The 8 Dumbest Things We Keep Spending Too Much Money On
You’ve tried to cut back - skipping takeout, brewing coffee at home, and resisting impulse buys. But somehow, your money still disappears faster than you’d like.
Between rent, utilities, insurance, and those sneaky little expenses, it’s easy to overspend without realizing it. The truth is, we’re all guilty of wasting money on things that just aren’t worth it.
Here are some of the dumbest expenses draining your wallet - and how to cut them out:
1️⃣ Online Shopping: People Who Don’t Use This Tool Are Overpaying on Amazon
Let’s face it: you already know you’re spending too much on Amazon. How many times have you clicked ‘pay now’ only to find that exact item elsewhere for way less?
Wouldn’t it be great if someone told you when you’re about to overpay?
That’s exactly what this free service does.
Just add it to your browser for free, and before you check out, it’ll check other websites to see if your item is available for cheaper. Let’s say you’re shopping for a new smart vacuum, and you assume you’ve found the best price. Here’s when you’ll get a pop-up telling you if that exact vacuum is available elsewhere for cheaper. If there are any available coupon codes, they’ll also automatically be applied to your order.
In the last year, this has saved people $800 million.
See if you’re overpaying online in just a few clicks.
2️⃣ Interest: Stop Paying Your Credit Card Company
If you have credit card debt, you know. The anxiety, the interest rates, the fear you’re never going to escape…
And the truth is, your credit card company doesn’t really care. It’s just getting rich by ripping you off with high interest rates — some up to 36%. But a website called AmONE wants to help.
If you owe your credit card companies $100,000 or less, AmONE will match you with a low-interest loan you can use to pay off every single one of your balances.
The benefit? You’ll be left with one bill to pay each month. And because personal loans have lower interest rates (AmONE rates start at 6.40% APR), you’ll get out of debt that much faster. Plus: No credit card payment this month.
You don’t need a perfect credit score to get a loan — and comparing your options won’t affect your score at all. Plus, AmONE keeps your information confidential and secure, which is probably why after 20 years in business, it still has an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau.
It takes less than a minute and just 10 questions to see what loans you qualify for — you don’t even need to enter your Social Security number. You do need to give AmONE a real phone number in order to qualify, but don’t worry — they won’t spam you with phone calls.
3️⃣ Get Paid Up to $140/Month Just for Sharing Your Honest Opinion
If you’re turning blue in the face waiting for a raise at work, it might be time to quit holding your breath and start speaking your mind to someone who wants to listen.
Brands want to hear your opinion to help inform their business decisions on everything from products and services to logos and ads — and they’re willing to pay you up to $140 a month for it.
A free site called Branded Surveys will pay you up to $5 per survey for sharing your thoughts with their brand partners. Taking three quick surveys a day could earn up to $140 each month.
It takes just a minute to create a free account and start getting paid to speak your mind. Most surveys take five to 15 minutes, and you can check how long they’ll take ahead of time.
And you don’t need to build up tons of money to cash out, either — once you earn $5, you can cash out via PayPal, your bank account, a gift card or Amazon. You’ll get paid within 48 hours of your payout being processed, just for sharing your opinions.
They’ve already paid users more than $20 million since 2012, and the most active users can earn a few hundred dollars a month. Plus, they’ve got an “excellent” rating on Trustpilot.
It takes just a minute to set up your account and start getting paid to take surveys. Plus, right now, you’ll get a free 100-point welcome bonus just for becoming part of the community.
4️⃣ Home: Get a Rate as Low as 6.88% on a Home Equity Loan
Sometimes, we just need a little extra cash. Whether it’s for pending home repairs, mounting bills, or a major purchase on the way— it’s important to find your best deal with the right lender.
That’s where LendingTree comes in.
Forget about walking into a bank with your hat in hand; you can compare home equity rates from multiple lenders directly on their website. Just remember that LendingTree isn’t a bank and can’t guarantee loan approvals, but they can help you find your best rate from among their many FDIC-insured partners.
To be considered for any loan on their website, typically, you’ll need at least a 620 FICO score and a DTI (debt-to-income) ratio of less than 43%. Some loans may offer higher interest rates than others.
Don’t just accept any old interest rate…find the one that works best for your budget and situation. Compare Home Equity Rates in minutes on LendingTree’s network.
5️⃣ Credit Cards: Slash Your Credit Card Debt — Unlock No Interest Payments Into 2027
Struggling with credit card debt? You’re likely also dealing with high-interest charges that can significantly impact your financial situation — it’s a tough problem to sort out.
But where to even start?
If you have good to excellent credit, switching to one of these top-tier 0% intro APR cards from Motley Fool Money’s carefully curated list could help you consolidate payments and cut your interest for nearly two years. You could not only fast-track your debt repayment but also save thousands in interest.
Motley Fool is picky, meaning they’ll only highlight cards that really stretch your dollar and cut down on costs. Plus, they break down everything you need to know: from intro-rate deals and welcome bonuses to rewards and fees — no surprises, just clear info.
So if you’re looking for a financial lifeline without the drag of accumulating interest, check out Motley Fool’s list of best cards with 0% Intro APR offers, and wave goodbye to interest until 2027.
6️⃣ Movies: Get Paid $225/Month While Watching Movie Previews
If we told you that you could get paid while watching videos on your computer, you’d probably laugh.
It’s too good to be true, right?
But we’re serious. By signing up for a free account with InboxDollars, you could add up to $225 a month to your pocket. They’ll send you short surveys every day, which you can fill out while you watch someone bake brownies or catch up on the latest Kardashian drama.
No, InboxDollars won’t replace your full-time job, but it’s something easy you can do while you’re already on the couch tonight, wasting time on your phone.
Unlike other sites, InboxDollars pays you in cash — no points or gift cards. It’s already paid its users more than $56 million.
It takes about one minute to sign up, and you’ll immediately get a $5 bonus to get you started.
7️⃣ Debt: Ask This Company to Get a Big Chunk of Your Debt Forgiven
Life gets expensive, and sometimes credit cards become a lifeline. If you’re feeling weighed down by debt, National Debt Relief can help lighten the load for you.
If you have $15,000 or more in unsecured debt, their team of Certified Debt Specialists will work with your creditors to lower what you owe and set up a plan that fits your budget. No stress, no guesswork—just a clear path forward.
Most clients wrap up their debt in just 12 to 48 months. A free consultation is all it takes to start taking control of your financial future. Why wait? Get started today.
