Can you really make 99 money mistakes? Absolutely, maybe even more! I was able to list 40 ways I’ve lost money over the years in just 15 minutes, so it’s likely our lifetime mistakes could easily hit three or four digits. Here are some of mine:
– Forgot to fund my current account when monthly payments were due.
– Paid debit interest to earn terrible credit interest.
– Didn’t check the authenticity of a check and let someone leave with my piano.
– Thought “these jeans are a bit tight, but I’ll lose weight.” Never lost a pound, never wore the jeans.
– Exchanged currencies too early, fearing the rate would drop. It went up instead.
– Didn’t read the fine print on my debit card about ATM withdrawals abroad.
– Lost money from my jeans pocket.
– Left money in my jeans pocket and washed them.
– Lost my entire purse.
– Lost my entire bag.
– Didn’t check the seller’s background on eBay and bought from a bad one.
– Gave notice three days before leaving a rental and lost the deposit.
– Bought way too much food for a party when people just wanted drinks, and had to throw a lot away.
– Forgot to turn off the heat before leaving for a holiday.
– Lost my passport during a holiday.
– Didn’t check where a train was going, got on the wrong one, and paid a fine.
– Drove 33 mph in a 30 mph zone and got fined.
– Returned a rental car two hours late.
– Forgot my student ID to visit a museum.
– Packed poorly and had a bottle of red wine break in my backpack during a flight.
– Didn’t send the insurance paper to cover a broken car window.
– Bought perishable food and left for a trip.
– Didn’t take advantage of the company healthcare plan and had to get travel shots later.
– Booked a hotel on the wrong date.
– Lent money to a friend who is no longer a friend.
– Bought a first property without researching the neighborhood.
– Brought a carton of cigarettes to Singapore, where there’s no duty-free allowance, and paid a fine.
– Didn’t claim insurance when a flight was delayed.
– Didn’t remind a family member to contribute to a gift as promised, and ended up paying their share.
– Bought plane tickets early only to see them go on sale the following week.
– Hid money in my socks, got changed, and lost it.
– Forgot to bring a discount card to the supermarket.
– Didn’t buy a big enough lock for my bicycle and had to buy a new wheel. Later on, a new bike.
– Forgot my computer, drove 100 miles home, then back, and then home again.
– Forgot my laptop charger on a business trip.
– Forgot an international plug converter.
– Locked myself out of the house.
– Packed only a carry-on to avoid the check-in fee and brought a Swiss army knife to the airport.
– Brought cheese, not realizing it counts as a liquid.
Most of these mistakes happened because I don’t pay enough attention to details. I try to hurry and end up making errors along the way. I’m slowly working on it.
To make up for it, I’m co-hosting an awesome $999.99 cash giveaway thanks to Jeremy at Modest Money’s structured settlements company! Just complete the different entries on the widget below. Good luck!
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What’s your worst, dumbest, funniest, or biggest money mistake?