Natalia Dyer as Nancy Wheeler in 'Stranger Things'. Just as Nancy’s perpetual curiosity leads to answers in the series, personal finance issues are sometimes like a puzzle that needs a solution. Photo: Netflix
Natalia Dyer as Nancy Wheeler in 'Stranger Things'. Just as Nancy’s perpetual curiosity leads to answers in the series, personal finance issues are sometimes like a puzzle that needs a solution. Photo: Netflix
Natalia Dyer as Nancy Wheeler in 'Stranger Things'. Just as Nancy’s perpetual curiosity leads to answers in the series, personal finance issues are sometimes like a puzzle that needs a solution. Photo: Netflix
Natalia Dyer as Nancy Wheeler in 'Stranger Things'. Just as Nancy’s perpetual curiosity leads to answers in the series, personal finance issues are sometimes like a puzzle that needs a solution. Photo

Three money lessons we can learn from Nancy Wheeler of 'Stranger Things’


  • English
  • Arabic

Stranger Things is a Netflix favourite, but what does the retro science fiction series have in common with personal finance?

Look no further than underrated heroine Nancy Wheeler, a feminist icon whose character also teaches us three important personal finance lessons. Beware of spoilers within.

Be insatiably curious

Nancy is portrayed as highly intelligent and inquisitive in Stranger Things. She plays a substantial role in uncovering the mysteries of Hawkins and the Upside Down.

She discovers that it is a Demogorgon that kills her best friend Barb in Season 1. She exposes Hawkins Lab, getting it shut down for illegal chemical use and, in Season 3, she is given the apt nickname “Nancy Drew” by her co-workers at the Hawkins Post.

As she continues to showcase her journalistic skills in Season 4, Nancy connects Vecna to Victor Creel, culminating in Vecna choosing her to reveal his story.

Just as Nancy’s perpetual curiosity leads to answers, personal finance issues are sometimes like a puzzle that needs a solution. Often, the way to solve the mystery of money is to read and research from different angles.

If you want to know how to build wealth, the answers are out there in books, blogs and spoken about in conversations on podcasts.

If becoming a millionaire is what you desire, seek out some millionaires and ask them how they did it.

Many people feel stuck with their money problems, but that isn’t the case. If you feel trapped with a money issue, ask yourself: what would Nancy Wheeler do?

Take action

As well as a talented journalist, Nancy is depicted as a courageous fighter. From shooting at a possessed Billy hurtling towards her in a car to entering the Upside Down to defeat Vecna, Nancy is endlessly brave.

The key to Nancy’s success is that she seeks knowledge, then takes some action before fear and indecision can set in, followed by iterating and planning thoroughly to complete the task at hand.

In Season 1, for instance, she and Jonathan head out into the woods and she accidentally enters the Upside Down, narrowly escaping a Demogorgon.

After learning about her opponent, Nancy prepares with various weapons and traps, finally taking it down at the Byers’ residence.

In terms of personal finance, there are many people who have the financial knowledge to budget, manage and invest money effectively, but do not apply the knowledge.

If you are one of those people, maybe it’s fear or insecurity that holds you back. Perhaps indecision has you frozen into inaction.

Stranger Things cast then and now — in pictures

The key to improving your finances is to act, even if it’s only a small step.

Open an account, start a side hustle, create a budget — whatever it is that you know will improve your finances, take a small step in that direction.

Defy expectations

People in Hawkins have certain expectations of Nancy. She is described as a “priss” and other characters assume that she will follow in the suburban footsteps of her parents, leading a stereotypical nuclear family lifestyle.

Although her character is young and still figuring out what she wants, she repeatedly chooses to believe in herself.

She pursues the case of Mrs Driscoll despite derogatory taunts and researches Victor Creel even though police officers assure her that he has no link to the murder of Chrissy Cunningham.

Her role in Stranger Things is so integral that if Nancy folded to other people’s opinions and expectations, the plot would be stalled.

A lesson we can take from Nancy’s character is that success, well-being and happiness often emerge when we reject traditional stereotypical ideas and instead choose our own values.

This rings true in the world of personal finance — to keep up with your neighbours’ and society’s expectations often means living beyond your means: a new car, large house, designer clothes and more.

There is nothing wrong with any of these things if you genuinely value them and you aren’t stretching your money too far to acquire them. That only leads to stress and unhappiness.

The path to financial well-being begins with being confident and true to yourself, even if that means defying other people’s expectations.

Even though Nancy Wheeler is a fictional character in a 1980s science fiction series, she has wisdom to impart.

To succeed on the path to financial wellness, seek out knowledge, act despite feeling scared (at least you aren’t battling a Demogorgon) and stay true to your values.

Alison Soltani is the founder of LeapSavvySavers.com

If you go

The flights

There are direct flights from Dubai to Sofia with FlyDubai (www.flydubai.com) and Wizz Air (www.wizzair.com), from Dh1,164 and Dh822 return including taxes, respectively.

The trip

Plovdiv is 150km from Sofia, with an hourly bus service taking around 2 hours and costing $16 (Dh58). The Rhodopes can be reached from Sofia in between 2-4hours.

The trip was organised by Bulguides (www.bulguides.com), which organises guided trips throughout Bulgaria. Guiding, accommodation, food and transfers from Plovdiv to the mountains and back costs around 170 USD for a four-day, three-night trip.

 

SPEC%20SHEET%3A%20SAMSUNG%20GALAXY%20Z%20FLIP5
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Ferrari 12Cilindri specs

Engine: naturally aspirated 6.5-liter V12

Power: 819hp

Torque: 678Nm at 7,250rpm

Price: From Dh1,700,000

Available: Now

The biog

Family: He is the youngest of five brothers, of whom two are dentists. 

Celebrities he worked on: Fabio Canavaro, Lojain Omran, RedOne, Saber Al Rabai.

Where he works: Liberty Dental Clinic 

Countries recognising Palestine

France, UK, Canada, Australia, Portugal, Belgium, Malta, Luxembourg, San Marino and Andorra

 

The Freedom Artist

By Ben Okri (Head of Zeus)

Know before you go
  • Jebel Akhdar is a two-hour drive from Muscat airport or a six-hour drive from Dubai. It’s impossible to visit by car unless you have a 4x4. Phone ahead to the hotel to arrange a transfer.
  • If you’re driving, make sure your insurance covers Oman.
  • By air: Budget airlines Air Arabia, Flydubai and SalamAir offer direct routes to Muscat from the UAE.
  • Tourists from the Emirates (UAE nationals not included) must apply for an Omani visa online before arrival at evisa.rop.gov.om. The process typically takes several days.
  • Flash floods are probable due to the terrain and a lack of drainage. Always check the weather before venturing into any canyons or other remote areas and identify a plan of escape that includes high ground, shelter and parking where your car won’t be overtaken by sudden downpours.

 

What the law says

Micro-retirement is not a recognised concept or employment status under Federal Decree Law No. 33 of 2021 on the Regulation of Labour Relations (as amended) (UAE Labour Law). As such, it reflects a voluntary work-life balance practice, rather than a recognised legal employment category, according to Dilini Loku, senior associate for law firm Gateley Middle East.

“Some companies may offer formal sabbatical policies or career break programmes; however, beyond such arrangements, there is no automatic right or statutory entitlement to extended breaks,” she explains.

“Any leave taken beyond statutory entitlements, such as annual leave, is typically regarded as unpaid leave in accordance with Article 33 of the UAE Labour Law. While employees may legally take unpaid leave, such requests are subject to the employer’s discretion and require approval.”

If an employee resigns to pursue micro-retirement, the employment contract is terminated, and the employer is under no legal obligation to rehire the employee in the future unless specific contractual agreements are in place (such as return-to-work arrangements), which are generally uncommon, Ms Loku adds.

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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The%20specs
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Specs

Engine: Dual-motor all-wheel-drive electric

Range: Up to 610km

Power: 905hp

Torque: 985Nm

Price: From Dh439,000

Available: Now

GAC GS8 Specs

Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo

Power: 248hp at 5,200rpm

Torque: 400Nm at 1,750-4,000rpm

Transmission: 8-speed auto

Fuel consumption: 9.1L/100km

On sale: Now

Price: From Dh149,900

RACE CARD

5pm: Handicap (PA) Dh70,000 1,400m
5.30pm: Handicap (TB) Dh70,000 1,000m
6pm: Maiden (PA) Dh70,000 2,000m
6.30pm: Handicap (PA) Dh70,000 2,000m
7pm: Maiden (PA) Dh70,000 1,600m
7.30pm: Al Ain Mile Group 3 (PA) Dh350,000 1,600m
8pm: Handicap (PA) Dh70,000 1,600m
 
Amith's selections:
5pm: AF Sail
5.30pm: Dahawi
6pm: Taajer
6.30pm: Pharitz Oubai
7pm: Winked
7.30pm: Shahm
8pm: Raniah

COMPANY%20PROFILE
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EName%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EKinetic%207%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarted%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%202018%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFounder%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Rick%20Parish%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Abu%20Dhabi%2C%20UAE%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EIndustry%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Clean%20cooking%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFunding%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20%2410%20million%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestors%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Self-funded%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
In numbers: China in Dubai

The number of Chinese people living in Dubai: An estimated 200,000

Number of Chinese people in International City: Almost 50,000

Daily visitors to Dragon Mart in 2018/19: 120,000

Daily visitors to Dragon Mart in 2010: 20,000

Percentage increase in visitors in eight years: 500 per cent

Manchester City transfers:

OUTS
Pablo Zabaleta, Bacary Sagna, Gael Clichy, Willy Caballero and Jesus Navas (all released)

INS
Ederson (Benfica) £34.7m, Bernardo Silva (Monaco) £43m 

ON THEIR WAY OUT?
Joe Hart, Eliaquim Mangala, Samir Nasri, Wilfried Bony, Fabian Delph, Nolito and Kelechi Iheanacho

ON THEIR WAY IN?
Dani Alves (Juventus), Alexis Sanchez (Arsenal)
 

RACE CARD

6.30pm: Maiden (TB) Dh82,500 (Dirt) 1,200m

7.05pm: Maiden (TB) Dh82,500 (D) 1,900m

7.40pm: Handicap (TB) Dh102,500 (D) 2,000m

8.15pm: Conditions (TB) Dh120,000 (D) 1,600m

8.50pm: Handicap (TB) Dh95,000 (D) 1,600m

9.25pm: Handicap (TB) Dh87,500 (D) 1,400m

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
MATCH INFO

Uefa Champions League semi-final, first leg
Bayern Munich v Real Madrid

When: April 25, 10.45pm kick-off (UAE)
Where: Allianz Arena, Munich
Live: BeIN Sports HD
Second leg: May 1, Santiago Bernabeu, Madrid

UAE rugby season

FIXTURES

West Asia Premiership

Dubai Hurricanes v Dubai Knights Eagles

Dubai Tigers v Bahrain

Jebel Ali Dragons v Abu Dhabi Harlequins

UAE Division 1

Dubai Sharks v Dubai Hurricanes II

Al Ain Amblers v Dubai Knights Eagles II

Dubai Tigers II v Abu Dhabi Saracens

Jebel Ali Dragons II v Abu Dhabi Harlequins II

Sharjah Wanderers v Dubai Exiles II

 

LAST SEASON

West Asia Premiership

Winners – Bahrain

Runners-up – Dubai Exiles

UAE Premiership

Winners – Abu Dhabi Harlequins

Runners-up – Jebel Ali Dragons

Dubai Rugby Sevens

Winners – Dubai Hurricanes

Runners-up – Abu Dhabi Harlequins

UAE Conference

Winners – Dubai Tigers

Runners-up – Al Ain Amblers

Sting & Shaggy

44/876

(Interscope)

Dust and sand storms compared

Sand storm

  • Particle size: Larger, heavier sand grains
  • Visibility: Often dramatic with thick "walls" of sand
  • Duration: Short-lived, typically localised
  • Travel distance: Limited 
  • Source: Open desert areas with strong winds

Dust storm

  • Particle size: Much finer, lightweight particles
  • Visibility: Hazy skies but less intense
  • Duration: Can linger for days
  • Travel distance: Long-range, up to thousands of kilometres
  • Source: Can be carried from distant regions
How to apply for a drone permit
  • Individuals must register on UAE Drone app or website using their UAE Pass
  • Add all their personal details, including name, nationality, passport number, Emiratis ID, email and phone number
  • Upload the training certificate from a centre accredited by the GCAA
  • Submit their request
What are the regulations?
  • Fly it within visual line of sight
  • Never over populated areas
  • Ensure maximum flying height of 400 feet (122 metres) above ground level is not crossed
  • Users must avoid flying over restricted areas listed on the UAE Drone app
  • Only fly the drone during the day, and never at night
  • Should have a live feed of the drone flight
  • Drones must weigh 5 kg or less
Result

UAE (S. Tagliabue 90 1') 1-2 Uzbekistan (Shokhruz Norkhonov 48', 86')

Our family matters legal consultant

Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais

Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.

Updated: October 16, 2023, 5:29 PM`