by. Annalisa Kraft-Linder

Sheldon, Howard, Leonard, Raj, Amy, Bernadette and Penny — the quirky geniuses of “The Big Bang Theory,” Nielsen’s No. 1 comedy — are always funny, but especially in teaching us what not to do about money.

Money Can Buy You Love — But Only for a Bit

Howard learns this lesson when he falls for Penny’s gold digger friend and uses all his bar mitzvah bonds to buy her presents. When the bonds run out, so does she (“The Dumpling Paradox,” season one episode seven). In “The Wiggly Finger Catalyst” (season five, episode four), Rajesh Koothrappali is torn when his traditional Indian (and “Scrooge McDuck”-rich) parents insist he choose between his non-Indian girlfriend and his generous allowance. Raj, the eternal romantic, chooses love and tells her she has to return all his expensive gifts. She chooses to leave poor Raj.

In “The Rothman Disintegration” (season five, episode 17), Amy wants Penny to be her bestie so she spends thousands on a huge and creepy portrait of them. Penny hates it. Eventually, Amy finds out the truth but also learns she never needed to buy Penny’s friendship.

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