You’ll Stay Broke If You Keep Doing These 5 Things

🔎 Disclosure: Heads up, babe: some links here are affiliate links, which means you might throw a tiny commission my way if you buy (zero extra cost to you). Only things you’d actually use and love get shared on this site.

1. Buying for Status Instead of Usefulness

You know that little voice that whispers “you deserve it” when you’re eyeing the newest designer bag?

Yeah… that voice is not your financial advisor.

Buying things just to look successful keeps you broke because you’re trading long-term comfort for short-term validation.

You get:

• A closet full of stuff you rarely use.
  
• Monthly debt payments that never seem to shrink.
  
• The illusion of wealth without actual stability.
  

Real confidence doesn’t come from the logo on your shirt. It comes from money left in your account at the end of the month.

👉 Here’s How You’ll Do It: Next time you shop, ask yourself, “Will this actually make my life easier or just look good for a day?”

Make It Easy: Try a minimalist wallet that only fits essentials. No more carrying every store card you own.

2. Shopping When You’re Stressed or Bored

If your “me time” involves Target aisles and retail therapy, you’re not alone.

But emotional spending is like eating an entire cake because you’re sad. It fixes nothing and costs way more than you think.

The problem? You’re treating boredom or stress by spending instead of solving the real issue.

You’ll notice:

• Impulse purchases you didn’t plan for.
  
• Regret the moment the package arrives.
  
• Less progress toward your real money goals.
  

The best cure for emotional spending is awareness. not a new throw pillow.

👉 Here’s How You’ll Do It: When you feel the urge to shop, step away for 24 hours and see if you still want it tomorrow.

Make It Easy: Keep a self-care box at home filled with snacks, candles, or books. things that calm you for free.

3. Not Knowing Where Your Money Actually Goes

Ever look at your bank balance and wonder, “Where did it all go?”

That’s a sign your money’s driving. And you’re just a passenger.

If you don’t know where your cash goes, you can’t control it.

What happens:

• Bills sneak up on you every month.
  
• Overspending feels normal because there’s no plan.
  
• Savings goals stay stuck in fantasy land.
  

Knowing your spending isn’t about being restrictive. It’s about being free to make better choices.

👉 Here’s How You’ll Do It: Spend one week tracking every expense in a notebook or app, even the $4 coffee.

Make It Easy: Try Rocket Money to automatically categorize expenses and show where your money leaks.

4. Spending Every Paycheck Without Saving Anything

If your money vanishes faster than a box of donuts at the office, this one’s for you.

Living paycheck to paycheck isn’t always about income. It’s about not having a system.

You can’t build wealth if your savings account looks like a ghost town.

You’ll start to notice:

• No safety net for emergencies.
  
• Stress every time a bill hits.
  
• No progress toward long-term goals.
  

Saving doesn’t mean you’re missing out. It means future-you gets to relax for once.

👉 Here’s How You’ll Do It: Set up automatic transfers to savings right when your paycheck hits. Even $20 counts.

Make It Easy: Open a Betterment Cash Reserve Account to automate savings and earn interest without effort.

5. Keeping an Expensive Car You Can’t Afford to Maintain

A shiny car looks great in the driveway. until the insurance, gas, and repair bills start piling up.

If your car payment feels like a second rent, it’s draining your financial growth.

Cars lose value faster than you can say “monthly payment.”

You end up with:

• High maintenance costs that eat into savings.
  
• Insurance rates that rival your electric bill.
  
• Stress every time the “check engine” light pops on.
  

The truth? A car’s job is to get you from A to B. not to impress people at A and B.

👉 Here’s How You’ll Do It: Sell or trade in your expensive car for a reliable used model that fits your real budget.

Make It Easy: Use Insurify to compare car insurance rates and find a cheaper option in minutes.

📌 SAVE IT FOR LATER! 📌