Posts Tagged ‘fictional finances’

From New York to Seattle to Santa Monica, “Private Practice’s” Addison has certainly traipsed across the continent in the past few years. When Addison Montgomery was first introduced to America, she was Derek Shepherd’s wife, tracking him to Seattle during a messy separation. In “Private Practice,” Addison has taken Santa Monica by storm and attempted to get her personal and professional life back in order. But is one of the world’s foremost neo-natal surgeons really able to keep up with the expense of living in Santa Monica, California? Even if she comes in with no credit card debt, you might be surprised to learn the truth.

Who is Addison Montgomery?

According to ABC, “Private Practice’s” Addison is a renowned neonatal surgeon and “board-certified OB/GYN, having completed fellowships in maternal-fetal medicine and medical genetics.” She moved to Santa Monica, California, in 2007, from Manhattan, by way of Seattle, where she ran a top-class NICU and was a star surgeon at Seattle Grace and in “Grey’s Anatomy.” According to Allied Physicians, neonatal medicine roughly brings in between $286,000 and $381,000 depending on the experience level of the doctor. In Addison’s case, and since she is regularly referred to on both “Grey’s Anatomy” and “Private Practice” as one of the top neonatal surgeons, it’s logical to assume that she makes approximately $300,000 to $350,000 a year. There’s never been any indication during “Grey’s Anatomy” or “Private Practice” that Addison has any debt, credit card or otherwise, and it appears that she is doing well for herself financially

What’s the Cost of Living in Santa Monica?

Santa Monica, the setting for the private practice that Addison works at, is one of the more expensive areas in the United States to settle in. According to Salary.com’s Cost of Living Calculator, the cost of living in nearby Los Angeles is 24.3 percent higher than in Seattle. So even for Addison, a skilled and renowned surgeon, it’s evident that she would have been making a bit less money after a move to California from Seattle.

In addition to the fact that Addison would be making a slightly smaller salary (also relative to the smaller workload she incurs at a small practice), Santa Monica’s home prices are considerably more than those in Washington. According to Yahoo Real Estate, the median home value in Santa Monica is $1,653,381. Remembering that Addison owns a large and beautiful home on the water, it’s reasonable to assume that her home probably cost in the vicinity of $2,000,000, and potentially more.

Could Addison Swing It?

Though it might seem like Addison is good to go, in fact, she’d be hard pressed to make it work while still saving money for retirement and expenses. Typically, you should spend no more than one-third of your gross salary on your mortgage. So, if Addison is making $350,000 a year, she wouldn’t want to spend more than $116,666 a year on her mortgage, which is approximately $9,722 a month. However, the Mortgage Calc calculator estimates that a home of $2,000,000 with a 30-year mortgage and a 5.75-percent interest rate would cost Addison approximately $11,671 a month. Even if she had money to put down on the house, it could be a tight squeeze for her to live and spend at will in posh Santa Monica society without the use of credit cards. Add in fancy parties, clothes, shoes and handbags, all of which seem to simply appear for Addison, and it’s pretty obvious that she’s either using a credit card or you’re watching television.

Even doctors and surgeons don’t have it easy these days. Before we’ve even talked about malpractice insurance and health insurance companies, a doctor making $350,000 might be hard pressed to keep up with the Joneses in a well-to-do part of town. Even a doctor making a decent wage might not be able to live up to television’s standards. Watch Addison’s spending and lifestyle on “Private Practice” with a grain of salt - even the best credit cards in her wallet might be getting more of a workout than it appears.

Kelly Herdrich

To further their careers and increase their paychecks, some people go back to school for advanced degrees or work overtime in the hopes of earning a promotion. A higher salary means additional disposable income and prestigious platinum level credit cards that offer better rewards.

Former U.S. Marshall Jack Carter, the everyman hero on the television series “Eureka,” got his promotion purely by accident. An unplanned detour into a small town led to a new job, a higher salary and more spending power.

Running Off the Road into “Eureka”

In addition to their other duties, Federal Marshalls apprehend fugitives and transport prisoners, which Carter did in the very first episode of the series. Unfortunately, the young woman in his custody was none other than his rebellious daughter Zoe, who had run away from home.

While arguing with his child, Carter ran off the road and damaged his vehicle. He and Zoe then walked to the nearest town, a picturesque place in the Pacific Northwest called Eureka. Marshall Carter hoped to simply get his car repaired and take Zoe back home where she belonged.

During his stay, Carter discovered that Eureka actually contains some of the most brilliant scientific minds on the planet who develop new and innovative devices. With so much experimental technology, this town does, however, have one of the highest mortality rates in the country plus several government overseers.

From Federal Marshall to Eureka’s Sheriff

Though he may seem clueless at times, Jack Carter actually is quite good at his job, so good in fact that he ends up becoming Eureka’s new sheriff. This was a promotion from his Federal Marshall position that came with an increase in pay and pretty decent health benefits.

According to the Masters in Criminal Justice Web site, entry level Deputy Marshalls (GS-082-5) bring home between $36,658 and $41,260 each year and qualify for pension benefits. More experienced Marshalls (GS-082-7) can expect to earn as much as $46,969, but Carter’s gross income for his new job should be somewhere in the $50,000 to $60,000 range plus hazardous duty pay.

The Homeless Marshall

After taking his new position, Carter had to move from Los Angeles to Eureka, but there was no place for him to stay except for his office. Douglas Fargo, one of the local scientists, eventually let the new sheriff live in a prototype “smart house” guided by an artificial intelligence named SARAH. In exchange for testing the house and SARAH, Carter gets to stay there rent free.

What’s in Jack’s Wallet?

Despite his unusual job, Jack Carter is, at heart, a man who enjoys simple things like beer and baseball. He most likely has arranged to have his government paycheck deposited directly into his bank account, which he accesses with a debit card to purchase his favorite snacks, food and beverages.

In addition to groceries, Jack does take several meals at the Café Diem, the local Eureka eatery where Vincent, the head chef, can make just about any dish imaginable. Carter favors basic meals, though, like cheeseburgers and fries, which means he spends about $8 for lunch. The coffee always is free, however. It’s highly likely that Sheriff Carter also carries several credit cards to pay for his dry cleaning and other basic purchases required for his job.

The Out-of-Work Sheriff

The latest episode of “Eureka” ended with Carter losing his job as the town sheriff. Because Eureka is a government facility, Jack will have to leave town and return to his old job in Los Angeles. Unfortunately, he’ll lose the additional pay that the sheriff’s job gave him, which may have a detrimental effect on his credit rating and spending power.

There’s no denying the fact that Bruce Banner has a dirty little secret, but how clean are the Hulk’s finances? Would one look at all the statements for his credit cards cause this green giant to see red? Let’s take a closer look at how Bruce Banner lives and if credit cards are really a necessity.

First of all, Bruce Banner is always on the move. This means that he doesn’t have a steady job. Unfortunately, these episodes also destroy Bruce Banner’s outfits. Even if Bruce Banner only experiences one episode a week, he’s charging at least $2,600 worth of clothes a year to his credit cards, and that’s if he’s a frugal shopper—$50 per outfit.

Next, let’s consider housing. Most landlords require at least a $300 deposit, plus the first month’s rent up front. If Bruce Banner arrives in a new town every other week, he’s spending $14,300 on rent. Of course, this low price is based on finding one-room apartments that cost $250 a month.

We’re up to $16,900 and we haven’t even considered food and other essentials, which would cost around $10,400 a year. Even if Bruce Banner could find high paying jobs, which he rarely does, he never sticks around for long. This means he probably leaves many of his paychecks behind.

With so many financial hurdles to jump, Bruce Banner is unlikely to live comfortably. Fortunately his intellect and creativity has served him well thus far. As useful as a credit card would be, it’s only a short term solution: No issuer is likely to give a fugitive a large credit limit. After years of being on the run, Bruce Banner’s credit has been smashed by The Hulk.

Amy Brantley

Washington state is home to such noteworthy companies as Starbucks and Microsoft. Yet, if Dr. Frasier Crane is any indication, the people making the really big money in the Pacific Northwest are working in radio psychiatry. Although no new episodes have been broadcast since May of 2004, the good doctor and his finances are still available through syndication and DVD.

From Beantown to the Emerald City

In 1984, the popular television comedy “Cheers” introduced psychiatrist Frasier Crane as Diane Chambers’ therapist and boyfriend. Dr. Crane, as played by Kelsey Grammer, was a fussy intellectual who became an integral part of the barfly collection at a local Boston bar.

“Cheers” closed its doors in 1993, but Crane, after a very messy divorce from his icy wife Lilith, pulled up stakes and made the move to his own series. “Frasier” was set in Seattle, also affectionately known as “The Emerald City.” Giving up private practice for show business, Frasier became an online personality at radio station KACL, doling out advice to troubled callers between commercials.

Deep Pockets and Huge Credit Lines

After settling in Washington state, Dr. Crane purchased a condo in the Elliott Bay Towers, a fictional building that’s located in a very desirable part of Seattle. A Century 21 Web site lists a comparable, real-life condo in the Emerald City with 3 bedrooms for the princely sum of $610,000.

If the good doctor plunked down $10,000 on his new pad and took out a 30-year mortgage with a fixed interest rate of 6.5 percent for the remaining balance, he would pay approximately $4,667 each month for that gorgeous view of the Seattle skyline. That’s not counting the monthly condo maintenance fees, which should bring his payment to over 5 grand, plus taxes and insurance.

Each week, Dr. Crane also was in search of some new piece of furniture or artwork by a famous sculptor or painter. It’s safe to assume that the radio shrink carries more than one platinum credit card, each with a pretty hefty credit line.

A Live-in Therapist, Housekeeper and Psychic

For the bulk of the series, Frasier shared his luxurious condo with his father Martin, a police officer who retired from active duty after taking a bullet in the hip. Dr. Crane reluctantly allowed his dad to move in with him and hired Daphne Moon, a physical therapist and self-proclaimed psychic, to help with Martin’s recovery.

Estimating that Daphne receives about $400 per week for her services plus room, board and paid vacations, Dr. Crane shelled out between $20,000-$25,000 per year for her salary. Depending on how good KACL’s insurance coverage was, Daphne was a significant, but rather attractive, expense.

Beluga, Beethoven and Ballantine

While his father loved nothing more than a cold can of Ballantine beer, Frasier and his brother Niles had very cultured palates. The Crane brothers favored fine wines, exquisite cuisine, and even shelled out $40 an ounce for good Beluga caviar in one notable episode.

Each day, Frasier and Niles met at least once at the Cafe Nervosa, a local coffee bar, for a caffeinated beverage plus a muffin or biscotti. These daily coffee talks cost approximately $10 per session, which is a staggering $3,650 in a year’s time, not counting the times that Frasier bought coffee for his producer Roz Doyle.

With his love of good food, wine and coffee, Dr. Crane gave his credit cards a workout at the upscale food emporiums in his neighborhood. Based on his eating habits, Daphne most likely purchased at least $500 worth of food for the household each week.

With a hefty mortgage, live-in help and premium food, Dr. Crane needed an annual salary of around $250,000 to avoid slipping into serious debt. That’s not a bad paycheck for someone who works only a few hours per day at an AM radio station and has plenty of time for coffee breaks.

Steven Bryan

Chuck Bartowski, the reluctant hero of NBC’s comic adventure show “Chuck,” may not always get the proper credit for saving the world each week, but his wallet does contain at least two or three credit cards.

Fighting Crime for $11 an Hour

For most of the week, Bartowski works at Buy More, a retail electronics store in Burbank where he earns approximately $11 per hour. As part of the store’s “Nerd Herd,” Chuck answers technical questions about new gadgets and helps frustrated computer users keep their laptops and cell phones in good working order.

Speaking of computers, Bartowski also has one in his head. After opening an e-mail from a college friend, Chuck reluctantly received a download of “The Intersect,” a computer network filled with classified government information. The data is packed into his subconscious mind and can be accessed with the right visual triggers.

If, for instance, Chuck sees a known terrorist on the street, his brain will “flash” and reveal all the details about this villain, including his last-known whereabouts. Bartowski even has schematics for weapons locked in his skull.

Naturally, Chuck is one of the government’s greatest assets and spends much of his free time helping the NSA and FBI keep the world safe from harm. Unfortunately, he doesn’t receive any additional compensation for his dangerous, after-hours job.

What’s in Chuck’s Wallet?

Based on his hourly wage, Chuck has an estimated gross income of $22,880 per year, which is not a lot considering his value to the government. Fortunately, Chuck lives with his sister and her fiancée, which dramatically reduces his living expenses and allows him to put some of his take-home pay into a savings plan. With a low debt-to-earnings ratio, Chuck would benefit from a credit card for those rare occasions when he can take Sarah Walker, the secret agent of his dreams, out to dinner.

Since he works at Buy More, Bartowski gets an employee discount, which means that he has a store credit card for in-store purchases. Chuck owns a pretty decent desktop computer and has a first-generation iPhone, both of which were charged on his Buy More card.

Chuck’s Debits and Credits

Thanks to Chuck’s savings habits, he carries around a debit card tied to his bank accounts, preferably one that offers incentives for making purchases. As a good customer, his bank should offer the hardworking Buy More employee a credit card with a low interest rate.

Besides electronic toys and dinners with lovely ladies, Chuck shops for food, paying for his purchases with the bank debit card. Nerd Herd members sometimes have to drive to a customer’s home or business, so Bartowski does spend money on gasoline. To keep track of his business expenses, Chuck carries a credit card that pays a bonus for purchases at filling stations.

Being a Spy Isn’t Cheap

With The Intersect in his brain, Chuck typically finds himself in dangerous situations where he must stay one step ahead of people who want him dead. Bullets and bombs mean that his clothing takes a beating, so Chuck probably spends some of his free moments shopping for new duds. He even has some pretty stylish outfits, which he probably bought to impress the well-traveled Sarah.

Though his credit lines aren’t as impressive as those of Iron Man’s wealthy alter ego, Tony Stark, Chuck Bartowski does OK for a member of the Nerd Herd.

Steven Bryan