11 Dumbest Things Smart People Waste Money On

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

Tax Debt: Ask this company to help you pay off your late tax debt

Past-due tax debt is overwhelming.

It weighs on your mind and causes massive anxiety. You end up emotionally and physically drained. Even worse when the IRS starts sending letters threatening wage garnishment and huge fines.

Alleviate Tax is designed specifically to help you get out of tax debt faster and could reduce some of the debt you owe.

While most tax companies just put you on a payment plan and file your taxes for you, Alleviate Tax talks to the IRS directly. They can help you pay off your tax debt faster while potentially reducing what you owe.

Important: Not everyone will qualify. To take advantage of this special program you must owe more than $10,000 in past-due taxes.

Answer a few questions to get started

Scams and Fraud: American adults lost $47 billion to scams and fraud in 2024

That's right. According to a new report, American adults lost $47 billion to scams and identity fraud in 2024.

But you can safeguard your data with all-in-one scam and fraud protection services from OmniWatch, which comes with up to $2,000,000.00 in identity theft insurance,¹ <p>Restrictions and exclusions apply, <a href="https://app.omniwatch.com/insurance-disclosure">click here to read full details of insurance coverage</a>. Residents of New York receive $1 million of coverage and are not eligible for ransomware or scam protection coverage. <a href="https://app.omniwatch.com/insurance-disclosure-ny">Click here for New York insurance summary</a>.</p> to cover eligible losses and fees should you experience them.

Plans start at $10 per month and can include comprehensive protection like 24/7 monitoring and alerts, dark web scanning to identify breached personal data (like your SSN and banking info), antivirus and VPN apps for device security, and expert restoration services at no extra cost.

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.

Act now to get your $1 trial

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

High-Interest Debt: Ask this company to pay off your credit card debt

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 gets 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 could help. If you have more than $20,000 in debt from credit cards, medical bills, collections, or personal loans, their representatives might be able to assist you in consolidating your debt into one low monthly program payment.

Best of all? There are zero fees until your debt is resolved, and you could be debt-free in 12-48 months. To get started, just answer a few simple questions. It only takes 30 seconds to see if you qualify!² <p>Clients who are able to stay with the program and get all their debt settled realize approximate savings of 45% before fees, or 20% including our fees, over 12 to 48 months. All claims are based on enrolled debts. Not all debts are eligible for enrollment. Not all clients complete our program for various reasons, including their ability to save sufficient funds. Estimates based on prior results, which will vary based on specific circumstances. We do not guarantee that your debts will be lowered by a specific amount or percentage or that you will be debt-free within a specific period of time. We do not assume consumer debt, make monthly payments to creditors or provide tax, bankruptcy, accounting or legal advice or credit repair services. Not available in all states. Please contact a tax professional to discuss tax consequences of settlement. Please consult with a bankruptcy attorney for more information on bankruptcy. Depending on your state, we may be available to recommend a local tax professional and/or bankruptcy attorney. Read and understand all program materials prior to enrollment, including potential adverse impact on credit rating.</p>

Try National Debt Relief

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.

Vet Bills: Get out of expensive $1,000+ vet bills

Vet bills can cost $1,000s, but if you do this, you might be off the hook. You could be reimbursed up to 90% of covered vet costs after meeting your deductible.

This new tool helps you find affordable pet insurance in just a few clicks. All I had to do was enter my pet’s name, type of dog or cat, age, and my email. No calls, no texts, and they instantly showed me my options.

This means you could save $1,000s on emergency surgeries, illness treatments, and more. I was supposed to pay $4,100 for my dog’s vet bill, but because I had insurance, I was reimbursed $3,400.⁴ <p>Individual experiences will vary. Coverage, reimbursement amounts, and potential savings depend on the specific policy, provider, and your pet’s situation.</p> That’s a huge difference.

I’m so glad I got this well before my pet got sick. Do not wait until you have an emergency, because it won’t work. Get it now, before your pet is in pain or has an emergency, and you’ll thank yourself later.

Compare rates for your pet now and save on massive vet bills

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 nearly 2027 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

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.)

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.⁵ <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

Auto Insurance Policies: See if you could save up to $600 if you have 2+ drivers in your house

It turns out having 2 or more drivers in the house combined on one policy might actually put money back in your pocket — as much as $112 a month!

Thanks to this website, households with 2 or more drivers in Ohio are now able to save up to $600 a year on car insurance. It sounds crazy, but with multiple drivers on one policy, you may qualify for certain rates that single drivers with separate policies don’t.

Insurance companies would probably love for you to pay as much as possible, but according to the quotes I found on this site, I got a better deal to have two drivers and both of my cars on the same policy.

If you want to try this site for yourself, click the link below. Now I’m able to put $112 back in my pocket every month because of this. I can’t believe I didn’t try it sooner!⁶ <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>

Households with 2+ drivers: See if you could save up to $600 on auto insurance

Weight Loss: Save as much as 80% on weight loss meds

If you’re finally ready to lose weight, FDA-approved GLP-1s — like Semaglutide & Tirzepatide — burn fat fast. And this company we found called MyStart gets them to you 80% cheaper!

It might sound crazy, but MyStart operates on a cash-only basis and does not accept insurance. This is how they’re able to provide up to 80% off the typical cost of weight-loss medications like Ozempic and Zepbound. (You can pay via credit cards, including Visa and Mastercard.)

Skip the surgeries, diets, and expensive costs of weight loss. Get real results with GLP-1s at 80% less than name brands! Plus, get access to U.S.-based doctors 24/7 when you go through MyStart. No insurance is required and there are no hidden fees.

Dr. Ritu Chopra (from the show "The Doctors") says this is the future of weight loss. Join now before prices go up! You could qualify in 5-minutes or less.

Take the quiz to get up to 80% off weight loss medications starting at $180/month ($6/day)

P.S. For limited time you can take $120 off + get free shipping on your first order, making your first shipment just $60!

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: Ohio Driver? 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 this tool and now I’m able to pay just $47 a month for two cars.⁶ <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.

Home Equity: Ohio Homeowners borrow from your home’s equity to pay down high-interest debt

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 LendingTree’s Home Equity matching tool.⁷ <p>LendingTree, LLC is a Marketing Lead Generator and is a Duly Licensed Mortgage Broker, as required by law, with its main office located at 1415 Vantage Park Drive, Suite 700, Charlotte, NC 28203, NMLS Unique Identifier #1136. LendingTree, LLC is known as LT Technologies in lieu of true name LendingTree, LLC in NY. LendingTree technology and processes are patented under U.S. Patent Nos. 6,385,594 and 6,611,816 and licensed under U.S. Patent Nos. 5,995,947 and 5,758,328. © 2024 LendingTree, LLC. All Rights Reserved. This site is directed at, and made available to, persons in the continental U.S., Alaska and Hawaii only. Terms and Conditions may apply. </p>
2. Answer a few questions about your home.
3. Lock in your personalized rate and payment.

700+ Credit Score: Compare real offers for $0

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 May 1, 2025 and October 29, 2025 using promo code TRUIST25AFL400. Terms apply.⁸ <p><b><u>Terms and Conditions for Truist One Checking $400 Affiliate Offer 2025:</u> TRUIST25AFL400<br><br></b></p><p><b><u>Offer Information</u></b>: Open a new Truist One Checking account <b><u>online</u>&nbsp;</b>from 5/1/25 through 10/29/25, receive at least 2 qualifying Direct Deposits* totaling $1,000 or more within 120 days of account opening and earn $400.&nbsp;<br><br></p><p>Account must be opened online. Enrollment in the promotion is required at the time of account opening using promo code <b>TRUIST25AFL400</b>. Please refer to the Account Opening and Enrollment section below for full instructions.&nbsp;<br><br></p><p>*A qualifying Direct Deposit is an electronic credit (greater than $5.00) of your salary, pension, Social Security or other regular monthly income deposited into your new checking account by your employer or outside agency via ACH. Person to person payments (such as Zelle®) or deposits made via a branch, ATM, online transfer, mobile device, debit/prepaid card number or the mail are not eligible direct deposits.&nbsp;<br><br></p><p><b><u>Offer Eligibility</u></b>: Clients that are the primary account holder on an existing personal checking account with Truist or who have closed a personal checking account with Truist on or after 5/1/24 are not eligible to participate. Offer valid for Truist One Checking accounts only. Primary account holder must be 18 or older at the time of account opening. Truist employees, Directors, Officers, and Local Boards/Advisors are not eligible. Offer available only to US residents with a valid US taxpayer identification number. The qualifying checking account must be opened online and have a mailing address in: AL, AR, FL, GA, IN, KY, MD, MS, NC, NJ, OH, PA, SC, TN, TX, VA, WV or DC.<br><br></p><p><b><u>Reward Processing</u></b>: The reward will be deposited to the new checking account within 4 weeks after the qualification requirements have been met and verified. In order to receive the reward, the new checking account must be open, not restricted, and in good standing with a balance of at least $0.01 at the time of Truist verification and at the time of payout. An account is considered restricted if it has a temporary or permanent block that prevents credits from posting to the account. Truist verification will occur one time after the qualification requirements are initially met. Promotion is only applicable once per client and for one new qualifying checking account. Truist may report the value of any offer reward received to the IRS as required by law. Any applicable taxes are the responsibility of the recipient.<br><br></p><p><b><u>Reward Forfeiture</u></b>: Reward forfeiture will occur if: (1) the new checking account is changed to an account type not included in this client offer prior to payout, (2) the new checking account has a $0.00 or negative available balance or is restricted at the time Truist verifies the qualification requirements have been met or (3) the new checking account is closed or restricted at the time of payout.<br><br></p><p><b><u>Other Terms</u></b>: Minimum opening deposit is $50. The offer is non-transferable, may not be combined with any other checking offers, is subject to change, and may be discontinued at any time. Truist reserves the right, in its sole discretion: 1) to prohibit a reward payout for any offers claimed through third-party websites with no affiliation or prior authorization from Truist; and 2) to disqualify any account if Truist suspects accounts are being opened for the purpose of exploiting this promotional offer. All promotional payouts will be processed no later than 7/31/26 at which point this promotion (and any related disbursements) will be considered final, and no further disbursements will be made.<br><br></p><p><b><u>Account Opening &amp; Enrollment Instructions</u></b>: To open and enroll your new account in the promotion, visit the offer website and click on “Open an account online.” Enter <b>TRUIST25AFL400</b> into the promo code field provided, review the offer Terms and Conditions, and then select “Accept Offer”. Accounts opened without the promo code applied will not be eligible to participate in the offer. Once enrolled in the promotion, clients may receive promotional updates via the email address provided or by calling 800.709.8700.<br><br></p><p class="">Version 2 03262025 <b>TRUIST25AFL400</b></p>

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 a great way to supercharge your earnings.

Plus, you can enjoy other benefits like no overdraft fee, a Balance Buffer,⁹ <p>The Balance Buffer is only available with Truist One Checking and allows clients to overdraw their account up to $100. There is no decision required as this feature is automatically available when a client qualifies.</p> <p><br></p> <p>To <b><u>INITIALLY QUALIFY</u></b> for the Balance Buffer, the requirements below must be met:</p> <ul> <li>- Account must be opened for a minimum of 35 calendar days</li> <li>- Account must be funded with a positive balance</li> <li>- A single direct deposit of at least $100 made within the last 35 calendar days</li> </ul> <p>To <b><u>REMAIN QUALIFIED</u></b> for the Balance Buffer, the requirement below must be met:</p> <ul> <li>- A single direct deposit of at least $100 made within the last 35 calendar days.&nbsp; <b>After qualifying, if 35 calendar days pass without a Direct Deposit of at least $100, you will no longer have access to the Balance Buffer.</b></li> </ul> <p>For accounts that qualify for the Balance Buffer, once the account is overdrawn by $100, additional transactions will typically be declined or returned.</p> <p><br></p> <p class="">For accounts that qualify for the Balance Buffer and also have Overdraft Protection, Truist will use the Balance Buffer first.&nbsp; If the account has neither, transactions that exceed the account balance will typically be declined or returned.</p> and automatic upgrades for access to growing perks.

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 17.24% - 27.99% (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 17.24% - 27.99% (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 17.24% - 27.99% (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