3 Financial Stereotypes From Movies And TV Shows That Negatively Affect Our Lives
Movies and TV series give pleasant emotions, allow us to live the experience of several lives, and influence our perception of the world around us — they form attitudes, patterns of behavior and thinking that can distort the view of reality. These are the financial stereotypes that pop culture reinforces.
Myth 1: If He Loves You, He Gives You Expensive Gifts
Sometimes we want everything to be like in the movies. Especially if it’s the TV series Sex and the City. Remember how in one of the episodes Carrie thought about buying joint real estate with the man of her dreams? They went all over Manhattan and finally found “the one” apartment on Fifth Avenue — luxurious, bright, and expensive. Big immediately announced he was taking it when he saw Carrie’s excitement. It seems that the hero didn’t even think before the purchase and easily parted with a large sum to please his beloved.
Reality: movie characters in romcoms often express love through expensive gifts — this technique helps convince the viewer of the seriousness of the characters’ feelings, but at the same time often generates dissatisfaction with their own lives and inflated expectations. In the real world, luxurious gifts require funds that may not be available because not everyone is a pro at online sports betting or a founder of a world-famous startup.
Apartments and other real estate are often taken into mortgage. This is a normal practice that allows you to pay a large sum without an unsustainable burden on the budget. Engagement rings can be bought on promotion, and a vacation can be planned in advance. Relationships won’t become less meaningful, and feelings won’t get less sincere. At the same time, you should remember about daily signs of attention, which are available to absolutely anyone: small surprises like flowers, a romantic dinner or a joint weekend.
Financial advice: if you want to please your partner, but you are worried that you don’t get enough money, think about expenses in advance — determine how much of your income you are willing to allocate for spontaneous gifts without harming the budget. Listen to the desires of your loved one — so you can choose the right option and do not waste money.
Myth 2: You Need a Lot of Money to Dress Fashionably
She goes to private school, drinks coffee with friends on the steps of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and keeps her followers happy with her fashionable looks. Julien Calloway, the new version of “Gossip Girl,” has taken over the reins from Blair Waldorf and is now the most stylish girl in town. Come on, who also bit their elbows while watching the show and would like to be among Manhattan’s elite, live a beautiful life and wear designer clothes?
Reality: pop culture actively imposes on us the attitude that the title of the most stylish goes to the girl from a wealthy family. For the world of cinema, looking fashionable means dressing in brand stores and wearing clothes from the latest collections. For some reason, the heroes of TV series and movies always have money for this — even if they aren’t heirs to a multi-million dollar empire, but simple journalists, lawyers, doctors, or teachers.
In fact, style isn’t about money, but rather about the ability to combine clothes and choose things that emphasize the advantages. And fashionable closet items can be easily found in mass-market brands or in popular second hand stores.
Financial advice: don’t neglect to buy clothes at a discount or promotion — profitable offers of your favorite brands can be found on marketplaces or in the loyalty program of the bank, which provides increased cashback on this category of purchases. If this month’s clothes don’t fit into the budget, but you want to look good in the new season, you can join the swap — bring your unnecessary things there and take your favorite ones for free. This method is based on the 3R (reduce, reuse, recycle) philosophy, which allows you to take care of money and the environment.
Myth 3: Wealthy Successful Women Have No Time For a Personal Life
A successful career won’t build itself, so the image of a wealthy businesswoman often includes a steely character and a busy schedule. Remember the movie “The Proposal”? Margaret is a strong and independent executive with a high income, who isn’t popular with her subordinates. The desire to keep her position and financial position makes the girl devote all her time to work, and also makes her cold and inaccessible, which repels men.
Reality: it can be difficult to combine career and personal relationships. Adhere to the principle of work-life balance and don’t go to extremes. Don’t be afraid to show your weakness and let go of control for a while. In your spare time, pay more attention to your loved one by outsourcing household chores — you didn’t earn all that money for nothing, did you?
Hire a housekeeper, order a ready-made diet for a month, buy a robot vacuum cleaner and a dishwasher. Freeing yourself from household chores will allow you to spend your free time with pleasure.
Financial advice: if your partner is concerned about the big difference in income, discuss with him your common expenses and agree on purchases that only you and only he makes, to feel equality in the relationship. Many people find the split-budget model suitable: for food, rent, and other fixed expenses, the partners set aside an amount proportional to their income, and spend the rest as they wish.
