A few dollars here and a few dollars there can make a surprisingly big dent in your budget. Maybe it’s a fee for using an ATM, an extra charge on a plane ticket, or a subscription you forgot was still active. Each one may seem too small to worry about, but those charges can pile up over a year.
Some fees are hard to avoid, but plenty can be skipped with a little planning. Banks, airlines, hotels, ticket sellers, and other businesses often make these charges part of the normal checkout process, so it’s easy to pay them without stopping to ask if there’s another option.
Here are some common fees that can often be avoided.
Checked Bag Fees
Airlines have made baggage one of the easiest ways to add to the cost of a ticket. A fare that looks affordable at first can become much more expensive once you add a checked bag, especially if you’re traveling with several people.
Packing light, choosing an airline with a better baggage policy, or using a credit card that offers free checked bags can help keep the final cost down.
Delivery App Fees
Ordering dinner through a delivery app is convenient, but the final bill can look very different from the menu price. Delivery fees, service charges, small-order fees, and higher menu prices can all show up before you pay.
Picking up the food yourself or ordering through the restaurant may cost much less.
Seat Selection Fees
Choosing a specific airplane seat can come with an extra charge, and families may feel pressured to pay so everyone can sit together.
If you don’t care where you sit, skipping paid seat selection and accepting the seat assigned by the airline can save you money. Just check the airline’s seating policy before booking, since rules vary.
ATM Fees
Paying a fee to withdraw your own money is frustrating, especially if you get charged by both the ATM operator and your bank.
Using an ATM within your bank’s network, getting cash back during a store purchase, or choosing a bank that reimburses ATM fees can help you avoid these charges.
Foreign Transaction Fees
A trip overseas can come with plenty of expenses without your credit card adding another charge every time you buy something. Some cards add foreign transaction fees, often around 3% of each purchase.
Checking your card’s terms before traveling can save you from these extra costs. Many travel-focused credit cards have no foreign transaction fees, so it’s worth knowing what your current card charges.
Credit Card Late Fees
A missed credit card payment can cost more than the late fee itself. It can also lead to interest charges and, depending on the circumstances, potentially affect your credit history.
Setting up automatic payments for at least the minimum amount due is one easy way to avoid forgetting a payment. Calendar reminders can also help if you prefer to pay manually.
Related: 14 Things You Should Never Purchase on a Credit Card
Hotel Wi-Fi Fees
Paying extra for Wi-Fi at a hotel can feel frustrating, especially when free internet is so common elsewhere. Some hotels still charge daily internet fees, while others include it with the room or offer it through their loyalty programs.
Before paying, check whether signing up for the hotel’s free loyalty program includes Wi-Fi. In some cases, that small step can remove the charge.
Resort Fees
Resort fees are a common source of frustration because they may be mandatory even if you never use the pool, gym, beach chairs, or other amenities included in the charge.
The easiest way to avoid surprises is to look at the total price before booking rather than focusing only on the advertised nightly rate. Two hotels with similar room prices can have very different final totals once extra fees are added.
Early Check-In and Late Checkout Fees
Need to get into your room a little early or stay past the normal checkout time? Some hotels will charge for the extra hours.
It never hurts to ask whether early check-in or late checkout is available at no cost. If the hotel isn’t busy, staff may be able to accommodate the request without adding a fee.
Bank Overdraft Fees
An overdraft fee can turn a small purchase into a much bigger expense. One coffee, grocery item, or automatic payment that pushes an account below its balance can sometimes result in a hefty charge.
Some banks offer options that decline transactions instead of allowing an overdraft and charging a fee. Checking your account settings and knowing your bank’s policies can help prevent these surprises.
Paper Statement Fees
Some banks, utilities, and other companies charge customers for receiving paper statements. If you don’t need physical copies, switching to electronic statements may eliminate the recurring charge.
It’s a small change, but avoiding a monthly or yearly fee can save money over time.
Credit Report Fees
Paying for a basic copy of your credit report is often unnecessary. Consumers have access to free credit reports through official credit reporting channels, while many financial services also offer free credit monitoring.
Paid services can still make sense for people who want extra monitoring features, but there’s little reason to pay just to see a standard credit report.
Convenience Fees for Paying Online
Some companies add a processing or convenience fee when customers pay certain bills online, especially if they use a credit card.
Before paying, check whether using a linked bank account comes with a lower fee or no fee at all. That small change can make a difference if you’re paying the same bill every month.
Related: 12 Easy Credit Card Habits That Can Help You Avoid Interest
Ticket Service Fees
Buying concert, sports, and event tickets can be frustrating once service charges and other fees are added at checkout. A ticket that looked affordable at first can end up costing considerably more.
Buying directly from the venue or the event organizer, when that option is available, may reduce some of those extra charges. It’s also worth checking the full price before deciding whether a ticket fits your budget.
Rental Car Insurance You Don’t Need
Rental car counters are a common place for travelers to encounter extra insurance offers. Depending on your situation, you may already have coverage through your personal auto insurance or a credit card.
Before renting a car, check what your existing policies cover. Just be careful to confirm the details, since coverage can vary widely between policies and cards.
Subscription Fees You Forgot About
Forgotten subscriptions are among the easiest expenses to overlook. Streaming services, apps, memberships, and free trials can continue billing long after you’ve stopped using them.
Set aside a few minutes every few months to review your bank and credit card statements. Cancel anything you no longer use, and keep an eye out for free trials that have turned into paid memberships.
A fee of $5 or $10 may not seem like much at the time, but several forgotten charges can quietly become a meaningful monthly expense. Taking a few minutes to question those little fees can leave more money in your account without requiring major changes to your lifestyle.
