Real Financial Heroes YouTube Style

As someone who lives on a budget, and follows the advice of Dave Ramsey, a financial counselor who advocates living a debt free life by "living like no one else, so later so can LIVE like no one else", I am constantly amazed at what other people spend their money on. It truly seems like the more people make, the more they spend.

While surfing the web one day, I came across a spoof of Budweiser's "Real Men of Genius" campaign on YouTube. They are a group of three financially-themed videos entitled "Real Financial Heroes". The tune is the same as that of the famous Budweiser ads, but the lyrics have been changed to fit three different types of people: "Mr. Impulse Buyer Guy", "Ms. Addicted to Big Sale shopper", and "Mr and Mrs. Too Much Home Buyer". Though I find the videos to be hilarious, from the blond wig the singer wears to the satirical lyrics of the music, I think they are an excellent commentary on today's biggest and most common financial blunders.

The first video of the series, "Mr Impulse Buyer Guy", is the brief story of a man who doesn't think about the consequences of of what he spends his money on. "If you see it and you like it, it's yours, even if it puts your family in debt for years to come." How many times does this happen every day across America, with people racking up debt on credit cards that never seems to get paid off? While the problem is indeed a real one, you have to laugh at the video and song as this particular man buys a $400 beef jerky maker only to wind up hating it and putting it away for the "garage sales of tomorrow" See it here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=ECIuteQB8hw&mode=related&search=

The second video hits me a little closer to home as I do enjoy buying things on sale: "Ms Addicted to Big Sale Shopper". This is the story of a woman who is drawn into stores by their advertised sales and then racks up her credit cards (which will charge her interest for years I am sure) to save a few dollars.. In the end, she really isn't saving any money and is really just falling for the store's gimmicks. "So slap down that plastic...and make another money-saving purchase. The retail industry can't afford for you not to." Here is this video: www.youtube.com/watch?v=33OE65bNclc&mode=related&search=

The last is particularly ironic given today's situation with the bankruptcy of many sub prime lenders. "Mr and Mrs Too Much Home Buyer" buy what I can only call a McMansion that eats up sixty percent of their gross income, and then pay to furnish it. With debt up their their eyeballs, they are forced to eat Raamen noodles off of their granite counter tops, because they can barely afford to eat. With many people facing adjustable rate and interest-only loans on houses that are not worth the money they borrowed for them, this situation is becoming more and more common. "Mr and Mrs Too Much Home Buyer" can be seen in this video: www.youtube.com/watch?v=TxylHPnoloI&mode=related&search=

The third video concludes with a summary of the three videos' characters, saying "For all you do to make this country a better, richer place, this debt's for you!" Even though the underlying truth is a sad one, you can't help but laugh at the irony- you just have to love YouTube!