11 Dumbest Things Middle-class Americans Waste Money On

Last updated May 25, 2026 | 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.

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

If you have a lot of credit card 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 resolve your debt once and for all?

ClearOne Advantage can help.1 If you have more than $30,000 in debt from credit cards, medical bills, collections, or personal loans, their representatives 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 24-48 months. To get started, just answer a few simple questions and get connected with a caring representative. The consultation is completely free and only takes a few minutes to see if you qualify!

See if your $30k+ in credit card debt is eligible for ClearOne Advantage

Advisor fees: You could be overpaying for your retirement planning

Not all advisor fees are created equal. Some advisors charge a flat annual retainer, like $5,000 a year regardless of how much you have invested. Others can bill hourly, around $250 per hour, only when you need them. And some earn commissions on the products they recommend. For example, they may earn a cut of insurance premiums or mutual fund fees, which can quietly work against your interests. Knowing how your advisor gets paid can make a real difference in what you keep.

This free matching quiz pairs you with vetted fiduciary advisors in your area, so you can compare options and pick the one that fits.

Overpaying for ED Meds: Get ED meds as low as $0.87/pill

The cost of name brand ED meds (like Viagra) can be as high as $3,000 a month without insurance. Ouch. But this company we found makes it easy for seniors to get practically the exact same medication — for as low as $0.87/pill. That’s significantly cheaper!

This new company does not accept insurance and operates on a “cash pay” basis, which is how they keep costs so low, even for seniors. (You can still pay via credit card.) Pharmacies are U.S.- based and dispense only FDA-approved ED medication for your safety and peace of mind. They are trusted by 41,933+ customers.

To get started: Take a short assessment to get matched with the right medication for your needs. It takes about 60 seconds. No in-person visits needed, and medications are prescribed by licensed doctors. Shipping is also free and discreet on any prescription.

BONUS: New customers get an extra $10 off their first purchase using the link below.

Get ED meds here for as low as $0.87/pill

Not Earning Cash Back at Walmart: Earn 3% cash back at Walmart, gas, or dining

If you shop at Walmart even once a month, you need to see this. It's been reported that more than 40% of Americans buy their groceries at Walmart,2but if you pay with a regular debit card, you could be missing out on a chance to earn solid cash back.

OnePay changes that. Right now, new members can earn 10% cash back on their first Walmart purchase within the first month, on up to $200 spent.3After that, you keep earning 3% cash back at Walmart every month on up to $150 spent, with eligible deposits.4

But you don’t just earn cash back at Walmart with OnePay — you can also earn on gas, dining, and more. When you bank through OnePay, you get a mobile banking app and secured credit card with no monthly fees, no minimum balances, and no overdraft fees.5

Plus, you can earn 3.35% APY on your savings with eligible deposits6and can get paid up to 2 days early with direct deposit7and fee-free cash withdrawals at 55,000+ Allpoint ATMs worldwide.8And you can earn 25¢/gallon extra cash back on your first gas purchase.9

Bank through OnePay and earn 10% back at Walmart on your first purchase

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 17.49% - 26.49% Variable.) That's right, you could 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 with no 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, earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases. 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

Weight Loss: Get name-brand weight loss meds for only $5/day

If you're finally ready to lose weight, you shouldn't have to shop around five different telehealth sites to find a GLP-1 that fits your budget and your body. Hers gets you access to every major weight loss option under one roof.

It might sound crazy, but Hers gives you access to the full range of GLP-1 treatments through a single online assessment. Want FDA-approved Wegovy® or Zepbound®? They've got it. Want a more affordable option with the same active ingredient as Ozempic®? They've got that too. Prefer to skip the needles entirely? Oral weight loss kits start around $149/month.10

Skip the multiple intake forms and the patchwork of providers. Get one care team, one app, and one place to adjust your treatment as your needs change if prescribed. Plus, you get 24/7 messaging with licensed providers and FSA/HSA eligibility — no insurance required.

Take the assessment to get weight loss medications starting at $149/month ($5/day)

Poorly Managing Your Teen's Money: Give your teen the money app they actually want

When it comes to their money, you want to give your teen freedom — but you also want to see what they’re doing. Most accounts give you one or the other, but not both.

Cash App solves this problem. It’s a secure way for teens to manage money with your help,11and Cash App is U.S. teens' favorite financial services brand for payments.12They can send, spend, and even save, and best of all, there are no monthly or hidden fees.

Check your teen’s activity, balance, and transactions, set limits to build habits responsibly, and know when they send money to someone new. They can even design their own Visa debit card1314 and get instant discounts at places they already shop!

With Cash App, you can give your teen the freedom they want with the safety of your oversight. Download the app today.

Download Cash App here

Skipping This Credit Card Bonus: Earn a bonus worth $200 to use toward your next flight or hotel 

If you're planning a trip, apply for the Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card (Rates and fees) here and you can earn 20,000 bonus points after spending $500 in the first 3 months — that's worth $200 toward travel!

There is no extra work beyond the spending requirement to earn the early spend bonus, no annual fee, and no foreign transaction fee. The Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card also lets you earn 1.25 miles per dollar on every purchase, every day and 5 miles per dollar on hotels, vacation rentals and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel. 

Redeem miles for flights, hotels, and car rentals, OR statement credits, gift cards, and transfers to over 15 airline or hotel partners! If you travel even once a year this card could is worth it and could net you with $100s in rewards to use toward travel. Don't delay — apply today!

Recommended for good or excellent credit.

Click here to apply for the Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card now

Debt: Let banks compete to help you get out of debt

If you really want to get out of debt, you can let banks compete against each other to help you out. It can be nearly impossible and anxiety-inducing to make debt payments all on your own, but this clever site lets banks compete to assist you.

It’s called LendingTree15, and they can match you with loan providers that compete to give you personalized rates and offers for your situation and could help you pay off your debt quickly.

Think about it this way: For example, $30,000 in credit card debt at 25% APR will cost you $622.60 every single month in interest alone. But, with a rate as low as 6.50% APR (possible through LendingTree’s lenders that compete for your business), you’d only pay $160.69 interest.

That’s over $460 a month you’d get to keep for yourself in this scenario!16 Even better, you don’t necessarily need a perfect credit score (credit requirements vary by lender) 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 quickly. It’s certainly worth a shot if you’re feeling suffocated by debt.

See if your $30K+ credit card debt is eligible for options with LendingTree

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.15
  2. Answer a few questions about your home.
  3. Lock in your personalized rate and payment.

700+ Credit Score: Compare real offers for $0

Set up direct deposit and complete qualifying activities - pocket $400

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

Earn a bonus of $400 after you open a new Truist One Checking account online between March 26, 2026 and July 9, 2026 using promo code AFL400TR1Q226.17To earn the $400 bonus, your account needs to receive at least 2 qualifying direct deposits totaling $2,000 or more and complete 20 qualifying debit card purchase transactions within 120 days of account opening. The reward will be deposited to the new checking account within 4 weeks after the qualification requirements have been met and verified. Terms apply.

This is 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 offers benefits like no overdraft fee and options to avoid a monthly maintenance fee on top of the bonus.

Open your account and earn a $400 bonus

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

Skipping This Criminally Underrated Credit Card Bonus: Earn a $200 bonus + up to 5% cash back! 

Apply for the Chase Freedom Unlimited®(Rates and fees) and you could earn a $200 bonus after spending an easy $500 in the first 3 months. This card is criminally underrated with one of the best spend-to-bonus ratios we've ever seen. The bonus is worth almost half the spend!

No additional work is required. Apply for the card, see if you're approved, spend $500 within 3 months, and earn a $200 bonus. Boom!

The Chase Freedom Unlimited®(Rates and fees) also lets you earn cash back on everything you buy: Earn 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery service and unlimited 1.5% cash back on all other purchases.

Plus, if you want to finance large purchases or pay down high-interest debt, you can also do that with this card. Take advantage of 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for 15 months. After the intro period, the APR is 18.24% - 27.74% Variable. Do not skip this card, it's a sleeper hit with insane value and NO annual fee

Good or excellent credit (typically 670 or higher) is recommended.

Click here to Apply Now to the Chase Freedom Unlimited®

Stop Overpaying for Flights: Save up to $2,000 on every flight you take (yes, it’s crazy)

Sounds kind of insane. And maybe you’re skeptical if this actually works or not. But either way … you’re probably curious. If you want to save a ton on travel (even international), Dollar Flight Club makes it so you could potentially pay less for any flight you take.

They’ve been helping travelers save since 2016 (so you know they’re the real deal), shipping crazy flight deals straight to your email — up to 90% off normal price for many flights. Just pick your destination and let them do the rest. They hunt deals 24/7 so you don’t have to.

Now, some insider info: They *do* offer a free version … but it puts you on a 2-3 month waitlist. Skip the wait and get instant access to the best deals with a Premium+ membership instead. For a limited time, FinanceBuzz readers can try Premium+ free for 14 days!

How to try Premium+:

  1. Enter your email at the link below.
  2. Pick your departure airport and dream destinations.
  3. Enter your payment info and start your free trial of Premium+.

This is the fastest way to unlock the best flight deals that could save you up to 90% off flights. At the end of the trial, you’ll be upgraded to the $99 per year membership.

Enter your payment info here to start your free Premium+ trial

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.18 That could mean trouble for traditional portfolios, but potential for you if you position yourself ahead of the curve.

U.S. Gold Bureau helps Americans protect and grow their retirement savings with gold and silver. They’ve delivered 2 billion+ in precious metals, earned an A+ BBB rating, and offer a BuyBack Guarantee — they buy back any metals they sell at transparent prices.

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 gold with qualifying purchases.19

Get started with gold: Download U.S. Gold Bureau’s IRA investors kit. There's no cost to request it, but doing so could help protect everything you've worked for. (Minimums apply: You should have at least $30,000 to invest.)

Take control of your savings now

Paying for Gutter Cleaning: Save $100s every year on gutter cleaning services!

Hiring a gutter cleaner multiple times per year can be expensive over the lifetime of your home, adding up to $1,000s of dollars. But with this service, homeowners may be able to get rid of that annoying yearly cost!

LeafFilter is a powerful, one-of-a-kind gutter guard that’s so effective you may be able to stop hiring gutter cleaners altogether. The best part is that this company will clean out and realign your gutters prior to installing.

LeafFilter micromesh filter provides durability and performance that keeps your gutters protected from common debris. Don’t waste your money on cheap, ineffective solutions that claim to be clog-free.

See if you qualify today: Click the link below and enter your ZIP code and home info to get a free estimate.

Enter your ZIP code here to get started

Overpaying on Windows: Ohio residents save big 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 big.

Renewal by Andersen is actively helping homeowners score huge savings. Their certified master professionals install high-quality, energy-efficient windows that could help reduce energy bills and improve comfort.

They make it extremely easy to upgrade your windows with financing options available and special limited-time offers. The entire process is hassle free.

Get started now if you check these 3 boxes:
  1. You own your home.
  2. Your windows are 5+ years old.
  3. You live in an available ZIP code.
Complete this short questionnaire to get started

BONUS: For a limited time, buy one get one 40% OFF.20 Plus, get $200 off your purchase!20

Scams and Fraud: American adults lost $47 billion to scams and fraud in 2025

That's right. According to a recent report, American adults lost $47 billion to scams and identity fraud in 2025.

But you can safeguard your identity with NordProtect — an all-in-one protection service designed by cybersecurity experts. NordProtect includes up to $1,000,000 in identity theft recovery coverage, helping reimburse you for eligible recovery expenses if needed.

Plans start as low as $7.49 per month (when charged annually) and include 24/7 dark web monitoring, credit score tracking, and real-time security alerts to notify you about potential threats, from compromised accounts to suspicious credit activity.

Before you make your next online purchase or open your next email, protect what you’ve built — for a fraction of what identity theft could cost you.

Get the 1-year plan now for 50% off

Tax Debt: Ask this company to 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.

Tax Relief Advocates is designed specifically to help you get out of tax debt faster and could even eliminate or reduce some of the debt you owe.

While most tax companies just put you on a payment plan and file your taxes for you, Tax Relief Advocates 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.

Fill out this form to get started

Expensive Financial Plans: Get your personalized financial plan 100% free

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.21

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

Here's how to get started: 

1. Click the link below. 
2. You will be asked a few questions — enter your email, employment status, and phone number. 
3. Verify your identity through Plaid (name, DOB, social security, etc). 

From there answer a few questions related to your investable assets, retirement accounts, debts, and more to help customize your plan. This service costs nothing and it even tells you how much you can expect to see your net worth grow — down to the dollar — by implementing the suggestions.

Click here and enter your info to get your 100% free financial plan

BONUS: Pay no interest into 2028 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 2028 ... and the best part is that it could be easier than you think.  

BankAmericard® credit card is an extremely powerful card that gives you 0% intro APR for an astounding 21 billing cycles on purchases and balance transfers. (Then APR is 14.99% - 25.99% Variable.) That's right — you could 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. 

And here's what makes it even better — there's no annual fee. So every dollar you're saving on interest stays right where it belongs: in your pocket. If you've been waiting for the right moment to tackle your debt or pull the trigger on a big purchase, this card is hard to beat.

Apply now for the BankAmericard® credit card 

Not earning up to 5% cash back at restaurants and home improvement stores: Unlock up to $1,070 in 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. Apply for the Discover it® Cash Back (Rates and fees) and you can earn up to 5% cash back at restaurants and home improvement stores now to June 30, 2026, on up to $1,500 in purchases when you activate.

There's 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!22 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 the first year!

This card also offers an intro APR of 0% for 15 months on purchases and balance transfers, then APR 17.49% - 26.49% Variable. That means you could use this card to fund large purchases or even potentially get out of debt. If you dine out or shop at home improvement stores even once a month, this card is practically a no-brainer!

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