How Being Lazy Costs You Money
Forbes is tired of you sitting around all the time staring at the TV. They've put together a list of all the ways you're losing money by not trying just a little bit harder. For example, by not taking the time to choose the best rate on your savings account (which usually means looking at online banks instead of the local one where you do your checking), you're missing out on extra interest. Another area: not paying close attention to deadlines on 0% finance offers, where one slip can cost you dearly.
"All The Ways Your Laziness Is Costing You" [Forbes] (Photo: RobotSkirts)
Post a comment
Comments:
Did you sneak in and take a pic of my dog?
One thing with most online banks-you can't get immediate access to your money. It's only a matter of a few days, but if you need the money for something like a tow truck, you're screwed. At least a few hundred should be no more than an ATM away.
How about all those times I stayed in and played COD4 instead of spending my cash at the bars because I was too lazy to wear pants?!
Huh, Forbes?
@Coles_Law: You are right for the most part. But HSBC Direct is one of those that gives you an ATM card.
Of course, the first thing I did after receiving it was cut it up. If I have that kind of access to my long term savings I tend to spend it.
It doesn't really matter because no bank has overwhelmingly awesome rates right now. When I opened up my HSBC account I was cruising at 5.05% APY, but now I'm parked at 1.55% APY.
Thanks, AIG et al, for ruining my dreams of a Ferrari in a few years.
Also if you are really lazy than you most probably don't have a job. If you aren't under 18~ and/or living with your parents or someone else who pays for everything than you have no source of income. Because money makes the world go round, no money means death and so in that way
Lazy = Death.
Much more important that your bank interest rates in my opinion.
@Coles_Law: ING Direct does, if you open a checking account with them, too. You get an ATM card, and online transfers between savings and checking give you access to the money that day. Of course, you have to be disciplined to not spend the money you have easy access to. Studies show that people tend to save better when the money is 'hidden' in an account that doesn't make withdrawals easy.
Forget the article, I want that black pug!
Lazy = Death? You are going to die if you are rich, poor, lazy, ambitious, etc. You could die tomorrow from anything.
"They've put together a list of all the ways you're losing money"
My interpretation of the above summary is that they are trying to use guilt to boost the industry they are related to in said article for self-preservation.
Cancelling that Forbes subscription will save you money spent on an unneeded luxury too.
@Coles_Law: The other posters are right but unless you only get paid by check and can direct deposit, all online banks require a "real life" bank to make deposits. This is my only beef. I have an ING checking account but still have my WaMu/Chase account to be able to transfer $$.
Being lazy saves me a lot of money. I can't count the number of times I'd decided to buy some geegaw I didn't really need then just said 'eh' because it was too much damn money and effort (getting a bigger HDTV would be require me throwing out my entire oak entertainment center, rewiring things, etc.) And then sure enough I was just fine without it. Buying a new car? Oh man, way too much hassle!
When I get off my ass and head out to specialty stores I spend hundred of dollars on fine cheeses, breads, wines, beer, music, you name it. When I'm lazy I buy cheap healthy stuff in bulk at Costco. More savings! You know how you make something work better? Give it to a lazy person.
@oldtaku:
I am impressed, I'm glad my 19year old doesn't have your ability to reason! You are spot on in many regards, the go go type A personality/life sucks up a lot of resources, and resources = money. I'm going now to take a nap.
Wow... this is the best they can do? Online banking has obvious drawbacks and the piddling amount of extra interest isn't worth it. Open a retirement account and flush more money down the stock market? In the decade of my working life, the SP500 broke even (returned 0%) and then the market crashed. I'd been better off buying stuff and enjoying myself instead of just losing money for nothing. Not sending in rebates? You GOT TO BE kidding! Rebates are a well-known ripoff. The others are just stupid filler to pad out the list.
The good news is I now know the quality of Forbes' articles and would never waste money on their magazine. So the Consumerist saved me some cash there, not that I ever wanted to buy Forbes in the first place.
I hear that Steve Forbes' magazine is losing money. Is the billionaire lazy, too?
DOWn, baby, DOWn!
@gStein: Any small-dog owner knows that they can magically make their bones disappear when they take over the spot where you were just sitting on the couch.
At least three of these are forgetfulness not laziness. (Not Sending in Rebate Offers, Not Paying Attention to 0% Financing Deadlines, Waiting Until the Last Minute to Send Mail) Besides, a smart consumer is going for the instant rebate, not something you have to mail in because mailing it in properly is no guarantee you'll get the rebate.
Not Bothering to Negotiate a Better Deal: I do not want to go into retail stores and beg them to lower the price. Not wanting to do something you consider in bad taste is not lazy either.
@dohtem: That, my friend is playing the opportunity cost game the right way. Cha-Ching Ka-Ching (cash register sounds).My latest obsession is L4D with a light mix of TF2. Think of it this way:
L4D(PC) Original price of about $50/115 hours play time so far = $0.44 per hour of entertainment.
TF2(PC) Original price of about $50/250 hours play time so far = $0.20 per hour of entertainment.
Normal theater movie price here = $7.50/2 hours max entertainment = $3.75 per hour of entertainment.
Bar charges (low estimated) $3 cover, $20 drinks -> $23/4 = $5.75 per hour of entertainment.
I know I'm leaving expenses off that I would be paying for anyways like internet, electricity, PC, car, gas, tires,... but you get the general idea. Also I'm not saying that I never go to movies or bars. ;)
Not having to wear pants Priceless.
If I had any money I would keep it in my gun safe.... If I had a gun safe.
:-)
Ehh...there are a couple good ideas there, such as using the corporate wellness thing (I made $250/year when I worked for a company that offered the program) and the sleeping one (only because you will be on the internet pissing money away if you can't sleep)a.
Although another good one would be "update your resume and always be looking, if you get lazy about that, not only are you costing yourself money by not knowing/being able to take better opportunities, but also if something were to happen (layoffs), you wouldn't be prepared to move quickly"
@LiquidGravity: Your cost per hour of entertainment might be even lower if you got those games used, or through a rental service, or from a friend who was all done with them. Agree on the pants though.
Wait, "oversleeping"? Isn't the problem that we don't get enough restful sleep, leading to health problems, errors at work, car crashes and so on?
@LiquidGravity: You're ignoring some costs for the games, though. You have to factor in the price of the computer/game system and television as well. It's still cheaper than going out, but you have to consider all the costs.
This pisses me off.
This is, I think, one of the real divides in our society.
I find it amusing that some of the same people who claim to be "pro-family" (or at least ally themselves with same politically) think I should spend all my free time searching for bank rates, deals for my cell phone, deals for my cable TV, checking the fine print in my health insurance... all time I have to take away from my kids.
The rub being that if you get screwed by any of the above, its your fault for not paying closer attention. Maybe some of us want a society a little less complicated and some regulation to protect us to make sure we're not gonna be totally screwed if we miss something?
@JGKojak: there was no wording to imply that you should shop for a better bank rate instead of spending time with your family. Don't politicize this either - people of all political viewpoints can be family friendly and your implication that only those who usually tout it are hypocritical in some way is unwarranted. Really, how much time are we talking about? Why not do it after the kids go to bed? During a lunch break. It's not hard. If you want the government to do what you're supposed to do in the best interest of your family, you're just giving up your duty as a parent to teach your kids about vigilance and making the best and most informed choices and also what happens when you screw up.
@Corporate_guy: the subtraction of the pants also saves you laundry money as well! How many gallons of water, megawatts of electricity, and man hours of labor have been saved thus far by we pants-less gamers? The world may never knowTM*(brought to you by tootsie-roll tootsie pops!TM)
lol... good point
I had a witty comment, but I'm too lazy to type it.
(How did everyone else miss this one?)
@pecan 3.14159265: I think the point is that each corporation has hundreds, if not thousands, of employees trying to think up ways to trip up the consumer so that they make more money. I, unfortunately, only have one little brain to keep track of all the minutiae involved in each transaction or agreement.
We all have far more things to keep track of than we did 25 years ago which take time away from family, friends, or relaxation. It has become tiresome and has likely contributed to the meltdown we're now experiencing. It would be nice if there was some regulation to keep things simple.
WTH is that thing? Yoda's corpse?