Were all better, more responsible people now, and doesnt that feel great?
Weregetting our spending under control,excelling at our hobbiesand setting upbetter boundaries with technology.
With that in mind, heres how to avoid the most common fees in 2019.
Bank Account Fees
Theres no reason foranyone to pay a bank to hold their money.
Your bank will ask you, Are you sure?
If that doesnt work, then its time to switch to a new credit union or another bank.
Here you have some considerations.
Credit unions also might offer youbetter interest and customer service.
The biggest thing to keep in mind is footprint.
Switching to a credit union only to pay ATM fees multiple times a month isnt solving your fee problem.
If youre worried about overdrafting, turn off your accounts overdraft protection.
Your debit card purchases will be rejected, but you wont incur a fee.
And sign up for your banks balance text alerts, if they offer them.
If youre sending money to other people in the U.S., there are ways to get around the fees.
Use a service likeVenmo or Zelle(note: banks using Zelle may choose to add a fee).
It adds friction, but youll save money.
The best way to transfer funds is often online.
So, do the math on whether the benefits make up for the cost.
After that, look at your usage and see if the rewards made up for the fee.
And try calling your issuer and asking them to waive the fee.
You never know until you call and ask.
NerdWallet has some suggestions on thebest no-fee cards.
Dont sound too enthused about any offer.
Ask if they have anything better.
A supervisor may indeed be able to offer you a better deal, writes Bankrate.
And theres another thing to keep in mind: Next week, a 0 percent offer may be introduced.
confirm you find out when new transfer offers might be available.
If you dont, its easy to find one.
Credit Card Late Payment Fees
This is one of the simplest fees to avoid on the list.
Put your bill on auto-pay, and you wont have to worry about paying a fee.
If you are late, call your issuer and ask if they can waive it.
But it’s possible for you to ask your new provider to cover the fee.
Many companies offer to cover the fees as a way to entice new customers.
Or, use the old standby: Ask the company to waive the fee.
Youll pay more upfront, but youll come out ahead in the long run.
Others may waive it if you meet certain requirements, such as signing up for e-statements.
No ones perfectall of us will spend some money we didnt need to.
But that doesnt mean you cant take a stab at minimize how often you do.
A quick phone call can save you tens or hundreds of dollars.
Theres just no reason to pay excessive fees.
