6 Dumbest Things Smart People Waste Money On
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.
1️⃣ Cancel your car insurance
We've got bad news. You could be wasting $600 every year on overpriced, second-rate car insurance. And you should probably cancel your existing insurance right now, because there's something much better.
Our tool can tell you if you're overpaying for your car insurance in just a few clicks. We match drivers with companies that report saving drivers up to $600 or more per year when they switch! Each driver’s savings will vary by driving history and how many discounts you’re eligible for. And once you try it out, you'll never have to look for affordable insurance again because we find you the lowest rates that other companies can't match.
Oh, and it's also free. And come on — you can't tell us you don't want to save up to $600. To find out if you're losing up to $600 or more a year, just answer a few questions, and then make sure to enter your zip, DOB, and email, to see if you qualify for a lower rate. It takes less than 2 minutes.
2️⃣ Credit Card Debt: Transfer your balance and pay no interest for up to 21 months (yes, it is kind of remarkable)
Imagine getting 21 months with 0% intro APR on balance transfers (APR then 18.24% - 28.99% (Variable)). Sounds great — right? You could dramatically change your financial picture with one of the industry-leading no-interest cards - this card - and pay no interest until nearly 2027 on balance transfers!
If you want to kick high-interest credit card debt to the curb, these are some of the leading get-out-of-debt cards available. Transfer high-interest debt to this card with a 0% intro APR for up to 21 months on balance transfers (APR then 18.24% - 28.99% (Variable); 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!
The best part? These cards are accepted by 99% of merchants, boast no late fees, and have no annual fee.
Click here to learn how to apply.
3️⃣ 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 $10,000 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!
4️⃣ Leaving Cash on the Table: Earn up to a $300 bonus and grow your money with up to 3.80% APY
We hate to tell you this, really. But if you aren’t banking with SoFi®, you’re missing out on extra cash. Don’t worry though … it’s easy to fix.
You can earn up to a $300 bonus when you open a SoFi Checking and Savings account and make an eligible direct deposit within the first 25 calendar days of the promotional period. Eligible direct deposits totaling $5,000 or more can unlock the $300 bonus.
Plus, you can grow your money with up to 3.80% APY6and enjoy other perks like no monthly account fees, no-fee overdraft coverage, accessing your paycheck up to 2 days early,9 and up to $3 million of additional FDIC insurance.
Also, you could take advantage of a limited-time offer: +0.70% Boost on Savings APY to up to 4.50% for up to 6 months on new accounts with eligible Direct Deposit. Terms apply.
This is practically passive income and a great way to supercharge your earnings.
Open your new SoFi Checking and Savings account here.
5️⃣ Online Shopping: Stop overpaying when you shop online (yes, even Amazon!)
Shopping online has its perks. It's super convenient, but it can be time consuming to find the best deals. Instead of hunting for coupon codes (that don't always work!) and opening tons of browser tabs comparing prices, you can try Capital One Shopping.
Capital One Shopping makes saving money effortless. Just add the browser extension and when you check out, it'll scour the internet for coupon codes to help you save cash. And before you check out at 25+ major retailers, Capital One Shopping will notify you with a friendly pop-up if the item you're buying is available cheaper somewhere else.
Capital One Shopping is free to use and won't show you ads. Add it today and stop overpaying!
Get Capital One Shopping now.
6️⃣ 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.
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:
- Click the link below and enter your ZIP code.
- Answer a few questions about your current Medicare plan coverage (takes about 60 seconds).
- 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.