Following up the smashing success of last week’s 11 Things post, I thought I’d bring you another goofy pop culture reference. As you probably already know, Buffy the Vampire Slayer practically defined pop culture while it was on, and has indelibly marked our social landscape and language. But what can a blond college dropout with superpowers teach us about frugality and simplicity? From southern Florida we go to southern California just in time for… well, you know.

1. Question the dominant paradigm. Sunnydale was a lovely suburban town in southern California (with the unfortunate luck of being positioned right over a  mystical, transdimensional Hellmouth). We’re familiar with the powerful car culture of that region, right? Cars are practically a required commodity. Yet Buffy, and in fact all the slayers, never drove. I’m sure having super-powered legs helped, but it’s an indication that if you live practically anywhere else, you can and probably reconsider your transportation options. Do you really need a car? Do you really need it all the time? Take a closer look at biking, walking, public transportation and car co-ops and see if there’s a chance you might be able to save a little money somewhere.

2. A Xander is useful to keep around. How many times did Xander fix the front window, do you think? Be aware of the skills your friends and family have, and the business they’re involved in. While you’re at it, make sure they know what you can do for them. Keeping your business in the family makes good economic sense, and you know you’ll be well taken care of. Just make sure you take care of them right back, especially if your carpenter friend is dating a demon in desperate need of slaying.

3. Money doesn’t grow on trees. Disregarding the fact that there’s no way Buffy flipping burgers at the Doublemeat Palace could have paid the bills after Joyce died, it can be a hard lesson to learn that no matter how awesome you are, you need to earn your living. It’s one of those tough lessons you learn when you’re thrust into the Real World, that sometimes there’s no trust fund, no inheritance, no savings, and no cabal of tweedy British occultists that are going to bail you out. Eventually we all have to put on our big girl panties and grow up.

4.  Money means different things to different people. For some of us, it’s a prom dress. For others, it’s a ticket out of town towards freedom. And for the raging capitalist in your life, it’s just kittens. Money is rarely an end unto itself. You’ll be in a must better position to achieve your goals if you take a minute to consider what you want your frugality, and therefore money, to do for you.

5. The Stuff Management Lesson Buffy never learned. If a kiss of vampires rampaged through your house on a murderous rampage and failed to kill you but succeeded in destroying all your stuff, what would you replace or repair as soon as you could? Everything that didn’t make that list you may now dispose of, because you don’t really need it.

6. Don’t date people more complicated than you are. By virtue of being either undead, ancient or both, and imbued with mystical powers, this includes demons and vampires. Somewhere along the line, someone will end up evil or chicken or get an aftermarket soul installed, and from there on out it’s nothing but drama.

7. Used book shops are great places to get your frugal learn on. However, magically sucking the dark knowledge out of ancient grimoires through your fingers is not recommended.

8. There’s a reason the classics still hold.  Sure, Buffy loved her cross bow, she was a fair hand with a dueling sword, and she saved the world with a battle axe, but nothing served her better than her trusty and simple wooden stake, Mr. Pointy. Marketing geniuses the world over are trying like crazy to come up with newer, shinier, often disposable products that replace older stuff that worked just fine to begin with. Consider the disposable toothbrushing pad thingy, the swiffer, and paper towels. Sometimes, version 1.0 is perfectly sufficient.

9. The Cookie Dough Principal. We’re all like blobs of cookie dough, raw and unformed and yummy, but not done baking yet. Simplifying and frugalizing your life is a process, sometimes a lifelong journey. Are you golden brown and delicious yet?

10. You can have too much of a good thing, especially chocolate. As the saying goes, life is about balance (and as I say, you can over-balance, too, but that’s another post). Unchecked indulgence is the hallmark of our time. Rampaging consumerism can reduce can reduce even the most well-intentioned adult into  an overgrown teenager with a credit card.  Dani and I are well-known proponents of Simple and Frugal, but also of Fabulous, and living fabulously behind the curve involves mindful consumption. Do you want everything, or do you want the good stuff?

11. You’re never done saving the world.  She saved the world a lot, she came back from the dead twice, and she managed to orchestrate the destruction of the Hellmouth, and yet, when it was all said and done? There was some evil in Cleveland that needed taking care of. Because it never really ends, now is as good a time as ever to begin, and make sure you take the time to savor your achievements as you go.

That’s all I got. Have a great weekend, and while Dani and I are busy playing skeeball in Jersey, see if you can’t hop in the comments. What lessons have you learned from Buffy?