Funny Money Friday: Amusing Signs of These Tough Times

Money doesn't have to be boring! Each week, CreditBloggers.com takes a look at the lighter side of the personal finance world in a series called Funny Money Friday

Times are so tough … British children are getting less from the tooth fairy than they did six months ago. They used to get $2.08 US, and now they get $1.48 US, according to an article in the London Telegraph. Sadly, 38% of British kids get nada from the tooth fairy.

While I haven’t come across any trend data on the tooth fairy here, in an online Wall Street Journal poll, 36% think the tooth fairy should leave “$1 or less: It should be just a token amount for fun,” while 49% think it should be more than that. Only 14% have tooth fairy-free homes.

Times are so tough … the National Debt Clock in Manhattan ran out of numbers when it reached $10 trillion. Fortunately, a punt was put up: “As a short-term fix, the digital dollar sign on the billboard-style clock has been switched to a number one - the ‘1’ in $10 trillion.” Look for a more permanent solution next year.

Times as so tough … for the first time ever, the winner of a $42 million Mega Millions jackpot in Michigan is going to take monthly checks, rather than a lump sum payment. “Lottery winners typically take a lump-sum payment with plans to invest it,” explains the AP, “but confidence in the market has dropped with the current financial crisis.”

Times are so tough … not only are houses being sold at bargain prices on eBay – as in $1.75 for a Saginaw, MI home – but you can get one for free in Kaysville, UT. The hitch is you have to move it, but the house sounds great!

“The home features a main floor with a master bedroom, family room, parlor and a kitchen that was added to and updated with new appliances in the 1990s. There's also a laundry, two full bathrooms and a computer area with a wood-burning stove. Upstairs are two bedrooms, a bathroom and a sitting area. Lifetime-guaranteed shingles, upgraded appliances, porch and garage round out the amenities.”

What’s more, the house was used in a "Benji" movie and an episode of "Touched By An Angel."

Times are so tough … ___________________. Fill in the blank and let us share in your chuckle!

Nancy Castleman – Co-author of "Invest in Yourself: Six Secrets to a Rich Life" and founder of Good Advice Press. Nancy has spent the last 24 years teaching people how to get out of debt, save money, and live better on less. She writes on all these subjects for CreditBloggers.com.