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The Dark Knight, the latest in the new series of weighty Batman remakes, had the biggest opening in box office history last weekend. The movie, directed by Christopher Nolan, features an outstanding performance by the late Heath Ledger and an outstanding storyline that helps it transcend superhero movies and become simply a great story.

Batman, as it seems, is pretty hot stuff right now. His movie is boffo, his merchandise is flying off shelves, and he has connected with a whole new generation in ways that Adam West could have never imagined. Batman's tale is analogical to any number of real-life lessons: politics, religion… banking.

Yes, even money management has a lot to learn from the Caped Crusader's escapades. He sets a prime example not only on how to rake in money at the box office, but also on how to invest and save with a superhero as a guide.

Here are four tips on how the Batman pattern of finance can pay off...

1. You don't need super powers to be effective.

Batman is a unique superhero because there is nothing supernatural about him. Superman can fly, Spider-Man can climb buildings and swing from webs, Plastic Man can bend and stretch (well, not all superpowers are enviable). But what does Batman do? He knows some form of karate, and he has gadgets. Many 14-year-olds could say the same.

What Batman does well is use his resources. Bruce Wayne, Batman's alter ego, is your typical stuffy rich person. He is Donald Trump with five percent body fat. Everything that makes him Batman is a result of his own hard work, intuition, and resourcefulness.

Consumers could learn a lot from Batman's seemingly simple beginnings. You don't need to have a finance degree to be successful with money management. You don't need a sixth sense for market fluctuations. You don't even need to know how to consistently calculate a tip amount. There are resources available to take care of all those activities.

An everyman can be successful with his money in several ways. Researching investment opportunities is a great start. Find out which banks offer the best rates and discover how to maximize your tax refund and your 401k. There are lots of tools at a consumer's disposal, making money heroism a fairly straightforward task.

2. It helps to have the right people around you.

Batman's men-only entourage includes his butler Alfred and his gadget man Lucius Fox (sidekick Robin is best left forgotten). And that's it. He doesn't have a group of handlers or a posse of friends and relatives jockeying for his attention. He has two close pals who know him better than anyone and know how to get the best out of him. Plus, they are there for Batman when he needs them, and they always give great advice.
Sound familiar? Hopefully it does. While you may not have a butler or gadget man around, you should be able to find the right people who can help you make the right decisions and offer you timely advice. Reputable sources might come from banks, investment agencies, real estate offices, or even some close advisors or friends. If they're worth keeping around, they'll help you do the right thing with your money, with nary a selfish motive in mind.

Batman could weed out the good from the bad. Can you?

3. Protect your identity.

One superhero quality that Batman fully embraces is that of the alter ego. Bruce Wayne: Billionaire by day, Batman: Flying Mammal Vigilante by night. And he really has little choice. If Batman's true identity were to be known, baddies all over Gotham City would have that many more chances to wreak havoc on him and his personal life.

The same could be said of criminals in the real world. They would love it if you were forthcoming with your identifying information — social security number, bank accounts and driver's license. And they would be thrilled to wreak havoc on your credit score and life savings.

Consumers need to protect their identities in much the same way that Batman protects his — vehemently, although sans mask and cape. When dealing with money firms and investment agencies, only give them as much information as they absolutely need. When banking online, make sure you have a safe connection and that you log out to end your session. Be paranoid about your PIN number, and be mindful of your address. You don't have to go so far as to create an alter ego, but you may need to get close enough that doing so would be your next step.

4. Uphold justice at all costs.

Batman's signature virtue is justice, which is evident in the way he fights crime at the jeopardy of his social calendar. Only when Gotham City is crime-free will he enjoy a night out on the town or a Cubs game. His love of justice, it would appear, is only trumped by his love for his Batman utility belt.

Similarly, good morals should be a tenet of investing, too. There are countless ways to fraud your way to the top of the class, but in the end, you will be fighting a losing battle. Shady deals and insider trading might seem like a good way to get ahead, but consumers would be smart to stick to the standard (and legal) ways of doing business. Partnering with a charity or investing in issues-focused organizations will get you just as far, if not farther than using the black market as your personal eBay.

The lowest point in the career of the wallet might have come at the hands of George Costanza. The Seinfeld star, famous for his idiosyncrasies and stubbornness, laid claim to a wallet the size of a small Manhattan apartment—a wallet that was obese to the point of actually causing George physical discomfort. No wonder, considering the random curio crammed inside of it.

"Irish money?" Jerry asked, thumbing through George's wallet. "I might go there," George said.

The wallet was literally bursting at the seams with credit cards, receipts, dollar bills, and even hard candy. It had essentially become a pocket-sized file cabinet…or a booster seat.

Costanza is not the only man with wallet woes. A good portion of the country is loaded up and lopsided when it comes to the universal money pouch. Pockets bulge, seams stretch, and rear ends jut out all in the name of bank cards, grocery cards, and family albums. To quote Costanza: "(My wallet) is an organizer, a secretary, and a friend."

The solution to the giant wallet is a rather simple exercise in discretion, but like most financial virtues, the implementation of the practice is far harder. Costanza's back pain would agree.
Slimming down a wallet is akin to slimming down a body: a good diet is a great place to start.

There are really on a few necessities that every wallet needs to have.

1. Cash. The wallet originated as a cache for cash, and that purpose remains an important use today. How much cash you should carry will probably depend on how much of a tycoon you are. For most people, a couple 20-dollar bills would be fine; for big spenders, a wad of C-notes might be necessary. Either way, cash is a must-have wallet ingredient.
2. Credit Card. Everyone has one, which may be more a condemnation of society than a tribute to fiscal flexibility and technological advance. Wallets are engineered to tote the plastics of American Express, Visa, and MasterCard, so take no shame in taking advantage. However, use temperance. The slippery slope of wallet stuffing begins with credit cards. Only put in the one you use most often.
3. Bank card. Most people have a bank card (debit card) in addition to their credit card, and chances are good that the bank card gets just as much use. When paying at convenience stores or restaurants, keying in a PIN number is often faster and more convenient than a credit payment. Plus, a bank card is necessary to pull cash from the ATM.
4. Driver's license. No matter how bad the picture is, a driver's license is a wallet necessity. Unless you are way too into lanyards, the wallet is the best (and virtually only) place to carry around the most common form of ID. Most wallets have a see-through pocket specifically designed to hold the license. Those with bad pictures might want to find a different style.
5. Medical insurance card. Cleaning out your wallet takes a backseat to personal health and safety. An insurance card might not get much use, but you will certainly be thankful you kept it in your wallet when the EMTs need to stitch up your chest cavity.

"But what about the following items?" a desperate packrat might ask. Leaving them out is the only way to cut back on bulbous billfolds.

1. Photos. The wallet is not the family photo Louvre. If someone wants to see a picture of your kids, you should invite them over to the house rather than open up the accordion file in your back pocket.
2. Pennies. Nothing adds to wallet girth faster than loose change. Pennies in particular are a nasty culprit because you have to carry around at least four of them to make it worth your time. At the most, you should only carry a single quarter and a single dime. You should not need any more than that.
3. Receipts. Save a tree and save a hip injury by cutting back on receipts. The beauty of online banking and credit card statements is that you have an automated way of accounting for purchases. Get with the future.
4. Business cards. Some people's wallets resemble mini-rolodexes with business cards rivaling an Office Depot aisle. Keep cards in an actual rolodex or in a file at your desk. Input the phone numbers into your cell phone. Take the burden off your back pocket.
5. Punch cards. Good intentions are the mortal enemy of wallet efficiency. People pack in punch cards certain of the fact that they will, sooner or later, eat a dozen foot-long subs to get half-price off a sub of their choice. Does it ever happen? Rarely. Take the punch cards out and stick them in your glove compartment. Intentions may be good, but follow-through seldom is.

The dos and don'ts of wallet contents can sometimes only go so far. Fortunately, there are a couple of other options that might help weed out the rest of the wallet burdens.

For starters, get a smaller wallet. Department stores have all sorts of different styles and designs. A money clip-wallet hybrid is one of the more popular alternatives. The design leaves virtually no choice but to cut back on extra cards and receipts.

If a smaller wallet is not an option, try consolidating your membership cards. One great solution is keeping one card with the ID numbers of several cards printed onto it. That way, when you are at any particular store, you can read off your account number rather than fumbling for the proper piece of plastic.

Following these tips should help diminish the burden of a hefty wallet. A little prudence here and some tough decisions there could make a big difference in back pockets and purses everywhere. Wallets come out of their packaging thin, and they have the potential to remain that way.
George Costanza was a martyr for progress. Don't let his back example die in vain.

Sound money advice has no sense of irony.

Spending money in order to save money seems contradictory, inconsistent, and just plain wrong. Saving and spending are opposites. How could they ever be complementary?

Though it may seem impossible, practicing sound spending can save money in the long run. Skimping on purchases or decisions today can lead to bigger problems down the road, which is why a little preventative medicine and a few extra dollars could be a very wise investment. Still skeptical? Take a look at the following five ways that a dollar today saves ten dollars tomorrow.

1. At the car lot.

Car shopping is an expensive endeavor no matter the circumstance. You are often talking thousands rather than hundreds when it comes to car buying. In a sense, then, what difference will a little bit extra make?

The dent in your wallet will feel insignificant compared to the long-term results. Upgrading a car from a junker to less of a junker might seem pointless in the present, but when parts start failing and gears start creaking, you will be glad you did. Spending on a reliable used vehicle can be a sound purchase, especially when considering the consequences. Bills for auto repairs are steep, which is why it is best to ensure that you are purchasing a car that is in decent shape and will hold up as long as you’ll need it. That is worth the extra money.

2. At the veterinarian.

People love their animals, but they also like to skimp on their animals’ vet bills. An extra lab test or a harmless medication get shrugged off more often than you might expect.

It is these same owners who, a few months later, end up spending significantly more money on a problem they could have avoided in the first place.

Paying up front for extra services like blood work or flea treatment is a prudent decision. With lab results, a doctor can tell if there is a problem on the horizon or a necessary adjustment to avoid future issues. With simple medications like flea treatments, you can save yourself from the cost of a more serious illness or infestation. The money spent on preventative medicine is often far less than the money spent on emergency problems.

The same advice could be given to human medicine, too. Society is constantly concerned with researching and discovering the symptoms of disease, but when the rubber meets the road, people are often hesitant about ponying up for extra services at the doctor’s office. If it works for pets, it will work for humans. Knowing where you stand health-wise can save time, money, and headaches down the road. A few extra dollars at a routine check-up could help you avoid hundreds of extra dollars at an urgent return trip.

3. At Costco.

Fortunately, this lesson in pre-emptive payment is already pretty popular. Warehouse stores like Costco offer consumers the chance to load up with bulk products, which helps cut down on constant trips to the supermarket for the same, small item. Buying in bulk is chic; it is also forward-thinking.
Like the rest of the items on this list, spending at Costco is a perfect example of the “spend now, save later” tenet. Let’s say a vat of peanut butter costs $14.95 at Costco, and a jar of peanut butter runs $3.99 at the grocery store. Frugal Frannies might see the cheaper alternative as the better deal, but that would be short-sighted. While they are running back to the store for their tenth refill of PB, Costco shoppers are still dipping their ladle into their peanut butter kiddie pool.

Similar savings is everywhere at stores like Costco. Nearly every household item from the kitchen to the closet can be had in bulk at warehouse prices. The initial hit to the wallet might be steeper than at the grocery store, but the frequency of trips will make up for the difference.

4. At the appliance store.

Refrigerators, washers and dryers, stoves, and dishwashers are important everyday items that often get overlooked in a home. Until something goes wrong. When problems strike, the cost of repair or replacement all of a sudden makes a wallflower appliance very noticeable.

To combat this trend, you should consider paying for a quality product the first time. Rather than going the cheap route on a product that gets routine use, the better decision would be to find one that can stand a consistent grind and last as long as it’s needed. Constant repair costs will add up, and before long, the money spent on a handyman will exceed the cost of upgrading in the first place.
On top of the repairs, buying a quality appliance can have a positive monetary effect on utility bills. EnergyStar appliances are created to use less energy than other machines, which is not only great for the environment but is also great for consumer savings. Rather than having a dishwasher that gorges itself on your water supply, a high quality machine will use as little water as possible and still get your dishes looking great. The lesser utility bills should pay for the upgrade in no time.

5. At the dentist.

Dentists get a bad rap. No one likes to visit them because of all the awful things they do to people’s mouths. Drills and enamels and braces! Oh my!

Yet most of the ruckus they raise is a direct result of irresponsible clients. Taking a pass on regular check-ups is a big reason why people get cavities and other dental issues. Sure, the thought of teeth probing is uncomfortable, but compared to the pain and cost of a root canal, a tooth exam is downright exciting.

Spending the money on a regular check-up at the dentist will help you avoid having to come back with a more serious problem. Dentists can catch problems before they start and keep you from running into trouble down the road. They want you to have healthy teeth, and they want you to save money in the long run. Besides, you can’t avoid them forever.

Barack Obama and John McCain have a long road in front of them. All the better for opportunistic money-conscious citizens.

Presidential candidates, in addition to having the responsibility of leading a powerful nation and influencing society for generations to come, provide a unique example of fiscal management.

Their methods of fund-raising and spending may not be reasonable blueprints for every man’s money situation, but their campaign duties and their day-to-day experiences represent apt metaphors for provincial financial peace.

Presidential Ideals

Responsibility, unity, and integrity are just a few of the foundational principles of American presidential candidates (in theory, of course). Each carries credence in the world of personal finance, too. McCain and Obama will be must-see TV on every major news channel, but in some regards, they could be just as intriguing as leading men on CNBC, Bloomberg, and other financial networks. Despite appearances, their campaigns do have carryover into both arenas, starting with the current hot topic of choosing a running mate.

And the Vice President is...

A Presidential candidate would be nothing without his vice president, which is why the decision to pick a right-hand man or woman carries so much weight. Picking the right one might mean a windfall of support and votes come November, but choosing poorly might cost a candidate their shot at the presidency.

Such costly decisions also weigh on the minds of typical consumers. In particular, one of the most important, and therefore most VP-like, is the choice of credit cards.

In a sense, the credit card is a running mate to one’s standard savings and checking accounts. The credit card, should anything happen to the savings or checking, gains full authority on spending until the greater accounts can return. Credit cards supplement one’s money situation by offering flexibility and convenience with nary a hunting trip snafu.

Chose Wisely

However, choosing the wrong card can have serious ramifications. If consumers choose a card that does not have the right payment terms or has too many fees, then their decision could be costly. Interest builds up faster than many expect, so picking poorly in this area has a chance to shoulder Lieberman-like ramifications.

Fortunately, there are people to help with the decision-making. Presidential candidates, not unlike consumers, do not go the road alone. When they make decisions, such as picking a vice president or even picking a matching shirt and tie, there is a cacophony of aides, advisors, and staff to assist them. Successful candidates are able to lean on these resources to help the process go by much smoother, but at the same time, they are able to sift through the good ideas and the bad ones to maintain a focused, strategic goal.

Get The Facts. Not Propaganda

Consumers are no different. We do not make our credit card decisions alone. We rarely make our grocery decisions alone. There are always an infinite number of resources to help us find the perfect this and the perfect that for whatever it is we need.

We owe it to ourselves to know where these resources are. Magazines, Internet sites, newspapers, friends, and family all have an opinion on what might be the best alternative for any given choice. A decision made with copious amounts of input will have a much better chance of success than one made in with our partisan perspective alone.

Whether or not we choose to listen to the advice is up to us. Like a good presidential candidate, consumers need to be able to find out which words are sage advice and which are hot air. Finding the difference between the two is easier said than done, but it also gets easier the more practice one has at it. Listening to advice from others might seem like information overload at first, but before long, tuning out the white noise and soaking in the wisdom may become second nature.

For sure, presidential candidates do not always make the right decisions. For that matter, neither do presidential Presidents. However, when they do err, the best candidates are able to take responsibility for their actions and move on to the next challenge having learned from their mistakes and being determined not to commit them again.

We Don't Always Choose Wisely

Likewise, consumers do not always make the right decisions, either (Segways come to mind). Buying a money-pit of a home or investing in a failed dot-com company can be serious setbacks to a personal portfolio. However, they are not the end of the world.

Responding to adversity, as the corny motivational saying goes, is key to success. Just because the market on pork bellies tanked is no reason to pack it in completely. There are still a number of great opportunities to grab hold of and seek out. Consumers need to take note from their future commanders-in-chief: soldier on and be better off for it.

A campaign without mistakes is a pipe dream, and a campaign run without confidence is doomed to fail. Candidates exude several emotions during their barnstorming tours across the country: glibness, courtesy, tolerability, sympathy. The list could go on and on. But the list would be pointless were it not for a campaign run with confidence.

With Great Power, Comes Great Responsibility

Candidates need to believe in their goals and ideals, and they need to have faith in the people who vote for them. Similarly, consumers need to have faith in their own ability to create financial victory. (Warning: here is where it gets all-American cheesy.) We, the people, have potential and opportunity unlike virtually anywhere else in the world. We have banks that reward prudent savings. We have free markets that pay for wise evaluation. We live in a country that desires to see its people have successful, meaningful lives, and we need to show the confidence in our own ability to do so.

Speech writing, politicking, and kissing babies are other hallmarks of a presidential race. In the same way, check writing, penny pinching, and kissing frivolous spending goodbye are tenets of solid financial planning. Much motivation can be found in the campaigns of McCain and Obama, and for the next few months, we will have an opportunity to be reminded of them plenty.

Making a purchase with a credit card can be exhilarating and rewarding one moment and regrettable and binding the next. For many, the joy of that tiny square of plastic monetary freedom becomes a ball-and-chain of debt faster than you can say “discount sale at Sears.” Yet others maintain a responsible, reliable account that provides a rewarding experience.

To own or not to own—that is the credit card question. While credit card debt plagues millions of Americans, just as many thrive on the flexibility and ease of paying with credit. Obviously, the magic of the little plastic card is not right for everyone. Take a look at the following pros and cons for credit cards to decide whether or not you should make the swipe.

Credit Card Pros

Convenience.

Credit cards wouldn’t be nearly as popular as they are today if they weren’t so maddeningly convenient. Paying at the store, at the pump, or at the ballgame is significantly easier with a piece of plastic that takes no immediate bite out of one’s pocketbook.

The fact that most major stores (and most minor ones) accept Visa, MasterCard, and Co. only adds to the handiness of carrying around a credit card. Lunch tabs and Lamborghini rentals could both be taken care of by a simple swipe. You name it, and a credit card can purchase it.

Peer pressure.

Everyone has one. That reason was good enough to spark digi-pets, and it is good enough for credit card applications, too. Watching your friends pay for meals with their American Expresses makes you feel pretty worthless when you break out your US Bank debit card to foot the bill for your soup and salad special.

Owning your very own piece of plastic provides a sense of belonging, serving as a platinum membership card into the world of commerce and retail. For college kids, owning one is a step towards adulthood. For adults, having one makes you feel like a true American. Either way, the pressure to fit in has a big say in whether or not you make the plunge.

Rewards.

One of the greatest parts to credit cards (other than the personalized pictures; hello spring break ’06!) is reaping the rewards for your spending habits. You worked long and hard to find the last copy of Pirates of the Caribbean in that Circuit City bargain bin, and you deserve every purchase point you get from paying on credit.

Depending on your card, the rewards can vary, but the good news is that there is such a wide variety of options that you are bound to be able to find the right card to fit your lifestyle. There are cards that offer plane tickets, sports merchandise, and good old-fashioned cash. Others build up a stockpile of points for cardholders to use to get whatever their hearts desire. Ironically, points may be used to achieve Pirates of the Caribbean DVDs.

Building credit.

Spending has its benefits (new jeans, perhaps), but spending with credit has benefits that go beyond mere denim. Using a credit card—and using it responsibly—can help build one’s credit score, which could mean a better shot at a loan or a better mortgage down the road.

The key part to using a credit card to build credit is keeping up with payments. Having a credit card does no good if you fall behind on payments or rack up an unconscionable amount of debt. Acting responsibly on your account, however, will help you build a credit score that reflects dependability and accountability.

Credit Card Cons

Late payments.

By far, the most dangerous part of credit cards is not paying them off on time, and for many, this problem is a constant temptation despite its obvious negative consequences.

Once you fall behind by one payment, the climb back to a debt-free account becomes harder and harder. Late fees, interest, and penalties build faster than you would believe, and you may find yourself making monthly payments that only cover your charges and don’t even touch your principal purchases.

Debt.

Often as a result of late payments, many people find themselves sunk in credit card debt with no way out. Credit card companies are great at getting customers in the door, but once you fall behind with payments, the companies make it nearly impossible for you to climb your way out. Between fees and charges and piling interest, the matter seems to continually get worse, not better.

If you cannot keep up with credit card payments, then owning a credit card is probably not for you. The disadvantages to not paying on time are innumerable, and the odds of staying debt-free are not in your favor.

Hidden fees.

Many times, credit card companies will say or do whatever it takes to get you to sign your name on their application. Of course, once that ink has dried, they’ll suddenly remember to tell you about start-up fees and processing fees that you never saw coming.

Annual fees are a big one, too. That credit card that earns you frequent flyer miles every time you buy might seem like a good idea, but for $100 a year, the right to own it may be too much.

Always check the fine print of a contract before you sign and ask if there are any extra fees. The free t-shirt just for signing up might be nice (and long-sleeved!), but the $50 paperwork fee isn’t.

Over-spending.

One of the most overlooked negative aspects to credit cards is the ease with which cardholders overspend. Really, the psychology behind this is simple. You purchase items without ever exchanging actual money, so you hardly feel like you’re paying anything at all.

But the joke is on you. Not only do you have to pay for everything at the end of the month, you may end up paying for far more than you ever intended. Without fail, people look at their month-end statements and are blown away at how much the charges totaled, yet when they are out there making their purchases, they think nothing of it.

If you have trouble staying focused on necessities when you’re out shopping, a credit card might mean the difference between purchasing the Gucci bag you don’t need or leaving it on the shelf.