What was your biggest money blunder?

Argo

Lifer
Apr 8, 2000
10,045
0
0
For example, you bought something and then the next day found out you could've had that item for $200 less from another place. Can be anything, electronics, cars. Could simply a lost wallet. Least them here.

For me - three things come to mind.

1) Once in college, while being slightly drunk I gave pizza guy $100 bill, thinking it was $20 and told him to keep the change. Needless to say, I never saw that money again, regardless several calls to dominos and threats/promises of a reward.

2) Having graduated out of college I decided to use my bonus to get a new car. Obviously not being very experienced and not doing much research I purchased a slightly used Camry from a dealership. Later I found out that I overpaid about $1000.

3) Several months ago I lost my cellphone. Totally mad at myself I went to the local cell store to buy a new one. I wanted something with camera and bluetooth and the sales guy gave me, what I thought was a decent deal. Later on I found out that I could've had that very same phone from amazon for about $150 less.
 

OREOSpeedwagon

Diamond Member
May 30, 2001
8,485
1
81
Was in dire need of a new computer, bought a P2-400 Dell for $400 in late 2000. Was forced to settle for software rendering in CS, seeing as the card was not OpenGL compatible and it had no AGP slot. Waste of friggin money.

Also I've spent almost all of the $8000 I've made in the 3 years working at my current after-school job, mostly on DVDs, food, stupid stuff (except my current computer, it was $700 well spent).
 

lozina

Lifer
Sep 10, 2001
11,711
8
81
i thought i was smart by booking a trip several months in advance to vegas in a hotel/air package that cost $780. I then had to cancel (about a month and a half before the actual travel dates) because I couldn't make the date anymore because of my company. The travel company didn't allow a refund, only the airline gave me $280 back (in airline credits which have to be used by the end of the year). i should followed my last minute instincts
 
Mar 19, 2003
18,289
2
71
I generally research purchases exhaustively before I make them. However, I suppose the car I bought in September could be considered a "mistake", because I've had to spend $2000 on repairs for it...but I also only paid $2000 for the car when it's worth around $4000, so I didn't turn out too badly on that one. Not to mention I was lucky to find it - it seemed to be the only one for sale for under $5k in the state, and now that it's all fixed up (minus a few little things), I wouldn't trade it for anything. :)
 

jEnus

Senior member
Jun 22, 2004
867
0
76
Lost 80 bucks in Battery Park, NYC to one of those guys who get you to pick which cup is the ball under. . . . the Fiancee doesn't let me forget it.
 
Nov 7, 2000
16,403
3
81
ripped off for 400 on net
spent 800 for international plane ticket to see my ex, she dumps me for another dude a 2 weeks before im supposed to leave
 

Banana

Diamond Member
Jun 3, 2001
3,132
23
81
So many . . . But the biggest in recent memory was when I failed to use about $1300 saved in my flex spending account. Lost it all :( The account manager said that my claim was a cosmetic procedure, so she denied it. No, it wasn't penis enlargement.

Looks like I win the dumbass prize.
 

slick230

Banned
Jan 31, 2003
2,776
0
0
Originally posted by: Banana
So many . . . But the biggest in recent memory was when I failed to use about $1300 saved in my flex spending account. Lost it all :( The account manager said that my claim was a cosmetic procedure, so she denied it. No, it wasn't penis enlargement.

Looks like I win the dumbass prize.

Breast reduction?
 

Staples

Diamond Member
Oct 28, 2001
4,953
119
106
Laptop for $2100. I never use it and Sony laptops I have come to know really suck.
 

Spikesoldier

Diamond Member
Oct 15, 2001
6,766
0
0
3 dates with a girl that wouldnt even let me hold hands with her

let me break down the costs

date 1 - 70
plus gift - 40
date 2 - 130
date 3 - 70

omg thats like $310

i could have bought a muvo or ipod or soem pc3200 ram that i really need

god dang wimmen i need some p00n
 

BEL6772

Senior member
Oct 26, 2004
225
0
0
Actually this was my brother-in-law. He listed his Sentra in the classifieds, asking $8000. A few days later some guy calls up and says that he would like to buy the car, but the money is coming from his dad in the form of a cashier's check. His dad already sent the check and it was for $12000. He asked my brother-in-law to deposit the check and send the extra $4000 over to his account.

My brother-in-law did, but then wondered why the guy never came by to pick up the car ... until the bank notified him that the cashier's check was no good and he was way overdrawn as a result.