Category Archives: Entertainment

Do Movies and TV Shows Affect Your Purchasing Decisions?

by

When we were kids, we would see some cool product that a commercial was pushing, come on the TV and we would desperately want it!  This still works with some adults that were conditioned to respond to those ads, by being spoiled as a child!

Those commercials were very effective, and reminds me of the movie Star Wars, where a Jedi would use a Jedi mind trick!  Envision Obi Wan saying “You want to buy the Apple Ipad“! 

After a while, clever, witty ads and sheer repetition of those ads, convince us that we really do need whatever they are trying to sell!  Perhaps some people think that owning “this or that” will make them a better person, or at least more popular?  Perhaps they do get some attention at first, but eventually the novelty wears off. 

The question is “Does the temporary attention gained via the high cost of the TV Show/movie product worth it”?

Another slick trick that is used to convince you some product is cool is the inclusion of the product in movies with popular actors and actresses! 

Perhaps, if you’re a guy, knowing that Brad Pitt drives a certain car in a movie plants in your mind that you could win a Angela Jolie look-a-like… if you drive such a car?!?

My wife and I laugh at the products that don’t fit the character’s role…  you know the product makers have to pay a pretty penny to have their product included in such a blockbuster, especially when the products are nerdy and don’t fit the movie well!

There’s an old saying “There’s a sucker born every minute”…  Please don’t be one!  Use your common sense before being persuaded into buying such products based on a movie/TV show…  No matter what Hannah Montana says…

 -MR

Did you like this Article?  Then subscribe to my RSS feed so you can get more great articles like this to enjoy!

Minimalist vs Freegans, Money Fight Matchup #1

by

I’ve been far to soft here at www.moneyreasons.com!  It’s time to get some opponents into a “Cage Ring” and have them tear into each other.

Today, two opponents are going to go for the gold by duking it out for three rounds in the rusty cage!

In this corner we have the Freegans – They are heavily into recycling food and other products by digging for them in dumpsters and other such locations.

In the other corner, Minimalist – People that try to restrict the amount of products they consume in life.

Who is the Greenest of Them All?

Freegans, consume mainly recycled furnishing and thrown away food that was found out in dumpsters.

Minimalist live with as little furniture as possible, but they still have to buy their food!

Round 1 goes to the Freegans.  Why?  Because it’s better to get rid of trash that would be sitting in a landfill (via recycling) vs creating a minimal amount of trash.  While it is close, Freegans win.

Who has the Healthier Lifestyle?

You probably would expect the Minimalist would win this one, and you would be corrected!  The Freegans go out after nights on their “shopping” trips to pick up food and goods out of the dumpsters.  There is way to much potential for getting sick from some sort of bacteria or virus, not to mention safety concerns…

Round 2 goes to the minimalist.

Which group has the potential to make more money?

Both work in similar settings.  Both can be well-educated, but the minimalist edge ahead just by the slightest of margins!  And this is because they would be healthier and live a tighter existence, so that they have fewer distractions.  This enables them to focus effectively on things in their life such as their jobs, significant others, and whatever else they choose to value.

So round 3 goes to the minimalist!

So the winner of this first Money Matchup goes to the Minimalist!

I’d like to thank both contestants and wish them well 🙂

If you have any interesting point to make between the two, please do tell 😉

-MR

The Great Recession, Explained South Park Style

by

I can’t  believe it!  I was writing a blog post, when South Park came on.  Now I use to watch South Park when it first came out, but after they started getting really gross with some episodes, I quit watching.

Now, since I use the TV as white noise, while trying to think of a topic for tonight’s blog, something unusual happened…  I started watching a South Park Episode (which is called “Margaritaville”).  After watching the complete episode,  I was surprised to realize that I agreed with it! 

Click on this link to see the episode!

Sometimes South Park really does have some intelligence in the cartoon!  I was very impress with how they described the causes of “The Great Recession”, and how politicians take credit for everything good (Obama in this case).

Click the link above, the episode isn’t really that vulgar, and the message is clear and accurate.

I’m always amazed at what you can learn for unexpected sources…  But then again, intelligent people write those TV shows and movies, so it’s only natural that their real thoughts on matters would occasionally be reflected in their art.  This seems to happen a lot with South Park, usually at the end of the show, Kyle or Stan does a little speech that revels the author’s viewpoints on particular matters.

I just find it hard to believe that people can sometimes hear a more intelligent explanation from South Park than the popular media or government!

Ironic huh!

Have you ever gleemed information from unlikely sources?  I know in the dilbert cartoons, the garbage collector is really supposed to be the smartest guy in the comic strip.

Stan or Kyle for our next President?

-MR

Decks Are Well Worth The Cost

by

When we had our house built, we didn’t want to spring for the additional cost for a deck (the builder also said it would be wise to wait at least 5 years so the ground would settle), so initially we were deck-less…

I’m glad we waited, because if we did build a deck when our house was built, it would have been made of wood.  And that would mean maintaining it ever year.  While some people don’t mind staining or painting a deck every year or so, I would hate it.

We probably wouldn’t have a deck today, except my wife wanted one.  We had the money saved up, so we went ahead and bought one about 4 years ago.  It has been a great success!  Every year, I enjoy it more and more!  I didn’t have a deck growing up, so it was a entirely new experience for me.

As I mentioned above, I didn’t want to maintain it so I bought one of those composite wood ones!  Buying one of those systems, means that I don’t ever have to stain the wood (yay)!

Reasons why a deck is worth the cost:

  • Kids play games on the deck (toddlers basketball, soccer, etc).
  • We eat out on the deck all the time when I make hamburgers  from the grill.
  • I like to go out late night and sit in the dark.
  • We all like to sit in the sun on perfect sunny days.
  • When the kids are going crazy inside, it’s an area to escape too.
  • When the kids are being to crazy inside, sometimes we’ll send them out onto the deck.
  • Great for hosting small get-togethers or small parties
  • It’s also a nice location to write a blog entry when the kids are being loud or have friends over 😉

Have you ever resisted buying something because you underestimated the value in it, only to later be surprised and glad that you bought it?

-MR

Related Article:

Comfy Time Out On The Deck