Buffy and Money

J

Joe

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A lot of action (or lack of it) this season has centered around Buffy needing money, but she shouldn't be entirely broke.

She could be receiving a stipend from the Watchers' Council.

She could get Child Support for Dawn from her Dad.

She should get AFDC for Dawn.

Dawn should get her Mom's Social Security. (When a minor's parent dies, that minor recieves Social Security until he/she graduates.)

Buffy should get money from the sale of her Mom's business.

There are probably other things that I've overlooked, but I don't think Buffy should be as strapped for cash as we've seen her this season.

I mean, I can see using the fact that 20-year olds are usually hard-up for money, as a background for this season--but this is just too unrealisitic for me. Yes, she could still need money, but there could be some mention of this income in the story-line.
 
Right on! Although one could make the argument that these things (especially government payouts) take forever to pay out.

Plus since Buffy was dead for a while she may have missed a deadline for application or something.

Anyway sometimes the story line in Buffy fizzles a bit.

What really bothers me is her lusty relationship with Spike. To me it makes no sense but makes for some good stories and entertainment.
 
Even with some help I can see how the money sitch could still be pretty tight. I mean the house, food, Dawn's in school, clothes for both of them etc...

Anyway, I can sorta see the whole Spike thing. She was removed from Heaven, having troubles with Dawn, this whole new responsibility thing, Giles left, Willow is going through "magic withdrawl". And you can tell she's down/depressed; Spike makes her feel (which is what the show has been saying) but even more than that is the fact that when you're that down and things in life are that crazy, she's got a part (her thing with Spike) that is something crazy but her own...did that make sense? Well enough rambling from me! Later peeps 🙂
 
I wondered about the money situation. Seems a little strange that the don't have any. Surely Giles could give Buffy some from the Magic Box if she helped out there. I understand that there was a lot of hospital bills, but didn't joyce have insurance? You made some good points there Joe.
 
Joyce did have insurance, but unfortunately she also had a very expensive illness. It could be argued that if she had had the decency to die of a vampire attack, then Buffy and Dawn would be rolling in cash 😛 . Unfortunately, all the insurance went towards the hospital bills.

I am a bit uncertain on a couple of things though. Surely if Buffy was buried in a graveyard, she must have been certified dead by a doctor at some point? Therefore she will be recorded as a non person (the Buffybot kept up the appearance of her being alive for the sake of the school etc... who didn't know that Buffy had died, and they wouldn't have thought to check)... but surely when it comes to her getting a job and benefits she will be a non person... it wasn't like they just buried her in the backyard or anything.

Even if she is entitled for benefits, I doubt they would be enough to cover the wear and tear incurred by being the slayer... demon fights in the home, ripped and dirty clothes from patrol and big feed ups after a fight. Plus it isn't even as if the household is just supporting Dawn and Buffy, Tara and Willow live there, but as far as I can see, they don't have jobs and have no income, so are in effect draining valuable resources.

Giles was lovely to offer to help Buffy, but I can't imagine he has a huge amount of money seeing as he already pays Anya, and he funds a lot of the slayer activities... plus there is the cost of traveling to England and back... that has to wipe his finances.

Finally, I doubt the Watchers council would do anything to help Buffy's situation as she isn't the active slayer, and even though she continues the role, she washed her hands of them, and I think even if they did offer to fund her, her pride would result in her rejecting the offer. Also I doubt the council have had to contend with a working layer before... they are usually dead before money and employment becomes an issue.
 
Hey, I have a question (hopefully someone has an answer or some insight)... What about Buffy's dad? I mean - when Joyce died, wouldn't he have become the kids' guardian? Especially when Buffy died?
 
Buffy's Dad?

Yeah, I've been toying with that lately. Is the actor still alive?

Anyway; what if Hank was kidnaped while visiting a foreign country and the gov't is keeping it quiet.
 
I think he just became less and less involved with the Summers' girls... especially after the icecapades birthday letdown.

I'm sure he was informed of Joyce's death, but Buffy was willing to take on guardianship of Dawn (she had school and friends etc to consider) and he never would have found out that Buffy died as no-one would have informed him as routine.

I guess a death cert had to be made out, but I guess they didn't ask about Dawn... most women Buffy's age don't have sole guardianship of teenage little sisters, so they musn't have thought about it.

Hank thought that everthing was fine as Buffy was still being seen around town (Buffybot) and he spoke to his youngest daughter on the phone who assured him everything was fine. Plus, I get the feeling that even if he thought something was wrong (and you would think that the fact that Buffy never spoke to him on the phone as the buffybot was too unreliable was a bit of a hint that all was not well), he wouldn't push about it as he didn't want the responsibility of being a father.

That's just my take on Hank's irresponsible method of being a 'father'. Giles is the paternal role model, and a damn good one at that. Yay Giles!
 
I had forgot about the whole Icecapades incident. That's right. He never even came to Joyce's funeral or anything and so obviously just distanced himself from his kids.
 
Just thought I should mention here that Buffy didn't die as far as the outside world was concerned. That was why the Buffybot was needed. To give the appearance of normality. I think Buffy was supposed to be buried in a secret grave, where only the Scoobies knew where she was. At least that's my take, feel free to disagree! 😀 😉
 
Originally posted by Joe
I think that if she was buried in a graveyard and had a tombstone, then she was officially dead to the outside world.
Click to expand...

I pretty much think this is the case... I'm not sure how it all works in America, but here you do need a death certificate to be buried... all part of the legal process and stuff.

However, the buffy bot was used to convince people who didn't know that Buffy was dead that everything was the same (the school wouldn't have known Buffy had died so it was business as usual as far as they were concerned)

Therefore, there is an odd dichotomy going on whereby the authorities must be aware that the person known as Buffy Summers is dead, all national insurance (or American equivelants) will have ceased to be, so I don't know how she will ever get a job and pay taxes etc... unless she only works cash in hand.

I can't explain it fully... i'm not sure it has been properly thought out 😕 but I am sure that a deth cert must have been issued if she has been burried (and it was in a proper graveyard with a proper headstone, so it can't have been some secret grave).

Answers on a postcard please 😛
 
Oh Buffy and MONEY, i came in here to see what you could write about Buffy and MONKEY, im so blind. The whole buffy/money thing just proves that even though shes the slayer of unnatural forces, she still has to deal with normal things that everybody worries about
 
You'd think Buffy would punch a vampire light's out, check his pockets for cash, then dust him. If people ask her what her job is, Buffy could say,
"Well, you could say I work the night shift."
 
I think that the Watcher's Council should take care of her, she can just tell themthat if they don't help cover her expenses then she will not work for them anymore. Besides i think that putting her life on the line for them day in and day out deserves a bit more than nothing!
 
as i've said somewhere else shouldn't willow be helping out.all that free acomidaton ,whats she doing with her money.blowing it on magic drugs.whats she done with her hall fees?
 
Originally posted by angel_2242
The whole buffy/money thing just proves that even though shes the slayer of unnatural forces, she still has to deal with normal things that everybody worries about
Click to expand...

Totally! She may be the slayer but she still has to deal with all the other things that a "regular" person does; especially with her mother gone and he having to care for her sister.

Also, and correct me if I'm wrong, but Buffy doesn't exactly work for the Watchers Coucil anymore anyway...right? She doesn't really have much to do with them at all (other than Giles....)

Falcon

PS: But the whole thing about her being dead, buried in an actual grave yard but still considered alive b/c of the Buffy bot...yea that just doesn't exactly add up. Guess that's why it's tv? And I guess it's a small enough thing that one can over look it. 🙂
 
i thjink they call it dramatic liscence(if i could spell right)
 
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