Lindsay Lohan: Cash-Strapped and Unemployed

Is Lindsay Lohan following in Britney Spears' footsteps?

No, not as an actress-turned-Paparazzi-magnet, but as a cash-strapped spendthrift. The New York Daily News reports that Lohan has been over-spending and now relies mostly on credit cards and girlfriend Samantha Ronson's funds. A "friend" says, "Sam really thinks Lindsay needs to learn how to become a recessionista and manage her money better.”

Evidence that Lohan has been spending above her means includes a new Rolex watch ($30,000) and Maserati (over $100,000). Plus, Lohan hasn't been in a film for the past two years, which has limited her income. She is reportedly looking for work now.

Perhaps she can follow in Spears' example and regain control of her finances. After divorce papers filed in late 2007 revealed that Spears saved none of her $737,000 monthly income, her father helped her reign in her spending and boost her income through a new album and much-marketed comeback.

Lohan's troubles underscore just how hard it can be for celebrities to live up to the luxe life they come to expect. According to financial planners, the rich and famous often fail to plan for the fact that their income is unstable, often peaking early in life, as well as stand up to the many hangers-on that ask for support.

• For more, read: "A Financial Makeover for Britney Spears."