6 Ways Seniors Are Throwing Away Money (2024)

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If you're a senior, you could be throwing money out the window without even knowing it... and just a few small mistakes might be to blame.

These mistakes — like not getting a home warranty or overpaying for car insurance — can go under the radar for months or years, drying up your savings like summer rain on a scorching sidewalk.

But what if you could fix these problems easily, once and for all? It's possible,and most of these fixes can be started in minutes. It's time to stop throwing your money out the window!

Not getting a home warranty

Did you know if your air conditioner stops working, your homeowner’s insurance won’t cover it? Same with plumbing, electrical issues, appliances, and more. Not being able to make repairs could leave you in a bad situation — but a home warranty could protect you against surprise expenses.

Whether you’re a brand-new homeowner or you’ve owned your home for years, a plan from Choice Home Warranty could pick up the slack where homeowner’s insurance falls short.

If a covered system in your home breaks down, you can call their hotline 24/7 for assistance to get it repaired. They have a network of over 15,000 technicians that can assist you, making sure any issue can be taken care of swiftly — without breaking the bank.

Not sure if it’s for you? Rest easy: they were named one of the "Best Home Warranty Companies" by US News 360 Reviews and were awarded Best Company's 2020 Consumer's Choice Award. For a limited time, you can get your first month free when you sign up for a Single Payment home warranty plan.

Get a free quote

Not earning a $200 cash rewards bonus with this incredible card

There's a credit card that's making waves with its amazing bonus and benefits. The Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card(Rates and fees) has no annual fee and you can earn $200 after spending $500 in purchases in the first 3 months.

The Active Cash Card puts cash back into your wallet. Cardholders can earn unlimited 2% cash rewards on purchases — easy! That's one of the best cash rewards options available.

This card also offers an intro APR of 0% for 15 months from account opening on purchases and qualifying balance transfers (then 20.24%, 25.24%, or 29.99% Variable). Which is great for someone who wants a break from high interest rates, while still earning rewards.

The best part? There's no annual fee.

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Not taking advantage of historically high rates to grow your wealth

You’ve been with the same bank for years, and how do they reward your loyalty? With a laughably small interest rate on your savings.

And you’re not alone. The national average interest rate for savings accounts is just 0.47% (as of Feb. 8, 2024) APY (annual percentage yield)1, according to the FDIC. But there’s a way you could grow your wealth faster, and it doesn’t involve the volatility of the stock market.

Open a CloudBank 24/7 Savings Account and you can earn an impressive 5.26% APY2 on your account balance. That means you can sit back and watch your savings multiply without the stress of market fluctuations.

There are no fees, and you can withdraw your money whenever you need it. Plus, FDIC insurance through Third Coast Bank SSB and top-notch cybersecurity measures will help protect your data and keep your funds safe and secure.

Open an account in just a few minutes so you can start harnessing the power of this high-yield savings account right away.

Click here to open a CloudBank 24/7 online savings account

Turning 50 and not taking advantage of massive discounts and financial resources

Over 50? Join AARP today — because if you’re not a member you could be missing out on huge perks. When you start your membership today, you can get discounts on things like travel, meal deliveries, eyeglasses, prescriptions that aren’t covered by insurance and more.

How to become a member today:

  • Go here, select your free gift, and click “Join Today”
  • Create your account (important!) by answering a few simple questions
  • Start enjoying your discounts and perks!

You’ll also get insider info on social security, job listings, caregiving, and retirement planning. And you’ll get access to AARP’s Fraud Watch Network to help you protect your money, as well as tools to help you plan for retirement.

Important: Start your membership by creating an account here and filling in all of the information (Do not skip this step!) Doing so will allow you to take up 25% off your AARP membership, making it just $12 per year with auto-renewal.

Become an AARP member now

Not seeing how much money you can save when you shop online

Shopping online has its perks. It's super convenient, but it can be time consuming to find the best deals. Instead of hunting for coupon codes (that don't always work!) and opening tons of browser tabs comparing prices, you can try Capital One Shopping.

Capital One Shopping makes saving money effortless. Just add the browser extension and when you check out, it'll scour the internet for coupon codes to help you save cash. And before you check out at 25+ major retailers, Capital One Shopping will notify you with a friendly pop-up if the item you're buying is available cheaper somewhere else.

Capital One Shopping is free to use and won't show you ads. Add it today and stop overpaying!3

Get Capital One Shopping now

Not canceling your car insurance

We’ve got bad news. You could be wasting $500 every year on overpriced, second-rate car insurance. And you should probably cancel your existing insurance right now, because there’s something much better.

This new tool from FinanceBuzz can tell you if you’re overpaying for your car insurance in just a few clicks. We match drivers with companies that report saving drivers up to $500 or more per year when they save! Each driver’s savings will vary by driving history and how many discounts you’re eligible for. And once you try it out, you’ll never have to look for affordable insurance again because we find you the lowest rates that other companies can’t match.

Oh, and it’s also free. And come on — you can’t tell us you don’t want to save up to $500. To find out if you’re losing up to $500 or more a year, just enter your zip code here, answer a few questions and see if you’re overpaying. It takes less than 2 minutes.

See if you’re overpaying

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Rates and fees

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  • Earn a $200 cash rewards bonus after spending $500 in purchases in the first 3 months.
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  • 0% intro APR for 15 months from account opening on purchases and qualifying balance transfers. 20.24%, 25.24%, or 29.99% Variable APR thereafter; balance transfers made within 120 days qualify for the intro rate and fee of 3% then a BT fee of up to 5%, min: $5.
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6 Ways Seniors Are Throwing Away Money (2024)

FAQs

6 Ways Seniors Are Throwing Away Money? ›

It may seem counterintuitive, but retirement is not the time to stop investing. Continue to invest throughout your retirement to make your money work for you. It's important, however, to work with a financial advisor who can help you make sound investment decisions.

Should you continue to save after retirement? ›

It may seem counterintuitive, but retirement is not the time to stop investing. Continue to invest throughout your retirement to make your money work for you. It's important, however, to work with a financial advisor who can help you make sound investment decisions.

What happens if you are old and run out of money? ›

Retirees may be able to seek financial assistance from family members or government programs. Medicaid and SSI are two government programs that provide financial assistance to low-income individuals. Retirees should work with a financial planner to determine eligibility for these programs and how to apply.

How much should a retiree keep in savings? ›

Fidelity's guideline: Aim to save at least 1x your salary by 30, 3x by 40, 6x by 50, 8x by 60, and 10x by 67. Factors that will impact your personal savings goal include the age you plan to retire and the lifestyle you hope to have in retirement. If you're behind, don't fret. There are ways to catch up.

What is the average lifespan after retirement? ›

According to their table, for instance, the average remaining lifespan for a 65-year-old woman is 19.66 years, reaching 84.66 years old in total. The remaining lifespan for a 65-year-old man is 16.94 years, reaching 81.94 years in total.

How much money is considered old money? ›

You are old money if your family has had money for generations. For example, the Rockefeller, Carnegie, Astor, Kennedy, and Bush families are old money-- the wealth was earned many generations ago and these families are often considered aristocracy, especially in Europe.

What happens if you retire with no savings? ›

Many retirees with little to no savings rely solely on Social Security as their main source of income. You can claim Social Security benefits as early as age 62, but your benefit amount will depend on when you start filing for the benefit. You get less than your full benefit if you file before your full retirement age.

What is considered wasting money? ›

These simple lessons are helpful reminders for everyone. o Money is wasted when we pay more for convenience, excess, impulse buying and bad habits.

How do people survive financially after retirement? ›

Having several streams of income can help you achieve greater financial stability in retirement. They might include a pension from a former employer, income from your retirement accounts and other investments, Social Security benefits, and possibly a paycheck from part- or full-time work.

Is it better to save for retirement or spend now? ›

Overspending doesn't just have short-term consequences, you also sacrifice saving up for something else arguably more important over time. For instance, when you skip out on saving for retirement in the present, your future self loses out on compound interest.

Should I pause retirement savings to save for a house? ›

After all, at Ramsey, we teach you to start investing 15% of your household income for retirement after you're out of debt and have your full emergency fund in place. But if you're planning to buy a house in the near future, it's okay to hold off on your retirement savings and put that money toward your down payment.

Are people happier after retirement? ›

About 67% of retirees who are 15 years or less into retirement said they're happier since retiring, and 82% said they're more relaxed on a typical day. While only 8% report feeling less happy in retirement, about a third said they're not more happy than they were before leaving the workforce.

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