True Grit
10 financial lessons from 'True Grit' :
The protagonist in this novel and a classic film remake, Mattie Ross, is careful with her money and is a shrewd horse trader to boot. She's strong, determined, relentless and, above all, frugal. Here are 10 things we could learn from her story, courtesy of Mr. Portis and the Coen Brothers, minus the awful single by Glen Campbell!
1. Negotiate. Mattie convinces Stonehill the livestock trader to buy back the four ponies he'd sold to her now-dead father for $25 a head. (Whether it's the price of a car or a home, look to strike a deal.)
2. Stand up for your rights. Since her father's horse was stolen from the stock barn, Mattie asks Stonehill to accept responsibility and pay her for the cost of his negligence. He refuses, she persists. (If you think you're being hosed, say so. Overpricing over kills. No one likes to be ripped off.)
3. RETAIL ME NOT! Only amateurs pay retail. Remember those $25 ponies? In need of transit, Mattie buys one back - but will pay only the stock price of $10. (Before you purchase anything, check online comparison sites to get the best deal you can.)
4.Travel lightly. Mattie strikes out for the Indian territory with just the clothes on her back, some blankets, her father's hat, and a few apples. (Next time you're flying, go carry-on and save $50-$70 round trip.)
5. Lodging doesn't have to cost a lot. On her first night in Fort Smith, Mattie bunks down in the funeral home with three corpses. Later she avails herself of the Monarch boardinghouse's cheapest rate: 75 cents for two meals and a shared bed with Grandma Turner. (Consider alternate lodgings when traveling- you might even save a buck or two!)
6. See your financial agreements through. Mattie and Rooster Cogburn strike up a deal- $50 
earnest money, and $50 when Tom Cheney is caught. Even though the marshal wastes the first $50 payment on whiskey and cigarettes, tries to swindle Mattie out of the agreement by leaving her at Ft. Smith, and tries to gain a higher profit by splitting Cheney's bounty for another crime with Texas Ranger Laboef , Mattie refuses to give in. (Is it really worth paying an early cancellation fee for services rather than to just see it through? Cancelling cell phone contract, for example, can cost you upwards of $200).
earnest money, and $50 when Tom Cheney is caught. Even though the marshal wastes the first $50 payment on whiskey and cigarettes, tries to swindle Mattie out of the agreement by leaving her at Ft. Smith, and tries to gain a higher profit by splitting Cheney's bounty for another crime with Texas Ranger Laboef , Mattie refuses to give in. (Is it really worth paying an early cancellation fee for services rather than to just see it through? Cancelling cell phone contract, for example, can cost you upwards of $200).7. Don't forget treats. Pay yourself. Mattie not only provides basic care for her pony, she gives him apples and corn dodgers. (In among all your financially responsible behavior, allow
yourself a reward now and then, pay a little extra towards your mortgage or add unexpected savings to an IRA or other investment.)
yourself a reward now and then, pay a little extra towards your mortgage or add unexpected savings to an IRA or other investment.) 8.Take care of what's yours. In a crucial moment, Mattie's gun misfires when she confronts her father's killer, Tom Cheney. (A few minutes of preventive maintenance - cleaning the rain gutters, testing the smoke alarm batteries, - can pay off big time. It might even save your life.)
9. Don't let your heart overrule your head. Mattie had a chance to get a smaller, more sensible firearm. She wanted to keep her father's gun, however, it nearly cost her life. (Look critically at your finances for sentimental traps. Are you brand-name loyal? Maybe you're determined to go to the same college your dad and grandfather attended, even though you'd have to take out massive student loans. Or keeping the family home long after the kids are gone, even though it's expensive and hard for you to maintain. Think about what you should do, not what you want to do.)
10. If a fur-clad raggedy-bearded gentleman wearing a bear's head for a hat asks if you need medical care, who accepts co payments of dead bodies, dental mirrors and bottles of expectorant, the correct answer is "no." Even if he accepts your insurance plan.
posted by Austin @ 9:53 AM
3 Comments:
True Grit...that rings a bell but I don't remember ever seeing the movie. I love your blogs. Congratulations on your upcoming pink bundle of joy! :)
I think if you had to get any "medical assistance" from someone wearing a bear skin on their head, you'd be better off without it. :) Love you! :)
Rumor has it he's a OB-GYN... :)
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