The television show Dexter on Showtime has been around for five seasons. It follows the life of a blood spatter investigator for the Miami Metro Police Department who leads a double life as a serial killer. Dexter, the show’s main character, isn’t all bad. The people he murders are killers themselves, so in a way, he is something of a hero.

Dexter doesn’t talk much about money, but here are five things you can learn about money from the way he lives his life:

Stop Eating Breakfast Out

In the original opening credits of the show, Dexter meticulously prepares his own breakfast. It gives viewers the sense that he’s a totally normal guy, but there’s something sinister about it. You wanna know what’s really sinister? Blowing your budget by eating breakfast out. Avoiding it on the weekend can be tough, but buying breakfasts you could make at home for $3 can really add up. Dexter makes his own French pressed coffee every day. If you’re one of those people who buys a latte every morning, you’re in even more trouble — that’s costing you $803 per year! You could almost have someone killed for that much money.

If making steadfast financial rules is as hard for you as not killing people is for Dexter, you might want to treat yourself every once in a while. Dexter buys donuts for friends when he’s feeling especially good.

Keep Liquid Assets in an Emergency Fund

Dexter doesn’t seem to use banks. As a banker, I can’t encourage that, but keeping a reasonable amount of money on hand for emergencies does make sense — in case something pops up that doesn’t leave you enough time to make a withdrawal from the ATM.

Obviously, keeping cash in the mattress is a bad idea because it’s the first place a skilled snoop like Dexter would look. Stash your cash in a safe place like one of those fireproof boxes. Dexter keeps the things he doesn’t want anyone to find in a secret compartment inside a chest. If your half as sneaky, your money will be safe and you’ll be prepared to leap into action at the first scent of blood.

When it Comes to Money, Don’t Let Your Emotions Get the Best of You

Dexter doesn’t experience emotions — or so he says. But he does pay for things (like his old apartment) even when he knows he should part with them simply because he’s attached. If you’re toting payments around with you for something you don’t really need, do yourself a favor and part with them. As Dexter demonstrates, emotional baggage slows us “normal people” down.

Sure, you really wanted that second home and you might even love it. But if it’s got you mired in debt, what good is it really? Take a hint from Dexter and kill the things that are preventing you from finding financial peace.

Plan for Your Departure Before it’s Too Late

Even though he’s a killer whose constantly dodging danger, Dexter doesn’t make a will until the end of Season 2! Take a lesson from this and plan for your own demise. This way, when you’re certain you’ll be killed by a mountainous gang member, stabbed by another serial killer or blown away by the Feds, your mind will be clear of concerns for your family.

Buy a Reasonable Vehicle; Flashy Cars Will Just Get You in Trouble

You might think that a hotrod in your driveway would make you happy, but the truth is that a car should just be for getting around. Be practical. Dexter buys a mini van so he can haul bodies around more easily. Besides, a normal car like his will be way less likely to rack up speeding tickets or get noticed by police. So it will cost less in the long run AND you can tell your girlfriend you got it to tote her kids around. Double bonus!

What other things does the show Dexter have to teach us about money? Get creative and share your thoughts in the comments section below.

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