Ways People Waste Money

http://finance.yahoo.com/banking-budgeting/article/112202/25-ways-to-waste-your-money?mod=bb-budgeting

1. Carrying a balance

- charges of credit card .

2. Overspending on gas and oil for your car

-no need to spring for premium fuel if the manufacturer says regular is just fine.

-models nowadays can last 5,000 to 7,000 miles between changes, and some even have built-in sensors to tell you when it's time to change the oil. 

3. Keeping unhealthy habits.

Smoking-costs a lot more than just what you pay for a pack of cigarettes. 

4. Using a cell phone that doesn't fit.

Phone is not a status symbol. It is a way to communicate. Many people pay too much for cell phone contracts and don't use all their minutes

5. Buying brand-name instead of generic.

Clever advertising and fancy packaging don't make brand-name products better than lesser-known brands. 

6. Keeping your mouth shut.

Try asking for a discount if you pay cash or debit 

7. Buying beverages one at a time

Drink tap water or use a water filter. 

8. Paying for something you can get for free.

There's a boatload of freebies for the taking, if you know where to look.  

9. Being disorganized.

Lost bills and receipts, forgotten tax deductions, and clueless spending can cost you hundreds of dollars each year

10. Paying late fees and missing deadlines

Get off your duff, return it and get your money back before you lose the receipt

11. Shopping at the grocery store without a calculator.

When you comparison-shop by unit price, you save

12. Paying for things you don't use.

Take a look at what your family actually uses, then trim accordingly. 

13. Mismanaging your flexible spending account.

means failing to take advantage of their workplace which lets employees set aside pre-tax dollars for out-of-pocket medical costs 

14. Being an inflexible traveler.

You'll save a lot of money on travel if you're willing to be flexible 

15. Sticking with the same service plans and the same service providers year after year. 

-over time, as prices and your circumstances change, the status-quo may not be the best deal any more. Smart consumers are always on the lookout for bargains. 

16. Dining out frequently.

Learning to cook and bringing your lunch from home can save a couple hundred bucks each month. 

17. Trying to time the stock market.

In trying to buy low and sell high, many people actually do the opposite 

18. Buying insurance you don't need

You only need life insurance if someone is financially dependent upon you, such as a child 

19. Buying new instead of used

Cars lose 20% of their value the moment they're driven off the lot and 65% in the first five years.