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5 Financial Lessons You Can Learn From “A Charlie Brown Christmas”

Chris Gottschalk

Chris Gottschalk About The Author

Dec 17, 2019 5:45:00 AM

Out of all the holiday television specials making their way across the airwaves this December, “A Charlie Brown Christmas” stands above them all. Quotable, funny and still relevant 54 years after it first aired, this Emmy award-winning cartoon remains a cherished tradition for families everywhere.

However, even though “A Charlie Brown Christmas” focuses on children, it covers a lot of adult subjects. One of them is finances.

If you don’t believe me, watch the show again. Sally wants money for Christmas (preferably tens and twenties), Snoopy focuses on winning the neighborhood light decorating contest to win money and Lucy believes that Christmas is ultimately just a commercial racket run by big eastern syndicates. Even the main plot of the show is that Charlie Brown is depressed at the commercialism of Christmastime.

You can even learn a lot of good financial lessons when you watch "A Charlie Brown Christmas."

Here are the financial lessons of A Charlie Brown Christmas

A Charlie Brown Christmas Money

Don’t be Afraid to ask for Help

When Charlie Brown realizes he’s feeling so depressed about Christmas, he seeks out psychiatric help from Lucy. While Lucy’s value as a mental health worker might be questionable, asking for help is almost always a good idea.

People don’t ask for help for a number of reasons, but the biggest reason is fear. They’re afraid people will make fun of them if they ask for help. They might also be afraid people will think they’re incompetent.

In the case of issues like health care and finance, though, they might also justifiably be afraid of the answer. A question for the doctor might end up being expensive, while a question for a financial advisor might mean learning how bad your financial situation actually is.

The truth is that asking for help does require humility and trust, but the result is almost always positive.

By asking for help, you get the opportunity to move forward. If you’ve been stuck on a problem, you now have the information you need to move ahead. You also have the opportunity to learn and expand your skill base, and you might just make a new friend in the process.

This is especially true in the world of finances. If you visit a financial advisor, for instance, you stand to both save and earn more money than if you had simply tried to figure out everything yourself. You might learn how to invest your money better, figure out how to update your budget or even be alerted to some new financial offer that could help you.

What's the best way to ask for help?

If you need to ask for help, be specific about what you want, and try to ask in person. Also, don't apologize when you need to ask for help, and make sure to let people know how their aid helped you.

Need some financial help? Contact us! Get Some Help

Invest in Real Estate

When Charlie Brown visits Lucy, she lets him know that what she really wants for Christmas isn’t some stupid toys or clothes, but rather real estate. While an eight-year old is usually not known for their financial savvy, in this case Lucy is 100% correct.

Buying real estate is a fantastic involvement, and it’s even better if the property has a house on it. Unlike a lot of other investments, real estate tends appreciates over time, which means the longer you hold onto it the more valuable it gets. This can be especially true if you happen to live in a community like Rochester.

Try Something New

Lucy proclaims the best cure for Charlie Brown’s holiday doldrums is to be the director of the annual Christmas play. This doesn’t seem to be something Charlie Brown has ever done before, but he doesn’t hesitate when Lucy asks him.

This is a good habit to adopt. Trying new things not only broadens your horizons, it forces you to grow and become more confident as you step outside your comfort zone. It can also be a good way to renew your interest in a hobby you love, and can even help keep your mind sharp. 

Trying something new can also yield good results financially. You can put more money in your emergency fund, switch your money to a mutual fund that has a higher rate of return or even select a new financial institution with better rates, smartphone apps and member services.

How financially fit are you? Download Assessment

Presentation Counts

Everyone knows how Charlie Brown’s little Christmas Tree looks before and after the kids deck it out with Snoopy’s doghouse ornaments. For that matter, Snoopy’s doghouse wins the Christmas light decorating contest after he decorates it in what might be the most unique set of Christmas lights ever.

While we all know that what’s on the inside is what really counts, unfortunately we also know that first impressions matter—and people form their first impression of you in about seven seconds.

In the financial world, when you’re getting ready to meet someone, be it one of First Alliance’s lending advisors or a financial advisor, make sure you look polished. Make sure you review all the financial information you’ll need to have and make sure to have it on hand. This won’t guarantee your success by any means, but it will show that you’re a person who cares about the impression they make, and that can go a long way.

A Charlie Brown Christmas lessons

It’s Not About The Things

It’s easy to see why Charlie Brown gets depressed as he wanders through scene after scene of his friends (and dog) trying to get their proverbial piece of the pie. However, after Linus tells Charlie Brown what Christmas is all about, he, and the rest of the Peanuts gang, realize that it's about our love for one another.

This seems like an especially important lesson as we get inundated with ads for toys, appliances and even cars . Companies would have you believe that the only way to have the Best Christmas Ever is to buy the 10-foot tree, the nice silverware, the biggest turkey you can find and one of each of the most popular gifts for your children. It's hard to avoid the message that the more you spend during the holidays, the happier you get to be.

The truth is, you don’t need to spend thousands of dollars to have a happy holiday. Money doesn't equal happiness, or how much you love someone. You might want to buy your Mom something fancy for Christmas, but even if you can only afford a small bottle of perfume, it doesn’t mean you love her any less. You might differ on the religious interpretations, but late December is when you get to see your family, reconnect with friends and appreciate how fortunate you are.

This is a gift that no amount of money can buy.

Happy Holidays From First Alliance Credit Union

We’d like to say thank you to all our members for being part of our family this holiday season. If you need any assistance, contact one of our member advisors today. They’ll be able to answer any financial questions, and if you need some assistance, they’ll be happy to help you fill out an anytime skip-a-pay form so you don’t have to worry about loans this December. 

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