The True Cost of Laziness: 12 Things That Could Save Us Money If We Only Paid More Attention

Nobody likes to be called lazy — but nobody likes throwing away money, either.

The good news is that personal finance is just like physical health: You can tone up with a little commitment. Here are 12 tips to keep more of your cash. Even if you only do a couple, you’re better off than you were…

Do you run to just any ATM every time you need cash? If so, you’re paying around $4.50 per transaction, according to a recent survey. That’s because when you use an ATM not affiliated with the card’s bank, you’re charged two fees — one by your debit card’s bank and another by the ATM’s bank. Don’t pay those unnecessary fees.

Look up locations for your debit card’s bank and only withdraw from authorized ATMs. You can also get extra cash with no fee when you use your debit card in retail checkout lanes.

Here are some more ways to avoid dumb banking fees.

Think twice before buying salty snacks, candy, and drinks or beer the next time you gas up. Convenience store food and merchandise can be two or three times the price you’d pay at a grocery store. So plan ahead.