According to a recent survey by Motley Fool Money, 83% of Americans admit to wasting money at least occasionally. The poll, conducted among 2,000 U.S. adults and published on February 22, 2026, suggests that overspending is less about major financial missteps and more about routine habits that quietly erode household budgets.
Few people consider themselves reckless with money. Yet the findings indicate that forgotten streaming subscriptions, late-night online purchases and frequent food delivery orders are common pressure points. These small, repeated expenses tend to slip past scrutiny, creating a pattern of “leakage” rather than a single dramatic financial error.
The survey’s broader significance lies in its timing. As everyday expenses remain under scrutiny, households are increasingly looking for systems that reduce reliance on willpower alone. According to the survey, simply advising consumers to “be more mindful” has limited effect. Instead, structural changes to how money is organised appear to offer more consistent results.
Separating Spending From Savings Changes Behaviour
One approach highlighted alongside the survey findings centres on dividing funds into clearly distinct accounts. The principle is straightforward: keep everyday spending money in a checking account and move savings into a completely separate account, ideally one that is not routinely accessed.
The rationale is behavioural. When savings and spending money sit in the same account, the full balance can feel available for immediate use. Once funds are moved elsewhere, they become psychologically less accessible. According to Motley Fool Money, this separation alone can alter spending patterns by reducing the sense that all available funds are “fair game”.
The strategy is not new. It relies on a simple rule: transfer a portion of every dollar earned into a separate savings account and avoid regularly checking the balance. Over time, the effect can be surprising. By allowing the savings balance to grow quietly and independently, individuals may be less tempted to dip into it for discretionary purchases.
Importantly, the approach does not depend on large transfers. Even modest amounts, moved consistently, can accumulate without drawing daily attention. The emphasis is on system design rather than discipline.
High-Yield Savings Accounts and Automation Reinforce the System
While the core idea can work with a traditional savings account, high-yield savings accounts (often referred to as high-yield savings accounts (HYSAs)) introduce an additional incentive. These accounts function like standard savings accounts and are FDIC-insured, offering security and accessibility without investment risk. The key difference lies in the interest rate.
Traditional savings accounts may generate only minimal interest, whereas leading HYSAs offer meaningfully higher returns. In this framework, money that is set aside not only becomes less accessible but also grows more effectively over time. Many HYSAs are offered by online banks, which typically do not provide debit cards linked to the account. That added layer of friction (no card in the wallet, no nearby branch) can reinforce the psychological boundary between spending and saving.
Automation completes the structure. Setting up an automatic transfer from checking to a HYSA on payday ensures that money is moved before it can be spent. Once established, the system operates without ongoing effort. The checking account remains lean, reserved for bills and routine expenses, while the separate savings account accumulates funds in the background. By separating accounts and automating transfers, households may gradually redirect money that would otherwise be lost to minor, habitual expenses.
