This just in: It’s Bravo’s fault that Real Housewives of New Jersey star Teresa Giudice has the checkbook balancing talents of a second grader.

The phrase “Girl puhleeze!” springs to mind.

Childhood sweethearts, Teresa and Joe grew up in Paterson, New Jersey, where they often played “House” together as children. They were in the process of building their “dream home” when financial ruin struck. Joe, an entrepreneur, owns several successful businesses throughout The Garden State, but the couple’s lavish spending quickly translated into more than $11 million in debt.

Giudice and husband Joe’s financial woes are all over the news, and now Teresita is trying to bite the hand that feeds her. The Franklin Lakes socialite is reportedly telling pals that her reality television fame is the reason for her humiliation. A friend of Giudice’s tells PopEater.com Gossip Guy Rob Shuter that she blames the Bravo show for her bankruptcy and the public attention surrounding her depleted finances.

Denial — it’s not just a river in Egypt.

“If she wasn’t on the show, this all would be much easier,” the tipster explains. “Teresa is sick of everyone knowing all her private financial business. She didn’t sign up to be on ‘Housewives’ so that everyone could look into her bank account. Millions of couples go through what they are going through, except no one knows about it. It’s just not fair.”

“It’s honestly got to the point where she’s not sure if she wants to come back for another season.”

Giudice only rakes in $3,333 a month for her work on Bravo. They also say that she and her husband earn a combined annual income of $79,000.

The Giudices are in the middle of filing for bankruptcy but made news this week when they went on a $60,000 shopping spree while also asking a Newark bankruptcy judge to stop an upcoming auction of their belongings. Before becoming a housewife, Teresa earned a degree in Fashion Marketing and Management from Berkeley College. She worked in the fashion industry in New York City. If all else fails, she could always sell fake Chanel bags down on Canal Street!