The Kraken is a mythical sea monster of gargantuan size. When this massive creature surfaced from the ocean depths, its wake caused an enormous whirlpool which sucked ship and crew down with it. Ocassionally the kraken would drag down entire ships with its tentacles. The arms of the Kraken were said to beable to reach as high as the top of a sailing ship’s mast.
In the 1981 version of Clash of the Titans, Perseus uses the decapitated head of Medusa to turn the Kraken into stone to prevent it from ravaging the city of Joppa and killing the sacrificial Andromeda.
Top 20 Biggest Money Wasters
If you are looking for ways to increase your cash flow, than look to see if your spending habits fall into any of these money wasters below.
The Kraken is a great metaphor for these Top 20 Biggest Money Wasters:
- Eating Out
- Pet Product Market
- Brand Names
- Gym Memberships
- Extended warrenties
- Subscriptions you never use
- Car Washes
- ATM fees
- Overdraft fees
- Informercial Products
- Paying for Storage
- Wrong Cell Phone Plan
- Going out to the Movies
- Alcoholic Drinks at Restaurants
- Energy Drinks
- Lottery Tickets
- Strip Clubs
- Driving a Gas Guzzler
- Buying a New Car
- Convenience Stores
Can you think of any others?
To Use Medusa’s Head on the Kraken in your own life….
Let me help you keep/get your personal finances in order. Let me giveaway something fun! So that you don’t need to spend the money on such money wasters, like those listed above.
To Enter the Giveaway
Rules
Only open to U.S (sorry if you are outside of the U.S.)
Must have valid email address
Only 1 entry per person
Winners with the correct answer will be picked by random drawing
Contest ends Wednesday, March 31st @8pm (PST)
Posts needed to search
- 7 Free Printable Budget Worksheets
- Homemade Cleaning Recipes
- How to Make a Budget
- 20 Ways to Cut Expenses
- 28 Ways to Make Extra Money
Happy Hunting!
This contest is closed. Winner will be contacted shortly. Congratulations to Roger of The Amateur Financier!
11. Staying up too late
when I stay up late I eat more. Sometimes I decide I need to go grocery shopping and will spend more because the 24/7 grocery store is more expensive. Or I buy “want” items online.
I don’t believe pets are money wasters IF (!) you do your research into the best pet for you & your situation. I don’t consider my cats money wasters because I value their company and their health very highly. I’ve set up a vet account so I have funds available for vet visits should I need it, and I add about $25 a month to it; not great, but it’s a necessary cushion. This is in lieu of insurance, which I find tricky and which can be expensive if your animals are older and you have no health history on them (both of mine were strays from the shelter, so they had no history).
PS: I found the Kraken!! 🙂 But I’m not in the US, so don’t qualify…sigh…Good luck everyone!
Gotta go with Zeus. Although, Aphrodite is a close second…
I’m not in the US either :(. But fun idea!
You’ve hit some good ones here . . .I’d like to add going out to movies! Stay in and watch them at home with netflicks or something cheap.
Also driving an expensive car period–used, fuel efficient or not. You’ll pay higher insurance AND can sometimes pay higher repair fees.
No doubt: Andromeda. Not only is she a princess but she is also the farthest galaxy that we can see with the naked eye.
Another money (and time) waster – making multiple trips instead of plotting one trip out for errands, appointments, and groceries (as well as not shopping from a list)
Almost forgot – ‘premium content’ on cable TV (big money waster) which may qualify as a sub-part a. under #6, Subscriptions you never use.
Calibos was a terrific villain – loved his last fight scene with Perseus and his thundering bellow.
The story, the ensemble of characters and the respective actors along with Ray Harryhausen’s effects work all combined to make it such a classic movie.
Strip clubs a money waster? Are you sure? 🙂
And gym memberships, those are useful. And we have four cats – they are just so cute and cuddly.
The rest I agree with though – and even strip clubs are a money waster 🙂
Found your Kraken! What a cool idea you had there.
…the mechanical owl, the stygain witches, and Zeus
I gotta cut down on the strip clubs…… j’k. #8, #13, & #14 are spot on. But I can’t believe you put pets as money wasters on the list, Christine!
Speedy and Simba are very unhappy with you right now…
Okay, okay… LOL. I love Cody and Little Kitty, too. And my fish that are way to expensive. I updated to mean the pet product market with all its frilly gadgets and things. Like the new plants I continuously buy for my fish. Those dorky fish are spoiled!
Hmmmm, I guess I waste a bit of money! Let’s see, pets, eating out, and going out to the movies…but I would waste this money every time as I get value from each of these things!
We are considering a family gym membership…I think we may do it so that we can all get back into shape, and do it together. So, I guess you can add that to my list….
My money waster item to add? Not making a list and sticking to it when you go to the grocery store! Too many temptations can wreak havoc on the grocery bill. I should know, I’m a pro! 🙂
Aphrodite! Eating out is number 1!
LOL. So many great answer(s) for Money Wasters and the Kraken Entry.
Okay, I updated the ‘Pets’ to say ‘Pet Product Market’. I love my pets, but they are spoiled with their ‘extras’.
And strip clubs.. well, I know there is arguments there. I guess if you feel the $100 you dropped on the dancer was worth it, then its not totally wasted. But now think, if you invested that money into a high yield account after X amount of years… okay, delayed gratification or wanting it now. 😉
Yes, how about PAYING FOR LUGGAGE FEES charged by airliners!
Nice list you have there. http://moneyhoneysf.blogspot.com/
I love the fact that I just discovered a list that put pets, gym memberships, ATM fees and Strip Clubs into the same category.
I loved Clash of the Titans when I was a kid! I had forgotten that it was Medusa’s head that turned it to stone.
Love the free printable worksheets, I’m going to download a couple of them. Great tips too on the 20 ways to save money.
Lottery tickets; why do people buy them endlessly? If they took all that cash they spent monthly and put in into a savings account, they’d be much better off!
But did you find the Kraken and follow its instructions? Free movie tickets for one random entry – if they have the correct answer. 😉
BTW, my husband is one of those endless lottery ticket buyers. It drives me insane. Put all that $ into an account and he’ll have his million in no time. LOL.
Day Spa Beauty treatments
Dry cleaners
Now, I might have to disagree with the Day Spa Beauty treatments. LOL. But I guess that goes with the same level as strip clubs.
Athena FTW!!
No one really understands why I won’t drink when we go out … yes I’m a lightweight and that makes me a cheap drunk but c’moonn, that money could better be spent on yummy food if it has to be spent at all!
i’ve found the kraken! Athena.
Good Answer!
Athena. Not sure why, but probably because of the actresses that have played her. I used to watch Hercules when it was on tv.
Christine – Yeah I would definitely add some variant of the “food-you-buy but-sits-in-the-cupboard-for-12-weeks-and-then-goes-bad-because-you-forget it’s-there or-don’t feel-like-eating it-or-was-part-of-some-diet-trend-you never-started” etc. (wow that’s too many hyphens; its 1:17 AM where I am, forgive me!)
Also books. I read lots of books. Unfortunately many of them end up on my shelf as I just don’t have time to read the many different titles that I pick up. Normally I would never say purchasing books would be a “money waster” but if you don’t read them, it’s true! (also old college textbooks that are still hanging in my storage room that I never sold…why???)
-B
That was a long winded statement. LOL. But, I agree. There is much to be eaten in my cupboard.
Books, too. The depreciate so fast. But I give them to my library every once in a while. Since they are opening a huge new library in the next year. 😉
=( I’m not in the US, but I loved your post!
LOL Pet products I’m a HUGE sucker for that one. *sigh*!
What a fun, creative post (clap-clap-clap-clap)!
Hmmm, money wasters… Okay here’s one:
Driving your car to work!
An alternative would be to telecommute a few days a week augmented by car pooling (or riding the bus) on the days you don’t telecommute!
Well now if you have a small car like me with good gas mileage and see that the train is going up in price and it took more time for me to get home (by half hour)… that one doesn’t apply. LOL.
But in truth, many don’t have the economical little car with awesome gas mileage… would definitely apply!
Hahaha
“#17 Strip clubs”
seems a little out of place. Cracked up a little bit after reading that one.
Pingback: Inherited IRAs – Please Avoid This Mistake
I found the Kraken! Aphrodite!
Strip Clubs… now if you really enjoyed yourself for the money than I would assume its worth it. Just like my day spas are worth every penny. But if you are looking to cut back… cutting these two would definitely give you cash back in your wallet! 🙂
Athena!!
Eating out/carry out is our biggest waster….and Diet Coke out of the machine at work….gotta switch to water.
Perseus (or maybe I’m thinking of Harry Hamlin?).
I FOUND IT!
I have go with Athena all the way…
Thanks
Ha ha, I was wondering where the post was going :)… “Alcoholic Drinks at Restaurants”… does that mean gettng stupidly drunk at home is ok ;).
I won’t enter as the card isn’t much use to me here but it’s a cool contest…. Best of luck to the participants.
Pingback: Yakezie Challenge Carnival #5 | Cool to be Frugal
Zeus’s character! Thanks
Like Zeus’ character. Thanks
Heh, strip clubs seem a bit out of place on this list, but is still a big source of wasted time and money. Plus, it’s one funny addition.
Zeus, it has to be Zeus. The original Mac Daddy, fathering children with humans, nymphs, gods, and everything in between. I’ll say it again: Zeus.
I love all the answers coming in!
I wanna see Cassiopeia!
The biggest money waster ever is buying any asset (property, stocks, etc) at too high a level. Buy too high and spend forever trying to recoup your investment.
Best,
Sam
Thank you very much for such a great and cool contest, and thank you doubly so for selecting me as the winner! I appreciate it greatly!
You are welcome! I did think it turned out well. I am going to need to come up with the next great idea for a contest! 🙂
You did find your cert in the email, yes?