Want to drain your bank account, spiral into debt, and stress about money 24/7? No? Cool — then you might want to avoid doing literally everything on this list.
Sometimes the best way to learn how to win with money… is to look at what people do to lose it fast. So let’s break it down: here’s how to go broke in under a year — and more importantly, how not to.
1. Spend More Than You Earn
Want to fast-track your way to broke-ville? Spend like your paycheck is endless. Max out credit cards, swipe without a second thought, and treat every shopping spree like a party — no matter what your bank account says.
This mindset is the fastest route to debt, stress, and financial headaches. Ignoring how much money you actually have will leave you scrambling when bills hit or emergencies pop up.
Do this instead: Get real with your finances. Track every dollar that comes in and goes out. Knowing your numbers isn’t about limiting fun — it’s about taking back control. When you understand your cash flow, you make smarter choices and avoid unnecessary debt.
Need a simple way to start? Try my free saving challenge to build healthy money habits without feeling overwhelmed.
2. Avoid Budgeting Like It’s the Plague
Budgeting sounds “boring” — until it’s the end of the month, your rent is due, and your bank account is whispering sweet nothings (read: empty). When you don’t tell your money where to go, it just… disappears. Fast.
Flying blind might feel more chill in the moment, but long-term? It’s chaos. No plan = no progress. You’re constantly reacting, playing catch-up, and wondering why you’re broke again.
Do this instead: Start with any plan — even a messy one. Use a basic spreadsheet, a cute budget planner (I like this one), or a beginner-friendly budgeting app. The goal isn’t perfection. It’s clarity. Knowing what’s coming in, what’s going out, and where the leaks are.
Need help getting started? Check out my guide on how to stick to a budget — it’s beginner-friendly, shame-free, and packed with methods that actually work (even if you’ve failed at budgeting before).
3. Treat Every Emotion with a Purchase
Feeling down? Swipe the card. Feeling good? Reward yourself — with a purchase, of course. Stressed, bored, anxious, lonely, celebrating, procrastinating… There’s no mood a little online shopping spree can’t “fix,” right?
Wrong. Emotional spending is one of the fastest (and sneakiest) ways to drain your bank account. It feels harmless in the moment — a $20 treat here, a little self-care splurge there — but over time, those impulse buys add up. And worst of all? They don’t actually solve the root problem. You end up with buyer’s remorse and the original feeling you were trying to avoid.
Do this instead: Get real about your triggers. Are you shopping to feel better? To feel in control? To avoid something? Once you spot the pattern, you can break it. Try swapping the spending habit with low-cost (or free) alternatives that still give you a dopamine boost — think: going for a walk, journaling, rage-cleaning your closet, or even texting a friend.
The goal isn’t to never spend — it’s to stop letting your emotions run your wallet.
Want to dig deeper into smart spending habits? My post on how to stick to a budget is a game-changer for learning how to spend with intention (without sucking all the joy out of your life).
4. Ignore Your Debt
Want a guaranteed way to stay broke (or go broker)? Just pretend your debt doesn’t exist. Don’t check your balance, don’t open those emails, and definitely don’t look at the interest rate — it’ll totally go away on its own, right?
Here’s the truth: ignoring your debt doesn’t make it disappear — it just gives it time to grow. Interest piles up, late fees sneak in, and your credit score slowly tanks. What started as a manageable situation can spiral into something way harder to recover from. It’s like ignoring a fire alarm and hoping the smoke will politely exit your house.
Do this instead: Face it head-on. Take a deep breath, list out every debt you owe (even that random $40 you owe your cousin), and choose a payoff strategy. The debt avalanche method knocks out high-interest debt first and saves you the most money over time, while the snowball method gives you quick wins by paying off the smallest debts first.
Whichever you choose, the most important step is… actually starting. Even small progress builds momentum, and feeling in control of your finances is way more satisfying than pretending everything’s fine while your debt silently eats your paycheck.
Want more tips on saving while paying off debt? Check out my free Saving Challenge — it’s designed to help you build good habits without feeling broke in the process.
5. Don’t Save — YOLO!
Seriously, why bother? Saving money is for people who want peace of mind and financial stability — and that’s not the vibe here.
So go ahead: spend every dollar you make. Treat your paycheck like it’s disappearing in 24 hours (because it probably will). Forget emergency funds — when your car breaks down or your laptop dies, just panic and figure it out later. Maybe start a GoFundMe. Maybe cry a little. Who needs a safety net when you’ve got vibes?
But if — just if — you decide that maybe being broke during every mini-crisis isn’t the move…
Check out this guide on saving money and grab my free Saving Challenge. It’ll help you build a rainy day fund without killing your joy.
Because let’s be honest — not saving is the fastest way to stay broke. But you knew that.
6. Skip All Forms of Income Growth
Want to stay broke forever? Easy: just never grow your income. Settle into that underpaid job like it’s your forever home. Turn down raises (or better yet, never ask for one). Never explore new opportunities. Don’t learn new skills. And please — whatever you do — never, ever start a side hustle.
Meanwhile, rent goes up, gas prices spike, and your grocery bill somehow triples… but your paycheck? Same as last year. Congrats — you’re working just as hard (if not harder) and falling further behind every month. That’s one way to guarantee a broke future.
Want to flip the script? Start by learning how to turn your skills into cash with my complete freelancing guide. It breaks down how to start from scratch, land your first client, and grow your income even if you’ve never freelanced before.
You don’t need to quit your job tomorrow — but if you ignore income growth completely, your budget won’t stand a chance.
7. Believe That Money Is Evil
If you believe money is evil, greedy, or something “good people” shouldn’t care about — congrats, you’re already halfway to financial chaos. This mindset ensures you’ll sabotage every attempt to save, earn more, or grow your wealth. Because why would you want to keep something you secretly think is bad?
Here’s the thing: if you treat money like the enemy, it’s not going to stick around. You’ll find ways to get rid of it — overspending, ignoring your bank account, avoiding anything that smells like financial responsibility. All while wondering why you never seem to have enough.
Want to break that cycle? Read this post on how to build a better relationship with money. It’ll help you shift your mindset, ditch the guilt, and start seeing money as the powerful tool it is — not something to fear or avoid.
Remember: it’s not about loving money blindly. It’s about understanding that money, when managed well, gives you freedom, options, and the ability to do good — including for yourself.
Nobody wants to be broke — but a lot of people accidentally follow the broke-person playbook without realizing it. The good news is you can flip the script today. It’s not about being perfect — it’s about being intentional. Small changes in how you spend, save, and think about money can literally change your entire year.
And if you want a fun, no-pressure way to get started, download my free Saving Challenge. It’s the easiest way to build smart money habits without stressing.