Money Archives - Page 32 of 32

I’ll start with a confession: I watch a lot of television. It’s a flaw that I’ve come to accept and embrace.

I tend to gravitate towards shows that feature “regular” people—Friday Night Lights, The Office, Parks and Recreation. Not only are these shows just awesome, they often depict people in realistic financial situations. But for me, no show has painted a greater picture of financial reality than Roseanne.

Watching the show in reruns as an adult has given me a whole new perspective. It was pioneering in the way it portrayed a working family. From the cleanliness of her house to her relationship with her family to her struggles with her weight, there was nothing about Roseanne that I cannot relate to now. Most importantly, the show depicted money in a way that has never been duplicated.

photo from carseywerner.net

Here’s what Roseanne taught me about money:

1. It’s OK, and often necessary, to be working mom. The reality for a lot of women, me included, is that having a full-time job is necessary. Roseanne worked at numerous jobs in order to help provide for her family. She never once expressed guilt or remorse for having to do it; she knew her family needed the money to take care of their kids and their expenses. So she did it. And sometimes she got in trouble for needing to put her family first. But she accepted the consequences because family comes first.

2. Discussing finances with your spouse is a must. Many episodes focused on Roseanne and Dan discussing their financial difficulties, including how they were going to pay their bills. These dialogues showed that it was perfectly acceptable for a married couple to sit down at their kitchen table and discuss money (pre-lottery winning season. Let’s just forget about that). They showed that even if you argue sometimes, even if you splurge on little items, it’s still important to do be open and honest about your household budget.

3. Being a savvy grocery shopper is a way of life. Who could forget the trip to the supermarket with Darlene’s home economics class? Her pantry was often stocked with generics, she paid cash, clipped coupons and her meals were never anything fancy. But the Conners had dinner together every night and everyone was fed. She also valued the specialness of a dishwasher and eating in a restaurant. There are a lot of lessons in that.

4. Don’t quit on your dreams. From Dan’s drywall business to the motorcycle shop to flipping houses to Roseanne’s restaurant, they were never afraid to pursue their dreams in order to make a living. They borrowed money, employed family and friends. They put in long hours, hard work and often struggled and failed. Eventually, they were able to profit from The Lunch Box, proving that with hard work comes success. It also shows that if you have a dream, go for it. Because you’ll regret it if you don’t try.

5. Fix what you have before you run out and buy something new. They spent a lot of time fixing what they owned, performing general housework as well as doing their own construction and home repair. If something is broken, you try to fix it before you spend your money on something new. Sure, Dan was a contractor and a general handyman, which made it easier for them to DIY but the point is that you take care of what you own.

While some of the story lines were not at all plausible, many of them were. Roseanne demonstrated the values of work ethic, family, and humor but the realistic portrayal of one family’s finances really hits home.

Are there any TV shows that you feel portray finances in a realistic manner?

I give money to charity. I don’t mind doing it, I like doing it and I’ll keep doing it. While I don’t give gigantic amounts, I give what I can. I don’t expect anything in return for giving money to charity (except maybe a little good karma every now and again). In fact, this concept is a basic tenet of Judaism. It’s called tzedakah and it is one of the 613 mitzvahs.

I try to be a good person, and giving tzedakah is one of the ways I do that. And my job makes it extremely simple to give. For instance, I can have money taken directly out of my paycheck (it comes out of my net pay, not my gross) and given to any charity I choose (from a given list). I can buy Girl Scout cookies or other items from co-workers. I can even participate in fundraisers that directly benefit our employee charitable campaign, which is something I would do almost daily.

In my building, there was an ongoing snack sale where we could buy snacks and sodas for cheap ($.25, $.50). There was a little jar that we would put our money in and, at the end of the day, someone from the committee would collect money. It was a great system, and no one monitored the jar because–let’s face it–we’re adults and can be trusted. Apparently, not so much.

Last Friday, we received an email that the snack and soda sale would be discontinued indefinitely because someone has been stealing the money out of the jar. This infuriated me! First of all, in what direction does your moral compass point that you need to steal money from charity? Second, it’s not as if this was massive amounts of money; we’re talking maybe $20 at the end of the day. Third, and this is the selfish part of me, I’m pissed that I can’t get my $.50 sodas anymore! I did not mind paying $.50 for a soda because the money went to charity. I will not spend $1.50 for a soda from the vending machine for the money to go straight to the vendor.

Stealing from charity is deplorable. It is theft and the perpetrator should be prosecuted. Or at least be forced to pay the money back anonymously. I’m hoping that the shame he or she feels for stealing the money is enough punishment that public humiliation is not necessary. Though, right now, I’d love to put the thief in a stockade and throw tomatoes at him (or her).

Roseanne: Domestic goddess, financial mentor.

A despicable act

Connect with Me

Subscribe to Jana Says