But repeat that mistake over and over, and you're losing a small fortune. If you do, cut it out, then save the money you're no longer wasting. They're so easy to avoid, particularly with the bounced-check protection that 70 percent of the nation's banks offer their customers. Nevertheless, about 68 million checks bounce each year. However, the financial damage doesn't stop with the bank.
Merchants also charge fees for returned checks.
If you aren't sure whether you have money in your account, don't write a check. If the expense can't be delayed or avoided, use a credit card. Leaving a balance on even a high-rate card for a short time costs less than a rubber check. Speaking of which, here's another area in which consumers lose a fortune, all for the lack of a quarter. Add the cost of parking in a red zone, a fire lane or in front of a fire hydrant, and L.A. residents are paying tens of millions of dollars to park illegally.