Barbie and Ken: Strangled by ARM on Malibu Beachhouse
Behind that top heavy exterior lurks an insatiable lust for real estate, finery and baubles for her 'boyfriend.' Now the note just kicked up on the beach house and Barbie is juggling madly trying to keep Ken in tasteful earrings. Here's what it costs to run the household based on actual Barbie & Ken editions over the years. Yes, there really is a Desert Storm Barbie.
Barbie’s credit fueled life style:
- Malibu beach house - $11 million
- Sports car, Corvette - $58,000 MSRP
- Boyfriend with no visible means of support*
- School loans for med school, vet school, dentistry and nursing school - $320,000
- Pilot and astronaut training – courtesy U.S. government - $0
- Olympics training, swimming – $20,000
- Paleontology degree - $80,000
- Ballet lessons, diva level - $15,000
- Couture clothes (Wang, Dolce, Versace, Juicy, etc.) – $90,000
- Hair extensions - $799
- Permanent makeup (brows, lips)- $2,000
- NASCAR race car, pit crew, yearly costs - $12 million
- Chef school - $10,000
- Yoga and aerobics certifications - $7300
- American Idol tryout travel costs - $500
- Foot surgery - $4200
- Gym/Pilates memberships - $700 Year
- Plastic surgery (continuing) – breast implants, rib removal, midface lift, chemical peels, eyelift, jowl reduction, lipo - $110,000
- Jeep - $25,000
- Trailer - $43,000
- Hair extensions - $799
- Unsuccessful presidential campaigns ('92 and '00) - $20 million
- GI bill contributions from Barbie’s Desert Storm Service – much appreciated - $36,000
Total: $43,822,499
*Ken
- Permanent undies molded to body – $1,000
- Discreet jewelry – earrings, watches, etc – $4,000
- Therapy for lack of genitalia and gender confusion – $180 per week x 52 = $9,360
- Wardrobe, designer – $25,000
- Sportscar – $55,000 (current)
- Sportscar, vintage Austin Healey ($29,900)
- Running around money - $1k/week = $52,000
- Highlights and hair styling - $4200 year
- Shades, multiple - $1,000
- Sports apparel – ski, tennis, football, surfboards, in line skates, roller skates, ice skates - $12,500
- Assorted tools for handyman duties- $450
- Harley – $22,000 (used)
- King Arthur dress up outfit - $450
Total $222,410
In your financial life, few things figure as prominently as your credit report and credit score. Learning the basics of the credit report process, and keeping your credit report free of errors, is essential to good financial health. You should focus on improving your credit score as the highest credit scores receive the best interest rates and loan terms. On a mortgage, a difference of 100 points could be worth hundreds of dollars each month.
Since 2005, all Americans have the legal right to obtain a free annual copy of their credit report from TransUnion, Equifax and Experian credit reporting bureaus. This law is intended to help consumers reduce errors in their credit reports by minimizing the obstacles to viewing credit reports. To receive a free credit report visit the official site run by the bureaus: annualcreditreport.com
Your personal credit score is a number from 350-800 which stands for your credit risk. The higher numbers are considered less likely to default. Credit scores come from mathematical formulas that measure many variables in your credit report such as payment history, public records, and debt to income ratio.
The Fair and Accurate Credit Transaction Act (2003) amendment to the FCRA Fair Credit Reporting Act guaranteed all Americans the right to see their credit report once a year to check it for errors. To learn more about free credit, credit scores and financial terminology, visit our glossary page.
