11 Dumbest Things Smart People Waste Money On

Car Insurance: Cancel your car insurance

Driving without car insurance is illegal, but if you do this, you’re not actually breaking the law.

This tool can help you see if you’re overpaying for car insurance in just a few clicks. You’d be shocked by the difference. $159 per month is what they wanted to charge me. I thought that was the best price, don’t even look anywhere else. Right? Wrong.

I used Insurify and now I’m able to pay just $51 a month for two cars.¹ <p>Actual savings and coverage options vary based on factors such as driving history, location, and insurer policies. The rates shown in this example may not reflect what every user will qualify for.</p> Too many insurance companies do this. They push up our rates and make us pay even more. But if you want to try this tool and compare and potentially score same-day savings, here’s what to do:

1. Click the link below and enter your zip code, date of birth, and phone number.
2. Answer a few questions about your car’s make and model to get matched with top offers.
3. Choose the best quote for you and lock it in before rates go up.

Compare rates now and see if you could score same-day savings today!

I can hardly believe I waited so long to do this, but I’m glad I finally did. It only took me two minutes. Super fast. You have to trust me on this. Just try it out.

Credit Card Debt: Transfer your balance and pay no interest for 21 months from date of account opening (yes, it is kind of remarkable)

Imagine getting a 0% intro APR for 21 months from date of account opening 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 low-interest cards - the Citi Simplicity^® Card - and pay no interest until 2027 on balance transfers!

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 high-interest debt to this card with a 0% intro APR for 21 months from date of account opening 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? The Citi Simplicity^® Card is accepted by 99% of merchants, boasts no late fees, and has no annual fee.

Recommended Credit Score FinanceBuzz credit ranges are a variation of FICO®️ scores, one of many types of credit score lenders may use when considering your credit card application.

Good

670-739

Excellent

740-850

Click here to apply now for the Citi Simplicity^® Card(Rates and fees)

Home Equity: Access a credit limit from $5,000-$250,000 (without touching your mortgage)

If you need cash, you do not need a cash advance or personal loan — get a HELOC instead.

Access the equity in your home with Aven for a fraction of the time and cost of a traditional HELOC. With a 100% online process, you could get approved in as fast as 15 minutes and access funds as soon as 3 business days after closing!

The best part? The Aven HELOC gives you options. Access cash upfront with a full draw at a low fixed rate APR or use a standard revolving credit line with a variable APR.² <p>The annual percentage rate (“APR”) is the cost of credit as a yearly rate and does not include costs other than interest. The APR is a variable rate based on the Wall Street Journal prime rate (“Index”) published by the Wall Street Journal in its Money Rates section. The WSJ Prime Rate as of Jan 10th, 2025 EST is 7.50%. Your variable APR is based on the Index plus a margin that takes into account your creditworthiness, collateral value, etc. Your APR is subject to change as allowed by applicable law. Best rates available only to the highest-qualified borrowers. The maximum APR will not exceed 18% during the life of your account. Cash Out (draw to bank account) fee and Balance Transfer fee is 0% of amount transferred. This fee is subject to change. The county where your property is located may charge recording fees. If your line is greater than $25,000, you are responsible for paying these costs. These costs will be placed in a 12-month interest free, fixed term loan and be part of your Minimum Payment Due.</p> <p>Cash back available to those who enroll in AutoPay, refer to <a href="https://www.aven.com/docs/AutoPayAgreement.pdf">AutoPay Terms & Conditions</a>. Cash back applies to valid purchases (not on refunds or returns) made using the Aven card, and does not apply to non-card transactions, including balance transfers, cash-outs, or reward redemptions. Cash back is accumulated as points and redeemable as statement credit. Refer to <a href="https://www.aven.com/public/docs/CashbackTerms/post2025MarFixedTermWithFirstDrawFeeAndPRPPAndShadowLimit">Rewards Terms & Conditions</a>.</p> <p>If you have an existing second lien (“Second Lien”) on your subject property, you acknowledge and agree that we may transfer your application to our refinance product (subject in all cases to credit approval). The refinance product may have different terms and conditions than the initial product you applied for. Please review the Early HELOC Disclosure for more information.</p> <p>Our APR is 6.99-15.49% for primary residences. The average for other cards in the US for people with good credit is over 24% APR. Source: "Average Credit Card Interest Rates" <a href="https://wallethub.com/edu/cc/average-credit-card-interest-rate/50841">wallethub.com</a> on Jan 15, 2024 showing the average rate for credit cards in the US for people with good credit is 24.10% APR.</p> <p>If you have an active HELOC agreement or offer within the last 30 days that demonstrates a lower cost than ours, we’ll beat the offer or send you $100. Introductory, temporary, and promotional offers do not apply toward our guarantee. Only valid for new customers who received this specific offer. We reserve the right to change the terms of the guarantee at any time. <a href="https://www.aven.com/public/docs/HelocGuaranteedLowestCost/post2025MarFixedTermWithFirstDrawFeeAndPRPPAndShadowLimit">Guarantee Terms and Conditions</a>.</p> <p>Our fixed monthly payment option (Aven Simple Loan) is available based on your Var APR plus fees not exceeding the High Cost Mortgage threshold set by law. Your rate will not increase while the Aven Simple Loan plan is open.</p> <p>Subject to Credit Approval, including use of data reports from Experian, Equifax and Transunion. Limit of one Account per property. Certain terms and conditions may apply. Terms may vary by applicant and are subject to change. Availability limited to certain states. See <a href="https://www.aven.com/licenses">aven.com/licenses</a> for more details. Not available for multi-unit homes. Requires a lien on your property. Flood insurance may be required if your property is located in a flood zone. Not available for home purchase. If you have an existing second lien (“Second Lien”) on your subject property, you acknowledge and agree that we may transfer your application to our refinance product (subject in all cases to credit approval). The refinance product may have different terms and conditions than the initial product you applied for. Please review the Early HELOC Disclosure for more information.</p> <p>Note for customers in AK, AL, IA, KS, KY, LA, MN, MS, NE, OK, OR, PA, UT, WI and WY: We currently only offer lines up to $100,000. Check back soon for higher line sizes.</p> <p><a href="https://www.aven.com/docs/SpanishDisclosure.pdf">Notice to Consumers about all Languages. Para Español, consulte este documento</a>.</p> <p>Aven cards are arranged by Aven Financial, Inc., dba "Aven" or "AvenCard" (in AR, ID, and PA). NMLS #2042345. See <a href="https://www.aven.com/licenses">aven.com/licenses</a> for state specific details. Aven reserves the right to modify or discontinue its products or offerings at any time without notice.</p> <p>Aven Visa Credit Cards are issued by Coastal Community Bank, pursuant to a license from Visa U.S.A., Inc. Aven accounts are made by Coastal Community Bank, Member FDIC. Equal Housing Lender. NMLS #462289 (NMLS Consumer Access Page). For additional information or complaints to Coastal Community Bank, visit <a href="https://www.federalreserveconsumerhelp.gov">www.federalreserveconsumerhelp.gov</a>.</p> Repay that full draw with a fixed monthly payment that works for your budget.

How to get started:

1. Visit Aven and provide a few pieces of information.
2. Check your offer with no impact on your credit score.
3. Accept your personalized rate.
4. Close 100% online with a digital notarization flow.

700+ Credit Score: Check your offer for $0

Leaving Cash on the Table: Earn a $300 bonus offer when you open and fund this powerful account

We hate to tell you this, really. But if you aren’t using Bank of America Advantage Banking, you could be missing out on extra cash. Don’t worry though … it's easy to fix.

Earn a $300 bonus when you open an account through the Bank of America promotional page. This offer is available online only and may not be available if you leave this page, visit bankofamerica.com, visit a Bank of America Financial center, or if you call the bank. See offer page for more details. Bank of America, N.A. Member FDIC.

Besides potentially earning a nice bonus, you’ll also get access to Bank of America’s highly-rated mobile apps, thousands of ATMs and financial centers, 24/7 security with Total Security Protection® and fraud monitoring, and much more.

This is practically passive income and a great way to supercharge your earnings. Hurry, this is a limited-time offer and is only valid through 5/31/2025.

Open a Bank of America Advantage Banking account here

Home Repairs: Don't let home repairs drain your bank account

Did you know if your air conditioner stops working, your homeowner’s insurance won’t cover it? Same with plumbing, electrical issues, appliances, and more. Not being able to make repairs could leave you in a bad situation — but a home warranty could protect you against surprise expenses.³ <p>Limitations and Exclusions Apply</p>

Whether you’re a brand-new homeowner or you’ve owned your home for years, a plan from Choice Home Warranty could pick up the slack where homeowner’s insurance falls short.

If a covered system in your home breaks down, you can call their hotline 24/7 for assistance to get it repaired. They have a network of over 15,000 technicians that can assist you, making sure any issue can be taken care of swiftly — without breaking the bank.

Not sure if it’s for you? Rest easy: they were named one of the "Best Home Warranty Companies" by US News 360 Reviews and were awarded Best Company's 2020 Consumer's Choice Award. For a limited time, you can get your first month free when you sign up for a Single Payment home warranty plan.

Get a free quote

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

High-Interest Debt: 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 $20,000 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!⁴ <p>Clients who are able to stay with the program and get all their debt settled realize approximate savings of 46% before fees, or 25% including our fees, over 12 to 48 months. All claims are based on enrolled debts. Not all debts are eligible for enrollment. Not all clients complete our program for various reasons, including their ability to save sufficient funds. Estimates based on prior results, which will vary based on specific circumstances. We do not guarantee that your debts will be lowered by a specific amount or percentage or that you will be debt-free within a specific period of time. We do not assume consumer debt, make monthly payments to creditors or provide tax, bankruptcy, accounting or legal advice or credit repair services. Not available in all states. Please contact a tax professional to discuss tax consequences of settlement. Please consult with a bankruptcy attorney for more information on bankruptcy. Depending on your state, we may be available to recommend a local tax professional and/or bankruptcy attorney. Read and understand all program materials prior to enrollment, including potential adverse impact on credit rating.</p>

Try National Debt Relief

Restaurants & Meal Delivery: Take advantage of massive discounts at restaurants (you don’t even have to be 50 to join!)

Over 50? Join AARP today — because if you’re not a member you could be missing out on huge perks. When you start your membership today, you can get discounts on:

• Restaurants (save up to $450 per year!)
• Meal deliveries
• Airfare, Hotels, Cruises and Rental Cars
• Eyeglasses and even prescriptions that aren’t covered by insurance

Plus you’ll also get insider info on social security, job listings, caregiving, and retirement planning.

How to become a member today:

• Click the link below, select your free gift, and click “Join Today”
• Create your account (important!) by answering a few simple questions
• Start enjoying your discounts and perks!

Get 25% off your AARP membership, making it just $15 the first year with auto-renewal

Tax Debt: Ask this company to pay off your late tax debt

Past-due tax debt is overwhelming.

It weighs on your mind and causes massive anxiety. You end up emotionally and physically drained. Even worse when the IRS starts sending letters threatening wage garnishment and huge fines.

Tax Relief Advocates is designed specifically to help you get out of tax debt faster and could even eliminate or reduce some of the debt you owe.

While most tax companies just put you on a payment plan and file your taxes for you, Tax Relief Advocates 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

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

Paid Non-Client Promotion

FinanceBuzz doesn’t invest its money with this provider, but they are our referral partner. We get paid by them only if you click to them from our website and take a qualifying action (for example, opening an account.)

Auto Insurance: This company could help put up to $1,025 back in your pocket

We could all use some extra cash these days. And with this company, getting it couldn’t be any easier. You hardly have to do any work.

Insurify is a company that could help you save up to $1,025⁵ <p>Average potential savings based on initial quotes received by 183,234 customers seeking insurance through Insurify. Actual savings may vary depending on state of residence, individual circumstances, coverage selections, and insurance provider. Savings results are not guaranteed</p> on your annual car insurance premiums. Their job is to connect you with insurance companies to beat your current rate or coverage. No catch, and no hidden fees.

It only takes about a minute or two. Enter a little bit of info like your zip code and year, make, and model, and then get as much as $1,025 back in your pocket.

They work with 100+ insurance companies so you know you’ll get a good rate. And they have 4.8/5 stars from 3,000 verified reviews. Even better, Insurify does not sell your information to spammers, and there are no annoying calls or texts.

Compare rates today and claim potentially instant savings of up to $1,025!

Identity Theft: In 2023 Americans lost over $10 billion to identity theft and fraud

That's right. According to the FTC, Americans lost over $10 Billion to fraud and identity theft in 2023.

But you can safeguard your data with all-in-one identity theft protection services from Aura which comes with $1,000,000.00 in identity theft insurance⁶ <p>Identity Theft Insurance underwritten by insurance company subsidiaries or affiliates of American International Group‚ Inc. The description herein is a summary and intended for informational purposes only and does not include all terms‚ conditions and exclusions of the policies described. Please refer to the actual policies for terms‚ conditions‚ and exclusions of coverage. Coverage may not be available in all jurisdictions.</p> per adult, to cover you should you have eligible identity theft-related losses.

An individual plan starts at $9 per month, and you can choose a family plan that outmatches most others - includes Dark Web monitoring to scour data breaches and leaks for your sensitive personal data — such as Social Security numbers (SSN), Medicare information, and phone numbers.

Before you make your next online purchase, protect what you’ve built for a fraction of what it could cost you if your data were compromised.

Save up to 68% when you sign up for protection today!

Weight Loss: Lock in up to an 80% discount on weight loss meds today

If you’re finally ready to lose weight, FDA-approved GLP-1 meds burn fat fast — and this company we found called MyStart gets them to you faster and 80% cheaper! That means you could get this life-changing medication for up to $1,000s cheaper.

It might sound crazy, but MyStart is a trusted company that operates on a cash-only basis and does NOT accept insurance. (You can still pay via credit card.) It’s how they can slash up to 80% off the typical cost of medications like Ozempic.

Here’s how to save up to $1,000s on weight loss meds starting today:

1. Answer a few questions here about your weight loss goals.
2. Place your order online, then connect with your doctor to get a prescription.
3. The medication is shipped to your door in as little as 24 hours!

The price of GLP-1s can be as high as $1,349 per month. But with MyStart, the cost of medication and ongoing care will never increase from the initial monthly payment of $297 or $449, even if your dosage increases in subsequent months.

Get started here for just $7.40/day

Overpaying for Budgeting Apps: Get the only budgeting app you'll ever need

Ever look at your bank account and wonder where your paycheck went? *Poof,* it's gone … and you have NO idea how you spent it all so quickly.

An app like WalletHub could end this problem for you. WalletHub’s budgeting app does it all — from fully customizable tools to being able to pick your favorite way to budget.

WalletHub costs $3.99/month right now. Which is crazy, because that’s less than half the cost of other similar services. Subscribe, and you’ll unlock suggestions on where you could be saving even more money and the ability to cancel unwanted subscriptions.

You’ll even get timely alerts on suspicious transactions, so you can act on them as soon as possible — and save yourself even more extra cash.

Sign up for WalletHub for only $3.99/month

Overpaying for ED Meds: Get ED meds as low as $16/month

The cost of name brand ED meds like Viagra can be as high as $3,000 a month without insurance. Ouch. But this company we found makes it easy for you to get practically the exact same medication — for as low as $16 per month.That’s 99% cheaper!

Hims does not accept insurance and operates on a “cash pay” basis, which is how they keep costs so low. (You can still pay via credit card.) Pharmacies are FDA-regulated, ingredients are U.S.-sourced, and the company is trusted by over 2 million subscribers.

To get started: Take a short assessment to get matched with the right medication for your needs. It takes about 60 seconds. No in-person visits needed, insurance is not required, and medications are prescribed by licensed doctors. Shipping is also free and discreet on any prescription.

Get ED meds here for as low as $16/month

Alert: Roughly 815,400 burglaries were reported in the United States in 2023

Seems like nothing is safe these days. Even worse, the average home burglary loss has been estimated recently by the FBI to be around $2,661.

But now you can protect your home and everything in it with a smart security system from Vivint. Break-ins, package theft, and emergencies are extremely common — even in “safe” neighborhoods. Vivint detects threats, deters intruders, and connects you to help instantly.

Here’s how to protect your home:

1. Enter your information here, and wait for the call from Vivint. (Or, call them yourself if you need this ASAP.)
2. Customize a system that fits your home and lock in a free quote.
3. Schedule installation!

Plus, act now and get a FREE $50 Visa Gift Card + Professional Installation.⁷ <p>With system purchase</p> Just use the code BUZZFREE. Data suggests not having a system like this increases the chance of a burglary by 300%. Don’t delay — get protected today.

Get a FREE $50 Visa gift card + professional installation with a Vivint system

BONUS: Travel more in 2025 with this incredible travel credit card and pay no interest into 2026!

2025 could be the year you finally travel to the exotic destinations you've long dreamed of. And you could do it all without paying interest for a long time, thanks to the Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card(Rates and fees). 

This card is a powerhouse that supercharges your hard-earned spending. Become a Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card cardholder, and you can earn a bonus of 20,000 miles once you spend $500 on purchases within 3 months from account opening ... all with a $0 annual fee. 

This card also offers an additional benefit of an extended intro APR of 0% for 15 months on purchases and balance transfers (then 19.24% - 29.24% (Variable), balance transfer fee applies). Apply, spend, travel, and enjoy the extended intro APR. 

Recommended Credit 670+: Click here to apply now for the Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card