11 Dumbest Things Smart People Waste Money On

Last updated April 13, 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.

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 this new tool from Insurify 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 email.
  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: Start a balance transfer and pay no interest for 21 months (yes, it is kind of remarkable)

Imagine getting 21 months with an intro 0% APR on balance transfers (APR then 18.24% - 28.99% (Variable)). Sounds great — right? You could dramatically change your financial picture with this industry-leading low-interest card - the Citi Simplicity® Card.

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 your high interest debt to this card with a 0% intro APR on balance transfers for 21 months (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!

It doesn't just stop with balance transfers, though. Cardholders also get a generous intro APR of 0% for 12 months on purchases. After the intro period for purchases and balance transfers, the APR is 18.24% - 28.99% (Variable).

The best part? There's no annual fee with the Citi Simplicity® Card(Rates and fees), and you could potentially be approved with at least Good credit. 

Click here to Apply Now to the Citi Simplicity® Card and start a balance transfer

Home Equity: None Homeowners borrow from your home’s equity

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

The best part is you can actually keep your current mortgage rate by getting a home equity loan with this genius program!

No hassle. No expensive fees.

Calculate your equity amount and lock in your rate today!

How to get started:

  1. Check out the Rocket Mortgage Home Equity tool.2
  2. Answer a few questions about your home.
  3. Lock in your personalized rate and payment.

700+ Credit Score: Calculate your payment 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

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 $300 bonus offer when you open and fund this powerful account

We hate to tell you this, really. But if you aren’t using Bank of America Advantage Banking, you could be missing out on extra cash. Don’t worry though … it's easy to fix.

Earn a $300 bonus when you open an account through the Bank of America promotional page. This offer is available online only and may not be available if you leave this page, visit bankofamerica.com, visit a Bank of America Financial center, or if you call the bank. See offer page for more details. Bank of America, N.A. Member FDIC.

Besides potentially earning a nice bonus, you’ll also get access to Bank of America’s highly-rated mobile apps, thousands of ATMs and financial centers, 24/7 security with Total Security Protection® and fraud monitoring, and much more.

This is practically passive income and a great way to supercharge your earnings. Hurry, this is a limited-time offer and is only valid through 5/31/2025.

Open a Bank of America Advantage Banking 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 insurance4per 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!

Paying $1,000s in Car Repairs: This company could help you save $1,000s

Too many car warranty companies promise to save you tons of money on repairs. But then they fail to save you anything at all, and end up being a huge headache. Ugh.

By contrast, Complete Car Warranty is one of the most legit ones we’ve found. They’re ranked a Top 10 Car Warranty by Consumer Advocates for 2025, and could help you save $1,000s in expensive car repairs.

Think about it. Your car is one of the most expensive things you’ll own. After your dealership warranty ends, you could be left in a rough spot … some auto shops charge as much as $175/hour, and that’s just for labor.

How to save potentially $1,000s on car repairs:Enter a few details about your car here. Then, a real human will call you and help you select an option that actually makes sense for your car — not just some overpriced upsell.

Get a free quote here and save potentially $1,000s on car repairs

Not Tracking Your Spending: Get the budgeting app that truly does it all

Ever look at your bank account and wonder where your paycheck went? *Poof,* it's gone … and you have NO idea how you spent it all so quickly.

The personal finance app Monarch can help end that problem for you.

The Monarch app is like your personal finance guardian. It gives you an eagle-eye view of your money so you can track your cash flow, tackle your debt, and more.

The best part? It’s designed for real people (not spreadsheet lovers). Flexible budgeting tools help you stay on track, and simple diagrams help you visualize your patterns.

Enter your email to get started. Then, set up your free 7-day trial and link your accounts easily and securely.

Pricing: Monarch is a paid subscription, but you could easily offset that cost by improving your budgeting and savings. And there’s a zero-risk trial to test-drive it.

Sign up for Monarch

BONUS: Unlock up to $1,070 value over the next year with this incredible card

There's a credit card that's making waves with its amazing welcome bonus and benefits. The Discover it® Cash Back(Rates and fees) card has no annual fee, and Discover will match all the cash back you’ve earned at the end of your first year. This generous welcome offer and the top-notch cash back rewards provides an estimated $1,070 value in the first year!

The excellent $1,070 first-year value is estimated through the FinanceBuzz Credit Card Rewards Valuation Model based on spending, the welcome bonus, and the annual fee. The actual value will be determined by how much and in which categories you spend, but this card makes racking up valuable rewards easy! Earn 5% Cashback Bonus® at Grocery Stores and Wholesale Clubs, April 1 through June 30, 2025, on up to $1,500 in purchases, when you activate. Plus, you'll earn 1% cash back on all other purchases automatically. The welcome offer combined with the up to 5% cash back reward rate could be worth up to 10% cash back in your first year!

This card also offers an intro APR of 0% for 15 months on purchases and balance transfers, then APR 18.24% - 27.24% Variable. To top it all off, the Discover it® Cash Back is accepted by 99% of merchants, and there's no annual fee.

Click here to apply now for the Discover it® Cash Back.

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