32 ways you’re wasting your money
Have you neglected rebates? Bought unused Groupons? Missed bill deadlines?
If so, you’re hemorrhaging money. That is, you’re unintentionally spending it on things for which you don’t receive any value. And Kiplinger’s article Stop Wasting Your Money highlights 32 ways to quit.
A sampling of wallet-draining circumstances from the series inlcudes:
- high insurance premiums from speeding tickets
- a sagging credit score
- failure to comparison shop via smartphone apps
- overlooking tax breaks
- high annual credit card fees
What do you think is missing from Kiplinger’s list? What have you found in your own budget that’s draining you of cash?
– By Lauren Davidson, Atlanta Bargain Hunter
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18 comments Add your comment
Emily
April 21st, 2011
11:13 am
Not shopping around for prescriptions can be big, especially if you don’t have insurance or a high-deductible plan. Publix offers some medications like amoxicillin on a free program. But, if you went to CVS you could pay a cash price of $33. If you take simvastatin, it’s only $6.40 at Costco, but it’s over $150 at some other pharmacies. This happens frequently. Even if you think you have good insurance, if you have a prescription for something that’s got a high co-pay on your formulary, then you could wind up paying a high co-pay one place instead of a cheaper cash price somewhere else.
More examples here:
http://www.emilysproject.com/
This site will re-launch in a few weeks as frugalpharmacies.com and a mobile version/ app is in the works.
anthony
April 21st, 2011
1:40 pm
Emily,
Thanks for the link and info
Sigh
April 21st, 2011
1:54 pm
Not everyone has or WANTS a smartphone. You “App” people annoy the crap out of me. And no, not old, 30 years old. You’re just foolish for wasting your money on those pieces of crap. There’s a good start. Get rid of those unneccesary phones you people obviously don’t need.
Grover Gaddis
April 21st, 2011
2:00 pm
I dunno. Let’s see. Well, maybe the $12.00 to $18.00 weekly I spend at Goodwill. I think I could easily cut that a coupla dollars.
the guy on the couch
April 21st, 2011
2:07 pm
Sigh, do you still call the Operator and ask them to connect you?
Grover Gaddis
April 21st, 2011
2:08 pm
Question Emily- Does Costco in Alpharetta give you a choice of paying either $148 or $182 for Lunesta? I think I know which I would choose.
Sigh
April 21st, 2011
2:10 pm
I’m just kidding folks! I love smartphones. My favorite app has great tips for decorating your living space in your parents basement! You should see my place now, really aWeSoMe!
extra heavy sigh
April 21st, 2011
2:19 pm
Sigh,
Tell us about everything else you hate. You seem like a fun person to be around.
DW
April 21st, 2011
3:02 pm
I have to agree on the “smart” phone issue. Why pay for a data plan if it’s not needed? That’s a way to save money!
Greg
April 21st, 2011
3:04 pm
Sigh is right. I have a smartphone. Its great…but really too expensive. I love apps…buy WOW…can the carriers price gouge just a little bit more please!!
Breath of Fresh Air
April 21st, 2011
3:26 pm
If you use the apps on your SmartPhone, the dataplan pays for itself and then some.
By checking in places with Four Square, I usually get at least 10-20% off or free appetizers and with ScoutMob, I get as much as 50% off. Don’t knock it till you try it. It pays for itself!
Breath of Fresh Air
April 21st, 2011
3:28 pm
Oh I forgot to mention the gas I save with the GasBuddy app which finds the gas stations closest to me with the best prices…I usually find gas that’s 20 cents cheaper a gallon!
Dennis
April 21st, 2011
3:37 pm
I am getting a growing sense all that money I give the girls at the PEELED BANANA exotic dance club isn’t helping make them sincerely care more about me.
Pat21
April 21st, 2011
3:39 pm
Spending too much money on Groupon, KGBdeals, Crowd Cut, etc…and never using the certificate because the place you got it for is perpetually overbooked due to the amount of people who bought the coupon.
dmb
April 21st, 2011
3:46 pm
totally agree with Pat21. Scoutmob is much better. Rarely use Groupon any more unless I know it’s something that I will use.
Destin Dawg
April 21st, 2011
4:43 pm
buying used cars for ca$h since 1982…. BMW’s .. mostly.. then kept ‘em at least 5 years.. saved and invested the difference.. $aved Big on insurance.. sales taxes.. that one thing made me a millionaire over 30 years…
lovelyliz
April 21st, 2011
4:53 pm
Buying the paper for the coupons. I can’t remember the last time we bought a paper and got more in usable coupons than was spent on the paper.
Kitty
April 21st, 2011
11:48 pm
Vacation is a BIG waste of money. Spend thousands of dollars in Hawaii for honey moon? Come on, you won’t remember what’s happen there after a few years later. That’s stupid. Invest those vacation money on stock market instead. I love staycation, the most relax way to enjoy my vacation.