Banking Basics
When it comes to
financial
planning, it doesn't get a whole lot more basic than
your checking account. But basic isn't the same thing as simple.
Banks
offer a bewildering array of accounts, accompanied by an equally
bewildering array of fees. Make the wrong choices and
hundreds of dollars a year can sneak out
of your pocket, dollars you could have kept for yourself.
Everyone knows that banks will bang your wallet for
bouncing
checks, but they don't always know that banks will also
charge you for closing your account too soon, depositing someone
else's bad check, letting your balance fall and a variety of
other reasons you might never think of until the charge shows up
on your statement.
And the rules keep changing. Many people have long depended on
the "float," the time between when you give someone a check and
when the money actually comes out of your account. Thanks to new
rules and technological advances, the float is floating away and
more consumers are getting whacked with nonsufficient funds
fees.
Speaking of fees, picking the wrong ATM to use can cost you big
too. Fortunately, there are ways to beat the fees if you plan
ahead. How to avoid ATM Fees is explained in the
next
section.
And that's what these basics are all about: Helping you make the
well-informe
d choices that will keep your money in your account, not
the bank's.
Learn how to find Free
Checking and how to find the accounts that best suit your
habits. Find out what fees are out there and how to avoid them.
See how debit cards work and what you need to worry about. Check
out the FDIC to see how your money is insured, and learn how to
make sure your bank is financially sound.
One of the best ways to make money is to not lose it. Review the
checking and ATM basics and you'll be banking in style at the
lowest possible cost.
If you want to learn more about this thems you can find more at:
Clear-A-Debt.com
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