Photo by JD Hancock

This is a Debt Black Hole Guest Post from Michael Edmondstone, a personal finance expert who writes for various websites and blogs, including Rate Supermarket. Thanks to Michael for submitting a guest post proposal- it paid off! Let's see what he's come up with...

Our favourite sci-fi characters live in a galaxy far, far away, where money seems to be of no concern—there’s never any discussion of how much a transporter costs or how much energy a lightsaber expends when it strikes something solid. Maybe that’s part of the reason we like them, because we know they’re out saving (or destroying) the universe instead of sitting around the kitchen table, strategizing ways to manage their personal finances. Still, what could be more tempting than to pull them out of their fictional, stress-free financial state to speculate about their consumer tendencies? Here’s how I reckon our favourite heroes and villains shape up when it comes to their spending.

Big Spender

Han Solo Mos Eisley Action Figure at TFAW.com (Affiliate Link)

Being a credit card holder would only amplify Han Solo’s notorious reputation as a playboy and rebel. With the power of plastic, he’d start spending it up on booze, women, and a new set of wings that would put the sporty Millennium Falcon to shame. His wallet would be bursting with cards for every department store and eatery in town: when one card hit its max, he would flash a smile and swipe another one through the machine. Instead of whisking around the galaxy dodging bounty hunters, an Earth-bound Solo would outrun debt collectors and get in scrapes with loan sharks. But his high-adventure lifestyle would come with one ugly and inescapable consequence—a rock-bottom credit rating.

Credit Card Sceptic

Mr. Spock Cookie Jar- ThinkGeek (Affiliate Link)

Mr. Spock would certainly find credit cards “highly illogical”: why would someone spend money that he didn’t actually have? He’d be much more comfortable dealing strictly in cash or with a debit card, although he’d probably take some issue with the whole borrowing/lending system on which banks operate as well. Most curious.

No Limits

Jabba The Hutt Palace Bookends- Entertainment Earth (Affiliate Link)

Jabba the Hutt is the mastermind behind an entire criminal empire of smugglers, assassins, and bounty hunters, and over the course of his career he acquires an impressive show of assets. Because let’s face it: it’s not exactly standard practice to hold your employee in carbonite as collateral for the debt he owes you—that act reeks of someone who has some extra cash on hand to blow. Jabba the Hutt may be hideous to look at, but his credit score certainly wouldn’t be. His estate would be considered a “diverse financial portfolio”, and had Leia not choked him to death, he would have enjoyed a long, wealthy retirement.

Late Fees and Fraudulent Charge Woes

Doctor Who Eleven Doctors Action Figures TARDIS Box Set- Entertainment Earth (Affiliate Link)

Doctor Who would not be as fortunate in terms of his credit rating. While he would have every intention of being a responsible cardholder and mailing his payments in on time, the sheer nature of his profession traveling through time and space would make on-time payments nearly impossible. Having the ability to regenerate his appearance would also prove to be a double-edged sword: each time he altered his appearance, his credit card charges would be denied as fraudulent purchases until he changed the images on his personal identification documents.

Model Figure

Captain James T. Kirk Maxi Bust- TFAW.com (Affiliate Link)

Captain Kirk would be a model credit cardholder. Not only would he manage his finances responsibly, he’d be likely to educate others to follow his lead, spewing off clichés to inspire friends and family members to be responsible for their finances. He’d only charge purchases he could pay off within the grace period, and he’d never let a late fee or a minimum-only payment tarnish his good credit score.

I encourage all the well-intentioned Time Lords and fiscally-frivolous Space Smugglers out there to find the best credit cards and take charge of your finances. Which character do you most resemble? Do you have your own take on another sci-fi star’s spending habits? Share it in the comments.

Thanks again to Michael for the Guest Post! Although, I completely disagree James T. Kirk would be the most responsible with his finances of the Star Trek captains. He took more risks than anyone (Kobayashi Maru ring any bells?)- so I'm afraid he'd get himself into a hole. Especially if he found himself near any Orion women. There's just something about women with green skin...am I right?!?!?! Personally, I think Jean-Luc Picard would be a stickler to payment due dates and financial responsibility. Do you agree or disagree?

Have an idea for your own Guest Post on the Debt Black Hole? I'd love to hear about it! First, read through my Guest Post Guidelines and then contact me when you're ready to talk about your idea (just like Michael did).

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