Don’t Buy Stuff You Cannot Afford
Published on - May 9th, 2009 (Modified on - May 11th, 2009) (by J.D. Roth) One of the best things about running this site is reviewing all of the reader submissions. You folks send me tons of links and story ideas. But in the past three years, there’s one item that you have submitted more than any other. Every month several people forward a Saturday Night Live skit called “Don’t Buy Stuff You Cannot Afford”.
I’ve never been able to share this video on Get Rich Slowly, though, because it’s under copyright, and NBC has kept a tight rein on it. Now, though, they’ve released it on Hulu, and at last I can share it with those of you haven’t seen it. Ladies and gentlemen, I give you “Don’t Buy Stuff You Cannot Afford”:
Wife: I just can’t get these numbers to add up.
Husband: Like we’re never going to get out of this hole.
Wife: Credit card debt, does it ever end?
Salesman: [entering from who-knows-where] Maybe I can help.
Husband: We sure could use it.
Wife: We’ve tried debt consolidation companies.
Husband: We’ve even taken out loans to help make payments.
Salesman: Well, you’re not the only one. Did you know that millions of Americans live with debt they can not control? That’s why I developed this unique new program for managing your debt. [Holds up book] It’s called, “Don’t Buy Stuff You Cannot Afford”
Wife: Let me see that. [Reading from book] If you don’t have any money, you should not buy anything. Hmmm…sounds interesting.
Husband: Sounds confusing.
Wife: I don’t know honey, this makes a lot of sense. There’s a whole section here on how to buy expensive things using money you’ve “saved”.
Husband: Give me that. And where do you get this “saved” money?
Smart personal finance really is that simple — but that doesn’t mean it’s easy. I often say that money is more about mind than it is about math. That is, we all understand that we ought not buy things we cannot afford. But knowing this and doing it are two different things.
This is a funny skit with a solid message. I’m glad to finally be able to share it. (But now you can all stop e-mailing me about this clip!)
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Can be viewed outside the US here: http://consumerist.com/consumer/clips/snl-skit-dont-buy-stuff-you-cant-afford-252491.php
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No good for those of us outside the United States.
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Imagine that-NOT buying you CAN’T afford!
Who knew it was that simple??? *wink*
Hysterically funny skit from SNL.
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LMAO! I wondered why you had never featured this before. This is one of my (and my friends’ as well) favorite SNL skits. Such simple profound wisdom in a funny package.
Glad it’s up on GRS now too!
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Too funny! – thanks to Abby for posting the Canadian link!
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I have always loved this skit. My pastor actually showed it in church one week when we were talking about financial responsibility. Not often that we watch SNL at church!
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We saw this one a couple of months ago and just laughed our heads off. I just wish the rest of my family could see the humor in it. It’s not exactly funny when it pinpoints one of your spending habits that hasn’t changed over 30 years…maybe I should send them the link and call it
“Pinky the Cat” from youtube. Then they’d watch it.
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I’m one of those people who sent in the youtube version of the clip. Its a classic.
I also think it is that simple, but as the author of this web site rightfully reminds us part of managing money is learning how to manage your feelings. That isn’t easy to do.
Some people spend money compulsively on things they don’t need or want, with money they don’t have.
I have no problem avoiding that.
My problem is compulsive eating. I have that under control, but I have to exert effort to maintain that control the others have to work at not going ape with their credit cards.
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great video. oldie with a very great point!
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I must say, although the message is great, the acting/filming starts off pretty badly. However, once it gets going it’s great all round!
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It is my understanding that there is no liability for linking to content with questionable legal status. Has that changed? If not the biggest risk to linking to a youtube video would be having the video vanish one day.
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Absolutely love the post and video.
Suddenly people understand that saving money and only buying what they can afford is the sane and stress free way to live!
We all have learned recently that there is No fairy godmother and the bills DO come due, plus interest!
Who would you rather make rich? YOU or the credit card companies? It’s totally your choice!
Live Frugally, Get Rich, Be Free!
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Another thanks to Abby for posting the link
I wish Hulu would work here in Canada (boooo!)
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LOL! This is one of my favorites, too. I love the persistently dopey looks on Husband and Wife’s faces, and Salesman’s extravagant smugness.
Thanks for posting it! Provides an opportunity to forward it (and your page) to friends.
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Oh my word, this is hysterical!!! Thanks for sharing it here.
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You have to wonder when “buying stuff you can’t afford” became ‘common sense’. This is such a great sketch!
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Yes, I agree to all the comments. A great skit, a great message, and funny too.
Mostly funny on how obvious it is that many people never understood it!
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Hmm.. I guess I should stick with a high school degree and not take out any student loans, then.
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@Liz: I’m not offering a personal opinion on that, but Dave Ramsey always advises people to work their way through college, rather than take on debt.
Of course, he also advises in favor of state schools for that reason, rather than pricier private colleges.
Again – I’m the messenger here. No shooting please. I’m not advocating for or against Ramsey’s viewpoint on this one. It’s just an interesting dilemma that Liz raises.
Side note: It’s SOOO interesting that so many of Ramsey’s callers seem unable to think for themselves on a given piece of advice he offers. They call to get his “approval” before they make a financial decision.
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steve martin… this man should be canonized.
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Funny, sad, but true!
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I watched this on the Canadian link, and one of the commenters there suggested he could probably make a fortune selling an ebook by that name, with no more content than the simple statement – Don’t buy stuff you can’t afford.
That’s also sad but true – many people will see this as some sort of wisdom to be learned in 27 lessons, rather than basic common sense.
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I see people all around me(my co-workers) doing this. They are on the phone complaining about their credit card bills/rates or complaining to each other and then going out shopping or talking about a new expensive car. It doesn’t seem to sink in that your bills won’t go down when you keep buying new junk(because beleive me that is what they bring back from the mall) or eating out all the time.
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I guess we can include homes and cars as well…but those items are so often overlooked in society. Eyes are open now!..foreclosures are at the highest peak ever….there is a new show call the “Repo or Repo Man”. The small items are not as damaging as those big ticket items…..now that is COMMON SENSE!
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Apparently the US government hasn’t read this book.
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