In my neighborhood a CiCi's Pizza Buffet opened and tonight I took my three boys out for all you can eat pizza.  Long story short: we went nuts and crushed the place.

After awakening from our food induced commas we took some time to check out the arcade games.  I was disappointed to find out that eight out of ten games were for winning tickets.  Tickets that can be used to purchase "toys."  That is, toys that fell off the short bus and did not make it to the Island of Misfit Toys.

I was generous and spent $5 for the four of us to try to win a prize.  Results: $5 got us 60 tickets, which we used to buy a crayon shaped as a car and three toy soldiers.  What shocked me was to watch a family of four walk up and turn in 300 tickets.  This family of Financial Stupids spent $25 (see math below) and bought six plastic toys.

Financial Stupids are people that go to a buffet restaurant to get value out of all you can eat food, but don't realize they are getting played.  Tonight $21 ($16 for food and $5 for games) bought my three boys and I copious amounts of pizza and some plastic shards.  Do you want to know why my dinner only cost me $16?  Answer: because the Financial Stupids spent $25 playing games to win tickets to buy $5 worth of toys.

The lesson here is: don't be a Financial Stupid.  When you receive value don't squander it away thinking you can afford to lose it by playing other games.  If you receive value hold on to it; protect it.

Financial Stupids Math:
1) Mattrix spent $5 and won 60 tickets ($5 divided by 60 tickets = $0.0833/ticket)
2) Financial Stupids had 300 tickets ($0.0833/ticket multiplied by 300 tickets = $25)
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