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19 Dumbest Things Smart People Waste Money On

Last updated Nov. 17, 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.

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.

Set up direct deposit - pocket $300

If you aren't banking with SoFi®, you're missing out on a huge boost of extra cash just by following a few simple steps.

Earn a bonus of $50 or $3001when you open a SoFi Checking and Savings account and make an eligible direct deposit within the first 25 calendar days of the promotional period. Eligible direct deposits totaling $1,000-$4,999 unlock the $50 bonus, and $5,000 or more unlock the $300 bonus.1Easy.

This is practically passive income and a great way to supercharge your earnings. It basically takes no extra work at all other than following the steps above. Plus, your new account could earn up to 4.30% on Savings (3.60% APY1 with +0.70% APY Boost) for 6 Months on new accounts with eligible direct deposit. Terms Apply.2

Open your account and earn up to a $300 bonus

Get your personalized financial plan 100% free

According to a recent survey nearly half of Americans don’t follow a financial plan.3But studies have found that individuals with a financial plan were 3.7x more likely to claim that they're very confident in reaching their goals.4

Our new tool builds you an intelligent, 100% free personalized financial plan that could help grow your net worth. Answer a few questions, connect your accounts, and boom. You get instant access to a unique financial plan and exclusive offers that could help you grow financially.

Save for a house faster, build a financial safety net, pay off years of debt, plan for retirement, and more. It even tells you how much you can expect to see your net worth grow — down to the dollar — by implementing the suggestions.

You don’t have to be rich to have a financial plan, the service costs nothing, and you could benefit regardless of where you’re at in life. Sign up, answer the questions, and start working on growing your net worth today before it’s too late.

Click here to get started - 100% free

Access your home equity to cover debt — no monthly payments for 10 years

Struggling with debt? If you want to utilize your home equity to help pay it down, you’re probably frustrated right now. The strict qualifications of the traditional financial system have left many unable to.

But there’s another option you may not have heard of, a home equity agreement (HEA) from Unlock.

With Unlock, you could tap into up to $500,000 of your home equity and make no payments for ten years.

Unlike a home equity loan, HELOC, cash-out refinance, or reverse mortgage, an Unlock HEA gives you cash today in exchange for a share of your home’s future value:

  • Access up to $500,000 of your home’s equity.
  • No monthly payments for 10 years
  • Recommended credit score: 600+.

You can verify your property value and equity in 60 seconds — and with no impact on your credit score: Start by entering your property address here.

And don’t worry — Unlock has an A+ rating from the BBB. So see what you’re eligible for, and you could have the funds you need to end your toxic debt loop sooner than you think.

Apply for a home equity agreement with Unlock

This plan helps protect select Ohio homes from many expensive appliance and home repairs (see if you qualify)

Everyone talks about home insurance, but hardly anyone talks about this. If you live in Ohio and own your home, you could save $1,000s on home repairs without much work at all.

American Home Shield is currently helping homeowners slash appliance repair bills. Instead of paying $1,000s, you pay for a monthly plan and a simple one-time service fee per covered repair.

Getting a monthly plan could help you 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 name, address, phone number and email.
  2. Hit the “Get Free Quote” button.
  3. If you qualify, select a plan.
Complete this short form to see if you qualify

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.5That 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

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.

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

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.6Too 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.

Services and Upgrades: Do you really need these things to be happy?

Sneaky Subscriptions: Netflix, Hulu, Disney+, Max, Apple TV, Paramount+ … chances are you’re not even watching half of these. Cut it out. Choose one or two and stop auto-renewing free trials you forgot about.

Upgrading to the Latest iPhone: Unless your phone is literally falling apart, there’s no reason to drop $1,000+ on a new one just because Apple added a slightly better camera. Your current phone is fine.

Designer Clothes and Sneakers: Dropping $300 on the latest sneakers or fast fashion trends just to keep up? You’re only filling your closet with overpriced clutter. Invest in quality, sure — but not hype and status.

Stop getting ripped off by credit card companies

If you have credit card debt, you know that paying your bill each month is anxiety-inducing … and sometimes close to impossible with what you have in the bank.

If that’s you, a company called LendingTree7wants to help.They can match you with loan providers that could help you pay off your debt quickly.

Think about it this way: For example, $25,000 in credit card debt at 25% APR will cost you $518.83 every single month in interest alone. But, with a rate as low as 6.99% APR (possible through LendingTree’s lenders), you’d only pay $144.03 interest.

That’s over $350 a month you’d get to keep for yourself in this scenario! Even better, you don’t need a perfect credit score, and checking for loans won’t affect your credit.

Truthfully, this company exists to help you get ahead in life. They have a 4.5/5 rating on TrustPilot with more than 15,000 verified reviews, and you can see your options in a matter of minutes. It’s certainly worth a shot if you’re feeling suffocated by debt.

See if your $25K+ credit card debt is eligible for options with LendingTree

Expensive Loans: Get up to $185,000 from your home equity affordably instead

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

This is because homeowners in 2025 hold a surprising amount of equity — an average of $185,000 they can tap into! No need for expensive loans or credit cards. 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!

Get started by following three easy steps:

  1. Click below to check out Rocket Mortgage’s Home Equity tool.8
  2. Answer a few questions about your home.
  3. Once you qualify, lock in your personalized rate and payment.

Compare real offers for $0

Credit Card Debt: Pay no interest into 2027 with this no annual fee card

If you're struggling to pay down high interest debt (or you're planning a major purchase this year), this might be the exact thing you need. There's a card that allows you to completely pause credit card interest into 2027 ... and the best part is that it could be easier than you think.  

Discover it® Cash Back(Rates and fees) is an extremely powerful card that gives you 0% intro APR for an astounding 15 months on purchases and balance transfers. (Then APR is 17.74% - 26.74% Variable.) That's right — you can now finance large purchases you've been sitting on without paying massive interest. Or, transfer crippling high interest debt to this card and let your payments go directly to paying down your balance, without piling on additional interest charges — all withno annual fee.

But it doesn't end there. The Discover it® Cash Back card also lets you earn 5% cash back on everyday purchases at different places you shop each quarter like grocery stores, restaurants, gas stations, and more, up to the quarterly maximum when you activate. Plus, Discover will match all the cash back you’ve earned at the end of your first year. This practically doubles its value at the end of your first year.

Apply now for the Discover it® Cash Back card

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.

Save Instantly with Cash App Card: Save at places you already shop — in stores and online, and unlock access to exclusive events, presales, and more.

Get your free9Cash App Card. Choose a card style, then customize it with exclusive stamps, emojis, or even draw on it.

Get exclusive perks and instant discounts on everyday spending in person and online.

Say goodbye to hidden fees and overdraft fees.10

Cash App has 4.8/stars and is an Editor's Choice on the App Store!

Download Cash App for free today

Home Insurance: Save potentially $1,000 or more on home insurance in Columbus

Most people don't even think twice about what they pay for home insurance. Huge mistake. Especially if you want more money in retirement. If you live in Columbus and you haven’t checked rates recently, you could save potentially $1,000s.

This tool is actively helping homeowners score huge savings on better home insurance. They bring top insurance providers together to compete for your business, potentially giving you a better deal. This could drive the cost down for you by orders of magnitude.

You could slash the cost of home insurance by tapping into potential discounts and incentives most homeowners probably don’t even know exist.

You might be eligible if you check these 3 boxes:

  1. You own your home.
  2. You are willing to switch providers to save money.
  3. Your ZIP code qualifies.

Complete this short questionnaire to see if you qualify

High-Interest Debt: See if your credit card debt is eligible for this debt relief program

If you have a lot of debt, getting out of it can feel stressful (and nearly impossible). Here’s the problem: the longer you put off tackling it, the harder it may get to fix. If you don’t take control of it early on, it can add undue stress to your life for years. But what if there was a way to get out of debt once and for all?

National Debt Relief can help. If you have more than $30,000 in debt from credit cards, medical bills, collections, or personal loans, their certified debt specialists may be able to help you resolve your debt for less than you owe — with one low monthly program payment.

Best of all? There are zero upfront fees, and you could be debt-free in 12-48 months. To get started, just answer a few simple questions and get connected with a caring debt specialist. The consultation is completely free and only takes a few minutes to see if you qualify!11

See if your $30k+ in credit card debt is eligible for National Debt Relief

Pay no interest on balance transfers until 2027

Imagine getting an intro 0% APR for 21 months from date of account opening on balance transfers (APR then 16.74% - 27.49% (Variable)). Sounds great — right? You could dramatically change your financial picture with this industry-leading low-interest card - the Citi® Diamond Preferred® 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 from date of account opening, then a 16.74% - 27.49% (Variable) APR (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 from date of account opening on purchases. After the intro period for purchases and balance transfers, the APR is 16.74% - 27.49% (Variable).

The best part? There's no annual fee with the Citi® Diamond Preferred® Card(Rates and fees).

Click here to Apply Now to the Citi® Diamond Preferred® Card

Save Up to $1,02512on Car Insurance Annual Premiums
Insurify
Insurify Benefits
  • They work with 100+ insurance companies and have 4.8/5 stars from 3,000 verified reviews.
  • They do not sell your information to spammers and there are no annoying calls or texts.
  • There is no catch and no hidden fees.
Compare rates today

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