Tip of the week: How to avoid debit card fees

Change banks. This may seem obvious, but if your bank has begun charging a monthly fee for using a debit card, it could be “time to consider a smaller bank.”

Ask your bank to waive the fee. To arrange this, you may need to start maintaining a higher balance in your checking account or open some type of second account.

Use cash. “Cash may be somewhat inconvenient,” but it’ll save you. Ask your bank for an ATM-only card, which should allow you free withdrawals from the bank’s machines. Using cash typically encourages a person to spend less.

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Use a credit card. Actually, “this is a good option”—as long as you pay off your balance on time. You can also look for one of the rare prepaid credit cards, like American Express’s, that don’t tack on lots of fees.

Source: Forbes.com