3 Pieces of Money Advice Americans Are Tired of Hearing, According to Wells Fargo
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Gabrielle Olya
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Amen Oyiboke
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More Americans are seeking financial advice compared to previous years, a new Wells Fargo report found. According to the 2025 Wells Fargo Money Study, 36% of Americans are actively seeking financial advice in 2025 versus 23% in 2024. Yet, Americans aren’t thrilled with the advice they’re receiving. The report found that 86% of Americans are sick of hearing at least one common piece of financial advice.
These are the three common pieces of financial advice Americans are most tired of hearing.
Eat at Home Instead of Eating Out
While cooking at home may be cheaper than dining out or ordering delivery, Americans don’t want to hear this advice. The report found that 44% of Americans are sick of being told to eat at home to save money — and there are several reasons why they dislike this recommendation.
“From a pragmatic standpoint, our lives are busy, so people think there’s a lack of practicality to that advice,” said Michael Liersch, head of advice and planning at Wells Fargo. “It’s like, ‘OK, well, I don’t have the time or the energy or the capacity to do that.'”
Liersch said that the better advice is more nuanced.
“Rather than having blanket advice to not eat out and eat at home, much more pragmatic advice [is to be] more intentional and selective, rather than a light switch all or not,” he said.
To enjoy eating out without busting your budget, Liersch recommends being intentional about when you choose to dine out, utilizing rewards programs and discounts, going during happy hour, and utilizing credit cards that offer extra rewards or cash back for dining out.
Get a Side Hustle
Over 4 in 10 Americans (44%) are sick of being told to get a side hustle to improve their finances. Liersch believes this is because many Americans who are open to having a side hustle already have one.
“I think people are sick of this advice because it’s already been given, and people who’ve taken it already have a side hustle,” he said. “So are we suggesting they get two side hustles? Three? Four? ‘How many side hustles am I supposed to have?'”
Instead of focusing on adding on more income streams, Liersch said it’s better to focus on what you’re doing with the income from your current jobs.
“What I encourage people to do is say, with the core job you have, or that core job and that side hustle, where’s the money going? How is the money organized? And is it aligned with how you’d like to spend it, save it and invest it?,” he said.
You can also increase your income without taking on additional gigs by asking for a raise at your current job, or by investing in assets that provide income, such as dividend-paying stocks or a rental property.
Stop Buying Fancy Coffee Drinks
Money experts have long preached skipping your daily latte to save money, but 32% of Americans are not open to this advice.
“People want to have agency over their own life decisions, and buying that cappuccino or latte or green drink that you’re looking forward to, people want to do that,” Liersch said. “That’s fun.”
Instead of cutting out your fun drinks completely, Liersch recommends being mindful when you do buy them.
“Is that experience bringing you joy? Are you optimizing it based on being a repeat customer? Are you getting the reward points that you should be getting for frequenting your favorite places?,” he said.
While even small dollar amounts are meaningful, they won’t derail your finances if you’re making purchases with intention.
“If they’re giving you the utility and the value you want out of them, then the money is well spent,” Liersch said. “Look for other places where you may have an opportunity to reallocate money to things like saving and investing, where you may not be getting as much utility or value, [such as] streaming services.”
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