Full Disclosure: This is Part 2 in a 2-part collaborative post with fellow blogger Dr. Breathe Easy Finance This Part 2 is written by yours truly đ
All artists collaborate sometimes.
I’ll give you some examples.
Drake and Lil Wayne.
Marvel ComicsThe Avengers. It destroyed the box office this past weekend. It just made 1.2 billion at the global box office. So you see, amazing things happen when people collaborate.
Now he has passed the baton over to me and I gladly accept like we are team USA . Like Usain Bolt just handed over the baton. I hear the shouts coming from the stands. Screaming U.S.A..U.S.A!!!! đ€Ł
We are Personal Finance Bloggers. We will not be overshadowed by some french fires and ketchup! You know why? Because financial literacy is too important. The cream not ketchup rises to the top! Like those bullies said in Race For Your Life Charlie Brown, We’re #1!!!! We are out here to help people improve the quality of their financial lives. See my post of Life Lessons From Race For Your Life Charlie Brown
So we got together and decided to tag team it like Macho Man Randy Savage and The Ultimate Warrior.
So without further ado. Here it is for your reading pleasure. I give you Financial Lessons from asking, Do You Want Fries With That?!!
I know what youâre thinking? What type of article title is this? But just stay with me.
Another personal finance blogger, like myself, saw a post online of a video of someone eating a French fry. It got 23,000 views. He shared his thoughts about it on Twitter.
He said in the finance community we get nowhere near as many views. His response to that, was that his next post would be titled, â12 Financial Lessons from Eating Ketchup.â
I replied to that tweet, in response to his, that I would complement his post and call mine âFinancial Lessons from asking, Do You Want Fries With That?
He thought I was joking. Surely, you jest!
I was oh so serious. As you see, when it comes to money, I donât joke.
In the illustrious words of Miss Piggy, âMoi,â thatâs (âmeâ) in French, Moi means business. Sorry, had to throw in a French word since we are talking about French fries.
You see that, I just gave you an origin story. Similar to how Marvel Studios gave you X-Men Origins Wolverine.
I will be slicing through the mysteries of money faster than the Wolverine can bring out those claws and the same way Michonne uses that Ninja sword on the Walking Dead.
This blog talks money, but we also like to have fun. We about to have as much fun up in here as if we were going to a U2 concert!
Now that you know how this post got its origins, letâs dive right in!
Financial Lesson One: Hard work builds character
You will find no arrogance here.
I like to live a simple life. More Tom Welling in Smallville less Paris Hilton in The Simple Life.
Fun Fact: I got to meet and take a selfie with Tom Welling at Awesome Con in DC. He was a down-to-earth guy. More on my adventures at Awesome Con to come later in another post đ
I am no better than anyone else, but I am always just as good.
I have said before in various blog posts, that I am not too good for anything. I am always willing to work. Iâve been a cashier, waitress, and an operator. I prefer to work two jobs if I can. I would spend and live off of one and bank the other. See my post Lipstick Confessions: Confessions Of A Teenage Waitress
The most sophisticated people I know – inside they are all
children. â Jim Henson
If you ever saw the film Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, then you know how much people love chocolate. And it can be a goldmine business or chocolate mine depending on how you look at it. đ People were losing their minds to get that golden ticket.
Chocolate Mania had swept the nation! đ
It was pure marketing genius. They even commented on that in
the film. Wonka was making a mint selling those chocolate bars. Itâs all about
marketing folks!
Itâs sort of like Patron. They donât have the best tequila;
they just have the best marketing. Get that money.
Just look at all the money the candy business makes! Billions!
Here are some of the top chocolate companies in the world.
They may have even helped spread the letâs have candy at every event or holiday cheer. If not, I am sure they somehow found a way to cultivate and capitalize on Halloween and even Christmas.
Who says you need a box of chocolate on Valentines?!!! Most people donât even eat most of it. That box of chocolates is still bought and paid for!
If you ever saw the film Legally Blond, you actually saw her do what most do with a box of variously filled chocolates. That’s right. She took a bite and put it BACK in the box!
Reese Witherspoon in Legally Blond
Mondelez International Inc. even tried to cash in on this
love of chocolate. However, they have officially abandoned its pursuit of
Hershey Co., which would have created the biggest confectionery conglomerate in
the world.
Now that you have some background on the business of
chocolate, letâs get down to money affairs.
Back in 1990, the movie, The Witches, based on the 1983 children’s novel of the same title by Roald Dahl, was released in theaters. The movie premiered on 25 May 1990, in London and was scheduled to open the same day in the United States, but was delayed until August.
Sadly, it would be Muppet and Fraggle Rock creator, Jim Hensonâs last film.
As in the original novel, the story features evil witches who masquerade as ordinary women and hurt children. However, a boy and his grandmother need to find a way to foil and destroy them.
The witches decide they will open up, get this, chocolate
shops to lure poor unsuspecting children.
This is where the story begins.
GUARDIANS OF THE MILKY WAY GALAXY
While on vacation in Norway, eight-year-old American boy
Luke Eveshim is warned about the witches, female demons with a boundless hatred
for children and various methods of destroying or transforming them.
Helga, Lukeâs Grandmother, becomes his legal guardian after
the passing of his parents. They move to England. His grandmother is advised to
take a vacation for a summer by the sea for fresh air after discovering she has
diabetes.
Also staying at the hotel are a convention of witches, masquerading as the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children, with the Grand High Witch, the all-powerful leader of the world’s witches, attending their annual meeting under the name Eva Ernst (played by Academy Award Winner Angelica Houston).
Really? They have some nerve naming their coven the
Prevention of Cruelty to children. Hiding in plain sight like that, but open to
interpretation. Yes, indeed.
Let us examine the fact that Luke had a grandmother that not
only decided to raise him, but has the financial means to take a vacation by
the sea.
I have it on good authority that if you try to rent a house
on Virginia Beach for a week it can set you back $5,000!
I wouldnât mind paying that if I had investments like
interest earned from stocks or royalties to pay for it.
If you have $25,000, you could earn over 2 percent in a high
yield savings account. Thatâs the ish Iâm talking about right there. Making
money for breathing. That is the equivalent of doing a part-time gig and
earning $500 a year.
Inside a ballroom where the witches hold their meeting, Luke
spies upon them as the Grand High Witch unveils her latest creation: a magic
potion to turn children into mice, which they will use on confectionery
products in sweet shops and candy stores to be opened using money provided by
her.
They know how to make their vision a reality.
You have to chart a course and follow that path to where you want to go. What path? You just point to the top and go! Thatâs what I learned from Dwayne âThe Rockâ Johnson đ
I have also learned that when you own something to hold onto
it.
It doesnât matter of it is a taco stand, food truck, or blog. If you own 100%, then itâs yours to do with as you wish. Hold on to as much equity and ownership in your company as possible. I learned that from Shark Tankâs Daymond John. Like McDonald’s does to its hamburgers, keep grinding.
And try to be cash heavy. Meaning stay away from debt. I learned that from Warren Buffet. đ They say his company Berkshire Hathaway aims to keep $1 billion or more in cash to snap up businesses and be able to make quick decisions when buying stocks.
In addition, they say Apple does the same. The worldâs first
EVER $1 trillion-dollar company keeps billions in cash.
Therefore, you should do the same and follow in their example. ALWAYS have cash reserves. NO EXCUSES!!!
Like Mr. Money Mustache once said, âSalads and barbells every day, no goddamned excuses!!!”
WE ALL WANT TO BE ROYALS
And I donât mean Prince William and Kate Middleton.
I mean getting royalty checks in the mail.
I saw an article in which Don McLean owns only 2 stocks:
Google and Amazon.
I also recently read that Don McLean continues to receive
royalties off his music he wrote almost 50 years ago. Yes, this artist still
makes $300,000 per year from something he created in 1971.
In the article by Sovereign Man, it retells McLeanâs story.
Early spring in 1971 when an obscure American folk singer
wrote a song that would change his life forever.
It began with a radio bulletin that said that Buddy Holly
had died in a plane crash. In 1959, when this happened they called it the day
the music died. The boy was crushed. But the man used this emotion to write a
song that would take the world by storm.
Of course, that song was âAmerican Pie.â
It stayed atop the Billboard music charts for more than a
year. And it turned this once obscure folk singer into a global sensation.
Ah yes, the power of the pen.
More than that â McLean was immediately set for life: he
still makes more than $300,000 a year from that song.
Imagine getting paid hundreds of thousands of dollars a year
for something you did in 1971!
This story holds the key to one of the greatest business
models ever invented: the idea that you can create something once and get paid
on it for life.
“The idea is not to live forever, it is to create
something that will.” â Andy Warhol
Itâs the royalty business. Thatâs right. I did the work like
20 years ago. Now cut the check!
In case youâre not familiar with the term, a royalty is a
cash payment that you receive over and over again from an asset that you created,
developed, or own.
For example, songwriters collect a royalty every time a song
they write is played, purchased, downloaded or streamed. Some more than others.
That is why Taylor Swift was mad at Apple iTunes for giving away artists music, such as herself, for free for three months!
Thatâs why McLean still makes money from American Pie. You
have to pay to play. Music that is. In this case anyway.
Royalties are also common in natural resources. Royalty companies
often provide financing to oil and mining companies⊠and those borrowers pay a
royalty on every ounce of gold or gallon of oil that the land produces.
The powerful cashflow of this model can be incredibly
appealing to investors, and there are even some companies that specialize in
acquiring assets that produce royalty income.
Therefore, if you are good at something, donât give it away
for free.
Even though I am a HUGE Marvel comics fan, I actually got
the last comment mentioned above from DC Comics The Joker. đ
Itâs still true though. You have to admit.
If I could, I would tap dance on Twitter, if they paid me.
Me and my lipstick confessions charge a premium for the
really good stuff.
I would hand draw or smack lipstick stickers đon Kylie Jennerâs lip kits if she paid me $400.
Joan Rivers wrote jokes for days. She once said jokingly, that she would, âwrite for Hitler for $500.â
If you read my FinCon18 recap, you know I went to Universal Studios during the conference.
I had to recharge my batteries. I was just so exhausted. I needed some me time.
Therefore, I purchased tickets online to go to Universal Island of Adventure and Universal Studios: Halloween Horror Nights 2018 or #HHN28.
Buying the tickets online is a good idea for Halloween Nights as they offer a discount online.
I got one ticket to go to either park for 1 day for $115. And For Halloween Nights, I got a Flex ticket for $81.99, which allowed me to go any night Sunday â Friday.
This ended up being a good idea because I was unable to go on a specific night (as you can buy a specific date ticket for cheaper $50-60).
I had an absolute ball. It was so much fun. This is the most fun I have ever had at a theme park.
Every hour something new would happen. I walked in circles around the park all night long. I had to finally force myself to leave because it was after midnight.
This is how I was able to do everything I want at Universal on a budget and have a blast!
UNIVERSAL HERE I COME
First, I decided to wait until noon to go. I saw no reason to get there when the park opens because I knew I did not want to be there all day in the heat walking around.
After, I got dropped off by the Resort taxi, I went straight through CityWalk and when to the gate. I printed out my paper ticket, but was told I would need to get a park ticket because it was a digital ticket I had and needed to be on a device (cell phone).
I waited in line at customer service, which was oh so slow.
Finally, I got my turn and had to show photo ID. I then received both of my tickets to each park and was able to get into the park.
Park tip 1: To avoid this aggravation, simply download the ticket to your phone.
OFF TO SEE ISLAND OF ADVENTURE
I got park maps of both the Adventure Park and Halloween Nights and mapped out a plan.
I would do this park for 6 hours from noon until about 630 pm when Halloween Nights started.
At that time, I would do the other park for Halloween for about 4-5 hours as it did not close until 2 am!
First, I got on the Incredible Hulk Coaster. It was so much fun. I had to use my ticket to open the locker for the ride.
Please note, you need to have pockets or a ticket holder to keep your ticket with you while on this ride because you need it to re-open the locker.
I was also able to go in the single rider lines. Since, no one wanted to ride single these were the shortest lines. Therefore, I was able to get on every ride in both parks within 5-20 minutes!!!
Park tip 1: Go in the single rider lines. They are faster and anyone can use them. You can still end up riding with all or most of your party on the ride, but without the long wait in line.
MARVEL ISLAND
Then I walked over to Marvel Super Hero Island and got on the Spiderman 3-D ride.
While in line, I saw lots of people with lanyards and clear ticket holders around their necks.
I asked two gentlemen standing in line where they got it from. They said the front of the park, but I could buy one at stores around the park for about $10-12 bucks.
The first thing I did when I got off the ride was buy a lanyard. It cost me $10.65.
Park tip 1: Get the lanyard. You can tuck it inside your shirt while you ride. The holder keeps your tickets safe and dry from water rides.
Park tip 2: Put a credit card inside the ticket holder with your park ticket and then you can pay for food and locker rental without needing to carry your bag around the park.
Park tip 3: I asked if there was a place close by to get water and was informed that every place that offers food and drink provide free ice water. Including all the food stands or carts. Drink it! I asked like every hour for cold water.
Park tip 4: I also asked what the gentlemen were asking for when asking patrons if they could speak to them. She said it was a timeshare. They say it will be a 90 minute tour, but it turns into four hours. Stay away from these folks! Itâs a high pressure sales pitch. Donât fall for it.
On a side note: I did this before and they try to pressure you to buy all day. They ask for personal information. Donât give it to them. They especially want your credit card or bank account number. Donât do it!
I decided on a whim to sign up, but then looked these people up online before the tour. By sheer happenstance, I clicked on the reviews. They were horrible. So, I did what any sensible person would do. I backed out.
I called the salesperson 2 hours before my scheduled tour and said something came up. The conversation went something like this:
ME:Hello. Good morning. Something has come up and I am not able to make the tour. Iâm checking out my hotel and flying home ASAP. So, you can cancel the tour. Hope you have a good day.
SALESPERSON: (sad voice) No problemâŠthey continue to talk, but I hang up.
I then immediately blocked that number and anyone that called from that out of state area code.
My gut instinct was that they would try to contact me and I had someone call me 3 times at the time I was supposed to be picked up for the tour.
Nope. I blew them off.
I kept the conversation short (per my phone it lasted 20 seconds) and controlled the entire situation.
Do I feel bad?  Absolutely not. I followed phone etiquette. If you say goodbye, have a nice day or Iâm hanging up now, itâs not hanging up on anyone, right?
My motto is sometimes you just have to be aggressive. Be, be aggressive. But I digress. Letâs get back to the fun.
JURASSIC PARK
I went on my third ride: Jurassic Park River Adventure. It was not scary at all and the park is definitely family friendly as many of the rides were not thriller roller coasters, but still fun.
Then after, this ride I was tired. I took a break and got a grilled chicken salad from Captain America Diner. It cost $11.50.
Park tip 1: Take breaks after 2 or 3 rides. The sun and all the walking really wear you out.
Park tip 2: Wait at least an hour to an hour and a half to start riding again to give your food a chance to digest and body a chance to rest and recover from all the movement of the day.
The Wizarding World of Harry Potter â Hogsmeade
Next, I got on the Harry Potter ride. You can keep your stuff in the lockers they provide. You will need to place your index finger on the pad until it says remove finger and verified. Then you will be assigned a locker number.
Park tip 1: Some lockers ask you to create a six digit passcode for you to re-open your locker. Keep it simple so you remember.
This ride is decent. Great visuals. Lots of jerky movements.
The Lost Continent
I went to Poseidonâs Fury.  Waited in line for a while as they grouped all riders together. The ride was okay. Again, great visuals here and atmosphere.
After riding all the roller coasters I wanted, I decided to do the water rides.
Park tip 1: I suggest you do the water rides last. The other park does not have any. And the Volcano Bay park where it is nothing but water, think inner tubes and lazy river (no rides), you have to be bused to. No thanks.
Park tip 2: If you want to get wet, either do it during the day when the suns out or bring a change of clothes. And I mean a whole change of clothes including socks and undergarments as you are going to get soaked.
Park tip 3: Bring sandals to wear on water rides. I put my sneakers in the locker and did all the water rides in sandals so I wouldnât have to walk around the park in wet sneakers!
Toon Lagoon
The last stop in this park for me.
I got on Dudley Do-Rightâs Ripshaw Falls. You get pretty wet here. My pants were soaked but my hair and shirt were not too terrible. I even found a partner to ride with here.
Next up,  Popeye & Blutoâs Bilge Rat Barges. YOU GET WET. Absolutely soaked, from head to toe. They have waterfalls that just drench you. And oh yea, dryers cost $5 a cycle!
I had a blast, but itâs time to get to the real action. Halloween Nights!! Yea baby!!!
Universal Studios Florida
PARK HOURS: Universal Studios Florida: 9am – 9pm Islands of Adventure: 9am – 9pm Volcano Bay: 9am – 9pm CityWalk: Open until 2am every day
This is where the action is. Huge crowds have formed outside the park and everyone is buzzing to get inside. I walked over from Island Adventure in my wet clothes so I could take care of everything all at once while inside the park.
Once inside, I immediately make my way into the ladies and change clothes. Feeling refreshed. I go over to a locker at the front of the park, by the entrance and pay $10 for all day and unlimited access.
I also brought a thin strapped bag to wear over my clothes like a cross body that was similar to a fanny pack to walk the park hands-free. I was able put my cell phone, lip gloss, and any receipts into it.
Since, I kept my cell phone on me in this park, I texted myself the locker number that I stored all my stuff in at the front of the park to make sure I wouldn’t forget. (small productivity hack there)
Park tip 1: They will let you ride with the fanny pack as long as itâs around your waist for all the rides I went on except Harry Potter. Just FYI.
Then I was on my way. I was off to the next ride.
NEW YORK
I rode the Revenge of the Mummy. It was pretty cool. It also had a surprise drop and was super creepy inside the dark caves. It was awesome!
Park tip 1: I played no games because I did not want to carry any prizes or spend unnecessary money on souvenirs. I just kept my park maps as one.
Park tip 2: Like with the other park, I zipped inside shops and cafes. I was in and out because if you stay too long, you will spend money.
San Francisco
I got on the Fast and the Furious. Prepare to wait for this one. It gives a long tour. However, the ride makes you feel like youâre a part of the action in the movie. So itâs not too bad.
The Wizarding World of Harry Potter â Diagon Alley.
This place is straight out of Hogwarts. It is really cool. I zoomed in and out of shops because again you will spend. That quiddich outfit or wizard uniform is pricey. The school uniform tie costs $30 bucks!
As I said above, you must put all items in a locker.
Then off you go. The ride is pretty cool. After every ride, it just so happens to exit into a shop of the character attraction you just got threw riding. A coincidence? I think not. Nope, I donât need a wand to sit in my closet at home. Iâm good.
World Expo
Men in Black (MIB) Alien attack. This is pretty fun. You shoot aliens. Just shoot everything!
Now, itâs gotten dark. All of the sudden chainsaw sounds are going off and people are in monster make-up and costumes. Zombies jump out at you and you get chased by people out of dark alleys. Let the fun begin!
I am also hungry. I go to Richterâs in San Francisco and get a grilled chicken sandwich for; you guessed it, another $11.50 like my lunch salad. And a small sundae from Ben & Jerryâs for $8 dollars! I bought no drink as water was free everywhere.
I walk around and take my customary break of at least one hour before riding.
At this point, the park is in full swing. The Killer Clowns from Outer Space are walking around, people are on stilts in full costume, and lighted jack-o-lanterns are hanging from the trees.
A life size Chucky from the movie Childâs Play box is in the middle of the street and inside is Chucky! He is talking to the crowd. It was one of the most bizarre things to see, but it sure was cool. He drew the largest crowd.
Every hour the park gets wilder, crazier, more fun, and crowded. It was sheer pleasure.
Sights and sounds were everywhere. In every corner, there was something going on. I just kept walking in circles to see what would happen next. They just kept adding characters and shows.
An impromptu performance on the front stage started right before midnight of dancers doing the choreography in Michael Jacksonâs thriller while the song played.
I took a short video of the performance. In this short clip, you could feel the energy of the park. It was crackling. It was electric. It was live. People were laughing, joking, dancing in the streets and just having a good time.
Imagine being in this energy for 6 hours like I was. It was the most fun I have ever had at a theme park hands down. Universal does Halloween big!!
I also got my face painted. So much fun. People kept walking up to me asking for help. They thought I worked there! But I guess when youâre wearing all black and costume makeup that can happen.
LAST RIDE OF THE NIGHT: TRANSFORMERS 3-D
This was another short line and the singles line was super short.
Park tip 1: Do not waste your money on a fast pass. You can get on most rides within 20 minutes.
Park tip 2: Pay attention to the monitors throughout the park. They tell you the wait times of rides.
Transformers were my favorite ride at the park. So, I guess I saved the best for last. It was like being in the movie with them. It was just so much fun and so cool.
Do not pass this ride up as I almost did. I thought it was going to be kind of slow like the other 3-D rides, but I was wrong. This ride was more than meets the eye!
THE END OF THE NIGHT. MIDNIGHT.
I walk over to the lockers and get my stuff out. I head over to voodoo donut, but the line is wrapped around the corner so I leave and catch a cab back to the resort.
Park tip 1: There is a pick up and drop off area at the park. This includes cabs, Uber, and Lfyt. Cabs are also available all day at the park like an airport.
I get back to the hotel by about 1 am. I am fully recharged. I head up for bed. As I headed into my last day of FinCon, I felt like Rory Gilmore in the season 5 episode of Gilmore Girls, You Jump, I jump Jack, in ominous paratus, thatâs Latin for âready for all things.â
Well, that is the end of my Universal Studios adventure. Hope you had fun and thanks for coming along for the ride (pun intended).
