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We count on banks to keep our money safe, but that's not really what they're best at. The financial sector has doubled as a portion of the economy in recent decades, and that's not because they're so good at putting your needs first. It's their job to put your money to work for themselves, and if you aren't careful, they will do everything short of turning you upside down to catch the change that falls out of your pockets. Here are six ways that your bank can turn your money into theirs.

Upselling

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Anyone who's worked in retail or fast food should be familiar with the upsell. "You shoud really get the warranty for that." "The large is only 89 cents more." "Sure, eight inches is probably enough... but with the 10-inch you know you won't be disappointed." But banks have taken that game to the next level. All you have to do is upgrade to a deluxe savings account and you can get compound interest, a the platinum credit card with a higher limit, and a free toaster. Just read this 30-page contract which lays out that the credit card interest doubles after 30 days, but as long as you always keep your account balance above $1,435, and do five PIN transactions and seven signature transactions each month, and never make a withdrawal on a Tuesday, you'll never be hit with any massive...

Fees

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Do you want to use an ATM for a different bank? That different bank is going to charge you a fee, but guess what? So is your bank. Why? Because they can. Were you not ready for that? Maybe you're cutting it close before your next paycheck? Well now you've earned yourself an overdraft fee, which is to say that you ran out of money, so your bank is going to charge you $35. Unless you also use that card to buy a pack of gum. Then it's another $35. Your monthly Netflix charge comes through the same night? That's another $35. Some rich asshole actually cashes the 13-cent check that you wrote as a joke? $35. Good luck hanging onto your paycheck with all these fees racking up! With very few limits on banking fees, is it any wonder they've been shooting through the roof?

Fake Accounts

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The Wells Fargo fake account scandal became huge news when it was revealed that their sales staff was being pressured to meet quotas that basically guaranteed they would be adding accounts for customers that didn't want them. But Wells Fargo was caught, they paid the fines, and they launched a tone deaf apology campaign. So, story's over, right? Not quite. Turns out that if banks can do some sneaky fraud and not get caught, they absolutely will. Wells Fargo is not the only culprit. You could have fake extra accounts feeding off your real one right now.

Predatory Loans

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If you were a bank, and you didn't want to limit yourself to making loans only to customers who could afford to pay those loans back, what would you do? If you answered, "Give out predatory 'subprime' loans with surprise balloon rates," congratulations! You just triggered the 2008 Housing Crash. And if you thought that banks would have learned their lesson, you obviously don't know that they've been doing the exact same thing with car loans. And now car loans are going into default at record rates. Which is a great sign of things to come...

Bailouts and Subsidies

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Well, at least if the banks set us up for another financial crisis, they'll face the consequences, right? Hahahaha! Good one. The great thing about the growth and consolidation of the banking industry is how many banks are now "too big to fail." And they have such powerful lobbies that regulation is not even on the table. The result is that banks can use your money to be as reckless and risky as they want, and if anything goes wrong, they can count on tax payer money to come to the rescue. And on top of that, they also get some annual government subsidies, just for being who they are. Cool.

Wage Theft

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If you thought it was only customers and tax payers who were getting ripped off by the banks, you thought wrong. Even the bank employees are getting their pockets picked in the form of wage theft. Banks are some of the worst culprits in terms of withholding overtime pay.

So the next time your bank is ripping you off and you call to complain, remember not to direct your rage at the employee on the other end of that call. Just take a deep breath, close your account, then pull up a floorboard to squirrel away your cash.

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2018 is here and it's time to put our financial New Year's resolutions into play. Money matters are important, and saving more is one of the top New Year's promises people make. The prospect of making major financial changes can be daunting, so take small steps and you'll soon see a difference.

Whether your savings goals are grand, or you just want to be more mindful of your earnings and spending, these four easy ways to save will make a difference in the year to come. Using these tips, you will become more financially sound in '18 and in the years that follow. Practice makes perfect, so keep at it day by day. Until money grows on trees, we've got to save whatever and whenever we can!

Start Paying Off Your Debts

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Debt can dig you into a financial hole as interest rates climb and you find yourself owing more and more as each bill comes. As per The Balance, "Clear all debts as soon as possible. You'll save hundreds or thousands on interest. If you're in credit card debt, call your creditors and ask them if there's any way they can lower your APR (interest rate)."

Regions Financial Corporation adds, "Once you're free from paying interest on your debt, that money can easily be put into savings. A personal line of credit is just one option for consolidating debt so you can better pay it off."

Rethink Your Bank Account Plan

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Just because you've been with the same bank for a long time doesn't mean you're stuck. You might find a bank with better offers and fewer fees. Month by month, the savings will add up significantly.

According to The Simple Dollar, "If you're paying a monthly fee for your checking or savings account, you would benefit from researching some of newest banking offers out there. Not only do some of the best banks offer sign-up bonuses simply for opening an account and setting up direct deposit, but some offer attractive interest rates to new customers as well." Bankrate recommends to, "Consider extra costs such as monthly service charges and ATM fees."

The Balance notes, "Use a bank with decent APYs (Annual Percentage Yield) so the money that is sitting in your account accrues more interest over the year."

Stick to Your Shopping List

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When we shop online or in stores, "impulse purchases" can add up fast. Have a shopping list as well as a budget and stick to it. As per The Simple Dollar, "Creating a list before you go to the grocery store is especially important. Not only can it help you buy items that fit with your meal plan, but it can also help you avoid buying food you might waste."

Along with making a list, The Balance suggests to, "Bundle your errands into one long, massive trip per week so that you can save on fuel costs."

Another tip… give yourself some time before making a purchase. You may realize you don't really need it after all. As CNBC notes, "Wait 48 hours before spending money on things that cost more than a certain amount. When you do, you will find that, most of the time, the item was more of a 'want' than a 'need.' Plus, you'll save money and work toward being more mindful with your spending."

And don't forget to clip coupons, seek out weekly deals and specials, and sign up for rewards programs at stores you frequent. The Simple Dollar suggests, "You can add to those rewards and discounts by using rewards credit cards to earn points on purchases at a wide range of stores that can be redeemed for cash back or other benefits."

Consider Your Cable

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According to NerdWallet, "You could lower your cable bill by as much as $40 per month by changing your cable package. And you could save more than $1,000 over two years by bundling your cable and internet service, depending on your carrier."

You may even want to cut out cable altogether. As per CNBC, "With services like Hulu, Netflix and Amazon Prime, you can now watch your favorite TV shows and movies for a fraction of the cost of cable TV. A study by market research firm NPD Group shows that cable bills will soon grow to an average of $123 per month, or $1,476 per year. By switching over to an online service or cutting out TV altogether, you can save that money for another financial goal."

Make 2018 the year of savings. With these tips you can bank on it!