 This week’s celebrity financial
lesson comes from Orlando Bloom. The headline attracting attention for
this celebrity was
Orlando Bloom Uses TMZ Instead of AAA.
Apparently, his transportation mode of choice this week was a motorcycle,
instead of the pirate ship he shared with Johnny Depp in Pirates of the
Caribbean.
While the story's twist was that the paparazzi, who were hovering around
Bloom's motorcycle waiting for him to come outside, helped him with his
sporty motorcycle that wouldn't start, it was the headline that caught my
attention.
Most of us will not have 5 people who are 1) just waiting outside for you and 2) are also willing to help you get your vehicle started. Just about everyone has been involved in some kind of transportation break down or accident and has need help. The story reminded me of another article that I saw awhile ago: 5 Memberships Worth Signing Up For. One of the memberships was AAA. The AAA offers roadside assistance services such as towing, jump starts, locksmith service, and tire changes. They offer different tiers of memberships, but all are comparatively inexpensive compared to handling car breakdowns on your own. How many people write categories like this into their budget: "battery jump starts", "locked keys in car", "towing services"? (If you do then you may have bigger problems with your car!) Most people probably don't put money aside for those expenses each month. However, regardless of who you are, if you depend on your own transportation there is a good chance you will have to deal with a mechanical breakdown eventually, and that is going to cost. For most of us sticking to a budget that means planning for these kind of every day life emergencies. Buying appropriate insurances, such as an AAA membership, when it makes sense can save money in the long run. http://www.tmz.com/2010/04/04/orlando-bloom-miranda-kerr-motorcyle-bike-stalled-video/ http://www.smartmoney.com/spending/deals/5-memberships-worth-signing-up-for/ For more celebrity profiles visit the Celebrity Financial Lessons Archive! Also, readers are always welcome to join me at LinkedIn! |