I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve heard friends or colleagues talk about having no savings.

Sometimes they’ll half-joke about being “permanently broke,” or they’ll make a casual reference to living from one paycheck to the next—without a dime left over to stash away.

But over the years, I’ve noticed that the people who remain stuck in this cycle often share certain daily habits.

It’s not always about making too little money (though that can be part of the story). Instead, there’s a pattern of choices and behaviors that keep them running on empty—sometimes without them even realizing it.

Below are seven such habits I’ve encountered repeatedly.

If you find yourself nodding along to any of these, don’t beat yourself up.

Awareness is the first step to making a change.

Let’s dive in.

1. They swipe now and think later

Ever notice how some of us have gotten so comfortable tapping a phone or swiping a card that we barely register the money leaving our account?

I’ve been there: buying a coffee here, ordering takeout there, grabbing a quick online deal because “it’s only ten bucks.”

This habit is incredibly sneaky.

Because there’s no physical money changing hands, it’s easy to dissociate from the financial consequences. Before you know it, your bank balance hits the danger zone.

I’ve read quite a few books on money psychology (you’d be surprised how much of finance is about mindset), and one recurring theme is that small purchases can become so automatic we hardly notice them.

As Seneca once said, “Wealth is the slave of a wise man. The master of a fool.”

The point is: if we’re not mindful, our spending impulses can control us instead of the other way around.

2. They avoid looking at their bank statements

Ever dread logging into your online banking or opening a credit card bill?

Me too, sometimes.

Yet I’ve found that people who are perpetually broke seem to avoid looking at their statements altogether.

There’s a kind of “if I don’t see it, it’s not real” mentality at play.

The irony?

It’s exactly this avoidance that can lead to overdraft fees, missed bill deadlines, and a cycle of financial stress.

When you don’t know exactly how much is coming in and going out, it’s easy to overspend.

Once I started forcing myself to review my accounts weekly—even when I knew the numbers weren’t pretty—I found it easier to spot and fix the issues that kept draining my funds.

A little transparency with ourselves goes a long way.

3. They say “yes” to every social invite

You know the feeling: a friend wants to grab drinks, your cousin is hosting a weekend getaway, someone else is throwing a fancy dinner party.

It’s fun to be included, right?

But if you tally up those costs—cover charges, gas money, gift contributions, new outfits—it adds up fast.

I’ve observed that people who never have any money left by month’s end often can’t say “no” to social plans.

They fear missing out or feel guilty for turning friends down.

In reality, no one’s going to hold it against you if you can’t make it every single time.

Sometimes, it’s just about setting boundaries.

If you have to skip a night out so you can keep some cash in your savings, that’s a smart trade.

As with anything, a little forward thinking can save you from waking up the next day wondering how you ended up so broke.

4. They prioritize short-term comfort over long-term security

I’ve been guilty of this more than once in my life. I’d convince myself I “deserve” a treat after a rough day.

But if every tough day leads to a spending spree—whether it’s new workout gear or an overpriced lunch—your future self is going to pay the price.

Alan Watts once remarked, “We cannot be more sensitive to pleasure without being more sensitive to pain.”

That line reminds me that chasing small comforts can sometimes overshadow the potential pain of real financial insecurity.

When you reach a point where you’ve got no savings and an unexpected expense hits, the pain intensifies.

Sometimes, it helps to remember why you want to save. Is it for a new apartment?

A safety net in case of emergencies?

A dream vacation?

Keeping that motivation top of mind can help you resist the impulse to buy the latest gadget or super fancy latte every other day.

5. They don’t track where their money goes

If you ask a financially savvy person how much they spend on groceries, rent, or subscriptions, they’ll have a decent ballpark figure.

But if you ask someone who’s constantly broke, you might get a shrug—or a guess that’s way off the mark.

When you don’t keep track—whether through an app, a spreadsheet, or an old-school notebook—you end up losing sight of the big picture.

Money leaks happen in all sorts of ways: subscriptions you forgot about, gym memberships you never use, extra fees you didn’t notice.

It wasn’t until I started jotting down every purchase (even that random $2 candy bar) that I realized how those small daily expenses can snowball.

It sounds tedious, but do it for a few weeks and you might be amazed (and maybe a little horrified) by where your money is actually going.

6. They rely too heavily on future income

Have you ever told yourself something like, “I can splurge this month because I’ll probably get a bonus soon,” or “I can rack up a bit of credit card debt because I’ll make more money eventually”?

It’s that hopeful assumption that tomorrow’s income will bail you out of today’s spending.

While optimism can be a great mindset tool, it doesn’t help your savings account if it’s detached from reality.

I’ve known people who bounce from job to job or wait on promotions that never come through.

Meanwhile, their spending habits don’t budge because they’re convinced a windfall is just around the corner.

Marcus Aurelius once wrote, “The soul becomes dyed with the color of its thoughts.”

If your thoughts revolve around a fantasy future where money magically appears, your present actions might not align with the real situation.

Dreams of a bigger paycheck won’t magically erase an empty bank account—only concrete steps like budgeting and saving can do that.

7. They delay starting an emergency fund

“I’ll start saving when I make more money.” “I’ll open a savings account after I pay off this credit card.” “I just don’t have the bandwidth to think about that right now.”

Sound familiar?

This is probably the single biggest reason many folks stay stuck at zero.

They’re always waiting for the “right time” to start putting money aside.

The problem is, life rarely serves up that perfect moment on a silver platter.

I used to think I needed at least a thousand dollars to make opening a separate savings account worthwhile, so I put it off for months.

Then, a friend suggested I transfer just twenty bucks from each paycheck. At first, it seemed silly—what’s twenty bucks going to do?

But after a few months, I saw that account grow. Sure, it wasn’t huge, but it was bigger than zero.

And that’s infinitely better than nothing.

Buddha is often quoted for saying, “A jug fills drop by drop.” Saving is a habit built on small, consistent actions.

If you wait for a windfall or a magical raise, you might end up waiting for a long time.

Rounding things off

If any of these habits ring a bell, take a moment to reflect on the bigger picture.

The issue often isn’t just about income level—though that’s certainly part of the puzzle for many folks. It’s also about the day-to-day choices that nibble away at whatever money we do have.

Keeping your finances in check doesn’t have to mean turning into a miser or giving up every small luxury.

Sometimes, it’s about being more mindful of those daily habits—knowing when to say no, being honest with yourself about your spending, and setting up systems (like automatic transfers) to ensure you’re putting something aside, even if it’s small.

After all, building a cushion isn’t just about numbers in a bank account. It’s about peace of mind and having the freedom to make life choices without constantly stressing over money.

And that sense of security is something worth working toward—one day, and one habit change, at a time.