 TITLE: 5 Bad Money Habits and How to Break Them CONTENT: 1\\. Not Spending Wisely\n-----------------------\nAmericans spend nearly $18,000 a year on nonessential stuff on average, according to a 2019 survey from life insurance company Ladder. That works out to nearly $50 a day. This amount covers everything from dinner out at a restaurant and happy hour with friends to bottled water and cups of to-go coffee.\nNonessential spending leaves less money to put toward essential items, like making mortgage or rent payments, reducing credit card debit, paying off student loans or setting aside money for retirement. Nonessential spending is not something you have to eliminate entirely to improve your finances. In fact, it's part of just about every healthy budget and happy lifestyle. But taking a look at it and cutting back where you can is a great first step. END