What five classic Disney movies can teach us about personal finance
They鈥檙e the familiar films you watched endlessly on VHS as a child. You rewound your favorite parts over and over and memorized the songs. But did you know that these classic Disney movies have聽? NerdWallet mined the archives of our favorite animated classics and found five money motifs for you to spot the next time you revisit these treasured films.
1. 鈥淭he Little Mermaid鈥濃�擝e resourceful
On an underwater adventure to a sunken ship, Ariel discovers an old fork her seagull friend, Scuttle, dubs a 鈥渄inglehopper,鈥� and she puts it to use as a comb. Ariel鈥檚 shipwreck discovery is analogous to a good聽聽find. New isn鈥檛 always better, and sometimes you can save a lot by using your resources to find used products, whether it鈥檚 household goods, clothes or a car.
2. 鈥淧inocchio鈥濃�擳ell the truth
In this traditional tale, Pinocchio lies about skipping school and his nose grows longer until it becomes a tree branch. Learn from Pinocchio and don鈥檛 fib when it comes to finances. Accountability and trust are the basis for nearly every financing option from聽聽and FICO scores to insurance plans and聽. Compromising your credibility isn鈥檛 worth it, so be honest when reporting your annual income, claiming deductible expenses and filing your taxes.聽
3. 鈥淎laddin鈥濃�擝udget wisely
You and Aladdin have at least one thing in common: You both have a limited supply of assets. In Aladdin鈥檚 case, it鈥檚 wishes. He only has three, and he uses them carefully throughout the film on his quest to win Jasmine鈥檚 heart. For you, the limited asset is money, so聽聽that works for your lifestyle and stick to it. Whether you do it with pen and paper or聽聽just do it, because budgeting is a basic necessity for financial health.
4. 鈥淏eauty and the Beast鈥濃�擝e charitable
The prince-turned-beast is a Disney icon鈥攂ut do you recall how he became the monstrous creature in the first place? The young prince refused to help an old beggar by giving her shelter for the night, and the transformation was his punishment. The lesson here: Don鈥檛 keep all the dough for yourself. If you can afford to, give back.聽聽can be tax deductible, and some credit cards even offer rewards for charges made to charities.聽
5. 鈥淐inderella鈥濃�擬oney doesn鈥檛 buy happiness
What can you learn from this rags-to-riches tale? Work hard and success will come. Cinderella starts out practically enslaved, burdened by her stepmother with endless chores, while her stepsisters bask in wealth. But in the end, Cinderella is the one who meets and marries Prince Charming. Instead of being consumed by materialism like Cinderella鈥檚 stepsisters, focus on聽, not frivolously.
You know what happens at the end of each of these stories: Our heroes and heroines live happily ever after. If you take note of these money lessons and make smart decisions, your finances can have a happily ever after, too.
