Money is a sophisticated subject because some save it, others spend wisely, and some lose it in shocking ways. Here are stories of unexpected financial losses.

One man, desperate to impress his long-distance girlfriend, rented an apartment and filled it with leased furniture. She visited, broke up with him in person, and left the next day. He was stuck with a costly rental bill for a one-night stay. “I don’t know how many thousands he dropped for that one breakup date, but man… what a waste.”

Another fulfilled a childhood dream by installing a $50,000 bowling alley in his basement. “After the novelty wore off, I realized no one wanted to bowl more than a game or two.” Now, it’s just a noisy reminder of poor impulse control.

A student fell for a “free trial” of a muscle supplement, only to be hit with hidden subscription fees. “By the time I blocked my card, I was out around $100.”

A recent graduate paid $350 for an insurance certification, only to discover the company was a scam. “Worst. Mistake. Ever.”

One person locked their keys in their car and called a locksmith, quoted at $60. “He used a slim jim and charged me $130. I had no choice but to pay.”

Scammers tricked another into shipping a $900 camera to Africa. “Not only did he never pay me, but I also covered $100 in shipping.” Lesson learned—too late.