5 Times F.R.I.E.N.D.S. Gave Us Totally Unrealistic Expectations about Money

We love F.R.I.E.N.D.S.  Whenever we get overwhelmed by the doldrums, we bury ourselves in repeated visits to Central Perk. We imagine ourselves as that seventh companion to the perfect sextile, laughing at Joey’s jokes and rolling our eyes at Ross’s tiresome speeches about the Paleolithic era.

But let’s be real… There comes a point for every fan when you sit down and realize there’s almost nothing realistic about this show. First off, Ross and Rachel all but destroyed any realistic version of romance we could expect to find. Unless you’ve ever gotten off the plane for someone, you probably also cringe every time you hear about their D.O.A. love lives in the opening title.

And those ruined expectations don’t stop at their love lives.  becomes especially true when it comes to how they deal with money… Like the fact that they seem to have copious amounts of it, despite the fact that most of their time is spent breaking up, making up, drinking coffee, or going on vacation.

Here’s the 5 times F.R.I.E.N.D.S. set us up for unrealistic life expectations.

The Manhattan Apartments They Afforded in Their Twenties

 First off, who lives right across from their friends for most of their mid-twenties lives? Besides a brief explanation of Monica’s “rent controlled” apartment, it’s pretty unbelievable that these six goons could pull off that kind of rent at the age of 27. According to the New York Post, that Manhattan apartment would cost a whopping $4,500.

For most of us, trying to find a good apartment in our twenties is like trying to get a goldfish to walk on land. It doesn’t happen.

When Rachel Went From Coffee House Waitress to Fashion Industry Executive  

 I don’t know about you… But Rachel’s quick ascension of the corporate ladder seems less than realistic. Most of us have had the equivalent of a coffee house gig while trying to pay our bills. Rarely is that paycheck to paycheck job followed by immediately landing our creative dream jobs on Fifth avenue.

When Monica Became a Chef and Literally Never Went to Work

Being a chef is one of the most demanding jobs out there, and often requires endless hours of work and sleepless nights. Except for Monica Geller. Despite her labor of love for the craft of food-making, it seems that Monica was able to spend more time cleaning her apartment than preparing meals at her restaurant.

Wait… Did Any of Them Ever Go to Work?

 For that matter, it wasn’t just Monica whose job didn’t seem to entail ever going to work. The six friends spent more time sipping coffee at Central Perk than the average person spends sleeping each night. No wonder Rachel thought Chandler was a “transponstor,” whose statistical analysis and data configuration job magically changes into an advertising career nine years in.

When Chandler Paid Joey’s Rent For Years

Despite the fact that Chandler seldom seems to head to the office, he still manages to pay the rent of his struggling actor friend, Joey. That is… Until Joey lands one good acting gig, and rents himself a swanky apartment filled with tacky décor that demonstrates his sudden wealth. That is… Until he loses his income, and Ross comes to save the day buy buying that ugly horse. In real life, money and friendship don’t always mix. For the six friends, they pay for each other as if they have one shared expense account.

In the real life version of F.R.I.E.N.D.S, all six of them were probably taking paid surveys to pay for their Central Perk addiction.

Take Surveys. Get Paid. Start Here.