S19.E03: Am I My Brother’s Keeper?

[Elizzikra]

Quote

and our pension once vested 

That is the key part. As some have noted, to be fully vested in government benefits (state or Federal), you have to have been employed for a long time; decades. There is another type of vesting; for people whose contributions to their 401(k) are matched by their employer, sometimes you are not fully vested in those matching contributions until you have reached a certain anniversary. For my employer, years ago, it was seven years.

My current employer gives us bonuses in the form of company stock but we are not fully vested in those shares until five years after award.

[ginger90]

Their financial situations are a mystery. There’s so many stories floating around.

 

Janelle is currently 55. Before she bought the Lehi house in 2007, she wasn’t living in Utah. Was she commuting? Obviously when they moved to Vegas she wasn’t still working in Utah. So, I don’t know how long she had that state job. I believe they moved to Vegas in 2011? Right now it’s 4 years to be vested in Utah. She may have hit that and came out with a little money when she left. Janelle hasn’t had the steady employment like it’s portrayed once they moved to Vegas.

[Andyourlittledog2]

When I vested in California it was five years. Later new employees had to wait ten. I believe it's still ten years to be vested. As for deductions from retirement benefits we have options on which insurance to sign up for. Since the state pays a substantial amount of the premium it depends on how much higher the premium is to determine what your deduction would be. Some, like Kaiser, was zero. Fully covered by employer share. Same with one of the dental plans and the other was about ten dollars. It's all pretty low cost for the employee/retiree. If Utah is four years vesting it is very possible Janelle was vested when she left.

Finance is such a broad category, she could have had almost any job there. Reminds me of that old joke about the husband whose wife told people he was 'in oil'. He pumped gas at the Stop and Go on the corner. 

I have always warned folks not to trust anyone with your money and to always keep an eye on it, including your spouse. Janelle trusted her husband when she really shouldn't have. Hindsight is twenty/twenty. You trust people because you believe you should be able to and can do so safely. And sometimes they are scum. Emerson wrote, 'the louder he talked of his honor the faster we counted our spoons'.  Anyone dealing with Kody and Robyn needs to start counting their spoons.

 

ETA:  It was Emerson, not Pepys in the quote. I don't recall reading Emerson writing that but Google says otherwise. Sorry for the mislead.

Edited October 4 by Andyourlittledog2

[precious pupp]

My husband and I both took early federal retirement.  We had to keep our medical insurance for the final 5 years we worked (we had it the whole 24-26 years of employment, and my daughter was covered as well.)  Our premiums since retirement are deducted from our pensions.

I do recall that Janelle inherited some money that enabled the purchase of the Lehi house.  Since she paid the most of the OG 3, she got the entire side of the two stories.  Meri no doubt took the upper floor half because she had one child and would make less noise for the basement half, which made Christine the "basement wife" in more ways than one.  When she quit her state job with the move to LV, that must have resulted in cashing out her retirement to finance the move.  

[Sasha888]

5 hours ago, MamaMax said:

Janelle made the mistake of "loaning" her  Las Vegas house proceeds to Kody and Robyn to buy the McMansion, didn't she? As I understood it, she thought it was going to be temporary housing for part of the family, but a "family asset" in that and they would sell the McMansion eventually and use the money to build on coyote pass.  I think she got bamboozled. If she wanted to do that, she should have insisted her name be put on the deed.

No kidding! I can't believe she let Kody talk her into this (and apparently Meri did as well). I hope they both get their money back out of Robyn and Kody's mansion, but I'm not hopeful. The law can't always help you, if you don't put things in writing, and instead choose to trust people like K & R.

I'm more hopeful for them about Coyote Pass, at least their names are on that.

5 hours ago, MamaMax said:

Most people I know in Govt jobs need to be in them at least 20-25-30 years to be fully vested 

This hasn't been my experience at all. It was only 7 yrs to be fully vested at my gov't job, and have family in other gov't jobs that were vested much sooner than 20-30 yrs also.

I have no idea how long Janelle worked for the state of Utah, but I think there's a good chance she was vested as @Natalie68 said. If so, she made a very foolish financial decision, to pull her money out and give it to the family. Letting K&R get their mitts on her equity from her Vegas house is another foolish decision. She sunk an inheritance into the Lehi house, which she won't ever see back either.

Janelle is a slow learner, when it comes to letting Kody fleece her out of her money.

I hope she gets tons back out of K&R, but she's made terrible decisions and done very little to help herself.

Edited October 4 by Sasha888

[Dibs]

As I said, we could quibble about Janelle's career all day (and it looks like we're going to).  I was also a state employee, and we were vested after just five years.  A lot of people who worked elsewhere would start a second career there after retiring just to get the second pension, however small.  As you worked more and more years, more of your health insurance would be covered by the state: 25, 50, 75, and then 100%.  I'm unsure whether Janelle withdrew her actual pension money or just took cash from her 401k account (ours was called deferred compensation and, although not matched and entirely voluntary, was a good way to save; you could withdraw it for certain reasons).  At any rate, we can't know for sure.  I just seriously doubt if she's broke.

Edited October 5 by Dibs

[mythoughtis]

Anyone remember when it was that Janelle started selling Plexus?  Was it before or after she left Kody?  If after, was it before or after Logan’s wedding? Because that’s the timeframe of this episode. So what was Janelle’s income situation in October 2022.  And had she  recovered financially from buying the RV by  then? 

Edited October 5 by mythoughtis

[Elizzikra]

Quote

At any rate, we can't know for sure.  I just seriously doubt if she's broke.

Whatever her situation is now, she is 55. If she doesn't have anything saved for retirement, she has very few years to try to make that up. She's going to have to work until the day she dies just to keep a roof over her head.

[surfgirl]

36 minutes ago, Elizzikra said:

Whatever her situation is now, she is 55. If she doesn't have anything saved for retirement, she has very few years to try to make that up. She's going to have to work until the day she dies just to keep a roof over her head.

People in general, always act like retiring and nit working in any capacity at all past a certain age is the only worthwhile life goal. So many people nowadays have to keep working as long as they can but that's another issue entirely. I personally think most people I know who retire and don't do any sort if even part time work just seem to decline more rapidly thsn those that work as long as possible. I have seen a lot of folks turn from vibrant, intellectual people to boring, nothing to say shadows of their formal selves. I plan on working in some capacity for as long as I can. I don't think it'd a bad thing fir Janelle,  Christine, or Meri to work as long as they can. Let's be real, they were billed for decades by that *** Ska Kotex Noodle Ramen McScammer, so they're way behind in financial security. 

[LilyD]

3 hours ago, Dibs said:

I just seriously doubt if she's broke.

I see where you’re coming from and in any normal situation, I’d agree. However, she was the 2nd “wife” of a polygamist. That legally and financially puts you nowhere. 

The family seems to have had a loose agreement on the family assets and likely have nothing in writing. If (part of) her money has gone to K&R’s house and possibly to their share of CP then it’s going to be hard to prove it’s hers and get it back.  So yes, she likely has a right to a decent sum of money, but whether it can actually be retrieved is a whole different matter.

[Orcinus orca]

8 hours ago, surfgirl said:

People in general, always act like retiring and not working in any capacity at all past a certain age is the only worthwhile life goal. 

It was for me and I liked my job.  But retirement has been the BEST time of my life. I am busy nearly every day,  When I get up I get to do things want to do, not what I have to do.  I have multiple volunteer gigs, am in a book club, do water aerobics year round (live in the north so indoors in the winter) and am never bored for a single minute.  And none of my retired friends are declining!

With that said, I don't know if Janelle has a plan for what she will do when she reaches retirement age. Is the Mormon mindset that "the kids will take care of me"?  Maybe that's why they have so many - Mom can be handed off from kid to kid on a rotating basis.

9 hours ago, mythoughtis said:

Anyone remember when it was that Janelle started selling Plexus?  

Seems to me she's been hawking that crap for years but with the wonky timelines on this show, who knows.  Hasn't she taken multiple cruises/trips with that MLM group?

[ginger90]

20 minutes ago, Orcinus orca said:

Hasn't she taken multiple cruises/trips with that MLM group?

She has, she was in Maui on one a couple of weeks ago.

[Granny58]

11 hours ago, Elizzikra said:

Whatever her situation is now, she is 55. If she doesn't have anything saved for retirement, she has very few years to try to make that up. She's going to have to work until the day she dies just to keep a roof over her head.

I agree.  If she hasn't done it now she is possibly looking at a difficult older age.  I have 3 friends who did the same thing (put off saving) and now are in their 60s, worn out and can't stop working.  

 

[Elizzikra]

11 hours ago, surfgirl said:

People in general, always act like retiring and nit working in any capacity at all past a certain age is the only worthwhile life goal. So many people nowadays have to keep working as long as they can but that's another issue entirely. I personally think most people I know who retire and don't do any sort if even part time work just seem to decline more rapidly thsn those that work as long as possible. I have seen a lot of folks turn from vibrant, intellectual people to boring, nothing to say shadows of their formal selves. I plan on working in some capacity for as long as I can. I don't think it'd a bad thing fir Janelle,  Christine, or Meri to work as long as they can. Let's be real, they were billed for decades by that *** Ska Kotex Noodle Ramen McScammer, so they're way behind in financial security. 

There is a big difference between working in a job you enjoy, paid or volunteer, to keep yourself active and having to work and earn as much as you can to put a roof over your head. Some people age without many health issues, but most of us find working at the same intensity at 70 we did as a 30 year old to be very difficult if not impossible.

[lookeyloo]

11 hours ago, surfgirl said:

People in general, always act like retiring and nit working in any capacity at all past a certain age is the only worthwhile life goal. So many people nowadays have to keep working as long as they can but that's another issue entirely. I personally think most people I know who retire and don't do any sort if even part time work just seem to decline more rapidly thsn those that work as long as possible. I have seen a lot of folks turn from vibrant, intellectual people to boring, nothing to say shadows of their formal selves. I plan on working in some capacity for as long as I can. I don't think it'd a bad thing fir Janelle,  Christine, or Meri to work as long as they can. Let's be real, they were billed for decades by that *** Ska Kotex Noodle Ramen McScammer, so they're way behind in financial security. 

I appreciate that you know those people but I know there are many for whom that is not the case. Me specifically and my friend group in two states. I retired at age 60 on a state pension. I have had one semi job - since - 3 hours a week for about a year. I am still active at age almost 81.  I do not lead a sedentary life. So I would say there are many variations in the retirement theme and in life in general.  I am guessing many people who keep working can also have the attributes you describe. Hoping Janelle can figure out something good that works for her in the long term. 

[Yeah No]

Just a question for all of you here that know about such things - Do we know how long Janelle was in her government job? Because Screen Rant said there was only evidence of her having that job for 2 years between 2009 and 2011. 

From what I'm reading in various places it sounds to me like she was a "cube person" accountant most of which are not very high level positions, especially in the government where there are probably zillions of them working as very small cogs in a very huge wheel. According to the internet she has a degree in accounting which would have qualified her for it. I worked for years as an exec. admin. to accountants in big companies so I know that there are many levels in that area and I just don't see Janelle as having been all that high on the ladder.

[Dibs]

 

3 minutes ago, Dibs said:

As I said, I'm pretty sure that was the Utah Capitol building she was walking around in one early episode, so she no doubt worked in finance there.  That's not just being "an office clerk in a cube."  She also spoke as if this was a long-time career and not just a recent job.  Once we get these cushy state jobs in which we're vested, we're not quick to leave them ("velvet handcuffs").

I'm not sure how we got on the subject of retirement lifestyle, but I personally find it boring (yes, I have hobbies, but I've ALWAYS had hobbies; that's nothing new to me).  I would think a career-oriented woman like Janelle would feel the same.  Good to see that she's entering a business venture with her kids, and she obviously had the money to do that.  I seriously doubt she completely divested herself of her retirement (again, it could've been a withdrawal from a separate 401k she took out), as she seems too sensible for that.  TLC also pays her.  :)  

I do think these "sister wives" depend a great deal - perhaps to an unhealthy degree - on their children and especially daughters.  There's no way Christine ever would have "bravely" set out on her own if not bolstered on all sides by all those flaxen-haired daughters along with support from their husbands - has she ever been alone for one minute? - and the same seems to go for Janelle now.  I'm sure they'll just live with one or another of them babysitting and eventually being cared for.

 

 

Edited October 5 by Dibs

[Yeah No]

12 hours ago, surfgirl said:

I personally think most people I know who retire and don't do any sort if even part time work just seem to decline more rapidly thsn those that work as long as possible. I have seen a lot of folks turn from vibrant, intellectual people to boring, nothing to say shadows of their formal selves. I plan on working in some capacity for as long as I can. I don't think it'd a bad thing fir Janelle,  Christine, or Meri to work as long as they can. Let's be real, they were billed for decades by that *** Ska Kotex Noodle Ramen McScammer, so they're way behind in financial security. 

I think it depends on the person. I've known people like this and they are truly sad cases but I don't fall into that category at all nor do most of my friends. I have always had many interests and when I was working I never had enough time for them all. Now I do and after 8 years I wonder how I ever had time to work, LOL.

Some people derive most of their life satisfaction from work and are very outwardly focused (extraverted) so they need a lot of input to feel energized, otherwise they become bored and wither. If they don't seek outside activities for that input after they retire they go into decline. Me, I'm an introvert so I don't need that much outside input to keep my mind and body active. I can feel very satisfied entertaining myself at home alone, reading, etc. My father was an extrovert and was very active in his senior and community center and engaged in many activities with his friends. I don't really need all that but I do still engage in some social activities with friends here and there. It's enough for me.

I think Janelle is an introvert while Christine is an extravert but both of them have plenty going on in their lives that unless they somehow became estranged from their interests and families they'd never go into any kind of decline based on not working in a regular job. They have many children to focus on and dabble in enough interests and money making/socially-oriented schemes to keep them feeling socially and personally satisfied for the rest of their lives. 

[precious pupp]

1 hour ago, Elizzikra said:

There is a big difference between working in a job you enjoy, paid or volunteer, to keep yourself active and having to work and earn as much as you can to put a roof over your head. Some people age without many health issues, but most of us find working at the same intensity at 70 we did as a 30 year old to be very difficult if not impossible.

That's for sure!  I had a very physical job, and I can't imagine still doing it, 15 years later.  My husband is disabled, so I would say that's my job now.  Caretaking takes it out of me, but it's part of the deal we made 50+ years ago.  He's not bedridden, he just can't walk more than 20 feet or so.  We enjoy each other and share the same memories.  It's not all bad, being old!

 

[Denize]

8 hours ago, Yeah No said:

According to the internet she has a degree in accounting which would have qualified her for it.

She had a 2-yr associate'd degree in accounting and would have had to switch jobs every time they moved from state to state and town to town, so I doubt she ever made it up very high up the ladder.  But even at the entry level in a government job she would have had better benefits than the rest of the Browns.

[Ms.Lulu]

17 minutes ago, Denize said:

She had a 2-yr associate'd degree in accounting and would have had to switch jobs every time they moved from state to state and town to town, so I doubt she ever made it up very high up the ladder.  But even at the entry level in a government job she would have had better benefits than the rest of the Browns.

According to Janelle's LinkedIn profile which she hasn't updated since they lived in Las Vegas, she has a Bachelor's degree in accounting. She matriculated at the University of Phoenix, which boasts esteemed graduates like Shaquille O'Neal,  Mary E Peters, and Christina Brown (host of NBC's Early Today).

Curiously, Janelle did not include any work history from before 2012.

Even more curious, Janelle includes her high school too: Bountiful High School.

 

[Elizzikra]

11 hours ago, precious pupp said:

That's for sure!  I had a very physical job, and I can't imagine still doing it, 15 years later.  My husband is disabled, so I would say that's my job now.  Caretaking takes it out of me, but it's part of the deal we made 50+ years ago.  He's not bedridden, he just can't walk more than 20 feet or so.  We enjoy each other and share the same memories.  It's not all bad, being old!

 

My jobs were never physically demanding but the hours could be really long and the work could be mentally (and sometimes emotionally) taxing. I'm glad I was able to stop when I did.

Quote

But even at the entry level in a government job she would have had better benefits than the rest of the Browns.

Such a low bar...

Quote

Even more curious, Janelle includes her high school too: Bountiful High School.

I'm not a big user of LinkedIn but I thought a lot of people did that? I went to a pretty small school and it's a good networking thing. I'm guessing people do that so that they are "linked" to more people, even if it's a tenuous connection like sharing the same high school?

[Yeah No]

1 hour ago, Elizzikra said:

My jobs were never physically demanding but the hours could be really long and the work could be mentally (and sometimes emotionally) taxing. I'm glad I was able to stop when I did.

Same here, although my hours were usually no more than 40 hours a week unless I had to do overtime, which did happen although not all the time. I really didn't realize how high stress and draining an exec. admin. job was until after I stopped working. 

2 hours ago, Elizzikra said:

I'm not a big user of LinkedIn but I thought a lot of people did that? I went to a pretty small school and it's a good networking thing. I'm guessing people do that so that they are "linked" to more people, even if it's a tenuous connection like sharing the same high school?

Yes although employers now ask for your Linkedin profile address on applications so it makes people feel obligated to have a profile. I think they want to see if your info. online matches up with what appears on the resume you gave them so they feel more confident that you're legit.

[surfgirl]

So getting back to the thread topic, Janelle seems like thr only one who ever had a job outside their home. She's been a bookkeeper ir something like that right?, she got her real estate license in LV, but who knows if she ever sold anything? Thr only ither jobs I remember any of thrm having were hawking Lularoe crap on IG and now the swill they're selling. Meri's B&B I don't even count bc I don't even knownif it is a legit business. But I think this MLM scheme garbage they're all drawn to is because they lack the skills to do anything else other than post on IG and Facebook, and they are all trying to make an easy fast buck, likely die to Kody robbing them of their TLC money and leaving them mostly broke ass broke when they left him. And I hate him for that. There, I said it. He robbed three women of their ability to make something of their lives beyond shilling for MLMs.

[AZChristian]

29 minutes ago, surfgirl said:

Meri's B&B I don't even count bc I don't even knownif it is a legit business. 

I don't think she's renting out rooms now, but it was legit at one time.  I've stayed there.

[ginger90]

18 hours ago, Denize said:

She had a 2-yr associate'd degree in accounting and would have had to switch jobs every time they moved from state to state and town to town

 

[CalicoKitty]

Didn't Meri have a job working with disadvantaged teens when they lived in Lehi?  I don't know how often or how long, but I think it was mentioned on the show.  Maybe it was volunteer and not paid; I just assumed it was a paid job.  No job was mentioned after they moved until she bought the B&B.

[65mickey]

Yes Meri did have a job working with troubled teens I believe. She said that she loved this job but when her superiors found out that she was going public with  living in a plural marriage she was fired.  

[CalicoKitty]

3 hours ago, 65mickey said:

Yes Meri did have a job working with troubled teens I believe. She said that she loved this job but when her superiors found out that she was going public with  living in a plural marriage she was fired.  

 

Now I remember the story line.  We never knew for certain that was the truth, but she did stop working.  Thank you.

[ginger90]

I believe they referred to Meri’s job as being with, “at risk youth”.

[precious pupp]

2 hours ago, ginger90 said:

I believe they referred to Meri’s job as being with, “at risk youth”.

Meri was very wrong in acquiessing to Robyn's bully behavior, and not going back to college like she wanted to.  Robyn even told Kody "I don't think I can have another baby" to get him to agree that she had to have Meri's help with her vanity business.  Selfish to the end, that's Robyn and her behavior.  😡

[65mickey]

I remember after they agreed to buy the land in flagstaff, Meri, Janelle, Christine and Robyn were out at lunch. I think it was Christine who suggested that they all stay in Vegas until the houses were sold and then move.  Robyn rolled her eye to the heavens and looked like she was going to slam her fist down. You know she was thinking just when I have everyone convinced to move to where Dayton will be Christine throws a monkey wrench into my plan.  Yes always putting her and her children's needs and wants ahead of everyone else in the family.

[Chalby]

On 9/30/2024 at 9:51 AM, islandgal140 said:

I will never truly understand why Robyn just had to be at the birth, but as the pregnant woman that is within Mykelti's right. It must have been so awkward and kudos to both Robyn and Christine to put whatever beef aside and be there for Mykelti and Tony. 

Robyn is so adept at playing victim while both gaslighting Kody, yet "allowing" him to believe he's arrived at his "talking head" conclusions, all on his own.

Kody has created this current family communication breakdown by being spiteful and petty, and downright lying about his first 3 unions.

Once Christine openly checked out, Kody decided to attack by announcing that his kids are only angry because he loved Robyn and not their moms.

To a child, that statement implies that given his kids are 50% their mother, he clearly only loves "part" of them. Meanwhile, Robyn's wringing her hands, begging him to reach out to his kids... NOT.

I don't believe for one minute that Robyn didn't subtly insinuate, years ago, that she was being punished because her and Kody are soul mates. Guaranteed she's been using that soulmate phrase since she set her eyes and wallet on the Brown family.

The wives need to drag him to court.

On 10/6/2024 at 11:21 AM, AZChristian said:

I don't think she's renting out rooms now, but it was legit at one time.  I've stayed there.

Was it expensive? Worth the visit?

[AZChristian]

2 hours ago, Chalby said:

Was it expensive? Worth the visit?

Not overpriced considering the "celebrity" connection. Meri's mother was a gracious hostess, and breakfast was top-notch.

[Chalby]

On 10/1/2024 at 4:02 PM, LotusFlower said:

I agree.  From Kody I expect nothing less.  But Janelle?

 And Janelle complied!  Why?  For the show!  She’s just as invested as everyone else in this shit show continuing.  

The show is loved by the wives because it brought them so much outside "emotional" support from fans, based upon whatever issue, whichever wife had.

It also improved their standard of living, especially in Vegas.

But in Janelle's case, she needs to hustle 24/7, as I'm sure Kody will declare bankruptcy before giving her any future money. Of the wives, she's gotten the short end of the stick, despite all the years she worked and supported the family.

[Not Buyin It]

On 10/1/2024 at 1:58 PM, ginger90 said:

For clarity, a more recent post from Michelle.

“We told the family we preferred the wedding not to be mentioned on the show at all….”

The disrespect is real all around on this one. Using “event” doesn’t reflect what they asked of the family.

And yet, later on, during his couch time, Kody does say "wedding".

 

On 10/3/2024 at 8:09 AM, laurakaye said:

Despite what Kody imagines in his pea-brain, I doubt it was a case of people making sure that they were "having more fun" than they actually were just to spite him.  It was likely that people were trying to enjoy themselves while also purposefully having to ignore Kody glowering in the corner with his arms crossed while Robyn sat mournfully next to him and dabbed at non-existent tears.  

But it was also probably a delicate balance for a lot of wedding guests, which is a true shame.  How do you congratulate the father of the groom when he's pouting like a toddler and refusing to engage in the festivities?  It would only serve to make him even more conspicuous than if he did his usual crazed lunatic dance number in the middle of the reception venue.

What?!? There was no Official Kody-Dominated Brown Family Mosh Pit?

[Roslyn]

19 hours ago, Not Buyin It said:

What?!? There was no Official Kody-Dominated Brown Family Mosh Pit?

I think this right here is why Kody is being such a baby about the wedding event. At all the big get togethers where there is dancing the "great" thing about it is the "Brown Family Mosh Pit". Which simply means everyone dancing with Kody at the center so that he feels like king of the dance floor. Kody's wives and children were always supposed to make him feel like Mr. Super Special Man.

[65mickey]

2 hours ago, Roslyn said:

Kody's wives and children were always supposed to make him feel like Mr. Super Special Man.

Well Christine did refer to him on occasion as "wonderful man."  

[AZChristian]

57 minutes ago, 65mickey said:

Well Christine did refer to him on occasion as "wonderful man."  

Where is the vomit icon when you really need one?

[precious pupp]

17 minutes ago, AZChristian said:

Where is the vomit icon when you really need one?

🤮🤮🤮

[General Days]

On 10/6/2024 at 1:51 PM, surfgirl said:

So getting back to the thread topic, Janelle seems like thr only one who ever had a job outside their home. She's been a bookkeeper ir something like that right?, she got her real estate license in LV, but who knows if she ever sold anything? Thr only ither jobs I remember any of thrm having were hawking Lularoe crap on IG and now the swill they're selling. Meri's B&B I don't even count bc I don't even knownif it is a legit business.

When the show started, Janelle was working full-time, outside the home. Meri was working outside the home, but I believe it was parttime. I remember Meri had a more flexible schedule, because in one of the very first episodes, one of the other moms had a scheduling conflict, and Meri said she had more flexibility and could cover for [whoever's schedule was at issue at the time].

Christine was hugely pregnant when the show started. I don't know if she was working by then, but she had a bunch of jobs prior to the show, including working as a cashier at night. I think that was her last non-MLM, non-show job (that lasted at least into her pregnancy with Truely). When she met Kody, she was working for her dad's car business. 

The women mentioned some of their work history in earlier seasons. Meri worked for a portrait studio for a while, and I seem to recall that she worked for an engraver for a long time (maybe 10 years). 

On 10/6/2024 at 4:45 PM, CalicoKitty said:

Didn't Meri have a job working with disadvantaged teens when they lived in Lehi?  I don't know how often or how long, but I think it was mentioned on the show.  Maybe it was volunteer and not paid; I just assumed it was a paid job.  No job was mentioned after they moved until she bought the B&B.

Yes. Like @ginger90 said, I think Meri said her Lehi job had something to do with "at-risk" youth. It was paid, and she was fired, once the show aired and her bosses could no longer feign ignorance of her polygamy.

I'm fairly sure that for all four women, the show is the best money they've ever made in their respective lives. (Robyn worked until she moved from St. George to Lehi, but I think she was an aid in a nursing home or assisted living place.)

I think Janelle's narrative about her work history is a little more elevated than her actual work history. And please know, I'm not putting her down. Honest work is good work. I think (until the show) she always did work, and she is probably had the most reliable work history of any of them. I also think she talks a good game, though.

On 10/5/2024 at 11:37 AM, Dibs said:

As I said, I'm pretty sure that was the Utah Capitol building she was walking around in one early episode, so she no doubt worked in finance there.  That's not just being "an office clerk in a cube."  She also spoke as if this was a long-time career and not just a recent job.  Once we get these cushy state jobs in which we're vested, we're not quick to leave them ("velvet handcuffs").

 

Janelle worked in the unemployment office. She did not have a cushy, highly paid job. 

https://openpayrolls.com/employee/janelle-brown-9558 

The Browns only lived in Lehi for about five years. Before that, they were in Powell and Lovell, Wyoming. At one point, I think Kody and Meri lived in Montana too, but I think that was prior to either Janelle or Christine joining the family. 

 

[gaPeach]

I am late to the party but caught up.  

It is amazing to watch both Robyn and Kody act so bewildered that they are on the outside looking in.  That the wives are all bitter and jealous of Roby and Kody's relationship, and his kids are basically assholes and its all their fault they no longer have a relationship.  Did I get that right?  

And Robyn going on and on about Christine and how she was not sure how Christine would behave.  Like she was scared or something.  I have not seen Christine be anything but polite to Robyn.  It felt as though Robyn was trying very hard to make it an issue.

Kody, you are an idiot.  These are your kids!  Be the adult for once and act like a dad.  Sheesh you are extremely self-center and childish.  

And their youngest girl.....she is going to be a nightmare when she hits her teenage years.  I am just sayin'