You thought Rudolph was a red-nosed reindeer. Here’s why he was a great money-manager. (Maybe he used Geezeo!)
10. “You know Dasher and Dancer / And Prancer and Vixen / Comet and Cupid / And Donner and Blitzen”.
These are the names of the fiscally irresponsible reindeer. We won’t talk about them. But here’s a re-cap of the poor fiscal choices which led to their lost reindeer fortunes: gambling; short-selling; buying on margin; credit card debt; under-insured; no health insurance; sued at work; repossessed sleigh.
9. “But do you recall / The most famous reindeer of all?”
Rudolph was your average reindeer. Lesson? Even your “average” reindeer can amass solid savings and prepare for their financial future.
8. “All of the other reindeer used to laugh and call him names”.
Oh, yes. Rudolph might not have been popular. But he sure knew a thing or two about forecasting. No, not weather. Forecasting the future and preparing for it. Lesson? You might not buy all the toys available now, but, with foresight and planning you can build up a healthy reserve for the future.
7. “Had a very shiny nose / If you ever saw it / You would even say it glows”. Lesson? Possess something unusual? Celebrate it. Your talent or skill could lead you to bigger and better career opportunities. That means more money, honey!
6. “They never let poor Rudolph / Play in any reindeer games”.
If by “games” these other reindeer were sitting around playing high-stakes poker, then, Rudolph was wise to stay away. Considerable money can be lost gambling, playing the lottery, or betting at the track. Lesson? Choose your games wisely and spend appropriately for best success.
5. “Then one foggy Christmas Eve / Santa came to say…”
Don’t fill in the rest of this lyric! Why? Because you never know when opportunity will arrive… and when it does, you don’t want to fill it with something predictable. Lesson? Opportunities are everywhere. Be ready to grab yours. It could bring you material and/or experiential wealth.
4. “Won’t you guide my sleigh tonight?”
When the boss calls — you answer! Rudolph didn’t know what to expect. But, that didn’t keep him from stepping up and performing. That’s rare and therefore valuable. Lesson? No matter your job, do it well. Follow-through and deliver. You’ll set yourself apart as a worker or business owner.
3. “Then all the reindeer loved him”
When times were good Rudolph was smart enough not to get smug. Or to get greedy. Likewise, the markets change. Lesson? Rejoice when times are good. But, don’t let folly (or holly!) overshadow responsible fiscal behavior.
2. “And they shouted out with glee”
At this point in the story the reindeer are so happy they could have lifted Rudolph onto their shoulders and fed him free margaritas all night. It’s wise to spend money celebrating and mark special occasions. But you’ll notice there is no mention of all-night margaritas and doing the limbo. We can assume Rudolph knows how to party but keeps it within reasonable limits. Margaritas, after all, can add up. Lesson? Spend a little to enjoy life… but not at the expense of your other responsibilities.
1. “Rudolph the red-nosed reindeer / You’ll go down in history!”
Other things that have gone down in history: stock market collapse, housing market collapse, economic recession, the dot-com dot-bomb. Rudolph did manage to score several starring roles in animated movies, song, and a few books. He probably saved some of that income because he can afford to show his life story on television every year. Lesson? Save a little bit from every paycheck. You’ll be glad you did.
