11 Dumbest Things Smart People Waste Money On

Last updated March 22, 2025 | By Team FBZ

You're not dumb. You do the normal money-saving things …

You're a regular at the clearance rack. You don't eat lunch out too much. And you meticulously selected the perfect combo of streaming services to watch your favs for as cheap as possible.

But there are some tips you may not know (yet) — and that's a good thing! Because once you see some of the areas where you can cut your costs, you could find some extra cash in your pocket sooner than you think.

Online Shopping: Earn money shopping online with this tool (yes, it’s kind of crazy)

This new Chrome add-on might be the best thing on the internet right now. Yes, lots of add-ons promise to find you discount codes. But very few (if any) let you earn money while you shop.

Add Redeemer to Chrome here, and the tool automatically finds the highest possible cash back for your purchases. Then it deposits that cash into your Redeemer wallet. You can cash out to Venmo, Zelle, or a bank account at any time. It’s basically free money.

Even better, Redeemer’s price tracker helps you buy items when they’re cheapest, and can find discount codes for you when they’re not. And the tool will even show you which credit card to use to maximize rewards points.

Seriously, add it to Chrome now and try it out for your next purchase. It’s insane.

Car Insurance: Cancel your car insurance

Driving without car insurance is illegal, but if you do this, you’re not actually breaking the law.

Our new tool can help you see if you’re overpaying for car insurance in just a few clicks. You’d be shocked by the difference. $233 per month is what they wanted to charge me. I thought that was the best price, don’t even look anywhere else. Right? Wrong.

I used our new tool and now I’m able to pay just $50 a month for two cars.1Too many insurance companies do this. They push up our rates and make us pay even more. But if you want to try this new tool and compare and score same-day savings, here’s what to do:

  1. Click the link below and enter your zip code, date of birth, and phone number.
  2. Answer a few questions about your car’s make and model to get matched with top offers.
  3. You will get a phone call from an agent and they’ll set it up for you right away.

Compare rates now and score same-day savings today!

I can hardly believe I waited so long to do this, but I’m glad I finally did. It takes two minutes. Super fast. You have to trust me on this. Just try it out.

Credit Card Debt: Transfer your balance and pay no interest for 21 months (yes, it is kind of remarkable)

Imagine getting 21 months with 0% intro APR on balance transfers (APR then 18.24% - 28.99% (Variable)). Sounds great — right? You could dramatically change your financial picture with one of the industry-leading low-interest cards - the Citi Simplicity® Card - and pay no interest until nearly 2027 on balance transfers!

If you want to kick high-interest credit card debt to the curb, this is one of the leading get-out-of-debt cards available. Transfer high-interest debt to this card with a 0% intro APR for 21 months on balance transfers (APR then 18.24% - 28.99% (Variable); balance transfers must be completed within 4 months of account opening). Your payments can go directly to paying down your balance without incurring a pile of additional charges. That could save you hundreds of dollars in interest!

The best part? The Citi Simplicity® Card is accepted by 99% of merchants, boasts no late fees, and has no annual fee.

Recommended Credit Score info
Good
670-739
Excellent
740-850

Click here to apply now for the Citi Simplicity® Card(Rates and fees)

Not Taking Advantage of This Cash Out Initiative: Get up to $185,000 to use however you like

Home equity loans are surging in popularity for homeowners with great credit to pay down high-interest debt quickly or make home improvements.

This is because homeowners today hold an average of $185,000 in equity they could tap into, while maintaining a solid 20% equity in their homes. The best part is you can keep your current mortgage rate by getting a home equity loan with this genius program!

No hassle. Calculate your equity amount and see what you qualify for today!

How to get started:

  1. Check out Rocket Mortgage’s Home Equity tool.2
  2. Answer a few questions about your home.
  3. Once you qualify, lock in your personalized rate and payment.

700+ Recommended Credit Score: Compare real offers for $0

Home Repairs: Don't let home repairs drain your bank account

Did you know if your air conditioner stops working, your homeowner’s insurance won’t cover it? Same with plumbing, electrical issues, appliances, and more. Not being able to make repairs could leave you in a bad situation — but a home warranty could protect you against surprise expenses.3

Whether you’re a brand-new homeowner or you’ve owned your home for years, a plan from Choice Home Warranty could pick up the slack where homeowner’s insurance falls short.

If a covered system in your home breaks down, you can call their hotline 24/7 for assistance to get it repaired. They have a network of over 15,000 technicians that can assist you, making sure any issue can be taken care of swiftly — without breaking the bank.

Not sure if it’s for you? Rest easy: they were named one of the "Best Home Warranty Companies" by US News 360 Reviews and were awarded Best Company's 2020 Consumer's Choice Award. For a limited time, you can get your first month free when you sign up for a Single Payment home warranty plan.

Get a free quote

Home Insurance: Switch your home insurance and you could save a ton of money

If you have home insurance, you need to see the recent rates available to you. There’s a good chance you’ll want to switch your policy if you see a better rate.

The best way to check for up-to-date rates: Get multiple policy quotes from a variety of home insurance providers. Too many homeowners skip this step — not realizing that they could save potentially $1,000s over the lifetime of owning their house.

Provide Home Insurance is a company that matches you with a variety of home insurance options to meet your home insurance needs … including lower overall cost or better overall coverage.

Just answer a few questions, and they will find options that are right for you.

Enter your zip code to get started

Advisor Fees: You could be overpaying for your retirement planning

Fees matter. High fees can cut into your returns and affect your overall nest egg. But the ways fees are levied vary. Some are “fee only,” charging a flat rate regardless of usage. Others take a percentage of all assets under management. Some earn commissions directly from mutual funds or other financial products, which presents a significant conflict of interest.

This free matching quiz helps Americans get matched with up to three fiduciary advisors who serve their area so they can compare and decide which advisor to work with.

Restaurants & Meal Delivery: Take advantage of massive discounts at restaurants (you don’t even have to be 50 to join!)

Over 50? Join AARP today — because if you’re not a member you could be missing out on huge perks. When you start your membership today, you can get discounts on:

  • Restaurants (save up to $450 per year!)
  • Meal deliveries
  • Airfare, Hotels, Cruises and Rental Cars
  • Eyeglasses and even prescriptions that aren’t covered by insurance

Plus you’ll also get insider info on social security, job listings, caregiving, and retirement planning.

How to become a member today:

  • Click the link below, select your free gift, and click “Join Today”
  • Create your account (important!) by answering a few simple questions
  • Start enjoying your discounts and perks!

Get 25% off your AARP membership, making it just $15 the first year with auto-renewal

Leaving Cash on the Table: Earn a $400 bonus with this checking account

We hate to tell you this, really. But if you aren’t banking with Truist Bank, you’re missing out on extra cash. Don’t worry though … it’s easy to fix.

New checking clients can earn a $400 bonus when you open a new Truist One Checking account online between October 31, 2024 and April 30, 2025 using promo code AFL2425TR1400. Terms apply.4

To earn the $400 bonus, your account needs to receive at least 2 qualifying direct deposits totaling $1,000 or more within 120 days of account opening.

This is practically passive income and a great way to supercharge your earnings.

Plus, you can enjoy other benefits like no overdraft fee, a $100 negative balance buffer,5 and automatic upgrades for access to growing perks.

Open your new Truist One Checking account here

Identity Theft: In 2023 Americans lost over $10 billion to identity theft and fraud

That's right. According to the FTC, Americans lost over $10 Billion to fraud and identity theft in 2023.

But you can safeguard your data with all-in-one identity theft protection services from Aura which comes with $1,000,000.00 in identity theft insurance6per adult, to cover you should you have eligible identity theft-related losses.

An individual plan starts at $9 per month, and you can choose a family plan that outmatches most others - includes Dark Web monitoring to scour data breaches and leaks for your sensitive personal data — such as Social Security numbers (SSN), Medicare information, and phone numbers.

Before you make your next online purchase, protect what you’ve built for a fraction of what it could cost you if your data were compromised.

Save up to 68% when you sign up for protection today!

BONUS: Travel more in 2025 with this incredible travel credit card and pay no interest into 2026!

2025 could be the year you finally travel to the exotic destinations you've long dreamed of. And you could do it all without paying interest for a long time, thanks to the Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card(Rates and fees)

This card is a powerhouse that supercharges your hard-earned spending. Become a Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card cardholder, and you can earn a bonus of 20,000 miles once you spend $500 on purchases within 3 months from account opening ... all with a $0 annual fee. 

This card also offers an additional benefit of an extended intro APR of 0% for 15 months on purchases and balance transfers (then 19.24% - 29.24% (Variable), balance transfer fee applies). Apply, spend, travel, and enjoy the extended intro APR. 

Recommended Credit 670+: Click here to apply now for the Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card

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