Interesting About Things Poor People Waste Money On
By celticeagle
@celticeagle (189820)
Boise, Idaho
March 1, 2025 5:15pm CST
My daughter, grandson, and I live on a shoestring. We pay our bills monthly and have a little to eat about a few times during the month. We don't go out to movies or the arcade or anything else entertainment-wise so we feel fine and justifiable about dinner out four or five times a month. We all are foodies! So I am reading this like a quiz. Check it out and see how many yeses you have. I'll show you mine at the bottom.
So I am reading this article on "15 Things Broke People Waste Money On". Here's the list it gives:
* Unused Subscription Services. (I have 4 subscriptions and I am a TV junkie so it could be worse.)
* Late fees. (Nope. That doesn't happen)
* Account maintenance fees. (No. I have a senior bank account with no fees.)
* Credit card interest. ( I try to pay up my balance each month so there's not much.)
* Instant transfers. (No. I have PayPal and never have any fees for transfers. I get money each time I use it.)
* Government fines. (I don't drive or go out so that doesn't happen.)
* Neglected Car Repairs. ( Never happened even when I had a car.)
* Sports betting. (Never.)
* Cigarettes. (She doesn't buy them anymore. They are up to about $7.50 a pack now.)
* Lottery Tickets ( People spent nearly $98 Billion on them in 2022.)(I do buy them occasionally.)
* Convenience Store Purchases ( Occasionally. Not often)
* Brand Name Products. ( Somethings. Store brands usually have the same ingredients.)
* Impulse Buys ( Not anymore. I plan ahead.)
* Fast Food and Takeout ( Yes, indeed. I admit to it.)
* Overdraft Fees. (Nope. Never happens.)
So, out of 15 I Had 4. What is your number?
9 people like this
7 responses
@noni1959 (13035)
• United States
2 Mar 25
A few are iffy and within reason for me. Convenience stores where I live have specials cheaper than the high priced IGA. Mostly on milk my granddaughters drink a lot of. Might do an impulse but it's never something just because. Might be I found Gr Beef on a major sale and wasn't planned. Lotto ticket maybe once every two months when very high. I'll do fast food about once every two weeks with my son when traveling to the town we are building a house in. Easy Taco Bell value menu. Once in awhile Dutch Bros or Starbucks, depending if have a gift card or I add a gift card I cashed points out for. I use some name brands than than store. The Walmart brand packaged veggies don't last to the expiration dates vs name brand like Taylor Made. Looks like 5. Edited to comment: what one may seem wasteful, is not to another. I do agree smoking, overdraft, unused subscriptions are wasteful. Though, smokers will tell you otherwise and that is their choice. Sometimes, one may need the money fast so do the transfer fee. I haven't but it can happen.
3 people like this
@BarBaraPrz (51811)
• St. Catharines, Ontario
2 Mar 25
I occassionally buy a scratch ticket and fast food. I don't think of either as wasting money. Scratching all the boxes on the ticket keeps me entertained for a few minutes, and of course fast food is still food that I don't have to prepare myself.
3 people like this
@celticeagle (189820)
• Boise, Idaho
3 Mar 25
More entertainment than wasting the money. I get it.
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (169448)
• United States
2 Mar 25
Impulsive grocery buys, I rationalize it as food and we need to eat, but we could do better. Occasional food out, especially if we have out of town appointments. Convenience stores. . . again for a quick meal or snack if traveling. So that is three.
2 people like this
@DaddyEvil (174298)
• United States
1 Mar 25
Just one. We're saving up the money right now to get the car repaired.
1 person likes this
@celticeagle (189820)
• Boise, Idaho
3 Mar 25
I wish I could save. It always seems to go to something during the month.
1 person likes this
@DaddyEvil (174298)
• United States
3 Mar 25
@celticeagle It's hard for us to save up money... We only have Pretty's income and it just barely pays more than the amount we need for our bills. Believe me, I understand.
1 person likes this
@celticeagle (189820)
• Boise, Idaho
4 Mar 25
@DaddyEvil .......I know you have it tough too. I feel fortunate to have this site and some surveys I do that bring in a bit. Every little bit helps.
1 person likes this
@celticeagle (189820)
• Boise, Idaho
3 Mar 25
You are so goid. I am glad you have none of those.
1 person likes this
@sallypup (69161)
• Centralia, Washington
3 Mar 25
@celticeagle Me, too, come to think of it.
1 person likes this
@celticeagle (189820)
• Boise, Idaho
3 Mar 25
That's true. The only reason my daughter has them is that a guy paid her with them for some work she did. Bartering is always a good way to go.
1 person likes this
@wolfgirl569 (135643)
• Marion, Ohio
2 Mar 25
3 and occasionally 4. We do smoke and order out every Friday. Buy lottery tickets regular. Only 9 dollars a week on that. I do occasionally impulse buy but it's still stuff I will use.
1 person likes this
@celticeagle (189820)
• Boise, Idaho
3 Mar 25
Sounds like us. I do enjoy the thrill of an occasional lottery ticket.
1 person likes this
