of YouTuber Caleb Hammer's "Financial Audit," and the details get messier from there.
When Bad Habits Are Hereditary
One of those three cards was used exclusively by her dad for food delivery. The other two were technically shared, though Maya admits she used them herself. But here's where it gets interesting: Hammer quickly noticed that DoorDash wasn't just her father's vice. Maya spends more than 15% of her own money on eating out and food delivery services.
"It runs in the family," she joked. Except it's not really funny when you're drowning in debt.
Maya has an explanation for her spending habits. She doesn't like feeling indebted to anyone, so she insists on paying for everyone else. "I don't like when other people pay for me," she explained. "So I kind of always insist on paying for everyone else."
That generosity has become a financial disaster. She's burning through hundreds on meals for friends, dates, impulse purchases like gifts and tattoos, and what she calls her "hobbies"—vaping and Uber Eats. All of this while living at home with her parents and working just four hours a day.
As a CNA, Maya earns about $20 per hour through an agency, caring for a client who only needs assistance during a specific time window. "Why is this so little?" Hammer asked. She's since picked up a hospital position that will bump her to $23 an hour at 36 hours per week, which should help. But the damage is already done.
The Debt Spiral
Maya is sitting on more than $25,000 in credit card debt. One of her largest balances lives on a Capital One card charging over 30% interest. And she keeps using it.
"Why are you spending on this card every single time?" Hammer pressed. Her answer was brutally simple: "I didn't have the cash."
Her statements tell a story of financial chaos: McDonald's runs, concerts, Barnes & Noble shopping trips. She even funded part of a $2,500 trip to Wales with credit. Maya admits she has a long history of emotional spending. "I went into a black hole of spending," she said. "Retail therapy."
The Blame Game
Early in the conversation, Maya framed her financial mess as mostly her father's fault. But as the discussion continued, she acknowledged that most of the debt is actually hers. Take the GreenSky loan for turf installation—she initially claimed it was taken out behind her back, but later admitted she cosigned. "I didn't know what it meant," she said.
That's a recurring theme. Financial decisions made without understanding the consequences, followed by regret.
The Medical School Gamble
Despite everything, Maya has a plan: medical school. She's already been accepted to a program in Idaho and is applying for a competitive Army scholarship that would cover tuition and living expenses. Hammer warned her that the program only offers 300 slots annually, making it extremely competitive.
"I'm in it for the long game," Maya said.
Hammer gave her an ultimatum: pay off all her credit card debt within 11 months, before medical school starts. "If you're really in it for the long game, focus on the short game, which is big sacrifice right now," he told her.
It's solid advice. Medical school is expensive enough without dragging $25,000 in high-interest credit card debt along for the ride. Whether Maya can break her family's DoorDash habit and get serious about her finances remains to be seen. But with a concrete deadline and a real goal on the horizon, she at least has a fighting chance.