In honor of May the Fourth (a.k.a. Star Wars Day), we are geeking out with a roundup of lessons that the “Star Wars” movies can teach about careers, investing, borrowing, being smart shoppers, and resisting the temptation of the Dark Side.

by: Brad Tuttle

On Star Wars Day, let us be among the first to say, “May the Fourth be with you.” (Get it?) And let us put our Star Wars and personal finance nerd credentials on display by sharing some money lessons that can be gleaned from all the action and drama that unfolded a long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away.

Negotiate for the Best Deal

In “The Phantom Menace,” Jedi Master Qui-Gon Jinn is stuck on the planet Tatooine with a broken ship, and without the money (or “credits”) to get it repaired. He haggles adeptly with the junk dealer Watto over the terms of a wager that nets both the part necessary to fix the ship, as well as the release of the slave Anakin Skywalker, who grows up to become Darth Vader. Another example of good negotiating comes in “A New Hope,” when Anakin’s son Luke and his Uncle Owen insist on a new droid (R2D2) after one they’d just purchased breaks down.

continue reading »