5 Habits That Are Keeping You Broke 💸🚫

1. Food Delivery Services – Eating Your Money

Ordering takeout seems harmless, but food delivery services hike up prices, charge hidden fees, and lure you in with loyalty points that keep you spending.

Here’s a question to ponder on: ever noticed the minimum spend requirement? That’s how they get you to spend more money. Plus, delivery fees and service charges quickly add up, sometimes doubling the cost of your meal.

If you’re ordering regularly, you could be throwing away hundreds a month.

Instead, try meal prepping for the week or learning a few quick, go-to recipes that you can rely on if you’re feeling too lazy to cook.

Cooking at home not only saves you money but also gives you control over what goes into your food.

2. Car Debt – The Slow Financial Drain

A car loan is one of the biggest financial traps ever created by human civilisation. Many only focus on the monthly payment, forgetting about the long-term cost of interest. Over time, you could end up paying thousands more for your vehicle.

A $25,000 car with a 6% interest rate over five years means you’re actually paying close to $29,000. And that’s before you factor in fuel, maintenance, car tax, and insurance.

Depreciation on your new car also hits hard—your car loses value the second you drive it off the lot.

New vehicles lose value quickly, especially at the beginning:

• Year 1: 15-35% loss. Your car is worth 65-85% of what you paid.

• Year 3: 40-60% loss. Value drops to 40-65% of original price.

• Year 5: 60-70% loss. Retains only 30-40% of original value.

• Years 8-10: 80% loss. Worth about 20% of original purchase price.

These figures help when planning vehicle purchases and ownership costs.

Instead of financing a brand-new vehicle, consider a reliable used car that is around five years old (by this point they have already taken the brunt of depreciation) or consider using alternative transportation like walking or taking public transport.

3. Buy Now, Pay Later? Just Say No.

Klarna, Afterpay, and other “pay later” services seem harmless, but they’re designed to keep you in a cycle of debt. They make expensive items seem “affordable” by breaking them into small payments, but the reality is you’re just stretching out your financial burden losing out on the opportunity to save some extra funds on a month to month basis.

My personal rule? If I can’t buy it three times over, I can’t afford it. These companies also count on you missing a payment so they can charge you interest or late fees, increasing their profits at your expense. Instead, try waiting 48 hours before making a purchase.

You’ll often realize you don’t need it at all, and you can put that money toward savings or investments instead.

4. Clothes – Looking Rich vs. Being Rich

Simplicity wins. Designer brands make you a walking billboard for companies that don’t even know who you are. Meanwhile, truly wealthy people aren’t flexing Gucci belts or Louis Vuitton bags—they’re focused on increasing their earning potential and pouring their income into things that bring them money.

Many luxury brands target middle-class consumers who want to “look” rich, but real wealth is built by investing in appreciating assets like your mind, not depreciating ones like material items.

If fashion is your thing, go for it, but don’t wear all of your money. As an alternative you can opt in for cheaper brands that look and feel high quality despite the price tag. With the advent of the internet there are plenty of online stores that sell fashionable and affordable clothing that are waiting to be explored.

To get back on the point, those focused on progression do not worry about trying to impress people - they are focused on their personal growth i.e., earning more money by increasing their skills and trying to achieve their goals

5. Bad Habits – The Silent Wallet Killer

We all have vices—mine used to be chocolates and sweets. But just like junk food affects your health, junk spending wrecks your finances.

Whether it’s daily Costa runs, impulsive Amazon buys, or multiple subscription services (Netflix, Spotify, Disney +, etc.), these small expenses add up fast.

For example, a £4 coffee five days a week is £1,040 per year—money that could be invested, saved, or put toward something meaningful.

Track where your money goes, set limits, and be mindful. Challenge yourself to a “no-spend” weekend and see how much you actually need versus what’s just impulse. Small changes lead to big wins.