| Lots of people struggle when they have | | | | funds in the account it is linked to. |
| to pay their way through college, but | | | | It is not likely these days that your |
| there are so many creative ways that you | | | | debit card will be declined due to |
| can save money every month that you | | | | insufficient funds. Why? Well, because |
| should be able to ease up your financial | | | | that is how banks make money: your |
| burden at least a little bit. | | | | forgetfulness. Most debit cards |
| Make sure you have both a free checking | | | | nowadays will continue to work even if |
| and savings account. There are lots of | | | | you are already overdrawn and this is a |
| ways that the banks will nickel and dime | | | | bad, bad thing. When you are not sure |
| you to death, like using the ATM too | | | | how much money you have in an account, |
| much, a monthly account fee (which can | | | | use cash instead. |
| be anywhere from $3 to $12 or more every | | | | One thing that you can do to determine |
| month), overdraft fees, and etcetera. | | | | just how much money you waste every |
| Try to find a checking account that has | | | | month is to save all of your receipts. |
| a non-existent monthly fee and whose | | | | This is a great way to figure out just |
| other fees are reasonably low. | | | | what you are wasting money on, since |
| You should also have a checking account | | | | most of the time when someone gets the |
| with a bank that will give you free | | | | bill for something at the end of the |
| checks. Get as many of them as they | | | | month, they blink at just how much they |
| allow at one time and since most people | | | | spent. Hindsight is definitely 20/20 |
| are using online bill payments these | | | | and if you can learn what you really |
| days, the number of checks you actually | | | | waste money on, you can learn to cut it |
| need on a day to day basis is going to | | | | out the next time around. |
| be low, anyway. | | | | If you have a lot of spare change |
| Do your best to keep track of your | | | | rolling around in your purse or laying |
| checking account and credit card | | | | around different places in your house, |
| purchases. Going over your credit limit | | | | you should roll it up yourself and make |
| on your credit card or overdrawing your | | | | sure you avoid using coin counting and |
| checking account will cost you a lot in | | | | rolling machines at grocery stores. |
| late fees and overdraft charges if you | | | | Some of these will charge as much as 9% |
| do it very often. Beware using your | | | | of the amount you put in it to count and |
| debit card if you know you are low on | | | | roll them for you. |