Merry Christmas to you and yours! Because getting our personal finances in order can be a chore, my gift to you this year is some of the best financial lessons from Christmas movies. To be honest, I’m not the most cheery and merry elf on the shelf, but I love a good Christmas movie. There are always some good lessons to be learned which we can put to use in our lives.
1. Home Alone – Coupons Can Save You Money
I’ve mentioned how valuable couponing is on this site a couple times before and I am so happy that it’s featured in one of my favourite Christmas movies of all time. Kevin (Macaulay Culkin) showed us that when funds are low, coupons can make the difference in what you can buy. What other financial lessons did you gather from this movie?
2. Elf – Be Honest About Where You Are Financially
Get Rich Slowly introduced this awesome analogy about my favourite Christmas movie – Elf. He talks about how Elf stayed true to who he was even though other people did not understand. In terms of your finances, it’s important it is to stay true to yourself and understand your financial limitations. We’re often guilty of trying to spend in the moment without thinking about the consequences.
3. A Christmas Carol – It’s Not Too Late
A Christmas Carol has been adapted into many formats over the years, but they all have the same themes and lessons. The biggest financial lesson from this film is the fact that it’s not too late to change your money habits. You have to search within to find out where you’re going wrong so that you can take the steps to change the not-so-good habits.
4. How the Grinch Stole Christmas – Money Isn’t Everything
Maybe I’m the only person in the world who has never watched this movie. But this post by Credit Cards mentions that the Christmas holiday should not be about excessive spending on gifts. Instead, the focus should be on a priceless gift – spending quality time with the ones you love. These are the gifts that create happy memories that will live on for ever.
5. Jingle All The Way – The Early Bird Catches the Best Deals
A few Christmases ago, I wrote about getting your holiday shopping done early to avoid the rush. The movie Jingle All the Way is the perfect example of what could happen if you decide to wait until the last minute to buy gifts – especially those popular items that are on the top of everyone’s wish list. If you shop early, you can take advantage of better shopping deals and gift options. Can you imagine not having to deal with long lines?
So, later today, when you are curled up in front of the television watching Christmas movies, pay attention to the personal finance lessons that are being taught through the story lines. What are your favourite classic Christmas movies and what are some of the lessons (financial or otherwise) that you have learned from them?