Hollywood movies to take notes from!
Movies are not only for entertainment, they can also help us gain a different perspective on important aspects of life, such as finances. Some might work for your situation, some might not, but it’s always a good thing to keep an open mind.
That being said, read on to find out xx of the smartest money lessons that films have given us. It’s up to you if you want to follow any of them or not.
The Hunger Games – self-sufficiency can help you save money
Before becoming a major player in the infamous Hunger Games, the main character, Katniss Everdeen was hunting wild animals to provide food for her family. We’re not saying you should start hunting for wild bores, but you can think about ways to become more self-sufficient as well. You’ll be surprised by how much money you could save in the long term, just by growing your own chickens, herbs or vegetables.
The Full Monty – you’re never too old to learn a new skill
The six main characters in the movie find themselves without jobs and, consequently, money. Their life-saving solution to being broke and unemployed is to start stripping. The lesson that one should take from this feelgood movie is that even if you’re past your younger days, it’s never too late to learn a new skill, especially one that might bring you profit.
The Money Pit – if it seems too good to be true, it probably is
In this popular movie of the 1980s, married couple Tom Hanks and Shelley Long seem to have made the deal of their lives by buying an extremely cheap house. The situation quickly goes downhill when the house starts falling apart. The moral? Don’t be too quick to pay a lower price until you carefully assess the item you intend to buy. In many situations, the lower prices hide some sort of problems, scams or defects. Double check everything. Better safe than sorry!
The Devil Wears Prada – the importance of a healthy work/life balance
In this 2006 comedy-drama, Anne Hathaway plays a workaholic character who puts her personal life on hold to cater and impress her super-demanding boss played by Meryl Streep. It’s not a bad thing to be ambitious and work hard to get what you want, especially when you are young, but everything has a price. If you have to sacrifice other aspects of your life, important ones, against you will, then the sacrifice might not be worth it.
To avoid work burnout as well as damaging your personal relationships, the best way is to find a balance between work and private life. There’s no clear recipe, but with trial and error, you will find your balance.
Wall Street – greed isn’t the way
The illegal trading schemes of Gordon Gecko’s, played by Michael Douglas, is discovered and exposed by his protégé Bud Fox, played by young Charlie Sheen. Some might say there’s no harm in wanting to be rich, but evading authorities and breaking all rules to get that status is never a good idea.
Confessions of a Shopaholic – if necessary, seek professional help with your credit card spending
This romantic comedy released in 2009 shows us that overspending can be a real problem, affecting multiple aspects of one’s life. The main character played by Isla Fisher cannot control her credit card spending, even if this means increasing debts and collectors on their tail.
If you are also in a similar situation, you can ask for a financial advisor’s help to curb your credit card spending. With the right guidance, you can reach financial balance all over again.
The Pursuit of Happiness – when you hit rock bottom, the only way to go is up
This movie presents entrepreneur Chris Gardner’s journey from rags to riches. With strength and perseverance, Garden, portrayed by Will Smith, manages to achieve his goals and create a multi-million-dollar brokerage company; not before going through tough times such as homelessness.
The message behind this movie is that there is always a solution, even if the situation seems impossible to solve. Rock bottom is not the end, it’s the beginning!
Star Wars: The Force Awakens – one man’s trash is another man’s treasure
In this episode of Star Wars, the protagonist, Ray, makes meets end by salvaging junk. This helps her lead a self-sufficient life. If you’re also thinking of saving some dollars, repurposing certain items can do the trick. For instance, if you’re thinking of redecorating your home, finding some furniture on freebie or vintage sites can be a major help. You’ll be surprised by the quality of items that people throw away or sell for peanuts money.
Groundhog Day – try not to make the same money mistakes time and time again
Bill Murray’s character wakes up on the same day, experiencing the same situations over and over again. Until he changes his overall attitude towards life and the things that happen to him, he is stuck in an endless cycle.
If you think you’re in a similar situation, from a financial point of view, it might be time for a change. The change comes with you. Therefore, think of ways to shift your attention and your attitude, learn from your past mistakes and take the reins of your financial freedom.
Wolf of Wall Street – don’t be fooled by smooth talkers
In one of his most memorable roles, Leonardo Di Caprio portrayed Jordan Belfort, a financial scammer who succeeded in fooling hundreds of finance-savvy people with his smooth talk and promises of turning their dreams into reality.
The takeaway should be that salespeople are trained to tell you exactly what you want to hear, to make you seal the deal. No matter how trustworthy and respectable a person might seem, always tread with caution. Don’t trust everything you hear, even it sounds even better than you’ve pictured it.
Jerry Maguire – starting a business on your own can be very profitable
“Show me the money!” is what Jerry Maguire, played by Tom Cruise, yells on the phone to convince a popular football player to become his client. In the movie, disappointed by unethical methods employed by people on the industry, Maguire gives up his profitable sports agency job to become a freelancer. Turns out his decisions changed his life, for the better.
If you also have considered starting a solo business, trust your instincts but also your experience. If you play it right, a new beginning, such as a new business, can prove to be more profitable and rewarding than your current 9-5 job.
Speaking of jobs, check out who lost their high-profile roles: 13 Actors Who Were Fired from Blockbuster Movies
The Net – protect yourself against identity theft
Sandra Bullock plays a young woman whose life becomes a complete nightmare when discovering something off about her company’s activities. Her records are deleted and her identity is replaced with that of a criminal.
You might say this only happens in the movies; however, with today’s technology, AI and whatnot, it’s easier now more than ever to become a victim of identity theft. To protect yourself from such unwanted situations, always delete your spam emails, shred your bank statements and make online credit card payments with caution.
Cast Away – get creative with what you have
Tom Hanks’ character gest stranded on a deserted island for several years. All this time, with no help whatsoever from technology or other modern inventions, he succeeds in finding resourceful ways to survive until he is finally rescued and brought back to civilization.
The lesson to be learned from this is that all it takes is a little bit of creativity and willingness to find the right resources for a positive outcome. Whether it’s a remortgage or reducing expenses for your weekly groceries, there are ways you can achieve your goals, even if it doesn’t; seem that you have much to work with.
Indecent Proposal – one’s value cannot be priced
Demi Moore’s character receives a million-dollar proposal for a night with Robert Redford’s millionaire character. This severely affects her relationship with her husband, played by Woody Harrelson.
Putting a price on your dignity and not following your principles is just not worth it. You might be making money a lot faster than the usual way, but at what cost?
Read also: 4 Reasons Women Need More Money Than Men in Retirement
The Social Network – protect your ideas properly
Everyone knows how the ultra-popular Facebook appeared. Or at least we think we know. The movie called The Social Network presents the controversy behind this social networking site, whose creator, apparently was not Mark Zuckerberg but the Winklevoss twins.
The lesson to be learned from all of this, is that if you think you have a good idea, safeguard it as best as possible. Either patent it or don’t talk about it until it is official.
Check this out: The 12 Most Expensive Celebrity Divorces of All Time
