Chris O'Shea
Junk fees can destroy even the best budget. Those tiny, unexpected charges — that companies charge for services that seemingly should be free — add up over time. The best way to stop paying junk fees is to simply be aware of them. Here are some of the more common junk fees.
Banking Fees
Some junk fees to watch out for when banking:
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Account maintenance. A charge for allowing the bank to hold your own money.
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ATM usage. A fee for accessing your own money via an ATM.
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Overdraft protection. A charge incurred when you don’t have enough funds to cover a transaction.
*Avoid bank junk fees by shopping around and comparing costs. A good place to start? Credit unions, often have fewer fees than big banks.
Air Travel Fees
Common junk fees associated with air travel include:
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Seats. Some airlines charge you for picking your seat. These junk fees can be anywhere from $25 to $100.
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Cancellation fees. Airlines often charge more than $50 to cancel a ticket.
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Baggage fees. A charge just for bringing your items along with you.
Avoid air travel junk fees by paying attention to the fine print when booking a flight.
Rent Fees
Some junk charges to be wary of when renting an apartment or home:
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Application filing. A junk fee is just for applying to rent a house or apartment.
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Move-in charge. A charge is usually associated with cleaning the space before you move in.
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Tech upgrades. A junk fee that covers the use of tech, like a smart thermostat.
You can avoid rental junk fees by asking for a clear rental fee listing upfront. If it seems like they’re nickel-and-diming you, that’s a red flag.
