20 Ways to Go Broke | brokeGIRLrich
Who says all goals have to be good ones?
- Buy every pair of shoes in Nordstrom.
- Marry a guy (or gal) with $500,000 of debt in student loans.
- Eat at Olive Garden every night for the rest of your life. Mmm… breadsticks.
- Get the cable package with every single channel that’s ever existed.
- Who needs health insurance? And while we’re at it, never go in for a check up either.
- Starbucks. Three times a day.
- Toss those credit card statements right into the trash. Why track where your money goes? Bonus points if you don’t tear them up and someone steals your identity. Double bonus points if you’ve got a nice big balance with a high interest rate.
- Speaking of – overdraft fees. Why worry about your balance when your bank’s got you covered for a measly $35 an overdraft. That $36.29 pack of gum is always worth it.
- The sun is always shining in your world. Never save for a rainy day. Ever.
- Always go with the first company/brand/item you find. Who can be bothered to shop around?
- Life insurance is a scam, so never buy any. Especially if you have children. Or anyone else depending on you. Those urchins can get their shoe shine on if necessary.
- Live in a big city? Become queen of the taxi. Mass transit is for plebeians.
- Get it on with anyone who offers and without any protection.
- Hit the movies frequently. Good thing the price of tickets keep creeping down and concessions are so reasonable. Hahahaha…
- Buy gifts at the last minute. Procrastination pays off.
- Never, ever go to a thrift store. Who would ever be seen in that crap?
- Constantly go over the terms of your phone plan data allotment. That game of QuizUp was totally worth $300 a second, right?
- Smoke.
- Join the gym. Never go.
- Coming up a little short? Payday loan it. Because there’s nothing but great things to be said about payday loans.
What would you add to the list?
*Part of Financially Savvy Saturdays on Femme Frugality and Messy Money*
Thanks for the link!
GREAT list as well – super funny, and super true!
Dave @ The New York Budget recently posted…Thursday Favor
Haha, love it! Especially #19. Join a Gym. Never go 🙂
Stefanie @ The Broke and Beautiful Life recently posted…What Gives Worth vs. What Gives Joy
Ha! Love this list Mel, especially #2, the sexually transmitted debt disease is the worst. It’s almost easier to get rid of a real STD. Thanks for linking to my life insurance post. That was an oldie, but I think goodie. So great to see you last night, definitely get on the kayaking thing soon! 🙂
Shannon @ Financially Blonde recently posted…Top Ten Ways I Relax
“That $36.29 pack of gum is always worth it.” LOL
I’m creeping a little to close for comfort to #19…. ugh It’s been a lazy gym month.
Thanks for the morning laughs!
Kate@GoodnightDebt recently posted…If not paying down debt, then what?
LMAO. Buy all of your grocery items at the gas station or 7-11?
Brian @ Debt Discipline recently posted…Week End Round Up #45
I once did that after our neighborhood grocer closed. Was picking up bread and milk, literally, but even the cashier scolded me for buying it there with their outrageous prices. Fail, fail, fail.
femmefrugality recently posted…My Unconventional Travel Emergency Fund: How I Use Credit Card Rewards Points
Loved #7 and the bonus point! Nice to have met you last night Mel 🙂
Kassandra recently posted…The Rebirth Of Ground Zero
I bet this was fun to put together because not many people think about the ways that drive them to $0 in the bank and in deep debt. I’d probably go broke if I wasn’t using a budget or at least not save as much as I’d like so I’d add that to the list.
canadianbudgetbinder recently posted…Retirement investments revisited: July 2014 Net Worth Update (+1.40%)
Hah! That’s equal parts hilariously awesome and depressingly sad for all the folks who do fall victim to these traps.
I think I’d boost up #3 and add: Never cook. Just eat out! Who bothers to meal plan & grocery shop–weirdos, that’s who!
Mrs. Frugalwoods recently posted…Weekly Woot & Grumble: Birthday, Beer, BBQ!
These are hilarious… and sadly, I’ve done a few of these. But I’m working on it!
Alicia recently posted…Ways I Make “Found Money”
This was a funny post and made me laugh a lot! I really liked how you took a different turn on saving money by listing ways to lose it.
Because we get consistently bombarded with saving money articles, often times I find it refreshing running into something that sends the same message in different form.
Some people may think that only a few people can afford engaging in such activities. The truth is, even the wealthiest people avoid doing that and practice frugal living. For example, Hilary Swank still uses coupons. Couponing = winning.
LOL these are hilarious. I’d add, “buy a new outfit everyday!” and “hire a personal chef….cooking is for suckers.” Thanks for the laugh. 🙂
Melanie @ My Alternate Life recently posted…Eating Healthier and Staying On Budget
When I was a poor student – Olive Garden had a promotion – all you can eat breadsticks and soup for $4 – ate at the olive garden a lot in those days. (probably responsible for most of my freshman 15)
Good list. How about saving money by buying things you don’t need and will never use on sale to save money. I do agree with Brian’s – gas station comment – been there done that in a pinch.
May recently posted…Financially Savvy Saturdays Fifty-first edition
I love going out to the movies, but I’m super picky now about which ones I see. It’s really hard to be the price of red box for films…I can’t wait. I do like going to see all the Oscar type movies at the theater in fall though!
Tonya@Budget and the Beach recently posted…Why Do We Wait…
I think number 3 would make you go broke from medical bills… 🙂
Love this list! Thanks for sharing!
Miss Millennial recently posted…Friday Finds (Week 12)
This made my day. A fresh take on showing the incredible, if not obvious difference between frugality and extravagance. Hilarious but true. At some point, we may have done a thing or two. But, thanks for the list. 🙂
Love it! I’d add, buy the most expensive house the bankers will qualify you for, and put it on the longest mortgage possible. Oh, and always buy your cars brand-spanking new.
Jean recently posted…Book Review: You Can Retire Sooner Than You Think
Haha! As big as my family is, the only tip I needed was #15. I’ll be broke within a year! 😉
Oh yeah, I remember my shoe bill….now that I work from home I don’t buy as many as I used to. My credit card bills were always maxed out because of my trips to DSW 🙂
I love me some Olive Garden….I can eat the salad and breadsticks alone ;).
Happy Monday!
Corina Ramos recently posted…Work-from-Home Job Spotlight: Amazon
Ha! This is fantastic. I’ve definitely been guilty of quite a few of these. And one more – eating most of my lunches out instead of packing a delicious homemade lunch. Lost money, gained weight.
Autumn @ The Barefoot Budgeter recently posted…5 Financial Lessons to be Learned from Monopoly
I can definitely attest to some of these things really putting a lot of us in debt. Other ones I could name would be controversial and not accepted by the masses I’m sure. Ha! 🙂 Thanks for sharing this list with us at the Creative Style Linkup!
Brittnei recently posted…Homemaking With Style Blogiversary Winner Announcement!
Hi, I found you from the Clever Chicks blog hop… Oh, I sure hope Kathy gets to keep her chickens!
I would add to never, EVER use a budget. It’s a super-quick way to go far beyond broke. Cash flowing? Pfft. That’s for sissies. (And the not-in-debt crowd…)
Hmm… How about putting those groceries on credit cards? How about buying groceries with all the intentions of staying home and cooking, then going to eat out instead, and all the food spoils and has to be thrown out? Planning to bring leftovers from dinner for lunch the following day, but going out to eat with co-workers instead.
Borrowing from the 401k to pay off credit cards, but not changing the habits that created credit card balances anyway.
Cashing out the 401k and taking the double-whammy hit for taxes when you leave a place of employment.
Your readers have some good ones! I enjoyed the change of flavor of this–reverse psychology can be so refreshing when it comes to money talk!
Hahaha, love it! All excellent suggestions!
Love it! Great list. Thanks for the link. Hmm, Olive Garden breadsticks. Love them but hate the calories so I usually manage to stay out of there…
Dee @ Color Me Frugal recently posted…Menu Planning- Success So Far!
Ha this is hilarious. Surprisingly, and unfortunately, I have talked to people who go to Starbucks multiple times a day. Talk about a money pit. How about don’t feel like cleaning your 1 bedroom apartment? Get a maid to come in every day.
Syed recently posted…Roth IRA: A Love Story
Holy cow, that’s a lot of Starbucks.
…man, I would love a maid. My bank account sure wouldn’t though.
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