12 Things Average Americans Waste Money On?utm_source=1440

Last updated July 17, 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.

Spending $1,000s to Repair Water Damage: How Virginia homeowners are preventing roof rot, mold, and foundation damage for good

Most homeowners think of gutters as just a cleaning chore. The bigger risk is what happens when they clog. Overflowing gutters can lead to water damage, roof rot, mold, even foundation problems, the kind of repairs that run into the thousands.

If you own a home in Virginia, HomeBuddy offers a powerful, one-of-a-kind gutter guard built to prevent exactly that. Their micromesh filter keeps common debris out, so your gutters stay clear and your home stays protected. And because it actually works, you may be able to stop hiring gutter cleaners altogether. The company will even clean out and realign your gutters before they install.

Don't waste money on cheap, ineffective guards that claim to be clog-free. This one's built to last.

See if you qualify today: Click the link below, enter your ZIP code and home info, and a representative will reach out to schedule a free estimate.

See if you qualify

Skipping This Card: Earn a $200 bonus for spending $500

Spend just $500 in the first 3 months from account opening with the Chase Freedom Unlimited®(Rates and fees) and you could earn a $200 bonus. That's one of the best spend-to-bonus ratios we've ever seen. The bonus is worth almost half the spend.

No complicated requirements. Apply here, and if you get approved, hit $500 spend in the first 3 months, earn $200. Boom. You can also earn cash back on everything you buy: 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.

Need to finance a big purchase or knock out high-interest debt? You also get 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for 15 months from account opening. After the intro period, the APR is 18.24% - 27.74% Variable. This card is 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 and earn your $200 bonus 

High-Interest Debt: Get out of $20,000 or more in 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?

TurboDebt1can 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 payment.

Best of all? There are zero fees until your debt is resolved, and you could be debt-free in as little as 24-48 months. To get started, just answer a few simple questions. It only takes 30 seconds to see if you qualify!

Try TurboDebt

Expensive Debt Payments: Find out if this could help you tackle your credit card debt

For many people, the plan was always to reach retirement debt-free. Then life happens. Don’t let the overwhelm of debt stop you from enjoying your hard-earned retirement.

ClearOne Advantage offers a debt relief program for people with $30,000 or more in credit card debt, medical bills, collections, or personal loans.2Their representatives may be able to resolve your debt for less than you owe, with one manageable monthly program payment.

No upfront fees. The free consultation takes just a few minutes, and you may be able to complete the program within 24 to 48 months.

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

Weight Loss: Get FDA-approved GLP-1s at their lowest price

If you're finally ready to lose weight, GLP-1s, like semaglutide and tirzepatide, could help you lose around 11% to 20% of your body weight in a year.3And this company we found called Ro gets you FDA-approved GLP-1s at their lowest available price, with or without insurance.

It might sound surprising, but Ro offers the same medication prices as LillyDirect®, NovoCare®, and TrumpRx.4If you’d rather use insurance, a dedicated concierge fights to get your medication covered, which means your cost might just be your copay. (Membership and meds are billed separately, so there are no hidden fees.)

Skip the guesswork and the runaround. Start your journey with FDA-approved GLP-1s like Wegovy®, Ozempic®, and Zepbound®, guided by licensed providers, 100% online. Get started for $39 to see if you qualify, then your ongoing membership is around $74/month when you prepay for an annual plan.

Ro pairs prescription medication with expert coaching, 1:1 messaging, regular check-ins, and lab testing when needed. You'll only be charged the ongoing membership fee if you're eligible for treatment.

Get started for just $39 for your first month5of the Ro Body membership.

Take the quiz to see if you qualify for FDA-approved GLP-1s starting at $39 for your first month

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

Ask a pro: Is your $1M+ portfolio working as hard as it could?

A one percent fee sounds like nothing. But on a $1 million portfolio, that's around $10,000 a year, every year, whether your advisor earns it or not.

But here’s the thing: you know a good financial advisor could help you stretch your savings further with strategies around tax-efficient withdrawals, capital gains, and required minimum distributions, which could save you thousands.

You don’t want to overspend on fees. But you also don’t want to miss out on tax cuts and savings. The answer? You don’t need any financial advisor. You need the right financial advisor.

This free matching quiz connects people with $1M+ in investable assets with up to three fiduciary advisors who serve their area, so they compare and choose the one that fits.

Expensive Home Repairs: This plan helps protect select Virginia 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 Virginia 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

P.S. Use the link above, and you'll get 50% off your first year on select plans!6

Interest: Stop getting ripped off by high interest debt payments

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, $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), you’d only pay $160.69 interest.

That’s over $460 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 $30K+ credit card debt is eligible for options with LendingTree

Market Volatility: Diversify your hard-earned retirement savings with gold

You've spent your whole life building up your retirement savings, but market volatility and inflation could be threatening everything you've worked so hard for.

American Hartford Gold is actively helping Americans like you find greater retirement security with precious metal investments. They offer everything from physical ownership to IRAs in gold and silver that have a proven track record during unstable markets.

In fact, from 2005 to 2020, the price of gold increased by 330%. And during the stock market crash of 2008, the value of gold actually increased by 25%.8

Take control of your legacy today in 3 easy steps:

  1. Request your FREE Gold IRA guide.
  2. Speak to a dedicated specialist about the best option for you.
  3. Transfer or invest to better diversify your portfolio.

You're in good hands, as they boast an A+ rating with the BBB, are ranked #1 gold company on the Inc. 5000 list, and are exclusively endorsed by Bill O'Reilly. If you have at least $15,000 in savings, IRAs, or your 401K take control of your savings now and download your FREE Gold IRA Guide today.

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 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); Balance transfer fee applies.) 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. 

Apply now for the Discover it® Cash Back card

Overpaying by $1,000s on a New Shower: Virginia residents, see if you could save on a walk-in shower upgrade

Design your perfect shower without breaking the bank. If you live in Virginia and your bathroom is stuck in the past, it's time for an upgrade you'll actually use every day.

HomeBuddy connects you with pre-screened local pros who install modern walk-in showers built around your style, your space, and your needs.

Skip the runaround. Get matched with a contractor and secure a free estimate in minutes. No pressure. No hassle.

Get started now if you check these 3 boxes:

  1. You own your home.
  2. You're ready to ditch the old tub.
  3. You live in an available ZIP code.

Get your free estimate to get started

Hedge your portfolio against a weakening U.S. dollar with this

The U.S. dollar continues to weaken. But recently, gold quietly surged past $5,300 per ounce. Good reminder of why investors turn to hard assets when confidence in paper currency slips.

If most of your retirement savings are still tied to stocks or the dollar alone, shifts like this could be a huge deal. American Hartford Gold can help you diversify your retirement portfolio with physical gold and silver, including Gold and Silver IRAs designed to help weather inflation, market volatility, and economic uncertainty.

Gold has a long history of moving independently from stocks and, in past downturns, has helped preserve purchasing power when traditional assets struggled. Start by requesting a free Gold IRA guide at the link below and see whether adding gold makes sense for your long-term plan.

If you have at least $15,000 in savings, IRAs, or your 401K take control of your savings now and download your FREE Gold IRA guide today.

Compare prices on new windows: Virginia homeowners could pay less

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

Modernize connects senior homeowners with top local pros who install high-quality, energy-efficient windows that could help reduce energy bills and improve comfort.

They make it easy to compare quotes and find the best price on your window replacement. 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.

Get your free quote to get started

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

Each year, the IRS forgives millions in unpaid taxes. If you have more than $10,000 in tax debt, or have 3+ years of unfiled taxes, you could get forgiveness too. You might be eligible to lower the amount you owe, or eliminate your tax debt completely.

Easy Tax Relief could help you lower or get out of your tax debt for good. They’re well respected in the industry and have been recognized for their ethical standards when dealing with tax debt. While most tax companies just put you on a payment plan and file your taxes for you, Easy Tax Relief 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

Pay no interest on balance transfers into 2027

Imagine getting 15 months with 0% intro APR on balance transfers (APR then 18.24% - 27.74% Variable). Sounds great — right? You could dramatically change your financial picture with this industry-leading low-interest card - the Chase Freedom Unlimited®(Rates and fees).

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 15 months. 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! After the intro period, the APR is 18.24% - 27.74% Variable. 

The best part? The annual fee is $0.

Click here to Apply Now to the Chase Freedom Unlimited®

Not earning up to 5% cash back at gas stations, transportation (including airlines), and drug stores when you activate this incredible offer

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 gas stations, transportation (including airlines), and drug stores now to September 30th, 2026, on up to $1,500 in purchases when you activate.

There's no annual fee — plus, you'll earn 1% cash back on all other purchases automatically.  The generous welcome offer provides top-notch cash back rewards since Discover will match all the cash back you’ve earned at the end of your 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) (balance transfer fee applies). That means you could use this card to fund large purchases or even help tackle your debt. If you're traveling this summer or want to earn more on beauty essentials, this card is practically a no-brainer!

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

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