You Ruined My Life is about 11-year-old Minerva (Soleil Moon Frye), a girl who lives in a Las Vegas casino with her Uncle Howie (Allen Garfield), who spoils her by giving her everything she wants.
Minerva gets into trouble and her strict Aunt Hermione (Edith Fields) threatens to take her away.
Dexter (Paul Reiser), a clever mathematics professor, finds out a foolproof way to cheat and win in blackjack, but he is caught.
Uncle Howie makes sure Dexter tutors Minerva so she can gain admissions into a private school.
Meanwhile, Dexter and Uncle Howie's assistant Charlotte (Mimi Rogers) fall in love.