Things to Cut When Money is Tight...July Edition

 1) Stupid Fees

This might be the entire list today because there are lots of fees I realized I had cut through the years and have forgotten that people pay.

-ATM fees.   Use an ATM linked to your credit union or bank.   My credit union has agreements with other credit unions so I can use one pretty much anywhere in the country without a fee.  There is not only an app for that, there is a phone number I can dial it, put in a zip code (preferably the one where I am or will be shortly) and find an ATM.  ALSO...take out cash regularly and have it in hand.  Doesn't ALWAYS work.  I have yet to pay an ATM fee in 2026. I do carry more cash around than othes in my finanical class and have a stack of 20s in my home which I dip into as needed   The local branch of my credit union is closing in August so I will have to plan ahead a wee bit more.  There will still be an ATM, but I usually stop in there to take out $$ rather than using the ATM much. 

-Late bill fees.  I did bugger this one up this year one time.  While traveling, I ignored the notice in my phone calendar to pay the phone bill.  OOPS!  So, that was a few bucks down the drain and lesson relearned.

-Credit card fee at the gas pump.  I do my best to go to gas stations that do not charge more for credit card use.   Othewise, I actually walk inside with some of those 20s mentioned above, and pay cash, then go back in for the change.  It takes a moment, but it takes less time to go in to the station twice than it does to earn the takehome pay to cover the increased cost of using a credit card. 

-Credit card fee for paying taxes and government permits.  There is a significant "convenience" fee for using a credit card to pay my land taxes, building permit, etc.  I make time to stop by the actual offices when I will be in that town for other reasons, walk in, write a check (yes, a check) and get a receipt.  This requires a wee bit of planning but you CAN do this.,

-Credit card fees elsewhere.  My fave food truck (yes, I do buy food out now and then, it is in the budget and I can still afford it and find it worth it for a few specific places) has added a 4% credit card fee.  Credit cards charge the business a fee so they nee to either pass it on or raise prices across the board  I pay cash, and add that fee to the tip to maximize my support of a local business and support a healthful local food economy.  Same at the farmers markets and anywhere else I pay in person.   I do use credit cards when ordering online, paying for plane tickets/rental cars/hotels for the record and the ability to dispute charges through multiple channels should anything go wrong.

Apply this principle to whatever fees you may be paying.  You'll find other ones in your own spending patterns.