11 Dumbest Things Smart People Waste Money On

Innocent Daily Conveniences: Simple things that drain your bank account

Daily Coffee Runs: Fair to say it’s okay to get a little treat every once in a while. But a $6 latte every morning runs up to $2,000 a year. $2,000! You could buy a high-end espresso machine with that cash and still come out ahead.

The Lottery and Get-Rich-Quick Gimmicks: The lottery isn’t a financial plan, and no, that $1,500 online course won’t make you a millionaire. Focus on real wealth-building strategies.

Premium Gas for Cars That Don’t Need It: If your car doesn’t specifically require premium gas, you’re just wasting money. It won’t make your engine last longer or improve performance.

Ohio homeowners: Wasting your biggest asset

If you want to renovate your home or consolidate debt, you could get a loan. But if you own a home in Ohio and have decent equity, you need to see this instead. This popular program lets you tap into up to $400,000 fast, without affecting your mortgage rate or getting into more high interest debt.

Rocket Mortgage is actively helping homeowners use their home’s equity to wipe out toxic high interest debt or finally tackle big home upgrades. Their tool finds your lowest eligible fixed rate and gets you the money you need so you can use it immediately. No hidden fees. No long waits. No hassle.

Slash your interest burden and fix what’s broken without giving up your current mortgage rate.

You might be eligible if you check these 3 boxes:

1. You’ve owned your home for 2+ years.
2. You’ve built some equity.
3. Your credit score is 680 or higher.

See how much cash you can access (no impact to your credit)

Getting a Credit Card to Earn Cash Back: Earn up to $360 on everyday purchases without a credit card

You can now earn cash back on everyday purchases without using a credit card. With the Discover® CashBack Debit One Checking account (member FDIC), you can earn 1% cash back on up to $3,000 in debit card purchases each month!¹ <p>See website for details.</p>

You don’t have to worry about a credit check to apply, and there are no monthly fees. Start earning nearly passive income on purchases you’re making anyway — up to an extra $360 a year!² <p>See <a href="https://www.discover.com/content/dam/dfs/online-banking/documents/NationalDepositAccountAgreement.pdf">Deposit Account Agreement</a> for details on transaction eligibility, limitations, and terms.</p>

There are other great perks too, like getting access to your paycheck up to 2 days early, and no minimum deposit or monthly balance requirements.

Don’t wait to apply: In 2022, Discover temporarily suspended new account applications. Luckily, they reopened applications again. (But you shouldn’t wait to apply!)

Apply for a Discover® Cashback Checking account today

This plan protects select Ohio homes from many expensive appliance and home repairs (lock in your ultra-low rate)

Sounds crazy. And maybe you’re not even sure if this is real. But … you’re probably curious anyway. If you live in Ohio and own your home, Choice Home Warranty could make it so you don’t have to pay $1,000s on home repairs anymore.

They’ve been around since 2008 (so you know they’re legit) and they offer affordable plans to cover appliances and systems in your home that could break down. Just make your claim online or give them a call. Their team is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.³ <p>CHW reserves the right to offer cash back in lieu of repair or replacement in the amount of CHW's actual cost (which at times may be less than retail) to repair or replace any covered system, component or appliance. In the event that CHW makes such payment, CHW will provide written notification of the basis for the amount of the payment. First Month Free with purchase of any single payment home warranty plan. The product being offered is a service contract and is separate and distinct from any product or service warranty which may be provided by the home builder or manufacturer.</p>

Choose a plan here and you could still lock in their ultra-low 2025 rates for a limited time. You could tap into immense savings for nearly any system or appliance in your home that’s covered.

Not everyone is eligible for this plan so here’s how to check:

1. Click the link below and enter your zip code.
2. Answer a few simple questions.
3. See if your home qualifies and lock in your rate.

Choose a plan here and and see if you’re eligible for $50 off and 1 month free

P.S. We negotiated a special deal for FinanceBuzz readers who sign up using the link above. Use it this week to get $50 off and 1 month free. We don’t know how long it will last, so take advantage of it today before it disappears.

Mindless Recurring Expenses: Don’t pay for what you don’t use

Storage Units: If you haven’t needed it in a year, why are you paying rent for it? Sell it, donate it, or admit you’re just hoarding junk in a different location.

Expensive Gym Memberships: If you’re not going at least twice a week, just cancel it already. Home workouts, outdoor runs, and basic weights could get you 90% of the same results for free.

Bottled Water: Can’t believe we even have to say this. But if you have access to clean tap water, you’re wasting money every time you buy a bottle. Get a reusable one and stop paying for something that’s essentially free.

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

Not Separating Business and Personal Accounts: Make sure you do this one thing if you’re self-employed

If you’re self-employed, it’s important to separate your business income and expenses from your personal transactions so that you can cleanly track write-offs, plan for taxes, and understand your business health. For this reason, we recommend opening a fully separate business bank account.

This business banking account is a top contender and it might be one of the best accounts for self-employed people.⁴ <p>Found is a financial technology company, not a bank. Banking services are provided by Piermont Bank, Member FDIC. The funds in your account are FDIC-insured up to $250,000 per depositor for each account ownership category. The Found Mastercard Business debit card is issued by Piermont Bank pursuant to a license from Mastercard Inc.</p> For example, your expenses get automatically tracked as you spend, which helps you to find write-offs and you can even automatically set aside money for taxes as soon as you’re paid. Together, this helps you keep tabs on your estimated quarterly taxes and make sure you’re saving cash to pay that tax bill throughout the year.

The account is from a company called Found. There are no required monthly fees⁵ <p>Found's core features are free. Advanced, optional add-on bookkeeping software available for $19.99/month or $149.99/ year. There are no monthly account maintenance fees, but transactional fees for wires, instant transfers, and ATM apply. Read more <a href="https://found.com/legal/fee_schedule">here</a></p> and you can easily connect to other payment apps like Venmo, Cash App, PayPal, and Square. Even better: you can even create up to 20 virtual debit cards to manage your spend across different categories. Nobody else is doing self-employed banking like this. Seriously, go check it out.

Get started for free

Overpaying for Healthcare: Stop paying all of your out of pocket healthcare costs with Medicare Supplement Insurance

You might think you have most health bills covered with Original Medicare. But then you get hit with a medical deductible for a short hospital stay — and you have to pay out of pocket. That’s where a Medicare Supplement plan may help.⁶ <p><b>PLEASE NOTE: Medicare Supplement insurance is available to those age 65 and older enrolled in Medicare Parts A and B and, in some states, to those under age 65 eligible for Medicare due to disability or End-Stage Renal disease. </b></p> <p><b>The purpose of this communication is the solicitation of insurance. Contact will be made by an insurance agent/producer or insurance company. </b></p> <p><b>Medicare Supplement insurance plans are not connected with or endorsed by the U.S. government or the federal Medicare program.</b></p> <p><i>Medicare Supplement plans may require underwriting and enrollment is not guaranteed.</i></p>

Most Medicare-eligible individuals don’t realize that Original Medicare only covers about 80% of your medical expenses. That remaining 20%? It can add up fast. Especially with a hospital deductible, Part B coinsurance, or excess charges.

Use Healthcare.com’s online tool to find a plan that may cover nearly all your out-of-pocket costs. You’ll pay just a monthly premium. Too many seniors pay more than they should, but if you want to save, here’s how to get started:

1. Click the link below and enter your ZIP code.
2. Answer a few questions about your current Medicare plan coverage (takes about 60 seconds).
3. Get matched with top-rated plans and enroll online or over the phone.

Learn more here and save on out-of-pocket Original Medicare costs

Car Insurance: Cancel your car insurance

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

This tool can help you see if you’re overpaying for car insurance in just a few clicks. You’d be shocked by the difference. $159 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 Insurify and now I’m able to pay just $51 a month for two cars.⁷ <p>Actual savings and coverage options vary based on factors such as driving history, location, and insurer policies. The rates shown in this example may not reflect what every user will qualify for.</p> Too many insurance companies do this. They push up our rates and make us pay even more. But if you want to try this tool and compare and potentially 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. Choose the best quote for you and lock it in before rates go up.

Compare rates now and see if you could score same-day savings today!

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

Overpaying on Windows: Ohio residents could save a fortune on new windows

Old windows drive up your home's electric bill. But if you live in Ohio and your windows are 5+ years old, you could save $1,000s. 

WindowsUSA is actively helping homeowners score huge savings on new windows. They bring top local vendors into a bidding war for your business, providing the best deals without sacrificing quality. This can drive the cost down for you by orders of magnitude.

Slash the cost of new windows by tapping into hidden rebates, unlisted discounts, and local incentives most homeowners don’t even know exist.

You might be eligible if you check these 3 boxes:

1. You own your home.
2. Your windows are 5+ years old.
3. Your ZIP code qualifies.

Complete this short questionnaire to see if you qualify

Scams and Fraud: People lost over $3 billion to scams that started online in 2024

That’s right. If you thought the internet was safer than ever before, you should know that people still lost over $3 billion to scams that started online in 2024 alone.

But you can safeguard your digital world and identity with this powerful browser extension + mobile app from Guardio. Fake sites that mimic trusted ones are more common than you think, especially when making online purchases. Guardio predicts, detects, and blocks them.

Plans start at $9.99 per month. Sign up, install the extension and mobile app, and Guardio will monitor the dark web 24/7 for exposed data. It sends clear and actionable insights in real time to safeguard your accounts, protect your sensitive data, and secure your SSN. And it works across all your devices.

Before you make your next online purchase, join over 2 million users on any device and protect what you’ve built for a fraction of what it could cost you if your data were compromised.

Get a free trial + 30% off when you install Guaridio today!

Credit Card Debt: Pay no interest on purchases and balance transfers for 15 months (yes, it is kind of remarkable)

Imagine getting 15 months with 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers (APR then 18.24% - 27.24% Variable). Sounds great — right? You could dramatically change your financial picture with one of the industry-leading no-interest cards - the Discover it^® Cash Back(Rates and fees) - and pay no interest until 2026 on purchases and 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 15 months on balance transfers (APR then 18.24% - 27.24% Variable). 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 Discover it^® Cash Back is accepted by 99% of merchants, boasts an exceptional cash back rewards rate, and has no annual fee.

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

Get an extra $1,300 back every year with this account

What if I said that starting today, you’d get an extra $1,300 every year?⁸ <p>Estimated savings of $1,300/year are based on the sum of annual costs for comparable services: Monarch ($99), Magnifi ($132), annual AUM fees from services such as Wealthfront on $100k ($250), TurboTax ($219), and Trust & Will’s cost of a Trust ($499).</p> Sounds crazy, but this company called Origin could do just that for you.

Now … they aren’t handing out any actual money, technically speaking. But they’ve figured out subscribers to their all-in-one financial app save around $1,300 each year, when they bring their financial life under their one subscription.

Origin replaces nearly all your other money apps by bringing your financial accounts under one roof. Sign up here and securely connect the other accounts, and you’ll get a bird's-eye view of your net worth, spending, investments, real estate, equity, and more.

Honestly, you could probably even delete your other financial apps once you connect the accounts to Origin. It’s just that good. Plus, it goes beyond budgeting with estate planning, financial planning, and investing products to help you build wealth.

Get a free 7-day trial here, and get back as much as $1,300 every year.

Market Volatility: Help protect your savings from stock market volatility with gold

The economy feels more fragile by the day. Debt, tariffs, and general instability have investors on edge. But now, JPMorgan projects gold could surge to $4,000/ounce.⁹ <p>Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Any historical returns, expected returns, or probability projections may not reflect actual future performance. All securities involve risk and may result in significant losses.</p> That could mean trouble for traditional portfolios, but potential for you if you position yourself ahead of the curve.

American Hartford Gold helps Americans protect and grow their retirement savings with gold and silver. They’ve delivered billions in precious metals, earned an A+ BBB rating, and offer a Price Protection Guarantee — if gold drops after your purchase, you get the difference in coins. Just submit your request within 7 calendar days of your purchase date.

With a Gold IRA, you can roll over part of your retirement account (like a 401(k) or IRA) into physical gold tax and penalty-free. You'll even receive up to $20,000 in FREE silver delivered to your front door on qualifying purchases.

Get started with gold:Download American Hartford Gold’s FREE investors kit. There's no cost to request it, but doing so could help protect everything you've worked for. (Minimums apply: $10,000 for Gold IRAs, $5,000 for cash accounts.)

Download American Hartford Gold’s FREE investors kit

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.

Paid Non-Client Promotion

FinanceBuzz doesn’t invest its money with this provider, but they are our referral partner. We get paid by them only if you click to them from our website and take a qualifying action (for example, opening an account.)

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

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