Money Mistakes and Biggest Splurges: LV Reader Survey Results

Reader surveys are, well, reader surveys. But when the results of ours had us laughing out loud, we knew we just had to share.

See, we at LearnVest work hard to bring you the best and most engaging content to help you live a more enriched life, and we don't do it for our own financial health. We do it because we are committed to you, our reader.

What a pleasant surprise to love our readers all the more from our survey—and to see that in addition to being passionate and vocal, the LearnVest community is incredibly smart and funny.

And our survey results confirm what we knew all along--that although you care about finances (obviously, you're reading LearnVest), you see money as a means to get the most out of life.

That said, plenty of you have creatively pinched a penny or five--from getting a stranger to watch your car instead of putting money in the meter to eating ramen and tuna for months.

What are your biggest money mistakes, splurges and craziest savings stories? Can you top these? Share with us in the comments.

Money Mistakes and Biggest Splurges: LV Reader Survey Results

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  • Mulberryhs

    I see many places where people spend their money–on themselves, taking care of aging parents, but I have never seen where a number of friends spend theirs. Believe it or not, their adult children!! They pay their mortgages, their trips, their clothes, their food, even plants and flowers on a regular basis. These “children” are in their 40′s and 50′s. I find it bizarre that the money is given and accepted—maybe to buy love. It is not an unusual phenanemon around here. Almost are single Mothers who really want to do it.

    • Redtwin62

      I know so many people that give, spend money on their adult children. They let them live at home for free!! I think it makes their children too complacent! Why try for more, when it’s handed to you!! It seems they do this so they can feel “needed” It also causes problems for the parents, cause some part of them feels taken for granted!!

      Let you kids live their lives, then they can only blame themselves! Live your life, take classes, travel, do the things you couldn’t when you were busy raising a family!! You’ve worked hard, you’ve earned it.

      Your children need to do the same!!

      • FL

        I live at home and I’m in my 20s, but my mother also has early onset dementia.  In my household, we take turns taking care of her and giving her what she needs because she is not self sufficient.  I also help my father do chores around the house.  I have a full time job, go to school part time and I pay for everything myself.  I truly do not think I am an adult child, and my list of responsibilites is longer than those who live on their own with roomates where every evening is a beer party.

        • FL

          My point that I forgot to add is that you don’t know what someone’s situation in life is, so you really shouldn’t judge.

    • Redtwin62

      I know so many people that give, spend money on their adult children. They let them live at home for free!! I think it makes their children too complacent! Why try for more, when it’s handed to you!! It seems they do this so they can feel “needed” It also causes problems for the parents, cause some part of them feels taken for granted!!

      Let you kids live their lives, then they can only blame themselves! Live your life, take classes, travel, do the things you couldn’t when you were busy raising a family!! You’ve worked hard, you’ve earned it.

      Your children need to do the same!!

    • Redtwin62

      I know so many people that give, spend money on their adult children. They let them live at home for free!! I think it makes their children too complacent! Why try for more, when it’s handed to you!! It seems they do this so they can feel “needed” It also causes problems for the parents, cause some part of them feels taken for granted!!

      Let you kids live their lives, then they can only blame themselves! Live your life, take classes, travel, do the things you couldn’t when you were busy raising a family!! You’ve worked hard, you’ve earned it.

      Your children need to do the same!!

  • Guest

    This is pretty funny! I especially like Dumbest Things You’ve Done with You’re Money…”Marry a dumbass.” A very honest answer!

  • @OhHeyBetty

    I agree with the comment about saving your pet… I recently had to do the same thing and I don’t regret spending close to $4K (similar to reader who submitted above) to save my beagle (longtime best friend & awesome family member), who was suffering from (what we later learned in the last hour) to be lung cancer :( I hear of a lot of stories of folks who wouldn’t save their pet for $1,000, which I can understand since some folks can’t afford it… However, I feel as though a pet’s life is priceless, until the veterinarian gives the nod that “it’s time to let go.”

  • Anonymous

    LearnVest Readers — we are so proud to be able to share how interesting and smart our users are when it comes to money! You mostly want to save better, earn more, and spend smarter! 3 things we love too.

  • Oshun

    Haha Hilarious! I have done a couple crazy things myself but never thought others did stuff like this! :)

  • Oshun

    Haha Hilarious! I have done a couple crazy things myself but never thought others did stuff like this! :)

  • http://www.ukcheapinsurance.com/ Cheap Life Insurance

    Great Post.

    Liked and enjoyed this site. Its amazing how all of us tend to the same mistake financially speaking. However, some of our decisions are more affected by our emotions (saving pet) rather than doing, whats financially correct.

  • http://www.ukcheapinsurance.com/ Cheap Life Insurance

    Great Post.

    Liked and enjoyed this site. Its amazing how all of us tend to the same mistake financially speaking. However, some of our decisions are more affected by our emotions (saving pet) rather than doing, whats financially correct.

  • Ritz

    I’ve made a number of serious money errors. The first year after college I saved up $10,000. and blew it all on furniture and a piano – should have bought a house, even if I didn’t have any nice furniture to put in it. This was 30 years ago. The money would have made a great downpayment! (Actually, a better move would have been to buy Microsoft stock.) Another Whopper-error – my husband and I were having financial difficulty/conflicts about money and on outside advice we combined our savings/checking accounts. Bad, bad, bad idea. He’s the spender, I’m the saver and giving him access to everything I saved was really, REALLY unwise!

  • Ritz

    I’ve made a number of serious money errors. The first year after college I saved up $10,000. and blew it all on furniture and a piano – should have bought a house, even if I didn’t have any nice furniture to put in it. This was 30 years ago. The money would have made a great downpayment! (Actually, a better move would have been to buy Microsoft stock.) Another Whopper-error – my husband and I were having financial difficulty/conflicts about money and on outside advice we combined our savings/checking accounts. Bad, bad, bad idea. He’s the spender, I’m the saver and giving him access to everything I saved was really, REALLY unwise!

  • Ritz

    I’ve made a number of serious money errors. The first year after college I saved up $10,000. and blew it all on furniture and a piano – should have bought a house, even if I didn’t have any nice furniture to put in it. This was 30 years ago. The money would have made a great downpayment! (Actually, a better move would have been to buy Microsoft stock.) Another Whopper-error – my husband and I were having financial difficulty/conflicts about money and on outside advice we combined our savings/checking accounts. Bad, bad, bad idea. He’s the spender, I’m the saver and giving him access to everything I saved was really, REALLY unwise!

  • Ritz

    I’ve made a number of serious money errors. The first year after college I saved up $10,000. and blew it all on furniture and a piano – should have bought a house, even if I didn’t have any nice furniture to put in it. This was 30 years ago. The money would have made a great downpayment! (Actually, a better move would have been to buy Microsoft stock.) Another Whopper-error – my husband and I were having financial difficulty/conflicts about money and on outside advice we combined our savings/checking accounts. Bad, bad, bad idea. He’s the spender, I’m the saver and giving him access to everything I saved was really, REALLY unwise!

  • Ritz

    I’ve made a number of serious money errors. The first year after college I saved up $10,000. and blew it all on furniture and a piano – should have bought a house, even if I didn’t have any nice furniture to put in it. This was 30 years ago. The money would have made a great downpayment! (Actually, a better move would have been to buy Microsoft stock.) Another Whopper-error – my husband and I were having financial difficulty/conflicts about money and on outside advice we combined our savings/checking accounts. Bad, bad, bad idea. He’s the spender, I’m the saver and giving him access to everything I saved was really, REALLY unwise!

  • Ritz

    I’ve made a number of serious money errors. The first year after college I saved up $10,000. and blew it all on furniture and a piano – should have bought a house, even if I didn’t have any nice furniture to put in it. This was 30 years ago. The money would have made a great downpayment! (Actually, a better move would have been to buy Microsoft stock.) Another Whopper-error – my husband and I were having financial difficulty/conflicts about money and on outside advice we combined our savings/checking accounts. Bad, bad, bad idea. He’s the spender, I’m the saver and giving him access to everything I saved was really, REALLY unwise!

  • Ritz

    I’ve made a number of serious money errors. The first year after college I saved up $10,000. and blew it all on furniture and a piano – should have bought a house, even if I didn’t have any nice furniture to put in it. This was 30 years ago. The money would have made a great downpayment! (Actually, a better move would have been to buy Microsoft stock.) Another Whopper-error – my husband and I were having financial difficulty/conflicts about money and on outside advice we combined our savings/checking accounts. Bad, bad, bad idea. He’s the spender, I’m the saver and giving him access to everything I saved was really, REALLY unwise!

  • Ritz

    I’ve made a number of serious money errors. The first year after college I saved up $10,000. and blew it all on furniture and a piano – should have bought a house, even if I didn’t have any nice furniture to put in it. This was 30 years ago. The money would have made a great downpayment! (Actually, a better move would have been to buy Microsoft stock.) Another Whopper-error – my husband and I were having financial difficulty/conflicts about money and on outside advice we combined our savings/checking accounts. Bad, bad, bad idea. He’s the spender, I’m the saver and giving him access to everything I saved was really, REALLY unwise!

  • Ritz

    I’ve made a number of serious money errors. The first year after college I saved up $10,000. and blew it all on furniture and a piano – should have bought a house, even if I didn’t have any nice furniture to put in it. This was 30 years ago. The money would have made a great downpayment! (Actually, a better move would have been to buy Microsoft stock.) Another Whopper-error – my husband and I were having financial difficulty/conflicts about money and on outside advice we combined our savings/checking accounts. Bad, bad, bad idea. He’s the spender, I’m the saver and giving him access to everything I saved was really, REALLY unwise!

  • Ritz

    I’ve made a number of serious money errors. The first year after college I saved up $10,000. and blew it all on furniture and a piano – should have bought a house, even if I didn’t have any nice furniture to put in it. This was 30 years ago. The money would have made a great downpayment! (Actually, a better move would have been to buy Microsoft stock.) Another Whopper-error – my husband and I were having financial difficulty/conflicts about money and on outside advice we combined our savings/checking accounts. Bad, bad, bad idea. He’s the spender, I’m the saver and giving him access to everything I saved was really, REALLY unwise!

  • Ritz

    I’ve made a number of serious money errors. The first year after college I saved up $10,000. and blew it all on furniture and a piano – should have bought a house, even if I didn’t have any nice furniture to put in it. This was 30 years ago. The money would have made a great downpayment! (Actually, a better move would have been to buy Microsoft stock.) Another Whopper-error – my husband and I were having financial difficulty/conflicts about money and on outside advice we combined our savings/checking accounts. Bad, bad, bad idea. He’s the spender, I’m the saver and giving him access to everything I saved was really, REALLY unwise!

  • Ritz

    I’ve made a number of serious money errors. The first year after college I saved up $10,000. and blew it all on furniture and a piano – should have bought a house, even if I didn’t have any nice furniture to put in it. This was 30 years ago. The money would have made a great downpayment! (Actually, a better move would have been to buy Microsoft stock.) Another Whopper-error – my husband and I were having financial difficulty/conflicts about money and on outside advice we combined our savings/checking accounts. Bad, bad, bad idea. He’s the spender, I’m the saver and giving him access to everything I saved was really, REALLY unwise!

  • http://Miniskirtmurder.com Valerie

    Tea bags for three months!! That is a serious saver :)

  • http://www.bmwysp.deviantart.com Jennifer Megan Varnadore

    Some of those are hilarious. XD “Best things done with money: Hide it.” We have to hide certain items we buy, so they don’t disappear out of our household as soon as we get them. This is from other people not my fiance, me, and his kids.

  • Michelle

    I love that “Money talks, mine says goodbye” line. That’s hilarious (and true). And I’d have to say one of the craziest things I’ve done to save money was when I lived in a dorm in college. There was no way I was paying $1.50 to put my clothes in the dryer each time (especially since the dryer was as hot as the sun on the lowest setting, your clothes came out smelling slightly singed). So I rigged up a clothes line in my tiny room with an extension cord I wasn’t using. I’m glad my roommate was chill about it.