Moneywise staff confesses worst money mistakes — from ignoring subscriptions to sacrificing first home 'must-haves'

When Moneywise staff members were asked about their biggest financial mistakes, they shared some costly errors that could serve as cautionary tales for others. One editor confessed to unknowingly paying for three Amazon Prime memberships for seven years, a mistake that cost them nearly $4,000. They learned the importance of regularly auditing their subscriptions and reading credit card statements for recurring charges.

Another staffer recounted their experience purchasing their first home during a competitive early-COVID market. Faced with limited options, they compromised on certain criteria, ending up with a condo that had higher-than-expected maintenance fees and an additional parking expense. These choices ultimately left them feeling "extremely behind" with their finances.

A third editor admitted to consistently overlooking their credit card statements, leading to years of unrecognized charges. They discovered that TransUnion had mistakenly signed them up for a paid credit-monitoring service. This experience taught them to review their bills monthly and be cautious of deceptive credit bureau practices.