3 fees you should never pay again

Bills. They sure can be a headache. No, not the Buffalo Bills. Although, if that’s your team, sorry to bring it up. We all have bills to pay, and most of us are used to a good chunk of our paychecks not sticking around too long. Those bills provide us with stuff that we need and stuff that we love. But what about fees? Is there anything more annoying than paying fees? Fees aren’t doing anyone any good. Here are three fees we should eliminate so we can keep a little more cash in our pockets.

ATM fees: It’s nice when you need cash to be able to use a nearby ATM, but what’s it costing you? If your financial institution isn’t anywhere close, you’re probably going to pay at least one fee when using another FI’s ATM. Remember to stop by your favorite branch on your way to your destination and get enough cash to cover your trip or night out. You can also get cash back from most retailers, so take advantage of that. If you find yourself in a pickle, get a friend to pay and hit them back with Venmo or PayPal.

Credit card fees: Maybe your credit card doesn’t have an annual fee, but if it does, is it really worth it? Compare credit cards and try to find the best rewards or cash back card you can get that won’t charge you an arm and a leg just to have the card. A credit card is a nice tool to have (especially if the rewards are really paying off) but make sure you’re not keeping a balance from month to month. Pay those things in full each month, and pay on time!

Late payment fees: If you’re living paycheck to paycheck, it can be a delicate process to make sure each bill is covered on time in each pay period. Don’t let anything slide through the cracks. Paying a bill a few days late isn’t worth an added fee or a damaging hit to your credit report. Make a strict budget and save a little from the previous pay period so you can cover each bill when it’s due. Start saving and as long as you’re not spending more than you make, you won’t run into the same problem again.

 

 

John Pettit

John Pettit

John Pettit is the Managing Editor for CUInsight.com. Through news, community, press, jobs and events, he keeps credit unions digitally informed throughout the day. Web: www.cuinsight.com Details