Right about now, people are ramping up their New Year’s resolutions.
Apart from eating less pizza (try and stop me) and working out more, better budgeting is consistently among the top resolutions.
But this is a tough one because Americans LOOOOVE spending money.
Here are the top 10 things Americans waste money on.
(PS - if you want the easiest way to budget, try Fulfilled - it’s free.)
10. Unused gym memberships and tickets
Annual total spend: $60-120 billion
Stat: Around 67% of people with a gym membership are estimated to never actually use it.
How to budget around this: Cancel any membership or recurring tickets you haven’t used in the last 60 days and only buy new ones when you have a specific plan on your calendar.
Me
9. Brand premiums & convenience markups
Annual total spend: $40-80 Billion
Stat: 80% of U.S. grocery shoppers regularly pay extra for name brands over identical generics
How to budget around this: Buy name-brand only if it’s on sale or clearly better.
The brand collab you didn’t know you needed.
8. Alcohol outside the home
Annual total spend: $50-100 Billion
Stat: 40% of U.S. adults report drinking alcohol at bars or restaurants at least weekly
How to budget around this: Set a fixed monthly “going out” or bar budget and use cash or a separate card so once it’s gone, you stop.
I’ll have rain water, thanks.
7. Lottery tickets
Annual total spend: $90-100 Billion
Stat: 50% of U.S. adults buy lottery tickets.
How to budget around this: Treat the lottery as entertainment, cap it at a tiny monthly amount (e.g., $5–$10), and never buy tickets outside that limit.
Swag
6. Bank fees, interest, and penalties
Annual total spend: $100 Billion
Stat: 30% of Americans incur overdraft fees at least once a year
How to budget around this: Keep one primary no‑fee account, set up automatic payments to avoid late charges, and pay your credit card in full every month.
5. Take-out coffee
Annual total spend: $80-120 Billion
Stat: 60% of U.S. adults buy coffee out of home at least a few times per week
How to budget around this: Limit coffee runs to a set number of days per week and make the rest at home or at the office. CONTROVERSIAL - I know.
Tastes like coffee.
4. Unused subscriptions
Annual total spend: $80-150 Billion
Stat: 42% of Americans have at least one streaming or app subscription they rarely or never use.
How to budget around this: Once a month, review your statements, cancel anything not used in the last 30 days, and turn off auto‑renew by default. Use something like Fulfilled to track all your subscriptions.
I’m not even left-handed.
3. Impulse shopping & “boredom buys”
Annual total spend: $100-200 Billion
Stat: 55% of U.S. online shoppers admit to making impulse purchases at least monthly.
How to budget around this: Use a 24‑hour rule before non‑essential purchases and keep those in a small “fun money” line in your budget.
“What have I done? I love it all.”
2. Food waste
Annual total spend: $200-250 Billion
Stat: 70% of U.S. households throw out food weekly
How to budget around this: Plan 3–5 simple meals per week, shop from a list, and commit to eating leftovers before buying more perishables. Tbh leftovers are my favorite.
My wife’s plate after she says she’s full. AKA - my second dinner.
1. Eating out & delivery
Annual total spend: $250-400 Billion
Stat: 65% of Americans eat out or order delivery 3+ times per week.
How to budget around this: Set a weekly dollar cap or number of meals for restaurants and delivery, and plan quick at‑home “backup meals” for busy nights. Considering how much I spend on pizza each week, I thought this would be more tbh.
Just how I like it.
