How to Avoid Paying 17 Pesky Fees

Fees aren’t just annoying—they’re expensive.

Sad woman showing her wallet with money dollar banknotes flying out away
(Image credit: Getty Images)

Fees aren’t just annoying—they’re expensive. A few monthly surcharges can add up to hundreds of dollars a year. That’s money you could use to save for retirement, give to charity, or enjoy a really nice dinner or two.

The good news is that most of these fees are avoidable, especially if you’re willing to make a couple of phone calls and threaten to take your business elsewhere. Take a look.

Lisa Gerstner
Editor, Kiplinger Personal Finance magazine

Lisa has been the editor of Kiplinger Personal Finance since June 2023. Previously, she spent more than a decade reporting and writing for the magazine on a variety of topics, including credit, banking and retirement. She has shared her expertise as a guest on the Today Show, CNN, Fox, NPR, Cheddar and many other media outlets around the nation. Lisa graduated from Ball State University and received the school’s “Graduate of the Last Decade” award in 2014. A military spouse, she has moved around the U.S. and currently lives in the Philadelphia area with her husband and two sons.