22 Things To Cut When Living On Retirement (Many People Ignore #11)

Cut Your Crushing Interest Payments: Stop paying ridiculously high interest on your credit card debt 

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 it could have a bigger impact 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

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

American Hartford Gold is actively helping Americans find greater retirement security with precious metal investments like gold. 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 increased by 25%.¹ <p>Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Any historical returns, expected returns, or probability projections may not reflect actual future performance. All securities involve risk and may result in significant losses.</p>  They offer everything from physical ownership to IRAs in gold and silver that have a proven track record during unstable markets.

Take control of your legacy today in 3 easy steps:

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

They have an A+ rating with the BBB, are ranked #1 gold company on the Inc. 5000 list, and are exclusively endorsed by Bill O’Reilly. A minimum investment of $15,000 is required. Download your FREE Gold IRA Guide today.

Lame Credit Card Bonuses: Try this one instead that lets you 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^®

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.² <p>ClearOne Advantage, LLC is a debt settlement company, not a lender, loan broker, creditor, credit services organization, or debt collector. ClearOne Advantage, LLC does not assume or pay any debts; receive, hold or control funds belonging to consumers; or provide bankruptcy, legal, accounting or tax advice. You should review full program terms and conditions before enrolling. To the extent that any aspect of the debt settlement services relies on or results in the consumer’s failure to make timely payments to the consumer’s creditors or debt collectors, the use of the debt settlement services: (1) Will likely adversely affect the consumer’s creditworthiness; (2) May result in the consumer being subject to collections or being sued by creditors or debt collectors; and (3) May increase the amount of money the consumer owes due to the accrual of fees and interest by creditors or debt collectors. Not available in all states. Some third-party fees may apply. C.P.D. Reg. No. T.S. 12-03822.</p> <p>ClearOne Advantage is not a credit services organization, and we do not make any claims regarding improvement of a consumer’s credit scores. Entering into a debt settlement program could adversely affect your credit score.</p> 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

$325 for new checking customers

If you aren't banking with Wells Fargo, you're missing out on a cash bonus by following a few steps.

Open a new Wells Fargo Everyday Checking account by 07/14/2026 and make a total of $1,000 or more in qualifying direct deposits to your new checking account within 90 calendar days of account opening to earn the $325 bonus. Earned bonuses will be paid once you have met all offer requirements.³ <p><b>How to qualify for this offer:</b></p> <p><b>To be eligible</b>: Offer is for new consumer checking customers only and is available only to the primary owner of the new checking account. The primary account owner is the owner whose Taxpayer Identification Number, such as a Social Security Number, is assigned to the account and has tax responsibility. Offer is not available to customers that received a bonus for a Wells Fargo consumer checking account within the past 12 months, are Wells Fargo employees, or are non-resident aliens or foreign entities signing any version of IRS Form W-8. Deposit accounts that are part of the Wells Fargo Private Bank experience are not eligible for this offer.</p> <p><b>To receive the $325 bonus</b>: you must use your bonus offer code when opening a new Wells Fargo consumer checking account, which is subject to approval, by July 14, 2026 <b>and </b>receive $1,000 or more in qualifying electronic deposits within 90 calendar days of account opening (the “qualification period”). A qualifying electronic deposit is a deposit of funds, such as your salary, government benefit payment, or other income, that has posted to your account and is (1) a <b>direct deposit</b> made through the Automated Clearing House (ACH) network, (2) an <b>instant payment</b> processed through the RTP® network (real-time payment system) or FedNow℠ Service, or (3) an <b>electronic credit</b> from a third party service that facilitates payments to your debit card using the Visa® or Mastercard® network (e.g., an Original Credit Transaction). Transfers from one account to another, mobile deposits, Zelle®, or deposits made at a branch or ATM are not considered a qualifying electronic deposit. An ACH direct deposit made available early with Early Pay Day does not count toward the bonus requirements until it posts to your account and is no longer pending (e.g., scheduled payment date).</p> <p>Once you have met all requirements, <b>we will deposit the bonus into your new account</b> within 30 calendar days. Your new account must stay open through the time we attempt to deposit the bonus. We may close accounts with a zero balance without prior notice. You are responsible for any taxes due on the bonus. We will report the bonus as income to tax authorities, as required by applicable law. If you are subject to backup withholding at the time of payment, we may withhold the required amount and remit to tax authorities.</p> <p><b>Other Terms</b>: This offer may be discontinued or changed at any time without notice and cannot be combined with any other consumer deposit offer (limit one bonus per customer/account). Offer cannot be reproduced, purchased, sold, transferred, or traded. If we suspect bonus or promotional offer abuse, we may close or restrict the account and decline or reverse any bonus.</p> <p>Talk with a banker or see the “<a href="https://www.wellsfargo.com/online-banking/consumer-account-fees/">Consumer Account Fee and Information Schedule” and “Deposit Account Agreement</a>” available at wellsfargo.com/depositdisclosures for complete checking account details, including the applicable monthly service fee and options to avoid it. The actions required for this bonus are separate from the actions available to avoid the monthly service fee.</p> <p class="">Zelle® and the Zelle® related marks are wholly owned by Early Warning Services, LLC and are used herein under license.</p> Visit the offer webpage for ways to avoid the $15 monthly service fee.⁴ <p>The Wells Fargo Everyday Checking account monthly service fee is $15. Minimum opening deposit is $25.</p><br> <p>The monthly service fee can be avoided with one of the following each fee period:</p><br> <p>- $1,500 minimum daily balance.</p><br> <p>- $5,000 or more in qualifying deposit balances, investment balances, or both. On the last business day of each fee period balances in eligible Wells Fargo accounts will be automatically totaled. Eligible accounts include consumer deposit account balances (checking, savings, CDs, FDIC-insured IRAs), certain investment account balances, and applicable Wells Fargo bank fiduciary and custody accounts.</p><br> <p>- $500 or more in total qualifying electronic deposits. A qualifying electronic deposit is a deposit of funds, such as your salary, government benefit payment, or other income, that has posted to your account and is (1) a direct deposit made through the Automated Clearing House (ACH) network, (2) an instant payment processed through the RTP® network (real-time payment system) or FedNow℠ Service, or (3) an electronic credit from a third party service that facilitates payments to your debit card using the Visa® or Mastercard® network (e.g., an Original Credit Transaction). Transfers from one account to another, mobile deposits, Zelle®, or deposits made at a branch or ATM are not considered a qualifying electronic deposit.</p><br> <p>- A primary account owner who is 17 to 24 years old. (When the primary account owner reaches the age of 25, age can no longer be used to avoid the monthly service fee.)</p><br> <p>- A qualifying monthly non-civilian military direct deposit with the Wells Fargo Worldwide Military Banking program. You will receive your Worldwide Military Banking program benefits 45 days after your qualifying non-civilian military direct deposit is deposited into your eligible Wells Fargo checking account. For more information on the qualifying non-civilian military direct deposit, program qualifications and benefits, please visit <a href="https://www.wellsfargo.com/military/worldwide-military-banking/">wellsfargo.com/military/worldwide-military-banking</a><a href="https://wellsfargo.com/military/worldwide-military-banking or wellsfargo.com/depositdisclosures"> </a>&nbsp;or <a href="https://wellsfargo.com/depositdisclosures">wellsfargo.com/depositdisclosures</a>.</p><br> <p class="">Zelle® and the Zelle® related marks are wholly owned by Early Warning Services, LLC and are used herein under license.</p> <ul> <ul> <ul> </ul> </ul> </ul>

This is a great way to earn a cash bonus by following the steps above! Wells Fargo also offers 24/7 fraud monitoring, optional Overdraft Protection,⁵ <p>Subject to account eligibility requirements.</p> and a 4.9/5 Star-rated mobile banking app.⁶ <p>4.9/5 Stars on the App Store as of January 16, 2026</p>

Learn More

Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. Member FDIC.

Expensive Mortgage Payments: Save $28,000 over the life of your mortgage

Too many buyers overpay on their mortgage without even knowing it. Rates and fees vary wildly from lender to lender, but nobody has time to call around and compare, so they might just accept the first offer and hope for the best. Now there's a free service that does the hard part for you.

It's called Own Up, and it compares mortgage offers from a network of top-rated lenders so they compete for your business and you can pick a great deal.⁷ <p>Own Up is a mortgage lead-generation and comparison service. RateGravity, Inc. d/b/a Own Up arranges introductions to participating lenders but does not make loans or credit decisions. Own Up is compensated by participating lenders. Own Up matches you with participating lenders based on your profile. Lender participation varies and does not guarantee multiple offers or competitive bidding. Not all lenders, products, or shopping experiences are available, and availability may vary by consumer profile and loan program. Rates, terms, and availability vary. Lender ratings reflect consumer reviews and/or third-party data. RateGravity, Inc. d/b/a Own Up NMLS #1450805. For consumer information, visit <a href="https://www.nmlsconsumeraccess.org">www.nmlsconsumeraccess.org.</a></p> You fill out a quick 5-minute profile (no hard credit pull),⁸ <p>Exploring options with Own Up does not require a hard credit inquiry; however, a lender may require a hard inquiry and additional personal information, including a Social Security number, to proceed with an application.</p> get matched with top-rated lenders, and see the comparison side by side.⁹ <p>Shopping experiences is offered to select customers only, your interaction with Own Up might not include shopping experience. Not all lenders or products are available, and availability may vary by consumer profile and loan program. Rates, terms, and availability vary.</p>

Thnk about it this way: On a $400,000 mortgage at 7.00%, you'd pay over $558,000 in interest over 30 years. Drop that rate just half a percent to 6.50% and you'd pay around $510,000. That's $48,000 back in your pocket, just from shopping around for a better rate.¹⁰ <p>For illustration purposes only. Rates shown are not offers of credit.</p>

Own Up customers save on average $28,000 over the life of their loan,¹¹ <p>Savings are not guaranteed. Results vary based on borrower qualifications, loan terms, fees, and market conditions. See <a href="https://www.ownup.com/methodology">ownup.com/methodology</a> to see how the savings were calculated. and it costs you absoloutely nothing to find out what you'd save.

Own Up is 100% free — there’s no direct consumer fee for Own Up’s service. Own Up is compensated by lenders, not consumers. See what you could qualify for at the link below before you lock in a rate you might regret.

Check your rate in 5 minutes (free)

$10,000+ Home Elevators: Get a free stair lift estimate instead and stay in the home you love

If you or a loved one struggles with stairs, do not move to a new house or spend $10,000+ on a home elevator or renovation. An affordable custom stair lift could be a faster solution (and $1,000s cheaper) and this free in-home consultation can help you find one.

Leaf Home Safety Solutions is actively helping senior homeowners get custom stair lifts without spending a fortune. They offer straight, curved, and outdoor options, installed by pros and backed by a limited lifetime warranty. You could stay in the home you love without a renovation.

Skip the stress of researching stair lift companies on your own. Leaf Home brings trained local experts to your door for a free, no-pressure estimate.

You might be a good fit if: 1) You own your home, 2) You or a loved one has trouble with stairs, and 3) Your ZIP code qualifies.

Complete this short form to get started

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.

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.

Tax Debt: See if your tax debt is eligible for this debt relief program

While most tax companies just put you on a payment plan and file your taxes for you, Tax Relief Advocates is designed specifically to help you get out of tax debt faster.

Tax Relief Advocates even talks to the IRS directly, 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

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 fiduciary advisors who serve their area, so they can compare and decide which advisor to work with.

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.

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

Skipping This Credit Card Bonus: Earn a bonus worth $250 to use toward your next flight or hotel 

If you're planning a trip, apply for the Bank of America^® Travel Rewards credit card here and you can earn 25,000 bonus points after spending $1,000 in the first 90 days of account opening. That's worth $250 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 Bank of America^® Travel Rewards credit card also lets you earn 3 points per $1 spent on travel purchases booked through the Bank of America Travel Center and 1.5 points per $1 spent on everyday purchases. 

Redeem points for a statement credit toward travel and dining purchases, gift cards, cash back, or merchandise. If you travel even once a year this card could be worth it and could net you $100s in rewards to use toward travel. Don't delay - apply today!

Recommended for good or excellent credit.

Click here to apply for the Bank of America^® Travel Rewards credit card now

Overpaying on Windows: Virginia residents could save a fortune 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 $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

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.