'You learn humility when you are at Target...': Full House fame Jodie Sweetin reveals she couldn't afford groceries, her first payday was just around $190

Life after childhood fame was not easy for Jodie Sweetin. The actress, best known for playing Stephanie Tanner on the hit sitcom Full House, has opened up about a difficult period when she struggled to pay her bills and even had to return items at Target because she did not have enough money in her bank account. In a recent podcast interview, Sweetin spoke about her financial struggles after the sitcom ended, her battle with addiction and how taking an ordinary job helped her understand the value of money and happiness.

Jodie Sweetin recalls struggling to pay at Target

During an appearance on the We’re Still Here, Babe podcast, hosted by actress Natanya Ross, Sweetin recalled how she had to put items back at Target because her debit card did not have enough money. “You learn humility when you are at Target and you’ve got to turn around and go, you know, put some stuff back,” she said.

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The actress explained that she had no problem working a regular job to support herself and her two daughters. After getting sober in 2011, she started working as a logistics coordinator at a treatment centre in Los Angeles. According to Us Weekly, Sweetin was earning around $2,200 a month at the time, while her parents helped pay half her rent. She lived in a small apartment with her children and drove a used car. “I didn’t have ego about it,” she said, explaining that her priority was to pay her bills and take care of her family.

What happened to Jodie Sweetin after Full House ended?

Sweetin became a familiar face on television as Stephanie Tanner in Full House, which ran from 1987 to 1995. However, her life changed after the show ended. The actress struggled to find regular acting work and also battled drug and alcohol addiction. She later spoke openly about her recovery and the challenges she faced during those years.

In the podcast conversation, she said she learned to accept her circumstances rather than remain unhappy about not having the career or lifestyle she once imagined. She also explained that working a regular job helped her become more present and appreciate what she had.

How Fuller House changed Jodie Sweetin’s financial situation

Things began to improve when Netflix brought back the sitcom as Fuller House in 2016. The revival featured Sweetin reprising her role as Stephanie Tanner alongside Candace Cameron Bure and Andrea Barber. However, the actress revealed that her finances were still in a difficult state when production began. “I had to borrow money the first week I was working on Fuller House,” she recalled.

Jodie Sweetin added that she reached her first payday with just around $190 in her bank account. The revival ran for five seasons before ending in 2020. Sweetin said the experience taught her that money can make certain problems easier, but it does not solve everything. Having experienced both financial comfort and hardship, she said she had learned to live through both.