60+ Photos of mistakes that were equal parts costly and embarrassing

Mistakes happen to everyone—there’s no avoiding them. Yet some slip-ups are so huge, they sting deeply both financially and personally.

Oversleeping and showing up late to work is a small blip, but accidentally microwaving $5,000 in cash to “sanitize” it? That’s a costly catastrophe.

Someone Didn’t Have A Very Happy Thanksgiving

As many home cooks can attest, there are a lot of mishaps that happen during the long, stressful process of making Thanksgiving dinner. Some seem catastrophic in the moment, but the rest of the family is none the wiser when all is said and done.

However, it would take a miracle to get this under anyone’s radar. There’s a world of difference between a little dry and burnt to a crisp, and there’ sadly no better way to describe this than the latter/

The Sad Part Is That They Knew There Was A Problem

As Reddit user ReturnToNow explained, they were on their way to getting their tires looked at when this suddenly happened. Although they didn’t see any signs of wear before they got on the highway, it only took 30 seconds once they did before a distinct ripping sound led to some worrying bouncing for them.

Waiting for a tow truck feels so much longer when you can almost hear the world taunting you for not rolling into the shop a day earlier.

Into The Abyss

When you pull into an underground parking garage, you probably don’t often think about what would happen in the event of a flood — even a small one caused by a burst pipe.

That’s exactly what happened in this parking garage in Queens, New York. Needless to say, if there are any cars parked down there, they’re probably completely ruined.

When You Really Need A Bread Bowl

This Panera location in West Virginia got absolutely obliterated by a car, presumably because the driver wanted some of that fresh-baked goodness before it closed.

Of course, the driver’s actions not only didn’t result in a bread bonanza, but actually prevented others from getting their sourdough fix in the days that followed.

All This Person Did Was What They Were Told

This person was in the middle of using some Bisquick Shake And Pour batter when they realized they weren’t going to make it to the pouring stage. As they put it, “The lid came loose mid-shake,” thus covering the room in specks of batter.

Either the company had way more faith in the strength of the lid than was warranted, or they severely underestimated how hard the average person can shake something,.

You Should’ve Checked The Back

When reversing a large dump truck with a raised bed near a mostly glass building, double-check that your truck’s height fits the clearance.

This mess is completely on you.

Good Luck Untangling That

If you’re scratching your head about the blackout and internet outage in your neighborhood, this guy’s to blame.

That’s exactly why it’s so important to double-check before you start drilling.

Apparently, This Was An Occupational Hazard

As Reddit user speedreeser1 explained, he works as a house painter. While he was working, he tripped over a broom and happened to careen headfirst into a freshly painted wall.

Considering that his seems like a hard haircut to get by accident, all that paint is going to make for a pretty expensive fix. The uploader was also a very good sport when the commenters kept making fun of said haircut.

The Timing Couldn’t Have Been More Unfortunate

It’s hard to get the context from just the picture, so Reddit user casuallypoke explained that this truck broke down in the middle of the only way into their apartment building. Not only is it the most inconvenient place for them, but the timing was rough because they had just got off work.

All they want to do is go home but they’ve just resigned themselves to the reality that they’re just going to need to sit here and passively watch these people work until that’s poossible.

Believe It Or Not, This Ended Happier Than It Looks

Reddit user _Saint_Ajora_ explained that they hired a contractor to remodel their kitchen and while he was installing a vent, he happened to embed his knee in the uploader’s brand new gas range. The crunching sound told them everything.

However, the owner is still planning on hiring the contractor for future work because he clearly felt mortified about what happened and immediately offered to pay for the range outright. Everybody makes mistakes but it’s what they do after they’re made that matters most.

Nature Betrayed You

Putting solar panels on your greenhouse sounded like a smart way to use natural energy.

But you didn’t factor in the giant hailstones that showed up and smashed them.

All they had to say about this was “Someone’s having a bad day”

Unfortunately, there’s no explanation for what happened here because the only person who could offer one wasn’t around when this photo was taken. What we do know is that for whatever reason, someone took their pants off and forgot them on this changing table.

Even if they had a diaper of their own, you’d think they wouldn’t be able to get far before they realized they had no pants. An unusual draft, perhaps? Regardless, it’s perhaps for the best that we don’t know what happened on this table.

It’s Safe To Say This Wasn’t An Encouraging Present

As Reddit user alphakhaleesi explained, their car suddenly caught fire without any warning whatsoever. Not only was this fate not apparent at the time, but there were no prior issues to even faintly suggest something like this was on the horizon.

Worst of all, this bizarre incident happened on the third anniversary of their sobriety. While it’s a relief that they walked away unscathed, there are obviously much happier ways to celebrate that.

This Greeting Isn’t As Friendly As They Wanted It

This sign was intended to be a folksy, whimsical greeting to anyone who stops by. A nice, friendly, “Oh, hello” to make any visitor feel like their presence is a pleasant surprise.

However, thanks to some mischievous shrubbery, the sign is now conveying the exact opposite message. “Oh, Hell,” sounds more like something people say under their breath to each other before putting on fake smiles and opening the door.

They Probably Don’t Get Paid Enough For This

In case it’s unclear what’s happening (congratulations on being both lucky and wholesome), an Amazon delivery driver locked his keys in the van. Thus, he and a coworker are now trying one of the more finesse-heavy tricks to break back in.

Obviously, the company will be even less amused if they break one of the windows, so they can only hope this works. So would everyone elese on their route, if they had any idea what was going on.

Hope They Weren’t Fragile!

The person responsible for loading these shipping containers onto the ship is definitely in for a firing—or at least a serious reprimand.

This is one massive disaster.

What’re You Sinking About Now?

These folks probably felt pretty smart driving themselves all the way to the edge of the beach.

It didn’t take long for them to figure out why no other cars were parked there—and they definitely learned their lesson.

It’s No Wonder The Police Stopped By

If you want to avoid waking up to six police cars and a swarm of emergency responders at your doorstep on November 1st, make sure to take down your Halloween decorations on time.

One day can make all the difference.

If They Had Been Flying, This Wouldn’t Have Happened

A train derailment in Montana caused more than just damage to the train itself—it also put a hold on the delivery of Boeing 737 fuselage parts scheduled for later that day.

Looks like this is where they ended up.

You Had One Job

You didn’t even need to provide exact details.

Just tossing out some random numbers and places like you always do would have had us all convinced the weekend would be sunny and 75.

You Were Warned

Despite being warned multiple times by the construction crew to move their car, they chose to ignore it.

Now, they can’t move it for 6 to 8 weeks.

Those Tanks Are More Fragile Than They Look

Have you ever seen a tank truck get crushed like a soda can? If you’d like to see it, and can afford to pay for the repairs, it’s remarkably easy.

All you have to do is do some pumping while all of the vents are closed or blocked. It makes for a spectacular display and an impromptu physics lesson.

Can Planes Capsize?

Floatplanes are, in a sense, boats — and boats can capsize, so it kinda-sorta stands to reason that floatplanes can also capsize.

Still, one would think that their wingspan would help keep them from tipping over. Either way, at least it’s still floating.

It Was Bound To Happen Eventually

Anyone who drives trucks for a living should always know the height of their vehicle.

But U-Hauls are often driven by amateurs moving their kids to college, and it really shows.

Maybe There’s Hidden Treasure Down There

One of the things any boat owner knows to do when they dock their boat is to check the plugs.

But sometimes you forget, and you end up with a shipwreck.

When Your Foot Slips

Many of us know the sickening feeling of feeling your vehicle collide with another, even in a low-speed collision.

However, not many of us know the pain of having our foot slip while driving an ultra-rare six-figure car into another expensive car at a car auction.

The Bottom Fell Out

Concrete is a tricky beast, and a successful job often involves the careful placement of rebar before pouring.

This work crew did the rebar thing, then poured the concrete, and then something went horribly, horribly wrong.

The Evidence Will Be There For Years To Come

Whether the person who parked their car there was warned to move their vehicle or not, the person pouring the cement probably should’ve been paying attention to what they were doing.

This is an unique situation.

Say Goodbye To That Phone

Unless you’re willing to dive into that crocodile pit to get your phone back, say goodbye to the brand new iPhone your mom and dad just bought you for your birthday.

At least someone took a photo for proof.

This Is Hopeless

The caption for this image — “You ain’t stuck till you’re out of fuel” — is vaguely optimistic, but even if this tractor has fuel remaining, it certainly seems stuck.

It’s time to either drain this swampy area or just surrender the tractor to the elements.

Guitarists Everywhere Are Weeping

Have you ever wondered what a truckload of guitars looks like after it’s been submerged in floodwater?

No? Well, too late — here’s a bunch of Gibsons in Nashville after a 2010 flood. It’s honestly upsetting to see such beautiful instruments warped and ruined beyond repair.

Send Him The Dry Cleaning Bill

Everyone wants their wedding to be a memorable day, and it’s something they’re going to think about for the rest of their life.

But they didn’t want to be thinking about the drunk family member who spilled beer on the bride.

No Pilots Were Harmed, Just Planes

Now, I’m not a pilot, but I’m pretty sure that when you’re landing a plane on the runway, you’re supposed to land it with the wheels on the ground and the cockpit facing up…

I’m not even sure how they did this!

This Company Does What?

It’s a smart idea for companies to show examples of their handiwork. Stores that sell windows should have nice windows, masonry companies should have strong walls, and roofing companies should have roofs that haven’t completely collapsed.

Of course, Watkins Roofing might feel differently about this strategy.

This Can’t Be Good

Trains are a cost-effective way to move tons of materials over land, but the risk of derailments will always be there.

In this case, a train accidentally dumped hundreds of tons of coal into a wetland to create an ecological disaster.

Is This A Better Excuse Than “My Dog Ate My Homework”?

All you wanted was to set yourself a nice atmosphere for studying by lighting a couple of candles to help you relax.

But instead, you ended up giving yourself a distraction by setting your laptop on fire.

There Goes $1 Million

No, seriously. This Aston Martin was worth more than a million dollars.

But clearly whoever was driving it didn’t seem to care or feel like they needed to drive safely.

When You Lose At Jenga

This container ship at the Port of Long Beach has spilled a whole bunch of its containers into the water.

Ships at sea will lose containers fairly regularly due to bad weather, but it takes a special kind of mistake to do this when you’re already in port.

It Does Say Drive-Thru

When they made this place a drive-thru and put up the signage, they probably assumed drivers wouldn’t take the sign literally and plow through a brick wall.

The things about assumptions, though, is that they don’t account for every possibility.

It’ll All Come Crashing Down

The real mistake you made wasn’t putting all of those breakables on that shelf, it was getting a cat in the first place.

You set yourself up to have all those collectibles shattered, along with your dreams.

Trust Your Gut Next Time

You told yourself that you didn’t need to go back outside to check if you left your windows down, that you were just being paranoid, that you wouldn’t forget…

You were wrong.

Nobody Wins Here

The sign on the pole says “HILL” on it, but clearly they should’ve been more specific about what you were supposed to do when you got to that hill, so you don’t end up stuck halfway.

They’re going to need a tow truck with a very, very long flatbed.

The Emergency Happens After You Walk Out The Door

Whoever was in charge of putting in these emergency exit stairs was clearly trying to make matters worse.

Because anyone walking out of those doors is going to be in for a surprise.

It Looks Like A Crime Scene

In a situation like this, all you can do is stand outside the cellar and watch as all your money shatters.

Then, contemplate how to reinforce those shelves next time.

If One Goes Down, They All Do

While in the process of (unsuccessfully) trying to save his $300,000 boat from sinking to the bottom of the lake, this man also managed to sink his truck and his Jeep.

Sounds like a country song.

They Just Wanted An Oil Change

Note to self: When fixing an engine, always remove all the oil rags before you give the car back to the customer.

Otherwise, they’ll be coming back real soon.

Is It Cheaper To Move The Building Or The Panels?

Which came first, the solar panels or the building?

That building doesn’t look it’s been moved any time recently, so whoever was in charge of those solar panels apparently forgot that the sun moves.

Talk About Wasting Resources

Imagine having to be the first AAA guy who had to make the call into his own office to tell them that he had managed to lock his keys in his car, while on a call trying to help someone else.

Please, don’t tell anyone about this.

Is This Part Of The Safety Demonstration?

You’re used to getting the safety demonstration at the beginning of a flight about how to put on your seatbelt, and to always put your mask on before assisting others.

But where does the slide come into play?

This Is Why Dogs Go In Crates

Next time you think about leaving your dog in the garage for a few hours, think about this man whose dog decided to take a few bites out of his Porsche when it was left alone.

Yikes. Very bad boy.

This Is Why You Don’t Tailgate

You didn’t buy that fancy car so that you could one day turn it into a doorstop on the back of a school bus.

But that’s your punishment for never learning that you shouldn’t tailgate a bus full of children.

They Would’ve Needed A Drink After That

If you’re ever having a tough day at work, just know that this person shattered a bottle of wine worth more than $15,000.

Whatever mistake you made couldn’t have been as costly as that.

Choose Your Seat Wisely

If there’s a spot open anywhere that everyone seems to be avoiding or skipping over, know that there’s probably a reason.

At least he doesn’t have to worry about showering later.

“Don’t Forget To Tip Your Server”

While servers in a restaurant always appreciate being tipped generously at the end of a meal, computer servers are a little different.

Usually, you should avoid shattering your computer hardware, but this guy missed that memo.

Even The Dog Knows He Made A Mistake

She might be smiling now as she’s looking over his shoulder…

But chances are she won’t be smiling later when they sit down to have a conversation about whatever it was he was looking at…

In This Moment, She Knew She’d Made A Mistake

It makes for a great photo and something to laugh about later, but with a baseball being fired directly at her it’s probably the last photo she’ll ever be able to take on that camera.

The joys of parenting.

Not Just One Expensive Mistake

Considering that there doesn’t seem to be a lot of other traffic, it’s hard to understand how this possibly could’ve happened.

It must’ve been some sort of glitch in the system.

Maybe No One Will Notice

No matter how big of a mistake you make at work, you will still never measure up to the mistake this man made.

Imagine having to tell your boss that you accidentally tipped over the multi-million dollar satellite you were working on.

The Winds Of Change

This building was no match for the 80+ MPH winds that were blowing through Iowa.

The factory went from being a functioning place of work to looking like some sort of modern art installation.

Who’s A Guilty Boy?

That is the look of a dog who knows exactly what he’s done wrong.

Or, at the very least, the look of someone who knows that he’s done something wrong.

A Mistake Memorialized Forever

So not only did some poor unsuspecting child end up losing their scooter to this block of drying cement, but they also lost their dignity based on the imprint they left behind.

Now their fall is forever cemented in history.

Put Your Head In The Sand And Pretend You Saw Nothing

Apparently, it didn’t occur to anyone on the construction crew that with changing tides comes changing grounds.

Which is how they ended up with a crane buried in the sand.

What’re You Sinking About?

The residents of a South Dakota neighborhood learned the hard way that their homes were built on top of an abandoned gypsum mine when a sinkhole emerged and took out half of someone’s front lawn.

Hey, at least now it’s ready for an in-ground pool!

You Don’t Deserve That Garage

Your home features a hidden garage that lifts up from the ground — definitely a cool setup.

Yet somehow, you overlooked the fact that parking on top of it isn’t such a great idea.

“A 5,000,000 Oops”

This is why there are signs outside of MRI rooms that explain that the giant magnet is always turned on.

Please try to avoid getting anything else stuck inside this very expensive, large magnet.

That’s One Way To Blow $5,000

Out of all the methods to disinfect your cash, zapping $5,000 in $50 plastic bills in the microwave definitely wasn’t the right choice.

There goes the money — gone for good. Bye-bye, money.