11 Dumbest Things Smart People Waste Money On

Last updated Oct. 5, 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.

Car Insurance: Virginia drivers, cancel your car insurance

I let my car insurance auto-renew for years. Clean record, no claims, so I figured my rate was fine. I was wrong.

When I finally compared my options with a free tool, my quote came back lower than I expected. I went from $159/mo to $47/mo for two cars.1I couldn't believe I'd been missing out on a chance to save this much.

If you haven’t compared recently, it could be worth checking:

  1. Click below and enter your zip code.
  2. Answer a few questions about your vehicle.
  3. See if there’s a better option for you.

It’s free, quick, and there’s no obligation.

See if you could be paying less for the same coverage


Quick Tip
92% of drivers who switched car insurance reported saving money, according to LendingTree. Separately, a Consumer Reports survey of 40,000+ policyholders found median annual savings of $461 among drivers who switched insurers.  Drivers who stay with the same provider for several years could be leaving real money on the table.
Sources: Consumer Reports (2025); LendingTree auto insurance switching survey (2025)

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 

Card Highlights
$200 Bonus
after spending $500 in purchases in the first 3 months
5%
cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠
$0
Annual Fee
Intro APR
0% Intro APR for 15 months, 18.24% - 27.74% Variable APR after

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

High-Interest Debt: Ask this program to help resolve your credit card debt

If you’re making minimum payments but feel like your debt isn’t going anywhere, you’re not alone. Between credit cards, medical bills, collections, and personal loans, it can be difficult to know where to start — or how long it could take to finally get ahead.

Freedom Debt Relief could help. If you have +$20,000 in credit card debt, their certified debt specialists may be able to negotiate with your creditors to settle your debts for less than you owe.

Based on a plan that fits your budget, you could have one affordable monthly deposit, that could be lower than your current minimum payments.

Best of all? There are no upfront settlement fees (they only get paid once they deliver results) and they may be able to help you resolve your debt in as little as 24-48 months. Plus, they even offer a program guarantee.2

To get started, just answer a few simple questions – it only takes a few minutes to see if you qualify!

Try Freedom Debt Relief

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.3Their 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

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%.4

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 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 pause credit card interest into 2028 ... 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); 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

Paying Full Price on Travel and Restaurants: Not retired? You can still join AARP for massive discounts and your first year is just $15

Think AARP is only for retirees? It isn't. Anyone 18 or older can join, and your first year costs just $15 (about $1.25 a month)! An AARP membership gets you massive discounts on:

  • Restaurants (save up to $450 per year!)
  • Airfare, hotels, cruises and rental cars
  • Meal deliveries
  • UPS shipping
  • Eyeglasses and even prescriptions that aren't covered by insurance

Plus you'll also get insider info on health and wellness and you can add a partner for free. That’s twice the perks and potentially hundreds saved for just $15. It basically pays for itself.

Joining takes about two minutes:

  1. Click the link below, choose your free welcome gift, and select "Join Today"
  2. Create your account by answering a few quick questions
  3. Start enjoying your discounts and perks!

Join AARP for only $15 your first year (renews at $20/yr). Start saving today.

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

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 LendingTree5, 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!6 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

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.

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

Your Auto Policy: The one monthly bill too many Virginia drivers never think to compare

You compare prices on groceries, electronics, flights, and streaming services. But how many times have you actually compared your car insurance? For most people, the answer is once, when they first signed up. After that, it just auto-renews.

The thing is, rates can change year to year, and what you were quoted when you first signed up may not reflect what's available to you now. A free comparison tool could show you options you didn't know were out there.

Here's how to check:

  1. Click below and enter your zip code and a few basic details.
  2. Get matched with providers based on your profile.
  3. See if there's a better rate for the same coverage you already have.

Compare your options and see what's available in Virginia

It could take a couple of minutes, and there's no obligation to switch. But if you find something better, you could put that difference back in your pocket every month. Just make sure to cancel your existing policy if you do switch.


Quick Tip
92% of drivers who switched car insurance reported saving money, according to LendingTree. Separately, a Consumer Reports survey of 40,000+ policyholders found median annual savings of $461 among drivers who switched insurers.  Drivers who stay with the same provider for several years could be leaving real money on the table.
Sources: Consumer Reports (2025); LendingTree auto insurance switching survey (2025)

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

If you’re finally ready to lose weight, GLP-1s — like Semaglutide & Tirzepatide — burn fat fast.7 And this company we found called Remedy Meds gets them to you 80% cheaper!

It might sound crazy, but Remedy Meds 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 Remedy Meds. 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 get pre-approved in as little as 2 minutes.

Limited Time Offer: Right now you can get 20 Factor Meals Free and $120 off your first order!

Take the quiz to get up to 80% off weight loss medications starting at $179/month ($6/day)

Not Having Enough in Retirement: Learn how you could generate income with a $500,000 portfolio

If you have $500,000 saved up, this is for you. The last thing you want in retirement is to run out of money. Instead, you want your money to generate a real income while you enjoy your life.

Answer a few quick questions about your financial situation, and this free service will match you with an advisor to build you a complete plan for retirement income tailored to your goals.

Answer a few questions. Get matched with a financial advisor today.

Home Equity: Virginia 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.5
  2. Answer a few questions about your home.
  3. Lock in your personalized rate and payment.

700+ Credit Score: Compare real offers for $0

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

Learn 7 ways to generate income with a $1,000,000 portfolio

If you have $1,000,000 saved up, this guide is for you. The last thing you want in retirement is to run out of money. Instead, you want your money to generate a real income while you enjoy your life.

Answer a few quick questions about your financial situation, and you'll get a personalized financial plan plus a free guide: The Complete Guide to Retirement Income. 

FinanceBuzz has helped millions of readers make smarter money decisions since 2016. Our team researches over 600 financial products so you don't have to. 

Answer a few questions to get your free retirement income guide

Overpaying on Windows: Virginia residents save big on new windows

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 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.8 Plus, get $200 off your purchase!8

Pay no interest on balance transfers into 2028

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 restaurants and on entertainment and utilities 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 restaurants and on entertainment and utilities now to December 31, 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 17.74% - 26.74% (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.

SmarterAuto
  • They work with 90+ partners and are trusted by over 2 million drivers to shop for auto insurance
  • It takes less than two minutes and the tool is free to use
  • There is no catch and no hidden fees to get matched