In this past week’s episode of Fox’s New Girl, titled “The Box,” we see the whole dark and ugly truth of Nick Miller’s abominable money management. For those who don’t watch the show, all you need to know about Nick Miller is that at 30-something, he is a bartender with no bank account and more debts than dollars to his name.
While’s Nick’s financial situation is so absurd that it’s comical, there are certainly many financial literacy lessons that we can learn from his shortcomings. Let’s take a look at some of his missteps, and see how we can avoid them in the future.
1. First things first. The box.
(Source: hypable.com)
This is Nick’s box, where he keeps all of his financial documents. It’s filled with unpaid bills, letters from debt collectors, outstanding parking tickets, titles to vehicles he no longer owns, and who knows what else.
Rookie mistake. By 30, Nick should have learned to stay organized. In order to keep track of your finances, you need a good system to manage all the paperwork that comes your way. Important documents from your student loan servicer? File them. Credit card bills? File them. Car insurance policy? File it. Whatever system works for you, make sure it’s organized. You need to be able to find these items when you need them in order to be in control of your finances.
2. Playing with money.
(Source: fox.com)
When Nick stumbles upon a surprising sum of $8,000 as inheritance from his father’s estate, Jess’s immediate reaction is to literally throw money around. Clearly, her attitude is more than a little childish, since making it rain is her priority rather than figuring out a reasonable way to help Nick manage this unexpected influx of cash.
Nick, though, is even worse. As soon as he comes upon this newfound ‘fortune,’ he rushes to the mall to buy toddler-sized tins of popcorn, an enormous quantity of shoes (some of which aren’t even his size), and a professional photography session because "Rich guys always have photos of themselves in their house." His classy headshot ends up in a crystal frame.
We’ve all had our own shopping sprees before. And clearly, it’s not the best use of our money. Try to think about what you need rather than purchasing any old thing you want. Don’t throw money around. Be smart—if you can save, save. The occasional indulgence is okay, but don’t blindly splurge on a regular basis.
3. Bashing bankers.
(Source: newstoshows.com)
As much as you may want to beat the system or stick it to the man, after a certain point, you’ve gotta let it go. Nick would rather keep his cash in a paper bag, as seen on the desk in this scene, than a bank, which he calls “a paper bag with walls.” That’s not good money management.
Even if you hate paying a service charge to use an ATM, it’s still the smart decision to put your money in the bank rather than in a paper bag or under your mattress. Open up a checking or savings account if you don’t have one already. Set up direct deposit for your paychecks. It will make your life a little easier, cleaner, and more organized in the long run.
Don’t be a Nick Miller! Start now and you’ll develop great money management habits for the rest of your life!