Red-faced I muttered my "I'll be back{s}" and shuffled out to go to Coles. Now, as I had minimal money in my savings account I was planning on shopping with my credit card - so I couldn't withdraw money at the checkout for free - so I dashed to the ATM. As it wasn't my bank's ATM I knew I'd be hit with a $2 fee, but justified it as I was in a hurry, and it was raining so I didn't wash to dash outside the confines of the shopping centre. Hurridly punching in the numbers a notice popped up telling me I'd be charged $2 for using the ATM, which I quickly agreed to - and then realised that THEY were charging me $2, and then my own bank will charge me again, which means I just paid $4 for that $20 withdrawal.
Lessons: I could've bought the Guinness and paid an extra $2. I should've read the statement in full before blindly agreeing. And I would've walked outside in the rain to save $4. That's the price you pay for learning from your mistakes...
I'd best do something pretty dramatic for frugal friday now...
Ugh, that's totally frustrating. I try to make a running list of stuff we need throughout the week and make one large trip. Whenever I break down and do the smaller, more frequent trips (not counting the grocery store, necessarily), I always end up browsing more, picking up more odds and ends and crappolla that I don't need.
ReplyDeleteThus, those little tidbits I buy end up costing what your trip to the damned atm ending up costing. Do you usually take a certain amount of cash out at the beginning of the week and try to use that through the week? I have friends who do that and seem to have great luck with it.