A recent frustration for myself has been learning the wonderful world of banks, and most importantly, the ways in which they nickel and dime most people to death.
The majority of Americans are living with credit, with debt, and many recent college graduates are frustrated, unable to find work.
This leaves a lot of people living paycheck to paycheck.
If you are living on the line, one of the best things you can do to prevent extra expenditures is to beware of overdraft fees.
There are some simple things you can do to prevent overdraft fees in the first place: 1.
Create a budget and monitor your spending strictly.
Know your account balance mentally without needing the computer to confirm it.
2.
If unsure about your balance, check an ATM or your online banking before making a purchase.
Even a $1.
50 item that overdrafts your account will often result in a whopping fee - sometimes up to $30.
00 for each infringement.
3.
Ask the bank to disable your "overdraft protection" or "balance shield" - all clever names to encourage your feelings of "protection" - when in reality, they're just hoping to make a buck from your accounting error.
4.
If you're not making enough to justify any investments or savings accounts - consider keeping your money outside of the banks.
Recent history has shown that investment companies and monetary spending groups are not iron clad, and can be very selfish.
If you do make an overdraft and notice, report it to your bank right away.
Claim ignorance, claim naivety, feign a medical emergency that your Grandma was experiencing, thus justifying the $2.
99 peanut purchase from the gas station.
Some banks will forgive the first overdraft - but being confident and loud can help - even if you know it was your own mistake.
Banks have long been on top of the people whom support it - and our current society weighs in favor of the bankers, and the banking system.
As a whole, it is flawed and its future is uncertain.
But we can be wise in our interactions with them - wise with our own finances - and avoid giving away extra money to people whom already have plenty of it.
Be responsible with your money.
Be wise and pay attention to where your monetary energy is flowing.
Don't be a victim to banks or credit card companies.
Fight for your financial freedom.
The majority of Americans are living with credit, with debt, and many recent college graduates are frustrated, unable to find work.
This leaves a lot of people living paycheck to paycheck.
If you are living on the line, one of the best things you can do to prevent extra expenditures is to beware of overdraft fees.
There are some simple things you can do to prevent overdraft fees in the first place: 1.
Create a budget and monitor your spending strictly.
Know your account balance mentally without needing the computer to confirm it.
2.
If unsure about your balance, check an ATM or your online banking before making a purchase.
Even a $1.
50 item that overdrafts your account will often result in a whopping fee - sometimes up to $30.
00 for each infringement.
3.
Ask the bank to disable your "overdraft protection" or "balance shield" - all clever names to encourage your feelings of "protection" - when in reality, they're just hoping to make a buck from your accounting error.
4.
If you're not making enough to justify any investments or savings accounts - consider keeping your money outside of the banks.
Recent history has shown that investment companies and monetary spending groups are not iron clad, and can be very selfish.
If you do make an overdraft and notice, report it to your bank right away.
Claim ignorance, claim naivety, feign a medical emergency that your Grandma was experiencing, thus justifying the $2.
99 peanut purchase from the gas station.
Some banks will forgive the first overdraft - but being confident and loud can help - even if you know it was your own mistake.
Banks have long been on top of the people whom support it - and our current society weighs in favor of the bankers, and the banking system.
As a whole, it is flawed and its future is uncertain.
But we can be wise in our interactions with them - wise with our own finances - and avoid giving away extra money to people whom already have plenty of it.
Be responsible with your money.
Be wise and pay attention to where your monetary energy is flowing.
Don't be a victim to banks or credit card companies.
Fight for your financial freedom.
Source...