11 Surprising Ways Your Cash Goes Down the Drain

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Have you ever felt like your money just seems to vanish into thin air? You’re not alone. In today’s fast-paced world, it’s all too easy for our hard-earned cash to slip through the cracks without us even realizing it.

But don’t lose hope. In the following article, we’ll uncover surprising ways your money might be disappearing without you noticing — and more importantly, show you how to plug those leaks and keep your finances on track. Get ready to take control of your cash and start saving like a pro!

Not all these tips may work for you, but some definitely will, so be sure to read them all.

1. Not diversifying your investments

If a large part of your savings is in the stock market — as it should be — you’re well aware that what goes up can also go down. You can’t control the market, but you can hedge against uncertainty by having other forms of wealth.

One of the best ways to protect your savings is diversification. Keep money in different types of investments, ideally ones that go up when others are going down. For example, stocks tend to do poorly when inflation and interest rates are rising and there’s political turmoil brewing.

But there’s one investment that thrives in this scenario: gold.

Be careful who you deal with, though. Some companies in the gold business are shady and won’t hesitate to sell you gold and silver at vastly inflated prices.

Priority Gold is a great company to explore. It has an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau, an AAA rating from Business Consumer Alliance, and a 5 star rating with TrustLink. They offer just about everything, from precious-metal IRAs to gold coins, gold bars & silver.

The company has even gotten a stamp of approval from American commentator, author, TV and radio host Lou Dobbs: “There’s a reason that Priority Gold is ‘America’s Precious Metals Dealer.’ They’re an A+ rated company and committed to complete customer satisfaction.”

You’ll even receive up to $10,000 in free gold credit on qualifying purchases. If you’ve ever thought about investing in gold, why not take a look?

2. Thinking you’re an investing expert

To properly manage your money, work with a professional — it’s totally worth it. If you’re not doing this, you could be missing out on some serious financial gains.

A Vanguard study found that, on average, a hypothetical $500,000 investment over 25 years would grow to $1.7 million if you manage it yourself, but more than $3.4 million if you work with a financial advisor. That’s twice as much!

If you’ve got at least $100,000 in investments, check out a free service called SmartAsset. You fill out a short questionnaire and instantly get matched with up to three vetted financial advisors in your area, all legally bound to work in your best interests.

Even if you don’t want help picking investments, an advisor can help lower your tax burden, create a comprehensive financial plan, maximize your Social Security, help with estate planning and making sure you’re on the right track. They can also be there in case one day, you’re not.

Using SmartAsset only takes a few minutes, and in many cases you’ll be offered a free consultation.

Nothing to lose and lots to potentially gain. Take a minute and check it out right now!

Please carefully review the methodologies employed in the Vanguard white paper, “Putting a value on your value: Quantifying Vanguard Advisor’s Alpha.”

3. Letting your debt spiral out of control

Worrying about debt is probably the worst way you can spend your time, and paying interest and late fees is the worst way you can spend your money.

If you’ve got a problem, the sooner you deal with it, the better.

National Debt Relief is one of the most respected providers of debt relief in the U.S.

They’ve helped more than 500,000 people, are A+ rated by the Better Business Bureau and also are top-rated by Top Consumer Reviews, Top Ten Reviews, ConsumersAdvocate.org and ConsumerAffairs.

You simply fill out a form on the company website, then a debt coach will call you to learn more about your situation. If they can help you, they’ll set you up with an affordable plan that works for you — and give you an estimate of when you can expect to be debt-free. There’s no upfront fee and no obligation to get started.

National Debt Relief can help you with almost any unsecured debt, like credit cards, personal loans, medical bills, repossessions … even some student loan debt. Ready to start a new, happier chapter of your life? Don’t wait another minute. Check them out right now.

4. Not leaving your family $2 million richer

A tale of life insurance: Meet Aaron and Amy, a two-income couple raising a couple of kids.

One day it occurred to Amy: Our lives are great, but what if something happens to either or both of us? They could barely stay afloat with both of their incomes, much less achieve their financial goals — not the least of which was putting the kids through college.

Aaron and Amy started reading up on life insurance and discovered a solution that blew them away: 2-million-dollar life insurance policies start as low as $2/day*. That’s less than what they pay for their daily lattes.

Amy and Aaron now sleep a lot easier, knowing that, if worse comes to worst, the family may not have to stress over bills, mortgages, or living expenses.

*This is a fictional anecdote. Ethos is an insurance provider seeking to help individuals over the age of 35 secure their future.

5. Not anticipating big-ticket expenses

The cost of car repairs is skyrocketing. One shop told Consumer Reports that a decade ago, their average repair was $1,600. These days, the average bill is $4,000.

If you’re concerned about coming up with thousands of dollars for a repair bill, protect your investment with a CarShield auto warranty.

CarShield provides extended warranty plans of up to 24 months, and allows you to choose from at least six different plans, so you’ll only pay for the coverage you need. They cover cars up to 20 years old and offer flexible month-to-month plans so you’re not locked in for years.

CarShield has a network of thousands of ASE-certified repair shops, and they pay the repair bill. All you cover is the deductible. All their warranties include 24/7 roadside assistance and rental car benefits while your vehicle is being repaired.

ConsumerAffairs calls CarShield “a solid choice” for drivers of any age, and “particularly appealing” for those with older vehicles.

Take a minute right now and get a quote.

6. Not protecting your home from costly surprises

Home repairs aren’t cheap. Whether it’s a leaky roof or a broken appliance, your castle can quickly crumble and cost you hundreds, or even thousands.

Unless, that is, a home warranty company has your back. Example? First American will protect you from giant bills by covering everything from home appliances to electrical, plumbing, heating and cooling systems — even pools and spa equipment.

They also allow you to customize your plan, so you only pay for what you need.

When something goes wrong, just call First American, day or night. The company has a network of prescreened technicians and typically dispatches an independent contractor within 48 hours.

Hey, if you’re handy and like to repair stuff yourself, that’s obviously the cheapest route. But if that’s not you, a penny spent now could save you big bucks later.

Get your free quote in 30 seconds.

7. Paying full price for everything

Are you over 18? Then you’re eligible to save hundreds of dollars every year simply by joining AARP.

“What?” you say. “I thought AARP was for retired people.”

As it turns out, you don’t have to be 50 or older to join AARP. And members get discounts on hundreds of things, like:

  • Up to $200 per person off flights
  • Up to 30% off rental cars
  • Up to 15% off restaurants
  • Up to 20% off hotels

You’ll also save on eyeglasses, prescriptions, meal deliveries and lots more. And that’s not all. AARP offers a Fraud Watch Network, job listings, retirement planning tools, games, and tons of information, programs and resources.

Anyone trying to save money can’t afford not to join AARP, especially since the cost is as low as $12 per year with auto-renewal. You’ll likely recoup the cost in the first week. Click here and check it out.

8. Not saving $610+ on your car insurance

If you’re like most Americans, you’re probably paying too much for car insurance. But shopping around for a better deal is such a hassle.

Well, it used to be.

Now you can just check out Provide Insurance, the largest online marketplace for insurance in the U.S. Provide Insurance lets you compare quotes from more than 175 different carriers in minutes.

All you have to do is answer a few questions about yourself and your driving history. Then Provide will show you the best options for your needs and budget.

You could save up to $610 a year on car insurance by using Provide Insurance. That’s money you could use for other things, like investing, saving or paying off debt.

Don’t let your current insurer overcharge you. Try Provide Insurance today and see how much you can save on car insurance.

9. Not saving up to $600/year on your phone bill

You can’t survive these days without a smartphone. But what’s not so smart is paying big money to the heavily advertised companies you see on TV.

Finding a more affordable mobile provider could save you hundreds every year. And there are plenty of companies offering premium features without the outrageous price tag. You can find plans for as little as $5 a month.

One example: With Tello Mobile you get T-Mobile’s reliable 5G network, generous data, international texting, unlimited US calling, eSIM support, and hotspot access for as little as $5.

Switching is faster and easier than you think, and the savings are huge. So stop financing some CEO’s third vacation home and check out Tello today!

Bonus: Tello just upgraded their phone plans, increasing the data and decreasing their prices. You can get Unlimited for $25/month. It comes with 35GB of high-speed data and 5GB of free hotspot.

If you’re unwilling to switch, at least study your bill and see if you can cut out unneeded lines, downsize your data plan, or drop the insurance if you have an older phone.

10. Earning less than you could

It’s this simple: If you’ve got savings in a traditional bank savings account, you’re throwing money away.

In just a few minutes, you could move those savings to a financial technology company, like Upgrade, and earn tons more interest with no additional risk.

Upgrade’s FDIC or NCUA-insured Premier Savings account is currently offering 5.21% Annual Percentage Yield (APY) – nearly 12 times the national average. And all you have to do to earn that high rate is take a few minutes to move some money and maintain a minimum balance of $1,000.

If you move $100,000 from a low-interest account to Upgrade’s Premier Savings, you could earn an extra $5,000 every year. No additional risk, five grand more: all financial decisions should be this easy.

If you’re OK with earning basically nothing on your savings, go ahead and stick with your big bank. But if you want your money to work as hard for you as you do for it, make a move. Take a few minutes right now and check out Upgrade. You’ll be a little richer for it.

11. Not cashing in on your gaming skills

Lots of companies let you earn money by filling out surveys, completing tasks, signing up for stuff, or playing games.

But FreeCash is in a league of its own.

FreeCash boasts the fastest payouts (we’re talking instant!), with minimum withdrawals as low as $5. Plus, you can cash out with PayPal, crypto, gift cards — the choice is yours. FreeCash users have already earned more than $71,000,000!

So try FreeCash. It’s the fast, fun way to earn real cash. Don’t waste another minute — Freecash is waiting!

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