Stop Making These 10 Dumb Money Moves

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You’re no dummy, right?

Then you need to stop making dumb money moves. The chances are good that you are making at least a couple.

Read on to learn about some of the dumb, but common, money moves people make every day — and how to avoid them.

1. Carrying a credit card balance when you have money in the bank

Man with credit cards
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Credit cards are powerful tools and can give you some pretty nifty rewards, but it’s dumb, dumb, dumb to carry a balance. It’s even dumber to carry a balance when you have a lot of money in the bank.

Your savings account is making about what, 0.1% interest? And your credit card interest rate is probably at least 10% to 20%, right? It makes no sense to leave money languishing in savings when it could be helping you avoid spending on credit card interest.

Of course, be careful to leave yourself an emergency cushion before tapping those savings.

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2. Going into debt for purchases that lose value

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Buying a house with a mortgage can be a smart financial move under the right circumstances. Why? Because you can often count on the home appreciating (gaining value) over time.

But think about your credit card debt. What did you buy with that money? Do you still have those purchases? If so, could you sell them for what you paid?

Rather than take on debt and outlandish interest payments for items that quickly become worthless, save up and pay cash instead.

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3. Buying new when you could buy used

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Speaking of spending and debt, let’s talk about buying new stuff all the time. This dumb money move can cost you oodles of cash.

Certainly, there are some things we don’t recommend buying used. But for almost everything else, from clothes to cars, you can usually find used versions nearly as good as new but for a fraction of the price.

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4. Spending on stuff you rarely use

A man the cuts grass with a lawnmower
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A lot of hard-earned money flies out the window when we buy new goods that we use just once or twice a year.

A few examples: Power tools for an impulse weekend project, sports equipment and fancy one-use wedding or party outfits. Instead, see if you’re better off renting. Not only may you find that it is cheaper, but you won’t get stuck maintaining and storing your purchases for years on end.

Or, share a purchase with others. See if your neighbors want to go in together on a lawn mower and garden tools. Keep them in a communal shed for all to share.

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5. Forgetting trial subscriptions and returns

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I’ll raise my hand and admit this is a dumb money move I continue to make.

Once, when I was part of a wedding party, I couldn’t make it to a local store to buy some clothes I needed. I ended up purchasing online. Knowing time was short, I bought two sizes with the intention of returning whatever didn’t fit. That sounded good, in theory. In practice, the unneeded item is still sitting in my breezeway, and the return window has closed.

Likewise, it’s easy but expensive to forget to cancel trial subscriptions and other recurring expenses.

Don’t get caught napping. Make a note on your calendar to cancel before charges start and watch for recurring charges on bank and credit card monthly statements. Cancel those you don’t use.

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6. Missing out on a 401(k) match

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One report finds that 1 in 3 workers pass up this free boost to their retirement. An employer’s match is free money that your company will deposit in your retirement account. The catch: You have to put money there, too.

Call your company’s human resources people if you aren’t sure whether your company offers a 401(k) match. That’s also where to learn the minimum amount you must save for retirement to claim your employer’s match.

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7. Forgetting to set up a safety net

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It’s dumb to go through life without a safety net.

You need a Plan B so you can spring into action in case you lose your job, your car engine dies or your child breaks an arm.

One excellent Plan B is money in the bank. It feels great to know you’re covered if something goes wrong.

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8. Paying extra for low deductibles

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Raising the deductibles on your insurance policies is a great way to save some cash.

For one example, the Insurance Information Institute reports that raising your auto insurance deductible from $200 to $500 could save anywhere from 15% to 30% on your premium. Opt for a $1,000 deductible, and you could save 40%.

However, this strategy only works well if you have money in the bank to cover the deductible when you need to make a claim.

Caution: People with chronic or serious health concerns may want to steer clear of medical insurance plans with super high deductibles. In this case, it may be better to pay a higher monthly premium than try to meet a deductible that could — for bronze plans on the government exchange, for instance — be extremely high.

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9. Signing contracts you don’t understand

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I hear about this mistake most often when it comes to mortgages. People agree to adjustable-rate mortgages and then seem surprised when the interest rate goes up. Or, they’re shocked to learn they haven’t made a dent on the principal balance after paying on an interest-only loan for a year.

People also borrow student loans, buy life insurance and investments, and lease vehicles without fully realizing what they’re getting themselves into. The simple fact is that signing contracts you don’t understand can be an expensive mistake.

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10. Living without a money plan

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This bad money move often can be directly or indirectly linked to most other mistakes we describe above.

You may think writing down financial goals and creating a budget is boring, difficult or depressing. Not to mince words, but I think it’s dumb to use those excuses to avoid trying.

If you’re not sure where to start setting goals and budgeting, we’ve got plenty of resources for you at Money Talks News.

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