Remove overdraft capability from your accounts to prevent fees

Have you ever been in a case where you got charged early for a bill or got double charged on accident leaving your checking account critically low on funds? Maybe, times are hard or payday is tomorrow and the balance on your checking account is just above water.

I'm sure many of us have been in this situation and often times to add insult to injury we get charged overdraft fees sometimes in excess of our purchases; this of couse does save us from the inconvenience of not getting that pack of gum or not needing to borrow a few dollars from a co-worker for lunch all for a hefty fee ($25 usually).

Well, that benefit is called "overdraft capability" and you can opt out! You can call your bank and tell them that you don't want overdraft capability if this sounds like a fee/benefit you don't want to be eligible for.  There are some caveats such as a gas station that doesn't charge the whole cost of your purchase up front, you will still get your gas and the bank will still charge you an overdraft fee. But I'm fine with that as long as I'm not stuck somewhere without gas, just don't charge me another fee when I walk into the store and buy a coffee while I'm filling up.

It is also worth noting that opting out of overdraft capability does not prevent you from setting up overdraft protection on your account, which I still recommend because you are still in danger of getting charged NSF fees from businesses you have written checks to or have pending payments to.