25 Things I'd Rather Spend Money on Than Bank Fees
Checking account fees. “Maintenance” charges. Out-of-network ATM fees. Minimum balance fees. Did you know that the average American pays $4.35 per out-of-network ATM transaction? And, when the average Joe (or JoAnn) doesn’t meet the requirements for a checking account balance or minimum direct deposit amount, he/she might be paying an average of $15 per month extra (source).
I can think of so many things I’d rather spend money on than bank fees. Here are just a few:
A luxurious morning latte instead of home brew
A donation to a local charity
Fund a savings account for travel
Deduct a little more from my pay for my 401(K)
A bunch of gum at the checkout counter
My favorite dish, Chicken Parmesan, at my favorite St. Louis restaurant, Zia’s
Offset grocery or gas costs
A manicure
Splurging on a $0.99 iPhone app
A day of parking at the St. Louis Zoo (instead of walking 100 miles from street parking)
A dozen donuts for my department
Lawn seats at a summer concert
The upgraded tour at the Anheuser-Busch Brewery
A new shirt
A trip to the City Museum in St. Louis (or, a trip to any museum charging admission)
Head to the Farmer’s Market and load up on fruits and veggies
Spend a day at Raging Rivers Water Park
Splurge on tickets and rides at a carnival
Pay it forward in line at a fast food joint
Support local artists at a craft show
Go bowling on a day other than $2 Tuesday
Buy some new plants for my garden
Payment against the principle on my auto loan
Add extra to my emergency fund
I’m sure there’s at least one thing you can think of that you’d rather spend money on than fees. $15, or $7.99, or even $4 may not seem like a lot, but why spend money on something you can get for free?To quote the great “Bank On More” campaign, “There’s more to life than fees.” Make the switch to a credit union. Your wallet will thank you.
What’s the most annoying charge you’ve ever received? Is it a bank fee, or some other sort of fee? Tweet your responses to us at @AmEagleCU!
