The average wedding costs $30,000. That’s incredible but understandable when you start adding up all the “standard” wedding costs. After paying for a venue, rings, a wedding dress, food and alcohol, and all the other things that make up a wedding, it’s pretty hard to stay frugal.
Have you ever recognized benign habits that you wish you could give up, but they seem pretty harmless? You’re not alone. Many of us have compulsions, addictions, and unhealthy habits that can affect every aspect of our lives—and they’re often overlooked due to their subtle nature. From eating too much sugar or ice cream to checking one’s social media notifications several times a day, the need for instant gratification has taken its toll on society today, leading many people down an unhealthy path without even noticing it.
In this blog post, we’ll be exploring the top 13 addictions and habits that everyone should be aware. If you’ve been looking for ways to make positive changes in your life and reduce stress, then dive into this comprehensive list!
1. Checking the News
One Redditor shared, “NEWS addiction.”
Another replied, “People get addicted to the cortisol hit from getting outraged, so a lot of news outlets realize they just need to keep the cortisol flowing. Edit: Per comments, I changed ‘dopamine’ to ‘cortisol’.”
One commenter added, “It’s neurologically a very similar addiction to gambling. In both cases, it’s less about getting something positive and more about getting something negative and then feeling they have to cancel or counterbalance the negative with a positive… that always seems just out of reach but never seems to come. So they dig themselves a hole of negativity.”
Another user posted, “A few years ago, I realized it was taking a toll on me. The first thing I’d do when I got up was check the news, then periodically check it throughout the day, and it was frequently the last thing I did before falling asleep. So, I just decided I have to check it maybe once or twice to stay informed, but that’s it. I even hid political subreddits, so I won’t see them unless I actively go to them.
“There’s just no reason to be glued to the news all day long. That much anger or depression or whatever is no good for your mental well-being, and it’s very rare that something is going on in the world where you need hourly updates. I think most people would be a lot happier if they cut back on gorging on news and politics.”
“YES! Absolutely. Especially the doom-scrolling and sensationalized side of things. I’ve just written a much longer comment about this, but it creates a physical dopamine dependency and changes habits,” replied another user.
2. Justified Outrage
One user posted, “Outrage is an addiction. Some people seek it out, actively searching for a reason to hate their neighbors just so they can get their hit of dopamine. It feeds news addiction, tribalism, and eventually extremism. It’s the source of so much violence, so many divided houses and ruined lives, but we do nothing to curb it.”
“I remember my uncle, who had a history of domestic violence to my aunt before she passed of cancer, told the family he has an anger problem. My dad said, ‘But you’re able to keep it together every time a cop is around.’ The look on his face and the dead silence… An anger issue is not an excuse,” another replied.
One commenter added, “My Dad was always going on violent outbursts, literally every day. Remember a few times their doorbell would ring, and he’d flip to being charming in a split second. It’d be salespeople, charity collectors, and even Mormons. He was always extremely polite, and they probably saw him as one of the most pleasant people he encountered. Pure sociopathy.”
3. Shopping
“Shopping,” one user posted.
Another user replied, “I just got back this month after being in rehab for 2 months for weed, alcohol, and [other drugs], and at my therapy, they asked me if I noticed any cross addictions. I told my therapist I think I have a shopping addiction, and she told me it’s a common addiction that goes unnoticed way too many times.”
One user confirmed, “My hoarder mother 1000% has a shopping addiction.”
Another Redditor said, “My MIL is a hoarder, and it is ridiculous; she has 3 storage units (one she’s had for 20+ years), her home, and my husband’s grandmother’s garage full of her sh-t. We have tried to help clean out the garage, but MIL always has to be there when we try and has to go through every single box/bag/etc, and physically touch every single item. 9 years and the garage still has not been cleaned out.”
4. Video Games
One online user shared, “I always laughed at the idea of video game addiction. It sounded so overblown until I met a guy who honestly defined it for me. We used to chat and hang out weekly. He quit his job and now just lives at home with his mum, mooching off her to sit in his room and play games for close to 16 hours a day. After refusing to hang out long enough, I just gave up on him.”
Another user exclaimed, “FINALLY, I found someone who mentioned video games. I grew up gaming, I absolutely loved playing them throughout my entire childhood and into adulthood, but I have seen addiction to video games absolutely destroy people. Part of me is glad that I simply don’t have the time to play them much anymore. Maybe an hour or two a week. But I know adults in their 30s and 40s who are still obsessed, to the point of not wanting to do anything else.”
5. Addiction to Phones
“Phone addiction—no explanation needed,” one Redditor shared.
Another user added, “My stomach drops every time I see my daily average screen time. It’s hard to realize how much time you spend scrolling until you actually see the numbers.”
One commenter said, “That’s why I turned screen time off. I don’t need that type of negativity in my life, lmao.”
Another user added, “My phone addiction varies based on my mental health state. I’ve been in a depression that has apparently become a downward spiral, according to my therapist. I’m capable of doing the bare minimum to keep my kid alive, and then I live on my phone the rest of the time. I’m even on it at work. My therapist wants me to be an inpatient, but the idea of not having my phone for even the three-day minimum stay has me freaking out.”
6. Sleeping to Escape
One user shared, “When my depression is terrible, I’d say sleep. It’s a free, safe way to escape but ultimately feeds the depression, becoming a destructive cycle. It doesn’t sound that bad, but it’s consuming. Edit: Some people are confused, so I’ll clarify. It’s not because of a lack of rest. It’s not the sleep itself; it’s the dreaming (aka escape). A different ‘reality’ that feels very real and isn’t this one. Maybe I’m just not explaining it right, but yeah.”
Another user replied, “Thank you for saying this! I was labeled as a typical ‘lazy teenager,’ and it wasn’t till I was in my final year of uni that a friend asked if I was OK and explained oversleeping as a symptom of mental health issues.
“The truth was I was so miserable I just didn’t want to be conscious and experience it. Better to be asleep with a teeny tiny hope that I might feel a bit better when I woke up. I had virtually no awareness of mental health issues then and therefore had no vocabulary to articulate how I felt. I feel sad for that lost time, but at least I can recognize it now for what it was.
“Edit to add: this has, unfortunately, resonated with a few people. Keep your chin up; it can and does get better eventually. Get help from your support network of friends and family and professional help. I hope you feel better soon.”
“Well said. There are days I can sleep 4-5 hours, be productive and alert, and just kill it. Then there are days when I sleep at least 11+ hours and on my phone the other 13 while doing the BARE minimum to skate by, realizing that. Hey! You’re not eating better; the 50ish pounds you lost in 3 months is from depressively not eating. I hate being depressed and all the extra stuff it brings that makes life even harder than it is,” one user responded.
7. Workaholism
One Redditor posted, “Work Addiction—most people will say they dislike working extra, but the responsibility you feel towards your co-workers and the purpose work gives your life can make you work more than you should. Source: addicted to work.”
One added, “I worked for one manager who literally had an addiction to work so bad it was ruining her life. She was a recovering drug addict, and I guess staying busy helped her cope, but she just traded one addiction for another.
“We worked for a corporate retail chain; she would be the first one there and the last one to leave every day, and she never scheduled herself a day off. She would clock herself out when she hit her 40 hrs to avoid getting flak from her management, but she was easily working 110+ hours a week, and more than half of that was unpaid.
“Her family, her ex-husband, and her kids would come by periodically and try to get her to go home, and her entire staff, including me, constantly tried to get her just to go home, but she was afraid the place couldn’t run without her present for even a second. It was really sad because we could all see her obsession with being there was destroying her mentally and physically, as her sleep had to have been horrendously impacted since she was there 15-16 hours a day.
“I spoke with HR about it, and they said they had already been aware of it for some time and that they weren’t going to do anything about it. That incredible amount of incredulity and not giving a shit about the super illegal and dangerous fact that they were letting an employee work for free for 70+ hours a week were obviously huge red flags for me, so that was my last day.
“A couple of years later now, she still works there, and this is still happening.”
8. Addiction to Junk Food
One user shared, “Junk food. Sugar. Soda. I am addicted to these things and wish to break that habit.”
Another confirmed, “I quit smoking quite easily, but I cannot for the life of me quit sugar. So much harder, in.”
“I think I just swapped my after-dinner cigarette for after-dinner chocolate. Doesn’t matter how satisfying the meal was. I still crave some chocolate later,” one user replied.
Another user shared, “Apologies in advance for the unsolicited advice, but your comment hit a chord with me. Is it specifically chocolate you crave? ’cause I used to crave chocolate constantly. It got to the point where I’d buy the cheapest milk chocolate bars from my grocery store and eat a couple of pieces every day, trying to limit how much chocolate I was eating but also trying to stop the constant craving for it.
“Supposedly being low in magnesium can cause chocolate cravings. I figured more magnesium couldn’t hurt, so I started eating more food with magnesium, and the craving went away! I still have a massive sweet tooth, and I love chocolate, but that never-ending chocolate craving has stopped, thank goodness.
“Maybe something to try if it seems relevant to you? I know this is just a very unscientific anecdote; maybe it was something else going on with me that just naturally stopped. Maybe the slight changes in my diet I made solved it in some other way. Who knows!”
9. Social Media
“Social media addiction,” one user responded.
Another user replied, “Including Reddit. Source: Reddit addict.”
“Yup. I spend way too much time on this stupid app,” one user confirmed.
One user commented, “I tell myself I’m learning new stuff every day. Then my wife asks me to tell her something new and interesting I found on Reddit, and I can’t think of a single thing.”
10. Dermatillomania
One Redditor commented, “Skin picking, aka, dermatillomania. It’s so overlooked that our society has glorified it. We have a show called Dr. Pimple Popper! Wtf!”
Another user commented, “I wish I could replace that [terrible] habit somehow.”
One user replied, “Same. I don’t get the Dr. Pimple Popper thing. Mine is picking at any skin that is not smooth on my skin. On the scalp, around my nails, blemishes on my face, arms, and chest. If I have a scab, that will take forever to heal because I do it subconsciously on occasion and even do it at night when I’m asleep, no matter where it is on my ‘pick zones.’ Something in my mind says if I pick it, I may reveal healed areas beneath it… and then it starts all over again once it starts bleeding. Looking at it typed out is really disturbing, tbh. But I’m proud that I stopped picking at my lips!!!”
11. Tribalism
“Tribalism. People become indoctrinated and too engrossed to realize it. People become so addicted they choose to kill over sports, vehicle types, religion(s), politics, etc… and it’s by design. People act less intelligent when they’re a part of a group. (Mob mentality).
“Edited because syntax/grammar police attacked my auto-fill. Proofread everything, kids,” one user shared.
One Redditor replied, “Outrage is the addiction; tribalism is just one of the many crack pipes through which it is consumed. People are seeking Outrage. Tribalism gives a sense of legitimacy to the Outrage.”
12. Nasal Spray Addiction
A user posted, “Nasal spray. There are plenty of other, much worse things I could shove up my nose, but still. I can’t breathe through my nose without it, and I can’t stand that it’s like this.”
One user replied, “I’ve been there! It’s pretty fast to reverse the dependency, though—you can switch to saline or Neti pot for a couple of days to get you over the hump, but I’ve found my nose clears up after 2-3 days without it. 2-3 VERY uncomfortable sleepless days, mind you.”
The OP responded, “I’ll have to give that a shot! Thanks!!”
13. Addiction to the Gym
One of the online users shared, “Gym addiction. It’s the only thing keeping me sane these days. Started because I wanted to gain muscles, now the thought of taking a prolonged rest is quite dreadful.”
Another user replied, “The rest is so true. It’s so difficult to let yourself rest, even if it’s just for a week. Interestingly, sometimes you end up coming out of the rest week stronger than if you’d kept lifting through it, too!”
“This is something I learned while I was a soldier. I struggled at first with my PT tests, so I worked out all the time. Eventually, someone told me that rest and recovery were basically as important as working out and that I NEEDED to let my body rest and heal. Lo and behold, I was stronger and faster after rest breaks because my body was actually recovered and I could properly use the strength and speed I had been working on building in the gym,” one Redditor commented.
Do you agree with the things listed above? Share your thoughts in the comments!
Source: Reddit.
These are 10 Things That Completely Destroyed The Love in a Relationship
There’s no question that relationships can be confusing, but here are some of the top things to avoid if you want to keep your relationship healthy!
10 Actors and Actresses People Refuse to Watch Ever Again
We all have a favorite actor or actress, but most of us have a least-favorite as well. Check out this list of actors and actresses people never want to see performing again!
Top 10 Worst Human Inventions of All Time
Some inventions are world-changing, and some of them, well, they change the world in the wrong ways. Here are some of the worst inventions Redditors could think of.
10 Famous Celebrities Who Look Like They Smell Terrible
We’ve all had moments of hygiene faux pas—but these celebrities just look like they don’t take care of themselves at all.
10 Terrible Fads People Are Glad Died Out
Every fad has its time in the limelight, but some of them come and go faster than others; and some just need to die out right away. Check out this list of fads of which people were happy to see the last.
As the pandemic persists, most Americans’ financial positions are precarious at best, dire at worst. Thankfully our bank accounts are receiving their own helpful injection: a third stimulus check.
While you might be tempted to splurge your check on a purse or a PS5 (no judgment), you might also consider these financially mindful options, which can help lower your stress and multiply your money.
There are many different ways you can choose to approach this. So, I wanted to give you a lot of different options, in hopes that at least one or two of them may resonate with your unique financial position.
What’s Ahead:
Bulk up Your Emergency Fund
One of the best ways to improve your finances with your stimulus check is to bulk up your emergency fund. That is if you have one. If you don’t, it is absolutely time that you get one started. Trust me, you will be thankful when an emergency comes your way.
You don’t have to start big, but anything is better than nothing. Even if you only deposit ⅓ or ½ of what your stimulus check is, you have already helped create a financial buffer for yourself.
I know that when my family’s emergency fund has at least six months’ worth of expenses in it, we feel much more secure than when it dips lower. The peace of mind of knowing that you are prepared for an emergency, should one come up, is absolutely incredible.
What helped me build my emergency fund up faster was a high-yield savings account. While what they consider “high-yield” these days isn’t exactly what it used to be, they still offer much higher interest rates than you would get at a traditional bank.
There are quite a few options out there, but one of my favorites is the CIT Savings Builder. You only need $100 to open an account, and there are no fees. If you are able to put in a minimum of $100 each month (or maintain a balance of $25,000 or more), then you will earn the highest interest rate they have (1.00%). See details here.
So, if you don’t already have an emergency fund set up, this is the first place I would suggest starting.
CIT Bank. Member FDIC.
Give Your Budget a Boost
Another way to use your stimulus money is to sprinkle it into malnourished areas of your budget. After all, the point of stimulus checks is to stimulate the economy and your budget is where you plan your spending.
For example, maybe you’ve had to reduce your spending on entertainment, travel, or even groceries over the past year. If so, consider using your third round of stimulus money to replenish those silos. You may even consider planning to spread that money out over multiple months’ budgets, in order to create a small safety net just in case your income decreases.
Personally, I started out budgeting using a spreadsheet that I created in 2002 (which has thankfully evolved!). If you are new to budgeting, or just need a little help, there are a lot of budgeting tools out there. Some of these are free and some are not, but spending a small portion of your stimulus check on a subscription to one may not be a bad idea.
One app that can be a big help is PocketSmith, which serves as a personal assistant for your finances. What I like about PocketSmith is that it shows you the future. As you budget, the app demonstrates how today’s expenditures will affect your finances months, and even years, from now. The best thing about PocketSmith, though, is that you don’t have to pay a dime for the basic version. You’ll have to manually import your transactions and you’ll only get six months of future projections, but it’s worth it.
Subscribe to a Financial Management Tool
Financial management tools (think budgeting tools) are extremely useful in improving your finances. They can effectively help you determine your weaknesses and figure out an action plan to help you reach your financial goals faster.
If you don’t have one in your toolbelt, why not consider spending some of your stimulus money on one? Because at the end of the day, using a tool to help you budget is going to save you so much money down the road. This is something almost all financial advisors agree upon – and anybody for that matter who has used one.
Most financial management tools have different plan options, set at different price points, so you can customize your experience to match your needs. There are many different options out there to help you manage your finances, but, two of my favorites are both very interactive, and have multiple options to help you maximize how you manage your finances.
Empower is another great example. They have been around for quite some time now, and I have been using them for years. They not only offer a net worth map (which is one of my favorite tools), but a portfolio analysis, fee Analyzer, and budgeting tool.
Empower ties into all of your bank and investment accounts to aggregate the numbers and figures appropriately. This really helps to give you a bigger picture of everything that is going on with your finances.
(Personal Capital is now Empower)
Invest it
If you already have an emergency fund and have a comfortable budget, then there is another great option. You could use some, or all, of your stimulus check to invest in the stock market instead. You could, with time, turn your check into even more money!
Since my husband and I have started investing in the stock market, it has become one of our favorite activities to help improve our finances. The average return on investments annually in the stock market is around 8%, which can really help improve your finances.
This doesn’t mean you are guaranteed an 8% return on your money every year. This is just the average over time. So, some years will be better than others, but there is no time like the present to get started.
Robinhood is an especially good option, geared towards Millennials and Gen Z who are new to investing. Not only is it easy to get started, but they make it simple to navigate trades also. You can even perform all functions directly from their app on your phone, so you can manage your investments on the go!
Robinhood has no fees for setting up an account and it’s commission-free. Plus, they give you a free stock worth between $5 and $200 just for signing up!
Pay a Tax Preparer
If you haven’t filed your taxes yet, and want to make sure you get the best return possible, it may be beneficial to pay a tax preparer. Tax preparers are experts at tax code and finding all of the tax write-offs you may be eligible for. I don’t know about you, but I happen to be a big fan of getting as many tax write-offs as possible because it reduces how much I have to pay in taxes. In fact, for me, it usually means I get a bigger return. Which I love!
If you aren’t sure a tax preparer is worth it for you and your unique situation, you could always go the tax software route instead. Tax software likeTurboTax generally costs much less than a tax preparer does, but can still help you find write-offs to lower your taxes!
Hire a Financial Advisor
If you don’t already have a financial advisor, then this may be a good use of your stimulus check. Financial advisors are an essential tool to have in anyone’s financial toolbelt, definitely if your financial situation has recently changed.
A financial advisor will go through every aspect of your finances with you to help determine the best path for you to reach your goal. And if you aren’t sure what your future financial goal is, they can help you figure that out, too.
Just make sure whomever you choose as your financial advisor is a fiduciary. A fiduciary is a fee-only advisor who doesn’t make commissions on sales. Therefore, fiduciaries have your best interest at heart.
If you decide to hire a financial advisor using your stimulus check, then one of the best places to start is the Paladin Registry. This is an online marketplace specifically created to help you find a financial advisor that will work for you. Even better, they specialize in mostly independent fiduciary financial advisors, instead of advisors at brand name firms.
Open a “Lazy Portfolio” of Long-Term Investments
Earlier I covered how you can use your third stimulus check to begin actively investing in the stock market using platforms like Robinhood.
But what if you’d like to multiply your money in the stock market without being so hands-on? What if you’re not sure what stocks and ETFs to pick?
Then a “lazy portfolio” might be perfect for you. The term “lazy” comes from how easy it is to start and maintain; nobody will call you lazy for having one, since tons of professionals use them!
A lazy portfolio is a bundle of long-term investments that you pick once, and simply allow to mature over years and decades with little to no intervention. Contrary to popular belief, you don’t have to be buying and selling stocks all day to make money in the stock market. In fact, buying and holding often works better, saves you time, and keeps your stress levels much lower than day trading.
You can launch a lazy portfolio using M1, an investing app geared towards mid-to-long-term investments. M1 prompts you to build “M1 Pies,” which are like bundles of bundles of bundles of investments (talk about diversification). For example, a 40% “slice” of your pie could be M1’s “responsible investing” portfolio, made up of a diverse and safe array of ETFs.
Increase Your Auto Insurance Coverage
Like a fire extinguisher, good auto insurance is something you don’t think about until you need it. Then, you’re really, really glad you have it.
As life returns to normal and businesses reopen, you might find yourself commuting again soon (if you haven’t already). For that reason, now is a good time to consider revisiting your auto insurance coverage levels, and fortifying certain areas as necessary.
One example might be your comprehensive coverage. Will your car be exposed to the elements during your upcoming policy period? Has auto-related crime risen in your area during the pandemic? These are both solid reasons to consider increasing your comprehensive coverage levels and/or reducing your deductible.
Buy Life Insurance
Stephen Colbert once asked Keanu Reeves what he thinks happens when we die. The legendary actor responded, “I know that the ones who love us will miss us.”
That’s true for all of us, and if you have family members that rely upon your income, they may suffer financially as well.
If you have dependents, e.g. relatives or children whom you support financially, you might consider taking out a life insurance policy for yourself and listing them as the beneficiaries. I know, facing your own mortality and thinking about what your family will do if you pass away is not a pleasant thought process, but once you get over the initial discomfort, purchasing a life insurance policy can bring peace to you and your loved ones.
Policies are typically sold as “term life insurance” policies, meaning you pick your total years of coverage upfront. Terms typically range from 10 to 30 years, with some providers offering increments of 5 or even more flexible terms. Plus, term life insurance is pretty cheap when you’re young and healthy.
You’ll like be able to find a super cheap rate for a term life insurance policy by visiting Policygenius. You can enter your info just once and see multiple competing rates from reputable, trustworthy companies. Plus, Policygenius isn’t just for life insurance; it’s a veritable insurance bazaar, where you can find the lowest possible rates for auto, home, disability, life, jewelry, health, even pet insurance.
Buy Pet Insurance
Another great way to protect your hard-earned money is to spend a little of your stimulus on some pet insurance. Pets, like people, have expensive medical bills; a single trip to the vet can cost $3,000 – $10,000 depending on the illness or emergency, so it pays to have your fur baby covered.
Thankfully, although the medical bills are equally horrifying, pet insurance is much cheaper than people insurance. A healthy young pet with minimal coverage may only cost around $15 to $30 per month to insure, while an older pet with pre-existing conditions may cost around $70 – $90 per month. An average pet with average coverage levels will cost around $45 monthly.
Plus, having pet insurance can remove a lot of hidden background stress from pet ownership. As a dog owner myself, it’s no fun to think of my little mutt as a potential source of financial burden. Pet insurance eliminates that possibility, so she and I can focus on enjoying each other’s smelly company.
Pay Off Debt
This one may seem obvious, but one of the best things you can do with your stimulus money is to pay off some of your existing debt.
Your existing debt might include student loans, your auto loan, or even run-of-the-mill credit card debt. And even if you’re already on track to pay off these loans in a timely manner, it helps a ton to put a $1,400 ding in it for a few reasons.
First, some of this debt may be charging you month-to-month interest. Credit cards especially are notorious for gouging debt holders with upwards of 29.99% APR, which can quickly drain your credit score and lead you further into debt.
Second, even your lower-interest debt like your auto loan or student loans can benefit from applying your $1,400 stimulus check as an “extra payment” or two. Doing so can reduce your remaining payments but also potentially lower your interest, saving you even more.
If your $1,400 check helps you pay off a loan early, just be sure to check your lender’s early payoff terms. Some lenders will charge you a fee or a percentage of your remaining interest if you pay off your loan early. In most cases, it’s still worth it, but you should factor in these fees nonetheless.
Spend it
Last but not least, spending your stimulus check can be a great way to improve your finances. I realize that sounds counterintuitive, but it’s really not. After all, the government sent out stimulus checks to stimulate the economy during this pandemic. So, if you are already set in all of the other categories, then this is likely the category for you.
Here’s just one example of how spending your stimulus check can improve your finances in the long run: if you invest in home improvements, they can help increase the value of your home. This will net you more money when you go to sell your house or if you decide to apply for a home equity loan with a company. The more equity you have built up in your home, the more opportunities you have to access that money down the road.
Lastly, spending doesn’t always have to provide a fiscal return on investment. If a purse or a PS5 will bring you more than $500 worth of joy, go for it. The purpose of money isn’t just to make it and invest it, but to spend it in ways that improve our quality of life.
So don’t feel guilty about spending your stimulus if that’s the right move for you. Just spend it wisely, and be sure to get a good deal.
Summary
If you qualify for a stimulus check, there are so many things you could do with it. But, the best thing you can do is to use it to improve your finances. There are many different ways to go about this, and it will be different for each one of us.
No matter which path you choose, make sure to maximize your stimulus check’s potential and think before you spend.
Read more:
¹ For Figure Home Equity Line, APRs can be as low as 4.49% for the most qualified applicants and will be higher for other applicants, depending on credit profile and the state where the property is located. For example, for a borrower with a CLTV of 45% and a credit score of 800 who is eligible for and chooses to pay a 4.99% origination fee in exchange for a reduced APR, a five-year Figure Home Equity Line with an initial draw amount of $50,000 would have a fixed annual percentage rate (APR) of 3.00%. The total loan amount would be $52,495. Alternatively, a borrower with the same credit profile who pays a 3% origination fee would have an APR of 4.00% and a total loan amount of $51,500. Your actual rate will depend on many factors such as your credit, combined loan to value ratio, loan term, occupancy status, and whether you are eligible for and choose to pay an origination fee in exchange for a lower rate. Payment of origination fees in exchange for a reduced APR is not available in all states. In addition to paying the origination fee in exchange for a reduced rate, the advertised rates include a combined discount of 0.50% for opting into a credit union membership (0.25%) and enrolling in autopay (0.25%). APRs for home equity lines of credit do not include costs other than interest. Property insurance is required as a condition of the loan and flood insurance may be required if your property is located in a flood zone.
Figure Lending LLC dba Figure. 15720 Brixham Hill Avenue, Suite 300, Charlotte, NC 28277. (888) 819-6388. NMLS ID 1717824. For licensing information go to www.nmlsconsumeraccess.org. Equal Housing Opportunity. Licensed in Alabama 22533, Alaska AK1717824, Arizona 0948458, Arkansas 114692, California: Loans are made and arranged pursuant to a Finance Lenders Law License, Licensed by the California Department of Financial Protection and Innovation under the California Finance Lenders Law (License 60DBO81967), Delaware 026994, Florida MLD1636, Georgia Residential Mortgage Licensee 61229, Idaho MBL-9625, Indiana 39933, Iowa 88893478 and 2018-0048, Kansas MC.0025537 and SL.0026703, Louisiana 1717824, Massachusetts Mortgage Lender License ML1717824, Michigan FL0021494, Mississippi 1717824, Missouri 19-2421, Montana 1717824, Nebraska 1717824, Nevada 4823, New Hampshire 22423-MB, Licensed by the N.J. Department of Banking and Insurance, New Mexico 1717824, North Carolina L-180811, North Dakota MB103310, Ohio RM.804317.000, Oklahoma ML011894, Pennsylvania 66882, South Dakota ML.05202, Tennessee 151185, Washington CL-1717824, West Virginia ML-36248, Wisconsin 1717824BA
Empower Personal Wealth, LLC (“EPW”) compensates Webpals Systems S. C LTD for new leads. Webpals Systems S. C LTD is not an investment client of Personal Capital Advisors Corporation or Empower Advisory Group, LLC.
If you live in San Diego and want help putting together a financial plan, managing your investments, planning for taxes, or valuable insights on other parts of your personal finances, a financial advisor could be right for you.
Things have really changed over the past decade: more and more people are hiring financial advisors because they’ve got the financial savvy and experience that most of us don’t have to vastly improve our financial situation.
The best financial advisors in San Diego offer high levels of customer service when helping you make the best financial decisions. Here are the best financial advisors in San Diego you may want to consider for your financial advising needs.
What’s Ahead:
Overview of the best financial advisors in San Diego
Bull Oak Capital
Bull Oak Capital is a firm recognized with multiple awards and high ratings across many review platforms. The fee-only, fiduciary financial advising firm focuses on financial planning and portfolio management.
According to the Bull Oak Capital website, the firm works with working professionals, soon-to-be and current retirees, and business owners, among other clients. Led by Ryan Hughes, this small team brought in excellent reviews on Yelp, Facebook, Angie’s List, and Google. To start with Bull Oak Capital, you’ll need at least $1 million in investable assets not including real estate.
Address: 4747 Executive Dr Suite 1010, San Diego, CA 92121.
Phone number: 858-999-3550.
Creative Capital Management
Creative Capital Management is a fee-only, fiduciary advisor with a focus on business owners, working professionals, individuals, and families. The firm offers a range of planning and portfolio management services including estate planning, insurance, and tax planning.
While the firm doesn’t have a ton of online reviews from customers, those it has earned are generally very positive. The firm has a strong track record with more than 35 years in business.
Address: 8880 Rio San Diego Dr #1150, San Diego, CA 92108.
Phone number: 619-298-3993.
Define Financial
Led by Taylor Schulte, Define Financial is a fee-only, fiduciary financial planning firm. This unique advising firm works exclusively with adults 50 and older with a focus on retirement planning. That includes a look at investments, taxes, and cash flow in retirement.
Define Financial has won awards from reputable publications including Investopedia, San Diego Magazine, and Financial Advisor Magazine. The firm earns great reviews on Yelp, Google, and Facebook and holds a top A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau.
Specialty: Retirement planning for ages 50 and older.
Address: 12526 High Bluff Dr #238, San Diego, CA 92130.
Phone number: 858-345-1197.
Dowling & Yahnke Wealth Advisors
Dowling & Yahnke is one of the largest asset managers in San Diego when measured by assets under management. Trusted with more than $4.7 billion in client funds, the company offers a very wide range of financial services including investment management, financial planning, charitable giving, and retirement planning.
Founded in 1991, Dowling & Yahnke has more than 1,200 clients and operates as a fee-only, fiduciary advisor. It earns excellent reviews on Yelp, Google, and other platforms.
Address: 12265 El Camino Real UNIT 300, San Diego, CA 92130.
Phone number: 858-509-9500.
GuidedChoice Asset Management
GuidedChioce is the largest investment manager in San Diego with over $14 billion in assets under management. The financial planning and portfolio management firm offers digital apps and tools to help you manage your investments.
Many end-customers of GuidedChoice have their assets at GuidedChoice held through an employer-sponsored retirement plan. The high tech firm has placeholders on its website for new financial advising products launching very soon. Founded in 1999, GuidedChoice works with clients nationwide.
Specialty: Retirement planning.
Address: 8910 University Center Ln #700, San Diego, CA 92122.
Phone number: 888-675-4532.
Physician Wealth Services
Led by Ryan Inman, Physician Wealth Services is a financial advisor with a focus on doctors and the medical community. While the team is based in San Diego, they work with doctors nationwide.
The fee-only, fiduciary financial planning firm offers a roadmap for first-year clients to get a grasp on their finances before building a long-term financial plan. The firm holds more than $11 million in client assets under management.
Specialty: Medical professionals.
Address: Virtual/online-only.
Phone number: 619-304-0777.
Pure Financial Advisors
Pure Financial Advisors is one of the largest financial advising firms in San Diego with more than $2.2 billion in assets under management. Pure Financial Advisors offers investment management and financial planning services with a focus on financial education for its clients. The large fiduciary, fee-only planning firm has four locations across Southern California and runs regular events and classes to help you upgrade your financial IQ.
Address: 3131 Camino Del Rio N #1550, San Diego, CA 92108.
Phone number: 619-814-4100.
Rowling & Associates
When looking for reputable financial advisors in San Diego, you’re sure to come across Rowling & Associates. The fee-only, fiduciary planning firm offers wealth management, financial planning, and tax planning and preparation services.
The firm offers several specialized services including sustainable investment advising, estate planning, life insurance advice, planning for stock options, and tax planning for charitable giving.
Investors with at least $187,500 in investable assets.
Rowling & Associates
Investments, taxes, financial planning
Families and professionals looking for a sustainable (ESG) investment portfolio
How I came up with this list
There are many high-quality financial advisors in San Diego. This list is based on a combination of sources and factors. Major areas reviewed include customer reviews, assets under management, and services offered.
Fee-only, fiduciary financial planners
All advisors on this list offer fee-only financial planning services and act in a fiduciary capacity. That means you know exactly what you’ll be charged, there are no conflicts on interest due to commissions from third-party investment companies, and the advisor agrees to always work with your best interests in mind.
Strong reviews and positive customer feedback
While many factors of financial planning and investment advising are subjective, consistently positive customer reviews are a good indicator of a high-quality firm. I looked at reviews on Yelp, Facebook, Angie’s List, Google, and the Better Business Bureau, among other sources. I also read many top advisor lists and award winners from both local and national publications.
Broad services offered for diverse backgrounds
Whether you have just a small nest egg or millions of dollars to invest, there’s a financial advisor in San Diego that could meet your needs.
What questions should you ask a financial advisor?
Financial advisors are paid professionals who help people manage their money. Through financial planning, wealth and investment management, tax planning and preparation, and other services, financial advisors play an important role in the finances of many households. If you are unsure about your investments, need help reaching financial goals, or just want a second set of eyes to confirm you’re making wise financial choices, a financial advisor could be right for you.
How can you help me improve my personal finances and investments?
Financial advisors may offer some specialized services or take a more general approach to your finances. Here are some of the most common financial advising services you’ll find:
Investment management – Investment management, sometimes called wealth management, is a service where advisors pick investments for you or help create your investment strategy.
Financial planning – With this service, advisors help you review your finances and create a plan for savings, investments, and spending to help you reach your financial goals.
Tax preparation – Some financial advisors offer tax services including planning to minimize taxes and preparation so you don’t have to worry about it yourself.
Are you a fiduciary advisor who avoids conflicts of interest?
Fiduciary duty means a financial advisor (or other professional) is obligated to put your best interests above their own. That means they are required to give you the best financial advice even if they make less money. As discussed above, working with a fee-only advisor helps avoid these conflicts. Choosing an advisor that also acts as a fiduciary helps ensure your needs are taken care of in the best way possible.
What are the costs of hiring a financial advisor?
Financial advisors can charge in several ways. The best type of advisor is a fee-only financial advisor. That means they are only paid predictable fees by you. In some cases, advisors can be paid in a way that creates a conflict of interest.
Some financial advisors receive commissions from investment or insurance companies for selling their products. While this could line-up with client needs some of the time, advisors under this model have an incentive to put your money into funds that might not be the best for your financial goals.
A fee-only financial advisor only charges client fees as an income source. Advisors under this pricing model avoid the conflicts of interest and can genuinely put your financial needs first.
Fee-only advisors often charge fees per meeting, per hour, or annual or monthly fees for ongoing support and services. For investments, many advisors charge a fee based on total assets under management.
Summary
Financial advisors are not required, but many people feel better or get a positive experience from working with a financial professional. While you don’t need an MBA or finance degree to manage your finances, many people simply feel more comfortable knowing a financial professional is looking out for their money.
The best financial advisor in San Diego is someone who will help you make the right financial choices, feel confident that your money is working for you, and answer all of your money questions. This list of the top financial advisors in San Diego is the best place to get started.
Many or all of the products featured here are from our partners who compensate us. This may influence which products we write about and where and how the product appears on a page. However, this does not influence our evaluations.
In 2022, the national average electric bill was $137 per month, and residents consumed an average of 907 kWh of energy monthly.
If you’re trying to save money, you may be examining your electric bill to see how much you’re spending each month. But how do you know if you’re overpaying and need to decrease your energy usage?
In this article, we take a closer look at the average electric bill in the U.S. and each state to help you determine how much to budget each month.
How Much Is the Average Electric Bill?
According to the U.S Energy Information Administration (EIA), the national average electric bill in 2022 was $137 per month, with residents consuming an average of 907 kWh of energy monthly. After adjusting for inflation, this is a 5% price increase and a 2% energy usage increase from the previous year.
As of the first three months of 2023, the monthly average electric bill was $133 per month, which is a 5% increase from the same time period last year.
Average Electric Bill by State
The average electric bill varies by state based on a number of factors, including local power plant costs, weather conditions, state regulations, electricity transmission and distribution systems, and fuel costs.
Utah has the lowest monthly bill, which costs residents $80.87 on average. Meanwhile, Hawaii has the highest bill, with an average of $177.78 per month, due in part to the cost of importing petroleum fuels.
Reference the chart below to see your state’s average monthly consumption, average unit price, and average monthly bill according to the EIA.
State
Average Monthly Consumption (kWh)
Average Price (cents/kWh)
Average Monthly Bill (Dollar and cents)
AK
594
22.55
133.89
AL
1,140
12.96
147.75
AR
1,098
11.27
123.69
AZ
1,048
12.54
131.35
CA
542
22.82
123.67
CO
704
13.07
91.96
CT
713
21.91
156.21
DE
950
12.52
118.85
FL
1,096
11.90
130.40
GA
1,072
12.51
134.11
HI
531
33.49
177.78
IA
861
12.73
109.63
ID
961
10.16
97.62
IL
728
13.18
95.86
IN
946
13.37
126.51
KS
890
12.98
115.53
KY
1,084
11.50
124.67
LA
1,192
11.02
131.37
MA
596
22.89
136.37
MD
973
13.12
127.62
ME
584
17.02
99.44
MI
670
17.54
117.57
MN
776
13.50
104.76
MO
1,039
11.41
118.55
MS
1,171
11.56
135.31
MT
872
11.22
97.84
NC
1,063
11.32
120.38
ND
1,041
10.85
112.93
NE
1,005
10.75
108.09
NH
631
19.85
125.24
NJ
687
16.35
112.39
NM
646
13.52
87.31
NV
959
11.49
110.17
NY
599
19.48
116.70
OH
879
12.77
112.21
OK
1,088
11.00
119.69
OR
936
11.37
106.49
PA
851
13.76
117.11
RI
585
22.30
130.40
SC
1,078
12.86
138.65
SD
1,019
12.22
124.50
TN
1,183
11.07
130.98
TX
1,094
12.11
132.40
UT
775
10.43
80.87
VA
1,094
11.96
130.92
VT
567
19.26
109.24
WA
984
10.11
99.45
WI
690
14.52
100.18
WV
1,066
12.15
129.61
WY
867
11.17
96.82
What Contributes to a High Electric Bill?
When examining your electric bill, you’ll likely see your charges grouped into two categories: supply and delivery charges.Knowing what these charges mean can help you understand what’s contributing to your high electric bill.
Supply Charges
Supply charges account for the cost of generating the energy you use. The total you are charged each month depends on the amount of energy you use and the cost per kWh of electricity. Your utility provider determines the unit rate (kWh) and should be noted in your contract.
It’s also important to check if you have a fixed-rate or variable-rate electric plan. With a fixed-rate electric plan, your unit rate will remain the same for a set duration. With a variable-rate plan, your unit rate will depend on the cost to supply electricity, which changes minute by minute depending on electricity demand. However, most customers pay a seasonal average rate (a type of variable rate), so they don’t experience these constant fluctuations.
Delivery Charges
Delivery charges are the costs associated with delivering electricity to your home. These charges are categorized into the following rates on your electric bill:
Distribution rate: This charge pays for distributing electricity to your home via power lines. This fee also includes metering services, billing services, and customer service.
Transition rate: This fee helps cover utility companies’ costs in building and maintaining power plants.
Transmission rate: This charge is controlled by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission and helps cover the cost of the high-voltage power lines, which transport electricity from the power plants to the utility company.
How Can You Budget for Your Electric Bill?
While it can be difficult to pinpoint exactly how much your electric bill will cost each month, the National Foundation for Credit Counseling suggests spending no more than 10% of your monthly income on utilities. For example, if you earn $3,000 monthly, you shouldn’t be spending more than $300 on utilities each month.
If you’d prefer to take the guesswork out of budgeting for utilities, you can sign up for budget billing through your utility company, which involves paying a set amount for monthly utilities based on your average usage. Contact your utility company to learn more about budget billing.
Tips to Lower Your Electric Bill
If you’re spending too much on your electric bill, try incorporating these tips to save money:
Unplug appliances you don’t use: Walk around your house and unplug anything you don’t frequently use. For example, if you only make a smoothie once a week, you don’t need to leave the blender plugged in 24/7.
Get smart power strips: Smart power strips work by automatically shutting down the power to devices not in use. This is a great option if you frequently forget to unplug your devices.
Switch to LED light bulbs: LED bulbs use approximately 75% less energy than incandescent lighting, according to Energy.gov.
Limit your hot water usage: Heating water requires a lot of energy, so avoid washing your clothes or running the dishwasher using hot water. You could also try taking cooler showers, too.
Avoid running appliances until they’re full: When it comes to doing laundry or running the dishwasher, hold off until you have a full load.
Adjust the temperature when you’re not home: Heating and cooling are typically one of the main culprits for high energy bills. While you don’t need to set your thermostat to 80 degrees in the dead of summer, adjusting the temperature when you’re not home can help lower your bill. You can even program your thermostat to turn off automatically during times of the day you’re not home.
Regularly change your air filters: According to the Department of Energy, replacing a dirty air filter can lower your AC’s energy usage by up to 15%.
Get an energy audit: An energy audit involves a professional reviewing your electric bills and assessing your home to provide specific recommendations on how to lower your energy costs.
Does Paying Utilities Build Credit?
Typically, paying your utility bill doesn’t build credit since most utility companies don’t report payment history to the three credit bureaus. However, if you’re making timely payments and want to build credit, you can use a third-party service to report your utility payments for you.
ExtraCredit®’s Build it tool helps youreport utilities and rent and provides other services to help you manage your credit. Try it for free today.
Sometimes you need a little guidance — especially when it comes to your money. After all, mistakes can cost you your financial future.
If you happen to live in Chicago, you not only have access to deep-dish pizza and Chicago Cubs games, but you have access to some of the best financial advisors in the country.
Here are eight of the best financial advisors in Chicago to help you forge the path ahead.
What’s Ahead:
Overview of the best financial advisors in Chicago
Asset requirements: Mindful Money Financial Counsel does not have investment minimums.
Typical fees: Initial planning fees start at $600; a written plan of normal complexity is $3,600. You can sign up for a Wealth Builder membership, which is $60 per month and hourly support is $300 per hour.
Whether you’re looking for small tweaks or a complete game plan, Mindful Money Financial Counsel is ready to help you. This Chicago-based firm operates on a fee-only basis, so you know their advice is objective and not based on whether they’ll get a commission by signing you up for something you may not need. Plus, their approach is holistic and there are no investment minimums.
You don’t have to sign over any of your money to them, and you can lean on them as much or as little as you need: hire them for a one-time session, or keep them on year after year to help shape your finances as life progresses.
Asset requirements: Basil Financial does not list an account minimum required.
Typical fees: Basil Financial Group are fiduciaries, meaning they are bound to advise in your best interest — not theirs. They operate on a fee-only basis, so you don’t have to worry that they are trying to sell you something so they can earn a commission.
Basil Financial Group is a Chicago-based firm that offers integrated financial planning services, including planning, investments, and taxes.
Basil Financial Group takes a holistic approach as well, so that all your decisions affecting your finances work seamlessly together.
Typical fees: The Planning Center is a fee-only, fiduciary firm.
At The Planning Center, which has offices in Chicago as well as New Orleans, Tulsa, Fresno, Quad Cities, Twin Cities, and Anchorage, you have access to 232 combined years of experience. The Planning Center’s team gives you a safe place to discuss your finances and figure out your goals.
Asset requirements: Veo Financial doesn’t advertise a minimum investment level, but does say they’re happy to advise clients who want to control their own investments in addition to those who want to turn it all over to an expert.
Typical fees: For a one-off session, expect to pay about $420-$630. Retiree resource planning typically starts at $1,050 and a full portfolio review can be $2,220 and up.
Garrett Investment Advisors connects clients with fee-only, fiduciary financial planners in offices across the country. Leisa Aiken, founder of Veo Financial Counsel, is a member who operates out of Chicago proper. Veo Financial Counsel offers a range of services to fit your budget and your needs.
Lake Life Wealth Advisory Group
Contact: (224) 286-1625 or patti.hughes@lakelifewealthadvisorygroup.
Typical fees: Lake Life is a fee-only, fiduciary advisor, earning no commissions on their recommendations and putting your best interests first. Annual retainer fees range from $3,000 to $20,000, depending on net worth, services needed, and other factors.
Patti Hughes of Lake Life Wealth Advisory Group is a fee-only financial planner who serves clients both Chicago-based and nationwide. She provides comprehensive financial planning services to clients in all financial situations.
Typical fees: Crescendo is a fee-only firm, and they offer no-cost consultations so you can see if their services are a good fit for you.
Actually located in Oak Brook, IL, just outside the city, Crescendo Financial Planners believes your investment portfolio is just part of the picture. They too take a holistic approach to your finances, helping you plan all the different parts of your financial life so they integrate effectively.
Services offered: Tax planning, employee benefit plans, investment management, saving for education, saving for a home.
Asset requirements: None listed.
Typical fees: Mentor Capital is fee-only. Fees for investment management range from 0.5% for very large portfolios to 1% for smaller portfolios. Financial planning fees depend on the complexity of your situation but will be spelled out at your initial meeting.
Mentor Capital Management offers comprehensive financial planning services and investment advice. Founder and principal John S. Davis is a NAPFA-registered Certified Financial Planner and has been helping people grow their money since 1991.
Asset requirements: DeRose does not require any minimum income or net worth to work with them.
Typical fees: DeRose charges a flat fee, which is quoted at your initial meeting. It may depend on your net worth and the complexity of your financial situation.
DeRose Financial Planning Group is a holistic firm serving the greater Chicagoland area. They were founded by Karen DeRose, CFP, CRPC.
Summary of the best financial advisors in Chicago
Advisor
Help with
Contact info
Mindful Money Financial Counsel
• Student loan pay down • Investing • Retirement • Tax optimization • General financial optimization
8755 West Higgins Road Suite 200 Chicago, IL 60631
(773) 380-8523
How I came up with this list
This list of top Chicago financial planners was created to focus on the needs of young professionals.
Companies focused on only high-net-worth individuals did not make this list, in order to be more inclusive of all incomes and backgrounds. I also wanted to make sure each company abided by the following:
They are Certified Financial Planners
All of the advisors on this list are Certified Financial Planners (CFP), a designation that lets you know that they will be focused on your bottom line — not theirs.
They are fee-only
I excluded brokers that sell by commission to focus on fee-only advisors. With commission-based brokers or advisors, you may be pressured into an investment or other product because they stand to benefit from the commission. With fee-only advisors, you pay a flat rate no matter what their recommendations include.
They accept all income levels
There is no sense in recommending a financial planner that caters only to high-net-worth individuals, because many times people at the start of their careers still need financial advice, even if their income hasn’t caught up to their plans yet.
Although all material has been double-checked against published information, you should take special care to make run your selection through FINRA’s BrokerCheck system for the most up-to-date information. FINRA is the regulatory agency dedicated to protecting investors and can tell you if a broker is legally registered to be able to sell securities or give investment advice. You can also check FINRA’s Barred Individuals list if you are curious about your broker.
What questions should you ask a financial advisor?
No matter who you choose, it’s important to ask a few key questions before you commit to hiring a financial planner.
Are you certified?
Are you a fiduciary?
How do you receive compensation for your services?
What is your fee structure?
Are you a member of any financial planner associations or membership groups?
What is your education or background?
Do you require a minimum income or asset level?
Do you require an ongoing commitment, or can I hire you for a one-time consultation?
What is your investment philosophy?
What are the costs of hiring a financial advisor?
Hiring professional help isn’t free. Understand what the typical costs and expenses are in hiring a financial advisor so you know what to expect when you hire them.
You’ll be able to schedule an initial consultation, which is a time for you to “try out” the advisor and see if you like them as well as get a feel for whether there is a personality fit. Use this time to ask them questions about their philosophy, their methods, their fee structure, and everything else pertinent to your situation.
After that initial consultation, expect the advisor to charge an hourly fee for their advice and assistance, usually at a rate of a couple of hundred dollars. Some may be more, some may be a little less. Ask them for a declaration sheet, which should disclose their rates, fees, and other charges.
A typical, comprehensive financial plan from a certified financial planner should cost about $1,000 or $2,000, but an exceptionally complex financial situation could cost more.
When it comes to managing your investments, an advisor will typically charge a percentage of the assets under their management: usually about 1%. That is an incentive for them to help you grow your wealth, because the more returns you receive, the more they are paid. So if you have $100,000 invested, they would take $1,000 as a fee.
At the beginning of 2020, no one expected the United States would be in the position it is in today, including me. With social distancing the new normal, many people are still hoping to buy a home; now they’re stuck wondering if they should purchase a home right now or wait out the pandemic.
As with most financial questions, the answer depends on many factors. You have control over some of these things. Other aspects are out of your hands. People that consciously examine their current position and the risks can make a somewhat educated decision.
My wife and I started the process of buying our current home and selling our old home in December 2019 before the pandemic was on anyone’s radar. By the time we ended up closing on both homes at the end of February 2020, COVID-19 had just started spooking the United States markets.
I’ve included our experiences and personal thoughts to help you get a feel for what real buyers and sellers are going through.
What’s Ahead:
What are the pros of buying a home during the pandemic?
There is lower competition for homes due to fewer people actively shopping and buying homes right now.
Mortgage interest rates may be near all-time lows resulting in lower monthly mortgage payments.
You have the potential to get a better deal on a home’s price than a few months ago if a seller needs to sell or wants to put a house behind them.
What are the cons of buying a home during the pandemic?
You risk contracting COVID-19 every time you leave your current home.
Housing inventory may be lower as some sellers wait until this passes to list their homes or they don’t want people coming through their house.
You may not be able to move through the home buying and mortgage process smoothly.
Housing prices may decrease in the near future.
Mortgage lenders may have stricter lending guidelines that disqualify you when you may have qualified for a mortgage prior to the pandemic.
You may have a harder time finding top-notch home inspectors, appraisers, and other professionals during the pandemic.
Moving may be more difficult as friends and family probably won’t volunteer to help due to social distancing guidelines.
Mortgage lenders to consider if you do decide to buy a home during the COVID-19 pandemic
For well-prepared individuals with a strong financial position, now may be the perfect time to buy the home of your dreams. You’ll have to hope the right home comes on the market and you can get a good deal on it. If everything comes together, it is still possible to buy a home during the pandemic in most cases.
When you’re ready to start mortgage shopping, make sure you check out Credible to help figure out if you’re getting a good deal.
Credible helps you shop multiple mortgage rates at once. It only takes three minutes to enter some basic information and get pre-approved for a loan. You’ll then see personalized rate quotes from a variety of lenders.
Credible doesn’t do a hard pull of your credit score to qualify you. That means you won’t have to worry about your score dropping while you’re preparing to buy a house. Credible also doesn’t provide your information to lenders, so the pre-qualification process is between you and Credible.
Credible Operations, Inc. NMLS# 1681276, “Credible.” Not available in all states. www.nmlsconsumeraccess.org.”
Credible Credit Disclosure – Requesting prequalified rates on Credible is free and doesn’t affect your credit score. However, applying for or closing a loan will involve a hard credit pull that impacts your credit score and closing a loan will result in costs to you.
Why some people are concerned about buying a home during the pandemic
People have good reason to be concerned about buying a home during the COVID-19 pandemic. This disease has drastically changed how the United States works.
The buying process increases the risk of COVID-19 transmission
If you fear for your health, buying a home may not be a good idea right now. The process of buying a home typically involves many in-person interactions.
While you may be able to mitigate some of these interactions with social distancing, being careful, and washing your hands, it may not be enough. The more you leave your home and interact with others, the higher your chance of catching the virus is.
In particular, you usually meet with a real estate agent in person. You tour many homes you’re interested in, most of which have people that live in them.
You may want to attend any home or pest inspections in person to understand exactly what you’re buying and to see any potential problems firsthand. Once everything with the sale is wrapped up and ready to sign, you have to go to a closing and sign paperwork with a closing agent.
There are other steps in between that could also expose you to the virus, but these are the most essential. You could take virtual home tours and some states may allow for virtual closings. Even so, very few people would buy a home without setting foot in it first. I don’t blame them.
The mortgage lending process is facing challenging times
Getting a mortgage is usually a predictable process. You apply for a mortgage and give the lender the requested paperwork. This paperwork helps the lender feel confident you can afford the mortgage. Things aren’t as simple today as they once were, though.
Mortgage rates are all over the place
Lenders tend to offer fairly competitive rates in a stable environment. Some lenders may offer better rates than others, but the difference between lenders is normally relatively small.
Our original mortgage process was straightforward without any problems. After we closed on our home, mortgage rates dropped fast. We decided to refinance our mortgage right after closing on our home.
For the refinance, finding a lender with a great rate was a bit harder than we thought it would be. We had to do a lot of shopping around to find the best rates as some lenders had rates that were much higher than others were offering.
Rate quotes were as much as 2% different between lenders over the course of a couple of weeks. This is insane in a stable mortgage market.
Some mortgage processes have become more strict
Underwriters review the information you’ve submitted to see if you qualify for the loan. They look to see if they need any additional information and eventually approve your loan for closing. Usually, this is straightforward and borrowers know what to expect. Today, requirements may be changing.
Mortgage companies have started altering their requirements to take out a mortgage. Chase stated back in April that buyers of certain home loan programs will have to have a credit score of 700 and a 20% down payment to get certain types of mortgages. And many lenders have followed their lead.
We could tell the process was getting stricter when we refinanced in March, as well. To our surprise, one lender would have required us to sign an affidavit saying we hadn’t lost our jobs and our income situation hadn’t changed at closing.
I didn’t have to sign this paperwork when we originally closed on our purchase loan. Lenders seemed like they were taking a more in-depth look at the mortgages they had in process, and this was in mid-March. As this crisis continues to drag on, lenders may get even more stringent.
Slower processes could challenge your closing timeline
Unfortunately, coronavirus has made the mortgage process more difficult. Due to the virus, interest rates on mortgages have generally dropped. This is great news for your monthly payment, but it also means mortgage lenders are much busier than usual processing refinance requests.
This can slow down the mortgage approval process because lenders don’t necessarily have enough staff to handle the higher refinance demand. To make matters worse, COVID-19 has forced many employees to work from home. At home, the employees may be less efficient and not have the tools they need to complete their jobs as quickly.
The lender usually orders an appraisal to make sure the home isn’t worth less than you’re paying for it, too. This requires an appraiser to visit the home and complete an appraisal report. The virus has posed challenges for these appraisers.
Many home sellers may not want to let a stranger enter their home to assess its value. There is no telling if the appraiser has the virus or not. Even if you can get an appraiser, they may have to take extra precautions which could slow down the process.
If a mortgage lender can’t complete the entire mortgage process in time, it could delay your closing on your home. This could result in penalties or your contract falling through altogether.
So, should you buy a home during the pandemic?
Buying a home during the pandemic could work out in your favor. If you have your finances in great shape, you could take advantage of the down market during these tough times.
Get a good deal on houses that must sell
Some people absolutely must sell their homes right now. They may have already bought another home elsewhere and can’t afford to make two mortgage payments for long. Others may have had to relocate for work and don’t want to wait to see if COVID-19 drags their old house’s value down.
In these cases, you can test the willingness of the sellers to wait out the COVID-19 pandemic. Some sellers may not be willing to budge on price. Other sellers may drastically reduce their selling price to sell and avoid future uncertainty. If you’re not picky about getting a particular house, you could get a great deal.
If our prior house didn’t sell before the pandemic took hold, this very well could have been our family. It could have resulted in us getting a much lower price than we ended up selling our home for, or us holding on to our home for a much longer period to get the price we wanted. Either way, it would have cost us money.
Avoid homes you won’t own for long
Be careful about what type of home you buy during the pandemic. Now is not the time for most people to buy starter homes that they plan to move out of in a few quick years. If housing prices drop, you may be stuck in the home.
Buying long-term or forever homes may work out fine
Buyers purchasing a home they plan to spend a significant amount of time in, such as a decade or more, should hopefully be able to weather any negative short term impacts the housing market faces. Nothing is guaranteed, though.
Why shouldn’t you buy a home during the pandemic?
Buying a home during the pandemic isn’t a good move for everyone. In fact, you may be better off waiting to buy.
Limited housing supply
As a home seller, we’re delighted we sold when we did. If we still had our home on the market after the COVID-19 pandemic took hold and we still lived there, we would not have been comfortable with others coming through our home to view it.
If we hadn’t put our house on the market already, chances are we would have waited until after the pandemic was over to list our home. It would have put our mind at ease that we wouldn’t have to find another place to live while the world is in lockdown should we be lucky enough to sell.
Other potential sellers are facing similar dilemmas. This could result in fewer houses being put on the market, resulting in a tighter home supply during a typically busy spring market.
Housing prices could decline
No one knows how the housing market will end up on the other side of this pandemic. It could result in lower housing prices in the future. This result could be temporary or it could last for years.
Even if you think you’re getting a deal today, prices may decrease even more before the pandemic is over. Without a sizable down payment and equity in your home, you may end up underwater and be unable to sell it or move.
As a home buyer, we’re happy with our purchase. Even so, part of me wonders if we’ve now bought at a peak in prices. We are very aware we might see housing prices decrease in the future.
This doesn’t worry us as much as it may bother others. We plan to live in this house for at least 10 years. It has plenty of space and is in a great neighborhood with good schools. If this was a starter home, we would be very concerned about our ability to resell it for a profit in a few years.
You could lose the income you use to pay your mortgage
Another reason to avoid buying a home right now is uncertainty about your job. Those that need a paycheck every two weeks to make their mortgage payment could end up getting foreclosed on if they get furloughed or laid off.
Unless you have substantial financial reserves that could help make mortgage payments until you find a new job, buying a home right now probably isn’t a good idea. Instead, you may be better off focusing on building reserves.
Buying a home would exhaust your cash reserves
Most people save for years to be able to afford a down payment for a home. When they close on their home, some people use almost all of their available cash to do so. This leaves them with no emergency fund to speak of.
If this is you, don’t buy a home right now. If anything bad happens after you purchase your home, it could put you in financial ruin. Losing a job could result in foreclosure. A large home maintenance item that suddenly needs to be taken care of, such as a damaged sewer line, could put you into debt.
Instead, wait until you have enough money for a down payment while still keeping a cash reserve after you close on your home. Something unexpected always pops up.
When we bought our first home, we quickly found out our air conditioner needed to be replaced. That was an unexpected $3,000 expense on a $79,000 home, but it could have been much more if we needed a new roof.
You may not be able to sell your current home
If you would have to sell your current home to afford your next home, now isn’t a great time to buy. Whether you want to move to a different area or move up to a nicer home, there is no guarantee your current home will sell in time.
If it doesn’t sell and your contract to buy falls apart, you may lose your earnest money and any other fees you paid throughout the process. The other potential issue could be selling your home for much less than you’d otherwise get if you weren’t crunched for time. Either way, you could lose out substantially if things don’t work out as anticipated.
Summary
Buying a home could be a good move for you if your finances are in order, you’re buying a home for the long haul and the right house comes along.
However, those with an uncertain future or just enough funds to barely make a down payment on a house would likely be better off waiting until there is more certainty before buying. You may not get as good of a deal, though.
What movies do you respect but did not enjoy watching? For example, they had artistic values, a powerful story, or were generally well-made, but for whatever reason, didn’t float your boat? After polling the internet, here are the top twenty-five film responses.
1. Uncut Gem (2019)
“This! I completely agree with you. Uncut Gemswith Adam Sandler is a great movie I will never see again. I felt like I had a panic attack the entire way through,” shared one.
Another admitted, “I thought Adam Sandler did a phenomenal job, and it was a great movie; I hated every second of it. I was too nervous, anxious, and annoyed at everyone’s decisions.” Finally, a third said, “Agree. Uncut Gems was supposed to put the audience on edge most of the time, and it did. Very Well. It made me feel super anxious.”
2. The Joker (2019)
“I cast my vote for the Joker movie. I get why people like it, but man, what an utterly unpleasant yet respectable movie,” someone suggested. “That whole routine at the comedy club made me cringe so hard it hurt, even if it was completely the point,” confessed a second.
“Yeah. It’s well made, and it’s an interesting idea. But I hate the movie. As both just a film and an exploration of a comic book villain that didn’t need one.” Joker 2 will be a musical starring Lady Gaga.
3. Schindler’s List (1993)
“Schindler’s List. It’s a brilliant movie, and everyone should see it once, but I will never watch it again,” one expressed. “It was such a powerful, horrifying movie about a reality we were lucky not to have been a part of,” another shared.
“Came here for this. The entire movie – which is incredible and necessary to watch – felt like my stomach dropped, like when you’ve reached the peak of a roller coaster and are about to go down.”
“Except there was no relief. No thrilling rushes down or satisfaction of catching your breath as it hits another incline—just a lasting gut punch followed by the realization that it wasn’t just a movie. I’ll never watch it again,” a third user stated.
4. American History X (1998)
One person admitted, “I discussed American History X with a dear friend, and we agreed that 1.) The dental scene on the curb had scarred our minds for life, and 2.) Once was PLENTY.”
Another suggested, “Everyone needs to watch American History X, but it’s a movie I don’t want to watch again.” A third shared, “I own the movie and have watched it two times. Steven Spielberg did an outstanding job.”
“The musical score is hauntingly beautiful. The production was a Super Bowl, World Series, and Stanely Cup. All wrapped up in one. Must watch this historic and horrific movie.”
5. A Clockwork Orange (1971)
“I vote A Clockwork Orange,” one replied. “I’m shocked this was only mentioned once on this list so far. This film is thoroughly unenjoyable to me.”
“I’ve only seen the film once, about a decade ago, so I don’t have the best insight. However, if I remember correctly, the film shows that while criminals can be ruthless, the justice system they’re placed in can be similarly horrific,” a second added.
“It was tough and not a first date movie. The strength of your disgust is the entire point. Alex is a monster, and that must be made clear. With that being said, I did not enjoy this movie, but I respect it,” a third user expressed.
6. Dunkirk (2017)
“This was my answer. It did an amazing job capturing the feeling of being in that war; the only problem was that feeling was miserable. I would not willingly experience that again,” shared one.
“One thing I liked about Dunkirk, which made it hard to watch, was the age of the soldiers. The kids on the beach looked so young, too young to be in such danger, but that’s how it was,” another admitted.
“And yet, despite almost feeling shell-shocked while viewing Dunkirk, it continues to be one of my most respected movies. Don’t get me wrong; I would never watch it again, but yeah.”
7. 1917 (2019)
“I respond strongest in films to the feeling of unfair power imbalances. So scenes where bullies pick on the small kid etc., get to me. This film felt like that to a million, but there wasn’t an end to it. But it was a terrific piece of cinematic artwork,” one expressed.
“When the credits rolled, I had a panic attack in the cinema. Unfortunately, I’ve not yet had it in me to rewatch it, but good lord, what a fantastic film to never watch again,” stated another.
“I saw it in theaters, and the sound was physically jarring. Which I suppose is what they were going for, trying to give the audience that feeling of tension and fear that the character was experiencing, but as a moviegoer, that was unpleasant.”
8. The Revenant (2015)
“Powerful performances by Leonardo Dicaprio and Tom Hardy, beautiful cinematography and soundtrack, and a brutal tale of survival and revenge, what’s not to love? I would never watch it again, though,” admitted one.
“I said immediately after seeing this movie; I enjoyed it. Leo is great. I will never see it again. Everyone needs to see this movie at least once in their lifetime. It provokes the thought of who Hugh Glass was in REAL LIFE,” a second shared.
“I’m going to go on a limb and say The Revenant was enjoyable, but I won’t sit through that again. Still weird to me that that’s the movie Leo won an Oscar. Not several other better performances and movies. A good, bad film overall.”
9. The Lighthouse (2019)
One person noted, “The Lighthouse was a stunning film with wonderful performances by Robert Pattinson and Willem Dafoe. Hear me clearly when I say this, I WILL NEVER WATCH THIS AGAIN.”
“This, the cinematography was some of the best and most interesting I’ve seen, and the performances are incredible. But it’s such an uncomfortable movie to watch,” said another.
“This is exactly it,” a third agreed. “It’s a visually stunning film. Parts of it still get me, particularly where Dafoe is giving this excellent monologue while dirt is flying into his face and mouth. I can’t, at my own will, sit through this movie for a second viewing.”
10. 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968)
“2001: A Space Odyssey. It’s a remarkable technical achievement. But as a movie, I can’t do it again,” said one. “I love this sci-fi classic. It’s stunning, and the slow-burn nature of the pacing helps make it feel more human if that makes sense.”
“But I’m also not too fond of it. It’s also prolonged and weird,” another replied. “Yeah, same here. I get that this beloved and respected film is a technical masterpiece. But it is so dull. So mindboggling dull,” a third added.
11. Citizen Kane (1941)
“Citizen Kane deserves the accolades. It broke a lot of ground visually and technically. It’s based on the lives of egomaniacal newspaper barons, which a modern audience has mostly forgotten. But you don’t want to watch it repeatedly,” one expressed.
“I only watched it to watch Mank, and it took me three tries to finish it… I know this film was innovative regarding cinematography, editing, and script, but it was just not for everyone,” replied another.
“For me, it’s about something other than not liking it in total but not liking the story itself. The film is gorgeous, but I see it as the story of the rise and fall of a detestable person and all the despicable people who surrounded him,” a third person shared.
12. Hotel Rwanda (2004)
“Yeah, that movie is emotionally exhausting. You become so invested in the story that you can feel the dread of these terrified citizens scrambling to survive. I had to watch this in high school for a class discussion in French Class. I will never watch this again,” admitted one.
A second noted, “It’s interesting how little violence they choose to show. Using your imagination puts you in the hotel occupants’ shoes, and the unknown can be more frightening. It is surely a story that needs telling, but I would not recommend it for anything other than research.”
“We watched this in high school for a History through Film course. It took a couple of days to watch and discuss, but it became one of those movies I watched once. Too emotional and upsetting for me,” a third user noted.
13. Amistad (1997)
“Amistad with Matthew McConaughey has no-frills, matter-of-fact scenes of brutality towards enslaved people. I respect it as probably close to accurate. But they are hard to watch. My wife cannot watch Amistad again, and I won’t let her. She broke down sobbing the one time she saw Amistad,” one confessed.
“This movie was so hard to watch, but that means it is making its intended point,” another said. “To this day, scenes of abject brutality don’t sit well. I know that it happens, it’s historically accurate, but nothing is entertaining there. It’s instructive, of course. I still haven’t watched The Passion.”
14. 12 Years a Slave (2013)
“The one time my partner asked how bad 12 Years a Slave I told her she would not want to watch it. However, that movie made a lasting impression, enough for the both of us,” reported one.
“She saw the look on my face and has never asked to watch it. I understand its message so much that I need never see it again.” A second agreed, “12 Years a Slave, for sure. It’s upsetting and unsettling, but well done and accurate.”
15. The Road (2009)
“The Road did an excellent job of capturing a sense of hopelessness, but I couldn’t make it through the whole movie a second time. Finally, I got about halfway through and realized that I didn’t need or enjoy how it made me feel. But by that point, I was too far in to turn back,” someone explained.
“The relationship between the two main characters was very well done,” shared another. “I enjoyed seeing it done well. But, on the flip side, I had an overwhelming sense of dread once the film was over. Won’t be doing that again.”
“I was the same way with this movie. I had to finish it, will never view it again. I don’t have the emotional resilience to repeat the experience. But, the book is just as much, if not bleaker, so it’s a faithful book-to-film adaptation,” a third informed.
16. Eraserhead (1977)
“I feel this way about most of David Lynch’s work. Utterly enthralling and wildly unique, but generally, just not for me. I do find David Lynch, the person, to be delightful, though,” someone stated.
“I watched it once and found this film super interesting and stylistically incredible, but would I watch Eraserhead again? Not really. I also wanted to love Twin Peaks, but it fizzled out for me,” confirmed another. “I just watched this for the first time yesterday. What an absolute slow burn of a masterpiece. I’ll never watch it again.”
17. Mother! (2017)
“OH, MY WORD! I had to go way too far down the list for this one. I respect the movie for what it did, but I will never watch this again. It also didn’t help it was advertised all wrong,” suggested one.
“The end of this film I had in my head for over a month. Sweet Christmas, the anxiety and panic the ending induced was horrifying and amazing simultaneously,” a second confessed.
Finally, a third admitted, “One of the most anxiety-inducing movies I’ve ever seen. That scene with the baby sent me into a full-on panic attack. I can respect this as a form of art, but I could never watch this a second time around.”
18. The Tree of Life (2011)
“In a theater, I saw this, The Tree of Life with Terrence Malick, and many people clapped at the end. My sister and I thought it was the most boring thing we’d ever seen. We had no idea why everyone was clapping. I would not sit through that again,” one informed.
“I was furious after seeing this movie. Forty-five minutes of off-screen whispering, 45 minutes of the end of 2001: A Space Odyssey and dinosaurs. Then 45 minutes of other random things. I didn’t get any of it. Call me insane, but I respect his work of art; I would never participate in watching it again.
19. Solaris (1972)
“Tarkovsky’s films, specifically Solaris. It is a profound work in its own right. But Solaris is much too slow for me. I recently attempted to watch Stalker but couldn’t make it through. Hope to finish Stalker soon” noted one.
A second shared, “Recently watched Solaris in the last two years. You must be in an exceptional mood to watch this Tarkovsky movie. Solaris is heavy, mentally, and thematically dense,” reported another.
“And not only that, but the things he wants you to examine are so gosh darn lofty. He’s the film equivalent of reading War and Peace or Ulysses. I understand his premise, but I could never watch this movie again.”
20. Dancer in The Dark (2000)
“Dancer in the Dark. One day I was thinking: It’s been long enough that I’ve been tempted to watch it again recently, but then I remember a few key scenes, and I know I can’t,” someone informed.
“Yes. Holy smokes, the ending is so freaking bleak. It’s an absolute triumph, but catch me never watching that movie again as long as I live. I also didn’t enjoy it, but I respected it,” a second added. “I came here to say this. I watched it 20 years ago and loved it, but I’m not putting myself through it again. It’s peak bleak,” a third agreed.
21. Black Panther (2018)
“I understand and appreciate what the film achieved for the black community, but overall it was pretty dull. I get it, Marvel Cinematic Universe and all, but I couldn’t bare to watch this again,” reported one.
“It’s a badly paced movie. It has a good cast, but most have nothing substantial to do other than Michael B. Jordan, a great villain. It is let down by the climax being a battle between two almost-identical CGI models against a CGI background,” another concurred.
22. Grave of The Fireflies (1988)
“Grave of the Fireflies. Excellent movie, but it was emotionally exhausting, and I can’t watch it again. Talk about full-on ugly crying,” one confessed. “Easily the greatest movie I’ve ever seen that I will never watch again. That’s my formal review. This animated film was soul-crushing,” a second replied.
“I WISH sometimes I had the fortitude to watch it again, but after my experiences with the language and history/culture and time spent there (esp in Hiroshima)……every time I think I can revisit the film, I just feel utterly haunted,” a third user admitted.
23. The Irishman (2019)
One user shared, “The special effects were incredibly distracting for me in The Irishman. I was stoked to see the heavy hitters from the mob movies’ glory days, but walked away scratching my head.”
“Same here, I love the old mob movies, so I was stoked to hear about Robert DeNiro, Al Pacino, and Joe Pesci in a movie together. So it felt weird wanting the movie to end already. Would not recommend,” another noted.
“Perfect answer,” a third replied. “I was so excited about The Irishman, and I tried to assure myself that I liked it even while watching it. Yet I’ve never even considered rewatching it or recommending it to anyone.”
24. Mulholland Drive (2001)
“I love him, but can you blame someone for saying I respect Mulholland Drive but did not enjoy watching it? I feel that way about many of David Lynch’s works,” someone confessed.
“I don’t even get why it’s so good. I enjoyed Twin Peaks, but all of his stuff is weird for the sake of being weird. Can someone explain why Mulholland Drive is so good?” asked another.
“It’s a beautiful take on the spectacle of Hollywood. I can appreciate that was the message, and it was aesthetically pleasing at any one moment. It just never captured my interest like I wanted it to. And I don’t mind the freaky. I liked Eraserhead,” replied a third user.
25. The Killing of a Sacred Deer (2017)
“The Killing of a Sacred Deer is one of the best and most disturbing films I’ve seen in a long time. It has stuck with me, but I’m in no hurry to rewatch it anytime soon or ever!” one exclaimed. “I like The Killing of a Sacred Deer. But it was alarming, both about how monstrous “regular” people can be and how scary the aftermath is. So I am in no rush to subject myself to that again,” another reported.
Source: Reddit.
Who is one actress you can never stand watching, no matter their role? After polling the internet, these were the top-voted actresses that people couldn’t stand watching.
10 Actresses People Despise Watching Regardless of Their Role
These 7 Celebrities are Genuinely Good People
We’ve all heard the famous adage that “no publicity is bad publicity,” and while it tends to be accurate, there are certainly exceptions. But what about those few stars who stay out of the limelight and get along without a hint of trouble?
These 7 Celebrities are Genuinely Good People
Have you ever known someone and thought you liked them—until you learned about their hobbies? Then you get to know them and then you’re like, “Wow, red flag.” Well, you’re not alone.
These 10 Activities Are an Immediate Red Flag
Some celebrities definitely seem to enjoy the limelight and keep working to stay in the public eye. While others quickly move out of the spotlight. Many of these actors and actresses stepped out of the spotlight to live a more private life without constant media pressures.
10 Celebrities That Made the Big Times Then Disappeared Off The Face of the Earth
We’ve all been there – sitting through a movie that we can’t help but cringe at, but somehow it still manages to hold a special place in our hearts.
These 10 Terrible Movies Are Still People’s Favorites
We all know that comedic actors like Adam Sandler, Steve Carell, and Jim Carrey have killed serious roles drawing attention from critics and audiences alike. But what about the comedic actors who flop badly? Here are ten funny actors that would be better off sticking to comedy.
1. Vince Vaughn
“I didn’t love his True Detective performance, though, but can’t lay that season’s faults all on him,” said one. “I don’t know if it was Vaughn, his character, or the show in general, but I couldn’t take him seriously,” another agreed.
2. John Belushi
One suggested, “John Belushi and Continental Divide were terrible.” A second said, “The only movie my parents and I walked out on. I was only 9, but I vividly remember my dad’s disappointment at a boring Belushi movie.” Finally, one stated, “I saw that movie in the theatre when I was ten. My friend and I were bored to death.”
3. Eddie Murphy
“Wes Craven wanted to make a horror film and wanted Eddie Murphy to be a more complex character in Vampire in Brooklyn. However, Eddie Murphy felt he still had to make his comedy front and center. Definitely worth the watch. It’s enjoyably terrible, but Kadeem Hardison is legit amazing,” another confessed.
4. Chevy Chase
“I’ll never forget when Memoirs of an Invisible Man came out. I just kept waiting for a punchline that never came,” admitted one. “The screenwriter William Goldman writes about this movie in his book Which Lie Did I Tell.”
“He knew it would be a disaster because the studio wanted to make a big-budget comedy like Ghostbusters, and Chevy Chase wanted to make an intimate drama about loneliness,” another informed.
5. Tiffany Haddish
“Tiffany Haddish! She is so wooden as a dramatic actor. See The Card Counter, On the Count of Three, and Here Today (actually, don’t see that last one),” one replied. “Her performance in Card Counter is so bizarre; it’s like she’s in a completely different movie,” another added.
6. Chris Rock
“I wasn’t a big fan of him in Fargo, to be honest. I kept thinking that’s Chris Rock, and it took me out of the show. But, on the other hand, I think his voice is unique, so it’s hard to see him as not Chris Rock,” another confessed.
7. Bill Murray
“While I loved The Razor’s Edge, Bill Murray was not ready for drama yet,” suggested one. Another stated, “He wasn’t, but he got great eventually. Lost in Translation is a top-tier film. His performance carries The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou as well.” “My wife read the book and wanted to see the movie. So we watched it and were massively disappointed,” a third person confessed.
8. Chris Pratt
“I love the bit in the latest Jurassic World movie where he’s supposed to be frantic and angry that someone kidnapped his adopted daughter, and he conveys this with all the mildly aggravated energy of someone who has to be somewhere and can’t find their keys,” shared one.
9. Nick Kroll
“I thought Nick Kroll was terrible in both Loving and Don’t Worry Darling,” one replied. Another added, “I like a lot of Kroll’s stuff, but the second he has to go out of bounds of his five characters, the quality of his performance drops like a rock.”
10. Seth McFarlane
“I like The Orville, but every time Seth MacFarlane tries to give a stirring Captain Picard-Esque speech, I want to throw up. It’s very much not in his wheelhouse,” a final person commented.
Source: Reddit.
Who is one actress you can never stand watching, no matter their role? After polling the internet, these were the top-voted actresses that people couldn’t stand watching.
10 Actresses People Despise Watching Regardless of Their Role
These 7 Celebrities are Genuinely Good People
We’ve all heard the famous adage that “no publicity is bad publicity,” and while it tends to be accurate, there are certainly exceptions. But what about those few stars who stay out of the limelight and get along without a hint of trouble?
These 7 Celebrities are Genuinely Good People
Have you ever known someone and thought you liked them—until you learned about their hobbies? Then you get to know them and then you’re like, “Wow, red flag.” Well, you’re not alone.
These 10 Activities Are an Immediate Red Flag
Some celebrities definitely seem to enjoy the limelight and keep working to stay in the public eye. While others quickly move out of the spotlight. Many of these actors and actresses stepped out of the spotlight to live a more private life without constant media pressures.
10 Celebrities That Made the Big Times Then Disappeared Off The Face of the Earth
We’ve all been there – sitting through a movie that we can’t help but cringe at, but somehow it still manages to hold a special place in our hearts.
These 10 Terrible Movies Are Still People’s Favorites