I’m an accountant and notary. FIF is where I meld my love of finance with my love for the fictional content we consume on a daily basis through books, movies, and more.
Fiction is a great vehicle for discussing finances - it displays the lifestyles we want to have or that we most identify with. For a lot of us, it’s the unrealized benchmark we live by in a world dominated by consumerism.
How does an early twenty-something afford that downtown apartment? How much does it cost to live a life of glamour and intrigue? If you’ve ever wanted a peek into your favorite characters’ budget and bank statements, you’ve found the place to do it.
What fictional finances do you want to see? Submit ideas here!
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Once I decide on a character, I use an Excel spreadsheet or QuickBooks to create a budget of their income and expenses. I make notes on the details of their lives including their careers, businesses, families, hobbies, interests, and more. I determine the location they live in (using a similar substitute for any fictional towns) and research costs of the items in that area.
When not enough information is given, I speculate what I can. If a different currency or time period is used, the numbers and sources are adjusted to represent amounts appropriate for that period and location, with another column for the amounts used today. The worksheets with the sources I use and details on how the math is figured out is available in the disclaimer at the bottom of each post, or is available upon request.
My goal is to provide reasonably accurate resources that offer an interesting glimpse into the financial worlds of our favorite fictional characters. I appreciate all feedback from other fans. If you notice incorrect details, I’d love it if you’d connect with me and tell me about it!