Common ways we waste money...

• Gambling. When you spend $20 in 5 seconds with nothing to show for it, you do not look cool.
  
• Shopping hungry. Everything looks delicious and necessary. Do you really need zebra cakes and caviar? Didn’t think so.
• Buying books, audio books, music, and movies. Go to the library, ya goof! It’s all free!
• Buying more food than you need, shoving it to the back of the refrigerator and never using it. Food is expensive! Do as the Europeans do and shop more frequently. You’ll get fresher items and you’ll be sure to use them.
• Ignoring special offers and coupons. I used to think coupons were time consuming and nerdy. Be that as it may, you can save a BUNDLE by doing a little clipping. Worth it.
• Not paying off the balance of your credit card in full each month. I once had a 28% interest credit card with a consistent balance. Retrospectively, it makes me hate myself.
• Not reading contracts. The fine print often includes a bold amount of fees and conditions. Know what you’re getting into before you sign. Legal binding can cause quite a rash.
• Having more cash on-hand than you need. You don’t need to have a reason; that $50 wants to get SPENT!
• Impulse buys. The volume of ugly/poorly fitting clothes I’ve donated with tags still on is shameful.
• Paying bills late. Between the late fees and the interest hikes, there’s no way this is worth it. Set up online bill pay and pay attention to reality.
• Not comparing prices. I once bought a TV and saw it for $300 less the next day. Did I return it? Course not! That thing is heavy!
• Buying refreshments at the movies. $18 for 2 Cokes and a medium popcorn? Are you freakin’ kidding? Use that money to buy a bigger purse or some cargo pants.
• Impulse buys on iTunes. Instant gratification, yes, but the bill will come eventually!
• Not taking advantage of your company’s 401k match. Do you really NOT want free money? Seriously.
• Buying memberships you won’t consistently use. If you’re seriously committed to working out, get a gym membership; if you’ve had 8 diets and 3 workouts in the past year, consider starting with daily outdoor walks and gym day-passes until your routine is set.
• Smoking. A pack a day adds up to $2,000/year. Plus you’re killing yourself. Stop that.
• Looking at your coffee machine at home, ignoring it, and spending $5 on a frothy café rip-off instead. You can make delicious, lower fat, lower sugar concoctions at home and it’ll almost always cost you less than $1.
• Throwing away leftovers. I don’t know why you’d do this. Leftovers are (generally) delicious, free, and… well… there. What’s the issue?
• Buying bottled water. Oh yeah? You’re too good for the tap? Get a filter! Too good for a filter?? Well then you can apologize to the environment personally. I want no part in it.
• Buying high-octane gas. Modern computer-controlled cars will alter ignition and timing profiles to allow the use of low-grade gas. Let them do their thing!!
• Getting traffic tickets! Just abide the law, dude. It’s way cheaper and you won’t endanger yourself, young children, the elderly, and small woodland creatures. All good things.
• Not looking into questionable charges or bills. Identity theft is unpleasant, but the sooner you deal with it, the better the outcome. Same concept as just about every other difficult thing in life.
• Not turning off the lights or appliances. Another one that is good for your savings account as well as the environment. Life isn’t jam-packed with win-win situations. When you find them, take them.