Reality Check: 15 Ways to Save Money Outside the World of Game of Thrones

REALITY CHECK 15 WAYS TO SAVE MONEY OUTSIDE THE WORLD OF GAME OF THRONES VEF Want to roll like a Tyrell? Winter is coming, so stop smelling the roses and start saving money now. SLUDGE IS GOOD ENOUGH FOR YOU! HOMEMADE Stop Drinking Starbucks The average American spends $1,092. on Starbucks each year. How much you could have saved since the Game of Thrones debuted? $4,368 $19,656 The TV show (4 years) The book (18 yeors) Pay More Than the Monthly Minimum YOU CAN'T HANDLE THE INTEREST. Unlike the Lannisters, American houses can't pay their debts. The average household owes The average APR is $7,149 15.31% on their credit cards. Saving for your kid's college fund? By the time you send your little lion out to rule (or ruin) the world, paying more than the minimum could have saved you.. $7,916 in interest. Stop Going Out To Eat YOUR TASTES AREN'T THAT REFINED 53% of people said they went out to eat at least once a week In the War of the Five Kings, Gregor Clegane burned down roughly 53% of Westeros' harvest, so don't plan on eating there, either. Over the years, you could save. A lot of money and your waistline 4 Stop Upgrading to the Newest Tech YOU DIDN'T EVEN KNOW HOW THE OLD ONE WORKED ANYWAY. Americans have the highest cell phone turnover rate of any country in the world. Kind of like the Iron Throne. Shortest cycle: United States 1.8 years Longest replacement cycle: Brazil 7.8 years Stop Getting Expensive Premium Cable YOU DON'T NEED ENTERTAINMENT, YOU NEED MONEY. The average amount Americans pay for premium cable: $21 $86 By 2020, it's expected to be But... Game of Thrones? Game of Thrones is the most pirated show on television. It was downloaded 5.9 million times via BitTorrent in 2013. No More Vacations YOU HAVEN'T EARNED ONE. Paid vacation time of noblemen of Westeros: All the time Required paid vacation time of Required paid vacation time of employees in Ireland (where most filming takes place): employees in the United States: o days 28 days (But you're still not working hard enough) Don't Get Plastic Surgery, THINK IT'LL MAKE YOU LOOK LIKE QUEEN CERSEI? IT WONT. Americans spent $11 billion on face lifts alone in 2012. Over the years, you could save: your face Start Couponing YOU THINK YOU'RE BETTER THAN THOSE TLC HOUSEWIVES BUT YOU'RE NOT In 2011 Americans Couponers save saved in total $11.20 $4.6 B on the average shopping by using coupons. In the years since Robert's Rebellion (18), shopping once a week, you could save: $11,289 Stop Buying Premium Gas YOUR CAR IS A PEASANT CAR. TOO Premium gas is usually about $.20 regular gas. more than Traveling with Khaleesi over the Dothraki sea during Game of Thrones, filling up a 16 gal tank once a chapter (73), you could save: $233.60 Start Buying Generic YOU'RE NOT A MAESTER, How WOULD YOU KNOW THE DIFFERENCE? FDA regulations require a generic to have the same active ingredient and be at least 20% as effective as the brand name equivalent. $137.90 $35.52 Average price of a brand name drug Average price of the generic drug Over 18 years, paying for a monthly prescription, you could save: $22,114 Start Thrifting YOU SHOULD BE GRATEFUL FOR OTHER PEOPLE'S CASTOFFS The number of resale stores has increased 21% in the past three years. Over the years, you could save: A lot of money 12 No More ManiPedis YOU'LL ON LY CHỊP THEM WHILE YOU $35 WORK. The average cost of a manicure Over 13 years of being not as pretty as Sansa and getting a manicure twice a month, you could save: $10,920 |13 Stop Taking Yoga Classes At The Gym YOU'LL NEVER BE AS FLEXIBLE (OR BOSS) AS ARYA STARK. $55 Americans spend $10.3 B Average monthly cost of a gym membership a year on yoga classes Arya is only 11. In that time, you could save: $7,260 14 Stop Buying Lottery Tickets YOU'RE NEVER GOING TO BE THAT LUCKY. The average American spends $145 on lottery tickets each year. Chances of winning the Powerball lottery 1 in 175,223,510 (But those odds are still better than Robb Stark's in a room full of Freys.) 15 Stop Smoking Cigarettes YOU'RE NOT THE BLOOD OF THE DRAGON. YOU WILL GET EMPHYSEMA A pack of Marlboros costs $5.75 on average. If you avoid being Viserys and getting killed for being annoying at age 23, you 'Il have saved: $37,777 Sources: http://www.forbes.com/forbes/2006 0522/176.html http://www.yogajournal.com/press'yoga_in_america htp://www.statisticbrain.com/gymmembershipstatistics http://www.healthsmart.com/SmarterHealth/GenericVsBrandDrugs.aspx https://www.npd.com'wps/portal'npd'usinews/pressreleases pr_120410 http://agbeat.com/businessnews americanworkforcespends10 http://www.nerdwallet.com blog/creditcarddata'averagecreditcarddebthousehold https://www2.nchmarketing.com/ResourceCenter/assets 0/22459/535/075ecfb07df44902bb773158e59696sa.pdf Gryffin ds1092peryearoncoffee