With banks struggling to make ends meet, they are charging consumers higher monthly service charges, bigger ATM fees, and an arm and a leg for bounced checks. Make sure you are not on the receiving end of these surcharges by taking the following steps:
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Drive the extra block and withdraw cash for a ready teller that does not charge you fees.
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Pay close attention to your balance to avoid bounced checks. I suggest giving yourself a $200 cushion. If your balance drops below $200, transfer money from savings or stop making purchases.
- And make an appointment with a bank representative to review the fees you are charged for your checking account. Prior to the meeting, review your latest bank statement and highlight all the bank charges. Ask about each of these charges and how you can avoid them. In particular, long-time clients with large daily balances might be able to negotiation the best terms. If you are unable to negotiate great terms, at least be aware of the small charges the bank might assess for certain activities.
 Avoiding fees is not complicated, but it does require that you are alert and proactive.
It has been my experience that if you have an online
banking account, It makes it much easier to keep control
of those overdraft charges, You can completely eliminate those, With this kind of fast access to your account.
Robert – this is a great idea. What banks offer this? I have never heard of this – is this standard?
Great, Thank You
People will feel that you “care enough to take the time to create this gift especially for me.” When they feel the love that you put into each gift, your gift will raise their spirits even higher. In “The Most Wonderful Time of the Year: 101 Inspiring Ways to Enjoy Christmas,” Candy Paull quotes Laura Ingalls Wilder, “I am beginning to learn that it is the sweet, simple things of life which are the real ones after all.”
To charge less on CC for Holiday gifts, develop a “craft” type hobbby. Choose a craft that will absorb your attention, and allow for you to put your love into the activity, thus make the product worthy of being a genuine gift to your loved ones. With experience this craft hobby will become an important way for you to express your true self. — With the bonus of cutting down on charging holiday gifts on credit cards! Elliott Mellichamp