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The Biggest Money Mistakes In History

We are currently living through one of the worst financial crises ever, but when it comes to handling money, the world is no stranger to messing things up. While the current economic situation is no laughing matter, there have been a slew of hilarious mishaps that have cost countries a bundle. From Superman's obscenely expensive CGI-ed mouth in 2018's Justice League, to Spain building a luxury submarine that was unable to resurface, here are some of the biggest money mistakes in history.


The 'Walkie Talkie' Building Melted Cars

20 fenchurch street

20 Fenchurch Street's eyesore of a building was already hard to look at considering how reflective it was in the sunlight. But when Martin Lindsay returned to his new Jaguar on a hot day, the London skyscraper was actually so reflective that it had melted parts of the cars body and rearview mirror. In addition to the 946-pound payout to Mr. Lindsay for damage to his car, the building had come up with a way to give the already 200-million-pound building more sunscreen. Needless to say, the whole ordeal was quite expensive and embarrassing.

Henry Cavil's mustache

Tepid action actor Henry Cavil had just wrapped up filming for Justice League when he had started filming for Mission Impossible – Fallout,​ but Warner Brothers decided a few scenes needed to be redone for the former. Unfortunately, Cavil had worked very hard to grow out a pencil thin mustache, and the filming schedules were too set in stone for him to shave. Coordinating the reshoots, and CGI-ing out Cavil's facial hair all cost around $25 million, and they didn't even succeed, as fans were quick to point out how weird the actors face looked on the big screen.

French Train Company Made Trains Too Big For Track

(Photo by Frederick Florin/AFP/Getty Images)

French train company SNCF purchased 2,000 trains in 2014 for around 15 billion euros, but they soon realized their platforms were too narrow for the new orders, a mistake which cost them an additional 50 million euros. It was all at the fault of the operator, who didn't factor in measurements of train platforms that had been built more than 50 years ago.

Spain's Submarine that Couldn't Resurface

Spain coughed up around $2.2 billion to build a luxury submarine named The Isaac Peral. But before the vessel was completed in 2013, engineers discovered that the unfinished submarine was so heavy that it probably would not resurface if placed underwater. The design flaw was fixed, but it was embarrassing when news broke.

Mizuho Securities loses $225 million dollars Due to a Typo

In 2005 Japanese security company Mizuho lost an enormous sum when a single stockbroker mistyped some financial data. Instead of offering a single share in J-Com's stock for about 610,000 yen (or $5,000 dollars,) he offered 610,000 shares for 1 yen. The disaster meant investors were buying out Mizuho's stock for an insanely low amount of money, costing the company around $225 million in damages.

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Learn About the True Cost of Owning Pets

Photo: Yerlin Matu

Dogs, cats, hamsters, fish, parakeets, horses—the world loves pets.

They're our best friends and our better halves. But while they come with a lot of love, they also come with a surprisingly high price tag. Upfront fees plus the annual costs of caring for an animal add up to more than you might expect. What are some of the expenses you can expect to pay for popular pets and how high can the costs be?

What's not to love?Photo: Paul Hanaoka

Initial costs

You can purchase dogs and cats from breeders and pet stores or you can adopt or rescue from shelters. Adoption fees range from $75 to $200 for cats and dogs, but buying from a breeder will likely be much more expensive. Countless stores sell fish for $2 or, for more exotic species, upwards of $50. Hamsters can cost as little as $10 from a store, while birds can range from $20 to $400.

For dogs and cats, add to these fees the cost of spaying or neutering. It might be included in the fees for a rescue pet, but a purchased pet's procedure could cost up to $200. Another upfront cost for dog owners is licensing—most states require dogs over the age of one year to be licensed. A lifetime license for a spayed or neutered dog costs around $35.

Bringing a new pet home also requires equipment. Dogs and cats will need crates, beds, litter boxes and more. Small pets, like birds and hamsters, will need cages, bedding, and food. Of course, there are plenty of extras that are just as important: your puppy or kitten will look for toys, treats and comfort objects like blankets. You'll need hygiene equipment too, such as brushes, shampoo, toothpaste, and toothbrushes.

While small pets don't necessarily need it, larger pets, like dogs and cats, should go to the veterinarian for an initial exam. The vet might administer vaccinations and recommend medicine to keep your pet healthy and safe. Common medicines include gels for flea and tick protection, supplements to prevent heartworms and, sometimes, vitamins. All of these will become ongoing expenses.

Depending on your living situation, you might face new deposits required by a landlord or an increase in rent. Pet deposits can be refundable or nonrefundable and as little as $200 or as much as $1,000. "Pet rent," as its called, usually replaces some or all of the deposit with a monthly fee ($35, perhaps) that basically acts as your pet's rent payment. One is not necessarily worse than the other—it depends on the costs and situation.

Caring for a pet can be costly Photo: Autri Taheri

Ongoing expenses

All of those upfront costs might stack up to a sizable sum but the price continues to increase in the form of ongoing expenses. You want your pet to have the happiest, most comfortable life possible, so of course, you're going to buy the best quality food and most entertaining toys. Shampoo, toothpaste, cat litter, and other hygiene products will add a bit to your regular grocery bill. Flea and tick, allergy, and heartworm medicines might add up to about $20 per month.

Regular vet visits can become expensive, especially if anything more than a checkup is needed. You can expect a bill anywhere between $50 and $500 for various shots and procedures. Dental cleanings tend to be expensive as well, and any prescriptions will be close to what you'd expect to pay for your own medicine. A pet owner can purchase pet insurance for their four-legged family member as a precaution against emergency medical treatments that might otherwise hit hard, financially.

The price is worth every penny Photo: Avi Richards

One more consideration is travel. It's obviously more difficult to travel with a pet but it's also difficult to arrange for pet care while you're away from them. A dog walker might charge $20 per walk, a cat sitter who's not family will charge for feeding and changing litter. A pet boarding house has its own costs associated with it. On the other hand, pet-friendly hotels sometimes charge large fees to let your pet stay with you. Others, though, are letting pets in for free.

There are many costs—high and low, short-term and long-term—of owning a pet. While that soft-hearted voice inside you might think, anything's worth that cuddly companion, it's important to consider and plan for the expenses before jumping into a relationship. You owe it to that future pet to be prepared to give them the best life possible.


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Five of the Most Valuable Items to Collect

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Is collecting an idea that has crossed your mind or something you're already into?

We're not talking back issues of GQ or seashells from your last few trips to the beach, but highly valuable items that one day, even tomorrow, could be worth an impressive amount. You may already have a collection growing, or today is day one. No matter where you're at on the collecting curve, if you are into any of these five items, you're on to something. Your hobby could become your retirement fund… and then some!

Comic Books

Comic books can be a gold mineunsplash.com

Turn funny into money by rummaging through your collection of old comic books. The action may be over, but the pages are precious. Rare and vintage comic books can be worth a pretty penny as per Go Banking Rates. "A 1938 copy of Action Comics #1 sold last year for nearly $1 million at a public auction, according to Heritage Auctions." Naturally, not every comic book will yield such a high payout, but it's worth weeding through your childhood favorites to see if any have significant value. Go Banking Rates adds, "Comics with classic covers or first appearances are typically more marketable." If you want to get an estimate of what one of your books may be going for, visit Comics Price Guide for more information.

Antique Furniture

Your family's heirlooms could be surprisingly valuable unsplash.com

Before you donate Granny's creaky old rocking chair to Goodwill, consider keeping it, and any other chairs, tables, cabinets, and chests she may want to pass down, for that matter. According to Huffington Post, antique furniture could be worth a fortune, and you could literally be sitting on a pile of dough. "Furniture that was once considered classic such as china hutches and roll top desks have fallen out of favor. For collectors and wealth investors, however, there are still major pieces of antique furniture in the market." Need proof? "The Badminton Cabinet built in England in the 18th century fetched $36 million at a Christie's auction in 2004, making it the most expensive piece of antique furniture ever sold." Sadly, your future great-grandkids are not going to appreciate your IKEA bookshelves.

Watches

Watches have long been considered a valuable investment unsplash.com

Nowadays, watches are worn more for fashion than function being that we all carry around a smartphone 24/7. But for those who enjoy a fine watch or timepiece, collecting them could mean watching your savings account numbers soar. According to Huffington Post, "Christie's and Sotheby's reported selling half a dozen watches for more than $2 million apiece between June 2012 and June 2013. The most expensive watch ever sold at auction was the Henry Graves "supercomplication" watch by Patek Philippe, which sold for $11 million at a Sotheby's auction." Swiss watches are in the highest demand, so hone in on those if you're serious about scoring big one day. Only time will tell…

Stamps

Have a stamp collection? Consider keeping it! pixabay.com

These days, stamps could be more relevant than ever. With "snail mail" edging closer and closer to becoming obsolete, stamps will likely one day be a collector's item only. But we're talking about older, rarer stamps that are worth keeping stored safely to prevent deterioration. According to Go Banking Rates, "Stamps are among collectibles that are gaining value. Take, for example, the 'Inverted Jenny' stamp. Only 100 of them exist, according to CNN Money, and one that was valued at $1.6 million was auctioned off last May." A collection could be more valuable than a single stamp, though. "If your collection is organized, it will likely sell for more money," advises Go Banking Rates. Will your collection get the stamp of approval?

Wine

Many different vintages hold their value well over time unsplash.com

You may be tempted to drink your cab or pinot with dinner tonight but save those rarer bottles in your cellar and pop open a can of beer instead. Vino can be valuable, and your bottles may bring in big bucks. According to Huffington Post, "While the wine sub-index increased only by 3% last year, it increased by 182% over the decade ending in mid-2013." But which wines are the best to collect? Huffington Post claims, "By far, most investment-grade wine comes from the Bordeaux region of France. However, it was a wine from Burgundy that set a new record. Twelve bottles of 1978 Domaine de la Romanee-Conti were sold for $476,280 at a Christie's auction." For tips on collecting investment-grade wine, read Money Crashers' guide to buying bottles with promise for a payout. Cheers to a wine windfall!

Do you have a collection? Are you in it for fun or fortune?

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