Personal Finance Links (Harry Potter / Michael Edition)

This weekend my wife and I went to see Harry Potter. It’s a bit of shocker that it took this long. My wife is a huge fan to the point were we have Gryffindor dinner plates. I’m not as much of a fan. While I like it, Harry and I got off on the wrong foot. You see he expected me to read a series of really thick books about his adventures. That’s not the way to win me over. Fortunately, he came to movie form – allowing me to follow his adventures in just a couple of hours. The problem that I had when it came to the adventures is that it seemed like I had seen them before in another form. Maybe I simply watch too much television and see too many movies. I’ll give you an example and you can be the judge (I’ll try not to give away any spoilers.)

I’m a big fan of Buffy the Vampire Slayer television series so inevitably Harry Potter gets compared to that (teenage hero fighting evil theme). Throughout this new movie they refer to Harry as The Chosen One. Buffy has been The Chosen One from the Buffy the Vampire Slayer movies (back in 1992) and the audience is reminded of it at the beginning of nearly (maybe every) episode. Luna’s character in the movie could be compared to Buffy’s Anya – a likable girl, who seems to say really strange unexpected things. Her lion costume reminded me of Anya’s bunny one, even if they were worn for different reasons. Ron and Lavender’s relationship clearly seems to parallel Spike and Harmony’s. For a minute I had to make sure they didn’t use the same actress. There were a few more moments, but the one about cutting your hand to use blood to open up an ancient cave… well Buffy did that in season 7. If you’ve seen both endings to Buffy season 6 and this Harry Potter movie (I’m told the book is nearly the same), you’d also note the similarity between the heroes’ roles in the outcome – roles that should surprise.

That’s not to say Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince wasn’t a good movie. It’s entertaining. However, I simply found it a bit anti-climatic.

On the other hand I had pushed Michael to the top our Netflix queue last week. I think it’s a movie that mostly slipped by public attention. I think that’s why I liked it. It had no lofty box office expectations… no fancy special effects. It’s simply a good story with a lot of humorous and touching moments mixed in. And of course John Travolta dances in it, which is the #1 requirement my wife has for any John Travolta movie. I can’t argue with that.

Enough of the movies, let’s get to some personal finance links:

Money Writers:

• Brip Blap discusses the art of the business trip.
• Stop using credit cards by putting your cards on ice says Digerati Life.
• Frugal Dad gives 9 back to school shopping tips for parents and students.
• Generation X Finance advises readers not to waste money financing a car for more than 3-5 years.
• Million Dollar Journey asks when paying off debt: lowest balance or highest interest first?
• Stressed, sore, tired, looking for a good reward? Money Smart Life shares how to get a cheap massage. If that fails, coerce a friend or family member.
• Learn how to survive and thrive during a recession at My Dollar Plan.
• The Sun’s Financial Diary teaches readers how to stretch an entry level salary as much as possible. Can you add anything?

Great Personal Finance Posts

• In a similar vein as Sun’s Financial Diary, Bargaineering shares how to live like a broke college student.
• Consumer Commentary talks about the take back the beep campaign. If every cell phone company took Sprint’s lead with the press 1 to skip this message and go straight to the recording it’d be easier on everyone!
• NCN explains what works for me – budget categories.
• Pay Less for Food gives this frugal tip: save money by cutting the number of supermarket visits.
• Get Rich Slowly writes buying food: grocery shopping tips from 1950.
• Here are 10 financial commandments for your 30s as presented by How I Saved Money.
• Frugal Freedom takes another look at my minimum budget.
• Rich Credit Debt Loan blogs on buying and selling stocks 101.
• Dough Roller shares this free resume template site from Microsoft.
• You can’t get rich on a salary says Money Under 30.
• Rich Single Momma posts single mom Fights Foreclosure with Cakes
• Debt Kid presents ten things to love about the recession.
• Moolanomy blogs about Obama’s health plan and one trillion dollars.
• Finance 4 Youth makes a case for private medical insurance.

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