5 Ways to Avoid Racking Up Large Overdraft Fees

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 3. Boost Your Funds with a Side Hustle

Nothing takes you further away from your overdraft like new forms of cash flow. If you’ve got more money in your account, that means less chance of dipping into your overdraft. And, there are a lot of ways to make extra money in your spare time.

Maybe, you’ve got an extra room that you could list on Airbnb? If so, take some attractive photos and set your price. This is a really simple way to make some extra dollars as it doesn’t require much effort on your part. If you haven’t got a spare room, you can offer your backyard as a camping ground instead.

If you like to drive, you could become a Lyft driver in your spare time and earn up to $30 per hour. This job is super flexible, and you can choose when you want to work and how long for.

Another way to boost your income with minimal effort is to get cash back from online shopping. If you shop with TopCashback, you can get free money back from thousands of retailers including Amazon and eBay.

4. Ask Your Bank to Remove the Fees

If it’s the first time you’ve landed yourself in the red, your bank might be forgiving and you might be able to talk yourself out of a fee. To do this, you should call or visit your bank and ask them to reconsider the fee. You can gently remind them of your previously great track record, and that you are a loyal customer. It might fight your cause if you have other business with them, like a savings account or loan, so make sure you bring that up too.

5. Build an Emergency Fund

It might feel impossible to build up savings or an emergency fund if you can’t stay out of your overdraft. But, it’s worth a try. Lots of banks will give you a savings account alongside your current account. And, even if you only put $50 or $100 in this account it can act as a safety net, that the bank can pull in case you find yourself overdrawn.