Financial New Year’s Resolutions for 2013
The New Year is almost here, and it’s time to make some resolutions for 2013. NerdWallet compiled this list of common financial resolutions and how you can achieve them—we’ll be working on a lot of these resolutions ourselves over the coming months, too.
Spending and Saving
I will not pay any banking fees
Big banks charge an average of $117 per year, and a recent Pew study found that the average overdraft fee is $35. While few consumers intend to pay excessive banking fees, unexpected expenses can take a toll on your checking account. When you add up the monthly maintenance fees, out-of-network ATM fees and overdraft fees, it’s clear that some banks can eat a large chunk of your paycheck if you let them. You can find the checking account that fits your needs with the lowest fees through our checking comparison tool and our roadmap to free checking
I will finally stop complaining about my big bank and switch to a credit union
NerdWallet crunched the numbers, and it’s clear that credit unions are better for consumers than big banks (the same is likely true for community banks). With lower fees, higher rates, more ATMs and better perks, the choice to switch to a credit union is clear. Moving your money isn’t nearly as difficult as it may seem. We put together this simple seven-step guide describing how to switch to a credit union.