Pay your bills online Schedule credit-card and other payments in advance of the due date to avoid late fees and punitive rate hikes. Bonus: After the initial setup, you'll need only a few minutes a month to pay your bills.
Forgo the interest If your interest-bearing checking account dips below the minimum (average: $3,300), you'll be hit with a monthly service fee ($12 is typical) - all to earn just 0.32 percent. Fuhgeddaboutit. Instead, open a noninterest account (typically fee-less).
Get protection Sign up for overdraft protection and you'll never pay a bounced-check fee again.
