The One Thing Americans Need to Stop Doing With Their Money in 2025 [Video]

A new year is a time for new beginnings. And that applies as much to your personal finances as anything else. As we hail the start of 2025, Newsweek asked personal finance experts: What is the one thing Americans should stop doing with their money?

Bola Sokunbi, Author/Founder & CEO, Clever Girl Finance

I absolutely have to say using credit cards as a backup emergency fund. It’s a slippery slope, and the interest can delay or even completely derail your long-term goals.

In 2025, let’s focus on building a real emergency fund—aim for at least three months’ worth of expenses.

Also, stop comparing your finances to someone else’s Instagram life. Most of it’s fake anyway—remember your journey is yours alone!

Tiffany Aliche, Founder, The Budgetnista; Author, Get Good with Money

Stop doing Buy Now, Pay Later!

On the surface, it sounds like a good idea, but it encourages you to finance literally everything.

You go from just having a car bill and mortgage bill to suddenly having …